GB330980A - Improvements in or relating to the carbonisation of coal, peat, wood and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

330,980. Winzer, C. B. March 22, 1929. Retort furnaces; casings and walls. - A continuously operated apparatus for the carbonization of coal, peat, wood, &c. comprises a series of stationary retorts 14 enclosed within a movable or travelling tunnel or enclosure 11 having a heated zone which is moved over the retorts in succession and subjects them to a gradually increasing followed by a gradually decreasing temperature. In the apparatus shown the tunnel, which is annular in form, is mounted by rollers 12 on rails 13, and operates in conjunction with sand seals 33 for preventing escape of heating-gases. In the heating-section, extending over about two-thirds of the tunnel, gas and air are supplied through valve-controlled pipes 23, 28 to the space between inner and outer walls 17, 11, and the products of combustion pass to the inner retort chamber through ports 25. The heating may also be effected by hot combustion products. The retorts are mounted vertically, are fed at their upper ends by a hopper 37 carried by the tunnel, and are discharged into a bucket conveyer 41. The charging or discharging parts of the tunnel or both can be isolated by sliding doors 40. Gaseous distillates are taken off from each group of three retorts by two offtakes 44 leading to a main 45. Ribs 43 are formed on the retort walls to subdivide the charge, and for strengthening purposes. These ribs or their equivalent may be movable. Alternatively heating may be effected by furnaces carried by the tunnel and the retorts may be discharged at their upper ends. The Provisional Specification describes these modifications in some detail.