GB579561A - Improvements relating to the distillation of solid carbonaceous substances - Google Patents

Abstract

579,561. Carbonizing apparatus ; retort furnaces. LOW TEMPERATURE CARBONISATION, Ltd., and CARTWRIGHT, J. Nov. 3, 1939, Nos. 29359/39 and 17174/40. [Classes 51 (ii), 55 (i) and 55 (ii)] Apparatus for the distillation of coal and the like comprises tubes or retorts which are caused to travel through a heating chamber but distillates being withdrawn through outlet pipes leading into an hydraulic main running parallel with the path of the retorts, each outlet pipe dipping into the liquor below a wall extending downwardly from the main. The gases may be taken off from the top of the retort or, as shown in Fig. 3, from the bottom, and pass through an outlet l<3> of inverted U-shape below a depending wall c<2> into the gas space of a main c. The retorts are raised on leaving the heating chamber so that their outlet pipes are clear of the hydraulic main. The retorts a may be provided in pairs, connected by upper and lower fittings k, l, their upper ends being sealed by closure plates a<4>, surrounded by sand luting k<1>. Their lower ends are closed by a perforated plate m pivotally mounted at l<1> and secured by a lug m<1> on a spindle m<2>. The retorts are supported from a rail i<2> by wheeled carriers n and suspension rods j, and are moved through the heating chamber by an endless chain o, the slot h<4> at the upper end being closed by flanged plates j<2> which dip into sand seals h<5> on each side of the slot. The retorts are heated by passage through open box-bricks g<2> which separate the heating chamber from the combustion chambers. In Fig. 6, the reduced upper parts a<6> are each surrounded by an outer jacket a<7> forming an annular space for sand luting after a cap a<4> has been fixed. An inverted cap a<9> closes the lower end, and a perforated cast iron weight may create pressure on the charge. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show a furnace for heating the retorts comprising a narrow combustion chamber h<14> with burners at the lower end, and connected by an opening h<16>, with a heating flue h<15>, an interconnecting passage h<17> permitting of re-circulation of the combustion gases. The hot gases pass out by passage h<18> and vertical flue h<19> to a number of tubular members p constituting a radiator which extends along the interior of the heating chamber g within a recess h<21>, the hot gases being exhausted through a flue h<22>. Fig. 11 shows a number of heating chambers g in one setting, the retorts passing on an endless track to a discharge station q, where they are emptied and passed to a charging station r before being returned to the heating chambers g.