US1348766A - Apparatus for manufacture of gas - Google Patents

Description

M. C! WHITAKER AND W. F. R ITTMAN. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF GAS. APPLICATION FILED FEB.,28, 1916. v

1, 348,766 v Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

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MILTON G. WmTAKER AND WALTER F. RITTMAN, OF NEW YORK, NZ YZ, ASSIGNORS T0 symmrro HYDRO-CARBON COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION" OF DELAWARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Application filed February 28, 1916. Serial No. 80,956.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, MILTON C. WHIT- AKER and WALTER F. RITTMAN, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, citizens of the Unlted States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacture of Gas, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In carrying out of chemical reactions in the industries, it is desirable to obtain a high speed of reaction and an intimate contact of the molecules of the reacting substances' It has been found that many reactions which are now carried out in other than a gaseous phase, can be much more readily obtained when the entire body of the substance or substances to be treated is first transformed into gases and then subjected to the appropriate conditions of temperature, pressure and time, -.which have been proven' suitable for the promotion of the particular reactions desired.

The invention described and claimed herein, relates to apparatus for the carrying out of the method set forth in an applicatlon filed April 3, 1914, Serial No. 829,169, said method consisting, broadly stated, in subjecting the material or materials when in a gaseous state for a suitable time to a temperature and pressure suitable for the formation of the desired compound and preventing further reaction injurious to such compound when formed. The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, is shown partly in elevation and partly in section a form of apparatus embodying the improvements claimed herein.

In the practice of the invention, the material or materials to be treated are fed into a tube 2 formed of a material capable of with standing the temperatures and pressures incident to the practice of the carrying out of the method referred to. As the method is continuous, the tube is heated by the exter nal application of heat and as control of the temperature of the tube is desirable under. most conditions, andessential in cases, the heating means employed should be adapted to these ends and to the economic conditions elective heating element are preferably incased in a protective coating of magnesiaasbestos or other. suitable refractory material. The ends of the resistance wire A are connected respectively to suitable conductors extending from a suitable source of elective energy, as for example, a direct current generator. A 'rheostat 10 is included in the circuit of the resistance coil for controlling and regulating the universal supply to the coil in accordance with the heat effects desired. If desired, a pyrometer 11, connected to an appropriate indicator 12 may be employed for ascertaining the temperature within the tube 2.

The material or materials are introduced into the tube 2 at one end thereof by any suitable means; As for example, when it is desired to effect gasification within the tube, the liquid is supplied from a suitable source. WVhen the reaction desired requires a pressure in the tube above atmospheric pressure, the liquid will be subjected to sufficient pressure to cause it to enter the tube. This end may be obtained by arranging the supply reservoir 13 at a suitable height above the inlet into the tube and equalizing the pressure in the upper part of the reservoir with that in the tube, through an-equalizing tube 14, communicating at its lower end with the tube and at its upper end with the reservoir at a point above the level of the liquid therein. In the practice of the method, the material or materials are treated while in a gaseous condition, and hence when fed to the tube in a liquid state, provision is made for flashing the liquid into gas. Under proper regulation and conditions of the feed, the temperature in the tube will efiect the practically instantaneous transformation of the liquid to a gaseous condition, but if sufficient to flash into vapor or gas the material coming into contact with the mass of heated refractory *material.

At its lower end, the tube discharges through a condenser 6 into a receptacle 17. This receptacle or segregation chamber which is separate from the heated reaction 'zone, serves for the collection of liquid condensates and. whatever other products may result from the operation of the process. These products ma be removed through the valved pipe 18. VIhen a pressure above atmospheric pressure is maintained in the tube, uncondensed gases ma be discharged from the receptacle, throug the pipe 7 When, however, the desired reaction in the tube requires a pressure below the atmospheric, the receptacle is connected to a vacuum pump 8, by which the uncondensed gases are drawn from the receptacle and fed into a suitable container.

It will be readily understood that, when a pressure in excess of atmospheric is required to effect a desired reaction, such pressure can be obtained by the proper relative regulation of material to the feed, and the discharge of the resultants of the reaction from the tube. And further, the duration of the reactions in the gasified material can also be controlled by suitably adjusting the feed to and discharge from the tube.

The duration of the reaction is thus determined by the rate of movement of the gases through the tube and the length of the reaction zone.

As pointed out in my application Serial No. 829,169, above referred to, the apparatus has been found particularly useful in the treatment of hydrocarbon oils, but it is adapted for use with other materials in which reactions are to be effected in the gaseous phase.

We claim herein as our invention 1. In an apparatus for continuous treatment of materials in the gaseous state, the combination of (1) means for effecting the substantially instantaneous gasification of the materials being treated, (2) a substantially upright reaction chamber connected to said gasifying means and having an unobstructed body portion and means for heating said reaction chamber, (3) a segregating chamber in open communication with the bottom of said reaction chamber, (4:) means for controlling the pressure Within the reaction chamber.

2. In an apparatus for continuous treatment of materials in the gaseous state, the combination of (1) means for effecting the gasification of the materials .being treated, (2) a substantially upright reaction chamber connected to said gasifying means and having an unobstructed body portion and means for heating said reaction chamber, (3) a segregating chamberin open communication with the bottom of said reaction chamber, (4) means for controlling the pressure within the reaction chamber.

3. In an apparatus for treating materials in a gaseous phase, the combination of means for feeding the material to be treated, a plurality of small spaced surfaces, arranged in the line of the flow of the material, means for heating the ob'ects forming the surfaces, to a temperature a ove the gasifying temperature of such material and an unobstructed chamber for receiving the gas and means for heating the walls of such chamber.

4. In an apparatus for treating materials in the gaseous state, the combination of a substantially upright chamber, means for heating the chamber, means for introducing material into the upper portion of the chamber, said chamber having a substantially unobstructed body portion, and means within said chamber and above the body portion for gasifying the said material.

5. In an apparatus for treating materials in the gaseous state, the combination of a substantially upright chamber, means for heating the chamber, means for introducing material into the upper portion of the chamber, said chamber having a substantially unobstructed body portion, and means within said chamber and above the body portion for gasifying the said material, said gasifying means comprising pieces of refractory material.

6. In an apparatus for treating materials in the gaseous state, the combination of a substantially upright chamber, means for heating the chamber, means for introducing material into the upper portion of the chamber, said chamber having a substan tially unobstructed body portion, and a mass of refractory material arranged across said chamber above the bod portion.

7. In an apparatus or treating materials in the gaseous state, the combination of a substantially upright chamber, means for heating the chamber, means for introducing material into the upper portion of the chamber, said chamber having a substantially unobstructed body portion, and a mass of refractory material supported on a perforated plate arranged above said body portion.

8. In an apparatus for treating materials her, said chamber having a substantially un- 15 obstructed body portion, means Within said chamber and above the body portion for gasifying said material, means for controlling the pressure Within said chamber, and means for controlling the feed of material 20 to said chamber.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

MILTON G. WHITAKER. WALTER F. RITTMAN.

Witness G. G. TRILL.

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