US1528228A - Vertical retort battery - Google Patents

Description

2 Mar. 3, 1925. 1,528,228

` A.1. VANYACKEREN VERTICAL RETORT BATTERY 'originiriled Feb. 4, 1921 es sheets-sheet 1 y J. VAN ACKEREN VERTICAL RETORT BATTERY L I\/1ar.3,1925.A ,Y v 1,528,228

Urigina Filed Feb. 4,

6 Sheets-She'et 2 C Mans, 1925. 1,528,228

J. VAN ACKEREN VERTICAL RETORT BATTERY original Filed Feb. 4. 192; e sheets-sheet 4 SECT/ONA Qa-MM2.

J. VAN A VERTIGL RETOBT BATTERY CKEREN Mar. 3, 1V925v.

e Smets-sham;l s

'originali Filed Feb. 4, 1921- imei/ Mar. 3, 1925.

J. VAN ACKEREN VERTICAL lHEIORT B ATTERY 'origin Filed Febli., lggl 6 sheds-sheet e @IIOM j2me/Z257 Patented Mar. 3, 1925. y

vUNITED STATES 1,528,228 PATENTA oFFicE.

JOSEPH VAN ACKEREN, OF PITTSBURGH. PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO THE IKOPIIEJRS COMPANY, OF, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION vOF PENNSYLVANIA.'

VERTICAL RETORT BATTERY.

t y p Application filed February 4, 1921, Serial No. 442,357. Renewed June 3, 1924.

To all 'ur/10m t may concern:

Be it known that l. Josnrn- VAN ACKnnnN. a citizen of the United States. residing in Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania. have invented a vnew and useful improvement in Vertical Retort Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention con'iprehends improvements in the art of vert-ical retorts. and has for an object the provision of a vertical retort that. ishighly eilicient in operation and which will produce high grade coke suitable for metallii'rgzical use and etect a substantially complete by-product recovery` although the entire distilling operation u is conducted rapidly, in tacty within a considerably 'shorter period of time than heretofore accomplished, and with great' conservation of heet. i

importantcharacteristics of the invention nre the provision ol' a system of combustion in the flame or combustion titles ot the heating' walls o't the retort chambers, by which system flame or combustion is maintained continuously in all of the fines olf each heatintt wall; the combination of this improved system oit combustion with a complete reversible regenerative system tor conserving the waste heat troni the combustion tlues and imparting' such heat to the medium fed into such tlues; the attainment of an ext renie flexibility in operation exemplified in the ready adaptabilit)v 'l'oroperation ot the re- ,tort `for operation altln'iiativcll.I with an (ixtrancously derived gras. such as tn'oducei' gras.

for 'l'ueL or with-the njas produced from the distillation ot the coal within the retort chambers. combined with the .provision of means tor changing'` at will the oven into one or the other oi its sievei'allntu'les ot operation; the attainment of freut efliciency of combustion within the flame flues of the heating' walls. notwithstanding the fuel elnploved. such efliciency being exemplified in au even distribution ot' the heat over the area otthe heating' walls and the prevention of flame concentration in said walls.

ln addition to the gcneral-ol'ijects recited above, the invention has for other objects such lother improvements or advantages in construction and operation as are found to obtain inthe Structures and devices hereinafter described or claimed.

In the accon'rpanying drawings, forming a partv of the specification, and showing, 'for purposes of exemplificntion n preferred-forni and manner in which the .invention may be embodied and practiced. but without limit-- ing the claimed invention specifically to such illustrative instance or instances:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevati-on* of a vertical retort' embodying' features above specified and constructed in accordance with the improvements of the present' invention, the view being.,r taken in e vertical plane indi 'ated by the line ---B of Figsf 2 and 4; A

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation oii' the same taken in a plane indicated by the line A-A of Figs. 1 and 4; i

Fig.` 3 another vertical sectional eleva tion of the saine taken in a 'plane indicated by -the line C-C of Figs. Zand 4,;

Fig'. -l is a composite horizontal sectional elevation of the same teken in different horilC--H F-F and G-G`ot Fin'. 1

Fig. 5 is another horizontal section of the saine tal-:en in the horizontal plane indicated by the line -l'l--H of Fie'. 1;

' Fig. 6 is a top plan view ot the retort battery; and,

Fig. T is a bottoni plan view ot' the saine.

The same characters of reference vindicate the sume parts in each of the several views of the drawings.

l ln its present embodiment. the invention is incorporated in a retort of the vertical t'vpe and. 'tor convenience. the present description will be conljncd to thisnuse of the in vrntion: 'tentures of construction' and operation are. ho-we\f'er. caluibleot"k other valuable applications and consequently the scope of th-e inventionisgnot lconfined to the specific use and specific embodiment herein described as an illustrative example.

Referring to the drawings,` there. are illustrated views of a vertical retort of the by- `zontal planes indicated bv the lines D-J),

which ,embodies yin .its construction a plurality' of intermediate vertically elongated retorts or coking chambers 12, 12, the heating walls and the retort chambers extendin to a great heiffht as compared with their respective widtl 1s and with the crosswise dimension of thev retort battery. The heating walls 11 form the side walls of the respective retort chambers 12, as shownyand the, opposite endsof the respective retort charnbers, as well as the heating walls are closed and reinforced by side refractory walls designated generally by the reference characters 13, 13. Beyond these side refractory Walls 13, 13 and extending along the opposite sides of the retort l'mtter).T and from top to bottom thereotI are loca' mit and. chamber constructions utilized e the le generators and other parts hereniatter described.

The coal to be coked is charged into the retort chambers 12 through charging' holes A14: located in the,top ot' the retort and the finished colte is discharged through discharge openings 15 at the bottom of such retort chambers. In order to facilitate discharge of the coke from said retortchainbers, the side walls of the .retort chambers diverge toward the bottom thereof, as shown more particularly in Fig'. Because ot the great height of the retort chambers as coup pared with their width and cross-wise de mension, the retort battery may be utilized asa continuous vertical retort. When so used, the chargingr holes 1t are le l't open and also the discharge openings 15. to pei-'init the continuous charging of the coal to bc coked and the continuous discharge ol the tnished coke.

Heat for coking the charges of coal in the several retort chambers 1Q from the heating walls il :bore mentioned. Referring' now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, each heating Wall 11 is constituted of a plurality ot' vertical combustion ilues` 16 that are operatively disposed into two groups I and K. the groups l ot' the sei'- eral heating walls being on one side ot' the central longitudinal partitions 1T oi such walls and the groups l( being;l on the other side of these partitions. ii'hile the lauie iiues of the several ,groups l. on one ,side ol' the partition li" are burning' downwardly. that is to say. operating' tor downliow` the, se\'e1'z.ilgroups l ol' thune lucsI on the opposite Side ol the aforesaid partitions li are, burning' upwardlyy or operating `tor upflow. Reversal ot' the retort battery is eii'ective to cause the groups i oit heatingy lines to burn upwardly and coiuau'rently the groups" K o'l such tluesl to burn downwardly.

'lhe regenerators iti are inem'porateil in the. structures \\'hich,exteiul loi-igritiulinally alonpr the. retort battery at the oppositey endsoi the retort chambers l2 and the heatilnj falls l1. and. in the present, instance each regenerator extends vertically l'roni a 'pl'ine above the bottoni hori'fzontal plane ole the heating' nails to a plane above the top horizontal plane oi such walls. s shown in Fig. 5. the several regenerators ot a retort battery are disposed into two series I and K that are respectively located on opposite sides oi the battery. (lne series I of such regenerators coriespoiuls with and is derived is communicably connected with the ues of lthe groups I, and -the other series K of the regenerators corresponds with and is communicably connected with the several fines of the groups K. Each series of such regenerators is, moreover, grouped into pairs, the alternate pairs of each series of regeneratorsl being respectively designated by the reference character L and the intermediate pairs of each said series beingr respectively designated by the reference character M. Each such pair of'regzenerators is separated from the other contiguous pair by means of a heavy vertical gas tight Wall 1S). and the individual regenerators of. each pair are separated from each other by means of a vertical gas tight partition 20.

Each regenerator 18 is a chamber containing open brickwork, commonly called checkeru'orlr. and indicated at 21 with sole channels QQ underneath such checkerwork. the channels forming' the soles of such chambers and 'pening'up into the checkerwork. The several regenerators are heated. in alterna'- 'tion. by the hot combustion products that are exhausted trom the flame or combustion tues hcreinbetore mentioned and then impart such heat to the medium that they feed into these fiame dues.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the upper portion each regenerator 18 lopens up int-o a cross channel 23. that extends over the fines oi' the roup corresponding to that regenerator and communicates with the respective fines of such' group by means of ports 213' connecting the individuah tine 1G loo with such channel. rPhe-channels 23 ot the two series l spectively extend inwardly toward each other and. the channels ot one series of regenerators are separated from the channel ot the other series by means ot the central vertical partition 17 o't the heatingi walls. The channel 23 of ono member of each group Il ot a series oi renenerators communicates with a single contiguous group ot combustion tlues corresponding to that series 'ot reienerators. and the channel 2? of the contiguous reeenrator ot the next adjacent ygroup IVI leads to and communicotes with the combustion fines oi the same lgroup oi the same heating wall. According' to this arrangement. each group of com-f bustion fines is connected bv a pair ot chan` nels 2,3 with tivo regenerators of the correspondinfc' series. the regrenerators so connected kwith the same `group ot combustion and K of regenerators rctheotherside of the battery are operating,r

for flow in the opposite direction. conscquently there islnaint'ained flow in reverse directions through the regenerators that are respectively positioned' on. opposite sides ot the battery. The reversal in flow throupjh the flame lues and their conununieabljl eonneoted regenerators nunA thus be ysaid to take place crosswise oz the batter)v and san-l1v reversal is effected at the end ot an operatiligj period determined by praetieotlrr.means of any preferred type of reversing' mechanism parts oi which are illustrated in the aeconilnuiyiiur drawings and will he hereinafter described. The function ol such reversal is as. follows: 'lhe ref fcnerators that' prior to the reversal operated as inflow regenerators become outllow regenerators land the outflow operating' regnnerators heeome inflow operating regrenerators: the upburning groupsof flnes switch functions with the downburnine' groups of lues on the oppo- Site side of the battery.

t the bottom ot each heating:` wall. there is located a horizontal or busl flue 25. said .flue 25 being in eoinmunieatimi with all ot' the flame fines 16 ot its respective heating Wall. With this ('.onstructi n. the lower ends of thetiaine lines of the group I of leach heating wall communicate with the lower ends o1c th'e group K and consequently the downtlow from one or" said groups of flame fines may pass into and upwardly through the other;

n the top of each heating' wall 11 there is provided a .series ofvertically extendingA gras duets 26. which respettivel)y communicate with the upper ends oi the individual 4llame fines lo ot the respective heating wall. Each sueh ,Q'as duct Q6 is provided with a suitable nozzle 27 the discharge end of which opens up into a small Chamber 25% that is adapted tov function as a niixinfr elianilwr. as `will hereinafter appear. and eoinmuiueates through a port. QS) with the top of the. corresponding thune flue. As

. shown in Fien Q. the chamber 2S above each fiueis disposed between the two ports 24 which eonnet't such line with the channels 23- hereinbetore mentioned.

Extending' througfjh the bottoni oli eat-.ir

heatinpiwall ll is a series of oas duets 30. the individual members o which individually eon'unuuieate with the lower ends of the flame fines lt? of the corresponding heatin a` wall. The. several ducts 26 and 30 are for the puri'rose of .supplyingr the ,gas formedv bythedistillation of coal in the retort to their respeetire connected combustion lues, when such gas is the medium employed as fuel. Any suitable mains ina)1 be provided for conveying the Lras to auch series of ducts 526 and 3l).

As shownniore particularly in Figs. l and 5 long vertical channels 3l respectively heating the medium entend downwardly from the top horizon-` tors` such as the groups L of the series l and the groups M o t` the series K', and said vertical channels ill merge at their respective lower ends into horizontal ehanuels 32 located beneath the horizontal channels o-r bus 'flues 25 that connect the several llue's 16 of the respective lleating walls. Each said horizontal channel 32 is ifovided With ports 3S whieh open up into the before. inentioned horizontal channel Q5 beneath the l'ues ot the group on the opposite side ofthe central lonuitudinal partition 17 to that ol the regeneralor 18 with which such hori- '/.ontal channel 32- is eonnerfted through the inediinn of the intermediate vertical channel 31. "With this construction. the alternate groups L of regenerators of the series,

.l. are eommunicablv connected by channels and ports. with the lower ends of several lines of the groups K. whereas the intermediate groups M of regenerators of the series K are coinninnicably connected b v similar channels and ports Withthe lower ends of the several tlues of the groups l.

'T he lower end of each flue ot both groups l and l( js conimunieably connected with a longvertival channel 34 which extends upwai-diy above the flue and communicates with the mixing chamber 28 above that flue by means ot. a port 35. These vertical chanrespectively beneath the regnnerators of the series I and K are Waste gras tunnels 256 and 37. The waste ,Las tunnel 36 that corresponds to the seriesl of regrenerators is eonnected'with the sole channels 2.2 of the respective regenerators oi" said'series by means of flow pipes 38: the waste ons tunnel 37 of the series K of regenerators is connected with the sole channels .22 of the re- 'sportive regenerators of said series by means of flow when one series of said regenerators is ope-ratinp' vfor u plow to deliver preheated medium to theflues, the other series of said regenerators is operating -for downftow to heat the cheokerwork for the purpose of introduced into the regenerators on subsequent reversal. Coi1sefluently, Whenever avseries of refrenerators is operatingr fordownflow, all of the regen- 4 erators of that series are connected withthe pipes 39. As hereinbetore stated..

nelsl andtlieir ports 25 are for the pnrlltl waste gas tunnel and the upllow operating series of regenerators are shut ed from the waste gas tunnelA For this purpose, there isl provided inq each (low pipe of the series 38 a mushroom valve 40, and in each ow pipe of the series 39 a mushr-ooni valve 41. The several mushroom valves l0 are respectively provided with valve operating levers l2 and the several mushroom valves 41 are also respectively provided with valve operating` levers 43. cable of the usual type is provided for operating in unison the sev eral valve operating levers of the series 42, and a similar cable. provided tor operating in unison the several valve operating;r levers oi the series 4?). rl'his construction permits all of the regenerators of one series to be placed in communication Witlrthe Waste gas tunnel While concurrently cutting' oft' all ot the regenerators of the other `series from communication with the Waste gas tunnel corresponding to the regenerators of that series.

Arranged hineitudinally along that side of the battery or the l series of regenerators and corresponding;l thereto is a series of air inlet ports 4.4; on the opposite Side of the battery there is another series of air ports corresponding to the K series oll regenerators. The above mentioned series 44 comprises air ports corresponding in number to the pairs ot regenerators oi' the series l; these ports la respectively extend upwardly from the bottoni of the battery and communicate With horizontal channels Li6 which respectively extend around the bottonrof the coirespondingl heating Walls, as shown in Fig. il, and thence each communi cate with two vertical channels 4:7 which respectively lead into the solechannels 22- oi the regenerators ct the series The series i5 also comprises a number oi air ports extending upwardly from the bottom oi" the battery and connnunicatiim' al their upper ends respectively with .similarly surroundini,r air channels 48 `which are located benealli the channels aforesaid and respectively each con'nnunicate with two vertical air channels 10 that 'lead individually to the sole channels 22 ot the regeneralors of the series l. lhe sliding bricks 50 positioned in the bottoms ol. the sole channels Q2 of the regenerators ol the series I control the flow trom the verti xal channels 47; similarly positioned slidi brielrs in the regenerators oi' the series K control the vflow 'from Jthe vertical channels ltcuding alone' that side of the battery of the regenerators ol the .series l and cor. responding thereto is a producer main F2 provided with valve controlled 'dmv pipes which are respectively connected with the flow pipes 3S ol the reeenerators ot that series. On the opposite side of the battery is another producer gas main provided with ressens valve controlled pipes which lead to the flow pipes 39 of the series K of regenerators.

leferring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, each of the lues 16 may be reached through access channels 56 which extend from the horizontal channels 23 to the top ot the battery. These access channels 56 are positioned in pairs over the tlues 1G, as shown in Fig. 2. 1^ Similar access channels 5i' afford eommuiiialtion to the long vertical channels 34, and additional .access channels 5S are provided for permittingT communication to the long vertical channels 31. Sliding bric-ks 59 control the fioiv through the ports 2li of the lines 1G and through the long vertical channels 31.

As' herein'beforestated, one of the important features of the invention is the attainment of an extreme flexibility in operation $35 ot the retort `battery, permitting a ready' adaptabilitpv *otlie battery foroperation either tv .h an extraneously derived gasjsuch as producer gras for fuel or with the retortv gras derived from theV distillation of coal in the coking chambers of the retort battery. These ends are attained, with a maximum oflicieney of combustion and heat conservation Whichever gas is employed as fuel, by the incorporation in a retort battery of structural features and a ii'exible system of control, such as has been described in connection with the present embodiment of the invention. A number of important advantages and improvements made by the inven- 100 tion can, however, best be pointed out b tracing out separately the operation of the invention, as exemplified in the accompanying drawings, according to its several different modes of operation.

The operation of the retort battery, when using a relatively lean special generator gas, suph :is ordinary producer gas, for fuel is as to louis: The supply of retort. gas to the mains supplying the ` eas duets 26 and 30 is 110 shut ofi' and a supply of producer gas is permitted toilow into the producer gas mains 52 and 54. j tssumingN that the several reuenerators lcomprising the series are operating as inflow regenerators and 115 that the fines of thel groups I are operating as downburningfines, Whereas the regenerators of the series K and the tlues of the lgroups l( are respectively operating as down-.flow reuenerators and upburning 120 dues, as above described, it follows that durM iu this period ot an operation alternate regenerators of the series l. are utilized for,

preheating the producer zjas which is sub sequently introduced into thetlues. The 125.. repenerat-ors intermediate such alternate regenerators of the saine series are" concurrently utilized for preheatinp; the air to support-the combustion of the producer gas, Whereasall of the regenerators of the ee- 53@ ries K o crate yto conve the Wae ases to the exhaust tunnel 37 connected with such series of-regenerators. In adjusting the retort batteryv for operation with the special generator gas as fue'l, the sliding bricks 50 of thealternate pairs L of reo'enerators of the series l I are moved to cose the dis-.

charge ends of the vertical air channels 47 -which lead into such regenerators, whereas ,the sliding bricks of the lntermediate' pairs M of the same series of regenerators are operated to open the discharge ends of the vertical air channels 47 andv to place them in communication vwith such regenerat'ors. Accordingly, the 4opening' 'of the valves of the as pipes 53 leading to the alternate pairs J of regenerators ofthe series I permits 'the special generator gas to,

v gas and air are delivered to each' of the flues of the groups I through the ports 24 of vthe pairs of channelsf23 that communicate with each group I of lines. In the severa lines of the groups I the gas ,ignites in the air and burns downwardly, the Waste gases passing into the horizontal channels 33 thatiare lo cated at the lower ends otsaid downbuiaiing fines. From `these-.channels 33- the waste products flow into the u'pburning fines of the Vg1oups".K,`which upburning lues are supp ied with fresh gas from the horizontal gas channels 32 that are connected by means oli' the long vertical channels 3l withthe top horizontal channels 23iof the alternate pairs L oi regenerators of the series I through'4 which a supply of gas is maintained, as hereinabove explained. The fresh gas which discharges intosaid upburning lues of the groups Kthiough the ports 34- ignites inthe waste'gases delivered bythe connecting channels 33, said iii-ast gases containing enough oncombined oxygen to support the combuson t the gas in the upburning iiues. From the top ot the upburning flues, which comprises all `the ducs of the groups K, the waste gases discharge through the-hereinabove dei scrihed'ports 24, then pass into theseveral top horizontal channels 23 that lead` to the several regenerators of the 'series K. Flowing-down through said regeneratorsoi" the scriesK,l :the waste gases finally discharge through the sole channels 22 and through the -`open mushroom va'ves 4l of the-flow pipes 39 into the waste tunnel 37. 0nv reversal of the battery, by means of the reversing connectionsJhereinabove described,

the several regenerators of the series I" operate as outflow regenerators and the sev? Passing through they at the time the mushroom Valiesll() of the ilow pipes of such regenerators are open, and the gas supply connections are shut. The vmushroom valves 41 of the ow pipes of the inflow operating regenerators of the series K are closed and the gas valve connections of' the intermediate pairs M of such' regenerators areopcn to'permit iniiow of gas. Air passes intoy the alternate pairs L ot' 4the regenerators of the series KQ The air and gas iiows from said regenerators into the downburning fues comprisingthe eral ilues of the group I as upburning flues i groups K, and then into the upburning flues ol the group'I from which it discharges into the downflow operating regenerators of the series I', it being understood that the operation ai'ter reversal is essentially the same as that hereinabove described. The invention embodies a further inode of operation in that the relatively rich gas derived 'from `the distillation oic coal in the retortchambers may be used as the fuel,

while simultaneously there is maintained' both in the upburning and in lthe doWnburning fines a supply of a neutral gaseous diluent, vwhich has the important function' of greatly lengthening the flame produced by this relatively rich gas, whether burning up or down, so as to equalize'temperature conditions throughout ainaximum area of the heating' walls and to prevent intense heat concentration in the upper and lower portions of the walls. Because of this heat equalization promoted by the present invention, the heating walls and, the intermefuel for the. retort battery, the following is the inode of operation: The supply lof the relatively lean-gas to the producer ,gas mains 52 and 54 is turned oli and the sup- `ply of the relatively rich distillate gas to the mains connected with the gas ducts 26 and 30 is turned on. vThe sliding bricks 5() and 51 of 'both series I andK of rediate coking chambers may be constructed generators are ,adjusted to place all of the regeuerators of both said series in communication with the air channels 47 and 4:9.`

Assuming that the series I of regenerators are operating for infiow, v'the flue groups I lor downlow, the-flue groups K for upilow and the series'K of-regenerators for by means of the gas ducts 26, and said gas Hows through the nozzles 27 into the chambers 28 in which it is. mixed with supplies of neutral gaseous 'diluent that passes into said chambers through" the ports 35 at the upper end of the vertical diluent supply lchannels 34 hereinabove described. The waste gas supplied to these channels 34 is derivedtroin the lower ends of the iues 16 ot' the groups I. 'The gas admixed with the waste gas diluent ignites in the upper ends of said fines of the groups I and burns downwardly with long tiames in said flues. The waste products from the bottoms of the downbu'rning lues pass mainly through the horizontal channels 33 into the bottoms of the upbiirning flues comprising the groups K. To the lower ends of these upburning fiues there is also supplied distillate gas from the' bottom gas ducts 30 and additional preheated air from the horizontal channels 32 and the vertical channels 31, which as betorementioned, lead from alternate pairs ot regenerators of the series I. There is thus supplied to the upburn ing tlues from thebottoin of the retort battery distillate gas, air and vwaste gas.v with the result that long llames are' maintained in the upburning fiues. The waste pro' ducts from Vthe upburning fines-pass out through the ports 24 at the top, thence into the channels 25 and downwardly through the several regenerators of the series K', which deliverthem to the waste gas tunnel 37. On reversal of the battery the entire series of regenerators K operate for inl-low the fines of the groups K become downburning lues, the flues of the groups I-become upburningflues and the entire series of regenerators I operate for outflow. The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in a particular form of con struction but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter. made.

I claim: y A i K l. In a `vertical retort battery, in combination: a plurality of high narrow retort chambers, each receiving through its top the charge to be coked and discharging through its bottoni the cokedcharge; heating walls contiguousy to such retort chambers and respectively constituted of two groups of combustion tlues `coiuuiunicably connected together at their loweiI ends, one

. group oi' such combustion flucs ot' each heat-v ing wall burning upwardly, while the other group burns downwardly; mixing chainbers coniiniinicating with the tops ot such combustion tlues and return waste gaspassages connecting thebottoms ot 'such combustion fines Awith said `mixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the imams aforesaid mixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected` with the bottoms of such combustion flues'; two series of high narrow regenerators respectively companion to the upburning and downburning groups of such combustion iiues, each series of regenerators being grouped into pairs, the individual members ot' which are conimunicahly connected. with a single companion group of said combustion lines; channels connecting the alternate pairs of regenerators of each series with the other group ot' such combustion iues; and means for reversing the llow through said regenerators and their connected groups ot' coinbustion iiues; substantially as specified.

2. Ina Vertical retort battery, in combination: e. plurality ot' high narrow retort chambers, eaclireceiving through its top the charge to be coked 'and discharging through .its bottom the lcoked charge; heating walls contiguous to such retort chambers and respectively constituted ot' two groups o1 com` bustion lues communicably connected together at their lower ends, one group of such combustion tlues ot cach heating wall burning upwardly, while the'other group burns downwardly; mixing chambers communicating with the tops of such combustion ues and return waste gas passages connecting the bottoms ot' such combustion fines with said mixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the aforesaid mixing chain# bers; fuel gas supply means connected with the bot-toms of such combustion flues; two series of high narrow regenerators respectively companion to the iipburning and downburning groups of -such combustion lines, -each series Y,of iegenerators being grouped into pairs, the individual members of which are commui'iicably7 connected with a single companion group of said combustion iues; channels connecting so'me'of the 'regenera-tors of cach series with the other group of such combustion tiucs; and means for reversing the flow through said' regeneiators and their connected groups of com bustion flues; substantially as specified.

3. In aV vertical retort battery, in combination: a plurality of retort chanilxirs, each re` eeiving through its top the charge to be coked and discharging through its bottom the coked charge; heating Walls contiguous to such retort chambers and respectively constituted ot' two groups of"combustion i'lucs coniniuiiicably connected together at their lou er ends. one group of such combustion luesI ot cach licating wall burnin up- ,maidly while the other group burns own- '\\'ardly; mixing chambers .commiiiiieating with the tops otsuch combustion fiues and return waste' gas passages connecting the lilli bottoms ot' such combustion lues with said mixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the aforesaidmixmg cham- 'oit such combustion tlues;

and return Waste was lassaut-.s

/ amazes bers; fuel gas supply means connected with the bottoms of such combustion lines; two series ot regenerators respectively companion to the upburning and clownburningI groups of such combustion fines,- each series of regenerators being grouped into pairs, the individual members of which are eommimic-ablyY eonnectedwith a single companion group ot said combustion fines; channels connecting the alternate pairs ot regelt erator` ot' each series with the other group andr means l'or reversing the flow through said rcgenerators and their conneeted'grmips of couilfmstion flues; substantially as specified.

i. In a Vertical retort battery, in combination: a plurality of high ,narrow retort` chambers, each receiving through its top the charge to be eolced and discharging through its bottom the eohed charge; heating walls contiguous to such retort chambers and respectively constituted oi two groups ot combustion i'iues eommunicably connected together at thei'rlower ends, one grou p ot such combustion flues of each he Aing wall burning upwardly, while the other group burns downwardly; mixing chambers counuunicab ingr with the tops ot such combustion tlues cornuictinu 'the bott'oms'of such combustion tiues with said mixing ehan'ibers; 'fuel gas s'upply means connected' withthe aforesaid mixing chambers; fuel gassuppily moans connected with the bottol'ns of such combustion fines; and two series of highv narrow regenerators respectively companion to the upburninu and downburning groups ot' such combustion ilues and communicably connected thorewith; substantially as specified.

5. In a vertical retort battery, in cmnbination t. plurality .of retort chambers. cach receiving through its `top the charge to be coked and discharging through its bottom the colted charge; heatingl walls contiguous tol vsuch retort. cbainliers'and rcspectiwly constituted of two groups ot conilmstion lucs connnunicably connected together at their lower ends, one lgroup oi such combustion fines o't' each heating wall burning' up-4 wardly, while the other ,group burns downwardly; mixing chambers communicating with the tops ot such combustion (lifes and return waste gas passages conncctingjr the bottoms ol: such cor'nliustion thans' with said mixing chambers; iuel ras supply means connected with the aforesaid mixing;v chumbcrs; fuel tuns supply means connected with tbc bottoms-'ot' such combustion flucs; and two series ot high narrow rcpjcuerators ref-|nu-tivel v companion to the upburning and downburning groups ot such comluistiou flucs and ,-polnmunicahly connected therewith; substantially as specified.

6. In a Vertical retort battery, in com bination: a plurality of retort chambers,

yand dow'nburnimgr burning groups of combustion tlucs come4 munieubly connected together at their lowerV ends; mixing;h chambers communlcatiugy with the tops of said combustion tlues and return waste gas passages connecting the bottoms ot such combustion iues with said mixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the aforesaid mixingr chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the bottoms ot' said combustion tluesrregcnerators respectively companion to the uplmrning and (lmrnlnurninaF tgroups ot said combustion fines, some ot the regenerators being also connnunicably connected with the other group otl such comlnistion lines; and means tor reversingffthe (louthrough said regen erators and their connected oroupsof coinbustion lines; substantially as specified.

i'. In a vertical rctort'battery., in comliination: a plurality` of higi'hnarrow retort chambers; heating' walls contiguous to such retort chambers and respectively com.

stituted oi two groups ot combustion fines communimibly connected together attheir lower ends, one group ot suchcombustion lues of each heating' wall burning,r upwardly., while the other group burns downward panion to the upburning and downburninf'r` groups ot such combustion tlues, each series ot' regenerators being grouped into pairs; the individual members of which are cominunicably connected Awith a single compan-l ion group ot said combustion tlues; chair nels connecting the alternato pairs of regencraters ot.l ea'eh series with the other group.

ot' such combustion fines; and means for reversing tue flow through said regenerators and their connected groups of combustion flues; substantially as specified.

8. In a vertical retort battery, :in combination: a phu'ality of retort chambers; .heat- ,ingr walls contig-nous to such retort chambers and respectively constituted of upburning groups of combustion lues communcably connected together; return Waste gas passages connecting the opposite enelsel? the'individiuil combustion tlues; fuel gas supply means also connected with the opposite ends of said combustion lines; regenerators respectively companion tothe uphill-ning and downburning groups -,i.rnecting the alternate pairs ot regenerators of each. series with the other group of such combustion4 lues; and means for reversing the flow through said regenerators and their connected groups ot combustion tlues; substantially as specified.

3. In a vertical retort battery; in combination: a plurality ot retort chambers; heating vwalls contiguous to such retort rharnbers and respectively constituted ot upburning and downburning groups ot combustion fines cominunicably connected together; return `waste gas passages connecting the opposite ends of the individual combustion tlues'; fuelgas supply means also connected with the opposite ends of said combustion lues; and regenerators companion to and eommunicabl)v connected with such combustion tlues; substantially as specilied.

l0. In a vertical retort battery, in combination: aplurality. bt retort chambers7 each receivingl through its top the charge to beneked and discharging through its bottom thekfoked charge, heating Walls contiguous to such retort chambers and each constituted of both upburning and downburning groups oft combustion lues; regenerators respectively companion to the upburning and downburning groups ot such combustion tlues, each series of regenerators being operable in alternation tor inflow and outflow and the inflow operating rre-generators comprising both gas and air regenerators, the gas regeneratorsbeing coinniunicably connected with both groups oi' such combustion tlues; substantially as specified 1l. ln a vertical lretort battery, in combination: a plurality ol retort chambers, each receiving through its top the charge to be ookedand discharging through its bottoni the coked charge7 heating Walls contiguous to such retort chambers and each constituted of both upburning and downburning groups of combustion fines; regenerators respec tively companion to the--upburning and downburning groups of such combustion fines, each series ot lregenerators being op erable in alternation for inflow 'and outflow and the inilowoperating regenerators comprising both gas and air, regenerators; substantially as speciied.

12. In a coking retort, in combination: a retort chamber; a heatingwall contiguous to ysuch retort chamber and constituted of a combustion flue; a mixing chamber communicating. with" one end of said combustion flue anda return Waste gas passage connecting the other end ofv said combustion flue with said mixing chamber; fuel gas supply means connected with said. mining chamber;

lot combustion llues ;,a fuel ply to said lucs an extraneously derived gas,

such as producer gas; and means operable at will tor alternatively admitting and shutting oil`l sut-h fuel gas supplies; substantially as specilied.

"14. In a retort battery, in combination; eokiug chambers; simultaneously upburning and downhurning groups ot combustion lues. combined with a regenerative system connuunicably connected therewith; a fuel gas supply adapted to supply directly to both groups o fines gas of distillation from Ahe coking chambers; and alternative fuel supply adapted to supply to some of the regenerators an extraneously derived gas, such as producer gas; and means operable at will for alternatively admitting and shutting olli such fuel gas supply; substantially as specified.A

l5. In a vertical retort battery for the rarbonization of coal, in combination: a group of vertical retorts adapted to have the charges pass through them from their top charging-holes to their bottom discharge-openings and having their sides formed by heatingwalls constituted of elongated vertical flame-flues adapted to subject the descending charges to flame-heat substantially throughout the height of each retort; paired regenerators arranged alongside the group ot retorts and having con-` nections separately communicating with they llame-fines so that the'regenerators of each pair may be employed either separately for preheating gas and air or both tor preheating air; and supplementary gas-ducts comf municating directly with the llame-fines independently of the regenerators and adapted to supply* fuel-gas that is not preheated by the regenerators; the aforesaid regenerator connections and supplementar` gasducts being respectively provided with ports leading into the vertical tlaxne-lli1es and so distributed that the descending charges in the retorts may be subjected to flame-heat substantially throughout their height irrespcctively of Whether the flame-fines are tired with regeneratively preheated lean gas or with unpreheated rich gas, the ports for `air and both lti'nds'ot4 gas being grouped at "such plurality ot' points that flames may be initiated atl different. levels in the vertical lines. p

16. 1n a vertical retort battery for the earbonization of coal, in combination: a group of vertical retorts adapted .to have the charges pass through them 'from their top charging-holes to their bottom. disehm eopemn s and havint theii` sides formed y vertice ly elongated meeting-W1 ed of flame-fines ada. tedv te .fsu scending charges to throughout the height of each retort; paired regenerators arranged alongside the group of retorts and having conneetione sepei'etely communicating with the ameiuee to 'that the regeneratore of each pair may be em plo ed either se aratelg for preheating? anti7 air or both' or pre eating; ait; antfsup plementery gas-ducts communicating die neatly with the flame-titles independently of ame-heet substantially' 'seending c larges in the retorts .jected to flame-heat substantially throu h'- the egenerators and adapted to 4supply fuelgas that is not preheated by the regenerators; the vaforesaid regenerator connections and supplementary gas-ducts being respectively rovided with ports leading into the flameues and so distributed in the verti cally elon rated heating-Walls that the demey be subeut theii` height irrespeotively of whet er the flene-lues are ired with regenerative] peheated lean ges or with unpreheated c gas. t

JosEPH VAN ACKEREN. f

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