US1935925A - Process of generating combustible gas - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 1933. Q Q WANNACK 1,935,925

PROCESS OF GNERATING COMBUSTIBLE GAS Filed NOV. 16, 1929 Patented Nov. 21, 1933 l 4UNITED sTATEsPA-TENT OFFICE PROCESS F GENEATING COMBUSTIBLE Carl Otto Wannack, Chicago. lll., assigno', by mesne assignments, to S. H. G. Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application November 16, 1929 y SerialvNo.l 407,608 t 6 Claims. (Cl. 48-219) This invention relates to a process of generatthe blower is operating, air under pressure ls ing combustible gas by intimately associating air delivered through the pipe 6, check valve 18, and under pressure with combustible fluid. line 16 t0 the air space above the fluid 11 in One of the features of my invention comprises the Compartment 9.

Separating the main bulk supply of combustible The Pipe 17 Iney be Connected to, and extend 60 fluid from the zone in which the generated comdownwardly intdcompartment 8. Interposed in bustible gas is confined or stored, pending with- 'the line 17 is 8- oheek Valve 19 Which opens away drawal for use. from the blower 2, and prevents the back ilow In a preferred embodiment, generation of the of ges from the Compartment 8 to the liloWel l0 gas may take place in the ga:l store zone, but When the moto;` 4 is not in operation. The end 66. it is to be understood that the invention in its of the Pipe 17 Within the oompel'tment 3 me? broadest aspect contemplates the generation of be Provided With 8 removable nozzle 17'. which combustible gas either in the'gas storage zone -Will be hereinafter more fully deserihedor in the combustible liquid storage zone. A Pipe 22 may extend doWnWrdlY into the Com- Other and further important objects of the pertinent 9, the end of Which may he open 8nd 70 present invention will be apparent from the acdisposed Within, Say 2 to 6 inches. (more 01 less) eompanying drawing and following detail defrcmthe bottom of scid compartment Sc as to scription. be submerged in the liquid. The pipe 22 virtually In the drawing, Fig, 1 is a diagrammatic ele.. forms a U, the other end or which terminates 2o vationai view of an arrangement suitable for within the'ccmpartment 8. adjacent the end 0f 75 carrying out my invention. the compressed air pipe 11. The end of pipe 22 Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electric in compartment 8 may be bent, as shown at 23 current circuit and connections, in Fig. 1 so as to discharge huid at an angle to Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 indicates the air issuing from nozzle 17'- In Order t0 30n- 25 an air intake pipe connected to a blower or air trol the quantity and Velocity 0f the ud issuing 80 compressor 2. The pipe 1 may preferably open from the pipe 22 the latter may be provided with to a point exterior of a building 3 The blower a. removable nozzle 22'. The arrangement is such 2 may be operated by a motor or the like 4, which that the point cf intersection cf the fluid and. may drive the blower through the agency of a air streams is spaced from the air discharge a belt or sprocket chain 5. The blower 2 may draw sumcient distance so that the (tooling effect DTO- 85 air through the intake pipe V1 and discharge said duced by the. rapid evaporation of the fluid Will air through a pipe 6. not freeze the moisture entrained in the com A rank '1 may be buried in the ground exterior pressed air and foul the air discharge. of the building s, and is preferamy divided mec An automatic sclencidelly actuated valve, deS- two separate compartments 8 and 9 by means gnated eS a Whole 24. may he interposed in the 90 of a vertical partition 10. The compartment 9 Dine 22 exterior 0f both compartments, the a1'- may be utilized to conne a quantity of combusrangement being Such that, /When motor 4 is tible fluid 11 which may be charged through a functioned, the valve` 24 will be simultaneously filler pipe l2 which extends downwardly a relaenergized through the electrical Connection 25.

40 tively short distance into the compartment 9. In this manner, While Inotol 4 is operating all' 95 A screen 13 may be associated with the pipe 12 under pressure will be introduced into chamber serving as a nre preventing means. The down- 9 through pipe 15, and n pressure Will be estab- Wardly extending filler pipe 12 serves to prevent lished in seid Chamber above the Surface of the the compartment 9 from being completely lled fluid 11 Contained therein. foloing e Portion of with uid. In other words, an air space is always seid nula through Pipe 22 and Valve 24 and diS- 100 provided above the surface of the fluid 11. charging the nd from orinoe 0I' no2-Zie 22' in A housing 14 may be connected to the comchamber 8. At the same time air under pressure partment 9, adapted to receive a liquid level iS also issuing from line 17 through the 811 nozzle gauge (not shown) of any accepted design. 17', and is directed into contact with the stream The compressed air passing through the pipe of nuid issuing from nozzle 22', thereby breaking 105 6 is diverted at the T 15 through two lines 16 up the fluid into a nely divided vapor or log and and 17 respectively. Interposed in the line 16 producing a'co'mbustible gas. is a check valve 18 which opens away from the A gas outlet pipe 26 is connected into the chamcompressor. The other end of the line 16 may ber 8 and preferably extends downwardly there. Y

be connected into the compartment 9. When into to within a few inches of the bottom. A T 110 coupling 27 may be connected to the upper end of pipe 28 into which a gas. discharge line 28 may be connected. The third end of the T 27 may' be closed by means of a removable plug or the like 29'. By this arrangement, if unvaporized fluid, such as water, accumulates at the bottom of the compartment 8, it may be thdrawn without disconnecting the line 28, m rely by removing plug 29', inserting a pipe or the like (not shown) through pipe 26 and withdrawing the water or unvaporized fluid through the auxiliary pipe.

The line 28 may lead to the building 3 or to any point of gas consumption;l a conventional pressure reducing valve 29 may be interposed in line 28 to reduce the pressure of the gas from chamber 8-to a pressure at which gas may be conveniently and eillciently consumed. A vent pipe 30 may communicate with valve 29 and may open at a point exterior of the building 3. A flash-back arrester 31 maybe interposed in line 28 preferably on the lowv pressure side of the valve 29. g

l'nterposed in gas discharge line 28, preferably between the pressure reducing valve 29 and the 1'- 27, is a pressure-actuatedswitch 20. The arrangement is such that, when, the pressure within the pipe 28, and hence the pressure in compartment 8, reaches a predetermined mini' mum, say for instance, one-half to one and onehalf pounds per square inch, more or less, the pressure-operated switch 20 will be actuated to simultaneously energize the motor 4 and valve 24, thereby generating gas inthe compartment vil. When the generation of gas has proceeded to the point where a predetermined maximum pressure is reached in compartment 8, say for instance, four to iive pounds per square'inch, more or less, the switch 20 functions to disconnect the motor 4 and deenergize valve 24, thereby cutting ofi the generation of-gas, and Acompletely separating the two compartments, 8 and 9. In this manner gas generated and connned in compartment 8 is unaffected by evaporation from the main bulk supply of fluid 11.

Referring particularly to Ii'ig. 2, a schematic of the electrical circuit and connections is shown; 32 indicates a source of electrical cur- `rent across which motor 4 is ccinected while 20 indicates an automatic pressure-operated switch connected in series with the motor. A solenoid 24'.may also be onnected acros the motor 4 being operated when the switch 20 is closed.. A plunger or core 24" is adapted to be raised when solenoid 24' is energized, thereby opening the' valve 24j", when th switch 2o is' opened, the Vniotor stops and solenoid 24' is simultaneously deenergized, permitting the core 24" to. fall by gravity, thereby closing the valve 24"'. It is to be understood of course, that-elements 24.', 24" and 24"' correspond to valve 24.

In one mode of carrying out my invention, a quantity ofcombustible' fluid may be introduced into .theV compartment 9 of tank 'I through fillerpipe '12. The compartment 9 may be initially filled to approximately the lower end of pipe 12,

' which'pipe is then closed by means of a conven- Vinto contact in the chamber 8. These factors may be varied at will by changing the relative sizes of the nozzles 17' and 22 of the air and fluid 35 streams respectively. In this manner, for the production of a combustible gas of a desired 'caloric value, a suitable arrangement of nozzle sizes may be utilized which will insure the vaporization of al1 of the uid introduced into the 9()l compartment 8. The rate of gas generation can -.be readily controlled by the capacity-of the blow- With the generation of combustible gas in the chamber 8, the pressure in said chamber will in 95 crease, until a predetermined maximum pressure is reached, say for example, four to five pounds 4per square inch, more or less. Upon reaching .this critical pressure, the pressure-actuated switch 20 will function to stop the motor 4 andl 100 simultaneously deenergize the solenoid 24', perT mitting the plunger 24" to fall by gravity, closing the valve '24"'. Hence, the generation of combustible gas is stopped and all means of communication between the compartments 8 and 9 105 is cut off.

The withdrawal ,of combustible gas for consumption 'reduces the pressure in gas compartment 8. Whenl this pressure is reduced below'a predetermined minimum, say l to 1% pounds per Ano square inch, more or less, the pressure-actuated switch 20 is automatically functioned to again start the motor 4 and simultaneously open valve 24. The motor 4 being directly connected to the compressor 2 'will operate the compressor to charge air under pressure through lines 16 and 17 until the pressure again reaches the predetermined maximum. By this arrangement the entire operation is automatically controlled and is functioned solely bythe pressure within the two compartments. The check valves 18 and 19 prevent liquid `and gas, respectively, from flowing back to the air compressor in case of unforeseen accident. y

I have found it desirable to dispose the mouth of the gas withdrawal pipe 26 in the chamber 8 -remoteLv with respect to the point of gas generation inasmuch as the freshly generatedv gas is thus permttedito travel through the entire compartment 8 before it is withdrawn. In this man- 130' ner a homogeneous gas will always be withdrawn.

While I have illustrated the switch 20 as taking 'the form of a mercoid switch, it is to be understood that any equivalent element which is automaticallyfunctioned by the prsure within l the gas compartment to start or stop the motor maybeutilize'd. Also,I donotwishtobe limited to a solenoid valve 24, since any type of valve which' will be automatically functioned can be used. I illustrate the valve as being ofthe solenoid or magnetic type, sincesolenoid valves have been approved by the Board of Under? writers. v

It may be found desirable under certain conditions to 'introduce a heating element (not 145 shown) such as a closed coil or the like. into the chamber v8 to assist vaporlzation of the combustible fluid; A heating medium, such as hot wa't'er,

`steamhot' oil or'the lke may be' passed through the' coiLOne Vcondition which may warrant 150 the use of the heating element in the gas chamber, may exist when a combustible fiuid of comparatively high boiling point is used.

It is apparent that I have provided a method of producing a combustible gas of substantially any desired caloriflc value and producing throughout the continuance of the process a combustible gas of constant heat content; a method in which the heat content of the combustible gas may be changed at will and maintained constant regardless of atmospheric temperature changes and humidity conditions met in practice.

By the expression combustible iiuid as used in the specication and claims is meant a fluid other than a true gas which when suitably mixed with air will produce a combustible gas. Such fluids as gasoline, pentane, hexane, benzol, alcohols and the like may be used, but it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as specified in the appended claims.

I have found it to be advantageous to so proportion the quantity of combustible liquid and air brought into intimate association in the compartment 8, that the air admitted isnot saturated, for instance, the resultant gas when formed may be of a caloriflc value corresponding to approximately 25% (more or less) saturation of the air.. In this manner atmospheric temperature changes and moisture conditions of the ar will have little or no eil'ect upon the heat value of the gas.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process which comprises maintaining a bulk supply of low boiling liquid fuel not substantially heavier than gasoline in a closed zone, removing fuel from said zone, mixing the withdrawn fuel outside said zone with air substantially free of combustibles to form a combustible gas, said air being drawn from an air supply outside the closed zone and mixed directly with the fuel without prior passage through the closed zone, storing the combustible gas in a second closed zone maintained substantially free of uncarbureted combustible liquid, preventing vapor communication between the first and second mentioned zones during storage therein of the liquid fuel and the combustible gas respectively, and passing combustible gas from said second zone to a point of consumption without appreciable dilution.

2. A process which comprises maintaining a bulk supply of low boiling fuel not substantially heavier than gasoline in a closed zone, removing fuel from said zone and introducing the same to a second closed zone maintained substantially V,free of uncarbureted combustible liquid, passing air substantially free 'of combustibles directly from an air supply outside said zones and without prior passage through the first-mentioned zone into said second zone and intimately mixing the same therein with the fuel withdrawn from the first-mentioned zone to form a combustible gas, storing the combustible gas in said second zone and preventing vapor communication between said zones during the storage of the combustible gas and liquid fuel therein, and passing combustible gas from said second zone to a point of consumption Without appreciable dilution.

3. A process which comprises maintaining a body of low boiling combustible liquid not substantially heavier than gasoline in a closed zone, introducing a stream of air under pressure into said zone and forcing liquid out of the zone by the pressure of the air into a second closed zone maintained substantially free of uncarbureted combustible liquid, introducing directly to said second zone a second stream of air, substantially free of combustibles, from a source outside the first-'mentioned zone and without prior passage through the rst-mentioned zone, intimately mixing the second stream of air with the liquid in said second zone to form a combustible gas, storing the combustible gas in said second zone and preventing vapor communication between said zones during the storage of the combustible gas and liquid fuel therein, and passing combustible gas from said second zone to a point of consumption without appreciable dilution.

4. A process which comprises maintaining a body of low boiling combustible liquid not substantially heavier than gasoline in a closed zone, compressing air in a zone of compression, removing a first stream of compressed air from the compression zone and introducing the same to said closed zone, forcing liquid out of said closed zone by the pressure of said air stream into a second closed zone maintained substantially free of uncarbureted combustible liquid, removing a second stream of compressed air from the compression zone and introducing the same directly into said second closed zone without prior passage through the mst-mentioned closed zone, intimately mixing the second stream of air with the liquid in said second zone to form a combustible gas, storing the combustible gas in said second zone and preventing vapor communication between said zones during the storage of the combustible gas and liquid fuel therein, and passing combustible gas from said second zone to a point of consumption without appreciable dilution.

5. The process as defined in claim 3 further characterized in that the introduction of said second stream of air to said second zone is controlled in response to pressure variations in said second zone.

6. The process as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that the combustible gas is withdrawn from said second zone at a point remote from the point of mixing the combustible uid and air.

CARL OTTO WANNACK.

Images