US2033511A - Method for production of carbureted water gas - Google Patents

Description

March l0, 1936.

H. J. CARSON METHOD FQR PRODUCTION OF CARBURETED WATER GAS Filed April 29, 1932 @W JM March 10, 1936. H, J, CARSQN 2,033,511 METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF CARBURETED WATER GAS y Filed April 29; 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 By Wb Patented Mar. l0, 1936 PATENT oFFlcE METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF CAR- BURETED WATER GAS 'Hiram J. Carson, Omaha, Nebr.

Applicatill April 29, 1932, Serial N0. 608,277

12 Claims.

This invention relates \to improvements in method for production of carbureted water gas, and more specically to an improved carbureter and method of carbureting the Water gas with i hydrocarbons during passage of the water gas through the carbureter,

'I'he present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending,applicat ions Serial No. 353,576, filed April 8, 1929 and Serial No. 498,457,

filed October 31, 1930, to which reference may be had.

As is well known, the usual carbureted water gas set -includes a generator, a carbureter and a superheater provided with the necessary connections for transfer of gases, air and steam and adapted to be supplied from suitable sources with the necessary air, steam and hydrocarbons. for carrying out the process of manufacture. In carrying out the carbureting step, it has here- 0 tofore been the general practice to employ a carbureter having a secondary combustion chamber at the top thereof with the checkerwork of brick or other suitable heat-absorbing material positioned therebelow, the blast gases 5 being .burned by the admission of secondary air for combustion inl such top chamber and the resultant products then passed downwardly through the checkerwork of brick and out through the remaining apparatus. During the 0 gas-making period, the water gas or blue gas is likewise admitted to said top chamber and the hydrocarbons for carbureting the water gas simultaneously admitted into said chamber from the top thereof in a downward direction, coinciding with the downward flow of the water gases, the resultant products then being passed lthrough the-checkerwork of brick downwardly and thence from the bottom of the carbureter to the vsuperheater and from the latter to such other apparatus as desired, examples of such well known carbureting sets and process of carbureting the water gas, being shown in patents to Young 1,468,190 of September 18, 1923, and Odell 1,762,100 of June 3, 1930.

Several serious disadvantages are inherent in A such prior known carbureters and methods of carbureting above indicated. It is well known that optimum conditions for the gasification and/or cracking oi the hydrocarbons when carbureting water gas, require the maintenance of temperatures within relatively narrow limits. If the temperatures become too high, the -hydrocarbons employed for carbureting will be overcracked, with resultant deposits oi carbon and formation of objectionable compounds, such as naphthalene. On the contrary, if the temperatures become too low, the hydrocarbons employed for carburetingare incompletely cracked and other objectionable compounds formed, such as indene and styrene. Furthermore, wide 5 variations or fluctuations of the temperatures in the carbureter cause a rapid deterioration of the heat-absorbing materials employed therein, such as iirebrick, because of the thermal shocks incident to the wide temperature changes. A In the usual apparatus for and methods of carbureting, the hydrocarbon particles are injected downwardly into andtravel downwardlyl with a passing stream .o f water gas. The greater density of the hydrocarbon particles causes these 1.5 to have a greater downward velocity than the .gas particles and, also, the greater density of the cooler gas particles as they are cooled by contact with the hydrocarbon particles,A causes these4 to have a greater downward velocity than the` hotter gas particles and the hotter gas particles a lesser downward velocity. The downwardly .moving hydrocarbon particles are thus surrounded with cool gas particles and the cracking and/or gasification of the hydrocarbon particles is retarded by this surrounding atmosphere of cooler gas. Further, the undecomposed steam and water gas enter the carburetor below the desired temperatures for-cracking and must be heated therein. i In the prior known carbureters and methods of carbureting, such as hereinbefore referred to, where the hydrocarbons are introduced in the top chamber of the carbureter in a downward direction simultaneously with the downward ow of the water gas prior to passage through'the checkerbrick, tests have shown that the temperatures fluctuate from an average minimum of 640 Fahrenheit to an average maximum of 1886 Fahrenheit with extreme mean variations from 40 513 to 2000 Fahrenheit.` Such wide uctuations of temperatures necessitate frequent shutdowns of the set and replacement of the checkerbrick. Further, in such prior types of carbureters, the lining of the top chamber and upper courses 'of 45 the checkerbrick become very highly heated during the air blasting periods. When the water gas is admitted during the ,gas-forming periods, and the hydrocarbons simultaneously therewith into such top chamber, the excessive temperatures at rst induce overcracking of the hydrocarbons with resultant deposit of carbon and formationof naphthalene. As the gas-making period is continued, the checkerbrick is cooled very rapidly by the heating and vaporization of the hydrocarbon oils admitted; and indene and styrene are frequently formed. The cooling action on the checkerbrick also frequently proceeds to such a point that the water gas and undecomposed steam admixed therewith, which continues to enter the carbureter, cannot be properly carbureted and, in the next succeeding or blasting period, it becomes difilcult to ignite the air blast gases for secondary combustion.

Onel object of my invention is to provide, in the manufacture of carbureted water gas, a carbureter and method of carbureting water gas which will eliminate or minimize all of the disadvantages hereinbefore pointed out in connection with prior known types ofy carbureted water gas sets and, more specifically, to maintain the temperatures in the carbureting and hydrocarbon cracking zones within such minimum and maximum temperatures as will prevent the formation of objectionable compounds and minimize the deterioration of the heat-absorbing material in the carbureter.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in connection with the manufacture of carbureted water gas, improved means and method for preheating the water gas prior to the introduction ofthe hydrocarbons thereinto; and to inject the hydrocarbons into the stream of water .gas in such manner and at such time as to insure optimum conditions of operation of the set and production of carbureted water gas without objectionable compounds being formed.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means and method for insuring ignition of the blast gases entering the carbureter at the beginning of the air blasting periods.

Other objects of my invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. y

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a part vertical section, part elevation, of a water gas generating set showing my improvements incorporated therein and adapted to carry out the improved process. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a modied form of carbureter adapted to be used in lieu of the carbureter shown in Figure 1, and also adapted to be used for carbureting the down run gases and for superheating the up run steam, and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating another arrangement of water gas generating set adapted to carry out the improved process.-

In said drawings, and referring first to Figure l the generator is indicated broadly by the reference character I0; the carbureter by the reference character 20; and the usual gas superheater by the reference character 30.

The generator I0 is or may be of any well known or desired type in which the column of fuel is indicated at II, the vsame being shown supported on a grate I2 and to which the air for blasting is adapted to be admitted through the pipe I3, controlled by valve I4, the air being supplied from any suitable source, as will be understood. The fuel is adapted to be admitted through the top of the generator through the passage I5 normally closed'by the coaling lid-I6.

'Ihe blast gases and generated Water gas are passed from the generator IU to the top of the carbureter ,.2|l by a passageway 40 Within which is disposed a control valve 4I. Water gas generated by adown run in the generator is delivered from the bottom of the generator to the passageway 40 by pipe I1, havingr control valve I8 included therein, as shown.

Steam is supplied from any suitable source such as a boiler through pipe 42 having branches 43 and 44 adapted to conduct the steam to the top of the generator and bottom, respectively, as shown, the admissionof steam being controlled through suitable valves 45, 46 and 41. Steam may also be admitted to the top of the superheater 30 through pipe 48 having control valve 49 therein, when the set is operated in the manner hereinafter described. When steam is admitted to the superheater, the Water gas may be drawn oif from the bottom of the generator through the pipe 50 having control valve 5| therein and passed from the pipe 50 through a Water seal or other suitable apparatus not deemed necessary to describe.

Air for secondary combustion of the blast gases is preferably admitted through pipe 2| into the passageway 40 between the valve 4I and carbureter, said supply of air being controlled Aby the valve 22. The carbureter 20, as shown, is provided in the top portion thereof with a combustion chamber 23 and below the latter with a body of heat-absorbing material, such as a checkerwork of brick 24supported by an arch 25. Below the arch 25 is the carbureting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone 26 and below the latter a second body of heat-absorbing material 21 is shown which may also be a checkerwork of brick or the like, but which may be omitted when desired. The arch 25 is so located as to provide the desired proportions and/or spaces in 23, 24, 26 and/or 21. terial 21 may be used when desired to further and complete the cracking and/or gasification of any hydrocarbons uncracked in 26, but may be omitted when desired, as for example, when not' required or when very heavy high carbon oils are used which would deposit carbon thereon and tend to clog the openings therein.

The hydrocarbons or enriching agents are supplied to the carbureting chamber or hydrocar- 'oon admission zone 26 through a set of pipes 28-28 and/or another set of pipes 2li-29, each of which is provided with a suitable control valve |28 and |29, respectively, said pipes being more fully described hereinafter.

From the bottom of the carbureter 20, the burned blast gases and the carbureted water gas, as the case may be, are conveyed to the bottom of the superheater 30 through passageway 52 and thence pass upwardly through the regenerative zone, also preferably comprised of a checkerwork of brick or other suitable material 3|. In the case of the burned blast gases, the same are adapted to pass up into the stack,32 through the ue 33, controlled by valve 34 or to such other apparatus as desired. During the gasmaking period, the carbureted water gas is delivered from the top of the superheater as through pipe 35 and passed through a water seal to other apparatus where it may be treated in the usual manner. i

Assuming a column of fuel in the generator I0 and the same having been ignited, air is admitted through the pipe I3 and the blast gases are then vconducted through the passageway 40 (valve 4| being open); burned in the passageway 40 and combustion chamber 23 by admission of secondary air through the pipe 2| with valve 22 open, the burned blast gases then passing downwardly through the body of heat-absorbing material 24; through the chamber 26; and thence up through the superheater 30 and out Athrough the The heat-absorbing ma-` stack 82, the stack valve 84 being open, as will Abe understood.

wardly through the carbureting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone 26 where it is carbureted, as hereinafter described, thence throughV passageway 52 and up through the superheater 30 and out through thepipe 35. When an up run is being made, the valve 4l is open and lvalve I8 closed and, during the down run, valve 4I is closed and valve i8 open. When desired, the steam is admittted through pipe 48 to the top of the superheater, then passed downwardly therethrough and then upwardly through the carbureter 'from which it is delivered, to the top of the generator, valve 4l being open. The blue gas formed is then drawn off through the -pipe I Referring now more particularlyto the carbureter, and process steps which take place therein, it will be observed that the blast gases, during the air-blasting period, are or may be substantially completely burned prior to and in passing through the checkerwork 24. The burned gases in passing through the checkerwork 24 heat the latter to such temperature as may be desired and, after passing therethrough, will also serve to heat the refractory lining of the carbureting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone 26 and the lower body of checkerwork 21 (when used), as well as the body of regenerative material 3l in the superheater. During the gas-forming period, the water gas and such undecomposed steam as may be mingled therewith, `is preheated in its downward passage throughv the combustion chamber 23 and checkerwork 24 so that, by the time it enters the carbureting chamber 26, it has attained the desired temperature for most effectively heating, vaporizing and cracking the hydrocarbons injected thereinto.

In injecting the enriching agents into the chamber 26, it will be observed that the same are injected at a plurality of points around the periphery of the chamber or periphery of the downwardly moving stream of gas, and laterally into and/or against the stream of superheated gas. The enriching agents may be injected horizontally, as through the pipes 28 or at an upward angle toward the arch 25 as by the pipes 29. In either event, the enriching agents are injected from the periphery into the body of the downwardly moving gas stream, the injection being under relatively high velocity which may be 1.Qaried to suitv the enriching agents employed and/or the degree of cracking desired. In actual practice, nozzles or spuds will preferably be used on the inner ends of the pipes 28 and 29 and adjusted so as to sprayy the enriching agents in the desired manner and at the desired angle relative to the downwardly moving stream of gas. As the hydrocarbon yparticles of the enriching agents are projected into the stream of preheated Water gas under relatively high velocity, their velocity or momentum is progressively and gradually decreased as the same move into and penetrate the gas stream and, simultaneously therewith, the hydrocarbon particles will be progressively heated, vaporized and cracked as the hydrocarbon particles impinge against the gas particles until all of the hydrocarbon particles are l cracked. The greater the mass of such hydrocarbon particles and the greater their velocity, the farther the same will penetrate into the descending gas stream and the angle at which injected may be varied accordingly. The larger or heavier the Vhydrocarbon particles injected,

`vthe greater the need for more-velocity vand distance of penetration into and against the gas stream in order to insure the complete cracking thereof, as will be understood As the hydrocarbon particles impinge on successive particles of the descending gas, the same are gradually heated, vaporized and cracked and diminished in size until complete cracking occurs and the resultant carbureted mixture is passed downwardly' through the checkerwork 21 (when used) and thence to the superheater. x

The water gas particles, as they descend `through the carbureting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone 26 and are carbureted by the penetration of the hydrocarbon particles therein,

are cooled and the particles, as cooled and carbureted, have a greater density and accelerated downward velocity, thus automatically drawing more of the superheated water gas downwardly after them and into the carburetingchamber or' zone and path of the hydrocarbon particles admitted therein with a relatively uniform descent of the gases through the carbureter. The hydrocarbon particles on their travel into the gas stream, continually meet hot gas particles and cracking is thereby accelerated and completed in a relatively uniform manner.

As will be understood, the body of heat-absorbing material 24 may be of such size and may be heated during the air-blasting period to such desired degree that, when the water gas is subsequently passed therethrough and preheated, the temperature of the water gas and any undecomposed steam carried therewith and the heat from the lining of the chamber will eiect the desired complete cracking of the enrichingA agents in a relatively rapid manner, and more nearly uniform and optimum temperatures maintained.

It will further be noted that, with the carbureter and process described, the arch and any checkerwork 24 thereon, is not exposed to the cooling action of the hydrocarbons admitted to the carbureting chamber so that the arch and heat-absorbing material 25 and 24 remain at a much higher temperature than in the case of the carbureters heretofore commonly used and hence, insure ready and easy ignition of the blast gases during each subsequent air-blasting period. Further, by eliminating or minimizing the cooling of the arch and checkerwork 25 and 26, the latter are relieved of the excessive thermal shocks, such as incident to prior known carbureters, and therefore shut downs for repairs or replacements are reduced to a For the enriching agents, various grades of liquid hydrocarbons may be employed and also hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane, which latter are in the gaseousI state at ordinary atmospheric temperatures and pressures. Kerosene and gasoline, which are unsuitable for distribution as city gas, may also be employed. V

In ,those localities where natural gas is used as an enricher for water gas, the improved carbureted water gas set may be operated as a blue water gas set normally, with partial enrichment by hydrocarbons introduced and cracked as above described in order to improve and stabilize the rate of use of natural gas` from day to day and Y for augmenting the supply, as desired. Further,

. mate the heating values and burning characteristics of water gas enriched byor mixed with natural ,gas and of natural gas and hence may be used instead of or supplemental to such enriched or mixed gases or natural gas, when necessary, and without the necessity of burner adjustments and also eliminating other serious dimculties occurring when gases of different heating values and/or other characteristics are used.

When steam is admitted for up and down runs through the pipes 43 and 44, the entire or any desired portion of the resultant gas may be carbureted in the carbureter 20 as'obvious. When, however, a down run is made from steam admitted to the superheater at 48, the resultant gas from such down run will not be carbureted in the carbureter 20 but will be taken oil' through the pipe 50 and passed to such other apparatus, as desired. The preheat in the blue gas and steam may be varied in either or both of two ways, one by the amount or mass of heat-absorbing material in the walls and/or body 24 of the carbureter, and the second, the quantity of heat units stored in such heat-absorbing material depending upon the temperature to which raised. For illustration, with the body of heat-absorbing material indicated at 24 in the drawing entirely omitted and with only the heat-absorbing surfaces of the carbureting shell available, when the hydrocarbons are sprayed counter-current into and against the down-coming stream of gas and steam, the hydrocarbons are mixed and vaporized in the stream, the radiant heat of the carbureter lining together with the sensible heat in the gas stream entering the carbureter heating the hydrocarbons, the heat stored in the gas superheater being mainly relied upon to crack and gasify the hydrocarbons. Again, the mass of the body of the heat-absorbing material 24 may be made such as to be no more than suillcient to insure the ignition of the air blast gases at the beginning of each air blasting period, in which case relatively little preheat is imparted to the descending stream of gas and steam and the injection of the hydrocarbons below such body of heat-absorbing material avoids the cooling of said .body of heat-absorbing material and the improved process thereby provides for the mixing, vaporizing and/or cracking of the hydrocarbons in the downwardly moving stream with the superheater relied upon for completing of the cracking and/or gasification. Obviously, the greater the quantity or mass of the body of heat-absorbing material 24,/ the greater the quantity of heat units at any given temperature, which may be stored thereinvduring an air blasting period and which may then be absorbed by the blue gas and steam during the following gasmaking period. By increasing the quantity or mass of said body of heat-absorbing material l and/or the temperature to which it is heated during each air blasting period, the degree of preheating of the gas and/or steam may be controlled as desired up to the maximum temperature or close to the highest temperature obtainable by the secondary combustion of the air blast gases. As is well known, the temperature and the time of contact during which the cracking and/orl gasincation of the hydrocarbons takes place,Y determine the character of the resultant products and it is obvious that with the process herein described, the temperature of the gas and steam into which the hydrocarbons are injected may be varied as desired and kept within relatively narrow limits for the optimum conditions for producing the products of the Adesired character. The hydrogen of the water gas assistsin the formation of the hydrocarbons in that the hydrogen acts as afdeterrent toward the formation of additional hydrogen and the depositing of carbon liberated thereby.V I

Referring now to the carbureter |20 shown in Figure 2, the same is of the same general character as the carbureter 20, previously described, except that the body of heat-absorbing material |24 is made larger; the carbureting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone |26 made larger and the second body of heat-absorbing material |21 also made larger, which latter may be omitted, however, when desired. The upper pipes 228 for injecting the enriching agents are located and disposed similar to the corresponding pipes 28 of the first described form and the inclined pipes 229 are disposed somewhat lower down in chamber and inclined at a more acute angle to the vertical, as shown- By employing a larger body of heat-absorbing material |24, a greater amount of heat may be stored and the preheat of the Water gas raised higher than with the smaller body 24 of the rst described form. By

inclining the injector pipes 229 at a more acute angle to the vertical, the injection of the enriching agents may be made more nearly directly full counter current to the flow of the down--- wardly moving water gas to insure the proper. intermingling, heating, vaporization and cracking of various classes `of enriching agents in the desired quantity and to the desired degree.

When the carbureter |20 is used in lieu of carbureter 20 as will be clear from Figure 3, described hereinafter, the passageway 240 is connected to the passageway 40 from the generator and the passageway 252 is connected into passage- Way 52 leading to the superheater. In such ar. rangement, the valve 253 may be omitted and also the valved pipes 244, 245, and 255, which are now shown on Figure 2.

It is also contemplated that the carbureter |20 may be used in certain installations of suflicient size so that the vaporization and cracking of the hydrocarbons and formation of the suitable hydrocarbon gases is completed within the 'carbureter |20 and without using the superheater 80. In such cases, the body voi' heat-absorbing material |21 may or may not be used as desired. When the carbureter. |20 is used without the superheater 30, the carbureted water gas may be drawn off in any suitable manner as through the valve controlled pipe 255; and the blast gases discharged through the pipe or passageway 254v having the control valve 253-therein. Further, in this arrangement, the vdown run steam may be admitted to the bottom of the carbureter |20 through the valved inlet 244, together with any oxygen-containing gas, such as `air admixed therewith, if desired, admitted through the valved inlet 245.

Referring now to Figure 3, the apparatus there shown is similar to Figure 1 with, however, a carbureter of the type indicated in Figure 2 and previously described, substituted for the carbureter 20 and an additional similar carbureter connected to the generator at the opposite side for down run gases. In said Figure 3, the carbureter 320 at the right thereof is shown with its inlet 340 connected by pipe |40 to the passageway 40 from the generator I0 and the passage- '15 way 352 connected into the passageway 52 leading to the superheater 30, which is only partially indicated in order to accommodate the view on the sheet. When the superheater 30. is so used, the valved pipes 353, 344, 345, 355 and 32| may be omitted and the carbureter 320 will then be operated in the same manner as previously described for carbureters 20 and |23 of Figures 1 and 2. When thesuperheater 30 is omitted, as

previously indicated, which may be desirable un' lei'tof thegenerator, for carbureting down run gas, the pipe' |34 at the base of the generator is connected through pipe 240 to the inlet 440 at the top of the carbureter. Air for a down blast is admitted in the upper portion of the generator through the valved inlet 2 |3'2 |4, as for instance after a down steam run, and the blastgases will then be passed through |34-240 into vthe carbureter and burned in the combustion chamber 423 thereof with secondary air admitted through 42|. The burned gases after passing downwardly through the carbureter 420 are passed out l through the passageway 454, the body of heat'- absorbing material 424, arch 425 and body of heat-absorbing material 421 (when used) being thereby heated in the same manner as previ- .ousl'y described` for the carbureters 20 and |20. The down run gas will follow the same course and be carbureted within the carbureting chamber 426 in the same manner as previously described in connection with the carbureters 2|) and |20. With the arrangement described utilizing the carbureter 420, up run steam and any oxygen-containing gas such as air, which it may be desired to adm ix therewith, are admitted through the valved inlets 444 and 445 and superheated in the upward passage through the carbureter 420 whence it is delivered to the bottom of the generator through 240 and |34, as obvious.

When the carbureter 420 is used for carbureting down run gas as described in the preceding paragraph, the air for blasting the fuel column which is admitted to the bottom of the generator may be preheated in said carbureter 420, being admitted thereto through the valved inlet 445 at the bottom thereof. In,this case, the air blasting inlet I3 may be entirely dispensed with or, if desired, retained for use from time to time.

Further, with the arrangement just described,

when the carbureter 42|! is utilized' for carbureting down run gas with thesteam for a down run admitted at the top of the superheater 30 (see Figure l) or at 344 of oarbureter 320 (see Figure 3) and steam for an up run admitted through 444, the steam admission pipes 42, 43 and 44 to the generator may be dispensed with as well as the connection I1 and the valve 4|. In this latter arrangement also, the air inlets 2 |3 and 32| may be combined into a single valved inletfthe latter being utilized for admission of both down air blasting and secondary combustion oiV the blasting gases from up air blasting. In the same arrangement, when the carbureter 423 is not utilized. for carbureting down run gas,

the down run blast ,gases resultant from air admitted at 2|3 lat the top of the generator or at H3 'at the top of the superheater 30, may be taken off from the bottom of the generator through the valved outlet |34, valve 5| being closed. Further, with valve 4| in place and closed, the resultant blast gases from down blast air admitted at 2|3, may be passed through the pipe to the carbureter 320 and burned therein by secondary air admitted through the pipe 32|, as previously described.

From the preceding description, it will be seen ,that the temperatures of the water gas as delivered into the-carbureting chamber may be more effectively controlled within the desired limits than -in prior arrangements, such as referred to; the formation of objectionable compounds and deposits of carbonare avoided; iiuctuations in water gas effected without appreciably cooling the arch, whereby ignition of the blast gases of -25 thereof and the desired intermingling with the a succeeding period may be readily eiected, and

the water gas may be effectively enriched to a greater degree than in prior methods.

It will also be seen, from the preceding', that not only does the invention` provide for improved means and method for manufacturing carbureted water gas in a set employing a generator, car- 4;

bureter and superheater, in the arrangement shown in Figure 1 for either up run gas only or both up and; down run gas but also, when the other arrangements involving the use of the carbureters |23, 320 and 420 are employed as described, further improved results are obtained. When down air blasting is employed with the resultant blast gases leaving either the base of the generator or passing to the carbureterrand burned therein, the carbureting can be carried out with equal efflciency.

The invention also provides for the use oi' a 4carbureter larger than heretofore usually eminto and against a descending stream of blue' water gas and/ or steam; the preheating of such gas and steamprior to carburetion; and a meansv and method insuring ignitionA of the blow gases at the beginning of each blasting period. .The`

invention further provides'for the use of an add itional said improved carbureter for carbureting f the down run gases and which is also adapted to superheat the up run steam and/or preheat the air for up blasting while at the sa'me time the improved carbureter and/or superheater occupying the-usual position in the regular water gas set are similarly adapted to superheat the down run steam and/or preheat the down blast air. As

will be apparent, the up blasting with air pro vides a'hot zone in the lower portion of the fuel bed, vthe down blasting with air provides "a hot zone in another portion of the fuel bed and the two hot zones thereby formed increase the steam decomposition and gas generating capacity of the fuel bed.

' Although I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same is intended by way of description and not by way of limitation, since it is obvious that the apparatus and methods may be varied to suit dierent conditions and requirements in particular situations, all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims being contemplated.

I claim:

l. The herein described process of manufacturing carbureted water gas which includes: blasting a bed of incandescent fuel with an oxygencontaining gas and, in alternate periods, admitting steam thereto; substantially completely burning the blast gases and thereafter passing the resultant products downwardly, first through a body of heat-absorbing material and then downwardly through a carbureting chamber; during the gas-making period, passing the generated water gas also downwardly first through said body of heat-absorbing material and then downwardly through the carbureting chamber; and, simultaneously with the passage of the water gas through the chamber, carbureting the water gas by projecting fluid enriching agents countercurrent of and into the downwardly moving stream of water gas.

2. 'I'he herein described improvement in the method of carbureting water gas wherein air blasting periods are alternated with gas-making periods which includes: during each air blasting period, blasting a fuel. bed to incandescence with air and passing the blast gases successively downwardly through a body of heat-absorbing material and then downwardly through a carbureting chamber; burning the blast gases by admitting the air for secondary combustion thereto prior to the passage of the blast gases through said body of heat-absorbing material; during a gas-making period, generating water gas by admitting steam to the incandescent fuel and passing the water gas thereby formed also successively downwardly first through said body of heat-absorbing material to preheat the water gas and then downwardly through said carbureting chamber; and, simultaneously with the downward passage of the preheated water gas through the carbureting chamber, carbureting the water gas by injecting liquid hydrocarbons into the gas stream by spraying thereinto against and at an angle to the line of flow of the moving stream.

3. The herein' described process of manufacturing carbureted water gas which includes: passing a stream of preheated water gas downwardly through a carbureting chamber and, simultaneously carbureting the water gas by injecting uid hydrocarbons into said stream' counter current to the stream and toward the topof the chamber.

4. The herein described process of manufacturing carbureted water gas which includes: passing a stream of preheated water gas downwardly through a carbureting chamber and, simultaneously carbureting the water gas by injecting liquid hydrocarbons into said stream from a plurality of points around the periphery of the stream in a direction toward the top of the chamber; and then passing the carbureted water gas from the bottom of the carbureting chamber through a body of previously heated material.

5. The improvement in the method of manufacturing carbureted water gas which includes: air blasting a generator fuel bed to incandescence and alternately generating water gas by f admitting steam to said fuel bed; during the air blasting period, admitting air to the blast gases to b urn the same; passing said gases downwardly within a carbureter in contact with heat absorbing material therein and thence downwardly through a hydrocarbon admission zone; and, during the water gas generating period, passing the water gas downwardly in the carbureter in like manner and maintaining said heat absorbing material at a sufficiently high temperature for the ignition of the air blast gases and carbureting the water gas by injecting fluid hydrocarbons into and against the descending stream of water gas below said heat absorbing material.

6. The improvement in the method of manufacturing carbureted water gas which includes: air blasting a generator fuel bed to incandescence and alternately generating water gas by admitting steam to said fuel bed; during the air blasting period, admitting air to the blast gases to burn the same; passing said gases through passages in heat absorbing material and thence downwardly through a hydrocarbon admission zone; and, during the water gas generating period, passing the water gas through said passages in said heat absorbing material to be heated thereby and thence in a vertically downwardly moving stream through a hydrocarbon ,admission zone; and injecting fluid hydrocarbons into and against the vertically downwardly moving stream of heated water gas for Vaporizing and cracking said hydrocarbons by the sensible heat of said heated water gas.

7. The herein described process of manufacturing carbureted water gas which includes: blasting a bed of incandescent fuel with air and. in alternate periods, admitting steam thereto; burning the blast gases and passing the resultant products downwardly through a carbureting chamber; during the gas-making periods, preheating and passing the generated water gas without substantial change of direction downwardly through the carbureting chamber; and carbureting the water gas by projecting fluid enriching agents into and against the downwardly moving stream of gas simultaneously with the passage thereof through the chamber.

8. In the process of manufacturing carbureted water gas by alternate air and steam blasting periods, the improvement which consists in: during each air blasting period, burning the blast gases and passing the same always downwardly through a carbureting chamber; during each steam blasting period, passing the generated water gas always downwardly'through the carbureting chamber heated by the blast gases of the preceding air blasting period; and during each steam blasting period, carbureting the water gas by injecting fluid enriching agents in an upward direction into the stream of water gas in its downward passage through the carbureting chamber.

9. The herein described process of manufacturing carbureted water gas which includes: during each air blasting period blasting a generator fuel bed with alternate up and down air blasts; passing the blast gases of both up and down air blasts to and downwardly through a carbureter and burning the blast gases by secondary air admitted thereto; during each water gas making period, passing steam alternately up and down through the fuel bed and, similarly, passing 7i the generated water gas from both up and down runs downwardly .through the carbureter; and, simultaneously with the passage of the water gas through the carbureter, carbureting the water gas -by injecting fluid hydrocarbons into the downwardly moving water gas stream at an upward angle.

10. In the manufacture of carbureted water gas in an apparatus including an upright carbureter having heat-absorbing material disposed within the passage for the gases through the carbureter and an unobstructed hydrocarbon admission chamber below said heat-absorbing material, the improvement which consists in inter. mittently heating said heat-absorbing material and hydrocarbon admission chamber by the secondary combustion of air blast gases passed downwardly in contact with said heat-absorbing material and downwardly through said admission chamber; alternately with said .heating periods, passing water gas in a downwardly moving stream in contact with said heat-absorbing material and downwardly through said unobstructed admission chamber; and carbureting the water gas by admitting uid hydrocarbons into the water gas as it passes downwardly through said unobstructed admission chamber.

11. In the manufacture of carburetedwater gas in an apparatus including: an upright carbureter having top inlet, a bottom outlet, heatabsorbing material in the passage therethrough in the upper portion thereof and a carbureting chamber below said heat-absorbing material unobstructed from the heat-absorbing material to the outlet the improvement which consists in; during each air blasting period burning and passing the blast gases downwardly through the carbureter from the inlet to the outlet and in contact with said heat-absorbing material; during each water gas making period, similarly passing the water gas downwardly through the carbureter successively in contact with the heat-absorbing material and thence through the unobstructed carbureting chamber to the outlet; and, during each said water gas making period, carbureting the water gas by admitting fluid hydrocarbons into said chamber below the heat-absorbing material and into the downwardly moving water gas stream.

12. In the manufacture of carbureted water gas in an apparatus including an upright car` bureter having refactory material within the upper portion thereof and a hydrocarbon admission zone therebelow provided with means for injecting the hydrocarbons in an upward direction, the improvement which consists in: .during each air blasting period, passing the blast gases in a general downward direction in contact with said material and through said zone and heating the material by the secondary combustion of the blast gases; alternately of each air blasting period, passing water gas similarly in a general downward direction in contact with said material and through said zone; and carburetingA the water gas during its passage through said zone by injecting uid hydrocarbons in an upward

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