US2131310A - Carbureted water gas apparatus - Google Patents

Description

&p%. 27, 1938. H. J. CARSON CARBURETED WATERGAS APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9. 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm: w? QM INVENTOR. f/fldmJ 60/160 By M I 7% A TTORNEY.

%pt, 27, W38. H. J. CARSON CARBURETED WATER GAS APPARATUS F'iled Dec. 9, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7& ,4, M,

&4, ATTOQNEY 27, 1%8. H. J. CARSON 2,131,31

CARBURETED WATER GAS APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 m v v a fi R n g m B Q Q: e N x 8 fiydmmrbans blaegas INVENTOI? ll/mm J C 0/50/1 734;, ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 2?, 1938, H. J. CARSON CARBURETED WATER GAS APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9. 1933 Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements'in carburetted water gas apparatus.

In the present application, Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings and the accompanying descrip- 5' tive matter have been divided out from my prior application, No. 353,576, filed April 8, 1929, now Patent No. 1,953,843, issued April 3, 1934, and Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the present application with accompanying description have been divided out from my prior application No. 608,277, filed April 29, 1932, now Patent No. 2,033,511, granted March 10, 1936. The present application is therefore a continuation-in-p-art of my two prior applications.

As is well known, in the usual operation of carburetted water gas sets, the time is roughly divided into two periods; the air blasting or heating up period, and the running or gas making period. The heat developed during the air blasting period and stored in the generator fuel bed, is available during the gas making period for decomposing the steam admitted to the generator. During the blasting or heating up period, the potential and sensible heat in the blast gases leav- 25 ing the generator is used to store heat in re- 35 combustion chamber at the top thereof with a checkerwork of brick or other suitable body of heat absorbing material positioned therebelow, the blast gases bemg burned by the admission of secondary air for combustion in such top cham- 40 her and passed downwardly through the checkerwork of brick and out through the remaining apparatus. During the gas making period, the water gas or blue gas has likewise been admitted to said top chamber and the hydrocarbons for 45 carburetting 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 through the checkerwork -50 of brick downwardly and thence from the bottom of the carburetter to the-superheater and from the latter to such other apparatus as desired.

In the manufacture of carburetted water gas in sets such as referred to, it is well known that 55 the temperatures in the carburetter fluctuate fluctuations.

widely, with a fairly rapid deterioration of the heat absorbing material, as fire brick, because of the thermal shock incident to the temperature The temperature in the top courses of checker brick have been found to fluctuate" 5 from an average minimum of 640 degrees F, to an average maximum of 1886 degrees F. with ext'reme mean variations from 513' degrees to 2000 degrees F, and shut-downs and replacement:

of the checker brick have been frequently neces- 10 sary. Furthermore, at' the higher temperatures,

the hydrocarbons areover-cracked with a deposit of carbon and the formation of objectionable. compounds such as naphthalene and, at the lower temperatures, the hydrocarbons are incom pletely cracked and utilized and other objectionable compounds such as ihde'ne and styrene are formed.

Also, in the former usual types of carburetter apparatus referred to, the brick in the carburetter are rapidly cooled by the vaporization and cracking of'the oil and, in the usual up and down gas sets, are further cooled by the relatively cool blue gas and undecomposed steam which enter the carburetter at temperatures substantially lower than required for optimum oil crackingconditions; 'This cooling often progresses to such an extent that it is diificult to ignite the blow gases and-secondary air during the following air' blasting period.

As previously stated, in the usual apparatus for carburetting water gas, the hydrocarbon particles are injected downwardly into and travel downwardly with the passing stream of water-- gas. The greater density and initial velocity'of the hydrocarbon particles causes these to have a greater downward velocity than the gas particles and, also, the greater density of the cooler gas 1 particles as they are cooled by contact with the 40 hydrocarbon particles, causes these to have a greater downward velocity than the hotter gas particles and the hotter. gas particles to have a lesser downward velocity; The downwardly moving hydrocarbon particles are thussurrounded ifi with cool particles of gas'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 carburetter below the desired temperatures for cracking and must be heated therein. I I

It is well known that optimum conditions for the gasification or cracking of liquidhydrocar bons in the carburetter require the maintenance of temperatures within fairly narrow limits and one object of this invention, therefore, is to provide, in apparatus for the manufacture ofcarburetted water gas, a carburetter which will eliminate or minimize all of the disadvantages hereinbefore pointed out in connection with prior known types of carburetted water gas sets and, more specifically, to maintain the temperatures in the carburetting and hydrocarbon cracking zones within such minimum and maximum temperatures as will prevent the formation of objectionable compounds and minimize the cleteri oration of heat absorbing material in the carburetter.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in connection with apparatus for the manufacture of carburetted water gas, improved means for preheating the water gas prior to the introduction of hydrocarbons thereinto and for injecting the hydrocarbons into the stream of water gas in such manner and at such time as to insure substantially optimum conditions of operation and the production of carburetted water gas without objectionable compounds being formed in any substantial amount.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for insuring ignition of the blast gases entering the carburetter at the beginning 7 of the air blasting periods.

The invention has for a further object, the provision of a combustion and heat-absorbing chamber located between the generating and carburetting chambers, such that heat may be stored therein during each blasting period to be utilized for preheating the blue gas and undecompos'ed steam toward and above the optimum temperatures for oil enriching hydrocarbon gasification, during the succeeding gas run, before such blue gas and undecomposed steam enter the oil or hydrocarbon admission zone, whereby, during the gas runs, the water gas and undecomposed steam are heated to relatively high temperatures in their passage through the combustion and heat-absorbing chamber and, upon entering the oil gasification zone with the heat imparted thereto, carry heat to the oil particles in the oil gasification zone with assurance of more nearly uniform and optimum temperatures prevailing therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of the character indicated, a mixing chamber in the oil or hydrocarbon admission zone in the carburetter, to allow for the thorough mixing therein of the highly heated entering blue gas and steam with the oil vapors or mist, to the end that the mixture of the entering hot gas and steam with the oil particles heated by radiation from the carburetter lining and adjacent refractory material will insure bringing the oil particles to or nearly to optimum temperatures for cracking and, in the presence of a reactive gas, such as hydrogen, in the blue gas at optimum cracking temperatures, stable hydrocarbon gases will be formed with a practically complete conversion of the carbon and hydrogen in the oil into such gases.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in apparatus of the character indicated, means insuring a uniform or substantially uniform descent of the mixture of hydrocarbon particles or gases and blue gas and steam within the hydrocarbon admission zone by the utilization of 7 means for injecting the hydrocarbons into,

. against and/or countercurrent to the downward- 1y descending blue gas and steam so that the latter, in striking or impinging against the hydrocarbon particles, cool and drop out of the way of the hydrocarbons, gas and steam introduced or admitted thereafter, with a resultant uniform descent of the mixed gas column through the carburetting chamber.

Further objects of the invention'are to provide, in an apparatus for the carburetting of water gas, improved means for the handling of a large volume of blue gas entering the carburetter by reducing the absolute pressures therein to promote the conversion of the-hydrocarbons into stable hydrocarbon gases; to provide an arrangement such that down run Water gas may be carburetted in the same efficient manner in a second carburetter as in the case of the up run water gas as previously indicated, the two carburetters being so associated with the generator that the up run steam may be superheated in the additional carburetter; and to provide apparatus such that when employing the two carburetters, ignition of the up and down blast gases will be insured after each gas run.

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

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a part elevation, part vertical section of a carburetted water gas plant showing the improvements incorporated therein. Figure 2 is a partial top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a somewhat modified embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating still another modification of the invention. Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view of a carburetter such as illustrated in Figure 4, but slightly modified and adapted to be used in lieu thereof. And Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 4 illustrating still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a generator 5l2 is there shown, the same having a fuel bed 5|! and means for supplying air to the fuel bed at selectively controlled different levels 520, 520 and 520".

Steam, for the gas run, is adapted to be admitted under control through the pipes 52l at a level above the lowermost air, blast level. The generator is connected by a passageway 525 from the top thereof to an inlet at the top of the carburetter 5| 3, which in turn has an outlet at the bottom thereof connected by a passageway to gas superheater 5. The latter is equipped with the usual top gas ofitake' 533 for use when desired, and with another gas offtake 534 leading to a condenser 535 and vacuum pump 531, by means of which the gases may be withdrawn under a partial vacuum, when desired. The gas superheater is provided also with the usual stack valve 532 and, adjacent the top thereof, is connected by a passageway 38 to regenerator 5l5 and from the latter with alternate regenerators 5l6 and 5l6 (see Figure 2) and through which the blast gases are passed to store heat therein for superheating steam and preheating air. The generator is also shown as provided with novel means for effecting carbonization of the fuel in its descent to the fuel bed proper and for withdrawing the products of distillation, but inasmuch as these form no part of the present invention, detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. Neither is it deemed necessary to describe in detail in this application, the preferred manner of selectively admitting the air blasts to the lower zone of the fuel column inasmuch as these features are more fully described in said Patent No. 1,953,848 to which reference may be had. 7

The carburetter 5|3 is shown equipped with a secondary air supply 559 and also a steam supply 564 which latter may be used when desired. In the drawings is also shown a top oil inlet 521, such as customarily heretofore employed, but which, in the present invention, is dispensed with. In the present invention, the enriching hydrocarbons for carburetting the blue gas are admitted through the plurality of inlets 529 and 529 arranged circumferentially in the shell of the carburetter, as clearly shown.

During each air blasting period, the blow gases enter the carburetter at the top through the passageway 525 and, with secondary air admitted thereto through 559, are burned in the top combustion chamber 526 and in contact with a body of heat-absorbing material 528 which is thereby heated by such burned and/or burning gases passing downwardly therethrough and/or in contact therewith. When air blasting is discontinued after the heat-absorbing material 528 has been heated to the desired extent, steam is admitted to the generator and the blue gas and any undecomposed steam admixed therewith, pass into the carburetter through the passageway 525 (the usual oil inlet 521 not being used). The blue gas and steam then pass downwardly through and/or in contact with the heat-absorbing material 528 and are heated thereby, the extent of the heating in such case depending upon the temperature to which previously heated, and amount of heat-absorbing material 528. The gas and steam then enter the hydrocarbon admission zone 529 below the heat-absorbing material 528 and the enriching hydrocarbons are simultaneously injected into and against the descending stream of gas and/or steam, through the inlets 529 and With the heat-absorbingmaterial 528 used in sufficiently large amount and heated to a sufliciently high temperature, the blue gas and steam are heated to a sufficiently high temperature such that, when admixed with the hydrocarbons injected as aforesaid, the mean temperature of the oil, gas and steam supplemented by the heat radiated thereto from the adjacent refractory material of the shell lining, is at or close to the optimum temperature for the vaporization and cracking of the hydrocarbons into stable hydrocarbon gases.

Additional heat-absorbing material 530 may be used when desired, below the carburetting zone 529, for completing the cracking and/or fixing of the hydrocarbon gases in conjunction with the gas superheater 5l4 but said heat-absorbing material 539 may be omitted when desired as, for example, when heavy high carbon oils are used which would tend to deposit carbon on or clog the heat-absorbing material 530 to an objectionable extent.

From the preceding description, considered in connection with the drawings, it will be noted that the heat-absorbing material 528. is not exposed to the cooling action of the hydrocarbons so that, whatever its amount or mass, it remains at the end of each gas run at a much higher temperature than in the case of carburetters heretofore commonly used where the oilsisinjected downwardly from the top of the carburetter. Hence, as will be evident, the heat-absorbing material 528 will remain at a sufficiently high temperature so as to always insure-ready and easy or omitted, the gas may be drawn off through a1.-

fdenser 535. carburetter through passageway 538, to regenerators 5l5 and 516 and 5H5 (the latter not shown ignition of the blast gases during each subsepresent invention, reduced to a minimum.

In the arrangement of Figure 3 a generator 5l2' and carburetter 5I3, similar to those shown 10 in Figure 1, are employed but with the usual gas superheater omitted and the gas offtake shown at 533 leading to a seal separator or such other apparatus as desired. With. this offtake not used 15 vacuum pump 531, preferably through. av con- The blast gases are led from the in Figure 3) as indicated in Figure 2, with the -igo heat therefrom largely stored-in such regenerators for superheating steam and preheating air.

The operation of the carburetter and withdrawal of the gases therefrom is similar to that heretofore described for Figure 1 except that the car-e25 buretting is completed in the carburetter without the use of the gas superheater.

Referring next to the construction illustrated in Figure 4, a three shell water gas set is there illustrated consisting of a generator, improved 'ao carburetter and a gas superheater. The generator I0 is shown provided with means for the alternate admission of blasting air and steam in the usual well known manner, the air being adcarburetter 29 by a passageway 40 within which is disposed a control valve 4|. Water gas generated by a down run in the generator is delivered 51 from the bottom of the generator to the passageway 40 by the pipe l1, having control valve l8 included therein, as shown.

. Steam is supplied from any suitable source, such as a boiler, not shown, through pipe 425; having branches 43 and 44 adapted to conduct the steam to the top of the generator and bot- -tom, respectively, as shown, the admission of steambeing 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 off from the bottom of f the generator through the pipe 50 having control valve 5| therein and passed from the pipe 50 through a water seal, not shown, or other suitable apparatus not deemed necessaryto describe.

Air for secondary combustion of the blast gasesl' is preferably admitted through pipe 2| into the passageway 40 between the valve 4! and carburetter, said supply of air being controlled by the valve 22. The carburetter 20, as shown, is provid'ed' in the top portion thereof with a com- 7 bustion chamber 23 and below the latter with a body of heat-absorbing material, such as a checkerwork of brick 24 supported by an arch 25. Be-

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 27. The heat-absorbing material 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 carburetting chamber or hydrocarbon admission Zone 25 through a set of pipes 28 28 and/or another set of pipes 29-29, each of which is provided with a suitable control valve I28 and I29, respectively, said pipes being more fully described hereinafter.

From the vbottom of the carburetter 20, the burned blast gases and the carburetted 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 flue 33, controlled by valve 34 or to such other apparatus as desired. .During the gasmaking period, the carburetted 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.

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 conducted 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 and/or burning blast gases then passing downwardly through the passages of and in contact with the body of heat-absorbing material 24; through the chamber 26; and thence up through the superheater 30 and out through the stack 32, the stack valve 34 being open, as will be understood.

. After the air blasting has been continued the desired length of time, the supply of air is shut off and steam then admitted either through the pipe'43 or 44. The water gas then generated is conducted from either the top of the generator or the bottom, depending upon whether it is an up or a down run, through the passage 40 into the chamber 23, thence downwardly through the passages of and in contact with the body of heatabsorbing material 24 and on downwardly through the carburetting chamber or hydrocarbon admission Zone 26, where it is carburetted as hereinafter described, thence through passageway 52 p and up through the superheater 30 and out through the pipe 35. When an up run is being made, the valve 4| is open and valve I8 closed and, during a down run, valve 4| is closed and Valve I8 open. When desired, the steam is ad- .mitted through pipe 48 to the top of the superheater, then passed downwardly therethrough andthen upwardly through the carburetter from which it is delivered to the top of the generator, valve 4| being open. The blue gas formed is then drawn off through the pipe 50. When steam is admitted ior up and down runs throughthe pipes 43 and 44, the entire or any desired portion of the resultant gas may be carburetted in the carburetter 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 carburetted in the carburetter 20 but will be taken off through the pipe 50 and passed to such other apparatus as desired.

Referring now to the carburetter I20 shown in Figure 5, the same is of the same general character as the carburetter 20, previously described, except that the body of heat-absorbing material I24 is made larger; the carburetting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone I26 made larger and the second body of heat-absorbing material I21 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 carburetter shown in Figure 4 form and the inclined pipes 229 are disposed somewhat lower down in thechamber and upwardly inclined at a more acute angle to the vertical than as shown in carburetter 20. By employing a larger body or heat-absorbing material I24, 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 first 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 downwardly 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 carburetter I20 is used in lieu of carburetter 20, (as will be clear from Figure 6 described hereinafter) the passageway 240 is con-.

nected to the passageway 40 from the generator and the passageway-252 is connected into passageway 52 leading to the superheater. In such arrangement, the valve 253 may be omitted and also the valved pipes 244, 245 and 255, which are now shown on Figure 5.

It is also contemplated that the carburetter I20 may be used in certain installations of sufiicient size so that the vaporization and cracking of the hydrocarbons and formation of the suitable hydrocarbon gases is completed within the carburetter I20 and without using the superheater 30. Insuch cases, the body of heat-abf sorbing material I27 may or may not be used as desired. When the carburetter I20 is used:

without the superheater 30, the carburetted water gas may be drawn off in any suitable manner and previously described, substituted for the carburetter 20 and an additional similar carburetter connected to the generator at the opposite side for down run gases. In said Figure 6, the carburetter 320 at the right thereof is shown with its inlet 340;connected by pipe I40."

as through the valve controlled pipe 255; and

'date the view on the sheet.

to the passageway 40 from the generator Ill'rand the passageway 352 connected into the passageway 52 leading to the superheater 3B, which is only partially indicated in order to accommo- When the superheater 30 is so used, the valved pipes 353, 344,

345, 355 and 32I maybe omitted andthe carbur retter 320 will then be operated in the same manner as previously described for carburetters 2'0 and I20 of Figures 4 and 5. Whenthe. super-- heater 30 is omitted, as previouslyindicated and which may be desirable under some conditions,

the outlet passage 352 will be suitably blanked off and the carburetted water gas drawn ofi in any desired manner through the offtake 35.5 and blast gases discharged through the outlet 354. In this. last described arrangement wherein the superheater 30 is omitted, the down run steam may be admitted through the valved inlet 344,

together withany oxygen containing gas, such as air, admixed therewith, if desired, admitted.

through the valved inlet 345.

In utilizing the carburetter 420 shownat the left of the generator, for carburetting down run gas, the pipe I34 at the base of the generator is connected through pipe 240 to the inlet 44!) at 1 .as previously described for the carburetters '20 and I20. The down run gas will follow'the same course and be carburetted within the carburetting chamber 426 in the same manner as previ:

ously described in connection with the car-bu-y retters 20 and I20. With the arrangement de scribed utilizing the carburetter 420, up ,run steam and any oxygen-containing gas such as air, which it may be desired to admix therewith, are

admitted through the valved inlets 444 and 445 and superheated in the upward passage through the carburetter 420 whence it is delivered to the bottom of the generator through 240 and I34,

as obvious.

When the carburetter 420 is used forcarburetting down run gas as described in the 'pre-- ceding paragraph, the air for up blasting the fuel column which is admitted to the bottom of the generator may be preheated in said carbu retter 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 carburetter 420 is utilized for carburetting down run gas with the steam for a down run admitted at the top of the superheater 30 (see Figure 1 or at 344 of, carbu retter 320, Figure 6), and steam for an uprun admitted through 444, the steam admissionpipes 42, 43 and 44 to the generator may be dispensed with as well as the connection I! and the valve 4|. In this latter arrangement also, the air inlets 2I3 and 32I may be combined into a single valved inlet, the latter being utilized for admission of both down air blasting and secondary The burned gases, after combustion of the blasting gases from upair i blasting. In the same arrangement, when the down rungas, the .down run blast gases resulting from air' admitted at 213 at the top of the generator or at 3 atthe .top of the superheater 2 carburetter 428 is not utilized for carburet ting 1 30, may be takenoff from the bottom of the generator through the. valved outlet I34, valve 5| being closed. Further, with valve '4 Iain place i andclosed, the resultant blast gases from down blast air admitted at 2 I3, may be passed through 1.

the pipe IT to the carburetter'3210'and burned therein by secondary air admitted through the pipe 32I', as previously described.

It will be seen from the-preceding description, that not only does the invention provide improved means for manufacturing carburetted water gas in a set employing a generator, carburetter and superheater, in the arrangement'shown in Figures 1,3 and. 4 for either up run gas only or both up and .down run gas butalso, when the ar- 1 rangements involvingthe use of the carburetters I20, 320 and 420 are employed as described, further improved results areobtained'. When down air blasting is'employed with the resultant blast gases leaving either the base of the; generator orpassing to the carburetter and burned therein, 7 the carburetting can be carried out with equal? efliciency.

Referring now more particularly to the carbue retters in each-figure, it will beobserved that with the apparatusin operatiomthe blast gases and secondary air therefor during each air blasting period are immediatelyignited adjacent the inlet to the carburetter by the hot heat absorbing material in'the carburetter which doesynot become cooled by contact with the hydrocarbons and such gases are ormaybe substantially completely burned prior'to and/ or in passing through the passages in'or in contact with such heatabsorbing material.

The burned gases, in passing through or in contact with such heat-absorbing material, heat the latter to such temperature as desired and,

after passing therethrough, will also serve to heatv the lining of the 'c'arburetting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone and (when used)'the heatabsorbing material in the lower portion ofthe carburetter as well as the body of regenerative material in thefgas superheater of Figure 4.

During the gas forming period, the water gas and suchundecomposed steamasmay be mingled therewith,'is preheated in its downward passage through the combus'tionchambers at the tops of the respective carburetters andthe heat-absorb- '5 ing material immediately therebelow so that, by the time the water gas and/or steam enter the carburetting chambers below theheat-absorbing material, the water gas and/or steam have attained the desired temperature for most effectively heating, vaporizing and cracking the hydrocarbons injected thereinto.

In injecting the enriching agents into'the carburetting chambers, 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. jected horizontally, as shownin all the embodiments illustrated or at an upward angle toward the arches as shown inFigures 4, 5 and 6. In

any event, the enriching agents are injected from w the periphery into the body of the downwardly moving gas stream, the injection being under The enriching agents may be in suit 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 529 529*, 28, 29, 228,

229, 328, 328, 428 or 429, as the case may be and adjusted so as to spray the enriching agents in the desired manner and at the desired angle relative to the downwardly moving stream of gas.

As the hydrocarbon particles 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 hy drocarbon particles impinge against the gas particles until all of the hydrocarbon particles are 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 hydrocarbon particles injected, the greater the need for more velocity and 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 carburetted mixture is passed downwardly through the lower body of checkerwork in the carburetter (if and when used) and thence to the superheater.

The water gas particles, as they descend through the carburetting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone and are carburetted by the penetration of the hydrocarbon particles therein, are cooled and the particles,as cooled and carburetted, have a greater density and accelerated downward velocity, thus automatically drawing more of the superheated water gas downwardly after them and into the carburetting chamber or zone and path of the hydrocarbon particles admitted therein, with a resultant relatively uniform descent of the gases through the carburetter. into the gas stream, continually meet hot gas particles and cracking is thereby acceleratedand completed in a relatively uniform manner.

As will be understood, the body of heat-absorbing material above the carburetting chamber, 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 effect the desired complete cracking of the enriching agents in a relatively rapid manner, and more nearly uniform and optimum temperatures maintained.

It will further be noted that, with the improved carburetters described, the heat-absorbing material above the carburetting chamber (and the supporting arch when employed), is not exposed .to the cooling action of the hydrocarbons admitted to the carburetting chamber so that it remains at a much higher temperature than the checkerwork in the case of the carburetters which inject the oil from the top downwardly thereon .and insures ready and easy ignition of the blast The hydrocarbon particles in their travelrelatively high velocity which may be varied to gases during each subsequent air-blasting period.

For the, enriching. agents, various grades of liquid hydrocarbons may be employed and also 9 hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane, which latter are in the gaseous state at ordinary atmospheric temperatures and pressures. Kerosene and gasoline, which are unsuitable for distribution as city gas, may also be employed.

In those localities where natural gas is used as an enricher for water gas, the improved carburetted water gas apparatus may be operated as introduced and supply, as desired. Further, by the improved carburetting apparatus herein disclosed, the water gas may be so carburetted as to approximate the heating values and burning characteristics of water gas enriched by or 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 at the same time eliminating other serious difiiculties occurring when gases of different heating values and/or other characteristics are used.

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 of heat-absorbing material above the carburetting zone of the carburetter, and the second, the quantity of heat units stored in such heat-absorbing material depending upon the temperature to which raised. For illustration, and referring to the embodiment shown in Figure 4, with the body of heat-absorbing material 24 in the drawings entirely omitted and with only the heat-absorbing surfaces of the carburet ting 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 carburetter lining together'with the sensible heat in the gas stream entering the carburetter heating the hydrolittle preheat is imparted to the descending" stream of gas and steam. The injection of the hydrocarbons below such body of heat-absorbing material, as will be obvious, avoids the cooling of said body of heat-absorbing material and the improved construction and resultant process thereby provide for the mixing, vaporizing and/or cracking of the hydrocarbons in the downwardly moving stream with the superheater relied upon for completingof 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 therein during an air blasting period and which may then be absorbed by the blue gas and steam during the following gas-making period. By increasing the quantity or mass of said body of heat-absorbing material and/or the temperature to which it is heated during each air blasting period, the de gree 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 wellknown, the temperature and the time of contact during which the cracking and/or gasification of the hydrocarbons takes place, determine the character of the resultant products and it is obviousthat with the construction 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 desired character. The hydrogen of the water gas assists in the formation of the hydrocarbons in that the hydrogen acts as a deterrent toward the formation of additional hydrogen and the depositing of carbon liberated thereby.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that the temperature of the water gas as delivered into the carburetting chamber may be more effectively controlled within the desired limits than in prior used arrangements such as referred to; the formation of objectionable compounds and deposits of carbon are avoided; fluctuations in the temperatures of the body of heat-absorbing material may readily be con-' trolled within reasonable limits to prevent excessive deterioration; and the enriching hydrocarbons are injected in such manner and under such temperature control conditions of the Water gas, as to insure and accelerate the progressive heating, vaporization and desired cracking thereof and the desired intermingling with the water gas efiected without appreciably cooling the heat-absorbing material and/or supporting arch, whereby ignition of the blast gases of a succeed ing period may be readily effected and the water gas effectively enriched to a greater degree than in prior constructions or methods.

The invention further provides means for carburetting the down run gas in a carburetter of the usual water gas set wherein the carburetter includes the improvements herein described and in which the enriching agents are injected counter-current into and against a descending stream of blue water gas and/or steam; the preheating of such gas and steam prior to carburetion; and a means insuring ignition of the blow gases at the beginning of each blasting period. The invention further provides for the use of an additional improved carburetter for carburetting 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 same time the improved carburetter 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 provides a hot zone in the lower portion of the fuel bed, the 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 there has herein been shown and described what is now considered 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 construction may be varied without departing from the invention, to suit different conditions and requirements .in particular situations.

changes and modifications coming within .the'

scope of the appended claims are contemplated.

What is claimed is: 5

1. An upright carbureter for. use in a car- I bureted gas generating set, said carbureter having a gas inlet, an .air inlet, and a combustion supporting said material; an unobstructed car-v bureting chamber below the arch extending for a substantial vertical distance and located above the bottom outlet to allow of movement of gases downwardly therethrough in a vertical path for a substantial distance before entering the outlet; and means located below the arch for injecting hydro-carbons. into said carbureting chamber at an angle to the vertical, said means including a plurality of nozzles disposed around the periphery of the carbureting chamber, said nozzles being inclined upwardly toward the arch.

2. An upright carbureter for a water gasgenerating set, said carbureter comprising a shell with a single top gas inlet, a single bottom outlet, and a combustion chamber at the top of the shell; a, supporting arch approximately midway of the shell and located therewithin; a body of checker brick supported by the arch and located below the combustion chamber; a carbureting chamber within the shell below and extending from the arch to'the bottom of the shell, and a plurality of hydro-carbon injecting means disposed around and extending through the periphery of the shell, said means being inclined upwardly in a general direction toward the center of the arch and located a substantial distance below the arch and above said bottom outlet.

3. In a carbureterfor a water gas generating set comprising a shell with a top inlet, a bottom outlet, and a combustion chamber at the top of the shell; a body of heat regenerative material in the upper portion of the shell; means for supporting said material; a carbureting chamber below said supporting means and extending to the bottom of the shell; and means for injecting hydro-carbons upwardly within said carbureting chamber, said injecting means being located below said supporting means and at least one fourth the height of the shell above said outlet.

4. In a water gas generating set, the combination with a water gas generator; of a carbureter having a main vertical passage therethrough from top to bottom with a single inlet only at the top for alternate admission of blast and water gases and a single, outlet only at the bottom for said gases; means for conducting blast gases and water gas produced in said generator into the carbureter through said inlet; means for introducing air for secondary combustion into said blast gases; a combustion chamber in the upper portion of said passage of the carbureter for the secondary combustion of blast gas and admixed air passing through the carbureter; heat regenerating means located within said main passage with the top thereof disposed in proximity to said inlet and the bottom thereof terminated above and distant from said outlet, for the absorption of heat of the secondary combustion of the blast gases of one run and the ignition of the blast gases in the next succeeding gas run; a carbureting chamber extending a substantial distance vertically in said main pasand substantially prior to 'the passage of the water gas into said outlet, said hydro-carbon injecting means including a nozzle positioned to deliver the hydro-carbons in an upward direction and countercurrent to the downwardly 5 moving water gas stream.

HIRAM J. CARSON.

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