US400060A

US400060A - Apparatus for the manufacture of gas

Info

Publication number: US400060A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1889-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1906-03-26

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. M. GOSH.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. No. 400,060. g Patented Mar. 26, 1889.

"' Z a O N. PETERS, Phom-Lilhographer, Waahmgiun. me

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. M. GOSH.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFAGTURE OP GAS.

No. 400,060 Patented Mar. 26, 1889.

wit newer N. PETERS, Pholo mhognphur, WJshingion. n.'c.

(No'ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' W. M. GOSH.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

No. 400,060. Patented Mar. 26, 1889.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAH M. GOSH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

APPARATUS'FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,060, dated. March 26, 1889. Application filed January 12, 1888. Serial No. 260,505. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM M. GOSH, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention is an apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating or heating gases. It is of that class in which hydrogen gas is produced by the decomposition of steam in the presence of incandescent coal.

The invention consists in the special arrangement of generator and superheaterwith connecting pipes and valves and steam, air, and hydrocarbon pipes; and it consists, further, of a combination of generator with duplicate superheaters, and a special arrangement of connecting-pipes, with their valves and with steam and air supply pipes, whereby various processes can be carried on, all as hereinafter explained.

In connection with the apparatus, I have also hereinafternecessarily explained various methods of use by which improved results are obtained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents, partly in side elevation and partly in section,my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 3 shows a rear elevation of the apparatus.

In these figures, A represents a generator provided with a cover, a, and adapted to re ceive a charge of coal. Below the grate M is a pipe, f, to admit the air-blast, with a steamsupply, g, connected therewith, having a stopcock, g. On each side of the generator is placed a chamber adapted to act as a fixingchamber or as a superheater, one being marked B and the other B; These are to be filled with pieces of brick or any suitable refractory material through which the steam may freely pass and be heated in its passage. These superheaters have each a combustion chamber, h, in the base, with passages therefrom to the superheating and fixing chamber above, and with an air-supply pipe, 1', having a suitable valve, 5, for regulating or cutting off the supply of air. These superheaters or fixing-chambers have suitable covers on the tops. The combustion-chambers underneath are connected by pipes O 0' directly with a space in the generator beneath the grate M, and these pipes are provided with valves 0 c. From the pipes O 0 vertical pipes D D extend to branches E E, which connect them with the upper part of the generator. In the upper ends of the pipes D D are valves 1) b, by means of which communication between the upper part of the generator and the combustion-chambers of the superheaters can be obstructed, while the valves 0 c serve to cut off connection between the lower part of the generator and the combustion-chambers. Another set of pipes connects the upper part of the superheaters and the generator with the purifying-chambers W. Of these the pipes H H are exit-pipes from the superheaters. They extend from the upper parts of the superheaters and are turned to meet in a pipe, G, which is the exit from the generator and extends down therefrom to the Wash-box, the entrance to the generator being shown at G. The pipes H and H have valves 62 and cl, respectively,bymeans of which communication may be shut off between the upper part of the superheaters or upper part of the generator and the Wash-box. A valve, 6, in the upper extension of the pipe G, above its junction with the pipes H and H, closes this passage, when the valves d and d are open. In addition to the steam-supply pipe 9, there is a second, k, and a third, 70, in the pipes H and II, respectively, and a fourth, on, in the upper extension of the pipe G above the valve 6. These steam-pipes all have stop-cocks and suitable connections with a steam-generator. (Not shown.) In addition to these pipes is a pipe, m, entering the upper part of the pipe G, for supplying naphtha or other liquid hydrocarbon.

The simple apparatus above described is capable of a variety of methods of use, all

productive of valuable results by slight and easy manipulations.

Supposing the generator be charged with coal and the cover of the generator be secured in place, and the covers of the superheaters removed, the valves b b are opened and the valves 0 and c and d cl and c are closed, the valve of the blast-pipe f is opened, and the air admitted at the bottom of the generator and to the combustion-chambers h and h. \Vhile this access of air is bringing the mass of coal in the generator to an incandescent condition, the carbonic oxide and unconsumed carbon in the products of combustion are carried through the pipes E E, D D, and (J to the comlmstion-cliamber 71. 7a where they meet an additional supply of air and undergo complete combustion, the products thereof passing through among the refractory contents of the stugerheaters. This brings the refractory material within the superheaters up to an intense heat. "When the coal within the generator has been brought to a state of tlmrough incandescence,the covers of the superhcaters it both are used) are secured in place, the air is out off at thebottom of the genmrator and superheater, the valves (1 d in the outlet-pipe are opened, and steam is admitted at the bottom of the generator. This passes through the body of incandescent coal, and, by removal of its oxygen, is converted into a hydrogen gas. If it be desirable to manufacture illuminating-gas, naphtha or other hydrocarbon liquid maybe admitted to the top of the generator, the vapor of which is taken up by the hydrogen, and the whole passes through the pipes E E and their con nections to the bottom of the superheaters, through the superheaters, acting then as fixin g-chambers, and. thence to the wash-box or puritying-chamber.

The apparatus may be used in the way above described; but the construction of the apparatus adapted to give better results by another mode of operation, by which the quality of the is improved and a larger quantity obtained from a given quantity of coal. For the n'oduetion of the hydrogen gas by the method just referred to, the coal in the generator is brought to a proper condition of lHPiIIHlOf- OOIKKF, as heretofore described. The blast from the pipe fis then shut otl'and the top of the super-heaters secured in place. The valves 7/ l) d d are closed. The valve 6 in the outlet-pipe from the generator and. the valves 0 o in the coimeeting-pipes at the bottom of the generator are opened. Steam shut ollj' elsewhere then admitted to the top of the supcrheaters ii 3' through the pipes 7a, and the steam passes through the intenselyheatcd refractory material contained in the superheaters and is brought thereby to a highly superheated and attenuated condition, and is then admitted through the pipes C G into the bottom of the generator. In this dry and heated state the steam is brought more readily into contact with the heated coal and is more thoroughly decmnposed. The hydro gen gas thus generated passes through the opening G into the pipe G and. thence directly down into the wash-box, and in its passage may be made to take up hydrocarbon vapor admitted through the pipe on. After this process has been continued for a time, the length of which maybe determined by an op erator skilled in the art, the point for admitting the steam changed. The valves 7), D, and c are closed. and the valves (Z d e w are opened and steam is admitted at the top of the generator through the steampipc m. The steam thus brought into contact with a fresh surface of coal and passes downward through the mass oi? coal, being decomposed in its passage. The hydrogen gas passes through the pipes C C up through the superhcaters and. by the way of the oi'ltlet-pipcs to the wash-box. Thus the apparatus may be made to operate in two ways in a single heat for the production of hydrocarbon gas, or the direction of the current may be reversed in the manner above described as many times as may be desired, as after the supply of. coal has been exhausted it may be renewed and brought to a proper comlition, as first dc scribed.

The apparatus is adapted also to another method of manufacturing gas more especially applicable to the mz'mu'l'acture oi illuminating-gas. In. accordance with this method, after the requisite heat has been obtained, as heretofore described, the valves 1), d, c, and c are closed and the valves b d are opmied. The steam is admitted at the top of the su perheater B and passes down through the heated material therein and to the bottom ol? the generator through the comiecting-pipcs in a superheated state. through the incandescent coal, and, by removal of its oxygen, is converted into hydrogen Inthe top of the generator it meets hydrocarbon vapor from the liquid hydrocarbon introduced in any suitable and wellknown way, as through the pipe on, and the hydrogen, with the vapor taken up in the generator, passes to the bottom of the superheater B, and in ascending through the highlyheated material therein itbecomes thoroughly mixed and fixed and thence passes through the outlet-pipe to the wash-box, as above cxplained.

It is obvious that the direction. of the steam may be reversed in this method, and that it may be made to pass down through the coal and from 13 to B.

I am aware that generators and superheaters ina variety ot' forms and with a variety of arrangem cuts of pipes are old and well known, having for their object the production of gas by the same principle of operation, and I therefore limit my claims to the form and combination as here shown.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination, a generator,A, provided with a grate, a, and with a steam and air pipe communicating with. said generator beneath the grate thereof, and provided, also, with a hydrocarbon and steam supply pipe communicating with the upper part of the generator, a superheater or iixer having a combustion-chamber in its lower part provided with an air-pipe, a steantsupply pipe communicating with the upper part of the superheater or fixer, a pipe, 0, connecting said comlmstion-chamber with the space beneath the grate oi the generator and. provided with a It then passes up IIO valve, 0, a pipe, D E, having a valve and leading from the upper part of the generator into the comlmstion-ehainber of the super-heater or fixer, and an exit-pipe for the superheater or fixer, the parts being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination, a generator, A, provided with a grate, a, and with a steanrand air supply pipe communicating with said generator below the grate thereof, and provided, also, with a hydrocarbon-supply pipe communicating with the top of the generator, snperheaters or fixers B and B, each having a steam-supply pipe eoi'uniunicating with its upper part and a co'mbustionchamber in its lower part provided with an air-supply pipe, pipes G 0, connecting the combustion-chambers with the space in the generator beneath the grate, valves in these pipes, pipes D E and D E, with their respective valves, connecting the top of the generator with the comb ustionchan1bers of the superheaters or fixers, respectively, and an exit-pipe from each of the superheaters and fixers, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination, a generator, A, provided with a grate, a, and with steam and air supply pipes communicating with said generator below the grate thereof, and provided, also, with a hydrocarbon-supply pipe eonnnunieating with the top of the generator, superheaters or fixers 13 B, each having a steamsupply pipe communicating with its upper part and a combustion-chamber in its lower part provided with an air-supply pipe, pipes O 0, connecting the co1nbustion-chambers with the space in the generator beneath the grate, valves in these pipes, pipesD E and D 1', with their valves, connecting the top of the generator with the combustion-chambers of the superheaters or fixers, respectively, an exitpipe, G, from the top of the generator, having a valve, 6, and pipes H and H, leading from the top of the super-heaters and fiXers and uniting with the pipe G at a point below the valve 6, said pipes H and H being provided each with a valve, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVM. M. GOSH.

\Vitnesses:

H. E. LOANE, THos. KELL BRADFORD.