US433784A - Process of and apparatus for manufacturing heating and illuminating gas - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 1.

O. P. HADLY. PROGE$S OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING HEATING AND ILLUMINATING GAS.

No. 433,784. A Patentd Aug. 5,1890.

wi/tmooeo a vwamioz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. HADLY, OF ALLEGHENY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES FUEL GAS COMPANY, LIMITED, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING HEATING AND ILLUMINATING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,784, dated August 5, 1890. Application filed February 14, I890. Serial No. 340,806. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. HADLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alle- I gheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Process of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Heating and Illuminating Gas, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings. 1

This invention relates to certain improve ments in the manufacture of heating and illuminating gas from furnace-gas or the pro ducts of combustion of burning fuel in conjunction with a suitable hydrocarbon or oil.

Heretofore in the manufacture of such gas a fluid or other hydrocarbon has been employed in conjunction with air and steam which are mutually decomposed to a certain extent, and the combined gases and vapors,

' in connection with an additional quantity of hydrocarbon,

manent gas by retorting or subjecting the same to the further action of heat. By this process the steam necessarily introduced in the-initial step of the production of the gas is never wholly decomposed during such part of the process, and forms an objectionable element in the subsequent process of producing a fixed gas.

My invention, primarily, has for its object to provide for the elimination orpartial elimination of the steam from the gas or products of combustion after the initial step in the process, so as to produce a dry or comparatively dry gaseous compound, which is subsequently fixed or converted into a permanent gas in connection with a suitable hydrocarbon, and my invention further has for its objects to provide an apparatus by means of which such elimination of the steam may be effected at the proper stage and by which a more uniform conversion of the mixed gases and vapors into a fixed gas may be produced, the latter result being effected by a peculiar construction of the retort-s, which also adds to the durability of the said retorts, as more fully hereinafter explained.

The above-mentioned objects are accomplished by the means illustrated in the ac companying drawings, forming part of this fixed or converted into a pertion. Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the furnace and retorts forming part of said apparatus. Fig. 3 represents a transverse vertical sectional view of a condenser and its appendages which form part of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof.

The letter A indicates a furnace, which may be constructed of brick-work, masonry, or other suitable material, having a combustion or fire chamber B in its lower part. Within said combustion or fire chamber and set in its bottom or hearth is a pan or tray 0, constructed of iron, clay, or other suitable material, or the hearth itselfv may be simply dished and the tray omitted. 1

The tray is provided with a perforated diaphragm E, and below it is a space E, or, in case the hearth is simply dished, a grating or perforated partition may be employed sitting slightly above'the bottom of the dished portion, so as to leave a similar space.

F indicates an oil-pipe leading from a suitable elevated oil or fluid hydrocarbon recep= tacle G and extending into the space above mentioned, where it terminates or through which it may be extended, and provided with perforations for the escape of oil orhydrocarbon into the space. Around the edge of i the depression or dished portion of the hearth is built or located a wall H, of fire-brick or other sufficiently refractory material, through which extends a tube or flue I, having downwardly-inclined nozzles K, directed toward the interior of the tray or depression, for the purpose hereinafter explained. The said tube or flue I is extended out through the wall of the furnace at one end and connects with a pipe L, which in turn connects with an air-' pipe M, which extends through a passage in the wall of the furnace contiguous to the firechamber thereof, sothat the air passing through said pipe may be heated on its way.

The letter N indicates an injector extending into the pipe I and connecting with a steam-pipe P, which communicates with a suitable generator, and which is provided with a suitable cock R, by means of which the flow of steam may be regulated.

The fire-chamber is provided with adoor S, by means of which access may be had to its interior, andwits top is arched, as shown, and provided with ports or openings T, leading to a retort-chamber U above. In said chamber is located a bench of any convenient number of retorts XV, the upper series of which aresupported upon bricks X, arranged at proper intervals Y, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit the free passage of the hot products of combustion around the retorts. The retorts are constructed on the interior of iron and on the exterior of clay or other refractory material to withstand the intense heat to which they are subjected and more uniformly diffuse the heat to the interior of said retorts. The retorts pass through the furnace and are connected alternately at their front and rear ends by means of return-bends or elbow-pipes Z. The retort-chamber is arched at its top, and above said arch is formed a chamber or flue A, which communicates with the retort-chamber at its sides below the crown of the arch by means of fiues B in such manner that the flame and products of combustion passing up fronnthe fire-chamber into said retort-chamber will bereverberated and passed back over the retorts before passing into the flue A. The flue A connects with a smoke-stack or exit-flue G, and the said exit-flue is provided with a valve or damper D for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The letter E indicates a condenser, which consists of a cylindrical vessel of iron or other suitable material, and F indicates a pipe extending from the flue C at a point below the damper to an elbow-pipe G, from which extend two horizontal pipes 11 into the condenser.

The letter I indicates a short pipe ha'ving injector-nozzles K, which extend into the ends'of the pipes H for the purpose of draw ing the gas from the furnace and forcing it into the condenser. The pipes H are perforated on their lower sides for the escape of the gas.

The letter I indicates a water-inlet pipe connected with a proper head and provided with a suitable valve, the'said pipe extending into the lower part of the condenser to supply water thereto.

I M indicates a trap-pipe for the escape of water-from the condenser, the said'trappipe being so located as to keep the water on a level just above the perforations in the pipes H, so as to compel the gas to pass under the surface of the water as it escapes.

The letter N indicates a drum,which is connected with the upper part of the condenser by means of pipes P. From the said drum extends a pipe It, which passes into the con denserand traverses the same in a series of coils S below the surface of the water therein.

I The said pipe passes out of the condenser at one end and connects with one of the sideretorts of the lower series of the bench. From the retort at the upper series of retorts and at the opposite side extends a pipe T to a tank or chamber U, and from this tank extends a pipe V to a gas-holder or the point of consumption of the gas. The pipe 1 connects with the steam-pipe P before mentioned, by. means of which steam is supplied to the injector-nozzle K. i

The oil-supply pipe is provided with a branch pipe Y,leading to the pipe R entering the retorts from the condenser, by means of which oil is supplied With the gas passing from the condenser to the retorts to be fixed.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connection with the above description, and is as follows: Oil or fluid hydrocarbon is supplied to the tray in the fire-chamber in proper quantities through the oil-supply pipe and rises through the bottom of the tray and amass or body of absorbent or divided material-such as broken brickwhich is placed Within the tray. The oil is then ignited and the steam-jets turned on, passing through the injector and forcing air through the air-pipev and nozzles downward into the fire chamber and the tray. The products of combustion then pass through the flues in the arch of the fire-chamber into the retort-chamber, striking the arch thereof and being reverberated around the retorts. \Vhen the retort-chamber and retorts have become sufficiently heated, the damper in the exit-flue is closed, or partly closed, and the steam is turned on to the injectors which enter the pipes extending into the condenser, into which the gas from the furnace is forced, being caused to pass under the water. From thence the gas passes into the drum and then through the coil in the condenser, by which aqueous vapor is separated from the gas, and from the coil the gas passes into and through the retorts, where it is converted with the inflowing liquid hydrocarbon into a fixed gas, which passes to the tank and there to the holder or point of consumption. In

' its passage through the condenser the gas has the steam eliminated or partly eliminated, an d the gas in a comparatively dry state passes on to be fixed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The process herein described of producin g a fixed gas for heating or illuminating purposes, the same consisting in burning fluid hydrocarbon in conjunction with air and steam, then condensing and eliminating the aqueous vapor from the gaseous product, and then reheating said product in conjunction with a fluid hydrocarbon, substantially as specified. r

2. In an apparatus for generating heating and illuminating gas, in combination, a firechamber, an oil-supply pipe, and an air-pipe and steam-injector for introducing uel. into the fire-chamber, a retort-chamber communicating with the fire-chamber, a series of connected retorts located therein, a condenser, and pipes connecting the same with the retortchamber, the latter provided with a cut-off Valve or damper, the Whole arranged to operate substantially in the manner specified.

3. .In an apparatus for generating gas for heating and illuminating purposes, the 00111- binaiion, with a gas-producing furnace, of a condenser or drum connected therewith, a

pipe leading from thefurnace and provided with perforated branch pipes extending into the condenser, and a pipe leading from the I 5 W. O. DICKEN, EDWARD BAILEY.

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