US443122A - Process of manufacturing gas - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets- 8116, 1. L. STEVENS.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS. No. 443,122. Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

ON LINE {(-X (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. STEVENS PROGESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

Patented Dec. 28, 1890.

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LEVI STEVENS, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,122, dated December 23, 1890.

Application filed April 8, 1889. Serial No. 306i42l. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Manufacturing Gas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention has reference to that system of gas manufacture in which a mixture of steam and hydrocarbon vapor is delivered into and through a mass of burning coal or other carbonaceous material,bnt differs from the ordinary processes in certain particulars, which will be hereinafter described.

In carrying my process into effect I conduct steam at a high temperature,preferably superheated steam, at a temperature of from 1,000 to 1,300 Fahrenheit into contact with a highly-heated vapor of petroleum or other highlydieatcd hydrocarbon, permitting the two to combine or commingle. During such combination or admixture at high temperature I maintain the gas under a pressure considerably above that of the atmosphere, ordinarily from twenty to forty pounds to the square inch. The maintenance of this high pressure and temperature is peculiar to my process and is of the essence of my invention. I conduct the foregoing mixture at its high temperature into the generator or chamber containing the mass of burning anthra cite coal or other burning carbonaceous material at a high temperature. In the generator the mixture is permitted to expand with a corresponding reduction of pressure, the pressure in the generator being usually at or below that of the external atmosphere. An exhausting or relieving apparatus of any appropriate character is commonly connected with the generator to effect the deliveryof the resulting gas from above the mass of carbon. I find the best and most practicable method is to introduce the mixture of steam and vapor at the base of the burning mass and to permit its ascent therethrough. I also introduce at the same time into the mass of burning carbon a mixture of atmospheric air and steam for the purpose of supplying the oXygen necessary to sustain combustion. In order to secure uniformity in the character of the gas-delivery from the apparatus, it is necessary that the amounts of oil, steam, and air shall bear constant relation to each other and to the temperature in the retort. To accomplish this result I deliver steam from a common source, but separately, first, into contact with the hydrocarbon vapor, and thence mingled with said vapor into the generator, and, second, to a blower or other equivalent device by which itis combined with atmospheric air, and in which its pressure is rendered available to secure its own delivery and the delivery of the air into the generator. In this manner the air, steam, and hydrocarbon are delivered in proper relations, and as they furnish the oxygen to promote and maintain the combustion of the coal or other material it follows that the heat will be maintained at the proper point.

It is obvious that the process above described may be carried into effect by many different forms of apparatus; but in order that those skilled in the art maybe definitely informed as to a suitable means for the purpose I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings one form of apparatus which constitutes the subject-matter of a separate application for patent of even date herewith.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the center of the apparatus on the line :0 0c of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the generator 011 the line y 3 of Fig. 1.' Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the super-heater. Fig. 4 isa top plan view of the grate. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the delivery pipe or main, showing the exhauster connected therewith.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an upright cylindrical generator or combustion chamber of masonry or other suitable material, provided at its base with a tire-grate a and at the top with a feed-opening a, closed by a removable cap (L The generator is closed beneath the fire-grate by an ash pan or chamber a having a discharge-door a at the bottom. The top of the chamber is constructed with an arch or crown a through which openings a lead into a top chamber a". In this chamber is located a steam-superheater B, which may be of the form represented in Fig. 3, or of any other form which will provide a sinuous passage for the steamand admit of its being highly heated by the action of the products ascendingthrough the top of the retort.

C is a steam-pipe leading from a boiler or other generator to the super-heater.

l) is a pipe leading from the superheatcr and conducting a part of the superheated steam into the lower end of a vertical mixingchamber, which latter is in the form of a vertical tube or chamber E with removable ca is c e at its ends. This mixing-chamber is surrounded by a heating-jacket I into the upper end of which the gases and productions of combustion are delivered from the generator at a very high temperaturethrough the neck or passagef. These highly-heated products passing downward around the mixing-chamber raise the steam and hydrocarbon vapor to a very high temperature. The gases finally escape from the bottom of the jacket 1 through a dip-pipe into a condenser or washing chamber G, whence they escape after passing through the fluid therein by a pipe f.

II is a device-such as a steam-pump-for delivering oil or other hydrocarbon into the base of the mixing-chamber E and into contact with the superheated steam delivered into the chamber by pipe I). This oil-feeding pump is actuated by steam delivered through pipe I, which eonununicates with the steam-delivery pipe t before the latter reaches the superheater. A cock J is provided at the foot of the mixing-chamber for the removal of fluids precipitated therein; but the fluids are commonly maintained atsuch level as to cover the oil and steam inlets, as shown in the drawings.

K is a pipe leading from the top of the mixing-chamber and downward to a ring L, which encircles the lower part of the generator, and which is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with alarge number of deliverynozzles or tuyeres Z, directed inward through the walls of the generator from all sides for the purpose of discharging-the mingled steam and hydrocarbon vapor. This pipe K is provided, as shown, with a cock, by which the delivery therethrough is controlled, so as to maintain a pressure of the vapor and steam within the mixing-chamber, the pressure being usually from twenty to forty pounds per square inch.

M is apipe connected with the superheating-chamber l and leading thence to an ordinary injector-blower N, composed of a series of concentric nozzles of successively greater diameter leading into the base of the generator below the fire-grate, the effect of this apparatus being to deliver air and steam in great quantity through the mass of incandescent fuel.

The grate may be of any suitable form; but I prefer a series of connected rocking bars, such as shown, as I am thus enabled to speedily remove the ash and to maintain a uniform combustion.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The generator is charged with carbonaceous material and combustion inaugurated in any suitable manner. Steam is then admitted through the pipe 0, whence it passes in part to the superheater, and thence to the mixing-chamber and blower N, and in part to the oil-feeding devices. The superheated steam entering the mixing-chamber, there meets and combines with the vapor of the oil at a temperature of from 800 to 1,200 Fahrenheit and at a pressure of from twenty to forty pounds, and is delivered through the pipe K and the numerous inlets Z into and through the burning carbon. At the same time air and steam are delivered from the blower into the base of the incandescent mass.

One of the important features of my invention resides in the combination of the steam and hydrocarbon vapor at a high pressure and temperature and their delivery at once into the incandescent carbon in the genorator.

Another important feature lies in the application of the outgoing gases to maintain the temperature of the mingled steam and hydrocarbon vapor.

The maintenance of the pressure of the mingled steam and vapor is advantageous, in that the steam is thus brought to a condition in which its elements are readily dissociated and the carbon brought to a condition in which it has a great affinity for oxygen. The result is that the mixture delivered into the incandescent carbon has but slight tendency to lower its temperature. A minimum supply of oxygen is therefore sufficient to maintain the combustion in the generator, and the result is not only economy of fuel, but the constant production of a fixed or stable gas of uniform quality.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The process of manufacturing combustible gas, consisting in the following steps: first, maintaining a mass of burning coal in a gencrater-chamber; second, applying the heated products escaping from said chamber externally to a second chamber, and thereby raising the same to a high temperature; third, mixing steam and hydrocarbon vapor in the second chamber under a pressure of from twenty to forty pounds, and, fourth, conducting said highly-heated mixture from the sec- 0nd chamber through the mass of incandescent coal and at the same time supplying steam and air to the mass to maintain combustion.

2. In a process of manufacturing gas, the method of automatically maintaining the proper relations between the hydrocarbon, steam, and heat, which consists, first, in igniting carbonaceous matter and bringing it to a state of incandescence; second, delivering steam from a common source separately into contact with the hydrocarbon vapor and thence to the incandescent fuel, and also into contact with atmospheric air and thence with the air moved thereby into the fuel, and, third, in applying the waste gases from the fuel to heat infiowing air, steam, and vapor.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand,this 16th day of March, 1889, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

LEVI STEVENS.

Witnesses:

GEO. M. @ROBESON, SAML. D. OLIPHANT, Jr.

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