US573957A - Process of and apparatus for manufacturing gas - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) v

P. G. BATES. mocnss OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFAGTURING GAS. N0. 573,95'7f Patented Dec. 29, 1896.

INVENTOR:

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UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS G. BATES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,957, dated December 29, 1896.

Application filed May '7, 1896. Serial No. 590,529- (No model.)

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Be it known that I, FRANCIS G. ISATES,.a

' citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Combustible or Illuminating Gas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in means for making either f uel-gas, for driving gas-engines, heating furnaces, and the like, or illuminating-gas.

In the United States patent to Maurice Lorois, N 0. 529,453, there is claimed a new process of manufacturing gas characterized by the forcing of air and superheated steam under high pressure through a mass of incandescent fuel, whereby a producer-gas is formed under so high a temperature as to avoid the formation of ammoniacal and tarry impurities.

1n the United States patent granted to Maurice Lorois, No. 529,452, for agasanotor is shown a combination of the apparatus necessary for producing gas by the said process with agas-engine specially adapted to be operated by the combustion of such gas.

In an application for United States patent by Maurice Lorois and Francis G. Bates jointly, filed June 13, 1896, Serial No. 595,e96, are set forth certain improvements in means for producing gash y the same general process as that of said Patent No. 529,453, the same being especially designed for the manufacture of gas independently of a specially-constructed motor-engine and to render it generally applicable for small gas-producing plants or other gas plants.

The present invention introduces certain other improvements upon the general process set forth in said Patent No. 529,453 especially designed to simplify the operation and render the apparatus more nearly automatic, and also especially to adapt it for the production of illumiuatinggas.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a sectional elevation of the entire apparatus. Figs. 2,3, and 4 are sections of modified constructions of the oil vaporizer or carburetor.

Referring to Fig. 1, let A designate the gasproducer or gazogene, its general construction'boing the same as in said Patent No.

I 529,453. It is provided with a feeding-hopper B, closed at top by a tight-fitting cap a and lower down by a rotative cook or valve 1), which communicates with the interior of the gas-producer through a conical or downwardly-flaring funnel or magazine 0, which enters deeply into the producer-chamber. A superheating-coilD is arranged in the upper part of the chamber around the magazine and communicates through atube or passage 0 with an annular passage (Z, encircling the lower part of the producer and from which twyers enter the producer-chamber. From the upper part of the producer leads a gasoutlet flue e, which communicates with the upper part of a descending flue or vertical chamber E, through which the hot gas circulates downwardly around a coil F, constituting a steam-generator. From somewhat above the bottom of the chamber E leads an outlet f, through which the gas is conducted to an air-heater G, through which it flows to a gasoutlet pipe g, leading to a pressure-regulator H, for reducing the pressure of the gas before it is delivered by the pipe 9', which leads to the place of use.

A pump or air'compressor J is arranged to draw in air through an inlet 77, and expel it through an outlett' into the compressed-air reservoir or tank K. The pump J is shown diagrammatically, it being understood that any known construction of air-compressor may be employed, but preference is given to those constructions in which water is pumped along with the air or otherwise applied for the l purpose of cooling the compressor. This is indicated diagrammatically in the drawings by the introduction of a water-pipe L, controlled by a valve Z, which introduces a stream of water into the inlet it, so that this water will enter the pump with the air. From the reservoir K an air-outlet j is provided leading by a pipe 7:; to the air-heater G, through which the air flows and takes up heat from the hot gas and is then led by a pipe m to the gas-producer A, where it is introduced, preferably,into the annular passage d to oommingle with the superheated steam before entering into contact with the incandescent fuel. Another air pipe or branch, it, leads from the compressed-air reservoir (or from the pipe 76) to a pressm-e-regulator M, by which the pressure ICO of the compressed air is lowered before it e11- ters the delivery-pipe n, which conducts it to the place of use.

\Vater is forced through the steam-generating coil F, and by being subjected to the action of the hot gas in the chamber E steam is generated which passes from the upper part of this coil through a connecting-pipe or gooseneck 19, which connects with the upper part of the superheating-coil D, through which the same circulates, and from the lower part thereof it is led by the pipe or passage to the annular passage (7, communicating with the twyers. The height of the water in the generator is indicated by a water-tube or glass water-gage g, which connects at top and bottom through horizontal branch pipes with the coil. Petcocks 7* may be advantageously added for the same purpose with or without the water-tube. The steam-pressure is indicated by a gage y. A thermometer or pyrometert is provided in the chamber E for determinin g the temperature of the gas passing over to heat the steam-generatin g coil F. An other pyrometer or thern'iometer, i ,is preferably applied to the air-heater G to determine the temperature of the gas by which the air is heated.

The water may be forced through the coil F by any suitable means adapted to alford sufficient pressure to overcome the pressure of the generated steam. The pressure forces the steam to pass through the superheater and out through the resistance of the mass of fuel in the gas-producer.

The water which is pumped into the cylinder or reservoir K is heated by taking up the heat of compression of the air, and this heat is utilized by employing this water for feeding the steam-generator I To this end the water is drawn from the lower part of the reservoir K and forced into the bottom of the coil F.

The apparatus as thus far described does not essentially differ from that set forth in the aforesaid application for patent of Lorois and Bates.

Iwill now proceed to describe those features that are peculiar to my present invention.

According to my invention for purposes of better regulation of the process and for other reasons the generation of steam is conducted under a higher pressure than that which prevails throughout the remaining portion of the apparatus. I'Ieretofore in making gas according to this system the same pressure, practically speaking, has been maintained through out the entire apparatus, only such differences of pressure having existed as were incident to maintain the flow of the com pressed air and steam. I provide means for pumping the water from the compressed-air reservoir K or other source into the steam-generator F at a higher pressure than that which prevails in the remainder of the apparatus, and 1 provide a special automatic regulator for reducing the pressure of the steam as it leaves the generator and before it enters the gas-produeer. By a proper construction and adjustment of this automatic regulator I am thus enabled to secure a uniform volume of steam to be admitted to the gas-producer, so that the relative quantities of steam and of air which are injected are maintained uniform, and the composition of the resulting gas is thus more constant.

In the particular construction of apparatus shown the water in the compressed-airreservoir K, which has been heated by the compression of the air, is conducted out at the bottom by a pipe to into a water-reservoir K, from which a pipe it leads to the water-forcing device or pump P, which in this instance and preferably is constructed as an injector. The reservoir K' might be omitted and the pipes a u made continuous. The reservoir K is made with a vent-valve u" at top for blowing off any compressed air or gases that may accumulate. The injector P may be of any usual or known construction and receive steam by a pipe Z) from any suitable source, preferably the steam-generator F. A valve u may be provided for controlling the ad mission of water and a valve 1: for controlling the admission of steam. The injector may be constructed with the usual regulating-handle 7t and throttle-valve 7L2. From the injector a water-pipe it leads to the bottom of the steamgenerating coil 1*. At any convenient point is introduced a check-valve V for preventing any backtlow. A steam-pipe 13', leading upwardly from the generator F, leads to the automatic regulator R, by which the pressure of steam is reduced and from which the steam flows by pipe 1) to the superheater D. The regulator B may be controlled by a diaphragm or by any means responding to ditferences in pressure and may be of any known construction of pressure regulating or red u ci mg or pressure-relief valves. Its construction is preferably such as to govern not only the flow to the steam-oultet pipep, but also to the pipe '0, which conducts steam to the injector, so that the operation of the injector will thereby be kept under control of the automatic regulator. As the pressure in the generator F is higher than that beyond the injector P on the one hand an d beyond the regulator R on the other, it becomes necessary to provide means for relievin g any excess of pressure, for which purpose a safety-valve Q is provided. As the steam-generating capacity of the generator F is commonly in excess of that needed to supply steam for the gas-producer and for the operation of the injector, I provide an additional steam-outlet pipe e, as shown, leading to any point where steam is desired for use in quantities within the capacity of the generator.

In theapparatus shown'the water-level in the generator F is at a: 00, while that in the compressed-air reservoir K is at y y}. The injector P has to force the water from the level 3 to the level :20, and in addition to increase its pressure tothe extent desired for creating the proper excess of pressure over that in the remainder of the apparatus. No particular relation exists between the levels wan d y,it being apparent that by placing the compressedair reservoir K higher the work thrown upon the injector would be reduced, it being quite admissible even to elevate the reservoir K above the level at or to place the two on the same level.

Another feature of my invention resides in the introduction of hydrocarbon vapor to the stream of hot air before the latter enters the gas-producer. For this purpose the hot-air pipe m, leading from the air-heater G, is made to traverse a carbureter S, into which oil or any liquid hydrocarbon is introduced, preferably continuously and under pressure, by means of a pump S or in any other manner. The particular construction of the carbureter is immaterial, provided it be capable of bringing the air and oil into mutual cont-act, so that the hot air may vaporize the oil, and, be-

coming charged with the vapor, may pass as carbureted air into the gas'producer. By thus introducing liquid hydrocarbon the operation of gas producing is materially modified, and the process is considerably cheapened. In operating with a bed of incandescent coal in the gas-producer A, I have by thus introducing hydrocarbon vapor derived from the vaporization of crude petroleum effected a considerable reduction in the cost of fuel for a given quantity of gas produced. In addition the further advantage is realized that less coal is required, and consequently less ash is produced, and the operation of the apparatus may proceed continuously for a longer period before it becomes necessary to remove accumulated ashes,and the formation of clinkers from poor coal is overcome. A further and most import-ant result is that the gas which is made. instead of being merely a fixed fuel-gas of unusual purity, as results from the process of said Patent No. 529,453, but without any material illuminating quality, may be converted into an illuminatinggas of sufficient candle-power to burn satisfactorily in ordinary burners as a suitable substitute for ordinary city gas. My invention thus provides an exceptionally cheap process for the production of illuminatinggas. The illuminatin ggas th us produced has the same merit-as the fuel-gas produced by the, process of said Patent No. 529,453, that it is free from tarry and am moniacal impurities, so that it requires no Washing, scrubbing, or purifying, but is ready for immediate use, and maybe burned either hot as it comes from the apparatus or may be cooled before passing to the burner.

ward per square centimeter, (about fortythree pounds per square inch.) That pressure has been determined by experiment to be approximately the lowest pressure at which a perfectly pure gas free from condensable carburets or tarry matters and ammoniacal products can be produced. Below that pressure the gas becomes progressively more and more impure, although for some purposes a gas sufficiently pure may be made at a pressure even as low as eighteen pounds per square inch. In the making of fuel-gas, however, it is preferable to operate under a pressure of at least fifty pounds per square inch. I have found that in the production of illuminating gas according to my present invention it is necessary, or at least highly desirable, to increase the pressure considerably beyond that which is necessary for the production of a suitable fuelgas. The best results are attained with a pressure approximating one hundred pounds per square inch. Under this pressure there is maintained in the gas-producer a temperature so high that all that portion of the hydrocarbon introduced with the hot air which is not, by undergoing partial combustion, converted into carbon monoxid is completely converted into the higher or more volatile hyd rocarbons,or,in other words, becomes fixed.

It results in my process of making illuminating-gas that the fixation of the enriching or illuminant ingredients is effected by the same operation by which the steam is decomposed and the body of the gas (consisting, chiefly, of hydrogen and carbon monoxid) is generated,whereas in the production of watergas, as is well known, the gas-body or nonluminous gas is first produced, and this is subsequently charged with the enrichinghydrocarbons, after which the latter are fixed by circulating the gas through a fixation-chamber containing baffle-brick or other obstructions which have been previously highly heated, so that the process both of fixation and gas-generation are necessarily intermittent, Whereas in my process they are continuous. A furtherditference is that by my process a far higher temperature is maintained in the gas-producer than can possibly bemaintained in the fixation-chamber of the water gas process, by which lam able to effect a complete and absolute fixation of the hydrocarbons, whereas in the water-gas processes the hydrocarbons are never Wholly fixed, the result being that when water-gas is transmitted through mains it suffers invariably some loss in illuminating power by reason of the condensation of the hydrocarbons which remain in the mains. The gas resulting from my process therefore differs from ordinary water-gas in three respects: first, that it comes from the producer so pure and devoid of tarry and ammoniacal prod ucts as to require no subsequent purification,secondly, that its luminous ingredients are in the form of fixed noncondensable gases, and, thirdly, that it con- IIO tains a higher percentage of inert nitrogen which in effect dilutes the gas to an extent which practically is advantageous, since otherwise the gas would be so rich in hydrocarbon products as to be difficult of complete and smokeless combustion in ordinary burners.

Accordin to my invention the process may be operated in three different ways, according to the character of gas that it is desired to produce. For making a fuel-gas of low illuminating power and useful for illuminating purposes only in connection with an incandescent burner, such as the IVelsbach, I use a low pressure, between, say, the limits of forty-two to sixty pounds per square inch, employing, chiefly, coal as the source of carbon, with but a small percentage of oil and a minimum proportion of superheated steam. For making a richer fuel-gas better adapted for illuminating purposes in connection with an incandescent burner I use nearly the same amount of coal and increase somewhat the proportion of hydrocarbon oil, using, for example, from six to ten per cent. of benzene, and increase the pressure to from sixty to seventy-five pounds per square inch. For a gas that is distinctively an illuminating-gas, and to which I may impart an illuminating Value of considerably over thirty candlepower, I greatly increase the proportion of hydrocarbon oil and raise the pressure from seventy-five to one hundred pounds per square inch, the higher pressure making the purer and more perfect fixed gas and one adapted to be conducted through mains at high pressure without loss by condensation. In this latter case the expenditure of coal may be reduced to the minimum,while the proportions of oil and steam are at the maximum. No more definite directions can be given forthe practice of the process, as the conditions vary greatly, according to the proportions of the apparatus, but any one skilled in the art can readily, by following these general directions, vary the conditions of the process until the quality of thegas produced is that which in any particular case he desires.

The minimum pressure which can be employed in operating my process is approximately forty-two pounds, and the maximum which it is necessary to attain to reach the best results is approximately one hundred pounds per square inch, the highest of these pressures giving the most perfect results for producing an illu minating-gas of high candlepower. Generally speaking, as the proportion of hydrocarbon is increased the pressures must be raised in order to produce a pure and fixed gas.

The hydrocarbon may be vaporized and introd uced into the gas-producer otherwise than by means of the hot air, but this affords a suitable and satisfactory vehicle for its introduction. In another application filed June 4:, 1896, Serial No. 594,303, I shall claim the vaporization of the hydrocarbon by means of the superheated steam in its passage from the superheater D to the twyers. Other means may be provided, and in fact any means by which the oil is vaporized and introduced into the gas-producer so as to pass through the incandescent zone thereof, together with the air and steam, is admissible.

Under the conditions of my invention I expect to be able after the operation has once been started and the desired pressure and temperature attained to dispense with the necessity of further introd notion-0f solid fuel or coal into the gas-producer. To accomplish this result, sufficient oil or hydrocarbon fuel mustbe injected into the stream of hot air (or injected, sprayed, or otherwise introduced into the gas-producer) to afford all the fuel required in the process for decomposing the steam and maintaining the high temperature necessary for the formation of the gas. In conducting the process in this manneritmay be found advantageous toprovide an extended surface of incandescence in the gas-prod ucer by introducing thereinto a suitable quantity of broken or irregularly-shaped refractory materials, such as pieces of fire-brick or lumps of lime, which under the high heat of the combustion will be maintained incandescent.

The specific construction of carburetor S (shown in Fig. 1) consists of an annular oilchamber a surrounding the hot-air passage 1). The pump S forces oil through a pipe 0 into the chamber a from which it enters in any suitable way intothe air-passage b. In

this construction wicks of asbestos or other suitable material are provided for drawing the oil into the air-passage. The pump S may maintain a pressure in the chamber (0 just equal to that of the compressed air, or, preferably, it may pump the oil under a higher pressure than that of the air, so as to force the oil in larger volume into the air-passage.

Modified constructions are shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. In Fig. 2 the oil-chamber is formed withina tube a around which the air passes in a chamber 17 The tube a is of porous material, such as unglazed earthenware or asbestos, and the oil is forced into it under sufficient pressure to make it exude through the pores of the tube. In Fig. 3 the air passes through a porous tube b and the oil is forced into the annular chamber a surrounding it and a pressure sufficient to cause it to pass through the tube into the air-passage. Fig. 4 shows a construction the same as that shown in Fig. 1, except that short straight wicks are substituted for the arcshaped wicks of the first construction.

The apparatus shown is designed to be operated in the following manner: A fire is kin; died in the produoerAand supplied with coal or other suitable fuel, the fire being continued until a suitable bed of incandescent fuel has been obtained. During this time air is blown through the producer under low pressure and the products of combustion escape through a branch pipe A, the cover c of which is thrown open and the pipe is connected to a chimneyflue. When a sufficient bed of incandescent coal is attained, thefiue connection is disconnected, the cap a closed, and the apparatus is ready to be operated under pressure for producing gas. The air-compressorJ then forces compressed air into .the reservoir K and at the same time introduces water, which is warmed by the heat liberated upon the compression of the air, as described. Initially thesteam-generator F is filled with Water in any suitable way, as by pouring water in beforehand or by forcing it in by the injector II by steam taken from any available source.

- lator R and permits the escape of only a predetermined volume of steam, which passes through the superheating-coil D, which is exposed to the hot gas in the upper part of the producer, and the superheated steam. then enters the annular passage cl, whereby it commin gles with the hot compressed air from. the reservoir K, which has been heated bypassin g through theheater G, and the commingled steam and air then enter through the twyers into the prod ucer-chamber. If illuminatinggas is being made, or if it is desired to substitutecrude oil or other liquid hydrocarbon as fuel in place of coal to greater or less extent, the oil is introduced to the carburetor S under pressure by the pump S or other means, so that the hot air becomes saturated with vaporized hydrocarbons. The high heat to which the steam and air with or without hydrocarbons are subjected in the producerchamber serves to convert them into a fixed gas, which rises through the producer-chamber and in the upper part thereof heats the superheating-coil D, then passes out by passage e,descends through chamber E, giving up heat to the steam-generating coil F, passes thence by passage f to the air-heater G, where it gives up heat to the air flowing through the tubes, and, finally, being thus cooled and its heat effectively utilized and economized, it passes out by the pipe 9 tothe pressureregulator H, which is set to retain in the apparatus the predetermined pressure under which the gas is produced, say, for example, one hundred pounds, the gas passing this regulator being reduced to any desired lower pres sure and passing off by the pipe 9 to the place of use, or to a storage vessel or gasholder. For burning the gas under the best conditions in glass or steel furnaces or for other such purposes it is preferable to take compressed air to the same points of use of the gas by means of a pipe 12, the air-pressure beingreduced in like manner by the pressureregulator M; but for illuminating purposes the gas will ordinarily be burned Without compressed air and as city gas is now commonly burned.

The apparatus requires to be regulated from time to time, according to variations in rate of consumption of the gas and other conditions. The amount of water introduced by pipe L should be so regulated as to maintain an approximately uniform water-level in the reservoir K or K. The air-compressor should be driven faster or slower, according as the rate of outflow of the gasincreases or diminishes. The injector should be controlled as with any steam-boiler, so as to maintain the Water-line in the generator at an approximately uniform level.

It must not be understood from the exactness with which I have described my improved apparatus that my invention is necessarily limited to the exact construction and mode of operation set forth. On the contrary, it is susceptible of considerable modification Without departing from itsessential features. For example, the steam-generator F need not be a coil, but may be constructed in any other form that will be suitable for communicating the heat of the gas to the water. The water maybe forced into the generator under the desired increased pressure by any other means than an injector, any known equivalent of an injector for feeding boilers being admissible as a substitute therefor. The Water may be introduced into the apparatus otherwise than by the air-compressor.

Instead of pumping in water with the air undergoing compression the compressor J may, as is common with compressors, be water-jacketed, and a force-pump, either form- IIO rendering the'apparatus self-containedand independent of other apparatus by providing for the driving of the air-compressor J by steam taken from the pipe 2 or otherwise from the steam-generator F. I also contemplate for further rendering the apparatus in-.

dependent the provision of means by which in first starting a fire the superheating-coil D may be utilized as a steam-generator to drive the compressor J until the cycle of operations shall be fully started. To this end a feed pump may be employed for initially charging the coil D with Water, and as the heat generates steam a pressure is soon attained sufficient to drive the compressor.

The pressures referred to in this specification are not absolute pressures, but pressures in excess of atmospheric pressure.

I claim asmy invention the following-defined novel features, substantially as hereinbefore specified, namely:

. 1. The improved process of making combustible gas which consists in passing preheated air, superheated steam, and hydrocarbon Vapors together, through a producerchamber wherein an elevated temperature is maintained by the combustion of carbonaceous matter, and in which is maintained a pressure in excess of forty-two pounds per square inch or over.

2. The improved process of making illuminatinggas which consists in passing preheated air, superheated steam, and hydrocarbon vapors together, through a producerchamber wherein an elevated temperature is maintained by the combustion of carbonaceous matter, and in which is maintained a pressure exceeding fifty pounds per square inch, whereby the hydrocarbons are partly oxidized and partly fixed as illuminants.

3. The improved process of making illuminating-gas which consists in passing preheated air, superheated steam, and hydrocarbon vapors together, through a producerchamber wherein an elevated temperature is maintained by the combustion of carbonaceous matter, and in which is maintained a pressure exceeding seventy-five pounds and approximating one hundred pounds per square inch, whereby the hydrocarbons are fixed at the same high temperature at which the gas is generated, and a gas of high illuminating power is produced.

4. The improved process of making illuminatinggas which consists in passing preheated air, superheated steam, and hydrocarbon vapors together, through a producerchamber containing a bed of incandescent cz'u-bonaceous matter, and in which is maintained a pressure exceeding fifty pounds per square inch.

5. The improved process of making gas which consists in compressing air to a given pressure, forcing water under a superiorpressure through a steam-generator whereby it is converted into steam, reducing the consequent increased pressure of the steam to a lower and uniform pressure, introducing the steam and compressed air together under equal pressure to a gas-producer into contact with incandescent carbonaceous matter, whereby they are converted into a fixed gas, passing the hot gas into contact with said steam-generator whereby it is cooled and its heat economized, and finally conducting the gas to the place of use.

6. The improved process of making gas which consists in compressing air to a given pressure, heating said air, forcing water to a higher pressure into a steam-generator, whereby it is converted into steam, reducing the consequent increased pressure of the steam to a uniform lower pressure, superheating the steam, introducing the superheated steam and hot compressed air together under equal pressure to a gas-producer into contact with incandescent carbonaceous matter, whereby they are converted into a fixed gas, passing and steam-generator in which said steam is generated and superheated, and into contact with the air-heaterin which said air is heated, wherebyit is cooled and its heat eeonomized. and finally conducting the gas to the place of use.

7. The process of making gas which consists in compressing air, heating it, passing the hot compressed air into contact with a liquid hydrocarbon, whereby it va-porizes the latter and becomes carbureted, generating steam, superheating it, and introducing said steam and carbureted air together into a gas-producer in which an incandescent temperature and a high pressure are maintain ed, whereby a partial combustion of the hydrocarbon occurs, and the steam, air and hydrocarbon are converted into a fixed gas free from tarry and ammoniacal impurities.

S. The improved process of making illuminating-gas, which consists in compressing air, heating it, passing the hot compressed air into contact with a liquid hydrocarbon, whereby it vaporizes the latter and becomes carbureted, generating steam, superheating it, and introducing said steam and carbureted compressed air together into a gas-producer in which an incandescent temperature and a high pressure exceeding seventy-five pounds per square inch are maintained, whereby the air, steam and hydrocarbon vapor are c011- verted into a fixed illuminating-gas.

9. The improved process of making illuminating-gas, which consists in compressing air, heating it, passing the hot compressed air into contact with a liquid hydrocarbon, whereby it vaporizes the latter and becomes carbureted, forcing water into a steam-generator, whereby it is converted into steam, superheating the steam, introducing the steam and carbureted air together to a gas-producer in which an incandescent temperature and a high pressure are maintained, whereby the steam, air and hydrocarbon vapor are converted into a fixed gas, and passing the hot gas into contact with the superheater and generator in which the steam is made and superheated, and with the air-heater in which said air is heated, whereby it is cooled and its heat is economized.

10. The improved process of makingilluminating-gas which consists in pumping air and water together, whereby the air is compressed and the water is heated thereby, forcing the water to a higher pressure into a steam-genorator, whereby it is converted into steam, reducing the consequent increased pressure of the steam to a uniform lower pressure, superheating the steam, heating said compressed air, passing the hot compressed air into contact with a liquid hydrocarbon whereby it vaporizes the latter and becomes carbureted, introducing the superheated steam and hot com pressed air together to a gas-producer in which an incandescent temperature and a high pressure are maintained, whereby the the hot gas into contact with the superheater steam, air and hydrocarbon vapor are conin said producer, means for forcing Water into said steam-generator to ahigher pressure than that in the producer, and a pressure-governor adapted to reduce the pressure of the steam passing from said generator to the producer to approximately the pressure in the producer.

12. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, an air-compressor, a steam-generator,

conduits for air and steam leading into said producer, the steam-generator arranged to be heated by the hot gases from said producer, means for retaining a heavy gaseous pressure in said producer, means for forcing waterinto the apparatus under such pressure, means for forcing said water under higher pressure into the steam-generator,and a pressure-governor adapted to reduce the pressure of the steam passing from said generator to the producer to approximately the pressure in the producer. I 1

13. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, a steam-generator arranged to beheated by the hot gases from said producer, means for retaining a heavy gaseous pressure in said producer, a compressed-air reservoir, means for pumping air and Water into said reservoir in such contact that the water absorbs the heat liberated by the compression of the air, means for forcing the Water from said reservoir into the steam-generator under a higher pressure than that in the producer, a pressure-governor adapted to reduce the pressure of the steam passing from said generator to approximately the pressure in the producer, and conduits for steam and compressed air leading into the producer.

14. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, a steam-generator arranged to be heated by the hot gases from said producer, means for retaining a heavy gaseous pressure in said producer, a compressed-air reservoir, means for pumping air and water into said reservoir in such contact that the water absorbs the heat liberated by the compression of the air, an injector operated by steam from said generator drawing water from said reservoir and forcing it to ahigher pressure into said steamgenerator, and a pressure-governor adapted to reduce the pressure of the steam passing from said generator to the producer.

15. The combination of a gas-producer A, gas-outflow chamber E, steam-generator F therein, air-heater G, pressure-regulator I-I controlling the outflow of gas and retaining a high pressure in the producer, air-compressor J, compressed-air reservoir K, an airconduit leadingtherefrom through said heater to the producer, means for forcing water into said steam-generator to higher pressure than that retained in the producer by said pressure-regulator, a pressure-governor controlling the outflow of steam from said generator adapted to reduce its pressure to approximately that in the producer, and a conduit for the steam extending thence to the producer.

16. The combination of gas-producer A, steam-generator F, gas-pressure regulator H, aircompressor J, compressed-air reservoir K, injector I-I adapted to draw water from said reservoir and force it at higher pressure into said steam-generator, a pressure-governor controlling the outflow of steam from said generator, steam-pipes leading thence to the gasproducer and to said injector, and a compressed-air pipe leading from said air-compressor to the gasproducer.

17. The combination of a gas-compressorA, steam-generator F, gas-pressure regulator H, compressed-air reservoir K, means for compressing air into said reservoir and for pumping water thereinto, means for forcing the water therefrom into said steamgenerator under a higher pressure, a check-Valve V for preventing backflow of. water from said steam generator, and pressure-governor R adapted to reduce the pressure of the steam passing from said generator to the producer.

18. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, a steam-generator, an air-compressor, a heater for heating thecompressed air therefrom, a conduit for compressed air leading it through said heater and into said producer, and a carb ureter in connection with said compressed-air conduit between the heater and producer, adapted to introduce aliquid hydrocarbon into contact with the heated air to be vaporized and carried by the air to the producer.

10. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, a steam-generator, an air-compress0r, a heater for heating the compressed air therefrom, a conduit for compressed air leadin'git through said heater and into said producer, a carbureter in connection with said compressed-air conduit, and a force-pump for forcing oil into said carbureter, whereby to introduce the oil into contact with the heated compressed air to be vaporized thereby and carried into the producer.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed IIO my name in the presence of two subscribing V witnesses.

FRANCIS G. BATES.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR O. FRASER, (lens. A. BRODEK.

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