US674695A - Apparatus for making coal-gas. - Google Patents

Description

No. 674,695. Patented May 2|, I90l. E. M. EIDHERR.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING COAL GAS.

(Application filed July 19, 1900.! (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 674,695. Patented May 2|,19m.

' E. m. EIDHERR.

APPARATUS FOR muons COAL GAS.

(Application filed July 19, 1000.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

EDWARD M. EIDHERB, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING COAL-GAS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,695, dated May 21, 1901.

Application filed July 19, 1900. Serial No. 24,169. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. EIDHERR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Coal-Gas and Coke; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to anovel construction in an apparatus for producing gas and coke, the object being to provide a simple and efficient device of this character; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a front elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal section of one of the retorts. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of a chemical-receptacle and atomizing device employed. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view showing a battery of the receptacles shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a coke-oven. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

My said apparatus is designed principally for carrying out my process for producing gas and coke as described and claimed in a companion application, filed July 19, 1900, Serial No. 24,170. This process consists in placing coal in a closed retort and heating same until the volatile constituents have been partially freed. Hydrochloric acid in combination with glycerin is then introduced by means of superheated steam for the purpose of opening the silicates and pyrites contained in the coal for the further action of glycerin and nitric acid, both the latter acting upon the sulfur contained in the coal to transform the same into glycerin-sulfuric acid, O H (OH) HSO 0 11 80 andinto sulfureted hydrogen, (E 8,) both soluble in abundance of water and remaining in the gas-water, thereby partially saving the cost of purification. Steam becomes decomposed into its component elements, oxygen and hydrogen, by superheat= ing in presence of carbon. Nitric acid is transformed into nitrous acid by the reducing influence of carbon, the surplus of free oxygen being absorbed by the hot carbon or coke, owing to the property of carbon to mechanically inclose about twenty times its own volume of gases. Hydrogen in the condition of generation has great affinity for carbon and combines with the carbon of the coal to form marsh-gas (CH and olefiant gas, (0 H and C H A part of the oxygen of the steam combines with the nitrous acid and regenerates it into nitric acid, which is again immediately degenerated into nitrous acid through the influence of the carbon, and is thereby rendered fit to bind another portion of free oxygen.- This continuous degeneration and regeneration of the nitric acid works as in the manufacture of sulfuric acid, so that only a small quantity of nitric acid need be used. The free oxygen in statu nascendi is absorbed by the hot coke without causing any chemical transformation of the carbon, owing to lack of sufficiently high temperature to cause chemical transformation. The oxygen thus mechanically absorbed by the coke is given off to the atmosphere as the coke cools. This chemical transformation by means of the nitric acid serves to aidin preventing the free oxygen from chemically combining with the coke to form carbon monoxid and carbon dioxid, the former being combustible, but very poisonous, and the latter being incombustible and a preventive of combustion. The hydrochloric acid besides acting upon the silicates and pyrites of the coal also acts upon the alkalies and chemically combines with the alkalies and silicates, forming chlorids and facilitating the chemical transmutation of glycerin and nitric acid, as fully described in myLetters Patent No. 613,980, issued November'8, 1898. The acids used in this process, as shown, are chemically transformed and rendered harmless. They do not go over into the gas, and therefore are not injurious to pipes and do not effect any deterioration.

By means of my process above described I am enabled to produce a far larger volume of gas from a given amount of coal than has heretofore been obtained, the increase varying according to the kind of coal used, but averaging one hundred to one hundred and fifty per cent. This increase is due to the synthetic generation of coal-gas, due to the influence of superheated steam and chemicals, whereby synthetic generation of marsh-gas and olefiant gas is efiected.

In other processes in which the free oxygen is not absorbed the latter combines with the carbon of the coal to form carbon monoxid and carbon dioxidin excessive quantities and leaves the hydrogen free.

The following are true and correct analyses of the gas produced by the above process and by the ordinary process, No. 1 being analysis under ordinary process and No. 2 analysis with my process, these analyses serving to illustrate that the gas produced is practically the same, with the advantage of larger volume in favor of my process, the same coal and the same apparatus being used for both, the duration of time and quantity and quality of fuel being the same:

N0. 1 No. 2

Hydrogen (H) .1 32.07 33. 82 Marsh-gasl(CH,) 41. 28 39.15 Carbon monoxid (CO) 8.50 Olefiant gas (C 11 4. 50 Carbon dioxid (O0 2. Nitrogen (N) 10. 33 Oxygen (O) 0.80 O.

said connection being so made that each rei tort may be separately connected with said drum E. Leading from each of said retorts B is a gas-outlet pipe F. Said retorts B and gas-outlet are constructed and arrangedin a well-known manner and require no particular description.

Interposed in the connection between the retorts B and drum E is a device for feeding chemicals with the superheated steam. This device consists of a vessel G, of an acid-proof substance, having an inlet-opening and vent H and an outlet-opening I. Said outlet I is closed by means of a plug J, through which a tube K passes, which extends downwardly to a point adjacent the bottom of said vessel. Said tube K enters a valve-casing L, rigidly mounted upon said vessel, and is controlled by a valve M on a valve-stem N, entering said casing. Said casing is connected at one end with a pipe 0, leading from said drum E; The said pipe 0 terminates in a nozzle P, from which the superheated steam flows directly over the end of the tube K and thence into a pipe Q, leading to the retorts B. By this means the contents of the vessel G are drawn up through said tube K and atomized and carried along by the superheated steam 3 and distributed therewith through the retorts. The said vessel G is provided with a graduated scale K, by means of which the operator is enabled to see how rapidly the chemical is being fed to the retorts, being enabled to regulate the quantity by means of the valve M.

The vessels Gare preferably arranged in a battery of three, as shown in Fig. 4, and are so connected with the supply of superheated steam that the contents of any one or all of said vessels may be atomized. Said vessels are designed each to contain a different chemical, of which one or two at a time are introduced into the retorts in carrying out my process. I

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have illustrated my apparatus as applied to coke-ovens, which likewise are gas-producing apparatus, but differ from the retorts only in the fact that the gas is allowed to escape and is burned up at the outlet. My process when applied to the manufacture of coke only produces a coke from which all sulfur is practically expelled, thus leaving an almost pure carbon. In said ovens the perforated pipe is provided with branch pipes and is mounted Ein depressions R in the floor of the oven S, so gas to leave a practically even surface for the ;coke and making the same easily removable. The superheating-drums E are mounted over ;the outlet-openings at which the gas burns, so that there is no additional expense in- I volved in the superheating of steam.

I desireit-to be understood that coke-ovens and gas-retorts are coke and gas producers land that my apparatus applies equally to both.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an apparatus for producing gas and =coke, the combination with a retort, a perfo rated pipe therein, a source of supply of-"superheated steam, and valve-controlled connectionbetween said perforated pipe and said superheated-steam supply, of a valve-casing interposed in said pipe connection, a chemical-receptacle connected at its delivery end with said valve-casing, a valve controlling said delivery end, and a nozzle on the steaminlet to said casing, adapted to direct the flow of steam above and at right angles to said delivery end of said receptacle, wherebythe entering said casing! 2. In an apparatus for makinggas and coke, the combination with a retort, a source of supply of superheated steam, and pipe connection between the same, of'a Valve-casing interposedin said connection, a nozzle on .the steam-inlet to said casing, a valve in said-casing, and a receptacle depending therefrom contents of said receptacle are atomized'upon In testiinony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD M. EIDHERR;

Witnesses:

E. F. WILSON, RUDOLPH WM. LOTZ.

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