US731949A

US731949A - Method of making coke and gas.

Info

Publication number: US731949A
Application number: US6739801A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Potter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1901-07-08
Filing date: 1901-07-08
Publication date: 1903-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1920-06-23

Description

' PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

J. A. POTTER. METHOD OF MAKING COKE AND GAS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1901.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1 V. 7 II, Li

n a [W u n R m a o a S m m 1 8 m 5 n a 2 0 a W n n w 0 l w m u a U 12 E m m H 2 1 M 9 n 1.. M 7 w 6 2 M r 4 M 2 M, J m -mm I l l I l I 1 ,H/m L 6 I lllll l.| G. 1 m 4: f a R J 2 m ||?|-||||1.1 7 m H 16 m 0 2 j l 6 4 l I I l I. 2 1 I my I 1v 6 4 3 .1 J a 4 1 l" V 3 2 12 m 5 m m w no MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE. f

METHOD OF MAKING COKE AND GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 731,949, dated June 23, 1903. Application filed July 8, 1901. Serial No. 67,398. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. POTTER, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Method of Gas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a cokeoven arranged to be operated in accordance with my improved process, and Fig. 2 is a similar section at right angles to that of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a modification.

My invention relates to the coking of coal, and is designed to provide an improved method therefor by which a continuous operation is afforded in which at least a part of the gas may be taken off and used for illuminating or other purposes and in which the heat of the cooling coke is utilized for the preheating of a fluid, such as air or combustible gases, or for the heating of water to generate steam.

In the drawings, in which I show one form of apparatus for carrying out my improved method, 2 is a retort, preferably formed of fire-brick or refractory material and having a lower portion 8, consisting of a hollow metal casing or shell. This shell 3 rests upon a base-plate 4, having side guides 5 5, within which slides a reciprocating shear-block 6. This shear-block is actuated by a motive cylinder 7, having its piston-rod or plunger 8 attachably secured to the hub or stem 9 of the shear-block. A series of steam or air channels or pipes 10 lead through the shearblock for conducting steam or air into the interior of the retort while its lower end is closed and the coking operation is going on. The outer ends of these channels are arranged for the connection of jointed pipes thereto,throug11 which the steam or air passes. The retort is built within a masonry setting 11, and a series of vertical lines or chambers 12 surround the retort and connect at their lower ends to gas and air inlet pipes 13 and at their upper ends to a flue 14, surrounding the top of the retort and from which leads stack-flue 15. These fines or chambers may be separated from each other by fire'brick or Making Coke and other refractory partitions. The gas which is burned in these chambers may be drawn from any suitable source; but I prefer to obtain it from the coke itself within the retort, and for this purpose I provide gas-outlet pipes 16, which lead from the lower enlarged portion of the retort beneath the shoulder 17 and are connected to a surrounding pipe 18, from which branches 19, provided'with valves 20, lead to the gas and air pipes 13. The air injectors or inlets 21 lead through the upper pipes 13, which open .into the lower ends of the chambers 12, and the air thus forced in forms a siphon or vacuum, which draws the gas from the retort and forces it into the combustion-chambers. This gas is lean and free from tar. By adjusting the valves 22 in the air-injectors the supply can be regulated as desired. Above the gas and airinlet channels I provide observation-holes, which are closed by removable plugs 23. The mixed air and gas thus forced into the lower ends of the combustion-chambers burn therein and heat the upwardly-tapering portion of the retort, the zone of greatest heat being at the lower portions of these chambers. The burned gases pass off to the stack through flue 15.

I have found in the operation of this system that the partially-liquefied coke,caused by the oozing of the tarsin the coal, swells within the upper part of the retort and requires considerable force or pressure to force it downwardly. For carrying out this step I use an upper ram 24, which is connected through cross'head 25 to the piston-rod 26 of a motive cylinder 27, which is preferably pneumatic orsteam-actuated. This ram is recessed upon one side to form a pocket 28, and surrounding this side of the ram is a hopper 29, containing the coal to be fed into theretort. By actuating the motive cylinder I actuate this ram at desirable intervals, and thus perform three functions: The ram feeds down a measured portion of coal at each vertical movement, it is also used to force down the clinging body of pasty coal, and a further important function is that of co npressing the charge. As the ram is forced down within the retort it compacts and densities the upper pasty portion of the charges, thereby closing the cells formed by the escaping gases and enabling a dense hard coke to be obtained from a comparatively poor quality of coking or gas coal.

To prevent the escape of gas during the in" troduction of the charge, I provide the hopper with a depending lip 30, which is of greater length than that of the coal-pocket in the ram. This seals the top of the retort and prevents the escape of the gas. The gas evolved in the retort passes into a flue 31, and thence into a main 32, by which it is conducted to a holder or burner.

The hollow shell forming the lower portion of the retort is provided with suitable inletpipes 33 in its lower portion and outlet-pipes 3% in its upper portion, and if air is heated in this shell the outlet-pipes are connected to the air-injectors, asshown in Fig. 3. In this case air is forced into the lower end of the shell under pressure and, being heated therein, acts through the injectors to draw the lean gases from the lower and larger part of the retort and force them into the combustionchambers, where they are mixed and burned. In case water is used in this shell the steam generated therein may be used to supply steam to the channels in the shear-blade or to the cylinder to operate the ram of this and other retorts, or where a single oven is used the shell or boiler may be divided into two compartments, in one of which steam is formed and in the other of which air is heated.

In carrying out my improved process coal is fed at proper intervals into the top of the retort by reciprocating the ram and the coke is intermittently drawn from its lower end by reciprocation of the shear-blade. In performing these steps I preferably withdraw the shear-blade, thus opening the lower end of the retort, and then force the charge downwardly by means of the ram. Th'e shear-blade is then forced forward to discharge and shear off the downward-protruding portion of the charge, and the ram is raised to its normal position. As more coal is desired the ram is moved down through a portion of'its stroke sufficient to feed coal downwardly by means of the pocketin the ram. Thecoaldropsfrom the pocket upon the top of the charge and gradually descends into the hottest zone, which is at or near the level of the observation-holes,

where the coking operation is completed. During this descent the richer gases are distilled during the coking operation and pass off to the gas-main. The gas necessary for heating the upper portion of the retort and coking the coal is sucked out from the lower larger portion of the retort and forced into the combustion-chambers by the air-injectors. These gases are hot and much leaner than those evolved in the upper portion, being comparatively free from tar, so that there is no clogging of the pipes. The quality of the gas taken off through the main at the top of the oven is therefore improved, as it is not diluted by the leaner gases formed in the lower part of the oven. These gases for heating the oven may, if desired, be taken from other sources, or the gases evolved in the ovens may be taken to a holder, from which they may be withdrawn and supplied to the combustion-chambers, though I prefer the process above described if the coal used is rich enough in gas to supply sufficient for this purpose The coke is at a temperature ofabout 5,000 Fahrenheit at the hottest zone, and the finished coke in passing from this zone to the lower end of the retort gives up a large part of its heat, which is radiated through the inner wall of the shell or boiler, and thus heats the fluid or fluids therein. A considerable economy is thus obtained, since the heat of the cooling coke is not wasted, as

heretofore. The heat of this coke is further utilized for the generation of hydrogen gas by decomposition of the steam, which is forced in through the shear-blade when in its closed position. This steam passing up through the hot and cooling coke is decomposed and produces large quantities of hydrogen gas, which joins with the gases distilled from the coal. These gases havinga strong affinity for sulfur collect and remove from the coke any 5 particles of sulfur that may be left therein, thus improving its quality. The oxygen contained in the steam burns out any particles of hydrocarbon left in the hot coke. The

combustion chambers or flues around the I07.

upper part of the retort supply the heat nec-. essary for the coking operation and, further, preheat the fresh coal at the upper part of the charge, the charge passing down through an increasing temperature to the hottest zone,

richer tarry coal is used, the burden is kept 1 15 lower and the tars will pass off with the gas.

The advantages of my invention are numerous andimportant. By reason of the vertical stack form the weight of the charge will compact and densify the coke, thus improv- 12o ing its quality and strength. The preheating of the air or gas utilizes the heat of the coke produced, and thus produces an economy in operation, and, further, the heat of the burning gas preheats the upper portion of the I25 charge, and thus aids in the coking operation. The drawing of a part of the gas from intermediate points in the producer gives a better quality of gas and utilizes the leaner gases for the heating of the retort. continuous, the walls are kept at a substantially uniform temperature, so that the life of If a lean coal is being used, a high 1 I0 The process being a producer is much longer than with ovens where the entire burden is discharged and a new charge put in. As the coke has cooled down before discharging, it does not need to be water-quenched, and the coke is not split up by sudden cooling and the impurities contained in water deposited in it. The heat of the coke is also utilized for forming gas by the introduction of steam or air, or both, in the lower portion of the charge during the coking operation. The intermittent shearing off of the charge enables the continuous operation to be carried on, the shear acting as a seal to prevent access of oxygen to the charge.

The combustible gas may be preheated in the regenerative casing or boiler instead of the air, and as the shell can be made into two or more parts the combustible gas or air may both be preheated in this manner, and by the term fluid in the claims I intend to cover either gases, whether combustible or not, or liquids, such as Water.

The apparatus may be Widely varied without departing from my invention as defined in the claims, each of which may be carried out without the limitation of the others.

I claim- 1. The method of producing coke and gas, consisting in maintaining a vertical charge or burden, feeding coal to the upper portion of the burden, coking an intermediate part of the burden, and intermittently shearing olf and discharging the entire lower portion of the coke column at the lower end of the charge; substantially as described.

2. The method of making coke and gas, consisting in maintaining a vertical burden, intermittently supplying coal to one end of the burden, and shearing off and removing coke from the other end, drawing oft gases from the burden, and burning combustible gases around the coking zone; substantially as described.

3. The method of making coke and gas, consisting in maintaining a vertical burden, intermittently feeding coal to one end and shearing off and removing coke from the other end of said burden, heating a gaseous fluid by the coke so formed, and burning said gas around the coking zone; substantially as described.

4. The method of making coke and gas, consisting in maintaining a vertical. burden, intermittently feeding coal to the upper end and shearing off and removing coke from the lower end of said burden, drawing the lean and fuel gas from an intermediate point of the charge, and burning it around the intermediate aud upper portion of the charge, and withdrawing the rich and illuminating gases from the upper end of the charge for further use; substantially as described.

5. The method of making coke and gas, consisting in maintaining a vertical burden, intermittently feeding coal to one end of the burden, and shearing off and removing coke from the other end, and feeding steam into the lower portion of the burden while the coking operation is proceeding in the intermediate portion of the burden; substantially as described.

6. The method of making coke, consisting in maintaining a vertical burden, feeding coal intermittently to the upper end of the burden, intermittently shearing OE and removing the lower part of the column, heating a gaseous fluid by means of the hot coke in the lower part of the burden, and burning the gaseous fluid around the intermediate upper portion of the burden, substantially as described.

7. The method of making coke and gas consisting in maintaining a vertical burden, intermittently feedingcoal to the upper end of the burden and shearing off and removing coke from its lower portion, heating air around the lower portion of the burden, withdrawing gas from an intermediate part of the burden, and burning it with the preheated air around the burden, and drawing off gases from the upper part of the burden; substantially as described.

8. The method of making coke, consisting in maintaining a continuous vertical burden or charge, compressing the coal during the coking operation to densify it and shearing off and removing successive portions from the lower end of the column; substantially as described.

9. The method of making coke, consisting of maintaining a vertical charge or burden, intermittently feeding charges of coal to the upper end of the burden, opening the bottom end of the retort, forcing the charge downwardly and shearing off the protruding portion; substantially as described.

10. The method of making coke, consisting in maintaining a vertical burden, intermittently feeding coal to the upper end of the burden, shearing oflf and removing coke from its lower portion, sucking the leaner gas from an intermediate part of the burden, and forcing it by air under pressure into a combustionchamber around the retort; substantially as described.

11. The method of coking coal, consisting in maintaining a vertical 'burden or charge,

intermittently feeding coal to the upper part of the burden and shearing off and discharging coke from the lower end, and heating air by the heat of the coke in the lower part of I the charge; substantially as described.

12. The method of making coke, consisting in maintaining a vertical burden or charge, intermittently feeding coal to the upper part of the burden and shearing off and discharging coke from the lower end, heating air by the heat of the coke in the lower part of the charge, and feeding this heated air together with a combustible gas into the combustionchamber around the retort; substantially as described.

13. The method of making coke, consisting In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 7 in coking coal in a vertical column, compress-- my hand.

ing the same at the top While the bottom is closed, then opening the bottom and forcing JOHN POTTER out a part of the column and cutting off this Witnesses:

JOHN MILLER, GEO. B. BLEMING.

end of the column; substantially as described.