US745290A - Apparatus for the manufacture of coke. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTBD NOV. '24, 1903.

P. NAEF. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF 00KB;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1900.

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APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE.

' APPLIUATION FILED APR. 21, 1900.

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PATENT OF ICE.

PAUL NAEF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,290, dated November 24, 1903.

Original application filed February 1. 1898, erial No- 668.779. Divided and this application filed April 24, 1900. Serial Ila-14,133. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern-.-

'Be it known that I, PAUL NAEF, of 132 Woody Cress avenue, near One Hundred and Sixty-fifth street, New York, in the county of 5 New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of 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.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of coke and the recovery of :5 gas, tar, ammonia, and allied products the same being shown and described in my application for process and apparatus for making coke and saving by-products, Serial No.

668,779, filed February 1, 1898, of which this application is a division; and the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus to produce coke or to coke'coal in a single furnace in much larger quantities than has been done heretofore and on a scale commensurate with the requirements of a blast-furnace and to utilize the by-products.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus to produce coke andby-products from coal with a small waste of heat, so that the heat units required for the distillation only are consumed, the remaining heat units being contained in the coke and gas; to increase the amount of ammonia recovered by the action of superheated steam 5 on the nitrogenous constituents of the coke in an incandescent state; to so construct the apparatus as to utilize most of the volatile matter for the production of tar and gaseous hydrocarbons; to construct the apparatus in such manner as to utilize the heat of the incandescent coke for producing steam and superheating the same; to make the coking of coal and the cooling and loading of the coke wholly automatic; to provide apparatus by means of which to manufacture fuel and illuminating gases, as well as tar, ammonia, and coke; to reduce the cost of plant investment and repairs per ton of coke, and to offectgreat economies in the cost of production and in" the utilization of the by-products.

Further objects of the invention are to procoal to recover or utilize the by-prod ucts have I the disadvantage in that they are very costly, requiring considerable repair and producing a Very limited amount of coke per oven. My

apparatus is designed to obviate these disadvantages and objections and to obtain the results hereinbefore stated byimproved means for supplying all or part of the heat necessary for the distillation of the coal by means of oxygen. These gases are produced by the combustion of fuel in the coking apparatus itself by injecting hot or cold air, with or without steam, into the same. .If a smaller volume, and consequently a richer gas containing a low percentage of nitrogen, is desired or in cases where there is limited use. for the gas, it is preferable to force air previously heated in a hot-air stove through the coking material. Part of the heat necessary for the coking is thus supplied by the preheated air, the rest by the combustion of a small percentage of the coke. The volume of gas can still further be reduced by supplying part of the heat required for distillation through firebrick tiles, as shown in Figure Vand more specially described and claimed by me in another application of even date.

The incandescent gases pass through a column ofcoking material of considerable height. They escape from the top of the apparatus,

carrying tar and ammonia, and at a temperature not much higher thanis necessary to prevent condensation of tar. The coke is subjected to considerable pressure caused by the resistance which the fuel oifers to the passage of the gas caused chiefly by the height of the coking column during its formation. This process is adapted for the manufacture'of metallurgical coke.

As the hot gases are forced into the coking column under pressure it is an important feature to have an apparatus from which the coke can be Withdrawn without escape of gas or steam. This is achieved by injecting the air at such a height into the column of coking material that the resistance offered to the passage of the gas is nearly the same in the downward as in the upward direction.

If air previously heated is injected into the coking apparatus and also in cases where the height of the cooling-chamber has to .be decreased, the escape from the bottom of the apparatus is prevented by using iron doors between the upper part of the apparatus (coking-chamber) and the lower part (coolingchamber.)

Other important features of the apparatus are that the coke is automatically discharged, crushed, screened, and loaded into railwaycars without manual labor.

The apparatus is intended for a production of up to two hundred tons or more of coke per day in a single apparatus, while the cokeovens now in use furnish only from three to five tons per day.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the application, Fig. I is a vertical section illustrating the coking apparatus having water-cooled doors between the coking and cooling chambers. Fig. II is a vertical section of Fig. I at right angles thereto. The section of the upper part is taken through one of the shafts of the cooling-doors, and the lower part shows a view of the inclined plane and the discharging and crushing arrangement. Fig. 111 is a horizontal section view through the gate shafts and coolingring. Fig. IV is a cross-section on the lines 0 0, Figs. I and II. Fig. V is a (in part) sectional view showing a complete plant, to which the devices shown in Figs. I and IV may be applied, and showing air-stoves, coking apparatus, Washing apparatus, the necessary pipe connections, and air-pump. Fig.VI is a crosssection view of Fig. V.

The same numerals and letters of reference denote the same parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In Figs. V and VI the coking apparatus is composed of a coking-chamber 1, having a suitable mechanical feed 2 at the top, which may be connected with an elevator, and a bottom cooling chamber 3 in communication with the coking-chamber. At the juncture of the coking and cooling chambers the crosssection of the apparatus is contracted and the wall of the apparatus forms an incline 4 for the passage of the material into the coolingchamber.

A' circular chamber 5 surrounds the contracted portion of the apparatus and is connected with the coking-chamber by a radial series of ducts 6. Airis supplied to the chamber or channel 5 and thence to the cokingchamber by pipe 7. The hot-air blasts entering through the ducts 6 under considerable pressure are driven well in toward the center of the charge of coke and then pass up through the column of coking material in the coking-chamber and discharge along with all the volatile products of the coal through pipe 8 at a temperature not much higher than is necessary to prevent condensation of tar. Pipe 8 conducts its contents to a suitable washing apparatus 9 to remove the tar, and

thence to a similar apparatus 10 to remove the ammonia, said washers being connected with a pipe 11, and the pipe 12 conducts the gas to a gas-holder. (Not shown.)

Under ordinary conditions the air is injected into the coking apparatus at such a height that no gas escapes when coke is Withdrawn from the bottom even if no doors are used between the coking and cooling chambers.

As mentioned before, it is preferable to use doors 13 between the coking and cooling chambers when hot air is injected into the apparatus. In the cooling-chamber ammonia is produced from the nitrogenous compounds of the coke, and if such ammonia would pass through the high-temperature zone near the entrance of the hot air, asin the case with the apparatus without doors, such ammonia would be destroyed by the high temperature. By usingthe doors 13 one is enabled to draw off the steam containing ammonia which is produced in the cooling-chamber 3 for the recovery of the said ammonia or for the purpose of conducting it into the upper part of the coking-chamber 1.

I will now describe the apparatus shown in Figs. I to IV, having iron doors between coking and cooling chambers and special mechanical discharging arrangements for the coke. The coking-chamber 1 of this apparatus is supported on iron columns A, and the cooling-chamber has discharging-doors B, a

with a rack-bar C, operated by toothed wheels D for raising them. The coke falls ona double-sloping floor E, along the ridge of which there is a perforated pipe F for injecting steam or spraying water. At the bottom of the slopes or part way down the slopes there are shafts G, having secured thereto sleeves or discharging-rollers 11, provided with fingers I, which feed the coke or force it down the slopes out through the discharge-doors B, and it slides down over the inclined screens K. The sizes of the pieces of coke discharged depend on the distance between the discharging-rollers and the discharging-doors. By mounting the rollers nearer to or farther from the discharging-doors they will act to crush the coke to different sizes as it is discharged.

The shafts G-are operated simultaneously from the outside by a worm-gear mechanism L. A number of radially-arranged steampipes 14 supply the steam to the coolingchamber. As in this case the coking-chamber is supported byiron columns. The cooling-chamber can be constructed of an iron casing having a thin lining of bricks.

Between the coking and cooling chambers IIO is interposed a hollow iron ring 22,which can, if necessary, be cooled by circulating water through it. This ring is made in sections with tight joints, and it surrounds the door 13, so as to render the latter inaccessible.

The ring-sections are connected together for water-circulation by short pipes 23. A waterinduction pipe 24 leads in from a water-tank 25 to a branch pipe 26, the ends of which have turning joint connections 27 with the ends, respectively, of the hollow shafts 15, the other ends of the said shafts having like rotary joint connections 28, with branches 29 of a discharge-pipe 30, leading to the water-tank 25. The doors are secured to the shafts 15 by fastening devices 15*, for which purpose said shafts are widened within the ring 22. Midway in each of the hollow shafts 15 there is a partition 31, and upon each side of said partitions there are openings 32 and 33 in the hollow shafts which register with like openings 34 and 35 in the bottom of the hollow doors 13. This construction allows Water to circulate from the tank 25, through the pipes 24 and 26, through one end of the hollow shafts 15 and the openings 32 and 34 into the hollow doors, back through the openings 35 and 33 into the hollow shafts beyondthe partitions 31,and out by the pipes 29 and 30. Water is likewise caused to circulate through the sections of the water-ring 22 and the pipe connections therebetween, 23, by an induction-pipe 24 and a discharge-pipe 39, connecting with the pipe 30. There is thus provided a double cooling apparatus for the doors and their shafts and the rings. Therefore accumulation of steam in the doors is wholly avoided.

The doors are operated, as before stated, by the shafts 15, mounted in the bearings 40 and turned by worm-gearing 41, operated by a hand-wheell42, carried by the worm-shaft 43. By manipulating the hand-wheel the two shafts and their respective doors are turned simultaneously. I

Hot or cold air is forced into the general blast-main 16,sur-rou nding the apparatus, and enters the coking-chamber through numerous branch pipes 17 and ducts at a high velocity.

If heated air is used, the general blastmain 16 and branch pipes 17 are lined with brick or other non-conductin g material.

In Figs. V and VI the coking-chamber is shown lined with hollowtiles 18, forming a series of vertical flues 19, which open at the bottom on the outside of chamber-wall. At the top they open into an annular flue 20, which has a chimney 21 for carrying off the products of combustion. A gas-pipe 2O encircles the exterior of the coking-chamber and is provided with a number of branch gas-pipes 21 the ends of which extend into the said open ends of the heating-flues 19.

t For heating the air-blast to a high temperature there is shown in Figs. V and VI a pair of heating-stoves 50 and 51, with the induction-pipes 52 and 53, leading from the airpump 3, and the delivery- pipes 16 and 16*, connected with the hot-air flue 5 of the apparatus. The pump 3 sucks from under the hood l above the coke-discharging doors 4*, so as to remove and dispose of any gases escaping during the drawing of the coke. Pipe connections for gas for heating the stoves are shown at 54 and the chimney-flue therefor 55. The air required for the combustion of the gas from pipe 54 is drawn into the heater through a suitable opening, (not shown,) which is afterward closed during the air-heating period. Suitable valves 44 allow for the alternate use of the heating-stoves, one warming up with gas while air for the hot blast is being forced through the heated stove.

The operation of the apparatus as depicted in Figs. I to IV, by which it'is intended to manufacture gas containing but a comparatively small percentage of nitrogen is as follows: Goal elevated into the feed-hopper of the coking-chamber is discharged thereinto, and as the charge works downward reaching a higher and higher temperature in its descent through heat from the gas-heated flues in the furnace-walls,'if such are used, and through the hot-air blasts until it finally reaches the maximum temperature at a point just above the door and within the zone of the converging air-blast, at which point all traces of volatile matter are removed. As the doors are at intervals partially opened the incandescent coke drops down into the coolingchamber, where it meets the jets of steam and is cooled by the sprays of water, the steam being superheated and decomposed in its pas- 1 sage through the hot coke, setting free ammonia and cooling the coke. The coke is from time to time discharged through the doors at the bottom of the cooling-chamber, gravitating down over the sloping floor thereof. Gas and all volatile products pass out through the pipe 8 and are conducted to the washers for removing the tar and ammonia.

It will be observed that my apparatus furnishes an amount of fuel-gas which can be regulated by the temperature of the blast and by supplying more or less heat from the flues in the chamber-walls. The fuel-gas can be carbureted, and some of the oils and tars produced by my process can be employed for this If the quality of the gas is no object, cold air,

with or without steam ,is blown into the coking apparatus.

The apparatus is usually built of such dimensions as to give the most favorable results with the coal which is to be used. With coal which furnishes large blocks of coke the lower end of the apparatus is made as wide as pos sible. The contraction of the diameter near the entrance of the air isnever made so great that it would interfere with the free descent of the charge. It is often of advantage to adapt the operation of the apparatus to the fuel which is to be used, so as to get the most favorable results.

Instead of continuously charging and discharging it is sometimes of advantage to discharge and charge variable quantities periodically. When mechanical devices for charging and discharging alternately are used, this can be carried out by running them at considerable speed during a certain period and afterward stopping them altogether or running them at a lower speed for a period.

The apparatus can be used for carrying out the process of coking by hot gas or hot air described in my applications Serial Nos. 650,761 and 668,780. In this case the annular channel of the coking apparatus is connected with an air-compressor, and if hot air is used suitable heaters are arranged between the compressor and coking apparatus.

The ammonia and water gas formed in the lower chamber is conducted through a suitable pipe to a condensing and washing appa ratus (not shown) for the recovery of ammo nia. If it is not desirable to separate the water-gas from the gas obtained during the coking, it can be mixed with the gas leaving the top of the apparatus.

For the purpose of decreasing the gas-pressure near the revolving doors and the passage of gas from the coking part to the cooling part when the revolving doors are open it is often of advantage to place the inlets for the gaseous fluid, which supplies the heat, a considerable distance above the revolving doors. For the same reason the pressure in the coking and cooling parts is kept near the revolving doors as near as possible the same, which may be advantageously effected by pressure-regulators. The amount of coke which is periodically discharged through the revolving doors and the charging is so regulated as to get the best results from certain fuel.

It is obvious, as the case may require, that the general construction of the apparatus can be varied toefiect the best results of the process without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It is an important feature of my invention that the coking of the fuel and the succeeding removal of impurities can be effected without breaking or crushing some of the coke to fine powder between the operations. Thisresult is obtained by effecting both steps in one continuous shaft, as described. In one part of the shaft the fuel is coked. In the other part it is treated to remove impurities by treatment with steam. Both operations take place simultaneously in a continuous column of fuel. Only a small amount offine worthless coke is thus produced, and very large quantities of fuel can be converted into coke in one apparatus.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- J 1. A coking apparatus consisting of an upper chamber independently supported, for coking the fuel, a lower chamber for treating the resultant coke, with steam and water, a hollow ring between said chambers and doors within said ring.

2. The combination with the coking-chamber, of a cooling-chamber, doors at the junctu re of the chambers, and a circular chamber surrounding the doors, as set forth.

3. The combination with the upper part and the lower part of a shaft, of the water-ring between the said parts, the doors within the said ring, and return-circulation communication with a water-supply, as set forth.

4.. The combination in a coking apparatus having two chambers, of doors between said chambers having water-channels, hollow revoluble shafts carrying the doors, said doors and shafts having communicating water-passages, as set forth. p

5. The combination in a coking apparatus having two chambers, of hollow doors between said chambers and adapted to contain water, and having water-openings, of revoluble hollow shafts to which the doors are secured, and adapted to contain water, said shafts having water-openings for the circulation of water through the shafts and doors, as set forth.

6. The combination in a coking apparatus having two chambers, of gates between said chambers and shafts, having channels and communicating openings, water-supply pipes joined to the ends of the shafts so that the latter may be revolved to turn the doors without interfering with the circulation of water through said pipes, and through said shafts and doors, as set forth.

7. The combination in a coking apparatus having two chambers, of hollow doors between said chambers and the revoluble hollow shafts to which the doors are secured, a waterring surrounding the doors, and the pipes for water-circulation through the ring, doors and shafts, as set forth.

V 8. The combination in a coking apparatus having two chambers, of hollow doors between said chambers, having a partition, and the hollow revoluble shafts to which the doors are secured having a partition, and a coolingring formed in sections, and surrounding the doors, and with the shafts extended therethrough, means for circulating water from a water-supply through the shafts, doors and ring, comprising an induction-pipe, having branches joined to one end of the shafts, so that the latter can be revolved, an inductionpipe from said branch to the ring, a dischargepipe connected to said water-supply, and having branch pipes with rotary joints at the other end of the shafts, and a discharge-pipe In testimony whereof I have signed this from the said ring to the said discharge specification in the presence of two snbscrib Io branch, as set forth. h ing witnesses.

9. The combination wit the ower end'of a T 5 shaft, of a double-sloping floor having re- PAUL LAEF' cesses, and revoluble fingers adapted to pass Witnesses: through said recesses and to be engaged by C. E. LANGDON, coke passing over the sloping floors. GERRIT SMITH.

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