US1499567A - Gas retort - Google Patents

Description

H. WOOD GAS RETORT Filed March 25.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jul 1 1924.

H. WOOD GAS RETORT Filed March 25 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .luly l, i924.

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HERBERT WOOD, F SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

GAS RETORT.

Application filed March 25, 1921. Serial K0. 455,439.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT Noon, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Sydney, in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Gas Retorts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to retorts for the manufacture of gases from all classes of coal, and has been devised with the objects of providing an improved form of vertical retort whereby the heating of the retort and cleaning of the surrounding chambers are facilitated and of providing means for effectively removing the clinker permitting the regular passage of the material through the retort.

According to the invention, the retort is constructed of brickwork and is rectangular in cross section and narrows towards the top, its lower end being suitably supported above the generator. Surrounding the retort is an outer rectangular wall between which and the retort are a series of superimposed chambers open to each other at opposite sides alternately, through which pass heated gases from the generator for the purpose of externally heating the retort.

In each chamber openings are provided which may be closed by suitable .gas-tight doors for the removal of dust carried forward by the gases from the generator. Gas and air inlets are provided whereby the temperaturev in each chamber may be raised or varied independently of the others.

A passage formed by a midfeather wall leads from the generating area to the lowermost of said chambers and the heating gases therefrom pass thereto and thence upwardly from one chamber to the other from alternate ends and thence to the atmosphere. I may have a damper to close said passage after preliminary heating and continue the heating of the retort by suitable gas burners.

A gas outlet closable by a-valve is provided below the dampers for the exit of the blow gases from the generator when heating the retort by gas burners.

50 The coal is fed continuously through the retort from a suitable gas-tight coal feeding hopper.

.assures the maximum heating eflfect.

Instead of the usual furnace bars, I pro vide below the generator a series of rollers provided with extractor arms on the peripheries thereof those of adjoining rollers intermeshing. Rotation of these rollers is efi'ected by suitable gearing positioned ex ternal the furnace, and the arms of adjoining parallel rollers engage with the clinker above and force itbetween them to the gastight ashpit below. This extraction of clinker may proceed intermittently or continuously according to the feed of coal into the top of the retort.

Below the rollers, air and steam inlets are provided. 1

The plant is principally designed for the purpose of converting the steam passed through the coke brought down through the retort, into water gas and passing said gas through. the retort to assist in the distillation of the coal in the retort. The heating chambers are so designed that the temperature of the retort may be raised or lowered so that any suitable tar or tar oil maybe recov ered. For example, a tar suitable forroad spraying may be desired in which case the temperature in the upper portion of the re tort would then be increased. If tar oils only are required, the temperature at the upper portion of the retort would be lowered and the temperature increased at the base of the retort.

The retort being of rectangular cross section and surrounded by heating chambers,

All kinds of coal may be carbonized in this plant owing to the ash extractor being designed to remove the clinker to allow for a gradual descent of coal through the retort. It is well known with continuous vertical retorts thatv should the descent of the coal be interrupted for any length of time, it is impossible to again put the retort to work until the retort is emptied and refilled with coke.

But in order that my invention may be more readily comprehended I will now refer to the drawings herewith, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a complete retort, and

Figure 2, a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale.

' Figure 3 is a sectional plan on the line A a Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a part sectional elevation illustrating the heating and regulating chambers.

Figure 5 is a part end elevation of the clinker extracting rolls, while Figure 6 is a horizontal section of view of a portion of the retort, showing the clinker extracting rolls in plan.

Figure 7 is a detail end elevation of the extracting rolls.

The same numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

9 represents the brickwork casing of the Vertical retort 10 which tapers towards the topand is supported on a brick base 11 above the generator 12. The generator chamber has a midfeather wall 1 1 which forms'a passage '15 between the walls of the generator and the outer walls of the retort, said passage being provided with suitable dampers 16 for the purpose'of controlling the passage of heating gases therethrough. The whole of the brickwork casing is lagged at 17 17 on each of its four sides and on the top. The outer wall of the heating chambers 19 are provided with closable openings 20 adapted for inspection, heat regulating and dust removing purposes.

The superimposed chambers 19 form a continuous zig-zag passage for the heating gases, the waste gases passing out through the. stack valve 19" to the atmosphere.

The coal bunker 21 supported above the plant is provided with a suitable elevator and feedscoal to the hopper 22 through the gas-tight valve 23 regulated by the handle 24. The retort mouthpiece 25 is provided with a gas off-take pipe 26 to convey gas through a regulating valve 27 to the hydraulic main 28 while the dip pipe 29 forms a liquor seal regulated by the tar remover 30 connected to the tar main 31. The gas from the hydraulic main passes through the pipe 32 to the retort house governors.

The removal of clinker is effected by a series of rolls or discs mounted on shafts. 11 adapted to be driven by suitable gearing as 42 and may be continuously rotated by a belt or other drive or intermittently by a handwheel 18 and thus provide for the regular descent of coal through the retort. The shafts 41 may be hollow and water circulated therethrough for cooling said shafts. The rolls or discs 40 have on their peripheries the arms or projections 43 and are revolved oppositely so that they intermesh as shown in Figures 6 and 7. In order that any of the rolls may be removed for renewal, I provide bearings at 4:4; and 15 so that they and their shafts may be readily withdrawn being normally held in position by bolted plates 46. I

The clinker is forced between the projections 43 of adjoining rolls and falls into the ashpit 17 from which it is discharged periodically through a gas-tight door 4L8.

Superheated steam may be supplied through the perforated pipe or nozzle 19 when it is desired to manufacture water gas or assist in the distillation of the coal, and air is supplied through the pipe at inter-' vals to raise the temperature of the coke to incandescence.

Access to the generator is obtained by the door 51, and gas and air inlets 52, 53, respectively, are provided when it is desired to fire the retort with gas.

When the dampers 16 are closed, the blow gases from the generator pass through valve 54 to a suitable waste heat boiler and thence to the atmosphere.

The operation of the plant is as follows A coke fire is started in the generator with the inspection door 51 partially open for combustion, and the stack valve full open for the passage of the heating gases to the atmosphere. When the retort is suflieiently heated the inspection door is closed and the producer and retort filled with coke, the ash extractor being revolved at intervals. When the coke in the retort moves downward, coal is fed into the retort from the coal feeding hopper 22 whereupon gas making commences.

Air is blown in at intervals through pipe 50 under the ash extractor for the purpose of raising the coke in the producer to incandescence, the blow gases passing upwards through the superimposed chambers 19 to heat up the retort and subsequently pass through the stack valve to the atmosphere. When the required temperature is obtained the stack valve and air valve are closed. Superheated steam is then supplied through the rose 49 for the manufacture of water gas, the hot water gas passing upwards through the retort and assisting to carbonize the coal. The water gas mixes with the coal gas and passes through the regulating valve 27 to the hydraulic main, thence through the pipe 32 to the retort house governors.

During the period the water gas is passing through the retort, the regulating valve is opened to pass the extra volume of gas. The coal gas is manufactured continuously and water gas intermittently. The liquid products are taken away through the tar pipe 31 to the tar well.

hen it is desired to heat the retort by gas burners, the stack valve is left full open and the dampers 16 are closed. During the blow the heating gases pass through the valve 53 to a waste heat boiler (not shown) thence to the atmosphere. When water gas is being manufactured, the air valves are closed and the water gas passes upwards through the retort in the usual way.

The temperatures in the retort are under control and may be increased or decreased at any portion of the retort.

Having now fully described and ascertained my said invention and the manner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is A vertical retort, an outer wall between which outer Wall and the retort are a series of superimposed heating chambers open to each other at opposite sides alternately, the lowermost of said chambers being in communication with the generator, a passage my hand. 7

HERBERT WOOD.

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