US1891444A - Process for gasifying liquid fuels - Google Patents

Description

Dec- 20, 1932 G. L. RlcHHl-:LM

PROCESS FOR GAvSIFYING LIQUID FUELS Filed Aug. 15. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l George Z De- 20, 1932 G. l.. RElcHHELM PROCESS FOR GASIFYING LIQUID FUELS Filed Aug. `l5. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 .UNITED sTATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE L. REIGHHELM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE GASIFIER mm, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY raoul-:ss Fon. GASIFYING LIQUID FUELS Application led August 15, 1921. Serial No. 492,237.

The present invention relates to gasificae tion of liquid fuels.

More particularly, the present invention relates to process for converting low grade fuels, such as heavy fuel oil, into a light, highly combustible gas. Various devices have been designed for gasifying low grade fuel oil, some of which operate upon the principle of causing the oil to-be separated, vaporized or broken up into globules, supplied with air and projected against a hot surface. The globules referred to are thereby supplied with sufficient heat to still more finely divide them resulting in a more or less combustible mixture. Devices of this sort have been open to objections for the reason that they are wasteful of oil, require a large space, entail a large loss of energy and cause deposits of carbon.

An object of the present invention is to provide a process for gasifying liquid fuels in which the characteristics of the gas may be readily controlled.

A further object is to provide an improved process which will convert liquidt fuel into a .fixed gas, whereby said gas may be distributed through pipe, tubes or manifolds without condensation.

A further object is to convert the fuel into a fixed gas which may be supplied with the proper amount of air at any desired distance from the gasiiier and united in complete combustion.

35 A further object is to provide an improved process for converting low grade fuel into proper form for use in internal combustion engines or gas turbines.

A further object is to provide a method for converting low grade liquid fuel into a gas which will mix very readily with air and therefore permit combustion in a minimum of space.

A further object is to provide an improved 45 gasifying process for fractionally distilling an oil fuel in which the degree to which the fuel may be fractionated may be readily controlled.

A further object is to provide an improved process for gasifying low grade fuel in which part of said fuel is used for generating the heat for gasifying the remainder thereof.

A further object is to provide a process for converting low grade fuel into a gas without the deposit of carbon.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1, showing certain details of the regulating mechanism according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the combustion chamber and parts adjacent thereto.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in elevationl of the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 3.

In order to provide a perspective of the invention, it may be stated briefly that oil or other liquid fuel is subjected to air and with the air preferably under pressure projected in an atomized'state into a combustion chamber. Said fuel is preferabl caused t0 take a curved or swirling motion yI means of oxygen bearing jets of iiuid, preferably air. The fuel is thereby prevented from impingin directly upon the wall of the chamber an at the same time a regulable supply of air is provided.- During this swirling movement, there is a very thorough mixture of air with'` the superficial portion of the stream of va'- porized oil and air and there is combustion at a high temperature whichvaporizes the oil. According to the structure illustrated, the intimate mixture of air and oil vapor is directed into a. superheating chamber where 90 66 along partI lof further combustion raises the mixture to an extremely high temperature, completely gasifying the fuel and fixing said gas, whereby same will not condense when subsequently passed into a cooler container. l Briefly stated the oil is successively atomized, vaporized and gasified.

Referring first to Figures 1, 3 and 6, the numeral 10 indicates a drum having a pair of side walls 11 and 12 and a circular band 13. Mounted within said drum isa housing 14 of novel conformation, which housing is illustrated as being integral with the side wall 11. It is within this housing 14 that the fuel is gasiied and fixed in gaseous condition. Said housing 14 comprises a combustion chamber 15, a secondary or superheating chamber 16 and a portion 17 provided with a baille wall 18 to provide a tortuous passage, the functions of which will be described hereinafter.

Mounted in the drum 10 in a position to discharge into the chamber 15 is a nozzle 19, which may have screw-threaded engagement with the housing 14. Said nozzle forms part of the mechanism for breaking up fluid oil into a spray or vapor and mixing air therewith. Said vaporizing mechanism, which is best illustrated in Figure 2, is indicated as a whole by the numeral 20. As illustrated, said mechanism comprises a pair of arms 21 and 22, which may be secured together in parallel relation. Of these arms, the one indicated by the numeral 21 is designed to admit oil and for this purpose is provided at the bottom thereof with an inlet 23. The inflow of oil is controlled by means of a needle valve 24 which is mounted on the screwthreaded stem 25 and which is manually controlled by means of the hand wheel 26.

The arm 22 serves as means for admittin v air and is provided with an inlet port 2 which communicates with a chamber 28, eX- tending longitudinally of the arm 22. Mounted for reciprocating movement within the arm 22 is a tube 29, which is adapted to carry oil. Communicating with the needle valve 24 of the arm 21 is the pipe connection 30 which provides communication for oil from the inlet port 23 through the tube 31 to the tube 29. It will be understood, of

y course, that the two sections 31 of tubing will be connected together.

Air which is admitted to the port 27 may pass downwardly through nozzle 19 into the combustion chamber 15 and has another means of exit through the pipe 32, which communicates with the longitudinal chamber 28 at a point which may conveniently be above the inlet port 27. Said pipe 32 communicates p with the side of the drum 10 and provides a supply of air for the purpose which will be described hereinafter. The tube 29 has adjustably mounted thereon the sliding member 33, which forms a close lit within the vided in a number of planes.

chamber in the arm 22. Said sliding member 33 forms a closure for the opening of pipe 32 and controls the supply of air through said pipe 32. The tube 29 is provided with a contracted end portion 34, which is adapted to cooperate with the wall of nozzle 19 to 'vary the area of the outlet port for the air flowing downwardly through chamber 28; Movement of the tube 29 will therefore govern the How of air through both the nozzle 19 and the pipe 32. The tube 29 is provided with a collar 35, which cooperates with a nut 36 within the arm 22. Said nut 36 has a longitudinally extending shank 37, which forms the support for a gear 38. Rotation of said gear 38 operates through nut 36 and collar 35 to effect Vertical movement of the tube 29. The stem 25, which controls the flow of oil is provided with a gear 39, said gears 38 and 39 being connected together through an idler pinion 40, which pinion 40 is resiliently held in position to engage the two gears 38 and 39 by the spring 41. Independent adjustment of stem 25 and tube 29 may be accomplished by raising the pinion 40 against the tension of spring 41, thereby permitting the rotation of gear 38 or gear 39 independently of the other. lVhen the correct ratio between the supply of oil and the supply of air has been determined and the stem 25 and tube 29 have been properly set, the gears 38 and 39 will be connected together by means of pinion 40 and this ratio of oil to air will be maintained regardless of changes in the total amount of oil and air being supplied to the gasifier. Relative adjustments of stem 25 and tube 29 may be necessary when changes are made in the fuel oil supplied to the gasifier.

Air which passes from the chamber 28 through pipe 32 to the drum 10 will be admitted to the combustion chamber through the orifices 42 and orifices 43. nly a few oriices are illustrated in -Figure 3, but it will be understood that other orifices will be pro- Said orifices 42 and 43 will preferably have a direction whereby jets emitted from said orifices into the combustion chamber 15 will set up a tangential or swirling movement to fluid within said combustion chamber 15. It will be noted in Figure 3, that the neck between combustion chamber 15 and superheating chamber 16 is not symmetrical with 4combustion chamber 15, but is so formed that it directs fluid from combustion chamber 15 downwardly into said superheating chamber 16. As illustrated, flames emitted inwardly from orifices 42, will set up a swirling movement in the chamber 15 in a counterclockwise direction. This swirling movement will be aided by ets emitted inwardly from orifices 43, the latter mentioned ets also tending to force the gases down into the superheating chamber 16. rllhe walls of 'superheating chamber 16 are curved to cause the gases to be diverted down toward the baffle plate 18. The gases do not other preferred means and combustion at a high temperature will occur. Only a limited come in contact with any sharp corners and in f supply of air will be admitted, suflicient for passing around said bafiie plate, are still further m1xed. Located below the bafile plate 18 is the outlet 44, through which the fixed gases may be led ofi:I to burners, reservoirs or other devices.

In starting the above described mechanism for gasifying functions, the spray of oil mixed with air may be ignited in any preferred way. In Figures 1 and 3, a spark plug 45 isfprovided for this purpose. Instead of a spark plug an ordinary taper may be used. Figure 4 illustrates a structure having a hole 46 which may receive a spark plug, a taper or any other igniting means. Said hole 46 is provided with a closure member 47 which may be removably held in place by means ofthe yoke 48 and the screw-threaded member 49.

The numeral 50 indicates a sight tube communicating with the combustion chamber 15.

Said sight tube 50 is provided with a mica window 51 through which 'the combustion within chamber 15 (Fig. 3) may be observed. Said window 51 may be provideduwith a cover 52, which may be removably held in place by means of the yoke 53 and screw-threaded member 54.

Brieiy reviewing the mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention, it may be stated that liquid fuel is admitted through the port 23, and air is admitted through the port 27 (Figure 2). The correct ratio between the flow of liquid fuel and air may be adjusted by throwing the pinion 40 out of mesh with gears 38 and 39 and moving said gears independently of one another until the correct ratio is obtained. Said pinion 4() may then be permitted to snap back into mesh with the gears 38 and 39, whereby to provide unitary control for both liquid fuel and air. Liquid fuel will pass from port 23 past needle valve 24 into tube 31, thence through tube 29 to the nozzle 19. Air from the port 27 will also issue from nozzle 19 and will cause the liquid fuel to assume the form of an atomized stream projected from Said nozzle 19 into the combustion chamber 15 (Figure 3). Not only will air pass to' the nozzle 19, but will also pass through the pipe 32, which is controlled by the sliding member 33. The pi e 32 will lead air to the drum 10, where s'aid air will be admitted to the combustion chamber 15 through orifices 42 and orifices 43. The jets issuing from these orifices will act as fluid baffles preventing the spray projected fromihe nozzle 19 from impinging directly upon any solid wall. The air in said jets unites with the superficial portion of the stream to form a combustible mixture within the combustion chamber 15 and secondary chamber 16 which is ignited by means of the spark plug 45, or

combining. with the superficial part of the stream of atomized fuel. The heat generated by the combustion -of the air and said part .of the fuel, will vgasify the remainder of said fuel and fix said gas. Due to the contour of the housing 14 and the action of the jets issuing from orifices 42 and orifices 43, the mixture of air and fluid fuel will be caused to take a circuitous or swirling motion resulting in the complete commingling of oil and. fuel. Combustion will be with a blue flame, leaving no deposit of carbon.

The fact that a blue flame, indicating perfect combustion, is maintained in the presence of a superabundance of gas, should be particularly noted. A reasonable explanation for this phenomenon seems to be that as soon as the gasiier is heated, the product issuing from nozzle 19 is projected throughout the entire combustion chamber and the air jets, issuing at low velocity relatively to the velocity of the stream issuing from the nozzle 19, from apertures 42 and 43 combine at once with the superficial portions of said product resulting in a blue flame.

The air admitted through the apertures 42 and 43 unites with the superficial portion of the stream of atomized oil and air to form a combustible mixture around the core of the stream, the core of the stream being non-combustiblebecause of insufficient air. The core of the stream projected from the nozzle 19 is therefore surrounded by an envelope of fiume whereby it is vaporized and gasified. 'Ihe velocity of flow of the stream may be greater than the rate of liame propagation, but due to the fact that the air supply through the orifices 42 and 43, is at a lower rate of flow than the rate of flame propagation, combustion is maintained in the space surrounding the stream which ignites the outer layer ofthe stream even when the velocity of the stream is greater than the rate of flame propagation.

There is no deposit of carbon or soot due to the fact that if some of the carbon and hydrogen bonds should break down, the products of combustion will form a mixture with the released carbon, so that the products of combustion serve as a conveyor for the released carbon, thus keeping it in a suspended state.

One apparatus for practicing the present invention has been described in detail. Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in this application to cover all modifications of my improved process that fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States, is z 1. The method of converting a liquid fuel the spray to gasify the remaining portion of the spray.

2. The method of converting a heavy liquid fuel into .a combustible gas, which consists in causing said fuel to form a downwardly directed spray with a limited amount of air, igniting a portion of the spray, and imparting a swirling movement thereto to cause heat from the combustion thereof to gasify the remainder of said spra 3. The method of convertlng a heavy liquid fuel into a combustible gas, which consists of causingl said fuel to take the form of a spray wit having inner and outer zones, directing opposed extraneous jets of air against said4 spray to promote combustion of the outer zone thereof, and igniting the outer zone to thereb gasify the inner zone of said spray. 4. T e method of converting a liquid fuel into a combustible gas, which consists of projecting said fuel in the form of a spray mixed with air into a chamber, preventing said spray from impinging directly on a wall of said chamber by means of jets of fluid in different planes transverse to the spray which direct a art of said spray into a circuitous path, and)igniting and burning a part of the spray to gasify the remainder of the spray. 5. The method of converting a liquid fuel into a combustible gas, which consists of projecting a s rayed mixtureof oil and air and directing t e course of said mixture by means of a series of transverse fluid baliles longitudinally arranged along the course of said mixture, and i iting and burning a part of said sprayed mlxture to gasify the remainder of said mixture.

6. The rocess of converting a liquid fuel into a com ustible gas which comprises forming a stream of oil atomized with air comrlsing a core and a superficial portion, subjecting the superficial portion o said stream to transverse streams of secondar air to unite therewith to form a combustible mixture around the core of said stream, and ignitair mixed therewith, said spray erating heat thereby to convert the unconsumed oil particles into a gas of predetermined fixation.

.8. The process of converting a fluid fuel into a combustible gas which comprises projecting a maizi stream of air and 011, implnging against said stream secondary air jets at lower elocity, igniting the mixture formed by aid vsecondary air and the impinged portion of the stream to consume part of the ste'am with a blue flame, and generating heat thereby. to convert the rest of the stream into a combustible gas.

9. The process of converting a fluid fuel into a combustible fixed gas which comprises forming a stream of air and atomized oil, predetermining and simultaneousl synchronizing the proportions of air an oil according to the desired degree of fixation, subjecting the outer portion of said stream to suicient air to form a combustible mixture therewith, and igniting said combustible mixture to gasify the unconsumed portion of said stream.

10. The method of converting a liquid fuel into gas, which consists of projecting said fuel in the form of a spray mixed with air into a chamber, subjectlng'a portion of said spray adjacent its projection into the chamber to transversely directed combustion supporting fluid, and igniting said portion of said spray to gasify the remainder of said spray.

11. A 'process of converting a liquid fuel into a combustible gas comprising projecting a main stream of air and atomized oil at a velocity higher than the rate of llame propagation, impinging thereon transverse secondary air jets at a velocity lower than the rate of flame propagation to maintain com.- bustion, and igniting and burnin the mix- 4ture formed by the secondary a1r and the ortion of the stream in the form impinged ame to gasify the remaining part ofabue of said stream.

12. The process of converting a fluid vfuel into a combustible gas, which comprises forming a stream of oil atomized by auf, igniting a portion of said stream to gasify the unconsumed portion of said stream, and varying the volume of air and oil according to the volume of combustible gas desired while maintaining the relative proportions of air and oil.

13. The process of converting a liquid fuel into 'a combustible gas, which comprises forming a stream of oil atomized with air, subjectlng the superficial portion of said stream to secondary air to unite therewith to form a combustible mixture, igniting said combustible mixture to gasifythe atomized stream, and varying the volumes of primary air, oil and secondary air in synchronized roportions according to the volume of comustible gas desired.

14. The method of converting a liquid fuel into a combustible gas, which consists of supplying fuel atomized by air through a nozzle projectingr into e chamber, und 1gniting a portion of utomized fuel surrounding said inlet nozzle to convert the remaining portion of said ntomized fuel into a. combustible gas.

Signed at New York,' N. Y., this 22nd day of July, 1921.

GEORGE L. REICHHELM.

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