US1592861A - Production of water gas - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1926.

' 1,592,861 J. E. LEONARZ PRODUCTION OF WATER GA S Filed Sept. 14; 921

Patented July 20, 1926.

JOBANN EMIL LEONARZ, OF TACUZBAYA, MEXICO.

raonuc'rron or WATER GAS.

Application filed September 14, 1921.

In my improved process, hereinafter described and claimed, water gas is produced by the carburetion of water vapor when the same is passed through a bath of molten met-a1 in the Jresence of uncombined carbon. It is found t at steam is readily dissociated into its constituent elements at the temperature of about 900 to 1200 C. A bath of molten iron at this or a higher temperature has the further advantage of carrying carbon either in solution or in suspension, and of giving up this carbon for combination with the hydrogen and oxygen of the steam.

This is carried out in a continuous process whereby the necessary heat for the re action is provided from an external source. This avoids the necessity which is found in most processes of regenerating the heat contained in the reaction chamber. Moreover, the process is carried out without the introduction to the reaction chamber of air which ordinarily is relied upon to support the combustion necessary for heating.

As the process is carried out in my invention the reacting materials are brought together under considerable pressure and intirnate contact is maintained for a relatively considerable space of time.

It is also found that the generation of water gas in this manner will supply the product under any desirable pressure. In this manner, the gas is adapted forimmediate use without further manipulation such as pumping or blowing. j

It will be found that one of the advantages in the preferred manner of carrying out this invention resides in the particular mode of charging the molten bath with fresh material. This charging is accomplished through the tower which serves to carry off the water gas and the fresh heated charges serve to react further chemically upon the product as well as to purify the same mechanically.

One form which my invention may take is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the gas producing apparatus, and

Fig. 2 1s a plan view of the same.

A foundation 1 of masonry or other suitable material carries a steam boiler denoted generally by the numeral 2. The steam dome 3 of the boiler leads to a pipe 4 which serves to deliver the steam unde; suitable pressure to the gas generator proper.

Serial No. 500,542.

The gas generator consists of a tank 5 which is divided into two chambers G and 7. The portion 6 serves for the purpose of maintaining a large volume of heated metal constantly in circulation and agitation by reason of the application to the portion (S of external heat, not shown in the drawing. This body of fluid is maintained in circulation between the chambers 6 and 7 by mechanical means such as agitators 8, suitably driven mechanically as indicated by 9 in Fig. 2. Excess fluid metal may be withdrawn from the chamber 6 in any convenient way.

A partition 10 having an arch 11 divides the chamber 6 from chamber 7 but permits circulation through their lower portions. The chamber 7 forms the base of the gas generator tower 13. The pipe 4 from the steam boiler leads into the chamber 7 beneath the surface of the molten metal. It is to be understood that the steam when delivered beneath the level of the molten metal will travel upward at a relatively low speed due to the viscosity of the material and will therefore be maintained in intimate contact with the molten metal for a desirable period of time.

The period for the passage of the steam through'and out of the molten bath is controlled by means of suitable bafiies or circuitous passages leading from the outlet of the pipe 4:. Thus. the steam is broken up into small jets and contact with the molten bath prolonged as desired. Such a baffle 12 is shown by way of example in the drawing.

Generatortower 13 has a gas outlet eonduit 14 by which the generated gas is drawn off. The top of the tower carries a conventional form of charging device 15.

As shown in Fig. 1, coke or other form of carbon is fed through the charging device 15 and maintained as a body 16 of considerable depth above the molten bath. As the fuel burns out a slag forms upon the surface of the metal and is periodically drawn off.

An additional inlet pipe 18 leads through the side wall of tower 13 and terminates beneath the surface of the molten bath. Through this pipe powdered or liquid fuel may be fed to increase the proportion of carbon maintained in the bath.

Steam from the boiler 2 is delivered by the pipe 4 beneath the bailie or other device 12 whereby the water vapor is brought into intimate contact with the molten metal. It

. preciable quantity of carbon dioxide.

is desirable that this water vapor be broken up into jets or small streams to promote the desired reaction. The molten metal is maintained at a suitable temperature and constantly circulated as above described. During this circulation carbon from the mass 16 will be gradually absorbed. This carbon isprefcrably carried into chemical combination with the molten metal. lVhere the latter is iron, the solution of carbon will be readily carried out at the temperature above indicated namely approximately 1200 CY It is also probable that a material quantity of carbon will be maintained in suspension in the bath but will still be readily available for reaction "with the water vapor.

A further supply of carbon maybe made to enter the molten hath through the pipe 18. Such material may be powdered fuel or liquid hydrocarbons, either of which are suitable forthis purpose. This stream of material is shown to be delivered to the molten bath independently of the stream of steam although both streams may be merged before the materials are delivered to the chamber 7.

In either case the contact of the steam with the molten material and with the necessary carbon contained therein will serve to'decomp'ose the water vapor into hydrogen and oxygen. Correspondingly, hydrocarbon delivered at the same time or through pipe 18 will be similarly decomposed. The carbon combining with the oxygen of the gas will be in sufficient quantity to produce carbon monoxide but not to make an ap- The gascs are maintained in thebath by the agition of the latter and by the manner of de livering the gases, until the above reaction has been carried out.

The reduced and carbureted gases escape from the surface of the bath and pass upwardly through the mass of carbonaceous material 16. This latter body of material by contact with the molten bath and by radiation therefrom, will be sufficiently hot to further improve the quality of the gases by stabilizing or fixing the gaseous constituents, and to complete their carburetion.

This process is carried out without access to the atmosphere and therefore the gases are relatively free from nitrogen. There is developed in the tower 13 a pressure considerably in excess of that of the atmosphere. This pressure may be maintained as desired.

As above described, water gas may be produced in a novel and improved manner and it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the manner of carrying out the process without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. The method of producing water gas which consists in fusing a mass of iron for forming a molten bath, adding carbonaceous material to said molten bath, and passing steam through the bath and in contact with the carbonaceous material therein thereby forming water gas.

2. The method of producing water gas which consists in fusing a mass of iron for forming a molten bath, adding carbonaceous material to said molten bath, passing steam through the bath and in contact with the carbonaceous material therein thereby forming water gas, and maintaining thebath in circulation.

3. The method of producing water gas which consists in fusing a mass of iron for forming a molten bath, dissolving carbonaceous material in said bath, and passing steam through the bath thereby forming water gas.

4. The method of producing Water gas which consists in maintaining iron in a molten state, adding carbonaceous material thereto, and passing steam through said molten iron and in contact with the carbonaceous material carried therein thereby forming Water gas.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOHANN EMIL LEONARZ.

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