US2050514A - Process for generating combustible gas - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1936." c. o. WANNACK 2,050,514

I vPROCESS FOR GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE GAS Filed Nov. 1, 1929 Zlfz 172 55"; ,fizz entors (rl Otto lzfarznack, W J%W%Q%@% Patented Aug. 11, I936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE 2,050,514 7 PROCESS FOR, GENE iA TTNG COMBUSTIBLE Application November 1,1929, Serial No. 404,018

3 Claims.

This invention relates more particularly to a novel method of intimately associating a stream of combustible liquid and a stream of air, both under pressure in such a manner as to form a stable uniform B. t. u. combustible gas.

One of the important features of my invention comprises a novel method of directing, in angular relation, a stream of air under pressure into a stream of combustible liquid under pressure to produce a combustible gas, the actuating pressure for both streams being derived from the same source.

Briefly described, my invention consists in disposing a container Within an enclosed vessel, the latter adapted to contain a bulk supply of combustible liquid, and passing the liquid from the bulk supply to the container when the pressure within the vessel exceeds the pressure within the container; then establishing a pressure within the container greater than the pressure within the enclosed vessel by introducing air under pressure into the container, thereby expelling a quantity of liquid in the form of a stream into the upper portion of the vessel not occupied by the bulk supply of liquid, and simultaneously diverting a quantity of compressed air at an angle to and into said stream of liquid, thereby intimately associating the liquid and the air streams and generating a combustible gas.

It is a well known physical fact that the rapid evaporation or volatilization of a liquid is endothermic, that is, heat is absorbed from the medium in the vicinity of the evaporation and the temperature thereabout is considerably lowered.

In the generation of a combustible gas, particularly by intimately associating a stream of combustible liquid under pressure and a stream of air under pressure, I have found that, if the point of intersection of the two streams, that is, the point that evaporation or volatilization takes place, is too close to the air nozzle or orifice through which the air is projected,the temperature of the medium adjacent the orifice is lowered to such an extent that water or moisture entrained in the air may freeze and in so. doing seals with ice or snow the discharge opening of the air nozzle or orifice, thus rendering the device inoperative.

One of the salient features of the present invention resides in the methodof associating and intimately mixing a stream of combustible liquid under pressure with a stream of air under pressure, in such a manner as to avoid this objection.

In one mode of carrying out the present invention a pipe may be utilized tocarry combustible liquid, under pressure, from a point of storage to an open end of the pipe which may be equipped with or without a nozzle, as desired. Another pipe carries air under pressure and may be provided with an opening or orifice in its wall. The relative positioning of the liquid discharge pipe and the air orifice may be such that the stream of air issuing from the orifice intersects the stream of liquid ejected from the pipe at an angle, preferably a right angle.

I have found that, by suitably arranging the position of the above mentioned instrumentalities so that the point of intersection of the two streams is relatively remote from the air orifice or air discharge, freezing of the moisture entrained in the air will not take place until the air has left the air discharge opening, and hence the opening or orifice will be maintained free from the objectionable formation of snow or ice.

It is to be understood, of course, that the instrumentalities enumerated above are specified merely for the sake of example and are not intended to limit the invention, inasmuch as the invention in its broadest aspects merely contemplates the directing of the respective streams, by

such means as may be conveniently used, in such a manner as to permit the streams to intersect at an angle.

Other and further important features of the present invention will be apparent from the acgompanying drawing and following detail descriplOIl.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a group of instrumentalities suitable for carrying out my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail elevation of a suitable air and liquid directing means.

7 Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of air orifice.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l indicates generally a tank or closed container provided with a turret or manhead 2 closed by a cover plate 3 fastened to the manhead by means of bolts or the like 4. The tank-l is also provided with a .filler pipe 5 which projects downwardly to substantially the center of the tank, which pipe may be provided with a screen 6.

A cylindrical coupling 1 is welded or other-- be delivered. A nipple. H], which virtually comprises a continuation of the line 9 within the turret, connects a bushing II positioned within the coupling I to a T coupling I2, which in turn is mounted upon the upper end of a pipe I3, comprising a portion of the carbureter proper. A union I4 may be interposed in the pipe I3 to facilitate the connecting and disconnecting of the various lines.

The lower end of the pipe I3 is threadedly, or otherwise suitably connected to the top of an enclosed cylinder I5, preferably of larger diameter than the pipe I3. A one way inlet or check valve I6 may be provided at the lower portion of the cylinder I5 and is adapted to be disposed below the liquid level of the tank I It is apparent that whenever the pressure outside the valve 1.6, that is, the tank pressure, is greater than the pressure within the cylinder I5, that is, the pres sure established in line 9, or the blower pressure as the same will hereinafter be referred to, liquid will enter the cylinder from the tank through said valve. Provided, also, in the lower portion of the cylinder I5 at a point substantially diametrically opposite the valve I6 is an outlet, in which an elbow I! is positioned. The other .end of the elbow is connected to a pipe 18 -of comparatively restricted diameter which may extend upwardly to the top of the carbureter proper and then double back adjacent the pipe I3, as shown.

An orifice I9 may be provided in the side .of the pipe I3 adjacent the discharge end of the pipe I8. I have found it advantageous, for reasons to be hereinafter brought out, to position the discharge end of the pipe I8 a slight distance away from the pipe I3, say from one-half to two or two and one-half inches, more or less, but I do not wish to be limited to these specific distances, inasmuch as the distance is dependent upon various factors all of which are controlling. Liquid from the cylinder I5 is adapted to be forced through the pipe I8 and discharged adjacent the orifice I9 from which a blast of air issues. A vapor or fog is thus formed within the tank, and due to the rapid vaporization, the temperature in the vicinity of the point at which this vaporization takes place is greatly reduced. 'By disposing the discharge end of the pipe 48 a slight distance from the orifice I9, the tendency for any moisture carried by the air to freeze at the orifice is eliminated. I have also found that by cutting down the surface of the pipe I3, as shown best at 20 in Fig. 2, providing a very thin peripheral edge defining the orifice, it becomes mechanically impossible for a formation of ice to build upon the edge of the orifice, hence the air always has free exit from the orifice unobstructed by any ice formation. In addition, a knife edge orifice, as is well known, decreases friction.

Although the discharge end of pipe I8 is shown and described as being above the orifice I9,a s is preferable inasmuch as all the liquid discharged from the pipe It must, of necessity, pass through the stream of air, the invention in its broadest aspects contemplates directing the liquid discharge past the orifice either from above or below, or from either side thereof.

The arm of the T coupling I2 opposite the nipple I0 may have operatively connected thereto a check valve 2 I, provided'for several purposes, all of which contribute to the safe automatic operation of the apparatus. For instance,'assur ne that the pipe line 9 is accidentally opened while gas pressure exists in the tank, and further assume that the valve M is not provided. A difference of pressure will then exist onthe surfaces of the liquid in the tank and in the cylinder. Hence, liquid will flow from the tank to the cylinder, inasmuch as the tank pressure will be the greater, and the liquid will flow back through the pipe 9. Of course, gas will escape from the tank to the pipe I 3 through the orifice I9, and tend to equalize the pressures on the cylinder liquid and the tank liquid but, due to the relatively small area of the orifice, the liquid in the cylinder will rise above the orifice before this equilibrium can be established. By placing the valve 2I in the system, the gas pressure in the tank will immediately be relieved before the liquid in the cylinder rises. Hence, undesirable back flow of liquid from the tank toward the point of gas consumption will be automatically eliminated.

In carrying out my invention I introduce a quantity of combustible liquid, such as gasoline, pentane, hexane, benzol, alcohol, or the like, into the tank I through the filler pipe 5 until a desirable level is reached, for instance, half full. Initially, the pressure within the tank I and the pressure within the cylinder I5 will be equal, but the head of liquid in the tank will cause a flow of liquid from the tank through the check valve It to the cylinder I5, which flow will continue until the pressure on each side of the check valve is equal. This condition will occur when the head of liquid in the cylinder is equal to the head in the tank. Air under pressure may then be introduced through the pipe 9, and a stream of air will issue from the orifice I9 in the pipe 53, but, due to the comparatively restricted area of the orifice,

and the quantity of air being introduced, a pressure will be established in the cylinder l5 above the liquid contained therein, greater than the pressure in the tank I. Both check valves I6 and 2I will -be closed due to this difference in pressure, and hence, liquid will be forced from the cylinder I5 through the pipe I8, discharging at an angle to the axis of the stream of air issuing from the orifice I9, thus intimately mixing the liquid and air and generating a combustible gas.

When the tank pressure reaches a certain .de-

sired maximum, say for example, four pounds per square inch, more or less, the air introduced through the pipe .9 may be stopped, preferably by some suitable pressure actuated automatic means (not shown) communicating with the interior of tank I, whereupon, due to the communication established by the orifice bet-ween the tank, cylinder and check valve 2I the pressures within the two containers will soon reach an equilibrium. The valve I6 will again open and the liquid level in the cylinder will again raise to the level of the tank liquid. As gas is drawn from the tank through a gas outlet pipe 22 the pressure therein will be reduced, hence, if desired, when the tank pressure falls to a predetermined minimum, say for example, one pound per square inch, more or *less, pressure-actuated automatic means .(not

shown) may be resorted to to again supply air and generate more gas. This cyclic procedure may continue until the liquid in the tank is substantially exhausted.

A modified method of associating the liquid stream with the stream of air may comprise the discharging of the liquid stream or the air stream, or both, in the form of a thin sheet or ribbon, and permitting the two ribbon-like streams to intersect, and intimately associate the liquid and the air. In carrying out this modification the discharge end of the pipe I 8 may be provided with a relatively long, narrow aperture (not shown),

whereas the air orifice may assume the form of a relatively long narrow slit, as shown at I9 in Fig. 3.

It is apparent that I have provided a method of carbureting a combustible gas, the procedure of which is simple, and yet the association of the air and liquid is carried out most efficiently. By the use of my process, but one pressure producing source is required for both the air stream and the liquid stream.

By the expression positive pressure as used in the specification and claims is meant pressure as opposed to vacuum, induction, or negative pressure.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, storing a bulk supply of combustible liquid in a closed zone, periodically discharging a predetermined quantity of said liquid from the bulk supply to a separate closed zone, periodically introducing air under super atmospheric pressure into said separate closed zone and simultaneously isolating the liquid in said separate closed zone from the liquid in said bulk supply, discharging a stream of liquid from said separate closed zone into said first mentioned closed zone during the period of admission of air to said separate closed zone, and simultaneously discharging an unconfined stream of air under pressure from said separate closed zone at an angle to and into contact with said discharged stream of liquid whereby said liquid is atomized and converted into a combustible gas, and storing said gas in said first mentioned closed zone.

2. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, storing a bulk supply of combustible liquid in a closed zone, periodically discharging a predetermined quantity of said liquid from the bulk supply to a separate closed zone, periodically introducing air under superatmospheric pressure into said separate closed zone and simultaneously isolating the liquid in said separate closed zone from the liquid in said bulk supply, discharging a stream of liquid from said separate closed zone into said first mentioned closed zone during the period of admission of air to said separate closed zone, and simultaneously discharging an unconfined stream-of air under pressure from said separate closed zone at an angle to and into contact with said discharged stream of liquid whereby said liquid is atomized and converted into a combustible gas, maintaining the point of contact of said liquid and air streams spaced a sufiicient distance from the air stream discharge opening so that mixture entrained in the air is not frozen at said air stream discharge opening, and storing said gas in said first mentioned closed zone.

3. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, storing a bulk supply of combustible liquid in a closed zone, periodically discharging a predetermined quantity of said liquid 5 from the bulk supply toa separate closed zone, periodically introducing air under superatmospheric pressure into said separate closed Zone and simultaneously isolating the liquid in said separate closed zone from the liquid in said bulk supply, discharging a stream of liquid from said separate closed zone into said first mentioned closed zone during the period of admission of air to said separate closed zone, and simultaneously discharging an unconfined stream of air under pressure from said separate closed zone at an angle to and into contact with said discharged stream of liquid whereby said liquid is atomized and converted into a combustible gas, and maintaining the point of contact of said liquid and air streams spaced a sufficient distance from a solid body with which the air stream may come in contact prior to or during contacting of the liquid stream so that the mixture contained in the air stream will not condense or freeze upon said solid body.

CARL OTTO WANNACK.

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