Patent GB-756395-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the making of salts or soaps of alkali metal or nitrogen bases with fatty acids, sulphonic acids or alkyl sulphonic acids
IPC: C11D13/02
Filed: 1954-03-23
Abstract: <FORM:0756395/IV(a)/1> <FORM:0756395/IV(a)/2> In a process for making salts of alkali metal or nitrogen bases with fatty acids, sulphonic acids or alkyl sulphuric acids in which the alkyl group may be substituted, the proportions of the reagents being introduced to any stage of the preparation are regulated responsive to changes in the viscosity of the homogeneous mass of the reaction product.  The process described in detail relates to a soap manufacture (see Group III) wherein lye and fat are fed by separate pumps, not shown, to a reaction chamber 1 in which homogenity of the mixture is obtained by continuously removing it from and returning it to the chamber through a circuit including a pipe 2 and a constant output pump 3 (Fig. 3). Two pressure-sensitive devices 4a and 4b are mounted in the pipe 2, one on each side of the pump.  A limb of a U-tube containing mercury and water is connected to each of the devices 4a and 4b, each of which is provided with a deformable membrane so that the pressure difference between 4a and 4b, which depends upon the viscosity of the mixture, is registered by the difference in heights of the columns of mercury in the U-tube limbs.  The fat is fed by a constant-speed pump and the lye is fed by a pump driven by a 10-pole motor, 10 poles or 8 poles of which may be energized at one time by the coils 25 and 21 respectively to give speeds of 600 r.p.m. and 750 r.p.m.  An electric contact 8, the position of which is adjustable, is provided in one limb of the U-tube and another 12 at the bend of the U.  The electric contacts 8 and 12 are connected in series with the secondary of a transformer 15 and a relay 18 and visual or acoustic alarm is in parallel with the relay 18.  The lye pump is normally driven at 600 r.p.m., the coils 25 being energized by a 3-phase supply 13 and the quantity of lye is below that required.  The viscosity of the mixture in 1 will thus gradually increase, increasing the pressure difference between 4a and 4b, to a predetermined value when the mercury column in the U-tube will establish a circuit between the contacts 8 and 12. The relay 18 will now close a circuit containing a relay 19 causing a breaker 20 to close and a switch 22 to open.  The switch 22 is in the circuit of a relay 23 which will now trip a breaker 24, so that the lye pump is being driven by the coils 21 at 750 r.p.m., and an excess of lye will be fed to the chamber, reducing the viscosity of the mixture and the reverse procedure will operate.  Time delay relays may be incorporated with the breakers 20 and 24.  The apparatus may be applied to a continuous or batch process.  Specification 578,278 and German Specification 722,289 are referred to.ALSO:<PICT:0756395/III/1> <PICT:0756395/III/2> In a process for making soap or salts of alkali metal or nitrogen bases and fatty acids, sulphonic acids or alkyl sulphuric acids in which the alkyl group may be substituted, the proportions of the reagents being introduced to any stage of the preparation are regulated responsive to changes in the viscosity of the homogenous mass of the reaction product.  The process may be applied to the saponification or graining or fitting stages of soap manufacture and is of particular application for maintaining the electrolyte content of the mixture within a predetermined range.  As applied to soap making, lye and fat are fed by separate pumps, not shown, to a reaction chamber 1 in which homogenity of the mixture is obtained by continuously removing it from and returning it to the chamber through a circuit including a pipe 2 and a constant output pump 3 (Fig. 3).  Two pressure sensitive devices 4a and 4b are mounted in the pipe 2, one on each side of the pump.  A limb of a U-tube containing mercury and water is connected to each of the devices 4a and 4b each of which is provided with a deformable membrane so that the pressure difference between 4a and 4b which depends upon the viscosity of the mixture, is registered by the difference in heights of the columns of mercury in the U-tube limbs. The fat is fed by a constant speed pump and the lye is fed by a pump driven by a 10 pole motor, 10 poles or 8 poles of which may be energized at one time by the coils 25 and 21 respectively, to give speeds of 600 r.p.m. and 750 r.p.m.  An electric contact 8, the position of which is adjustable, is provided in one limb of the U-tube and another 12 at the bend of the U.  The electric contacts 8 and 12 are connected in series with the secondary of a transformer 15 and a relay 18 and visual or acoustic alarm is in a parallel with the relay 18.  The lye pump is normally driven at 600 r.p.m., the coils 25 being energized by a 3 phase supply 13 and the quantity of lye is below that required.  The viscosity of the mixture in 1 will thus gradually increase, increasing the pressure difference between 4a and 4b, to predetermined value when the mercury column in the U-tube will establish a circuit between the contacts 8 and 12.  The relay 18 will now close a circuit containing a relay 19 causing a breaker 20 to close and a switch 22 to open.  The switch 22 is in the circuit of a relay 23 which will now trip a breaker 24, so that the lye pump is being driven by the coils 21 at 750 r.p.m., and an excess of lye will be fed to the chamber, reducing the viscosity of the mixture and the reverse procedure will operate.  Time delay relays may be incorporated with the breakers 20 and 24.  The apparatus may be applied to a continuous or batch process of making soap. Specification 578,278 and German Specification 722,289 are referred to.