The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-04-10
YOUNG'S DIFFUSION APPARATUS.
Brief - .4rrip,ioa OF f.,rti snNeH-
tiSn tor Making sugar.


Diffusion itself is not original to
this invention, but only the method
of its application. The diffusion
thus far known to the sugar world is
operated through a battery Of large
tanks. loung's method is designed
to act more directly, through Il sin
gle tube. y brief description of the
apparatus will probably he interest.
ing to readers Il, home and abroad.
The specification Of the inventor
announces it rs all "apparatus for
diffusion of sugar cane, sorghum, or
bects, as also for bagassc from cane
roller mills after the juice has been
partly extracted by crushing" Its
object is "to Obtain all the advan-
tages of diffusion automatically and
continuously, without cntailing the
losses and inconvenience consc-
qucnt upon the cell battery method
of working"
The inventor makes use Of tube
of suitable length and diameter. lie
prefers it in the form of an inverted
parabola - although other forms
nay be used. lie also prefers that
the cross section of the tube he
circular, although it may be of any
suitable shape. One end of the
tube must, however, be higher than
the other, so that the hot water en-
ploycd will flow in an opposite drec.
ton to that in which the material to
be diffused is made to travel.
An endless chain of perforated
discs or followers is passed through
the tube, sufficient space being left
between the followers TO aecommO-
date the crushed or cut cane, etc.
Instead of perforated metal plates
for the followers, the periphery of
the discs may be made of light steel
prongs like the teeth of horse rake.
a reason for having the tube in the
form of an inverted parabola is that
the lower blight of the chain may
travel in it hanging in its natural
curve, thus avoiding undue friction
of the discs against the walls of the
tube. Suitably pitched spiders ut
the ends of the tubes will give mo-
ton to the chain.
The material to he difluscd may
come from the rollers of an ordin-
airy crushing mill, or from cutting
machine like that used in the cell
method of diffusion. Whether as
crushed or Clipped cane it is drawn
into the lower end of the tube by
the travellers. Hot water treated
with lime to prevent acidity in the
mass is introduced at the opposite
end, which is to be eight or ten feet
higher than the other. Thus the
solids are going one way while the
liquid is going the other. BY hav-
ing one end so much higher than the
other, it is calculated that hydros.
tatic pressure will be given, enough
to cause the liquid to flow gently
through the material under treat
ment. 1t is also claimed for this
arrangement that it allows time fol-
all of the liquids that can be liber.
ated by gravitatiop to drain from
the solids back into the tube, thus
saving what is lost in cell diffusion
in which each cell is emptcd of its
chips separately.
The juice is drawn through per.
foratcd section of the tube at the
end opposite that from which the
exhausted material is discharged.
1t is therefore claimed that the diff.
fusion will he gradual and constant
throughout the tube, the juice
gradually gaining in density as il
approaches the end where it is con
stantly discharging and the solids
constantly entering. The contents
of the tube are kept at any desired
temperature by steam jackets place.
round it at intervals. The condens
alton water will be pumped from the
jackets into the tube, thus avoiding
unnecessary waste of heat. AS the
height of the column of liquid will
be not less than 80 feet, there will
be pressure of Is pounds to tho
square inch on the mass. From TIT
entrance of the material into tn,
tube till its leaving it is freed from
the deleteri0us action of air by it:
immersion in the liquid, while an,
clarifying substance may be inject.
ed into the tube at any point when
ever thought necessary.
After the solid material comes on
of the tube it may be run through :
set of rollers for fuel, and If tn
liquid thus expressed has any vir
tue it can easily be turned into thu
main stream of juice going to TIT
boiling house. The inventor claim
several special advantages for thu
apparatus. Continuous agitation o
the solids in the tube changes TIT
relative position of the particles 81
constantly that the liquid is brough
thoroughly in contact with every
portion of the mass. No air rcache
the solids to produce acidty DARN!
diffusion, whereas in some method
of battery diffusion air gets at solid
and the liquid. The work bein'
done automatically, q saving of bot
skilled and unskilled labor is antici
pated. There is not the loss O
sweet water that happens in empty