IMPROVEMENTS IN OSMOSE APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the county of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OSMOSE APPARATUS" to be
as follows:-
.
-
:
This invention relates to an improved construction of apparatus for the osmose
treatment of saccharine and other liquors, which is termed "steam osmogene with
triple action," and which produces simultaneously at one and the same operation,
the three following results.
1, The separation of the salts contained in the liquors treated.
2, The evaporation of the liquids of exosmose.
3, The evaporation of the osmose liquids.
The steam osmogene with triple action that realises these conditions, can produce,
according to the arrangement of its parts, either a single osmose operation, or
several successive osmose operations.
The parts that support the parchment paper diaphragm can be placed either
horizontally vertically or inclined; or a combination of these positions may be.
employed.
The arrangement of the apparatus for single osmose treatment is as follows:
A metal tank is divided by a horizontal perforated metal partition, on which is
placed the parchment paper, into an upper and a lower compartment; the latter
serves to
evaporate the liquid of exosmose, and to furnish the steam required for
the osmose action. The upper compartment receives the liquid to be subjected to
the osmose treatment. In the lower compartment is provided a coil for supplying
the necessary steam for the evaporation of the exosmose liquid and for the osmose
treatment; this compartment also has a supply and discharge pipe with cocks, a
siphon pipe for the continuous discharge of the more or less concentrated exosmose
liquid, a glass gauge for shewing the level of the liquid and an air cock.
The upper compartment, which is entirely open, has a supply pipe with cock, for
the supply of the osmose liquid, a siphon for the discharge of the osmosed liquid,
and a discharge cock immediately above the parchment paper diaphragm.
This apparatus can be employed for the osmose treatment of all the liquid
products in the course of the manufacture and refining of sugar, such as the sirups,
[Price 10d1

page_text: and molasses coming from the centrifugal machine, and also those of greater density
such as the boiled mass before it subject to the centrifugal machine; also to the
exosmose liquids proceeding from the ordinary osmose apparatus; to their evapo-
ration, and to the re-osmose treatment of molasses of exosmose proceeding therefrom;
also to the evaporation and the osmose treatment of the saccharine juices after their
defecation.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The lower compartment is in the first instance filled with ordinary water, and
the upper compartment is charged with a layer of molasses of greater or less depth
according to the degree of osmose to be produced
The
The apparatus can be worked either continuously or intermittently; in the
latter case the water in the lower compartment is heated to boiling point by the
steam coil, the steam produced being condensed against the underside of the
parchment paper diaphragm, and being partly absorbed by the current of endosmose
passing to the molasses through the diaphragm, while the other portion mixes with
the salts of the exosmose current and falls back into the lower compartment.
molasses become heated and increase in volume and decrease in density in
consequence of the absorption of the water by the current and rapidly reach 30°
Beaumé. Arrived at this point a kind of equilibrium ensues; about the same
quantity of water which the molasses receive is separated by evaporation from the
surface. As the operation proceeds, the water first contained in the lower compart-
ment becomes charged with salts by exosmose, while the molasses in osmose become
poorer in salts, and when the required degree of elimination has been attained, the
osmosed molasses are discharged and a fresh quantity is operated upon.
The exosmose liquid is either also removed, or it serves to furnish the steam for
the next charge, according to the degree of Beaumé it has attained.
The osmosed. sirup is subjected to the usual boiling operation for crystallisation.
either in vacuo, or otherwise.
The exosmose liquid is boiled down either in the lower compartment or in a
separate boiler at atmospheric pressure; to the degree of concentration most
favorable to the crystallisation of the salts.
'
•
When operating continuously, a small continuous stream of molasses is admitted
into the upper compartment, through the inlet pipe at the one end thereof and a
.corresponding quantity of osmosed molasses passes off through the siphon at the
other end, the molasses as they pass from the inlet to the outlet in a thin layer
being subjected being subjected to repeated osmose action until the maximum
degree is attained. As the before described condensation of the steam in the lower
compartment will not be effected if the temperature of the osmosed molasses rises
too high, such temperature may be reduced either by the application of currents of
air to the surface, or by the use of a coil or zig-zag pipe through which cold water
is made to circulate, or by injecting cold air."
For renewing the parchment paper diaphragm the molasses are run off and the
upper compartment of the vessel being raised somewhat from off the lower com-
partment, the old diaphragm is removed from between them, and it is replaced by a
new one, which is secured between the flanges of the two compartments. The
steam required for the coil in the lower compartment may be provided by a steam
boiler, but by preference the steam resulting from the evaporation of the osmose or
exosmose liquors, is employed.
In place of heating the lower compartment by a steam coil, it may be heated
externally by a fire.
In applying the above described-apparatus for re-osmosing the molasses of
exosmose, the lower compartment is charged with the exosmose liquor and the
upper compartment is also charged in the first instance with exosmose liquor such
as is produced by the ordinary osmose apparatus. The lower charge being heated
and the steam therefrom coming in contact with the diaphragm the liquid in the
upper compartment will become heated and will evaporate at the same time that it
is subject to osmose action, until from 25 to 30° Beaumé is reached, when the liquid

page_text: will remain at that degree, while it continues to give off its salts and to become
richer in sugar.
This may be continued until the liquor arrives at the co-
efficient 3.5, when it will constitute regenerated molasses, as rich in sugar and salts
as ordinary molasses.
The same effect will be produced if, in place of exosmose liquid of low density,
the upper compartment be supplied with a layer of molasses of exosmose of which
the salts have been crystallised out; the osmose action is produced much more.
rapidly when the greater part of the crystallisable salts are eliminated from the
liquor of exosmose, and the molasses in osmose become regenerated at the
coefficient, 3.50.
The exosmose liquors in the lower compartment being thus highly charged with
salts, are discharged from the apparatus. at from 20 to 25° Beaumé, and are
evaporated in a boiler, and after having the salts crystallised out, the resulting
molasses of exosmose are subjected to reosmose action in the upper compartment,
until the co-efficient 3.50 is attained.
The rapidity with which heat is transmitted through the parchment paper
diaphragm of the above described apparatus by the condensation of the steam ou
the underside thereof under the influence of endosmose and exosinose and the
consequent energetic evaporation that takes place enables the apparatus to be
employed for the evaporation of defecated beetroot juices, and the separation by
osmose action of the salts contained therein. Syrups of first treatment of very
high co-efficient containing only. a small quantity of molasses can be thus
obtained.
For this purpose, the juice, after preliminary treatment, is introduced into the'
upper compartment of the apparatus, the lower one being filled with water and
heated by the steam coil, and the osmose action combined with the evaporation of
the juice then takes place, until the latter is sufficiently concentrated and freed
from its salts. The water in the lower compartment is gradually replaced by the
exosinose liquid. The steam coil may, for the sake of economy be supplied with'
steam from a vessel in which weak juice is evaporated, this juice being then
evaporated in the apparatus as described.
The osmose apparatus with single action above described requires to be placed
horizontally, necessitating a large amount of surface in the factories, which is often
inconvenient; in addition to this there is a considerable loss of heat and consequent
waste of fuel by the evaporation taking place from the surface of the molasses. To
obviate these disadvantages, a second osmose compartment may be formed above
the first one, the saccharine liquor in which then acts as the exosmose liquid to the
molasses in the top compartment, the steam from the former being condensed
against the the underside of the parchment paper diaphragmn of the latter and
producing osmose action in the same manner as the steam from the lowest or
exosmose compartment acts in relation to the first osmose compartment. The
molasses or sirup produced in each compartment being of a different degree of
concentration, they are led away and treated separately. The second osmose com-
partment is provided with the saine fittings as the first one; as the latter is in
this case closed, it requires to be provided with a glass guage for shewing the level
of liquid, as in the exosmose compartment. Also, these two compartments are
connected by a pipe with stop cocks for enabling steam from the exosmose com-
partment to be introduced into the first osmose compartment, when required to
increase the efficacy of its action. In like manner, one or more other osmose
compartments may be superadded to those above described, each such osmose
compartment acting as exosmose to that above it. With these arrangements with
multiple osmose action, the sirup contained in the uppermost compartment will
have the greatest degree of concentration, while that of the lowermost one will be
the poorest in sugar and richest in salts. If a refrigerating coil is used with these
arrangements, this should always be placed in the top compartment. According to
another arrangement, in order still further to economise in the space occupied by
the osmose apparatus, the osmose surfaces are arranged vertically or slightly inclined

page_text: '
as follows: The exosmose compartment at bottom is formed as a horizontal tank as
before, lieated by steam-coil or otherwise. Above this, are arranged in an enclosed
casing, a number of vertical or slightly inclined double frames with sides of
perforated metal, wire-gauze or other permeable fabric, forming tapering vertical
compartments or pockets between them similar to those of a filter-press. Upon the
sides of the perforated plates are fixed the diaphragms of paper parchment, these
being fixed by means of other frames, fitting against those first mentioned and
having the opposite taper; these are also covered with wire gauze like those first.
described so that the parchment paper diaphragms which are, by preference, of
double thickness, are confined between two permeable surfaces. Above these wedge-
shaped compartments or pockets a trough shaped reservoir is formed by means of
projecting pieces at the ends of the frames fitting closely together, which reservoir.
serves to receive any excess of osmose liquid introduced into the pockets. The
parchment paper diaphragms are also extended upwards to form the reservoir, being
fixed between the extensions of the frames. On the outside surface of each end
pocket is fitted a slab, formed on its inner face with a corresponding taper to that
of the pocket and with vertical outer face, and against these outer faces are fitted
strong metal plates, of which that at the one end is connected by tie bolts to a fixed
framing at the other end, while the other plate is connected to a screw spindle,
screwing through a nut in the said framing, so that, by screwing up the spindle the
whole of the frames forming the pockets are forced tightly together..
The reservoir above the pockets is provided with a refrigerating coil. The osmose
liquid is introduced into the pockets through a pipe communicating with their lower,
ends, and rising up outside to the level of the reservoir where it is provided with'
a funnel shaped enlargement into which the liquid is fed. This pipe has a cock at
the opposite end to its inlet, on a level with the bottoms of the pockets, so that by
opening it, the contents of the pockets can be discharged. Pipes lead from the
enclosed spaces between the pockets to the atmosphere for the discharge of air or
excess of steam.
In operating with this apparatus, the liquid in the bottom or exosmose tank is
heated to boiling point, and the pockets being charged with osmose liquid, the
osmose action will ensue against the outer surfaces of the diaphragms of the pockets,
and after the contents of the pockets have been sufficiently treated they are dis-
charged through the before mentioned cock, and the pockets are washed out with
warm water, after which they are again filled with osmose liquid. The apparatus
may also be made to operate continuously by causing the osmose liquid to enter
continuously in small quantities through the supply pipe and to pass off through an
overflow siphon pipe on the reservoir at top.
By forming the sides of the pockets inclined instead of vertical, the exosmose
liquid forming on the outer surface thereof, is prevented from trickling down the
entire surface, whereby portions thereof strongly charged with salts might enter
as endosmose again. To facilitate the dropping down of the exosmose liquid as it
is formed, pieces of cotton wick are by preference introduced into the openings of
the wire gauze or perforated metal, down which the liquid flows, and which also
prevent the diaphragms adhering to the wire gauze or metal. Or in place of this s
arrangement, a series of small horizontal gutters may be formed by soldering strips
of metal on the outer surfaces of the plates, along which the exosmose liquid is
made to flow.
The above described arrangement of osmose apparatus with vertical or inclined
osmose surfaces may be modified by arranging a second set of osmose pockets above
the first set or by combining there with a compartment, with horizontal osmose
surface arranged above the exosinose compartment and beneath the pockets, so that
the exosmose liquid passes from these into such osmose compartment and is there
subjected to a second osmose treatment, in a similar manner to that described with
reference to the first arrangement; or instead hereof or in combination therewith, 5
a horizontal osmose compartment may be arranged above the pockets, so that the
liquid is first subjected to osmose action herein, then in the pockets, and lastly in.

page_text: the horizontal osmose compartment below these. In like manner a greater number
of vertical and horizontal osmose compartments may be combined to obtain
increased osmose treatment of the liquid.
In all these apparatus the before mentioned triple action is obtained, namely the
separation of the salts, the evaporation of the osmosed liquid, and the evaporation
of the exosmose liquid.
Although I have described the osmose apparatus as specially applied to the
treatment of saccharine liquors, yet it is equally applicable to the separation of
salts and other matters from any other liquids that are susceptible of osmose
treatment, such as the liquors from wool washing, for the separation of the potash,
sea water, for the separation of the different salts, extracts or decoctions from
woods, roots &c.
Dated 0
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.

page_text: 1, CHARLES DENTON ABEL 01 N° 28 Southampton Dundings, Ohancery Lane
"
the county of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, -do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OSMOSE APPARATUS
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to an improved construction of apparatus for the osmose
treatment of saccharine and other liquors, which is termed "steam osmogene with
triple action" and which produces simultaneously at one and the same operation
the three following results:
1, The separation of the salts contained in the liquors treated.
2, The evaporation of the liquids of exosmose.
3, The evaporation of the osmose liquids.
The steam osmogene with triple action that realises these conditions, can produce,
according to the arrangement of its parts, either a single osmose operation, or
several successive osmose operations.
The parts that support the parchment paper diaphragm can be placed either
horizontally, vertically or inclined; or a combination of these positions may be
employed.
These various arrangements will have to be adapted to the osmose effects to be
produced and to the nature of the substances to bo acted upon.
I will describe these various arrangements and their mode of operating..
0
I. Steam Osmogene with triple action and single osmose (figs. 1 and 2 of
the drawings).
This osmogene, shewn in elevation and plan respectively at figs. 1 and 2 of the
drawings, is composed of two compartments; a lower one A with closed bottom
and an upper one B without solid bottom, but separated from A by a diaphragm C
of parchment-paper, placed between two metal gratings D D¹ as shown in the
enlarged part section at fig. 3. The joint between the two compartments is made
watertight by means of. caoutchouc bands a a.
In the upper compartment are placed one or more serpentine pipes E E, through
which cold water is made to circulate, being supplied from funnels b b. The lower
compartment has one or more heating coils F F supplied with steam from a
generator through a pipe J, the steam generator may be either a boiling pan for
the osmose or exosmose molasses, or a boiler N for evaporating the saccharine
juices or the waters of exosmose; or the exhaust steam from a steam engine may
be used. G is the discharge pipe for the lower compartiment and H that for the
upper compartment. The lower compartment A is charged with liquid from the
funnel pipe I.

page_text: The lower compartment has a sight-hole M for observing the process, and the
upper compartment is suspended from counterweights K by means of which it can
be raised for the purpose of examining and removing the parchment diaphragm C.
The upper compartment is guided for this purpose between guides L L fixed to
the lower compartment. In the compartment A is fixed a horizontal table a¹ of
sheet metal situated about 4 inches below the parchment diaphragm C as shewn
at fig 1 and in the enlarged part longitudinal and part cross sections at figs. 3
and 4. This table is carried by iron cross bars b¹ and is provided with a rim c of
from in to 1/ins high, leaving a space of about 1/, in between it and the sides of
the compartments all round, through which space the steam generated below rises
so as to act without pressure against the underside of the parchment diaphragm.
This table a¹ serves to receive the water of condensation from the underside of
the parchment diaphragm, which falls into it in the form of saline waters of
exosmose, and which flow away through an escape pipe passing through the
compartment and leading them away as fast as they are produced.
In order to prevent these condensed saline waters of exosmose from falling
through the small spaces between the table and the sides of the compartment, a
slightly inclined plate el is fixed below the diaphragm which directs any condensed
water that may drop from the edge of the diaphragm into the table. By this
means, the inconvenience is obviated of allowing the saline waters of exosmose
containing a very small proportion of sugar to mix with the less saline exosmoso
waters having a greater proportion of sugar, contained in A and which it is
important to keep separate in order to obtain the greatest yield of sugar and of
salts from the osmose process. At the upper part of the compartment A is an air
cock f.
-
The above described osmogene with triple action can be employed for the osmose
of all the liquid products resulting from the manufacture and refining of sugars,
whatever may be their density, that is to say:
a, To the sirups and molasses as they pass from the centrifugal apparatus, and
even of a considerably higher density, or to those of the boiled materials before
being subjected to the centrifugal action.
.
b, To the exosmose waters resulting from the ordinary osmogenes, to the
evaporation thereof, and to the re-osmose of the molasses of exosmose resulting
therefrom.
c. To the evaporation and osmose of the juices after defecation.
a. Application of the osmogene with triple action and simple osmose, to the
sirups and molasses in the manufacture and refining of sugars.
The above described apparatus is made to operate as follows:-
In starting, for want of waters of exosmose, the compartment A is supplied with
ordinary water through the feed pipe I. The compartment B is charged with.
sirup or molasses to be osmosed, so as to form a layer of from 2 to 4 inches
according to the degree of osmose to be produced, and the apparatus is then put in
action.
•
The osmose may be effected in two different ways, namely either continuously
or intermittently; for operating intermittently the operation is as follows:-
Steam is introduced into the coil F so as to heat the watef in A to boiling point.
The steam produced passes against the underside of the parchment diaphragm on
which is the liquid to be osmosed and is there condensed.
:
One part of the condensed water is absorbed by the current of endosmose
towards the molasses through the parchment paper; the other part carries off the
salts by the current of exosinose and falls condensed on to the table a¹.
The molasses in osmose in the compartment B becomes heated and have their
volume increased while their density decreases owing to the absorption of water by
the current, and soon arrives at a density of 30° Beaumé ; but, arrived at this

page_text: point, a sort of equilibrium is established; there is eliminated by the evaporation
from the surface of the molasses in osmose nearly as much water as they receive"
from the endosmose current, and their density thus remains nearly stationary, that
is to say, the operation may be so regulated that this takes place.
In continuing the operation, the water contained in A becomes charged with
salts by exosmose, while the molasses in osmose become poorer in salts; its saline
coefficient rises as in the ordinary osmose, and when it is considered to have
arrived at the maximum desired to be obtained, the osmosed molasses are drawn
off through the discharge cock H, and the operation is repeated with a fresh
quantity of sirup or molasses.
The waters of exosmose are removed from A according to the degree of Beaum6
attained, and may be introduced either into the boiler N where they supply the
steam for the coil F, or into an open evaporating pan.
The boiling of the osmosed syrup is effected either in the vacuum pan or in other
apparatus until the condition most favorable for crystallisation is obtained.
The operation may be rendered continuous by causing a small stream of fresh
molasses to flow continuously into B at a and allowing the osmosed molasses to
flow off at H through a funnel serving as overflow. A continuous current of
molasses is thus established between the two extreme points of the apparatus; the
molasses entering at a gradually drives the osmosed molasses towards the overflow
so that in arriving at the other end of the apparatus it has been subjected to
successive osmose actions and is in the maximum osmosed, condition.
The yield of the osmogene operating in this manner is limited by the degree of
heat at which the layer of molasses in B is maintained; when this attains a
temperature of about 212° Fahr., the condensation of the steam in A is very
limited, and consequently the osmose is decreased in a corresponding manner; it
may then be advisable to reduce the temperature of the layer of molasses in osmose.
In order to avoid this inconvenience, the top of the compartment Bshould be left
open, and the discharge of steam should be facilitated by means of a chimney
draught or by sufficient ventilation.
It may also be advisable to cool the layer of molasses by means of a refrigerating
coil such as E immersed in the layer; or again, the cooling of the liquid may be
effected by injecting into the liquid a current of cold air, which not only cools the
same but also, in becoming saturated with watery vapour, increases the evaporating
effect of the apparatus. In this case the pipes of the coil should be perforated with
a large number of holes.
.
The parchment paper diaphragm should be of the same width and length as the
osmogene, without jointing.
The dimensions of width are limited to the greatest width of parchment paper
obtainable; about 47 inches is the greatest dimension at present obtainable. As to
length, this is practically unlimited, and parchment paper may be readily obtained
of any length which it is desired to make the osmogene.
b. Application of the steam osmogene with triple action to the evaporation of
waters of exosmose and to the regeneration of the molasses of exosmose.
•
The working of the steam osmogéne with triple action when used' with the
waters of exosmose, and the reosmose of the molasses of exosmose is effected in
the following manner:
The compartment A of the osmogene receives the waters of exosmose, and in
starting, in the absence of molasses of exosmose, the compartment B is also charged
with waters of exosmose such as issue from ordinary osmose apparatus.
The waters of exosmose in A are then raised to boiling point, by admitting steam
into the coil F. The steam rising against the underside of the parchment paper
diaphragm heats the waters of exosmose in B and these are evaporated while at the

page_text: same time they are subjected to osmose action, until they indicate from 25° to
30° Beaumé; they then remain stationary at this degree, while still continuing to
give off their salts and to become enriched with sugar; the osmose may thus be
continued until the liquor has arrived at the coefficient 3.5, when it will constitute
regenerated molasses as rich in sugar and salts as the ordinary molasses.
The same effect is produced when in place of waters of exosmose of low density,
the parchment paper diaphragm is supplied with a layer of exosmose molasses
which has crystallized for salts; the osmose is produced much more rapidly, as the
greater portion of the crystallisable salts have been eliminated in the waters of
exosmose, and the inolasses in osmose will be regenerated to the saline coefficient 3.50.
The waters of exosmose contained in A are thus very much charged with salts;
arrived at 20° or 25° Beaumé, they are removed from the osmogene and their
evaporation is completed in an ordinary open boiling pan, and they are placed for
the crystallisation of the salts. After the crystallisation, the molasses of exosmose
which results, is placed in reosmose in B and the steam osmose is continued either
intermittently or continuously until the coefficient of these molasses is raised up to
that of the regenerated molasses, that is to say to the coefficient 3.50, or to a
coefficient sufficient for saccharine crystallisation. The steam osmogene thus
supplied operates in its normal condition. It supplies in the compartment A, saline
molasses and in the compartment B regenerated molasses in the same manner as
the ordinary osmogene produces waters of exosmose. These regenerated molasses
could be again reosmosed for the purpose of obtaining sugar therefrom; but the
waters of exosmose which result therefrom will not crystallise salts any more.
c. Application of the steam osmogene with triple action to the evaporation and
osmose of juices and syrups of beet root before first boiling.
The peculiar circumstances of the rapid transmission of heat through the parch-
ment paper diaphragm in consequence of the condensation of the steam under the
influence of endosmose and exosmose, supplies a powerful means for evaporation.
This property is utilised for applying the steam osmogene with triple action to the
evaporation of the defecated beet juices and to the separation by osmose of the salts
contained therein. By this means there may be obtained syrups from the first
boiling of a very high coefficient, containing only a small quantity of molasses.
The steam osmogene will more particularly find its application in the agricultural
production of sugar and will facilitate the realisation of this manufacture. The
operation of this osmogene is very simple. The juices having been subjected to the
operations preliminary to its evaporation are conveyed into the compartment B.
The compartment A being in the first instance charged with water, steam is then
introduced into the serpentine F, heating the water in A to boiling point so that
the steam produced passes against the underside of the parchment paper diaphragm,
is there condensed, in part producing osmose effects. The heat disengaged by the
condensation of the steam passes rapidly through the diaphragm, heats and
evaporates the layer of juice upon the same, which evaporation is continued until
the juice is sufficiently concentrated and the salts sufficiently eliminated. The
water contained in A is converted into waters of exosmose which, in evaporating,
supply the necessary steam for the evaporation and osmose of the juices and syrups.
In order to render this evaporation more economical, the steam required for the
evaporation of the waters of exosmose may be produced in the boiler, fed with
weak juice, so that the evaporation of the juice is commenced in this boiler, thus
furnishing the steam necessary for the supply of the coil F for the evaporation of.
the waters of exosmose for effecting the osmose and completing the evaporation of
the same juice on the parchment paper diaphragm while producing the osmose, that
is to say, the separation of the salts. The steam osmogene with triple action is
readily applicable to these various combinations.

page_text: II. Steam osmogene with triple action and multiple osmose (Fig. 5).
The steam osmogene with triple effect and simple osmose which has been
described requires to be placed horizontally. This arrangement presents the
Inconvenience of requiring a great extent of surface for apparatus and buildings.
It has in addition the inconvenience, from a point of view of economy in fuel, of
losing on the surface of the liquid in osmose in the compartiment B, a large quantity
of steam which is not utilised. These two inconveniences may be avoided by the
following arrangement. First, in superposing over the compartment B a compart-
'ment B¹, Fig. 5, exactly similar to B and separated by a diaphragm C¹ similar to C
so that the steam generated in B passes under the diaphragm C1 and produces the
same effects of evaporation, of condensation, and of osmose as in the compartment B
upon the liquid placed in osmose in the said compartment. The arrangements for
feeding and discharging the liquids in osmose are the same in B' as in B. The
compartment B, being closed, must be supplied with a sight hole M¹ as in the
compartment A for observing the level of the liquid. It must also have an air
cock F¹ and a discharge cock G¹ and a table a¹.. It is necessary to establish between
the atmosphere of A and that of B, a communication by means of a pipe L¹ provided
with a cock in order to introduce at will, into the atmosphere of the compartment B,
steam produced in A, for the purpose of increasing the useful effect of the apparatus.
I is the pipe for the introduction of liquid into the compartment B. The number
of compartments thus arranged is only limited by the surface of parchment paper
with which it is desired to supply the osmogene. Thus for the same active surface
of an osmogene of 100 "Dubrunfaut" frames, which is about 462 square feet, the
steam osmogene must have a single surface 117 feet long. It would suffice to
have 9 similar compartments B¹ superposed in order to reduce this surface to a
length of 13 feet. The liberated steam in A gives off its latent heat to the liquid
contained in B, the condensed water falling in the condition of water of exosmose
on to the table of the compartment A which continues to produce fresh steam,
imparting its heat to the liquid in osmose contained in B, thus producing steam
in B which, in its turn, produces evaporative effects of osmose and exosmose upon
the liquids contained in B¹, and so on, in all the other superposed compartments,
should the apparatus be supplied with a greater number.
When the osmogene is
in full action, the steam which was disengaged in the simple osmogene in B is
disengaged in B¹. The waters of exosmose produced in B¹ fall into the compart-
ment B and are there subjected to a fresh osmose which supplies the waters of
exosmose to the compartment A, which thus becomes much more charged with salts.
There are consequently produced in the apparatus thus arranged, various 'successive
osmoses and as many liquids of different composition. The liquid contained in the
compartment A contains the maximum of saline matters and the minimum of sugar.
The liquid contained in the compartment B contains the minimum of salts and
the maximum of sugar. Lastly, the liquid contained in the compartment B is of a
composition intermediate between these two extremes. It results from this that
these three compartments should be fed with liquids, the saccharine qualities of
which should be in proportion to the composition of their contents and should
yield osmosed liquids which must be separated with care and classified according
to their saline or saccharine composition. The liquid contained in the com-
partment A should furnish salts by crystallisation; the liquid contained in B¹
should furnish sugar by crystallisation and the liquids contained in B should
furnish either regenerated molasses or a liquid too poor in sugar for, furnishing
sugar by crystallisation but which, replaced in the compartment B¹ will again
furnish sugar by the separation of the salts by means of a fresh osinose.
osmose in the osmogene thus arranged may be continuous or. intermittent, at
will, in the same manner as with the osmogene of two compartments. When it is
The

page_text: desired to employ a refrigerating coil E in the three compartments, it must always
be placed in the upper compartment B¹.
<<
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 shew respectively a front view, a side view and a cross section
of an osmogene with several superposed compartments. These compartments are
constructed of wood and are similar to the frames of the ordinary osmogene.
They form a series of superposed chambers some of which are fed with molasses
and the others with exhaust steam. The various molasses frames can be fed
separately, or the molasses issuing from one frame can pass into the following one.
These frames are of two different descriptions, according as they are to be fed with
molasses or with steam. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 shew a steam frame M¹ having a wire
gauze diaphragm ml attached thereto and supported by means of two metal
transverse bars n¹. Figs. 12, 13 and 14.shew a molasses frame N¹ having a solid
metal diaphragm o¹ supported by means of the transverse bars n' and on the
opposite side by metal wires 1 forming a grating; when the molasses frame M'
is placed upon a steam frame N¹ the parchment paper diaphragm C Fig. 8 inter-
posed between the two frames is supported between the wire gauze diaphragm m³
and the wires 1. Figs. 15 and 16 shew a supply" frame Q₁ destined for the
supply of the steam frames and Figs. 17 and 18 shew a molasses frame M' in
which the molasses are cooled by means of a serpentine E¹ through which cold
water circulates. The wire gauze diaphragm is here supposed to be removed. The
combined frames constitute the osmogene which is placed upon a cast iron base o¹
upon which it is fixed by means of a metal plate P¹ and screw bolts R¹. The
exhaust steam enters the feeding frame Q through a pipe s¹ and flows into the
various steam frames through the 6 vertical conduits t¹ formed in the wood of
the superposed frames which it enters through the horizontal conduits t. The
entrance of the steam into the conduits t¹ is effected through horizontal conduits t³.
of the lower feeding frame Q¹ which also has a solid metal bottom o*. The steain
disengaged 'from the molasses in osmose in the various frames N¹ can, if necessary,
be utilised for producing osmose by applying metal hoods f which allow the steam
liberated from the molasses to pass into the steam frame situated immediately
above. The water resulting from the condensation of the steam in the frames N¹
is collected upon the sheet metal diaphragms o¹ and flows through the horizontal
conduits and the vertical conduits ul.u¹ of the various frames M¹ N¹,
escaping to the outside through tubes u³ ³ and funnels T¹. The frame Q¹ is
provided with a pressure gauge U¹ and the various frames M¹ N¹ are provided with
vertical passage v² communicating with the steam chambers of these. frames by
means of horizontal conduits v. These vertical conduits v1 serve to establish the
communication of these steam chambers of the frames with outer air by means of
4 air tubes V. In order that the steam pressure in the apparatus shall never
become too great, one or more of the conduits t¹ is closed in the upper molasses
frame by means of a parchment paper diaphragm which bursts when the pressure
becomes too great. The molasses arriving in the upper frame N¹ passes into the
second molasses frame through the conduit with double bend formed at the right
hand in the wood of this frame and in that of the steam frame immediately below
and of the second molasses frame. From the second molasses frame the molasses
pass into the third frame N¹ through a conduit x' on the left hand, and so on, the
molasses circulating from top to bottom of the apparatus and successively from one
extremity to the other over the various parchment paper diaphragms C. These
are by preference formed of a sheet of parchment paper situated between two
sheets of tissue. Certain of the molasses frames are provided with a refrigerating
coil E for cooling.the molasses. All these coils are fed by a common tube E
Figs. 6 and 8. For facilitating the equal distribution of the molasses upon the
diaphragms C, metal guards 23 arranged as shewn at Fig. 17 are placed at the
point where they enter the frames N¹. The molasses issuing from the frames N¹
are discharged to the outside by the funnel T fixed upon a conduit u. When
it is desired to stop the osmose operation all the molasses frames N¹ are emptied
by a tube X communicating by conduits z¹ opening into the bottom of all the

page_text: Steam osmogene with triple action and simple osmose arranged vertically
(Fig. 19).
The steam osmogene with triple action may also be arranged vertically or
slightly inclined, which arrangement is shewn in transverse section at fig. 19:
A, boiling pan of sheet iron, cast iron or copper, precisely similar to the com-
partment A of the before described arrangement Figs 1, 2 and 5. It contains the
same contrivances which are indicated by the same letters of reference. Above
this pan are arranged frames g of cast or wrought iron or by preference of wood
placed vertically with.a slight inclination from top to bottom and provided on both
faces in the direction of their length with a wire gauze sheet of perforated metal
or of other tissues serving to support the parchment paper diaphragms. Figs. 20
and 21 shew an elevation and section of such a frame provided with its metallic
sheets; wedge shaped pieces ii of wrought or cast iron or by preference of
wood, Figs. 22 and 23, serve to fix the parchment paper upon the sides of each
frame. They have the form of an inverted trestle so that when each frame is
furnished with its wedge and the frames and wedges are united and tied one
against the other, the interior space m within each wedge i forms a watertight
trough or reservoir closed at bottom and at both sides and open at top. These
troughs are intended to receive liquid to be osmosed and must be provided with
à metallic sheet, like the frames. The frames and the troughs have an upward
extension a on each side of their upper ends of a length of about 10 inches so
that when the troughs and frames are tied together these projections form the sides
of a reservoir for liquid 31 situated above the troughs and frames, and into which
the liquid overflows that is placed in osmose in the troughs. The parchment-paper
diaphragms should be double. They should be placed between the frames and
the troughs in such a manner that each sheet envelopes the outer part of the
troughs and thus serves as reservoir of liquid in osmose, in assuming the form
of the troughs, that is to say, that of an inverted trestle. These sheets of
parchment paper should have upward extensions ẞ like the troughs and the
frames, corresponding to the extensions of the latter, so as to form a water tight
joint for the liquid reservoir formed by these extensions above the troughs and
frames. When placed in position they are tied in between the metallic sheets of
the latter. These frames and troughs are tied in between two end plates of wood
or by preference of cast iron the one of which is fixed while the other is
movable and the height of which corresponds to the height of the extensions
of the troughs and frames. The liquid reservoir B₁ situated above the
troughs and frames serves to receive a refrigerating coil E. This arrangement is
indispensable for utilising to the greatest extent the steam osmogene with triple
action and vertical arrangement of the parchment paper diaphragms. c¹ is a screw
for binding together the parts by pressing upon the movable plate The
osmogene as above described is placed on an iron base, and has the following
contrivances. d¹, uprights of the frame, e¹ iron rails on which is the boiling pan A,
the frames g and the wedge shaped troughs i; 81, screws tying the end plates
and to the frame. k collecting conduit formed in the thickness of each frame
and communicating with each trough i and serving for the introduction of liquid
to be osmosed into each trough; funnel for supplying the liquid to be osmosed
into each trough; m discharge cock of the troughs; p air and steam tubes placed
at the upper part of the frames and serving for the escape of air and the excess of
steam and contained in the frames, such tubes are extended, above the reservoir;
t, an iron tie bar situated on each side of the upper part of the osmogene and
serving to maintain in position the frames and the troughs while these are being

page_text: :
tied together by means of the pressing screw c¹. These devices are sufficient when,
it is desired to effect the osmose in an intermittent manner. For proceeding in this
manner all the troughs should be filled through the funnel . The liquid contained
in the boiling pan A is then heated to boiling point and this is continued until the
liquid contained in the troughs i has been sufficiently subjected to osmose action.
The cock m is then opened so as to discharge the osmosed liquid from the troughs
and when these are emptied, hot water is introduced through the open top thereof
by means of a nozzle attached to a flexible caoutchouc pipe. This water is allowed
to flow off through the same cock m and when this has been completed the troughs
are again filled from the funnels and the operation is continued as above described.,
In order to render more complete the separation of the waters of exosmose pro-
duced by the condensed steam, there are placed between the meshes of the wire
gauze cotton wicks x with the double purpose of facilitating the separation and to;
prevent the adhesion of the parchment paper diaphragm to the wire gauze sheet,
thus rendering the whole of the surface available. The cotton wicks may be
replaced by metal bands soldered to the sides of the perforated metal sheets as
shewn at y so as to form gutters in the interior of each frame for preventing the
exosmose liquid from trickling down the whole length of the metallic sheets and
from being absorbed by the endosmose current passing through the parchment.
paper towards the liquid in osmose. The water of condensation collected by the
cotton wicks x or the small gutters y is collected by a table a¹ similar to that
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 5. The osmose operation is continued
without intermittence as long as the parchment paper lasts. When this has to be.
renewed the troughs are emptied as in the case of the intermittent osmose, and the
liquid imperfectly osmosed is placed apart for recommencing the operation when'
the parchment. paper has been renewed. Exosmose waters contained in A should
also be removed. The renewing of the parchment paper is effected in unscrewing
the screw that ties the parts together; the frames and the wedges being slid upon
the rails of the frame work, the sheets of parchment paper are removed, the frames
and troughs are carefully washed by the injection of hot water which falls into the.
boiling pan A and escapes therefrom by the discharge cock. Each trough is then*
furnished with a new sheet of parchment paper which is nipped between the sides
of each trough and each frame, and when all the sheets of parchment paper are thus'
placed in position, the screw c¹ is again applied so as to tie all the parts together in
a water tight manner and the troughs are then filled as above described. The
useful effect that may be obtained by this osmogene is limited by the active surface'
of the parchment paper. If the ordinary height of the frames were doubled, say to:
the height of about 39 inches, the work of the osmogene would be doubled; but
the dimensions of the base to be given to each frame should be proportionate to
that of its height, and to the inclination to be given to the parchment paper
diaphragms. For frames of 20 inches in height the base should be about 4 inches.
The number of frames and consequently of troughs of each osmogene is only limited
by the length to be imparted to the latter. With a distance of 4 inches at the
bottom there may be contained 10 frames for every 40 inches of length. The
useful effect of the parchment paper. with which the frames are covered is also
limited by the quantity of steam supplied by the osmosed liquid situated in A.
This steam should always be sufficient to escape in small quantity from the air
tubes p situated upon the upper part of each frame and which may thus serve as
steam regulators and as safety valves, in this sense, that the steam in A should
never have sufficient pressure to burst the parchment paper with which their ends
are closed. Thus when the steam escapes in two large a quantity through the air
tubes p, this shews that it is necessary to diminish the quantity of steam in A. If
it does not escape through the air tubes, this shews that there is not sufficient
steam to fill the upper part of the frames, in which case it is necessary to increase
the production thereof in B. The useful effect of the osmogene is also governed by '
the lowering of the temperature of the liquid in osmose either by the current of
.

page_text: cold water or by the current of cold air: The various arrangements of steam.
osmose apparatus above described, give simultaneously the triple action of elimi-
nating the salts, evaporating the osmose liquid and evaporating the waters of
osmose; 'but the appliances are modified in their form and composition according
to the nature of the substance acted upon. The steam osmogene with triple effect
and simple or multiple osmose whether arranged vertically or horizontally is equally.
applicable to the transformation of acid-salts into neutral salts such as, for instance,"
the salts of potash, soda, lime; magnesia, zinc, tin, iron, copper bismuth and
aluminium, the excess of acid of which is eliminated in the waters of exosmose.
can also be used for extracting the animal and organic matters from diffusible
nineral or other matters.
It
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1, The construction of osmose apparatus, termed steam osmogene with triple
action substantially as herein described with, reference to Figs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawings, whereby is effected, firstly the separation by osmose action
of the salts and other more diffusible matters, secondly the evaporation of the
waters of exosmose, and thirdly the evaporation of the osmosed liquids, the said
apparatus consisting mainly of two superposed compartments separated by a
diaphragm of parchment paper fixed between the sides of the compartment and
situated between two sheets of wire gauze; the lower compartment, containing
the waters of exosmose being provided with a heating coil and with a table for
collecting the water of condensation, while the upper, open compartment containing.
the liquor to be osmosed is provided with means for cooling the liquid, either by
the circulation of water or by jets of air.
2, In osmose apparatus constructed as set forth in the preceding claim, the
method substantially as herein described of operating either continuously or inter-
mittently, either for the osmose of syrups and molasses in course of their treatment
for the manufacture or refining of sugar; or for the evaporation of the molasses of
osmose and the reosmose of the molasses of exosinose; or for the simultaneous
evaporation and osmose of defecated juices, in order to separate therefrom the
salts, and to obtain purer masses; or for the separation of all substances having
different diffusibility, and the extraction of all crystallisable and soluble matter
contained in liquid or solid bodies of either animal, vegetable or mineral origin.
3, The modified construction of steam osmogene with triple action herein
described with reference to Figs. 19 to 23 of the drawings, wherein vertical or
slightly inclined diaphragms of parchment paper form the sides of troughs situated
above a boiling pan and containing the liquid to be osmosed, the said diaphragms
being supported by sheets of wire gauze or perforated metal having cotton wicks
or small gutters.
4, In osmose apparatus constructed as set forth in the preceding claim, the
method of forming the troughs for the liquid to be osmosed by means of frames
and wedge shaped pieces secured together side by side between end plates that are
bound together by screws, the liquid being supplied simultaneously to all the
troughs by means of a pipe extending along the whole length of the apparatus,
substantially as herein described.
5, The construction of steam osmose apparatus, wherein any desired number of
superposed compartments are separated from each other by horizontal parchment
paper diaphragms, supported between sheets of wire gauze, whereby an apparatus
having a considerable effective surface of parchment paper while occupying a com-
paratively small ground space is obtained, and multiple successive osmose actions
are produced substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 5 of the
drawings..
6, The construction of osmose apparatus wherein a number of superposed frames
with parchment paper diaphragms supported by wire gauze sheets, constitute

page_text: alternate compartments for containing the liquid to be osmosed, and other alternate
compartments for heating by steam, these compartments being all fed from a
common compartment with which they are all in communication, while the liquid
to be osmosed circulates continuously from one osmose compartment to the other,
being subjected at intervals to the cooling action of a coil through which water is
made to circulate, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. S to 18
of the drawings.
7, The various constructions of frames herein described with reference to Figs. 1.
to 23 of the drawings.