IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLUBLE MATTERS FROM GASES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Beilby, of Mid-Calder, in the County of
0
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Chemist for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLUBLE MATTERS FROM GASES
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Chemist for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLUBLE MATTERS FROM GASES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Beilby at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1882.
GEORGE THOMAS BEILBY, of Mid-Calder in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Chemist, "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING
SOLUBLE MATTERS FROM GASES
"
This Invention has for its object the separation of soluble matters from gases in
an improved and economical manner; and is intended to be principally employed
for the separation of ammonia, and of naphtha, gasoline, or similar volatile
hydrocarbons from the gases obtained by the destructive distillation of coal, shale,
or other bitumenous or nitrogenous materials.
The improved processes which are to be used instead of the ordinary washing
or scrubbing operations are effected by injecting into the gas to be treated the
solvent liquid or substance in the form of a very fine spray, so that the gas and
the solvent may be brought into very intimate contact. Hitherto gas washing or
scrubbing has been effected more or less successfully by means of mechanical
washers or scrubbers in which rotating blades or plates have been used to bring
the washing liquid and gas into contact. The improved process has the advantage
of great simplicity and compactness of the apparatus employed combined with
great efficiency.
The apparatus which it is preferred to employ in carrying out the Invention
consists of a compound jet piece or injector which is supplied with gas or air at a
suitable pressure and with water or oil or other suitable solvent. A stream of
compressed gas or air issues from the jet piece in such a manner as to break up
and carry forward the solvent in the form of a cloud of spray. This cloud of
spray may be allowed to mingle with the gas to be acted on in a tower or other
suitable chamber, the mixed gas and spray being afterwards led into a succession
[Dminn fdil

page_text: of vessels in which the spray may subside carrying with it the soluble matters
abstracted by it from the gas. Or the stream of spray may be used as the motive
agent in an injector or current inducer of a sufficiently large size arranged to draw
through it the stream of gas which has to be operated on, sufficient motion being
thereby imparted to the gas to carry it through the depositing vessels without the
aid of separate blowing or exhausting apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Thomas Beilby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th November 1882.
GEORGE THOMAS BEILBY of Mid-Calder, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Chemist IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING
"
SOLUBLE MATTERS FROM GASES
"
My said Invention has for its object the separation of soluble matters from gases
in an improved and economical manner; and is intended to be principally
employed for the separation of ammonia, and of naptha, gasoline, or similar
volatile hydrocarbons from the gases obtained by the destructive distillation of coal,
shale, or other bituminous or nitrogenous materials.
My improved processes which are to be used instead of the ordinary washing or
scrubbing operations are effected by injecting, in an improved manner, into the gas
to be treated the solvent liquid or substance in the form of a very fine spray, so
that the gas and the solvent may be brought into very intimate contact. Hitherto
gas washing or scrubbing has been effected more or less successfully by means of
mechanical washers or scrubbers in which rotating blades or plates have been used
to bring the washing liquid and gas into contact. My improved process has the
advantage of great simplicity and compactness of the apparatus employed combined
with great efficiency.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing a modification of the
apparatus which I prefer to employ..
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings is a sectional elevation
showing the general arrangement of the apparatus. Figure 2, on sheet 2, is a plan
corresponding to figure, 1, and figures 3, 4 and 5, represent modifications of my
improved spray-producing injectors. In these drawings the same reference numerals
are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The apparatus comprises two vertical cylinders or towers, 6, 7, in which the gas
is operated on, being led by a main pipe, 8, to the bottom of the first tower, 6,
from the top of which it passes by a pipe, 9, leading it to the bottom of the second
tower, 7. The gas is drawn forward through the main pipe, 8, by the action of
an injector, 10, at the bottom of the first tower, 6, this injector, 10, being worked
by a portion of the gas. For this purpose a branch pipe, 11, connects the main
pipe, 8, to a compressing cylinder or pump, 12, worked by a small steam engine, 13,
(or in any other convenient way) and the gas when compressed passes by a
pipe, 14, to a cooling worm, 15, placed in a tank of water. The compressed gas
after being cooled in the worm, 15, passes into a vessel, 16, in which it deposits
any portion rendered liquid by the compressing and cooling action; and from

page_text: this vessel 16, it passes by pipes 17, 18, fitted with stopcocks to the various
injectors.
The injector, 10, at the bottom of the first tower, 6, is a compound injector, and
may be constructed as shown on an enlarged scale in figure, 3, hereinafter
described. It receives a solvent liquid by a pipe, 19, and throwing this liquid
into spray forms with it a compound jet which acts upon and draws the gas from
the main pipe, 8, causing it to pass up the tower, 6. The action of the injector at
the same time effects an intimate intermingling of the solvent liquid with the gas
and promotes the absorption of the soluble matters in the gas by the liquid. The
liquid thrown up by the injector or a large portion of it redescends after rising to
a greater or less height in the tower and collecting at the bottom of the tower
enters a well, 20, from which it may return over again by the pipe, 19, to the
injector, 10, or from which it may be drawn off by a stopcock, 21, when considered
to be sufficiently saturated.
In the second tower, 7, the solvent liquid is applied in a different manner. The
motion imparted to the gas by the injector, 10, at the bottom of the first tower, 6,
is sufficient to cause it to pass upwards through the second tower, 7, which it
finally leaves by a pipe, 22, at the top. The solvent liquid is put in a reservoir, 23,
at the top of the tower, and is led thence by a pipe, 24, which communicates with
a series of injectors, 25, inserted through the wall of the tower, 7, and directed
horizontally so as to converge towards the centre of the tower. To these injectors, 25,
the compressed gas is led from the vessel, 16, by a pipe, 18, and it injects the
solvent liquid in jets of fine spray which cross each other and form a cloud. The
gas rising up the tower, 7, encounters and passes up through the cloud or spray of
solvent, meeting purer and purer solvent as it ascends, and the solvent descending
and collecting at the bottom, where it enters a well 26, from which it can be
drawn off by a pipe, 27, leading it to the pipe, 19, of the injector, 10, at the bottom
of the first tower, 6. After operating in the second tower, 7, the solvent liquid
will, generally be capable of absorbing further quantities of soluble matters from
the gas in the first tower, 6, where such matters are necessarily in greater
strength.
In the injector shown in figure, 3, the solvent liquid is led by its inlet pipe, 19,
into a central tube, 28, the end of which is closed by a screw plug which can be
taken out for cleaning, and the liquid issues through inclined perforations formed
through the sides of the tube. The compressed gas supplied through the pipe, 17,
enters a larger tube, 29, formed with a contracted upper or outer end between
which end and the central tube, 28, there is a thin annular orifice for the issue of
the compressed gas, this orifice being just to the lower or inner sides of the perfo-
rations through which the solvent liquid issues. An annular jet of compressed
gas and spray is thus formed which acts on the gas from the main pipe, 8, and
carries it through the conical nozzle, 30, into the tower, 6. In the injector shown
in figures 4 and 5, which is of the kind I prefer to use in the second tower, 7, the
parts for forming the compound jet of compressed gas and spray are substantially
the same as those shown in figure, 4, but the central tube, 28, is formed in a
plug, 31, which can be removed for cleaning, and which is ground into a socket, 32,
the inner part of which forms the tube or nozzle, 29, by which the compressed gas
entering by the pipe 18, is directed so as to throw the solvent liquid into spray.
The central tube, 28, communicates with the supply pipe 24, by a port in the side
of the plug, 31, which communicates with a port in the socket, 32, when the plug
is in the proper position.
A number of scrubbers, or towers (6, 7) may be worked. in series (single, double,
treble, or more) but when the proportions of the apparatus are suitably adjusted,
the single or double scrubber is sufficient for the satisfactory separation of soluble
matters from gases. The points requiring attention in practically carrying out my
Invention are; 1. the quantity and fineness of the solvent spray; 2, the velocity
of the upward current of gas; 3, the distance through which the solvent falls in
contact with the gas; and 4. the duration of contact of the gas and solvent

page_text: My improved process and apparatus may be applied with advantage to such
operations as the following:-
The preparation of solutions of gases such as sulphurous acid, hydrochloric acid,
or ammonia; or of solutions of the salts of these or other gases by the use of basic
or acid solvents such as soda or sulphuric acid.
The separation of soluble hydrocarbons from gases.
And the separation of impurities from coal or other gas.
In many cases the efficiency of the apparatus is much increased by cooling the
compressed gas (as hereinbefore described) as in its subsequent expansion when
acting on the solvent liquid a further cooling action takes place which renders the
liquid a better absorbent of the soluble matter of the gases. In some cases however
the cooling may be omitted when not of advantage.
The apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore described
is specially designed for separating ammonia or hydrocarbons from coal or shale
gas; but when gases are to be dealt with which act upon iron, lead or earthenware
or brick or other material which is not easily corroded must be employed in
constructing the apparatus, the form or structure being modified to suit the
material used.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and original
and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein before in
part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The combination of apparatus consisting principally of the towers (6, 7)
fitted with accessories and operating substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.
2. The improved forms of spray producing injectors hereinbefore described more
particularly with reference to figures 3, 4, and of the accompanying drawings.
3. The arrangement of the horizontally directed spray producing injectors (25)
inserted through the walls or circumference of the tower (7) whereby the whole
area of the tower is covered by the spray shower substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4. The arrangement of the various spray producing injectors whereby the gas
passes successively in contact with increasingly pure portions of the solvent
substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The arrangement of the injector and supply apparatus so that the solvent
may be used repeatedly as often as may be required to raise it to a desired degree
of saturation substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. Preparing solutions of gases or of their salts in the manner and by the
improved apparatus hereinbefore described.
7. Separating hydrocarbons or impurities or other soluble matters from gases in
the manner and by the improved apparatus hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof I, the said George Thomas Beilby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-two..
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent.
Glasgow.
GEORGE THOMAS BEILBY
(L.S.)