Improvements in or appertaining to Apparatus for the Manufacture of Carbonates of Soda.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Apparatus for the Manufacture
of Carbonates of Soda.
I, JAMES JOHN HOWITT, of 17, Greenway Road, Runcorn, in the County of
Chester, Engineer and General Manager of Alkali Works, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a novel and improved plant and process for
making carbonates of soda by the ammonia alkali process.
I pass brine with the requisite amount of ammonia in solution into a high tower
baving a series of perforated floors formed of metal. These floors are supported
on angle iron rings, and through each of these floors are passed two long vertical
rods with adjusting screws attached thereto outside the tower at the top. Beneath
every alternate floor, a mut, cotter or its equivalent, is placed on or through one of
the rods. Beneath the other floors, similar nuts are placed on the other rod.
These rods are placed a considerable distance from the centre on opposite sides.
By therefore screwing one rod up, every alternate floor is raised up from its ring on
one side allowing liquor to pass it, while, by screwing the other rod up, the
remaining floors are raised from their supports on the other side, also allowing
liquor to pass. By this means, if the perforations get clogged up, by simply
screwing up these two rods, the gases are enabled to pass up through the column
and have to take a circuitous course, even when the perforations are stopped up.
Into the bottom of this tower, carbonic acid is forced in the usual manner.
keep the tower cool, water is caused to trickle down it on the outside and be
caught in a basin or annular curb near the bottom. From this basin, the water
passes away through a trough, and, in this trough, the carbonic acid pipe is placed.
The water, therefore, after cooling the tower, continues its work by cooling the hot
carbonic acid pipe.
To
When the liquor is sufficiently decomposed by carbonic acid, it is withdrawn
from the tower and filtered.
The mother liquor, containing chiefly chloride of ammonium, is passed into a
high tower divided by partitions. In this tower, lime is let in a few stories from
the top on to the central cap which is dished in the centre for this purpose, and
corrugated all round and crenulated at the bottom so as to allow the gases to pass
and the lime to distribute properly. Lime can also be supplied down below in a
manner well known. The liquor being run down the tower, steam is let in at the
bottom and lime supplied as required, the result is that ammonia and carbonate of
ammonia pass off at the top of still, while eventually chloride of calcium liquor,
together with a little chloride of sodium, etcetera, is drawn off at the base. The
ammonia gases, if allowed to be charged at once into brine while saturated with
moisture, would make working uncertain or unsatisfactory, owing to the strength
not being constant, the liquor being continuously diluted with the contained
vapour of water. To avoid this, I use a cooling refrigerating apparatus. This
consists of an annular chamber, cooled both in the centre and on the outside by
water jackets, or by means of cooling liquor or any other manner. This annular
chamber is supplied with a considerable number of floors one above the other.
These floors may be of wood and communicate one with another, but are so
arranged, by partitions or otherwise, that the gas from the distilling tower,
entering the bottom of the condenser, has to go almost round the ring before
escaping to the next floor, and so on to the top. By this means, it arrives at the
top cooled and practically free from steam. From here, it passes to near the
bottom of a brine chamber, where it is used to saturate fresh brine and continue

page_text: the operation. The steam condensed in the condenser returns to the distilling
column as water charged with ammonia, and mingles along with the ordinary
chloride liquor.
Dated this 07th 1. of obs 1001
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Apparatus for the Manufacture
of Carbonates of Soda.
I, JAMES JOHN HOWITT of 17 Greenway Road, Runcorn, in the County of
Chester, Engineer and General Manager of Alkali Works, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object a new or improved plant and process for making
carbonates of soda by the ammonia alkali process.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a high tower with perforated floors A A
formed of metal ;
Figure 9 is a plan view of the same, and
Figures 2 to 8 enlarged details, Figure 2 being one of the stuffing boxes at the
top, Figure 3 a plan view of the perforated floor, Figure 4 sectional view of the
same; Figure 5 plan of drip channel; Figure 6 section of same; Figure 7 plan of
the base of the tower, and Figure 8 side view of base plate.
In these as stated before, A A are a series of floors, supported on angle iron
rings B B, and through holes in each of these floors are passed two long vertical
rods CC, with screws D, formed in their ends, which project outside the tower at
the top through brackets. These rods C are adjusted by the screw wheel F, which
can be worked either by hand or by mechanisin geared thereto from the base of the
tower. On one of these rods under every alternate floor, a nut cotter or its equiva-
lent is fixed as shown, and on the other rod a similar nut is fixed immediately under
each floor alternating with these. As these rods are placed at a considerable
distance from the centre, by screwing one of these rods every alternate floor is
raised up from its ring on one side allowing the liquor to pass it, while by
screwing up the other rods the remaining floors are raised from their supports
also allowing liquor to pass, the floors being then in the position set forth in
dotted lines, and the holes C₁ set forth in Figure 3 being made wide on purpose to
allow the rods to pass up through them, even when the plates are at a considerable
angle. By means of this arrangement, if the perforations get clogged up, by
simply screwing up these two rods, gases are enabled to pass up through the
colunin, and are obliged to take a circuitous course.
This apparatus is very valuable for carbonating ammoniated brine, the carbonic
acid being admitted at the bottom at H. G is a discharge orifice; J, pillars
strongly tied together as shown for supporting the tower in its socket as set forth
in detail in Figures 7 and 8. To keep the tower cool, water is caused to trickle
down it on the outside and is caught in a basin or annular curve I, near the bottom.
From this basin, the water passes away through a trough, not shown, and,
in this trough, the carbonic acid pipe leading to H is laid, the water therefore,
after cooling the tower, continues its work by cooling the hot carbonic acid
pipe. When the liquor is sufficiently decomposed by carbonic acid, it is with-
drawn from the tower and filtered. The mother liquor, containing chiefly
chloride of ammonia, is passed into a high tower set forth in Figure 10. In
this tower, lime is let in at K, a few stories from the top, on to the central
cap L', which is dished in the centre for this purpose. This and all the other
caps are corrugated all round and crenellated at the bottom so as to allow the

page_text: gases to pass and the lime to distribute properly. Their usual form is set forth in
Figure 10, but Figures 11 and 12 show the special form of cap L. All the other
caps are preferably ribbed in a similar manner, except that the ribs continue to the
centre, whereas, in this alone, the centre is dished out and has a smooth hollow.
Lime can also be supplied lower down at K', if desired.
-
The remaining portions of the tower are similar, except in minute detail, to the
ordinary towers for distilling ammonium chloride in animonia soda works. The
liquor being run down the tower, steam is let in at the bottom and lime supplied as
required, the result is that ammonia and carbonate of ammonia pass off at the top
of the still through M, while eventually chloride of calcium, together with a little
chloride of sodium and other salts, are drawn off at the base at N.
The
The ammonia gases, if allowed to be charged at once into brine while they are
saturated with moisture, would make working uncertain or unsatisfactory, owing to
the strength not being constant, the liquor being continuously diluted with the
vapour of water contained in the ammonia. To avoid this, I use the cooling
apparatus set forth in Figures 15, 16 and 17. This cooling refrigerating apparatus
consists of an annular chamber O, cooled both in the centre and on the outside by
water jackets PP, or by means of cooling liquor, or in any other manner.
annular chamber is supplied with a considerable number of floors Q, placed onc
above another. These floors may be of wood and communicate one with another,
but are so arranged, by partitions or otherwise, that the gases from the distilling
tower, entering at the bottom of the condenser at R, have to go through almost the
entire annulus before escaping to the next floor. This is effected by causing the
gases to escape through a hole S in each floor, by the side of a partition T. The gases,
being unable to pass through the partition, pass all round the floor until they arrive
at R, the other side of the partition, at which point alone is there an opening to the
room above, where precisely similar motion, but opposite in direction, takes place.
This alternation is repeated at each floor. By this means, it arrives at the top
cooled and practically free from steam. From here, it passes by pipe U to near
the bottom of the brine chamber V, where it is used to saturate fresh brine, and
continue the operation. The steam condensed in the condenser returns to the
distilling column as water charged with ammonia, being introduced with the
ordinary chloride liquor. The annular floors are preferably covered with boards
arranged as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a carbonating tower the combination of a series of perforated floors A. with
rods C, and nuts or cotters C and adjusting device D substantially as and for
the purposes described.
2. The corrugated or ribbed caps arranged substantially as herein described
as an improvement on the ordinary smooth bodied caps used by Solvay, Mond and
others.
3. The annular refrigerating apparatus arranged substantially as and for the
purposes described, it being clearly understood that I make no claim for annular
refrigerating apparatus for other purposes, but only when constructed in the manner
described and for the purposes herein set forth.
4. In the ammonia soda process the desiccation of the ammonia or other gases
prior to their introduction into the brine, whereby the state of concentration con-
tinues constant, and the process can be conducted with greater accuracy.
Doind th: 001 n of Nonombor 1801
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1891
Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
aprovements in or appertaining to Apparatus for the Manufacture
of Carbonates of Soda.
I, JAMES JOHN HOWITT, of 17, Greenway Road, Runcorn, in the County of
hester, Engineer and General Manager of Alkali Works, do hereby declare the
ature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a novel and improved plant and process for
aking carbonates of sola by the ammonia alkali process.
brine with the requisite amount of ammonia in solution into a high tower
These floors are supported
pass
aving a series of perforated floors formed of metal.
Beneath
n angle iron rings, and through each of these floors are passed two long vertical
ods with adjusting screws attached thereto outside the tower at the top.
every alternate floor, a nut, cotter or its equivalent, is placed on or through one of
the rods. Beneath the other Hoors, similar nuts are placed on the other rod.
These rods are placed a considerable distance from the centre on opposite sides.
By therefore screwing one rod up, every alternate floor is raised up from its ring on
one side allowing liquor to pass it, while, by screwing the other 1od up, the
remaining floors are raised from their supports on the other side, also allowing
liquor to pass. By this means, if the perforations get clogged up, by simply
screwing up these two rods, the gases are enabled to pass up through the columu
Το
and have to take a circuitous course, even when the perforations are stopped up.
Into the bottom of this tower, carbonic acid is forced in the usual manner.
keep the tower cool, water is caused to trickle down it on the outside and be
caught in a basin or annular curb near the bottom. From this basin, the water
passes away through a trough, and, in this trough, the carbonic acid pipe is placed.
The water, therefore, after cooling the tower, continues its work by cooling the hot
carbonic acid pipe.
When the liquor is sufficiently decomposed by carbonic acid, it is withdrawn
from the tower and filtered.
The mother liquor, containing chiefly chloride of ammonium, is passed into a
high tower divided by partitions. In this tower, lime is let in a few stories from
the top on to the central cap which is dished in the centre for this purpose, and
O corrugated all round and crenulated at the bottom so as to allow the gases to pass
and the lime to distribute properly. Lime can also be supplied down below in a
manuer well known. The liquor being run down the tower, steam is let in at the
bottom and lime supplied as required, the result is that ammonia and carbonate of
ammonia pass off at the top of still, while eventually chloride of calcium liquor,
35 together with a little chloride of sodium, etcetera, is drawn off at the base. The
ammonia gases, if allowed to be charged at once into brine while saturated with
moisture, would make working uncertain or unsatisfactory, owing to the strength
not being constant, the liquor being continuously diluted with the contained
To avoid this, I use a cooling refrigerating apparatus. This
vapour of water.
40 consists of an annular chamber, cooled both in the centre and on the outside by
water jackets, or by means of cooling liquor or any other manner.
This aunula
chamber is supplied with a considerable number of floors one above the other
These floors may be of wood and communicate one with another, but are s
arranged, by partitions or otherwise, that the gas from the distilling tower
45 entering the bottom of the condenser, has to go almost round the ring befor
escaping to the next floor, and so on to the top. By this means, it arrives at th
From here, it passes to near th
top cooled and practically free from steam.
bottom of a brine chamber, where it is used to saturate fresh brine and continu

page_text: operation. The steam condensed in the condenser returns to the distilling
column as water charged with ammonia, and mingles along with the ordinary
chloride liquor.
Dated this 27th day of February 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Apparatus for the Manufactur
of Carbonates of Soda.
I, JAMES JOHN HOWITT of 17 Greenway Road, Runcorn, in the County o
Chester, Engineer and General Manager of Alkali Works, do hereby declare th
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to b
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object a new or improved plant and process for making
carbonates of soda by the ammonia alkali process.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a high tower with perforated floors A A
formed of metal;
Figure 9 is a plan view of the same, and
Figures 2 to 3 enlarged details, Figure 2 being one of the stuffing boxes at the
top, Figure 3 a plan view of the perforated Hoor, Figure 4 sectional view of the
same Figure 5 plan of drip channel; Figure 6 section of same; Figure 7 plan of
the base of the tower, and Figure S side view of base plate.
In these as stated before, A A are a series of floors, supported on angle iron
rings B B, and through holes in each of these floors are passed two long vertical
rods C C, with screws D, formed in their ends, which project outside the tower at
the top through brackets: These rods C are adjusted by the screw wheel F, which
can be worked either by hand or by mechanism geared thereto from the base of the
tower. On one of these rods under every alternate floor, a nut cotter or its equiva-
lent is fixed as shown, and on the other rod a similar nut is fixed immediately under
each Hoor alternating with these. As these rods are placed at a considerable
distance from the centre, by screwing one of these rods every alternate floor is
raised up from its ring on one side allowing the liquor to pass it, while by
screwing up the other rods the remaining floors are raised from their supports
also allowing liquor to pass, the floors being then in the position set forth in
dotted lines, and the holes C set forth in Figure 3 being made wide on
allow the rods to pass up through them, even when the plates are at a considerable
purpose to
angle. By means of this arrangement, if the perforations get clogged up, by
simply screwing up these two rods, gases are enabled to pass up through the
column, and are obliged to take a circuitous course.
This apparatus is very valuable for carbonating ammoniated brine, the carbonic
acid being admitted at the bottom at H.
strongly tied together as shown for supporting the tower in its socket as set forth
G is a discharge orifice; J, pillars
in detail in Figures 7 and 8.
down it on the outside and is caught in a basin or annular curve I, near the bottom. 4
To keep the tower cool, water is caused to trickle
From this basin, the water passes away through a trough, not shown, and,
in this trough, the carbonic acid pipe leading to H is laid, the water therefore,
after cooling the tower, continues its work by cooling the hot carbonic acid
pipe. When the liquor is sufficiently decomposed by carbonic acid, it is with-
drawn from the tower and filtered.
chloride of ammonia, is passed into a high tower set forth in Figure 10.
The mother liquor, containing chiefly 5
this tower, lime is let in at K, a few stories from the top, on to the central
In
cap L, which is dished in the centre for this purpose.
caps are corrugated all round and crenellated at the bottom so as to allow the
This and all the other

page_text: 5
ses to pass and the lime to distribute properly. Their usual form is set forth in
gure 10, but Figures 11 and 12 show the special form of cap L. All the other
ps are preferably ribbed in a similar manner, except that the ribs continue to the
ntre, whereas, in this nione, the centre is dished out and has a smooth hollow.
ime can also be supplied lower down at K', if desired.
The remaining portions of the tower are similar, except in minute detail, to the
dinary towers for distilling ammonium chloride in ammonia soda works. The
quor being run down the tower, steam is let in at the bottom and lime supplied as
equired, the result is that ammonia and carbonate of ammonia pass off at the top
f the still through M, while eventually chloride of calcium, together with a little
hloride of sodium and other salts, are drawn off at the base at N.
The
The ammonia gases, if allowed to be charged at once into brine while they are
aturated with moisture, would make working uncertain or unsatisfactory, owing to
he strength not being constant, the liquor being continuously diluted with the
To avoid this, I use the cooling
apour of water contained in the ammonia.
pparatus set forth in Figures 15, 16 and 17. This cooling refrigerating apparatus
consists of an annular chamber O, cooled both in the centre and on the outside by
water jackets PP, or by means of cooling liquor, or in any other manner.
annular chamber is supplied with a considerable number of floors Q, placed one
above another. These floors may be of wood and communicate one with another,
but are so arranged, by partitions or otherwise, that the gases from the distilling
tower, entering at the bottom of the condenser at R, have to go through almost the
This is effected by causing the
entire annulus before escaping to the next floor.
gases to escape through a hole S in each floor, by the side of a partition T. The gases,
being unable to pass through the partition, pass all round the floor until they arrive
at R, the other side of the partition, at which point alone is there an opening to the
room above, where precisely similar motion, but opposite in direction, takes place.
This alternation is repeated at each floor. By this means, it arrives at the top
From here, it passes by pipe U to near
cooled and practically free from steam.
the bottom of the brine chamber V, where it is used to saturate fresh brine, and
continue the operation. The steam condensed in the condenser returns to the
distilling column as water charged with ammonia, being introduced with the
ordinary chloride liquor. The annular Hoors are preferably covered with boards
arranged as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In a carbonating tower the combination of a series of perforated floors A with
rods C, and nuts or cotters C² aud adjusting device D substantially as and for
the purposes described.
2. The corrugated or ribbed caps arranged substantially as herein described
as an improvement on the ordinary smooth bodied caps used by Solvay, Mond and
others.
3. The annular refrigerating apparatus arranged substantially as and for the
purposes described, it being clearly understood that I make no claim for annular
refrigerating apparatus for other purposes, but only when constructed in the manner
described and for the purposes herein set forth.
4. In the ammonia soda process the desiccation of the ammonia or other gases
prior to their introduction into the brine, whereby the state of concentration con-
50 tinues constant, and the process can be conducted with greater accuracy.
1. 11. osil, dar of November 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.