IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF AIR OR GASES FROM SOLID OR GASEOUS IMPURITIES CONTAINED THEREIN, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1885

page_text: therefor.
I, ADOLPH GONTARD of Mockau, near Leipzig, Saxony, German Empire, do.
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PURIFICATION OF AIR OR GASES FROM SOLID OR GASEOUS IMPURITIES CONTAINED
THEREIN, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR" to be as follows:-
Several methods have been devised for collecting and separating particles of
soot or dust in furnace flues, such as the application of horizontal and transverse
partitions in the flues, against which the gases are projected: or the gases are
passed through grids or sieves, the apertures or meshes of which are charged with
a fluid whereby the solid particles are retained. The first mentioned plan is only
partially successful, whilst the second causes so much obstruction that the draught
requisite for proper combustion is materially lessened.
Now the invention which forms the subject of the present application for
Letters Patent has been designed to avoid these drawbacks, and consists essentially
in passing the fire gases over surfaces kept continually moist, which surfaces are
ranged close to each other in such a manner that the whole of the gases come into
contact with the surfaces at some part of their passage, so that the impurities
contained therein such as soot, dust, ammonia sulphurous acid and sometimes also
nitrous acid remain adhering to the plates. As the moist surfaces can be fixed
within a few millimetres of each other, without causing any appreciable obstruction,
the apparatus is also especially adapted for the removal of matter in suspension
from air in grinding shops, bone mills and the like also for use in coal mines,
whereby by the use of suitable chemicals which combine with the explosive gases,
the apparatus may be used to free the air both from dust and from fire-damp.
The surfaces may be either fixed and have the water, oil, alkali lye acid or other
suitable fluid flowing over them, or they may be constructed rotary or movable and
to dip in the moistening fluid.
Referring to the annexed drawings,
Figure 1 represents an arrangement with movable surfaces (which may also be

page_text: Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section of a modification applicable for
erection on the roof of a large building, over the orifices of the chimneys.
Figures 4 and 5 shew longitudinal and transverse sections of an apparatus in the
inside of which fixed plates, flooded with a suitable liquid are arranged.
Figures 6 and 7 shew modifications applicable for purifying dusty air.
If it is only required to remove the soot, smoke, dust, and the like from the air
or gases to be purified, the arrangements shewn in Figures 4 and 5 will be found
adequate if supplied with sufficient water. Vertical surfaces are shewn at F
constructed either of flat plates & or curved plates 8* and down which the water f
running from the pipes r flows continuously collecting in the bottom of the
apparatus, and can be let off through pipe : the gases travelling along these
wetted surfaces give up their impurities to the fluid, and escape thoroughly purified
in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 5. If however an unlimited
supply of water is not attainable, or if the fluid employed be of value, such for
instance as sulphuric acid, or if it be desired to collect the soot, ammonia
sulphurous or carbonic acid contained in the gases treated, the surfaces traversed
by the gases are caused to move and periodically to dip into the absorbent fluid.
Suitable apparatuses for this purpose are shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and a modifi-
cation thereof at Figure 3. A series of such apparatuses may be made use of when
requisite.
-
In the flue a leading to chimney a¹ is a reservoir g filled with the fluid f and
above the same the rotary shafts w¹ and w. Upon these shafts are fixed the
plates 8 and 82 which dip into the fluid when the shafts rotate-if now.gases
travelling in the direction indicated by the arrows pass along the moistened
revolving surfaces 81 8², all the impurities of the gases will be absorbed by the
liquid. The shafts are turned fast enough to prevent the plates in the upper
portion of the machine from becoming dry. The soot sticks to them, is washed off
on the next plunge into the liquid, so that this latter is soon discoloured.
Provided the moistened area of the machine is properly proportioned to the
quantity of smoke to be passed through it the combustion products escape perfectly
clear and laden with aqueous vapour. A portion of the water is evaporated which
can be replaced by fresh fluid by means of pipe 71 and funnel t. The saturated
liquid can be drawn off by means of cock h through pipe 2 Figure 2, and the solid
contents recovered by filtration or other suitable means. The filtered water contains
also various matters which may be further utilised. The driving of the shafts w
and w² placed at 7 can be effected by belt pulley R connected to the prime motor or
other suitable mechanism.
This modification of the apparatus is especially applicable for the purification
of the combustion products from the calcining furnaces of potash works and
wool washing establishments, also coke ovens, and the recovery of the valuable
constituents of the same.
The arrangement shewn at Figure 3 is designed to prevent the smoking of
chimneys, and can suitably be fixed on roofs for that purpose. The gases passing
from the lower chimney S to the upper chimney S¹ are herein obliged to pass over
the plates 81, 83 and 83 which are secured to the rotating shafts w¹ w³ and w³. The
fluid takes up the various impurities of the gases, and these latter are compelled to
take their course along the partitions T¹ T and T3 fixed to the covering D to the
plates 8² 82 8³, which are preferably set on the shafts opposed to each other. The
alterations in the speed of the draught caused by the cooling of the combustion
products on passing between the plates can be compensated by the ventilator V
fixed in the chimney S¹ the shaft of which may be driven by wheels R or other
suitable mechanism. This ventilator could also be fixed in the chimney S conse-
quently before the purification of the gases, or any other suitable ventilator may be
employed.
Figures 6 and 7 shew an apparatus for purifying the air of spaces wherein much
dust or the like circulates such as bone mills, grinderies, mines and so forth, and
the arrangement as shewn is that specially suitable for use in a coal pit. Figure 6

page_text: shews the apparatus with a chamber at one side, in which a water trough g' with
the plate shaft wat is set up-the valve B as long as it remains shut obliges the
air inspirated by the ventilation to pass between the plates and there to deposit
the dust etcetera, and it then passes purified along channel A: the plates are here
drawn almost of the same diameter as the air shaft but might. be made smaller if
desired or a series of plate shafts w could be set up the larger the plates are, the
further they should be placed from each other and conversely the smaller the plates
the nearer they should be to each other, and it is advisable to rotate them in
a direction opposed to that of the stream of air. This device has the advantage, in
very deep mines of cooling the air as the air in its passage through the apparatus
takes almost the same temperature as that of the liquid f in the trough g¹. The
shaft w is actuated by belt pulley R¹ connected to the prime motor or by other
convenient arrangement.

page_text: therefor.
I, ADOLPH GONTARD of Mockau, near Leipsig, Saxony, German Empire, 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:-
Several methods have been devised for collecting and separating particles of soot
or dust in furnace flues, such as the application of borizontal and transverse
partitions in the flues, against which the gases are projected; or the gases are
passed through grids or sieves, the apertures or meshes of which are charged with
a fluid whereby the solid particles are retained. The first mentioned plan is only
partially successful, whilst the second causes so much obstruction that the draught
requisite for proper combustion is materially lessened.
Now the invention which forms the subject of the present application for Letters
Patent has been designed to avoid these drawbacks and consists essentially in
passing the fire gases over surfaces kept continually moist, which surfaces are ranged
close to each other in such a manner than the whole of the gases come into contact
with the surfaces at some part of their passage so that the impurities contained
therein, such as soot, dust, ammonia, sulphurous acid and sometimes also nitrous
acid remain adhering to the plates. As the moist surfaces can be fixed within a
few millimetres of each other, without causing any appreciable obstruction, the
apparatus is also especially adapted for the removal of matter in suspension from
air in grinding shops, bone mills and the like, also for use in coal mines, whereby
by the use of suitable chemicals which combine with the explosive gases, the
apparatus may be used to free the air both from dust and from fire damp. The
surfaces may be either fixed and have the water, oil, alkali lye, acid or other
suitable fluid flowing over them or they may be constructed rotary or movable and
to dip in the moistening fluid.
Referring to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1. represents an arrangement with revolvable surfaces (which may also
be curved).
Figure 2. represents a transverse section along the line x-y of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section of a modification applicable for erection
on the roof of a large building, over the orifices of the chimneys.
Figures 4 and 5 show longitudinal and transverse sections of an apparatus in the
inside of which fixed plates flooded with a suitable liquid are arranged.
Figures 6 and 7 show modifications applicable for purifying dusty air.
If it is only required to remove the soot, smoke dust and the like from the air
or gases to be purified the arrangements shown in Figures 4 and 5 will be found
adequate, if supplied with sufficient water. Vertical surfaces are shown at F
constructed either of flat plates s or curved plates s¹ and down which the water f
running from the pipes flows continuously collecting in the bottom of the

page_text: apparatus and can be let off through pipe r²; the gases travelling along these wetted
surfaces give up their impurities to the fluid, and escape thoroughly purified in
the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 5. If however an unlimited supply
of water is not attainable, or if the fluid employed be of value, such for instance as
sulphuric acid, or if it be desired to collect the soot, ammonia, sulphurous or carbonio
acid contained in the gases treated, the surfaces traversed by the gases are caused
to move and periodically to dip into the absorbent fluid. Suitable apparatuses for
this purpose are shown in Figures 1 and 2. and a modification thereof at Figure 3.
A series of such apparatuses may be made use of when requisite.
In the flue a leading to chimney a¹ is a reservoir filled with the fluid ƒ and
above the same the rotary shafts w¹ and w². Upon these shafts are fixed the
plates 8 and 82 which dip into the fluid when the shafts rotate, if now gases
travelling in the direction indicated by the arrows pass along the moistened
revolving surfaces 81 82, all the impurities of the gases will be absorbed by the
liquid. The shafts are turned fast enough to prevent the plates in the upper portion
of the machine from becoming dry. The soot sticks to them, is washed off on the
next plunge into the liquid, so that this latter is soon discoloured..
Provided the moistened area of the machine is properly proportioned to the
quantity of smoke to be passed through it the combustion products escape perfectly
clear and laden with aqueous vapour. A portion of the water is evaporated which
can be replaced by fresh fluid by means of pipe r¹ and funnel t.
The saturated
liquid can be drawn off by means of cock h through pipe 2 Figure 2 and the solid
contents recovered by filtration or other suitable means. The filtered water contains
also various matters which may be further utilised. The driving of the shafts w¹
and we placed at can be effected by belt pulley R connected to the prime motor
or other suitable mechanism.
This modification of the apparatus is especially applicable for the purification of
the combustion products from the calcining furnaces of potash works and wool
washing establishments also coke ovens and the recovery of the valuable con-
stituents of the same. These arrangements for the purification of smoke gases and
recovery of combustion products are especially adapted for use with the calcining
furnaces of potash factories and wool washing establishments as also for coke ovens
and the like and for furnaces for the evaporation and calcination of offal, sewage
and so forth.
The arrangement shown at Figure 3 is designed to prevent the smoking of
chimneys, and can suitably be fixed on roofs for that purpose. The gases passing
from the lower chimney S to the upper chimney S¹ are herein obliged to pass over
the plates 81 82 and 83 which are secured to the rotating shafts w¹ w² and w³. The.
fluid takes up the various impurities of the gases and these latter are compelled to
take their course along the partitions T¹ T2 and T3 fixed to the covering D to the
plates 81 82 83 which are preferably set on the shafts opposed to each other. The
alterations in the speed of the draught caused by the cooling of the combustion
products on passing between the plates can be compensated by the ventilator v
fixed in the chimney S¹ the shaft of which may be driven by wheels R or other
suitable mechanism. This ventilator could also be fixed in the chimney S conse-
quently before the purification of the gases, or any other suitable ventilator may
be employed.
Figures 6 and 7 show an apparatus for purifying the air of spaces wherein much
dust or the like circulates, such as bone mills, grinderies, mines and so forth, and
the arrangement as shown is that especially suitable for use in a coal pit. Figure 6
shows the apparatus with chamber at one side in which a water trough g¹ with the
plate shaft wat 7 is set up, the valve B as long as it remains shut obliges the air
inspirated by the ventilation to pass between the plates and there to deposit the
dust etcetera, and it then passes purified along channel A the plates are here drawn
almost of the same diameter as the air shaft, but might he made smaller if desired
or a series of plate shafts w could be set up; the larger the plates are, the further
they should be placed from each other and conversely, the smaller the plates, the

page_text: nearer they should be to each other, and it is advisable to rotate them in a direction
opposed to that of the stream of air. This device has the advantage in very deep
mines of cooling the air as the air in its passage through the apparatus takes almost
the same temperature as that of the liquid f in the trough g¹. The shaft w is
actuated by belt pulley R¹ connected to the prime motor or by other convenient
arrangement.
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. A process for purifying of smoke gases of all kinds, or of air combined with
the recovery of the substances contained in the said gases, consisting essentially in
passing the gases along fixed or movable surfaces which may be either flooded with
fluid or arranged to dip into the same, in such a manner that the said substances
are absorbed or taken up.
2. The combination of parts designed for the carrying out of the process above
described consisting essentially of smooth or corrugated plates 818283 (Figures 1, 2,
3, 6 and 7) rotating in the flues or draught channels and continuously dipping in
the absorbing fluid whilst the gases pass over the moistened surfaces above the
level of the fluid.
3. The arrangement of parts substantially as described and shown in Figure 1 of
the drawings in the interior of the flues or draught channels of fixed surfaces
continuously irrigated, over which the gases pass.
Dated this 4th day of March 1886.
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.