Improvements in and relating to Combined Ammonia Distilling and Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Ammonia Distilling and
Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, J ENSIGN FULLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
No. 32 Pine Street, in the City of New York, in the County and State of New
York, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to a combined ammonia distilling and refrigerating
apparatus, and consists in the construction and arrangement of its parts, as well as
their relation to each other, which will be more fully hereinafter described and
particularly pointed out in the claims.
The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus with which anhydrous
ammonia of a high degree of purity may be cheaply and rapidly distilled from
the aqua-ammonia of commerce, and when produced, may be safely and
economically employed therewith as a refrigerating agent, and after being so
used, may be recovered in said apparatus by means of an absorbent, such as water,
and again distilled and prepared for use as before, without. material loss or
wastage, and so on indefinitely.
A further object of my invention is to so construct and arrange said apparatus
that it may be easily controlled and managed in its operation.
These objects I accomplish with the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying
drawings formning a part of this application, on which the same letters and
numerals refer to like parts.
Figure A represents the supply tank A³, the still or separator A, stand-pipe or
compound condensers A', equalizer C, absorber B and pipe connections.
Figure A³ represents the water supply tank D, weak ammonia tank F³, stand-
pipe Ain part, cooling coils F and F, and pipe connections. Figure A³ repre-
sents the anhydrous ammonia reservoirs R, R, and heat absorbing coil K, and pipe
connections. Figure A represents the entire apparatus illustrated in parts, in
the three preceding figures, the several parts being shown in their proper
connections and relations, each to the others. Figure A' is a vertical sectional
view of the absorber B shown in Figure A¹³.
Referring to Figure A' of said drawing, A represents a hollow cylinder or still
made of sheet or cast metal, provided with an internal coil A' for .conducting
steam through said cylinder to heat it, which coil is connected by a pipe a to a
steam boiler of ordinary construction in the usual manner, and has an outlet a¹
leading to a trap, as shown. Within said cylinder and above the coil A¹ a rose A³
is suspended from a pipe a³, which pipe leads to a supply tank A³ through an
equalizer C.
Above the coil A¹ and rose A2, and within the cylinder, there is a separating
chamber A', which is enclosed or surrounded by a water chamber A, for cooling
the chamber A, and thereby condensing the watery vapor in part and separating
the same from the ammoniacal vapor arising therein from the coil A¹.
The rose A is of ordinary construction, the lower side being perforated so as to
divide the aqua-ammonia delivered therein through the pipe a2 into minute.drops
or jets and cause the same to descend onto the steam,coil Â¹ in the form of a spray.
The stand-pipe A' is composed of two hollow head-pieces a³, a³, the lower head-
pieces connecting with the still A by a short pipe at, which is provided with a cut-
off valve as operated by a hand cord a. The head-pieces, a³, a³, are connected
together by two pipes, a', a' of sufficient diameter to permit other pipes of smaller

page_text: diameter to pass therethrough and leave a sufficient space between said pipes for
the passage of the vapors from the still. Passing through the ends of the lower
head pieces a³ are two pipes a³, a³, which pipes pass up through the pipes a', a' and
out through the ends of the upper head-pieces a³., These pipes a, a, are connected
at their lower ends by a pipe a°, which leads to the pump E. The pipes a³, a³,
are connected at their upper ends by a pipe a", which leads to and is connected
with the pipe d', which leads to the sewer.
In operation the vapors from the still pass through the stand-pipe A, in the
narrow spaces between the pipes a', a' and the pipes a, a, and thence to the
condensing coil F Figure A' through the pipe . While the very hot vapors
are thus passing through said narrow spaces, cold water is forced up through the
pipes a, as by the pump E through the pipe a' out to the discharge pipe d' through
the pipe a. In this way the hot vapors arising from the still are subjected to the
cooling effect of the atmosphere from the outside pipes a', a', and the cold water
from the inner pipes a³, a³, before they reach the condensing coil F, and all or
nearly all of the watery vapor is thus condensed and separated from the
ammoniacal vapor thereby.
D Figure A², represents a water tank which is supplied
pipe d from any convenient source by the pump E.
supplied to the water chamber of jacket A' by pipe d'.
said water chamber A through pipes do, d.
with water through the
From tank D water is
The water flows out of
Water is also supplied from tank D to the sprinkler d over the condensing
coil F through the pipe d, which is provided with a cut-off valve that is
operated by hand-cords do, do, to let the water on or cut it off. The condensing
coil F is provided with a trough f to catch the water trickling over the same from
the sprinkler d³. The water so caught is carried by pipe f' to the sprinkler over
the cooling coil F' and is taken up by its trough 2, and carried by pipe d¹ to
pipe d' and thence to the sewer, or by said pipe f¹ the water may be carried to
the jacketed pipe f³ and thence up and out to pipe by pipe d¹ and thence
to sewer, or it may be made to flow to both the sprinkler of the cooling coil and the
jacketed pipe fat the same time by adjusting the cock Z so as to permit a portion
of the water to flow from the trough into the sprinkler over the coil F, and the
balance of said water to flow through the pipe f¹, and into the jacketed pipe f³,
and thence through the pipe d¹² and pipe d' to the sewer. The jacketed pipe f³ is
constructed with an outer and an inner pipe, leaving a space between, so that the
water from trough may be carried up therethrough to still further cool the
ammoniacal vapor before it reaches the anhydrous reservoirs R, R, which are of
ordinary construction, the entrance to which is controlled by the cocks r, r, which
are opened and closed by the hand-cords, .
It has been found that occasionally some watery vapor enters the condensing
coil F from the stand-pipe A, and to prevent this absolutely I provide a short
pipe, f, of diminishing diameter from the stand-pipe A until its junction with the
lower link of the coil at f³. At the point f, a pipe leads downward to a drip
pocket F2 for the purpose of conveying and receiving any vapors which may have
been condensed in liquid at said point. It has been found that any liquid which is
received in said drip pocket F2, as aforesaid, is aqua-ammonia, and I therefore
provide that it may be taken from said pocket to the supply tank A3 by the
pipe f. The apparatus shown in the drawing as thus far described is operated
for the purpose of distilling anhydrous ammonia.
To facilitate such distillation, however, and provide for the convenient and
practical use of such ammonia as a refrigerant and the recovery of the same for
re-distillation and for use again, I have provided and combined therewith an
equalizer, absorber, ammonia tank and refrigerating coils, one of which is shown
with its connections.
In the distillation of anhydrous ammonia in an apparatus of the construction
thus far described, it is found that some ammonia will be left in the water in

page_text: the bottom of the still A, although the same is raised to a higher degree of
heat than 180° Fahrenheit. In order to recover this ammonia and at the same
time not retard the work, I provide a reservoir F³ to contain such aqua-ammonia,
and connect the bottom of the still therewith by a pipe 8 through a coil in
equalizer C, and the cooling coil F¹. When still A becomes partially filled with
this weak ammonia-say one-third the height of the coil A', the discharge
cocks 3 and 5 in the pipe f are closed and the cocks 6 and Z' opening said
pipe to the tank F³ are opened, and the pressure in the still forces said ammonia
up into said reservoir. The equalizer being full of cold aqua-ammonia from
the tank A, the weak ammonia from the still is partially cooled thereby and
it is further cooled in its passage through the cooling coil F¹ over which cold
water is constantly dripping from its sprinkler. The cooling of this aqua-
ammonia is necessary in order to make it a good absorbent, as will be hereinafter
explained.
-
K represents a cooling coil or heat-absorber of ordinary construction and is
connected by pipes k, k to the anhydrous ammonia reservoir, R, through an
expansion cock or valve kl. The ammoniacal vapor or fully expanded gas is
conveyed from the coil K by a pipe k², which connects with a manifold pipe H,
leading to and into the absorber B. But one cooling coil is shown, but the
connection of other such coils with the pipe H are shown at h, h, h, h. Thus
the expanded gas from one or any number of cooling coils is conveyed to the
absorber B.
The absorber B consists of a metallic cylinder and is provided with a spiral
coil B through which water is caused to flow from the reservoir D in the pipe d'
to assist in cooling the ammoniacal gas coming in from the manifold Hand
absorbed by the aqua-ammonia from the coil F1 or reservoir F³.
The manifold H projects downward near to the coil B¹ a few inches and is
perforated so as to allow the ammoniacal gas to readily escape therefrom.
Near the upper end of the absorber B and within the same surrounding the
manifold H is an atomizer B2 of hemispherical shape, the lower side of which
is perforated. A pipe entering the top of the absorber connects the atomizer B²
with the coil F and by a branch pipe 62 leading from pipe 6 the atomizer is
connected with the reservoir F3 so that weak ammonia may be brought from
said coil or reservoir or both, to be used as an absorbent.
Below the atomizer and surrounding the manifold H are finely perforated
distributers B³ of circular shape, as shown in section, made of any suitable
material, preferably of metal. The aqua-ammonia is delivered from the coil Fi
or from the reservoir F³, or from both, in the atomizer B2 through the pipe b
and passes out of the same in jets or in the form of a spray. Passing on down
it strikes the distributers B³ in turn, each of which in passing therethrough
serves to keep it in a finely divided or spray-like form. B is a funnel-shaped
deflector, not perforated, surrounding the manifold H. As the aqua-ammonia
strikes the deflector B2, it is thrown outward and onto the coil B₁ and is
thereby cooled.
Resting on the bottom of the absorber B is a cylinder B³, closed' at the top
and having large holes or perforations near the bottom. A pipe B leads from
near the top of cylinder B³ down through the bottom of the absorber B to the
reservoir A³.
By this absorber the ammoniacal gas expanded in the heat. absorbers and
collected in the manifold H, as above described, is brought in contact with weak
aqua-ammonia and by it is taken up and absorbed until such aqua-ammonia attains
the same strength as that with which the operation of the apparatus was
commenced, when, by the pipe B it is conveyed to the reservoir A³ for
distillation and use again.
The absorption of the ammoniacal gas by the weak aqua-ammonia is greatly
facilitated by having said gas brought in contact therewith in a finely divided
condition or spray-like form..

page_text: It is a well-known fact that in a vessel containing aqua-ammonia that which
is at or near the top will have the highest percentage of ammonia.
Having this fact in view, I have placed within the absorber the cylinder B³,
closed at the top and provided with openings at the bottom. In practice, the
absorber B is kept filled with aqua-ammonia a little above the top of the
cylinder Bsay as far up as the line x-x-Fig. A' and as the contents
are drawn off through the pipe B only when in operation, a current is formed
by drawing the ammonia out of the absorber proper into the cylinder B at or
near the top of the latter by the pipe Be to the reservoir A³. By drawing the
contents of the absorber off in this way the strongest ammonia is at all times
obtained therefrom and transferred to the supply reservoir A³.
The still, absorber, equalizer, anhydrous ammonia reservoir and drip pocket
are each provided with gauges g to show the depth of liquid therein, and I also
provide pressure gauges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, which are connected by pipes to said
still and other parts above named, by which the pressure therein is indicated,
and when found too great may be regulated by discharge cocks as shown..
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
Steam being provided in the boiler X, is let into the coil A' through the pipe a,
and, when the temperature in said still reaches 180° Fahrenheit, aqua-ammonia
from the tank A³ is pumped up into the equalizer C, and from thence is carried by
gravity through pipe a² to still A and discharged through rose A2 in the form of a
spray onto coil A'. The vapors arising in the still are in part separated in the
chamber A, in part in the stand-pipe A, and in part in the condensing coil F, the
watery vapor being condensed and falling back into the still or drip pocket F2.
The ammoniacal vapor being freed from the watery vapor, as just stated, passes on
through the condensing coil F and down into one of the receivers. R, R, where it
becomes a liquid, from which it may be drawn off into tanks or it may be conveyed
directly from thence to a heat absorbing coil, as K.
When it is conducted directly
from one of the receivers R, R, to a coil, as K, and there released and vaporized,
the vapor flows through said absorber and thence up and through the manifold H
and over into the absorber B, where it is taken up by the aqua-animonia from coil F¹
and tank F³.
It has been found that cold water or cold aqua-ammonia absorbs ammoniacal
vapors much more rapidly and effectually than warm or tepid water or ammonia.
For this reason the weak ammonia from the still A is cooled. as much as possible
through the equalizer and the cooling coil F', in order that it may the better take
up the ammoniacal vapor in the absorber B.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that all of the ammonia. with which
the operation above mentioned may be made is returned to the absorber B, either
as weak aqua-ammonia or as ammoniacal vapor, and when returned as vapor it is
taken up by the weak aqua-ammonia from the tank F³ or coil F¹, which is thereby
enriched, and by properly regulating the flow of the aqua-ammonia to the vapor, a
product may and will be obtained of the same degree of strength. as. the aqua-
ammonia with which the operation was commenced. When this result is obtained,
the contents of the absorber are discharged into the tank. A³ to be pumped into the
still A as before, and so on, indefinitely.
The feature which I deem of greatest importance in this apparatus is the series
of reservoirs, by which its operation can be controlled and rendered practically
useful.
.
Starting with the reservoir A3, the original source of supply, the aqua-ammonia
is conveyed to the still A and there vaporized, while the ammoniacal and watery
vapors are separated in the cooling chamber A', stand-pipe. A and coil F, and
from thence conveyed in a liquid state to one of the anhydrous receivers. or
reservoirs R, R, the weak aqua-ammonia being at the same time. carried up to the
weak aqua-ammonia reservoir F³.
By means of said reservoirs and the reservoir D, containing water, the operation
of the apparatus may be suited to any season or climate. As in heating, so in

page_text: cooling it is found that at different seasons of the year, and on different days of the
same season, a greater or less amount of refrigeration is required.
The distilling apparatus proper, as shown, is capable of producing a much larger
quantity of anhydrous ammonia per day than will be used in the largest establish-
ments, and hence it will not be necessary to have it in operation every day or the
whole of any day.
During the distillation the anhydrous ammonia will be stored in reservoirs, such
as R, R, any number of which may be provided and connected, and the weak aqua-
ammonia will be stored in one or more reservoirs, like F³. When sufficient
anhydrous ammonia has been produced, the still may be shut down, and the
refrigeration which has been going on by the heat absorbers, while the distillation
was proceeding, may be continued from the supply on hand. As one reservoir R
is emptied, another may be connected to the heat absorbers, the expanded gas from
such absorbers being conveyed through the manifold H to the absorber B, and
there taken up by the aqua-ammonia from the reservoir F³ or coil F1, and the water
for cooling the coil B¹ in absorber B, being supplied from the reservoir D, while
the aqua-ammonia from said absorber is drawn off and stored in reservoir A³, from
which it may again be pumped into the still as before.
It will thus be seen that the refrigeration is made continuous by means of said
reservoirs above named, while the distillation is intermittent or periodical.
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 combined ammonia distilling and refrigerating apparatus, the combination
with a supply tank, equalizer, still, stand-pipe, condensing coil, receiver, cooling
coil, absorber and pipe connections, of an elevated reservoir, as D, for supplying
water to the still, condensing coils and absorber, substantially as described.
2. In a combined ammonia distilling and refrigerating apparatus, the combination
with a supply tank, equalizer, still, stand-pipe, condensing coil, receiver, cooling
coil, absorber and pipe connections, of elevated reservoirs, as F³ and D, substantially
as described.
3. In a combined ammonia distilling and refrigerating apparatus, the combination
of an anhydrous receiver, cooling coil, absorber, elevated weak aqua-ammonia
reservoir, as F3, supply and receiving tank, as A³, and pipe connections, whereby
the process of refrigeration may be carried on while the process of distillation is
temporarily discontinued, substantially as described.
4. In a combined ammonia distilling and refrigerating apparatus, a still, as A,
consisting of a cylinder provided with a heating coil, as A¹, a rose, as A³, a
separating chamber, as A', surrounded by a water chamber, as A, and having
inlets and outlets, substantially as described.
5. In a combined ammonia distilling and refrigerating apparatus, an absorber
consisting of a cylinder provided with a spiral cooling coil, a mixing cylinder closed
at the top within said coil having a discharge pipe connected therewith near its top,
a perforated gas discharge pipe entering said absorber, an atomizer perforated on
its under side surrounding said gas discharge pipe, circular finely perforated
distributers, as B³, and a deflector, as B', substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of January 1802
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.