Improvements in and Apparatus for Effecting the Decomposition of Gases by Means of Porous or Catalytic Material, more especially intended for Use in the Production of Chlorine from Hydro- chloric Acid Gas and Air.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for Effecting the Decomposition of
Gases by Means of Porous or Catalytic Material, more especially
intended for Use in the Production of Chlorine from Hydro-
chloric Acid Gas and Air.
We, JOHN BROCk, of Wellfield, Farnworth, Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
Director of the United Alkali Company Limited, VERO CHARLES DRIFFIELD,
of Appleton, Widnes, aforesaid, Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM WRIGHT,
of Chester Street, Widnes, aforesaid, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the process of, and apparatus for, the decomposition of
gases by means of porous, or catalytic, material, and especially to the decomposition
of a mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and air for the production of chlorine by the
Deacon process, and we will describe it in that connection from which its other
applications will also be understood.
According to this invention the hydrochloric acid gas and air are caused to pass
through two, or more, walls of impregnated porous material, instead of through
only one, bringing any molecules of hydrochloric acid which may pass undecomposed
through the first, or earlier, walls, into contact with a fresh wall of decompusing
material, and so increasing the percentage decomposition. We prefer to construct
the shell of the decomposor of a rectangular form, and of sufficient length to
contain the number of walls of porous material we wish to employ, but these walls
may be contained in separate shells of circular, or other, suitable form, the separate
shells being connected by pipes. The walls of decomposing material are supported
between rows of louvres, or their equivalents, hereinafter called wall compartments,
as is well understood. Each wall compartment bas, at bottom, an eduction pipe,
or passage, terminating in a discharging nozzle, with walls at a steeper angle than
the angle of repose of the material by means of which the porous material is
withdrawn as olten, and in such quantity, as may be desired, and each wall
compartment can be so discharged independently of the other or others. These
eduction pipes and nozzles project outside the brickwork flues which surround the
rest of the decomposer, in order to allow the porous material to cool before it is
withdrawn. The top of the decomposer is not flat, but converges upwards from
ench side over the centre of each wall compartment and terminates in an induction
pipe for the introduction of fresh porous material. These converging portions of
the decomposer are built within the brickwork flues and serve as preparatory
heaters for the fresh porous material before it enters the wall compartments and
commences the work of decomposition. Outside the decomposer flues the induction
pipes may be provided with a hopper which is kept full of porous material and by
withdrawing a damper at the base of this hopper the fresh supply of porous
material is admitted to the heating chamber and thence to the wall compartment
below.
The temperature of the wall compartments varies with the amount of chemical
reaction taking place. Should the temperature fall too low, it is an indication that
the porous material has become inactive and requires renewal. This is best done at
regular intervals. The maximum amount of reaction takes place in the compari-
ment nearest the inlet of the hydrochloric acid and in order to prevent too great w

page_text: generation of heat in this first compartment, we prefer to feed it with partially
exhausted porous material which has already passed through a succeeding com-
partment or succeeding compartments thus in addition to controlling the temperature
utilizing to better advantage the netive substance with which the porous material
is impregnated.
Dated this 20th day of June 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for Effecting the Decomposition of
Gases by Means of Porous or Catalytic Material, more especially
intended for Use in the Production of Chlorine from Hydro-
chloric Acid Gas and Air.
We, Jons BROCK, of Wellfield, Farnworth, Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
Director of the United Alkali Company Limited, VERO CHARLES DRIFFIELD
of Appleton, Widnes aforesaid, Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM WRIGHT,
of Chester Street, Widnes aforesaid, Chemist, 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 relates to the process of, and apparatus for, the decomposition of
gases by means of porous, or catalytic material, and especially to the decomposition
of a mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and air for the production of chlorine by the
Deacon process, and we will describe it in that connection from which its other
applications will also be understood.
According to this invention the hydrochloric neid gas and air (in addition to
passing through the purifier if required to remove sulphuric or sulphurous acid,
arsenious chloride or other impurity from the hydrochloric acid gns) are caused to
pass through two, or more, walls of impregnated porous material, so that any
molecules of hydrochloric acid gas which may pass undecomposed through the first,
or earlier, walls, are brought into contact with a fresh wall of decomposing material,
so increasing the percentage decomposition. We prefer to construct the shell of
the decomposer of a rectangular form, and of sufficient length to contain the number of
walls of porous material we wish to employ, but these walls may be contained in
separate shells of circular, or other suitable form, the separate shells being
connected by pipes.
Figures and 2 of the accompanying drawing represents in vertical sections
at right angles to each other an apparatus arranged in accordance with this
invention.
The walls G of decomposing material are supported between rows of louvres
or their equivalents as is well understood. These walls are hereinafter called
wall compartments. Each wall compartment has, at bottom, an eduction pipe, or
passage A, terminating in a discharging nozzle B having its walls at a steeper
angle than the angle of repose of the material by means of which nozzle B by
opening the valve the porous material is withdrawn as often and in such quantity,
as may be desired, and each wall compartiment can be so discharged independently
of the other, or others. These eduction pipes A and nozzles B, project outside the
brickwork fles which surround the decomposer, in order to allow the porous
material to cool before it is withdrawn. The top of the decomposer is not. flat.
but converges upwards from each side so as to form a truncated pyramid over the
centre of each wall compartment and terminating in an eduction pipe G for the
introduction of fresh porous material. These converging or pyramidal portions of

page_text: the decomposer D are built within the brickwork flues and serve as preparatory
heaters for the fresh porous material before it enters the wall compartiments and
commences the work of decomposition. Outside the decomposer flues the induction
pipes C may each be provided with a hopper E which is kept full of porous
inaterial and by withdrawing a damper or valve Fat the base of this hopper the
fresh supply of porous material is admitted to the heating chamber and thence to
the wall compartment below.
The temperature of the wall compartments varies with the amount of chemical
reaction taking place. Should the temperature fall too low, it is an indication
that the porous material has become inactive and requires renewal. This is best
done at regular intervals. The maximum amount of reaction takes place in the
compartiment nearest the inlet of the hydrochloric acid gas and in order to prevent
too great a generation of heat in this first compartment we prefer to feed it with
partially exhausted porous material which has already passed through a succeeding
compartment or succeeding compartments thus in addition to controlling the
temperature utilizing to better advantage the active substance with which the
porous material is impregnated.
Apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is not limited to the
production of chlorine from hydrochloric acid gas and air as it may be used in
other cases where gases are to be decomposed by porous or catalytic substances-
for instance it may be advantageously used for the manufacture of sulphuric
anhydride by passing a mixture of air and sulphurous acid over platinized asbestos
and for other similar processes.
We have shewn three wall compartiments in the drawing but two, three, or more
may be used as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In making chlorine by the decomposition of hydrochloric acid gas and air, or
in decomposing other gases by means of porous, or catalytic, material, passing the
gases successively through two, or more, walls of such porous, or catalytic,
material; substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. An apparatus constructed, or arranged, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of March 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.