Improved Methods of and Apparatus for Evaporating and Concentrating Solutions.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Methods of and Apparatus for Evaporating and
Concentrating Solutions.
I, JAMES AUGUSTINE MORRELL, of Lansdale, in the County of Montgomery and
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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 certain improved methods and apparatus for evaporating
and concentrating solutions.
The object of the invention is to produce an improved method and apparatus for
concentrating solutions or separating solid matter therefrom, whereby the solution
will be treated under a high temperature but so rapidly that the matter to be
recovered from the liquid will not be injured in any way by the high temperature.
The invention consists in certain methods and in certain novel features of con-
struction and in combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter and par-
ticularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which show the preferred, apparatus for
carrying out these methods,
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of the apparatus in one of its simplest forms.
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a more elaborate form of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a ground plan thereof.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the central part in the place indicated by the
dotted lines B B, in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a vertical central section of a different form of apparatus.
Figure 7 is a cross section of the same.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of the preferred apparatus, and
Figure 9 is a cross section of the left hand heating chamber.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 1 is a tube, closed at the upper end, and connected
at the lower end with a pipe 2, through which the heated solution forced rising in
the said pipe to the upper end escaping radially through minute perforations 7, in the
form of minute jets restricted in the extent of radial distance by a partition 9, sus-
pended from its upper edge. Surrounding the pipe 1, is a chamber or tube marked 3,
fitting fluid tight thereon, through which superheated steam or other heating fluid of
high temperature is circulated by means of pipes 5 and 6, gradually heating the
pipe 1, and its contents, above the normal boiling temperature of the solution
contained in it.
Surrounding the entire apparatus already described throughout its entire height is
steam jacket 10, enclosing an annular space 11, of greater diameter than the
artition 9, which steam jacket is supplied with superheated steam by means of the
ipes 16 and 17, so as to raise the temperature of the enclosed space greatly above
hat of the boiling point of the solution.
At the lower end of the cylindric space in the steam jacket 10, is a conical, or
nclined bottom from which by suitable means 12, fluid is withdrawn, or granulated
natter is removed without admitting any appreciable volume of air.
At the base of the pipe 1, near the point of intersection or junction therewith
f the pipe 2, is a pipe 13, through which superheated air or gas is injected under
ressure, so as to charge the solution with such air or gas, and render the same more
lastic than it would be by reason of the expansion of its own steam or vapour.
In this form of apparatus, the highly heated solutions escaping from the upper end
f the pipe 1, is dispersed or atomized within the fender 9, and falls within the
hamber 11, enclosed in the superheating jacket 10, where the dispersed or atomized
uid requires further temperature, and volatilizes the menstruum either wholly or
5 Price 827

page_text: partially, and precipitating either the solution, in a more concentrated form, or the
material in a granulated condition according to whether the velocity of the supplied
solution in the pipe 1, is greater or less in relation to the temperature maintained in
the chamber 11.
Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5, 21, represents an outer shell or jacket, sur-
rounding the heating part of the apparatus, forming a non-conducting chamber 22,
and containing a strong jacket 23, and enclosing a pipe 24, so as to heat the same
and maintain it at high temperature.
Steam is supplied to the steam jacket. 23, by means of the pipe 47, and is discharged
from the pipe 46. Inside of the pipe 24, is a smaller pipe 25, leaving a space 26
between it and the pipe 24, which is kept constantly in a highly heated condition.
The pipe 25 surrounds a pipe 27, and is supplied with superheated steam so as to
constantly maintain the pipe 27 in a highly heated condition.
inside the pipe 27, is another pipe 28, with an annular space 29, between it and the
pipe 27, through which space the solution to be concentrated is forced being fed in at
the lower end by a pipe 30, connected by an elbow 31, to the pipe 27.
The supply of superheated steam is introduced to the pipe 28, by a pipe 40 from
the jacket 23 entering the upper end, and is drained with the pipe 32, at the lower
end of the pipe 28, and the supply of the superheated steam to the space within the
pipe 25, surrounding the pipe 27, is introduced by the pipe 49 from the jacket space 23
and passes out at the base of the pipe 25, so that the syrup in its passage in the thin
annular space between the pipes 27 and 28, is continually heated, and by reason of
the small volume contained in such narrow space the thin ho.low column of solution is
only held at such temperature for a short time..
In the pipe 30 which supplies the solution is introduced a pipe 34, which continu-
ously injects heated air or gas from the superheated apparatus, marked 35 consisting
of an outer pipe 35 supplied continuously with superheated steam and enclosing a
second pipe 3 through which air or gas is forced by means of a pump or other
equivalent compressing apparatus, and in which there is preferably placed a core 35°
which displaces the air from the central portion of the pipe, and compels intimate
contact of the air of the pipe 35º¹.
A pyrometer, or high temperature thermometer 36, is inserted at the junction of
the pipe 35 with the pipe 34, by means of which the temperature of the compressed
air may be ascertained.
It will be seen that the thin film or column of solution in the pipe 37 surrounding
the pipe 28 is supplied, not only with the solution itself, but also heated air or gas
.compressed therein. This solution passes to the upper part of the pipe 27 where it
escapes through minute apertures 37 in a spray, into a chamber 45 surrounded
by a net 43, to prevent too wide a dispersion of the jets, and further surrounded by a
jacket 41, to prevent loss of heat by radiation.
suitable lens 42, is inserted at the upper part of the jacket 41, by which the
operation of the jets as they issue into the chamber 45 in the jacket 41 may be observed.
A funnel, stack, or chimney 44, rises above the chamber to carry off the vapor that
rises therefrom.
The jets of syrup, from the expansive force of the vapour of water or steam which
is liberated upon relief of pressure, spread themselves out in the chamber surrounded
by the net 43, and the precipitated matter falls to the bottom, parting with the watery
vapour in its descent, and reaching the bottom in the form of minute crystals if the
process is conducted with sufficient time for the elimination of all water and steam, if
worked more rapidly a solution or syrup in a highly concentrated condition descends
to the bottom, and is collected from a funnel 45 for use.
By reason of the extremely thin film exposed and the high velocity of current in
sucli film, the exposure of the saccharine solution to heat with the air or gas is of
extremely short duration, and the instant volatilization of water in contact with the
heated atmosphere upon relief of pressure in the space within the screen 43, and in
the space 26 below it affords little or no time for any change or oxidation of the
saccharine matter in the solution.

page_text: This process may be conducted without the injection of air and gas througn
ipes 34 or 13, but does not then proceed so rapidly.
To provent straining, or leakage of the joints by reason of differences of expansion
of different connected parts of the tubes, elastic sections of the tubes, or spring pipes
are introduced as shown at 48, in Figure 3, which by springing adapt themselves
to the changes of form, and dimensions of pipes as the temperatures therein vary.
In Figures 6 and 7, an arrangement is illustrated for mechanically agitating the
liquid while being heated beyond the boiling point. This arrangement has the outer
annular heating jacket 10 provided with steam pipes 16, 17, and discharge pipe 12,
and enclosing the inner closed steam jacket 3, having steam pipes 5, 6. This inner
closed jacket encloses the two liquid heating and evaporating pipes 50 connected at
A sprocket wheel 51, is
their opposite ends by elbows or return bends, as shown.
vertically mounted in each return bend, and one of said wheels is provided with
operating means. The two sprocket wheels carry and are connected by a chain 52,
extending the length of both pipes 50, and carrying paddles or stirrers 53.
54 is a liquid supply pipe into the lower bend. The upper bend is surrounded by
the depending partition 9, in the space between jackets 10 and 3, and is provided with
numerous minute perforations 7. The liquid to be concentrated is forced in through
pipe 54, and is highly heated in said heating pipes, and the agitating apparatus being
operated the paddles 53 pass longitudinally through said heating pipes and thoroughly
stir and agitate the highly heated liquid while under pressure. The liquid passes in
a fine spray through perforations against partition or screen 9, as before fully
described.
In Figures 8 and 9, the preferred construction is shown consisting of two closed
vertical beating chambers a b.
The chambers a having pipe e into its bottom for admission of superheated steam,
and the chamber b, is supplied with steam from the upper end of chamber a, by pipe d
connecting the upper ends of said two chambers. Both chambers being provided with
suitable exits for water of condensation.
The chamber e, is located above the chamber b, having a lateral discharge, and a
conical bottom terminating in the upper open end of the worm f, located in and
extending longitudinally through the bottom of said chamber where it is provided
with a suitable discharge. This worm gradually decreases in size downwardly.
A liquid heating chamber 27, extends centrally through the chamber a, and across
and vertically down into chamber e, with its open discharge end above the conical
bottom of said chamber and provided with a spreader g. A heating core h, is longi-
tudinally located in the chamber 27 having steam pipe i, discharging steam into the
upper end thereof. j, is the liquid supply pipe into chamber 27 having an air steam
pipe discharging thereinto.
The apparatus being heated, air and the liquid to be concentrated are introduced
into the lower end of chamber 27 being given a whirling.or cyclone motion and pass
up in a thin layer through this highly heated chamber and is discharged under
pressure in fine spray against the conical bottom of chamber e, the vapour passing off
through the lateral discharge and the heavy concentrated portions entering and flowing
through the worm and receiving further treatment therein. The decreasing diameter
of the worm retains the concentrated solution longer in the worm.
This invention can be very advantageously employed for condensing milk, and when
used for this purpose the main evaporating chamber into which the highly heated milk
is sprayed, is usually provided with a series of vertically and rotatively movable spring
scrapers which scrape the heavy products from the walls of the chamber and force
them downward. Suitable mechanism is employed to impart the longitudinal and
rotary motion to the scrapers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The method of concentrating saccharine solutions by exposing them under

page_text: pressure in thin hims to high temperature, and then liberating them in heated space
thereby volatilizating the watery portions, and collecting the heavy portions by
precipitation, substantially as set forth and described.
2nd. In an apparatus for concentrating saccharine solutions, the combination of a
series of enclosing jackets with an enclosed air space, containing a steam jacket.
surrounding a pipe arranged to contain a column of heated saccharine solution
centrally heated by an internal pipe, and exposed in a thin film between said internal
pipe, and a surrounding superheated steam containing pipe substantially as described
and shewn.
3rd. In an apparatus for superheating and evaporating solutions the combination of
a pipe for containing the solution surrounded by a steam jacket for heating the same,
and an internal heating pipe arranged centrally therein to augment the heating
surface, and reduce the fluid capacity of the solution tube, substantially as described
and shewn.
4th. In apparatus for superheating and charging solutions with heated air or gas,
the combination of a central air displacing core, with an air heating pipe, substantially
as described and shewn.
5th. The process of concentrating solutions consisting in mechanically agitating and
moving the solution under pressure while being heated beyond boiling point, discharging
said solution under pressure in fine spray and precipitating and collecting the
heavy portions and subjecting them to further heat, as set forth.
6th. The process of concentrating liquids which consists in highly heating the
liquid, liberating the same under pressure against a rigid surface, thereby finely
atomizing and precipitating the heavy portions of the liquid and releasing the vapour,
and then again subjecting the heavy portions to heat, as set forth.
7th. The herein described process of concentrating liquids which consists in highly
heating the liquid, liberating the same under pressure in sprays to atomize the liquid
and release the vapour and precipitate the heavy portions thereof, and collecting said
precipitant and passing the same through a highly heated worm, as set forth.
8th. The herein described liquid concentrating apparatus, substantially as shewn in
Figures & and 9.
Dated this 25th day of Nouamhan
w20
J. A. MORRELL,
By L. W., per F. B.