IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacques Louis Kessler, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING."
.Sealed the 23rd February 1864, and dated the 26th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacques Louis Kessler
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th August 1863.
I, JACQUES LOUIS KESSLER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts forming
evaporating and distilling apparatus exemplified in the accompanying Drawings
and description thereof. I do not limit myself to the form of apparatus shown
in the Drawings, as, according to the nature of the material to be operated on,
the form varies, but the same main features exist in all my apparatus.
My Invention also consists in the employment of cast-iron vessels for the
Concentration of sulphuric acid, and of the same metal in the bottom of appa-
ratus for evaporating marine salt.
A, Figure 1, is a boiler containing a liquid or other matter to be evaporated
and placed on an open fire, or heated in any other manner; B is a boiler
nearly similar, the bottom of which is formed by a conical surface for the
Price Sd.1

page_text: purpose of conducting the drops formed on contact with it by the conden-
sation of the vapour into the circular trough d, d. This conical surface serves
at the same time, and without any other medium, to eliminate the condensed
liquid, and to heat that contained in B. The joint between the two vessels is
hydraulic, the circular rim f, f, dips in liquid in the trough d, d. The liquid
resulting from the condensation of the vapour against the bottom of B fills
the trough d, d, of the boiler A, and may be allowed to run off, but I prefer
passing it into a worm S, which is covered by the liquid contained in B. In
this way the warmer liquid in passing off communicates its heat to the colder.
A cock placed at the extremity of the worm S allows a pressure of vapour to
be maintained in the vessel A superior to that in B, without however forcing
the non-condensed vapour into B, and yet making all the condensed liquid of the
worm pass into the trough d', d', of B. This difference of pressure in the two
vessels A and B will maintain a difference of temperature, and the bottom of
B will remain colder than the steam disengaged in A, even although the liquid
contained in both A and B should be of the same temperature. By this
means the bottom will serve to condense, and at the same time to heat and
boil, the liquid placed above it. If a second vessel exactly similar be superposed
on B, the latent heat of the steam may be employed to heat and boil a third
similar liquid placed above, and so on, to almost any extent. If the liquid
in A for instance boils under a pressure of six atmospheres, the vessels B, C,
D, E, F, superposed on A, must be maintained by the help of steam gauges
at pressures decreasing from six atmospheres to 0°.
Any of the ordinary methods may be resorted to for feeding these vessels;
in order to make the same liquid pass through each of these vessels successively,
the same feed apparatus may be used, or a series of apparatus A', B', each
of which will correspond to each vessel as indicated for the vessels B and A, or
the feed may be effected by pumps.
This arrangement of evaporating apparatus is equally applicable in vacuo; it
will be sufficient merely to invert the steam gauges, and to produce a vacuum
in the last and upper compartment of the apparatus. It is important to ter-
minate the entire series of the evaporating apparatus thus constructed by an
apparatus which allows the temperature of the condensed liquid to be com-
municated to that about to be evaporated.
Figure 2 shows a form of apparatus in which no coil is used. Union is
effected between the vessels by a rim from the upper vessel entering the liquid
contained in a trough formed round the lower vessel. When the liquid rises
above a given level it flows off through an overflow pipe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jacques Louis Kessler in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th February 1864.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JACQUES
LOUIS KESSLER, of Paris, in the Empire of France. Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-six day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Jacques Louis Kessler, Her special licence that I, the; said. Jacques
Louis Kessler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, "or. such others
as I, the said Jacques Louis Kessler, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an: Invention .for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jacques Louis Kessler, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their.
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months- next and immediately after the. date of the said
Letters Patent.
..:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacques Louis Kessler, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say :-
.
This Invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts
forming evaporating and distilling apparatus exemplified in the accompanying
Drawings and description thereof. I do not limit myself to the forms of
apparatus shewn in the Drawings, as, according to the nature of the material
to be operated on, the form varies, but the same main features exist in all my
apparatus.
My Invention also consists in the employment of cast-iron vessels for the
concentration of sulphuric acid, and of the same metal in the bottom of
apparatus for evaporating marine salt.

page_text: A, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a boiler containing a liquid or other matter to be
evaporated and placed on an open fire, or heated in any other manner; B is
a boiler nearly similar, the bottom of which is formed by a conical surface for
the purpose of conducting the liquid formed on contact with it by the conden-
sation of the vapour into the circular trough d, d. This conical surface serves,
at the same time and without any other medium, to eliminate the condensed
liquid, and to heat that contained in B. The joint between the two vessels is
hydraulic; the circular rim, f, dips in the liquid in the trough d, d. The
liquid resulting from the condensation of the vapour against the bottom of B
fills the trough d, d, of the boiler A, and may be allowed to run off, but I
prefer passing it into a worm S, which is covered by the liquid in B. In this
manner the warmer liquid in passing off communicates its heat to the colder.
A cock placed at the extremity of the worm S allows a pressure of vapour to
be maintained in the vessel A superior to that in B, without, however, forcing
the non-condensed vapour into B, and yet making all the condensed liquid of
the worm pass into the trough d', d', of B. This difference of pressure in
the two vessels A and B will maintain a difference of temperature, and the
bottom of B will remain colder than the steam disengaged in A, even although
the liquid contained in both A and B should be of the same temperature;
by this means the bottom will serve to condense, and at the same time to
heat and boil, the liquid situated above it. If a second vessel exactly similar
be superposed on B, the latent heat of the steam may be employed to heat
and boil a third similar liquid placed above, and so on, to almost any extent.
If the liquid in A, for instance, boils under a pressure of six atmospheres, the
vessels B, C, D, E, F, superposed on A, must, by the help of steam gauges,
be maintained at pressures decreasing from 6 atmospheres to 0°.
Any of the ordinary methods may be resorted to for feeding these vessels;
in order to make the same liquid pass through each of them successively, the
same feed apparatus may be used, or a series of apparatus A', B', of which
one will correspond to each vessel as indicated for the vessels G, B, and A of
Figure 1, or the feed may be effected by pumps.
This arrangement of evaporating apparatus is equally applicable in vacuo
or under pressure; it is sufficient. merely to invert the steam gauges so as to
transform them into barometers, and to produce a vacuum in the last and
upper compartment of the apparatus, as will be understood on reference to
Figure 2. It is important to terminate the series of evaporating apparatuses
thus constructed by an appliance which will allow the temperature of the
condensed liquid to be communicated to that about to be evaporated.
This part of the apparatus may be arranged as shewn in Figure 2,

page_text: a, a, a, is the pipe by which the liquid is introduced into the refrigerator or
cooler S, S; a¹, a', is the conduit which leads the liquid from S, S, into the
upper vessel of the evaporating apparatus; d, d, is the ejection pipe for the
condenser vapour and the gases emanating from it; it is an analyser which
separates the gases which penetrate directly into the suction tube g, g. The
tube g. g, draws off the condensed liquid which proceeds in a contrary
direction to the liquid to be heated. The pump which produces this suction
will also expel the condensed liquid.
a, a, in Figure 1, Sheet 3, represents an apparatus which may be used in
the open air to exchange the temperatures of two liquids when a vacuum
is employed; it may also be employed when the operation is carried on under
pressure. As many superposed vessels may be used as desired, but the
barometric depression of the different vessels must be progressively graduated.
I have already described two apparatuses constructed according to my
Invention, one intended to work under pressure and the other in vacuo; they
may be used in all cases where liquids are to be evaporated, such, for
example, as juice of beetroot, or sugar cane, wine lees, salt water, extracts
of plants, dextrine, glucose, and other matters; they may be constructed in
such manner that straight tubes may be employed to allow of their being
examined, or that the tubes may be altogether dispensed with. When the
apparatus is intended to work in the open air, the hydraulic joints between the
different vessels are generally sufficient to prevent loss. In boiling liquids in
this apparatus, care must be taken to supply the liquids of different degrees of
volatility, and to put the least volatile in the lowest vessel, the next in degree
of volatility in the second vessel, and so on.
Figure 2, Sheet 3, represents one of my evaporating and distilling appa-
ratuses made of porcelain, and suitable for use in laboratories; it is composed
of vessels a, b, c, placed one above another. Union is effected between the
vessels by a rim d from one vessel entering liquid contained in a trough e
formed round the vessel next below. When the liquid rises above a given level
it flows off through an overflow pipe f; this liquid is that resulting from the
condensation of the vapours against the conical bottom of each superposed vessel.
Figure 3. Sheet 3. represents an apparatus of tinned copper, also suitable
for use in laboratories; Figure 3 bis is a top view of the bottom vessel a,
Figure 3. The liquid arising from condensation of the vapours in the vessel a,
which come in contact with the bottom of the vessel b, falls into a pan d, and
flows off by channels e into the circular trough formed round the vessel a.
Union is effected between the vessels in the same manner as in the apparatus
last described; 0. g. are pipes by which the vessels are charged.

page_text: Figure 4, Sheet 3, is a longitudinal section of an apparatus for the distil-
lation of pétroleum and other similar substances, with a cast-iron retort at
.bottom; Figure 4.bis is a .transverse section of the same. a is the retort;
e is a pipe communicating between the upper part of the retort and a
refrigerator. The vapours arising from the materials under treatment in the
retort impinge against the bottom of the vessel b, and those which become
condensed fall into a circular trough f, as in the previous arrangements, where
they form a hydraulic joint; when it rises above the prescribed level, it flows off
through the pipe g to a refrigerator. The: uncondensed vapours flow down tho
pipe e to another refrigerator; the same action takes place in reference to the
vessels b and c, and so on for any number of vessels which it may be found
desirable. to superpose. The top vessel 'c is cooled by water; the matter to bo
distilled is supplied by the pipe to the' vessel c, from which it flows by a
pipe to the retort'a; the solid matters are withdrawn from the retort through
the door k.
• Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a section of an apparatus for distilling and concen-
'trating sulphuric acid'at 66° Beaum. a' is a platinum vessel which contains
the sulphuric acid to be treated; b is a furnace, the heat and products of com-
bustion from which pass through flues c, c, below the vessel a in order to heat
the vessel; d is another vessel above the vessel a. The vapours produced in
the vessel a impinge against the bottom of the vessel d, and those which
thereby become condensed fall into a circular trough e extending all round
the two vessels, and when they reach a certain height in the trough flow away
by a pipe. The vapours which do not condense against the bottom of the
vessel d pass up a pipe g leading to a condensing coil in a vessel i kept
supplied with cold water. As the water rises in the vessel i it flows along a
pipe into the vessel d, the level of the water in which is regulated by an
overflow pipe k; 1 is an overflow pipe which may when required be trans-
formed into a syphon by closing the air lube o in order to lead the acid re-
maining in the vessel a into a refrigerator m;n is a funnel through which the
vessel a is supplied.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a plan; Figure 3 a longitudinal section, and Figure 4
a transverse section of another apparatus for distilling and concentrating
sulphuric acid at 66° Beaume. a is a platinum vessel containing the
acid under treatment; b, b, are two furnaces for heating the vessel a. The
vessel has a double concave bottom, and is fitted internally with two
plates c in the manner shewn. The vessel is supplied through the
funnel d; e is a vessel supplied with water above the vessel a.
in a impinge against the bottom of e, and those which are
The vapours
thereby con

page_text: densed fall into a trough f, as in the previous arrangement, while the re-
maining vapours pass up a pipe leading to a coil h, in a vessel i con-
tinually supplied with cold water, which as it rises therein flows down a pipe j
into the vessel e. The vapours condensed in the coil are received in a
receptacle k as well as the overflow from the trough . The acid remaining
in the vessel a is drawn off by the pipe 1 into a receiver m immersed in cold
water, from which an overflow pipe n leads it to a refrigerator, o, in which cold
water is caused to flow in an opposite direction to the acid.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, represents an apparatus of cast iron hereafter described
for evaporating and concentrating sulphuric acid at 66° Beaume.
The apparatuses above described by being worked more slowly, or by having
the same liquid placed in cach vessel, continue to evaporate or to distil with-
out ebullition, except perhaps in the lowest vessel. If there be only two vessels
the evaporation of the liquid in the upper vessel may be accelerated in any
suitable manner, such for instance as introducing a current of hot or cold air
into the vessel, or dropping or pouring the liquid under a forced or natural
current of air, or stirring the liquid about and blowing through it by means of
a fan, or making it circulate on an extended surface while exposed to the air
in order to make it cool more rapidly, and that, owing to a greater difference
of temperature, its bottom and the tubes which heat the superposed vessel
may condense more vapour for each square foot. This apparatus is especially
adapted to the evaporation of the juice of beet root and syrups. The weakest
juice or the most concentrated syrup may be boiled in the lower vessel with
vapour. The operation of the apparatus is retarded in the first case, and the
boiled syrup will be more frothy; in the second case it is on the contrary
accelerated. The same description of apparatus may be employed to make
extracts. and is useful in all cases where it is necessary to proceed rapidly
or operate on large masses.
The apparatus shown in transverse section in Figare 5, Sheet 3, in plan
in Figure 6, and in longitudinal section in Figure 7, is somewhat similar in
construction to those before described; it is a double acting evaporating
apparatus for marine salt with ebullition in the lower vessel for the manufac-
ture of fine salt; a is a pan or vessel in which the salt liquid is evaporated;
b, b, are two furnaces, the products of combustion from which pass along
flues c and d. as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6. and thence to the
chimney. The salt liquid is supplied to the vessel e, and empties itself by an
overflow orifice into the pan a. The vapours arising from the liquid in the
pan a impinge against the bottom of the superposed vessel e, and fall con-
densed into a trough f.

page_text: I now proceed to describe the application of my Invention to the evapora-
tion of liquids that are not to be submitted to ebullition, such for instance as
saline solutions from which crystals are to be obtained.
Figure 8, Sheet 3, is a plan, Figure 9 a longitudinal section, and Figure 10
a transverse section of a double acting crystalizing apparatus constructed
according to my Invention. The vapour which is evolved in the pan a
impinges against the concave bottom of the vessel b, and becoming condensed
falls into a channel c placed across the centre of the pan a. A trough dis
formed round the pan a, into which the bottom edge of the vessel benters;
c, c, are troughs for withdrawing the matters as they become crystallized.
Figures 11, 12, and 13 represent the manner in which I prefer to construct
the bottoms of the pans shewn in Figures 5, 6, and 7, and Figures 8, 9,
and 10 when it is desired to heat them with steam under pressure so as lo
boil the liquids in the pans when required. Figure 12 is a plan, Figure 11
a longitudinal section, and Figure 13 a transverse section. Steam enters by
the tube a, and issues condensed by the tube b after passing through the
tubes c formed in the bottom of the pan, the hot water from may be
returned to the generator. The tubes c, c, instead of being square, may be
round or of any other convenient form, and they may be connected with each
other by other tubes.
The apparatus shown in 8, 9, and 10 may be rendered triple acting either
by superposing another vessel, or by placing the apparatus itself above an
evaporating vessel open to the air. If one or several additional vessels were
superposed an even greater effect would be obtained.
The apparatuses before described may be made of various substances, such
for example as tinned copper, sheel iron, enamelled cast iron, stone ware, por-
celain, platina, and others. They may be employed for evaporating saltpetre,
sulphates of iron, zinc, and soda, fermented molasses, juices of vegetables,
whether fermented or not, extracts, solutions of glucose, dextrine, or starch,
soda, mineral or other waters, alum, chromates, prussiates of potash, gelatine,
tartaric, citric, and boric acids, and generally in all cases where materials arc
to be evaporated with or without the formation of crystals. As these appara-
tuses are also adapted to distillation they may be used for the distillation of salt
water; they are particularly suitable for the distillation of alcoholic liquors,
especially when that operation is to be followed by the evaporation of the residual
matters. With slight modifications, they may be employed at the same time
for evaporation and distillation, or for evaporation only. Wines may thus be
made to furnish tartar, and the residues of molasses or of beetroot various
extracts of salts.

page_text: I now proceed to describe several applications in which the simplest form
of my apparatus produces very advantageous results.
Figure 1, Sheet 3, represents a single-acting alembic or still for the distil-
lation of turpentine, tar, and generally of all solid substances; b, b, is a false
bottom for supporting the substances to be distilled. In the distillation of
turpentine this false bottom serves to filter the resin; the bottom b may be
placed at any convenient height in the apparatus. The working of this
apparatus will be fully understood by the explanations of the several appa-
ratuses herein-before described.
The advantages of this apparatus are, that it is easily filled and emptied;
that in the case of unrefined turpentine it filters the product at once, and that
it is easily cleaned. This arrangement of apparatus is also adapted to the
distillation of liquors, fruits, and the residuum of fruits, fermented or grated
beetroot, and other matters.
Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 2, represent the application of my Invention to the
construction of an apparatus for the trial or proof of spirituous liquors by
distillation; this apparatus acts in a similar manner to those before described,
and therefore requires no further explanation. The liquid to be evaporated is
heated by a spirit lamp p.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, shows an apparatus for evaporating sulphuric acid
at 66° Beaume in cast-iron vessels. a is a cast-iron vessel containing the
material to be treated, and placed over a furnace b. The material is supplied
to the vessel a by a bent pipe c, leading into another pipe d of earthenware
or platinum; this pipe d may, however, be dispensed with. The height of
the liquid in a is regulated by an overflow pipe e, to which an air tube f is
fitted to prevent it acting as a syphon. The vapour arising from a impinges
against the bottom of a vessel g supplied with cold water, and that portion of
it which becomes thereby condensed falls into a trough h, from which it flows
by a channel i. The uncondensed vapour passes up a pipe j into a condenser
or otherwise.
This apparatus may be worked in a continuous or intermittent manner at
pleasure like the common platina alembic or still, but in the latter case the
weak acid must be introduced gradually while the operation of distilling is
going on until the vessel is full, in order that at any time the acid in the
vessel may be at 66°, a temperature at which the acid corrodes the metal very
slightly. White or polished cast iron is least corrodible. The sulphuric acid
may be left to cool in the vessel, or drawn off by a syphon, which may be of
lead. Instead of cast-iron vessels, stone or earthenware vessels may be
employed; the lid or cover, which is of lead, dips into a channel or groove

page_text: bordered by a stone or earthenware cap. When the apparatus is of stone or
earthenware, it is preferable to operate intermittently; platina, however, is
the most suitable material for the apparatus.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, arranging and combining the parts forming evaporating and dis-
tilling apparatus, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second,
cast iron.
constructing vessels for the concentration of sulphuric acid of
Third, constructing the bottoms of apparatus for evaporating marine salt of
cast iron.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacques Louis Kessler, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.