IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING OR CONCENTRATING LIQUIDS AND FOR SATURATING LIQUIDS WITH GASES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, Successor to Messieurs Robertson
Brooman and Company of 166 Fleet Street in the City of London
Patent Agent for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
EVAPORATING OR CONCENTRATING LIQUIDS AND FOR SATURATING LIQUIDS
WITH GASES Communicated to him from abroad by Frederic Booth Nichols
and Cathcart Thomson both of Halifax, Nova Scotia Dominion of Canada
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1882.
HENRY GARDNER successor to Messieurs Robertson Brooman and Company
of 166- Fleet Street in the City of London Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING OR CONCENTRATING LIQUIDS AND FOR SATURATING
LIQUIDS WITH GASES (Communicated to me from abroad by Frederic Booth
Nichols and Cathcart Thomson both of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dominion of
Canada.)
"
The object of this invention is to expose a large surface or surfaces of slowly
moving liquid for the purpose of absorbing gases, or vapours in operations usually
performed by the Woulfe bottle system and conversely for the purpose of driving
off gases, or vapours as in the concentration of acids, saline solutions, syrups
et cetra.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings is a perspective view, of a cell or trough a
with its appendages
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of a cell or trough a
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of a siphon-slip b.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section showing the manner of adjusting the
siphon-slips to the cell or trough and pendulous diffusion-strip below with
receiving trough m stop cocks e and n for supplying and drawing off liquid,
gas tight chamber g g and gas pipe h.
Figure 5 is a plan showing a number of cells or troughs connected by means of
troughs d d at each side.

page_text: Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section showing the cell. or trough with its
appendages placed between hot air flues or steam pipes 8 8.
Figure 7 is a modified form of cell or trough for using only one side.
The apparatus for effecting these various results consists of one or more cells or
troughs a for containing the liquid with a slip b or slips'b b, styled siphon slips to
distinguish them from true siphons, dipping into them and bending over the edges
and extending down below them for the purpose of conveying the liquid from the
cells or troughs to the flat surfaces suspended below them, that may be styled
diffusion-strips.
The cells or troughs are best when made quite narrow, not exceeding half an inch
at the top and wedge shaped with the narrowest edge downwards, the depth may be
from half an inch to two or more inches and of any convenient length; the most
suitable material for them is glass, but where neither the liquid gas or vapour used
are corrosive metal or other material may be used. The edges or lips of the cells
should be thin, and quite uniform both in thickness and height so as to form a
perfect level when placed in position, otherwise much of the liquid will run away
in a stream at the lowest point
The siphon-slips for carrying the liquid over the lips of the cells and conducting
it down on to the diffusion-strips below can be made of any thin solid material
that can be bent into the form seen in Figure 3 provided they are not affected by
either the liquid, gas or vapour used or by other influences while in use. When
it is necessary to use glass to avoid the action of corrosive materials thin sheet
glass can be pressed into proper form when plastic with heat. For most of the
purposes to which this apparatus is applied the siphon-slips are fitted as seen in
Figures 4 and 6 one on each side of the cell and extending down so as to embrace
both sides of the diffusion-strip suspended below. The lugs uu of the cells and
yy of the diffusion-strip should rest on some suitable frame work or other fixture
to hold thein in position, or other suitable means may be employed for the same
purpose. The siphon slips should fit the cells uniformly from end to end but not
too tightly.
The surfaces of both cell and siphon-slips should be slightly roughened as
polished surfaces do not work satisfactorally; in some cases it may be desirable
to granulate either the cell or the siphon slips or both cell and slips in a manner
and by means hereafter to be described.
For some purposes the form of cell seen in Figure 7 may be used, in which only
one side of it is fitted with a siphon slip and wetting but one side of the diffusion
strip which in this form may be made stiff enough to support the cell.
When the cells are very long it is more convenient to have the siphon slips
made in sections instead of in one piece reaching from end to end and when it is
necessary to have a small quantity of liquid spread over a very large surface
of the diffusion-strip, the whole length of the cell need not be filled with the
siphon-slips.
The diffusion strips for receiving and conveying the liquid down to the receiving
trough m below, should be thin and present a large amount of surface and can be
formed of any material having the same properties of indistructibility under the
conditions required in use as the cell and siphon slips, and rough or granulated
surfaces are of the highest importance for uniformly spreading the liquids while
flowing over them.
All tendency to greasiness must be avoided when using aquaous solutions as it
will refuse to spread and will run in streaks (drops); the same precaution applies to
all parts of the apparatus. On account of the disposition of all dry surfaces to
absorb air and especially of granular ones to even condense it in its pores; it is
necessary for starting the flow to fill the cell to over flowing in order to remove
all adherent air from both cell and siphon-slips when the flow gets properly started
by the liquid running down the whole space between cell and slips the slips will
act like minute siphons, and if properly constructed will soon empty the cell if no
more liquid is supplied to it, carrying it up over the lips of the cell from the depth

page_text: of an inch or more and down on to the diffusion-strips below. When the cell is
kept nearly full but not overflowing the flow will be rapid but the lower the
liquid gets in the cell the slower will be the flow so that the quantity spread over
the diffusion strips can he regulated with the utmost nicety within all necessary
limits by the quantity supplied to the cell.
The liquid may be kept in a tank above and regulated by a stop cock è so as to
flow in a stream or only in drops, as the nature of the operation may require, or
the supply may be regulated by other suitable means.
The granulation is best formed by fine grains of sand cemented to the surfaces
of the several parts of the apparatus in such manner as to resemble fine sand paper
in texture; for some purposes a very small grain can be formed by chemically
precipitating some insoluble substance, or by galvanic precipitation of a metal.
The best material for most purposes being glass. The sand surface can be produced
in the following manner. Red lead is mixed into a paint with soluble glass and
applied with a brush to the glass and before it has time to dry, fine quartz sand
free from impurities is sifted on and adheres closely to it; when perfectly
dry is is to be placed in a properly arranged furnace and heated to fuse the flux-
formed by the soluble glass and red lead, into the surface of the glass, care being
taken not to vitrify the sand; they should then be annealed and if proper care is
taken will have a surface like sand paper, that will adhere with great tenacity
and withstand all chemicals that ordinary glass will. This sand surface glass has
remarkable properties when once wetted or the air condensed on it driven off by
heat it is capable of drawing water or other thin liquid to a vertical height of
several inches by an action similar to capillary attraction, and one drop placed on
it rapidly spreads over a large surface, thus allowing a small quantity of liquid to
be uniformly diffused over a very large area, whereas on smooth surfaces it runs
down in streaks and away without wetting the other portions at all.
The spontaneous evaporation of weak brines and other weak solutions that are
not alkaline, a very good material for the diffusion strips can be made of stout
manilla paper saturated with varnish or melted resin, with sand cemented to the
surface by means of the varnish or resin, Cotton or other woven cloth may be
used for the foundation of the diffusion strips by filling or entirely covering up
the fibrous or capillary structure by means of some kind of cement to which a
granular surface can be given by any suitable means and cloth thus solidified and
granulated may be used for the siphon-slips if stiff enough to retain its shape.
When large operations are to be carried on a number of cells can be supplied
by one pipe and stop cock, by connecting them together by troughs d d ou
each side in such manner as to bring the surfaces of both cells and troughs to one
level the cells opening into the troughs at each end as seen in Figure 5 each cell
being supplied with siphon-slips and diffusion strips as in the single cell apparatus
and all held in position in a manner to adapt it to the particular use it may
be intended for; In this arrangement if desirable, they can all drain from the
diffusion strips into one receiving trough large enough to take thein all in, said
trough or tank having a stop cock or other means of drawing off the liquid as it
collects. The uses that this apparatus can be applied to are so multifarious that
only a few can be mentioned. When used for saturating water with gas as in
making Hydro-Chloric Acid or Potential Water of Ammonia. The water supplied to
it should be quite cold and the whole apparatus whether single or combined should
be contained in a gas tight chamber g g Figure 4 and the gas admitted by a pipe h
connected with a source of supply of the gas that is being used, the flow of the water
being regulated so as to allow sufficient time for complete saturation before dipping
into the receiving trough m from which it can be drawn off from time to time by
the stop cock n In all cases where the object is to saturate a liquid with a gas,
or vapor or to separate one gas from a mixture of gases by means of a liquid
having an affinity by means of any preparation for the gas to be eliminated and
for some other purposes of a similar nature, it is necessary to have the apparatus
contained in a gas or air tight chamber, or one as near those conditions as possible,

page_text: and have the inlet and outlet of the liquid so arranged that the gas does not escape
through them or air leak in. In most cases where the converse operation is
performed, as in concentrating acids, saline solutions, syrups etc; each cell and its
appendages should be placed between hot air flues or steam pipes 88 as shown in
Figure 6 when rapid vaporization will go on, and if the quantity of flow is
properly regulated sufficient concentration will be effected by the time it reaches
the bottom, where it can be drawn off from the receiving troughs that may or may
not be supplied with stop cocks as occasion may require. Where spontaneous
evaporation only is required a large number of cells can be joined together as
previously specified and the combined apparatus sustained by frame work that will
allow a free passage of air to facilitate vapourization.
For most of the uses to which this apparatus is applied it is desirable to have
considerable height so as to have a long distance for the liquid to run down on the
diffusion strips and the quantity of liquid fed should for most purposes be only
sufficient to moisten the surface of the diffusion-strips without showing any signs
of flowing, and only becoming apparent by its collecting in the receiving trough,
but where saline solutions or syrups are being concentrated by placing the apparatus
between hot flues or other source of artificial heat, a somewhat greater flow will be
necessary to keep it from concreting on the diffusion-strips, the concentration not
being carried to crystalization, which must be effected after its removal from the
receiving troughs.
Wicks have hitherto been used to carry liquids over the top or lip of the con-
taining vessel and by this means from one vessel to another by capillary attraction,
but the action of the siphon-slips and granulated surfaces of the diffusion strips or
other parts though analogous to capillary attraction is essentially different being
due to what may be called surface attraction as exemplified by the disposition of
water or other liquids except Mercury, to wet and adhere to most surfaces not
protected by a film of condensed air.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd February 1883.
HENRY GARDNER, Successor to Messieurs Robertson Brooman and Company
of 166 Fleet Street in the City of London, Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING OR CONCENTRATING LIQUIDS AND FOR SATURATING
LIQUIDS WITH GASES.". (Communicated to me from abroad by Frederic Booth
Nichols and Cathcart Thomson both of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dominion of
Canada.)
The object of this Invention is to expose a large surface or surfaces of slowly
moving liquid for the purpose of absorbing gases, or vapors, in operations usually
performed by the Woulfe bottle system, and conversely for the purpose of driving
off gases, or vapors, as in the concentration of acids, saline solutions, syrups
et cetera.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings is a perspective view of a cell or trough a
with its appendages. Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of a cell or trough a.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of a siphon-slip b. Figure 4 is a transverse
vertical section, showing the manner of adjusting the siphon-slips to the cell or
trough and pendulous diffusion-strip bolow, with receiving trough m, stop-cocks e
and n, for supplying and drawing off liquid, gas tight chamber g g and gas pipe h.
Figure 5 is a plan showing a number of cells or troughs connected by means of
troughs did at each side. Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section showing the
cell or trough with its appendages placed between hot air flues or steam
pipes 8 8. Figure 7 is a modified form. of cell or trough for using only
one side.
The apparatus for effecting these various results consists of one or more cells or
troughs a for containing the liquid, with a slip b, or slips bb, styled siphon-slips to
distinguish them from true siphons, dipping into them, and bending over the edges
and extending down below them for the purpose of conveying the liquid from the
cells or troughs to the flat surfaces suspended below them, that may be styled
diffusion-strips.
The cells or troughs are best when made quite narrow, not exceeding half an
inch at the top, and wedge shaped with the narrowest edge downwards, the depth
may be from half an inch to two or more inches, and of any convenient length;
the most suitable material for them is glass, but where neither the liquid, gas or
vapor used are corrosive, metal or other material may be used. The edges or lips
of the cells should be thin, and quite uniform both in thickness and height so as
to form a perfect level when placed in position, otherwise much of the liquid will
run away in a stream at the lowest point.
The siphon-slips for carrying the fluid over the lips of the cells and conducting it
down on to the diffusion-strips below can be made of any thin solid material that can
be bent into the form seen in Figure 3 provided they are not affected by either the
liquid, gas, or vapor used, or by other influences while in use. When it is necessary
to use glass to avoid the action of corrosive materials, thin sheet glass can be
pressed into proper form when plastic with heat. For most of the purposes to
which this apparatus is applied the siphon-slips are fitted as seen in Figures 4
and 6, one on each side of the cell, and extending down so as to embrace both sides
of the diffusion-strip suspended below. The lugs uu of the cells and y y of the
diffusion-strip should rest on some suitable frame work or other fixture to hold
them in position, or other suitable means may be employed for the same purpose.

page_text: The siphon-slips should fit the cells uniformly from end to end but not too tightly.
The surfaces of both cell and siphon-slips should be slightly roughened as polished
surfaces do not work satisfactorily; in some cases it may be desirable to granulate
either the cell or the siphon-slips or both cell and slips, in a manner and by means
hereafter to be described.
For some purposes the form of cell seen in Figure 7 may be used, in which
only one side of it is fitted with a siphon-slip and wetting but one side of
the diffusion-strip which in this form may be made stiff enough to support
the cell
When the cells are very long it is more convenient to have the siphon-slips
made in sections instead of in one piece reaching from end to end, and when it is
necessary to have a small quantity of liquid spread over. a very large surface of
the diffusion-strip the whole length of the cell need not be filled with the
siphon-slips.
The diffusion-strips for receiving and conveying the liquid down to the
receiving trough m below should be thin and present a large amount of surface
and can be formed of any material having the same properties of indestructibility
under the conditions required in use as the cell and siphon-slips, and rough or
granulated surfaces are of the highest importance for uniformly spreading the
liquid while flowing over them. All tendency to greasiness must be avoided when
using aquaous solutions, as it will refuse to spread and will run in streaks (drops);
the same precaution applies to all parts of the apparatus.
On account of the disposition of all dry surfaces to absorb air and especially of
granular ones to even condense it in its pores it is necessary for starting the flow
to fill the cell to over flowing in order to remove all adherent air from both cell and
siphon-slips; when the flow gets properly started by the liquid running down the
whole space between cell and slips, the slips will act like minute siphons, and 'if
properly constructed will soon empty the cell if no more liquid is supplied to it,
carrying it up over the lips of the cell from a depth of an inch or more
and down on to the diffusion-strips below. When the cell is kept nearly full
but not overflowing, the flow will be rapid, but the lower the liquid gets in the cell
the slower will be the flow, so that the quantity spread over the diffusion-strips
can be regulated with the utmost nicety within all necessary limits by the quantity
supplied to the cell. The liquid may be kept in a tank above and regulated by a
stop-cock e so as to flow in a stream or only in drops, as the nature of the operation
may require, or the supply may be regulated by other suitable means.
The granulation is best formed by fine grains of sand cemented to the surfaces
of the several parts of the apparatus in such manner as to resemble fine sand paper
in texture; for some purposes a very small grain can be formed by chemically
precipitating some insoluble substance, or by galvanic precipitation of a metal.
The best material for most purposes being glass. The sand surface can be produced
in the following manner; Red lead is mixed into a paint with soluble-glass and
applied with a brush to the glass, and before it has time to dry, fine quartz sand
free from impurities is sifted on and adheres closely to it; when perfectly dry it is
to be placed in a properly arranged furnace and heated to fuse the flux formed by
the soluble glass and red lead, into the surface of the glass, care being taken not
to vitrify the sand; they should then be annealed, and if proper care is taken will
have a surface like sand paper, that will adhere with great tenacity and withstand
all chemicals that ordinary glass will. This sand surface glass has remarkable
properties; when once wetted, or the air condensed on it driven off by heat, it
is capable of drawing water or other thin liquid to a vertical height of several
inches by an action similar to capillary attraction, and one drop placed on it
rapidly spreads over a large surface, thus allowing a small quantity of liquid to be
uniformly diffused over a very large area, whereas on smooth surfaces it runs down
in streaks and away without wetting the other portions at all.
For spontaneous evaporation of weak brines and other weak solutions that are.
not alkaline a very good material for the diffusion-strips can be made of stout

page_text: manila paper saturated with varnish or melted resin, with sand cemented to the
surface by means of the varnish or resin. Cotton or other woven cloth may be
used for the foundation of the diffusion-strips by filling or entirely covering up
the fibrous or capillary structure by means of some kind of cement to which a
granular surface can be given by any suitable means, and cloth thus solidified and
granulated may be used for the siphon-slips if stiff enough to retain its shape.
When large operations are to be carried on, a number of cells can be supplied by
one pipe and stop-cock, by connecting them together by troughs d d on each side,
in such manner as to bring the surfaces of both cells and troughs to one level, the
cells opening into the troughs at each end as seen in Figure 5, each cell being
supplied with siphon-slips, and diffusion-strips as in the single cell apparatus, and
all held in position in a manner to adapt it to the particular use it may be intended.
for. In this arrangement if desirable they can all drain from the diffusion-strips.
into one receiving trough large enough to take them all in, said trough or tank
having a stop-cock or other means of drawing off the liquid as it collects.
The uses that this apparatus can be applied to are so multifarious that only a-
few can be mentioned. When used for saturating water with a gas, as in making
Hydro-Chloric Acid, or Potential Water of Ammonia, the water supplied to it
should be quite cold, and the whole apparatus whether single or combined, should
be contained in a gas tight chamber g g Figure 4, and the gas admitted by a pipe h
connected with a source of supply of the gas that is being used, the flow of water
being regulated so as to allow sufficient time for complete saturation before
dipping into the receiving trough m, from which it can be drawn off, from time to
time by the stop-cock n.
In all cases where the object is to saturate a liquid with a gas, or vapor, or to
separate one gas from a mixture of gases, by means of a liquid having an affinity,
by means of any preparation for the gas to be eliminated, and for some other
purposes of a similar nature, it is necessary to have the apparatus contained in a
gas or air tight chamber, or one as near those conditions as possible, and have the
inlet and outlet of the liquid so arranged that the gas does not escape through them,
or air leak in. In most cases where the converse operation is performed, as in con-
centrating acids, saline solutions, syrups etc, each cell and its appendages should be
placed between hot air flues or steam pipes 8 8, as shown in Figure 6, when rapid
vaporization will go on, and if the quantity of flow is properly regulated, sufficient.
concentration will be effected by the time it reaches the bottom, where it can be
drawn off from the receiving troughs, that may or may not be supplied with stop-
cocks, as occasion may require. Where spontaneous evaporation only is required, a
large number of cells can be joined together as previously specified, and the
combined apparatus sustained by frame work that will allow a free passage of air
to facilitate vaporization.
For most of the uses to which this apparatus is applied it is desirable to have
considerable height, so as to have a long distance for the liquid to run down on the
diffusion-strips, and the quantity of liquid fed should for most purposes be only
sufficient to moisten the surface of the diffusion-strips without showing any signs
of flowing, and only becoming apparent by its collecting in the receiving trough, but
where saline solutions or syrups are being concentrated by placing the apparatus
between hot air flues or other sources of artificial heat, a somewhat greater flow will
be necessary to keep it from concreting on the diffusion-strips, the concentration not
being carried to crystalization, which must be effected after its removal from the
receiving troughs.
Wicks have hitherto been used to carry liquids over the top or lip of the con-
taining vessel, and by this means from one vessel to another by capillary attraction,
but the action of the siphon slips and granulated surfaces of the diffusion-strips or
other parts though analagous to capillary attraction, is essentially different, being
due to what may be called surface attraction as exemplified by the disposition of.
water or other liquids except Mercury, to wet, and adhere to most surfaces not
protected by a film of condensed air.

page_text: It is obvious that the larger the surface of liquid exposed the more rapid will
evaporization go on, and if the surface is very large a vast amount of evaporization
takes place at moderate temperatures, which is of great importance in concentrating
many liquids which would be injured by high temperature, notably weak sugar
juices of either the cane or beet which are changed from crystalizable sugar to
molasses by prolonged action of boiling heat.
Besides the advantages above mentioned there is a large saving in fuel by this
process. This apparatus is specially useful for concentrating sulphuric acid as
compared with the method now in use, there is an economy of working, the
apparatus costing but a trifle as compared with the Platinum retorts now used.
As a substitute for the Woulfe bottle method for many chemical operations this
apparatus is much cheaper and more effective. It also presents great advantages for
purifying gas.
.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim
;-
First: A vessel, cell, or trough provided with siphon-slips or thin strips of solid
material bent over the edge of said vessel whereby a continuous flow of liquid
out of the vessel may be maintained as described.
Secondly: The combination of a vessel, trough or cell provided with siphon-slips,
with diffusion-strips, or broad strips of thin material arranged to maintain a
constant flow of liquid over their surfaces as described.
Thirdly: The evaporating apparatus consisting of troughs, vessels, or cells
provided with siphon-slips in combination with diffusion-strips and means for
applying heat to one or both sides of said diffusion-strips substantially as
described.
Fourthly: The evaporating apparatus composed of a series of troughs or cells a
connected by longitudinal troughs d and provided with siphon-slips and
diffusion-strips substantially as described.
Fifthly A gas or vapor absorbing apparatus consisting of a vessel, trough or
cell, siphon-slips, and diffusion-strip or strips, in combination with a gas tight
receptacle or chamber having a gas pipe for supplying gas or vapor, and inlet
and outlet for fluid provided with stop-cocks or their equivalents, all in the
manner and for the purpose specified.
Sixthly: A granulated surface consisting of an aggregation of distinct grains, in
combination with one or all of the several parts of the apparatus for the
purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Gardner have hereunto set my hand
and seal this second day of February in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.