Method of and Apparatus for Producing Intimate Frictional Action between Liquids and Gases or Vapours by means of Centrifugal Force, foring.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Apparatus for Producing Intimate Frictional Action
between Liquids and Gases or Vapours by means of Centrifugal
Force, for Effecting either the Evaporation of the Liquids or the
Interchange of Temperature between the Liquids and Gases or
the Mixing of the Gases with or their Separation from the
Liquids.
1, EDUARD THEISEN, of Rodolfzel, Baden, Germany, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to a method of producing intimate frictional action between
liquids and gases by causing the liquids to flow in thin films or layers over the
inner surfaces of rapidly revolving cylindrical or conical drums while at the same
time air, gases, or vapours are caused to flow, while also subject to centrifugal
action, in intimate contact with such thin layers of liquid, a considerable relative
motion being at the same time made to take place between the two. By this
means the particles of liquid and air, gas or vapour, are subject either to a rapid
interchange of temperature, for effecting the evaporation of the former, or the
heating or cooling of the one or the other, or they are caused to be intimately
mixed together, or again, when a mixture of liquid and gases is so treated while
subject to a greater or less exhaust, the air or gases may be effectually separated
from the liquids.
The apparatus for carrying out this method of operating may be variously
constructed; thus, according to one arrangement, I employ a number of concentric
cylindrical or conical shells mounted on a vertical shaft within a casing, and 1
introduce the liquid to be treated centrally into an annular trough revolving with
the shaft, from which the liquid is led through radial pipes to the inner peripheries
of the several shells, so that the liquid impinging upon these is caused by
centrifugal action to travel upward upon the shells in a helical path towards the
upper ends, where it is caught up by annular grooves in the shells having openings
by which the liquid is thrown against the inner surface of the casing. At the same
time one or more fans mounted upon the upper part of the said shaft are made to
draw currents of air or other gas in an upward direction through the annular
spaces between the shells, and between the outermost shell and the casing, so that
such air or gas, being also subject to centrifugal action, is brought into considerable
frictional contact with the liquid as it passes over the same, so that the air or gas
will produce a cooling, heating or evaporation of the liquid according to the
difference of temperature existing between the two, or the liquid will absorb a
certain amount of the air or gas.
The liquid flowing down the sides of the casing may either be led away or it
may be made to pass back to the central screw or other device by which it is raised
to the annular trough to be again thrown against the revolving shells, and this may
be repeated any number of times before the liquid is discharged.
The air, after passing up in contact with the liquid shells, escapes through an
opening in the top of the casing and is either led away, or it may be led back
to the lower end of the casing to be again passed up in contact with the liquid.
According to another modification, the concentric conical shells are arranged
with their larger diameter downwards instead of upwards, and the liquid being
thrown against the upper end of their inner surfaces, is made to flow in a helical
downward path over them while the air or gas flows in an upward direction in
contact therewith, whereby an increased relative motion between the two is
produced. The shells have annular grooves at their lower ends in which the

page_text: descending liquid is collected, and from which it is thrown against the casing
through openings in which are fitted half round pipes.
The air currents may be produced by fan blades within the casing as before, or
by an external air propeller connected to the casing by a pipe or flue.
According to another construction, the said concentric conical shells are arranged
with their larger ends alternately at the top and at the bottom, so that, the liquid,
being thrown against the lower end of the innermost one which has its larger end
at the top, will ascend this shell and be thrown through openings at the upper end
on to the upper end of the next shell; it will then flow down this shell, and then
pass through openings on to the lower end of the next shell, up which the liquid
will then ascend, and so on. The air or gas on the other hand is made to flow in a
zigzag manner consecutively through the several annular spaces, in the contrary
direction to the flow of the liquid by providing annular hoods at the upper and
lower ends of the shells, suitably arranged for directing the current as described;
and the current may be produced either by drawing the air through the spaces by
a central fan, or by providing helical vanes on the outer surfaces of the several
shells, these vanes being so formed as by their rotation with the shells, to
propel the air alternately upwards and downwards in the consecutive annular
spaces.
The liquid and the air or gas may either be passed only once over the several
concentric shells, or they may be made to do so any desired number of times by
providing suitable passages and directing shields which lead the liquid and air back
to the starting point after completing the circuit.
Dated this 19th day of September 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Apparatus for Producing Intimate Frictional Action
between Liquids and Gases or Vapours by means of Centrifugal
Force, for Effecting either the Evaporation of the Liquids or the
Interchange of Temperature between the Liquids and Gases or
the Mixing of the Gases with or their Separation from the
Liquids.
I, EDUARD THEISEN, of Rodolfzel, Baden, Germany, Engineer, 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 method of producing intimate frictional action between
liquids and gases by causing the liquids to flow in thin films or layers over the
inner surfaces of rapidly revolving cylindrical or conical drums while at the same
time air, gases, or vapours are caused to flow, while also subject to centrifugal
action, in intimate contact with such thin layers of liquid, a considerable relative
motion being at the same time made to take place between the two.
By this
means the particles of liquid and air, gas or vapour, are subject either to a rapid
interchange of temperature, for effecting the evaporation of the former, or the
heating or cooling of the one or the other, or they are caused to be intimately
mixed together, or again, when a mixture of liquid and gases is so treated while
subject to a greater or less exhaust, the air or gases may be effectually separated
from the liquids, or the gas may be made to act chemically upon the liquid.
The apparatus for carrying out this method of operating may be variously
constructed; thus, according to one arrangement, I employ a number of concentric
cylindrical or conical shells mounted on a vertical shaft within a casing, and I
introduce the liquid to be treated centrally into an annular trough revolving with
he shaft, from which the liquid is led through radial pipes to the inner peripheries

page_text: of the several shells, so that the liquid impinging upon these is caused by centrinigai
action to travel upward upon the shells in a helical path towards the upper ends,
where it is caught up by annular grooves in the shells having openings by which
At the same time one
the liquid is thrown against the inner surface of the casing.
or more fans mounted upon the upper part of the said shaft are made to draw
currents of air or other gas in an upward direction through the annular spaces
between the shells, and between the outermost shell and the casing, so that such air
or gas, being also subject to centrifugal action, is brought into considerable frictional
contact with the liquid as it passes over the same, so that the air or gas will produce
a cooling, heating or evaporation of the liquid according to the difference of
temperature existing between the two, or the liquid will absorb a certain amount of
the air or gas.
The liquid flowing down the sides of the casing may either be led away or it
may be made to pass back to the central screw or other device by which it is raised
to the annular trough to be again thrown against the revolving shells, and this may
be repeated any number of times before the liquid is discharged.
The air, after passing up in contact with the liquid shells, escapes through an
opening in the top of the casing and is either led away, or it may be led back to
the lower end of the casing to be again passed up in contact with the liquid.
According to another modification, the concentric conical shells are arranged
with their larger diameter downwards instead of upwards, and the liquid being
thrown against the upper end of their inner surfaces, is made to flow in a helical
downward path over them while the air or gas flows in an upward direction in
contact therewith, whereby an increased relative motion between the two is
produced. The shells have annular grooves at their lower ends in which the
descending liquid is collected, and from which it is thrown against the casing
through openings in which are fitted half round pipes.
The air currents may be produced by fan blades within the casing as before, or
by an external air propeller connected to the casing by a pipe or flue.
According to another construction, the said concentric conical shells are arranged
with their larger ends alternately at the top and at the bottom, so that, the liquid,
being thrown against the lower end of the innermost one which has its larger end
at the top will ascend this shell and be thrown through openings at the upper end
on to the upper end of the next shell; it will then flow down this shell, and then
pass through openings on to the lower end of the next shell, up which the liquid
will then ascend, and so on. The air or gas on the other hand is made to flow in a
zig zag manner consecutively through the several annular spaces, in the contrary
direction to the flow of the liquid by providing annular hoods at the upper and
lower ends of the shells, suitably arranged for directing the current as described;
and the current may be produced either by drawing the air through the spaces by
a central fan, or by providing helical vanes on the outer surfaces of the several
shells, these vanes being so formed as by their rotation with the shells, to propel
the air alternately upwards and downwards in the consecutive annular spaces.
The liquid and the air or gas may either be passed only once over the several
concentric shells, or they may be made to do so any desired number of times by
providing suitable passages and directing shields which lead the liquid and air back
to the starting point after completing the circuit.
Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings shew diagrammatic sections of various
arrangements of apparatus for carrying out the above described method of
operating. In the arrangement at Fig. I A A A are three concentric cylinders,
made of slightly smaller diameters at the lower ends than at the upper ends and
connected by radial arms to a central shaft B suitably supported in bearings and
rotated by a driving shaft C and bevil gear, so that the cylinders A. are carried
round with it. The shaft B has a worm D fixed on it, enclosed in a cylindrical
casing E the lower end of which is supplied through a pipe F with the liquid to be
treated, so that by the rotation of the worm D the liquid is raised in the casing E
and made to flow from its upper end into an annular trough G carried by the

page_text: shaft 15 and from which radial tubes H of varying length project to near the inne
surfaces of the several cylinders A. Thus the liquid that is delivered into the
trough G is thrown by centrifugal force through the tubes H against the lower end
of the inner surfaces of the cylinders, and by the rotation of these it is caused to
ascend in a thin film in a helical direction along the slightly outward inclined
surfaces thereof. The shaft carries above the upper ends of the cylinders, an
air propeller I by means of which air is drawn up from a flue J at the bottom
of the casing K, and is caused to pass in intimate frictional contact with the
films of liquid on each of the cylinders A.
At their upper ends the cylinders A are provided with an annular trough A
from which project radial.tubes L, so that as the liquid rises on the cylinders
as described, it is caught in the troughs A' from which it is discharged by
centrifugal force through the tubes L against the sides of the casing K, down
which it then flows to the bottom, where it is again conveyed by tubular
channels M to the casing, to be again raised by the worm and subjected to the
above described treatment. Or the liquid, when sufficiently concentrated or other-
wise acted upon, can be discharged through the pipe For through another pipe.
The air or gas in being carried round in the annular spaces between the
cylinders A will also be subject to centrifugal action, whereby it will be forcibly
pressed against the liquid at the same time that it travels along the same.
It will be readily seen that the above described method of operating may be
applied to a variety of purposes. Thus assuming that there exists a difference of
temperature between the air or other gas entering the apparatus and the liquid, the
intimate frictional contact between the two will produce an effective interchange of
heat and evaporation or concentration of the liquid, or the liquid may be made to
take up a certain proportion of the gases in contact therewith, or, a chemical action
may be set up between the liquid and the gas.
Fig. 2 shews a vertical section of another arrangement, in which the cylinders A
instead of being widened out towards the upper end are widened out towards the
lower end. The liquid is in this case supplied from the casing E to the revolving
conical shell G on which it rises by centrifugal action and from the upper end of
which it is thrown by tubes H on to the concentric cylinders A, down which it
descends by the combined action of centrifugal force and gravity and from the
troughs A of the lower end of which it is thrown through the tubes L against the
outer casing K. The air or other gas to be brought into frictional contact with
the liquid drawn up from the flue by means of an air propeller communicating
with the upper flue J. Fig. 3, shews the same arrangement of the cylinders A,
but with the liquid supplied thereto at the upper end from a vessel G fixed on the
upper end of the shaft B and supplied by a pipe F.
Fig. 4 shews a vertical section of another arrangement in which the innermost
and outermost cylinders A' A³ are enlarged towards their upper ends, while the
middle one A2 is enlarged towards the lower end, so that the liquid is first made to
travel upwards on the inner cylinder A', is then thrown on to the upper end of the
middle cylinder A2, on which it travels downward, and from the lower end of which
it is thrown on to the lower end of the outer cylinder A³, on which it travels
upward again, and from the upper end of which it is thrown on to the casing. The
spaces between the cylinders A¹ A² and A³ are enclosed at top by an annular cap N,
and the space between A and A2 is separated at bottom from that between A³
and A3 by troughs O₁ and within the cylinder A' are fixed helical blades P
while ou the outer surfaces of all three cylinders are fixed helical blades P P P¹
so that air or other gas entering the closed casing K through the inlet J at
first made to pass downwards through the inside of cylinder A' by the action of the
top,
blades P then upward between A and A2 and then downward again between A
and A³ by the action of the blades P. By thus bringing one and the same body of
liquid into long continued and repeated contact with one and the same body of gas, if
necessary under pressure (the openings Q and R of the casing being closed), either the
liquid may be made to absorb a greater or less quantity of the gases, or the latter may
is

page_text: be made to act chemically upon the liquid, or the liquid may be made to give up gases
contained therein, the gases being, according to the nature of the operation, either
introduced into the casing K through the opening Q and discharged through the
opening R or vice versa.
Fig. 5 shews a vertical section of a practical construction of the apparatus similar
to that described with reference to the diagram Fig. 2, the apparatus being here
supposed to be applied to the evaporation of a liquid by being brought into intimate
frictional contact with hot air or hot combustion gases.
A A are, as before two concentric metal cylinders, made slightly larger in
diameter at the lower ends than at the upper ends.
They are supported from the central shaft B by means of a cap R fixed on
the latter, to brackets S S' fixed on which the cylinders are attached by
bolts T T¹.
shaft C.
The shaft has fixed upon it a worm D enclosed in a cylinder E, the upper end of
which carries a neck bearing for the shaft whose lower end is carried in a step
bearing U.
It receives rapid rotary motion by bevil gearing from a driving
The cylinder E communicates at its lower end with a horizontal cylinder E' in
which are right and left handed worms D' driven by the shaft C which convey the
liquid falling from the cylinders A back to the worm D.
Surrounding the upper end of the cylinder E is a conical shell G, the lower part
of which is conveniently formed in one with the casting R while the upper part is
formed of thin sheet metal.
The liquid raised by the worm D is discharged through the lateral openings of
the cylinder E on to the cone G, on the sides of which it is made to rise by
centrifugal action so as to be thrown by the pipes H H' at the upper end of the
cone partly on to the recessed upper end of the cylinder A and partly on to that of
the cylinder A. From these parts of the cylinders the liquid is then made to
descend in a thin film, partly by gravity and partly by centrifugal action, along the
surfaces of the cylinders, the portion thereof which is not evaporated heing
intercepted at the lower end by a series of half round troughs A2 by which it is
discharged into the annular space V in the casing K. Here it is caught up by
inclined gutter W which leads it to openings E2 through which it passes into the
tube E' to be again raised and submitted to the above described evaporating action.
The cone G is surrounded by a cylinder G¹ fixed thereto, and upon the outer
surface of this cylinder are fixed a number of helical vanes P, while other helical
vanes P¹ are fixed upon the outer surface of the cylinder A.
Hot air or hot combustion gases being introduced through an opening J into the
central space X of the apparatus, such air or gases are drawn upward by the action
of the vanes P P through the annular spaces between G¹ and A and A and A', and
are at the same time thrown by centrifugal action into close frictional contact with
the film of liquid descending upon the surfaces of A A', whereby an effective
interchange of temperature and consequent evaporation of the liquid will be
effected, the resulting gases charged with vapour being then made to pass upward
to a surface condenser situated either above or at some other point.
Any of the liquid that may drop down from the cylinder A is caught by a pan Y
at the bottom of the central space, whence it is discharged by a pipe Y' into a
suitable receptacle.
Any liquid that drips from the cylinder A¹ is directed by the apron W' into the
gutter W.
The escape of the hot gases through the annular space between the cylinders A'
and the casing K is prevented by a partition Z fixed to the latter.
Fig. 6 shews a modification of the above described arrangement in which firstly,
there is only a single cylinder A on to which the liquid is delivered from the cone,
and secondly the distributing cone G is divided into two separate parts that are
made to revolve in opposite directions.
For this purpose the shaft B is surrounded by a tubular shaft B¹ driven by the

page_text: gearing in the contrary direction to B and to which is attached the lower part of
the cone G and cylinder a by means of arms bb and bolts cc while the upper
part G¹ of the cone and cylinder A. are connected to the shaft B by arms d d and
bolts e e, and consequently these parts revolve in the contrary direction to the
parts G and a.
With this arrangement it will be seen that the liquid supplied by the worm D to
the lower cone G will be delivered from the upper edge of the latter with a certain
circumferential velocity in one direction on to the lower edge of the cone G¹
revolving in the contrary direction. The result hereof will be that in rising up the
cone G¹ by centrifugal action the liquid will first require to have the circumferential
velocity imparted to it by G checked and neutralised before it can begin to follow
the direction of the circular motion of G', and the consequence hereof will be that
when it arrives at the upper edge of G it will not have had sufficient time to
acquire the circumferential velocity thereof, so that the centrifugal force with which
it is thrown against the cylinder A from the pipes H will be very considerably less
than it would be in the preceding case where the liquid while travelling up the
surface of the cone G will have time to acquire the full circumferential speed
thereof, and thus the violent splashing of the liquid against the cylinder is prevented
and its uniform distribution over the surface thereof is insured.
The liquid arriving at the bottom of the cylinder A passes away through spouts f
delivering it into the gutter W as before. The other parts of the apparatus
are the same as previously described. Fig. 7 shews a part vertical section of a
modification of the preceding arrangement in which some of the liquid is delivered
from the cone G¹ through pipes H on to the surface of the casing K so as to flow
down the same in the same way as down the cylinder A. In this case the hot air or
gases are of course made to pass from the central space X also to the annular space
between the cylinder A and the casing, the former being provided with external
helical vanes P¹ by which such hot gases are both propelled upward and thrown
forcibly in contact with the liquid flowing down the casing.
Fig. 8 shews a longitudinal section Fig. 9 a cross section on line X X Fig. 8
and Fig. 10 an end view of another arrangement of the apparatus in which the
cylinders AA are placed horizontally, this apparatus being more particularly
applicable for the purpose of cooling large quantities of liquid, such as the water
employed for the condensation of steam in surface condensers.
In this arrangement, there are two separate sets of concentric cylinders A A A
secured to a tubular shaft B carried in bearings at 9 and h and driven by pullies m.
Into the one end of this shaft passes a fixed pipe F through which the liquid to be
cooled enters, and whence it issues into an enlargement B. From this enlargement
a series of radiating pipes ii lead on either hand to the annular spaces between the
several cylinders A A so that the liquid is thrown by centrifugal force from these
tubes on to the cylinders where, by the centrifugal action it is distributed in
a thin layer over the surface and is made to flow towards the outer ends of the
cylinders.
Here the liquid is caught up by half round troughs; arranged tangentially as
shewn at Fig. 10, which deliver it into the tank k below.
Surrounding the space between the two sets of cylinders A are arranged a series
of fan blades which in revolving at a quick speed with the cylinders A, draw air
from the outer ends of the two sets of cylinders, through the annular spaces
between the same. Such air in being carried round by the cylinders, is also
thrown by centrifugal action against the liquid, so that it is made to travel in close
frictional contact with the liquid which is travelling in the contrary direction; by
this means the liquid will become effectually cooled.
It will be seen that the cylinders A, instead of having their ends lying in one
and the same plane are shifted relatively to each other so that at the outer ends
they overhang each other in the direction from the centre outwards, while at the
inner ends they recede in that direction. By this arrangement firstly an advantageous
distribution of the entering air among the several annular spaces, is insured, which

page_text: the centrifugal action of the cylinders would more or less prevent if the openings to
the annular spaces were all in one plane, and secondly by the receding arrangement
of the inner end of the cylinders a better exit for the air is afforded as it passes to
the fan blades. K is the fixed casing surrounding the cylinders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Producing intimate frictional action between liquids and gases or vapours, by
causing the liquid to pass in thin films over rapidly revolving cylindrical or
conical surfaces while at the same time the gases or vapours are caused by
centrifugal action to impinge upon the said films of liquid and to travel in intimate
contact with the same either at a different speed in the same direction or in the
contrary direction, substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for producing intimate frictional action between liquids and gases
or vapours in the manner referred to in the preceding claim, consisting of two or more
concentric rapidly revolving cylinders A. A against which the liquid is thrown at
the one end and along the surfaces of which it is made to travel in a thin layer by
centrifugal action while at the same time air or other gas also subject to centrifugal
action is thrown or forced or drawn in intimate contact therewith in such manner
as to produce a considerable relative motion between the two, substantially as
described with reference to the drawings.
3. In apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claim, constructing the
revolving cylinders with a certain amount of taper either in an upward or a
downward direction so that the liquid delivered on to either the lower or the upper
end is caused by centrifugal action to travel either upward or downward until it is
intercepted by an annual recess on the cylinder having outlets through which the
liquid is thrown by centrifugal force, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 of the drawings.
4. In apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claims, arranging the
concentric cylinders with their taper in alternately reversed directions, so that the
liquid is made to flow consecutively along the cylinders in correspondingly
alternating directions, and enclosing the annular spaces at the ends of the cylinders
in such manner that the air or gas is caused to flow consecutively through the
several annular spaces in the contrary direction to that of the liquid, substantially
as described with reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 16th day of June 1893. •
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.