IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING THE DISCHARGE WATER FROM SUGAR MANUFACTORIES AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue and
Birkbeck, Patent Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVED
MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING THE DISCHARGE WATER FROM
SUGAR MANUFACTORIES AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS."
A com-
munication from abroad by William Knauer, Manufacturer, of Osmünde, near
Groebers, Prussia.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1880.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING THE DISCHARGE
WATER FROM SUGAR MANUFACTORIES AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS."
(A communication from abroad by William Knauer, Manufacturer, of Osmünde,
near Groebers, Prussia.)
The pollution of rivers by the discharge water from sugar and other manufac-
tories and other industrial establishments consists generally on the one hand of
mechanical parts of the (for the most part organic) matters being the object of the
exploitation carried along with it. On the other hand the acids and salts contained
in the polluted water act injuriously, not only directly, but also by their operation
on the first mentioned matters.
This improved process for cleansing, and the means employed, have for their
object the following
First. A separation of all coarser particles of matter by sieves of different width
and position, according to circumstances.
Second. The conducting away of the self forming foam by means of a peculiarly
built wheel.
Third. The destroying of all organic matter by the application of suitable
chemicals to the water which has been already heated to a certain temperature.
Fourth. The connection of the acids and transformation of the salts act in such a
manner that precipitates result and harmless combinations arise.

page_text: The discharge waters disposed to the formation of foam fall first on a wheel with
ladles or buckets, whereby more or less foam forms, which is thrown out by the
wheel and buckets, and by means of a channel provided with sieve bottoms is
taken away. The water free of foam falls into a vessel which is divided by a sieve
into two parts, and from there after it has passed the sieve, is led to the warming
apparatus. At the same time those discharge waters reach there direct in which
the mechanical cleansing is not necessary.
This warming results partly from the cleansed water flowing back with a higher
temperature, and partly either by means of the lost warmth of a fuel, or by means
of the importation of steam which is taken away from some retrograde or other
sort of steam conductor. The contrivance for the employment of the warmth of
the cleansed water is adjusted according to the principles of the counter current
coolers, so that the two fluids flow in directions opposed to each other.
The apparatus used for it is distinguished from like coolers by its being open at
the top, and therefore can be got at to be cleansed. The warming of the water to
be cleansed must then be carried to the temperature of 50° Celsius, whereby the
greater part of the organic matters separate themselves; the water must however be
further heated over 75° Celsius, in order to completely cradicate them.
To the so heated water, line white, the specific gravity of which is 1·021 kilog.
pro cubic decimetre or litre, is added; this then flows into large covered reservoirs,
where the greater part of the organic matters are deposited. By its passage through
this reservoir the water receives yet another addition of chloride of manganese or
of other chemicals, the quantity of which is regulated by the substances. The so
cleansed water is next used for the warming of the discharge water to be cleansed:
lastly, through a graduation house or the like contrivance, so far cooled that it can
either be conveyed to further use or can be discharged to the rivers.
Besides this a separation of mineral substances and a filling in with air takes
place at the graduation house.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
August 1880.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. 16
IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING THE DISCHARGE
WATER FROM SUGAR MANUFACTORIES AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
A communication from abroad by William Knauer. Manufacturer, of Osmünde,
near Groebers, Prussia.
"
The pollution of rivers by the discharge water from sugar and other manufac-
tories and other industrial establishments consists generally on the one hand of
mechanical parts of the (for the most part organic) waste matters resulting from the
manufacture carried along with it. On the other hand the acids and salts contained
in the polluted water act injuriously, not only directly, but also by their operation
on the first mentioned matters.
This improved process for cleansing, and the means employed, have for their
object the following
First. A separation of all the coarser particles of matter by sieves of different
guage and position, according to circumstances.
Second. The conducting away of the self forming foam or froth by means of a
peculiarly constructed wheel.
Third. The destroying of the organic matters contained in the water by the
application of suitable chemicals to the water which has been already heated to a
certain temperature.
Fourth. The chemical action of the acids and transformation of the salts act in
such a manner that precipitates result and harmless combinations arise.
The discharge waters disposed to the formation of foam or froth fall first on a
wheel with buckets, whereby more or less froth forms, which is thrown out by the
wheel and buckets, and by means of a channel provided with sieves is conducted
away. The water free from froth falls into a vessel which is divided by a sieve or
sieves into parts, and from there after it has passed the sieves, is led to the heating
apparatus. At the same time those discharge waters in which the mechanical
cleansing is not necessary are conducted there direct.
The heating of the discharge waters is effected partly from the cleansed water
flowing back with a higher temperature, and partly either by means of the waste
heat of the fuel consumed in the works, or by the introduction of waste or other
steam from exhaust or other pipes.
The contrivance for utilizing the heat of the cleansed water is adjusted or
arranged according to the principles of the counter current coolers, so that the two
fluids flow in opposite directions.
The apparatus used for this purpose differs from similar cooling apparatus by
being open at the top, whereby it can be got at to be cleansed.
The heating of the water to be cleansed is raised to the temperature of about
122 degrees Fahrenheit, whereby the greater part of the organic matters are
separated; the water must however be further heated to about 167 degrees
Fahrenheit, in order to completely eradicate them.
To the so heated water, lime, in the proportion of from 3 to 4 pounds to every
250 or 300 gallons, is added; this then flows into large covered reservoirs, where
the greater part of the organic matters are deposited. By its passage through this
reservoir the water receives yet another addition of chloride of manganese or of
other chemicals, the quantity and nature of which is governed by the matters to be
acted upon. The water cleansed as above described is next used for the healing of
the discharge water to be cleansed; lastly, passing through a graduating tank or

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 a transverse section (taken through the line
A, B, of Figure 1) of apparatus arranged in accordance with this Invention. Those
waters which contain fibrous parts in mechanical admixture or suspension, and
which by agitation form froth or foam, are conducted so as to fall on to the wheel b
forined with buckets by means of the channel or conduit a. By this means the
wheel is set in motion and throws the foam or froth which is on the surface on to
the flowing off passage d. The froth or foam can be utilized and distributed as
manure.
The water thus freed from froth or foam, passes through the tank e through the
sieves c, c, and from there either by natural falls or by means of the pump f to the
reservoir h. The sieves c, c', are so formed that they keep back all the fibrous
parts, and can be easily cleansed.
Waters which contain earthy, sandy, muddy, and slimy matters, are next
conducted by means of the pipe i to a row of purifying or depositing tanks k, k.
These tanks are so formed that by means of a small sluice at ',, each of them
can be separately cleansed while the others remain in action. Their size and
number depend as much upon the quantity of water to be clarified as upon the
nature of its pollutions, as very finely distributed slime requires more lime for its
deposit than coarser sand.
If waters from different branches of the manufactory are to be treated, which
carry with them different kinds of pollution, they may be separately conducted by
particular systems from the purifying tanks. The purified waters are collected in
the deep reservoir l, and from there are raised either by means of the pump m to
the tank, or, if they still contain floating fibrous matters, to the channel or
conduit a, from which they are conducted to the reservoir by the means previously
described and indicated in the Drawings annexed.
The tank or reservoir h which takes up all the impure waters to be employed
stands so high that the waters flow through the apparatus n, n, by their own
pressure.
In this apparatus, the construction and arrangement which is more exactly shown
and described in reference to Figures 3 to 8 of the Drawings, the water to be
heated enters by means of the pipes o, o, into the lowest part of each apparatus,
and leaves them by means of the pipes p, p, at the highest part, after it has flowed
through all the pipes of the series before it reaches the mixing tank q. All those
waters which require cleansing which have left the factory with a high temperature,
as well as the steam which is of no further use, are also conducted to this apparatus,
and assist in heating the mixture of impure waters collected in the tank q.
The temperature of the whole mixture must be brought to at least 122 degrees
Fahrenheit, or thereabout, in order to separate the greater part of the organic
matters, but must be increased to a temperature of about 167 degrees Fahrenheit
in order to destroy them completely.
If the heat in the apparatus n, n, and the heat brought with the hot discharged
water do not attain the required temperature, it is necessary to use sufficient steam
for the purpose by means of coils of pipe or some other suitable heating apparatus.
In addition to the above there flows into the mixing tank a continual stream of
lime water. The quantity of limo to be employed is governed by the quantity of

page_text: water to be treated and the degree of pollution of the water. Generally from
three to four pounds of lime to about 250 or 300 gallons of water, more or less, is
sufficient.
It is to be observed that the surface of the water in the tank 9 must be higher
than the highest point of the apparatus n, n.
The water now heated and mixed with lime flows from the tank q into the
settling tanks r, r, which possess similar apparatus to those of the tanks k. k.
Already in the first of these tanks there is a deposit of oxalate of lime, and then
this passes into the second settling tank at s, chlorate of manganese being added in
the form of alkali. The precipitates formed by this means collect in the other
tanks, and are removed from time to time.
For about 250 to 300 gallons of water an addition of about half a pound of
alkali is sufficient.
By being heated to about 167 degrees of Fahrenheit and upwards, the organic
matters are destroyed and deprived of the capability of fermenting. By the
addition of lime and chloride of manganese the free acids are fixed, the salts beld
in solution in the water are changed into insoluble salts and separated by the
precipitate, also the still remaining organic matters are taken up and carried
with it.
The cleansed water next passes by the pipe t into the apparatus n, n, at the
highest point of each apparatus, then flows down, circulating in the pipes, and
finding its exit again at u, u, being delivered to the reservoir for cleansed water
at v. Froin there they are pumped into a gradation tank similar to those used in
salt works, and in it are not only cooled down but are also cleansed, for the
overplus of lime is saturated with the carbonic acid of the air. The surface of the
gradation tank should be about 2 square yards for every 300 gallons of water.
The pipes of the heating and cooling apparatus n, n, are constructed and
arranged according to the counter current principle, so that the cleansing of them
can be very easily and quickly effected.
Every such apparatus consists of a system of pipes opening on both sides, which
discharge from their ends into side chambers or cells, as shewn in Figure 4, and by
this means water or liquid can circulate regularly. Every chamber or cell has its
own cover, which can be easily removed by loosening the screws f. f. By means of
the two headed screws x, x, the perforated covers y are pressed against the back of
the chamber and the cover, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7.
The chambers, which are made of cast metal, are fixed to the plank or foundation
n by means of the screws m.
On the foundation between the pipes there are divisions of iron or other suitable
material which are alternately shortened at every end. The cases so made are
loosely covered with wood or other bad conductors of heat
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The liquid to be heated enters at o into the first chamber or cell, and runs
through the system of pipes in an ascending direction, leaving it at p. The hot
cleansed water or any other heated liquid enters at t into the system of tanks
surrounding the pipes, and flows (always circulating round the pipes) into the
lowest point, where it is discharged at u.
By the inclined arrangement of the whole apparatus the pipes are always
surrounded by a hot liquid, without the apparatus being hermetically closed at the
top. In this manner the heat of the hot cleansed water is almost entirely given to
the water to bo cleansed.
The effectiveness of the apparatus can be increased by means of a revolving
screw of sheet metal or other material being placed in each of the circulating pipes,
as shown at Figure 8.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention communicated to me from
abroad by the said William Knauer, I would remark that I do not claim
the separate parts of the means, apparatus, or processes herein before described,
any
of

page_text: which are well known and in common use, but what I claim under the above in
part recited Letters Patent is,
First. The improved means, apparatus, and processes combined for cleansing the
discharge waters from sugar and other manufactories or industrial establishments,
by subjecting the same to a certain degree of heat and chemical action, so as to
separate the greater part of the decomposed organic matters in a solid form,
substantially in the manner herein before described and represented in the Drawings
annexed.
Second. The improved arrangement and application of the water wheel b formed
with buckets for the removal of the foam or froth from the polluted water as it
passes to the cleansing apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described and shown in the Drawings annexed.
Third. The improved arrangement and application of two or more sieves c, c', for
arresting the fibrous materials and removing the same from the polluted water,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth. The improved arrangement and application of the heating and cooling
apparatus provided with counter current coolers, and constructed without a firmly
closed cover, being arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and represented in Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOHN CARRETT TONGUE
(LS)
JOHN CARRETT TONGUE (LS)