Improvements in the Concentration of Sulphuric Acid and in the Apparatus Employed therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Concentration of Sulphuric Acid and in the
Apparatus Employed therefor.
I, GEORGE VEITCH partner of the firm of William Veitch and Son of the Chemical
Works, Crieff, in the County of Perth, North Britain, Chemical Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the concentration of sulphuric acid, and
in the apparatus employed therefor.
The improved apparatus consists of a series of small flat bottomed retorts made
preferably of hard Bohemian glass; or best English made glassware. The said
retorts are mounted in a line upon a stepped terrace, within a fire flue, and they are
all connected by a lip or spout between each of the retorts so that the acid is made
to flow continuously through the series from the retort on the highest step to the
lowest retort.
The top or cover of the fire flue is formed of a strip of asbestos millboard or other
incombustible material, with the shoulder of each of the retorts, to the distance of
the lips or spouts, protruding through the said millboard. The heads of the retorts
are connected by glass arms with a main pipe for drawing off the waste gas into
condensers.
In my apparatus the whole working is open to view, so that the breaking of a
retort can be at once detected.
By the employment of flat bottomed retorts in accordance with my improvements, I
dispense with any necessity for setting the retorts upon sand.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Petitioner's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. ⚫
Improvements in the Concentration of Sulphuric Acid and in the
Apparatus Employed therefor.
I, GEORGE VEITCH, partner of the firm of William Veitch and Son, of the Cheinical
Works, Crieff, in the County of Perth, North Britain, Chemical Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
.
This Invention which relates to improvements in the concentration of sulphuric
acid and in the apparatus employed therefor consists in the employment of a series of
Sinall flat-bottomed retorts, made preferably of hard Bohemian glass or best English-
made glassware mounted in a line upon a stepped terrace within a fire flue, and all
connected by means of lips or spouts to each other, so that the acid is made to flow
continuously through the series from the retort on the highest step to the one on the
lowest step. The top of the fire flue'is covered with a strip of Asbestos millboard or
other incombustible material, which has the necessary openings in it for allowing the
shoulders and lips or spouts of the said retorts to protrude through it. The tops or
heads of the said retorts are each connected by glass arms to a main pipe for drawing
off the waste gas into the condensers.
The arrangement being such that the whole working can be seen from the top, so
that in the case of a retort breaking it can easily be replaced without stopping the
process, at the same time there
practically no loss of acid, as the acid from the
[Di Q7

page_text: broken retort falls on the inclined bottom of the fire flue (or into a cast iron run)
and thence into a small cast iron run, which conducts it to a receiving vessel outside.
By the employment of flat-bottomed retorts in accordance with my improvements, I
dispense with any necessity for setting the retorts upon sand.
In order that my said Invention may be more readily understood and easily carried
into effect I will now proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying sheet
of drawings, Figure 1, of which is a front elevation of my apparatus as formed with
a fire flue of its own. Figure 2, is a sectional side elevation of the same at line X, X.
Figure 3, is a sectional plan of same at line Y, Y, and Figures 4, and 5, are part
sectional cross elevation and part sectional side elevation respectively of my im-
provements as adapted to existing fire flues' so as to utilize the waste heat.
In carrying out my said improvements I employ a series of twelve or any other
number of small flat bottomed retorts A (Figures 1, 2, and 3,) made preferably of
hard Bohemian glass or best English made glassware, each being formed with a lip
or spout a, an opening a', and a head or top opening a². These retorts I preferably
mount as shown in a line on a stepped terrace B, each having its lip or spout a, placed
in the opening a¹, of the retort next it, unless the top or highest retort which has the
end of the pipe c, leading the acid from the supplying pan C, placed in its opening a
and the bottom or lowest retort which has its lip or spout placed in the cup end of a
glass arm or pipe d, which leads the acid into the receiving box D, this box D, being
placed inside another box D1, which is filled with water for the purpose of cooling the
acid. The heads or top openings a², have placed in each the inverted cup ends c, of
glass arms E, which lead the waste gases to the lead pipe F', which is connected to
suitable condensers. The whole arrangement being such that the acid flows con-
tinuously from the supplying pan C, through the series of retorts A, and thence into
the receiving box D, while at the same time any waste gases are led off into the
condensers by the glass arins E, and lead pipe F.
The said stepped terrace B, I preferably form, as shown, running along the centre
of a tapered fire flue G, built of brick or other suitable material and having two fire
boxes H, at its base or widest end, and a sinoke flue J, at its top or narrowest end.
The said tapered fue runs at an incline corresponding to the rise of the stepped
terrace. Its sole or bottom being preferably formed of an inclined sheet of metal K,
so as to allow any acid which may fall on it from a broken retort to run down into
the cast iron run I, and thence into the receiving vessel L, outside.
The top or cover being preferably formed of a sheet of Asbestos millboard M, or
other incombustible material, the said cover having the necessary openings formed in
it for allowing the shoulders or top ends of the retorts to project above the cover,
thus leaving the whole apparatus open to view from the outside. The small space
round the retorts' outside and opening in the asbestos may be filled with asbestos fibre
if desired so that no air is admitted while the retorts are in operation.
Some of the advantages thus gained being:-Cheapness in the rectifying process,
owing to the first cost being much less than by the employment of Platinum or other
retorts; a much greater heating surface; no necessity for setting the retorts in sand;
practically no loss of acid or stoppage of the process through a retort breaking, as
owing to the whole apparatus being open to view a breakage can be instantly detected
and quickly rectified, thus rendering the process very simple; and by the employ-
ment of a tapered flue, more benefit is derived from the coal, with a better distribution
of the heat, and not so much danger of the retorts being broken by the flames or
rushes of cold air.
My said improvements may also be adapted to existing fire flues or in waste heat
flues, such as those conveying the sulphurous gas to the chambers, thus rectifying the
acid without the use of coal.
Figures 4, and 5, show my improvements as adapted to waste heat flue N, the
bottom of which is level, but for saving the acid when breakages occur I employ in
lieu of the inclined sheet of metal K, (as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 3,) a cast iron run P, and in lieu of the asbestos cover M, (herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3,) I employ two series of cast

page_text: iron plates R, running along the sides of the flue and supported in any suitable
inanner, these plates carrying the strip of asbestos millboard $, or other incombustible
material having the necessary openings for retorts formed in it, the space between
these openings and the outside of the retorts being filled with asbestos fibre if
desired.
As a modification of my stepped terrace I may employ a series of retorts of
different sizes. that is, each a little longer than the other and placed in a line on a
level.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. In the concentration of Sulphuric acid the employment of a series of flat-
bottomed retorts mounted upon a stepped terrace formed along the centre of a tapered
flue, the said retorts having their shoulders or top ends, with connecting lips, open-
ings, and arms, projecting above the cover of the flue, all substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to, and shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In the concentration of sulphuric acid the employment of a tapered flue
with inclined bottom, incombustible cover and cast iron run, all substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to, and shown in, Figures 1, 2,
and 3, of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In the concentration of sulphuric acid the arrangement and construction of
the various parts constituting my improvements in utilizing waste heat in existing
flues, for the said concentration, all substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described with reference to and shown in Figures 4, and 5, of the accompany-
ing Drawings.
Dated thin
1000