IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Graham Young, of Kelly, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Graham Young at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1880.
THOMAS GRAHAM YOUNG, of Kelly, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA.'
"
My improvements in the production of ammonia consist in effecting the com-
bination of the constituents of ammonia viz., nitrogen and hydrogen by means of
electricity.
The process as hereinafter described can be conducted either at atmospheric or
other pressure.
In practising my Invention I take a vessel in which electric discharges are
produced between insulated conductors. When such a vessel contains a mixture
of nitrogen and hydrogen gases or guscous mixtures containing those gases, and
electric discharges are produced between the electric conductors in the vessel,
combination takes place and ammonia is produced which may be absorbed by
water, muriatic acid, or other absorbent.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Graham Young in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
October 1880.
THOMAS GRAHAM YOUNG, of Kelly, in the County of Renfrow; North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA.'
"
My said improvements in the production of ammonia consist in effecting the
combination of the constituents of ammonia, viz., nitrogen and hydrogen by means
of electricity, in the manner hereinafter described.
The process, as hereinafter described, can be conducted either at atmospheric or
other pressure.
In practising my Invention I employ a vessel into which I pass insulated con-
ductors, the poles of which are placed at the proper distance apart for producing
electric discharges between them. Into this vessel I pass by one or more pipes a
mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen in the proportion of one volume of nitrogen to
three volumes of hydrogen. When electrical discharges are passed by means of a
Rhumkorff's coil or other electrical machine between the poles of the insulated con-
ductors, which may have one or more points, combination of the hydrogen and
nitrogen takes place producing ammonia which is absorbed by the vapour of water or
other absorbent placed in the vessel, the vessel being provided with cocks or their
equivalents for admitting the absorbent into and for withdrawing it from the
vossel when charged with the ammonia produced. It is here expressly explained
that to obtain the best results the presence of water in the state of vapour or other
absorbent is required. Water in the state-of vapour is sufficient as an absorbent,
but it may also be present with water in the liquid state, or other absorbent, such
as muriatic acid in the liquid state.
When manufacturing ammonia according to this Invention in a metallic vessel,
the vessel itself may or may not be insulated and used as one of the poles, in which
case the other pole may consist of one or more points arranged at a sufficient distance
from the inner sides of the vessel so as to produce electrical discharges between
these points and the inside of the vessel itself.
It is here further explained that the electric discharge used for the purpose of
this Invention is not that commonly known as the "silent discharge."
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of iny said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The manufacture of ammonia by passing a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen
into a vessel with an absorbent, and wherein electrical discharges are passed in the
manner herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Graham Young, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
THOMAS GRAHAM YOUNG. (LS.)