IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLING APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Paulmann, of Hanover, in the German Empire,
but at present of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLING APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Paulmann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1881.
CARL PAULMANN, of Hanover, in the German Empire, but at present of
33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DISTILLING APPARATUS."
The object of this Invention is to reduce the fuel used in alcohol distillation to a
minimum, while at the same time to increase the yield, purity, flavour, and strength
of the alcohol, and so as to remove the fusel oil therefrom.
Apparatus constructed according to this Invention operates continuously and
automatically, and with a continuous efflux of singlings water from the wash
residue.
The apparatus consists of the following principal parts:-A cylindrical wash
column, a rectifier or rectifying column, a condenser placed above it, and which at
the same time serves as a preparatory heater, a refrigerator for the spirits, and
having a still watcher with glass globe with alcoholmeter at the exit for the
alcohol, a regulator for the efflux of the residue of the wash, a test or sample
vessel with worm, and lastly a singlings column for continuous automatic work.
The apparatus is mainly made of copper and iron, but some parts may be made
of other materials. The cylindrical wash column is divided off into, say, about
fourteen stories, formed by diaphragins, which have central conical rising rims
forming a steam passage from the bottom to the top. Over each of these rims
there is an inverted dish, and these latter are by projections or feet kept about an
inch from the diaphragms, and fastened thereto. The wash is made to overflow
and drop down from one storey to another, and the diaphragms are for this
purpose each provided with a tubular socket so placed that the wash passes from
one side to the other at each storey, having also to pass in a circuitous manner
around the aforesaid inverted dish while thus passing from one side to the
other.
There is in each storey a screwed hand hole cover, which admits of cleaning out

page_text: the apparatus. I also provide a safety pipe with a descending bend, which is filled
with water, and is connected with a glass pipe that serves to indicate the steam
pressure in the apparatus.
In the bottom story of the wash column I arrange a perforated steam coil for
the steam from the boiler and the exhaust steam from the engine to enter into the
apparatus. The boiler steam is arranged to draw in the exhaust steam. In the
bottom of the apparatus is arranged a central overflow exit pipe for the wash,
which is now deprived of its alcohol, and which then passes off to the regulator.
This regulator for the exit of the wash consists of a closed cylindrical vessel
having a float which serves to close the efflux by means of a bottom valve. The
guide rod of the float works through a stuffing box. The regulator is by a pipe
connected with the steam space of the wash column. A test coil pipe in the test
vessel or cooler is connected to the regulator by means of a pipe with cock. The
cooler is filled with water, and is adapted to receive a test alcoholmeter. Cold
water is admitted to the cooler by a cock.
The spirit rectifying column is divided off into a number of stories by means of
perforated diaphragms, the number of which may be adapted to the degree of
specific gravity and purity desired to be obtained. The holes in the diaphragms
are made gradually smaller towards the top of the column. In each diaphragm
there is an overflow pipe reaching, say, about half an inch above the surface of the
diaphragm, and resting below the same in a recessed or cupped part of the
diaphragm, communicating therewith by one or more lateral openings. The over-
flow pipe in the lowermost diaphragms terminates in an upturned pipe bend, from
which the alcohol overflows into the upper part of the wash column.
The steam from the latter enters the spirit column or rectifier through the
perforations in the diaphragms of the latter, ascending to the top and there passing
off by a pipe and bend, and entering the condenser or preparatory heater. This
condenser or preparatory heater consists of an outer cylinder, and within it
another cylinder, the intermediate space containing water and forming a cooling
jacket.
Inside of the jacket there is a central cylinder, and between these two there is a
coil pipe for the wash to pass through from the bottom to the top. Between the
bottom of the central cylinder and the intermediate cylinder there is a space, into
which the condensed alcohol vapours accumulate, and run off below through a bent
pipe into the top of the rectifying column. The water in the outer jacket
communicates with the central space or cylinder by means of pipes or passages,
which connect the bottoms of the inner cylinder and the intermediato cylinder.
From the aforesaid space between the two cylinders there is a rising pipe, which
carries off the alcohol vapours of high specific gravity up through the condenser,
from whence they are carried off by a pipe which leads to the refrigerator.
This latter is formed with an outer water jacket, an intermediate annular space
which is fitted with helical passages in order to increase the length of the down-
ward passage of the alcohol through same, and lastly a central space for cooling
water, which at the top by means of pipes communicates with the water in the
jacket, and is open at the bottom, where it also communicates with the jacket.
The admission of the cooling circulating water is regulated by a cock or valve
with index. The cooling water passing out at the top enters the bottom of the
condenser, and passes out through a pipe at the top. The alcohol to be cooled and
coming from the condenser passes down along the aforesaid helical passage or
passages, and passes out at or near the bottom of the refrigerator into the still
watcher, having thermometer and alcohol-meter, and covered by a glass globe to
prevent escape of vapours from the alcohol, which thence passes to the spirit
receiver.
The singlings or low wine which passes from the rectifying column into the
upper part of the wash column aro by a pipe with syphon bend passed into the
top of the singlings columu, which is of a similar or like construction to that of
the rectifying column.

page_text: Steam from the boiler enters the apparatus through holes in a coil placed in the
bottom of the apparatus, and passes upwards through one diaphragm after another,
finally, together with the alcohol vapour which it has taken up, passing off at the
top by a pipe which communicates with the uppermost part of the wash column.
The fusel oil water flows off by a stand pipe at the bottom, and thence away
through a syphon bend.
The various apparatus above described may if desired and according to require-
ments of various localities be arranged more or less side by side instead of one
above the other in such case. I however place the singlings column directly under
the rectifying column.
The apparatus is supplied with mash or wash by means of a direct acting or
other pump, which forces it into the preparatory, heater, wherein the wash is
heated by the vapours of alcohol coming from the spirit column to a temperature
of about 190° Fahrenheit, the said wash having a strongly dephlegmating effect on
the alcohol.
The heated wash enters into the upper storey of the wash column, and passes
down through the column, whence it passes off deprived of all its alcohol. The wash
remains about five minutes in the preparatory heater, and about the same time in
the wash column, but gives off all its alcohol in that short time, as it passes through
the storeys of the wash column in very thin layers, and is thoroughly boiled
therein.
The vapours rising from the wash column are nearly of proof strength; they
enter the bottom storey of the rectifying column, and while rising through the
successive storeys of same the alcohol is rectified many times over, and then
enters the preparatory heater, enveloping the coil thereon containing wash, which
has to be preferable and distilled off. These vapours are dephlegmated by the
cooling action of the coil and by that of the water in the outer jacket, and then
pass off in the form of alcohol of high strength into the refrigerator, whilst the
plegon condensing in the preheater runs back to the top of the rectifying column.
The alcohol and the wash residue run off in a continuous and uniform stream all
the time.
The steam required for the distillation goes in the opposite direction; it enters
the bottom part of the wash column, the vapours arising therefrom pass up to the
upper storeys of the column, and maintain the wash therein in a boiling state.
As the wash in the coil of the preheater acts very dephlegmating on the alcohol
vapours, as already stated, very little water is required for the dephlegmated. In
order not to condense too much of the alcohol vapours by the dephlegmation, and
in order not to use more than the necessary quantity of water, there is a thermo-
meter in the still watcher, so as to be able to regulate the water supply to the
refrigerator, and a cock with index and hand, as stated.
By the above construction of mash column I am enabled to distil thick or thin
wash as desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Carl Paulmann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th April
1882.
CARL PAULMANN, of Hanover, in the German Empire, but at present of
33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DISTILLING APPARATUS."
The object of this Invention is to reduce the fuel used in alcohol distillation to
a minimum, while at the same time to increase the yield, purity, flavour, and
strength of the alcohol, and so as to remove the fusel oil therefrom.
Apparatus constructed according to this Invention operates continuously and
automatically, and with a continuous efflux of singlings water or "feints" from the
wash residue.
The apparatus consists of the following principal parts:-A cylindrical wash
column or analyser, a rectifier or rectifying column, a condenser placed above it,
and which at the same time serves as a preparatory heater, a refrigerator for the
spirits, and having a still watcher (with glass globe with alcoholmeter at the exit
for the alcohol, a regulator for the efflux of the residue of the wash, a test or
sample vessel with worm, and lastly a singlings or feints column or secondary
rectifier for continuous automatic work. On Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings I have in Figure 1, which is a part sectional elevation, represented a
combined distilling apparatus of this description; Figures 2, 3, and 4 are detail
views, which will be specially referred to later on.
The apparatus is mainly made of copper and iron, but some parts may be made
of other materials. The cylindrical wash column or analyser A is divided off into,
say, about 14 stories, as here shewn, and as will be further understood by Figure 3,
which is a plan section on line B through the analyser A. Each story has a
diaphragm a, which has a central conical rising rim b, forming a steam passage
from the bottom to the top. Over each of these rims there is an inverted dish c,
and these latter are by projections or feet d kept about an inch from the
diaphragms a, and fastened thereto. The wash is made to overflow and drop
down from one story to another, and the diaphragms a are for this purpose each
provided with a tubular socket consisting of a lower tube e and an upper tube f
placed therein. These sockets are so placed, as shewn at Figure 3, that is, alter-
nately or opposite each other that the wash passes from one side to the other at
each story, having also to pass in a circuitous manner around the aforesaid inverted
dish c while thus passing from one side to the other. By this circuitous passage
the wash or wort is caused to be thoroughly exposed to the action of the steam, as
will be more particularly referred to later on.
There is in each story a screw hand hole cover g, which admits of cleaning out
the apparatus. I also provide a safety pipe h with a descending bend, which is
filled with water, and is connected with a glass pipe i that serves to indicate the
steam pressure in the apparatus.
In the bottom story of the wash column or analyser A, which is shewn in plan
section at Figure 2, I arrange a perforated steam coil k for the steam from the
boiler and the exhaust steam from the engine to enter into the apparatus. The boiler
steam is arranged to draw in the exhaust steam. In the bottom of the apparatus
is arranged a central overflow exit pipe for the wash or spent or waste wash or
wort, which is now deprived of its alcohol, and which then passes off to the
regulator F.
This regulator F for the exit of the spent wash or wort consists of a closed
cylindrical vessel m, having a float n which serves to close the efflux by the pipe p
by means of a bottom valve o. The guide rod 9 of the float n works through a
stuffing box. The regulator F is by a pipe r connected with the steam space of the
wash column or analyser A. A test coil pipe in the test vessel or cooler G is con-
nected to the regulator by means of a pipe t with cock s. The cooler G is filled

page_text: with water, and is adapted to receive a test alcoholmeter at u. Cold water is
admitted to the cooler, by a cock v.
The spirit rectifying column B, which in this case forms an upper continuation
of the analyser A, is divided off into a number of stories by means of perforated
diaphragms w, the number of which may be adapted to the degree of specific
gravity and purity desired to be obtained. The holes in the diaphragms w are
made gradually smaller towards the top of the column. In each diaphragm w there
is an overflow pipe y reaching, say, about half an inch above the surface of the
diaphragm w, and resting below the same in a recessed or cupped part w' of the
next following lower diaphragm, communicating therewith by one or more lateral
openings w. The overflow pipe y in the lowermost diaphragm terminates in an
upturned pipe bend y', from which the "feints," mainly consisting of water and
fusel oil, along with some remaining alcohol, overflows into the upper part of the
wash column A; the feints thence pass off by the pipe H2, as will be referred to
later on, while the remaining alcohol is carried up into the rectifier B again by the
steam or low wines vapour containing alcohol ascending from the analyser A.
This steam or low wines vapour from the latter enters the spirit column or
rectifyer B through the perforations in the diaphragms of the latter ascending to
the top, and there passing off by a pipe and bend B', and entering the condenser
or preparatory heater C. This condenser or preparatory heater C consists of an
outer cylinder IX., and within it another cylinder I., the intermediate space con-
taining water and forming a cooling jacket. Inside of the jacket there is a central
cylinder II., and between these two there is a coil pipe IV. for the wash to pass
through from the bottom to the top, and thus acquire a preparatory heat. Between
the bottom of the central cylinder II. and the intermediate cylinder I. there is a
space VII., into which the condensed alcohol vapours accumulate and run off below
through a bent pipe VIII. into the top of the rectifying column B. The water in
the outer jacket communicates with the central space or cylinder II. by means of
pipes or passages X which connects the bottoms of the inner cylinder II. and the
intermediate cylinder I.
From the aforesaid space VII. between the two cylinders there is a rising
pipe III. which carries off the alcohol vapors of high specific gravity up through
the condenser, from whence they are carried off by a pipe C¹ which leads to the
refrigerator D.
This latter is formed with an outer water jacket XI., an intermediate annular
space XII. which is fitted with helical passages in order to increase the length of
the downward passage of the alcohol through same; and, lastly, a central
space XIII. for cooling water, which at the top by means of pipes XIV. commu-
nicates with the water in the jacket XI., and is open at the bottom, where it also
communicates with the jacket XI. The admission of the cooling circulating water
is regulated by a cock or valve XV. with index. The cooling water passing out
at the top of the refrigerator D, enters the bottom of the condenser C by the
pipe d¹, and passes out through a piped at the top. The alcohol to be cooled and
coming by the pipe C' from the condenser C passes down along the aforesaid helical
passage or passages XII., and passes out at or near the bottom of the refrigerator
into the still watcher E having thermometer and alcoholmeter, and covered by a glass
globe to prevent escape of vapours from the alcohol which then passes to the spirit
receiver.
The singlings or feints which, as already stated, by the syphon shaped overflow
pipe y pass from the rectifying column B into the upper part of the wash column A,
are by the pipe H2, with syphon bend and blow off cock Ho, passed into the top of
the singlings or feints column H, which is of a similar or like construction to that
of the rectifying column, and may be called a secondary rectifier. Steam from
the boiler enters the apparatus through holes in a coil H¹ placed in the bottom
of the apparatus H, and passes upwards through one diaphragm after another,
finally, together with the alcohol vapor which it has taken up passing off at the
top by a pipe H³, which communicates with the uppermost part of the wash column

page_text: or analyser A. The fusel oil water flows off by a stand pipe H' at the bottom,
and thence away through a syphon bend.
The various apparatus above described may if desired, and according to require-
ments of various localities, be arranged more or less side by side instead of one
above the other; in such case I however place the singlings or feints column H
directly under the rectifying column B. Such an apparatus is shown at Figure 4,
Sheet 2, in which the same letters refer to like parts, or parts corresponding with
those of the previously described Figures. The analyser A and the rectifier B
are connected by the pipe A¹.
The apparatus is supplied with mash or wash by means of a direct acting or
other pump, which forces it into and through the coil I in the preparatory heater C
wherein the wash is heated by surface contact with the vapours of alcohol coming
by the pipe B¹ from the spirit column or rectifier B to a temperature of about
190° F., the said wash having on the other hand a strongly dephlegmating effect
on the alcohol, which is also cooled and dephlegmated by the water which flows
through the heater and surrounds the annular chamber VII. on the inside and
on the outside. This cooling water comes from the final spirit cooler or
refrigerator D.
The wash having become thus preheated enters by the pipe VI. into the second
storey of the wash column or analyser A, and passes down through the column,
whence it passes off, deprived of all its alcohol, the ascending steam carrying it
along with it, the steam and alcohol together forming what is called low wines
vapor. The wash remains about five minutes in the preparatory heater C, and
about the same time in the wash column A, but gives off practically all its alcohol
in that short time as it passes through the stories of the wash column in very thin
layers, and is thoroughly boiled therein. The wash or wort deprived of its alcohol
as stated passes from the lowest compartment of the analyser A as spent or waste
wash, or wort, by the pipe to the regulator F, and thence to the collecting
reservoir, for being used as cattle food or for manure.
The low wines vapors rising from the top of the wash column A enter the
bottom story of the rectifying column B, and while rising through the successive
stories of same the alcohol thereof is rectified many times over, and then enters
the preparatory heater C enveloping the coil IV therein contained wash which
has to be preheated therein and then distilled off; these vapours are dephlegmated
by the cooling action of the coil and by that of the water in the outer jacket, and
then pass off in the form of alcohol of high strength into the refrigerator D whilst
the phlegm condensing in the compartment VII. of the preheater runs back to the
top of the rectifying column by the pipe III., and descends from one story of
same to the other, and the ascending low wines part therein with some of their oily
and watery parts, thus becoming purified or rectified. The impure parts, mainly
water and oil, and called feints, flow down into the top compartment of the
analyser A, and passing off by the pipe H³ enter the top of the feints column H,
and descend therein from one story to another, meeting the ascending steam from
the steam coil H'. This rising steam carries with it the remaining alcohol, and
passes off at top by the pipe H³, which enters the top of analyser A, or bottom of
rectifier B. The alcohol vapors then commingle with the alcohol vapours from
the analyser A, pass up through the rectifier B. and thence through the wash
preheater or spirit condenser C, the lighter parts escaping at top by the pipe C¹,
and then entering the top of the refrigerator D wherein they are condensed. The
fusel oil and water pass off by the pipe H* from the bottom of the feints column H.
The steam required for the distillation goes in the opposite direction to that of
the wash and the phlegm; it enters the bottom part of the wash column A; the
vapours arising therefrom pass up to the upper stories of the column, and maintain
the wash therein in a boiling state.
As the wash in the coil of the preheater C acts very dephlegmating on the
alcohol vapors as already stated, very little water is required for the dephlegma-
tion. In order not to condense too much of the alcohol vapours by the dephlegma-

page_text: tion, and in order not to use more than the necessary quantity of water, there is a
thermometer in the still watcher E, so as to be able to regulate the water supply to
the refrigerator D, and a cock with index and hand as stated.
By the above construction of mash column I am enabled to distill thick or thin
wash as desired.
The alcohol and the spent wash or wort run off in continuous and uniform
streams all the time.
The points of difference between my apparatus and Coffey's distilling apparatus
are mainly as follows:-
1. The analyser in Coffey's apparatus has perforated diaphragms, and is hence
only suitable for thin wash or wort, and thick wash, that is containing the husks of
the grain, would, if used, stop up the perforations, and keep the steam from passing
through. My apparatus, on the contrary, has unperforated diaphragms, that is,
dishes and rims with large or free passages between, but so arranged as to compel
the steam to pass through the wash by a circuitous route. My apparatus is
consequently as suitable for thin as for thick wash, which is a very important
advantage.
2. The automatic regulator for the spent wash is not found in Coffey's
apparatus.
3. In Coffey's apparatus the wash is preheated by a coil pipe which is carried
down into the analyser, while I use a preheater consisting of a separate vessel, or
rather three vessels placed one within the other, and having a coil pipe for the
wash. My preheater thus forms a condenser as well, because the same spirit
vapors which surround the wash coil pipe in my preheater, and which preheat
the wash, are simultaneously dephlegmated or condensed by the cold wash, and
return in the form of a low grade product into the rectifying column, in order to
be there rectified again and rendered into high grade goods.
4. The feints column, which is placed below the rectifier in my apparatus, is not
found in Coffey's apparatus, and the effect of my feints column is that the fusel
containing water is separated from the spirits and the spent wash or wort, and pass
off continuously.
Lastly, my apparatus has by preference round columns, whereas Coffey's has
square.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I
declare that I claim,-
First. The construction of the diaphragms and other interior parts of the
analyser, whereby I am enabled to use the thin wash or wort, or the thick wash
(containing the husks of the grain), and whereby I give the wash a circuitous
route in its passage through each compartment, so that the steam can more
effectually act upon it, all substantially as described and shown.
Second. The construction of the combined wash preheater and alcohol cooler as a
separate apparatus, substantially as described and shown.
Third. The construction of the wash exit regulator, substantially as described
and shewn.
°
Fourth. The combination of the following main parts, viz., an analyser, a
rectifyer, a secondary rectifier or feints column, a wash preheater and a refrigerator,
forming improved continuous distilling apparatus, substantially as described and
shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Paulmann, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand