An Improved Process of Purifying Water.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Purifying Water.
I, CALER GROZIER COLLINS, of Woodsburgh, County of Kings, State of New
York, United States of America, Electrical 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 the purification of water generally by the precipitation of
foreign matter held in solution or suspension therein by the aid of the electric
current, and is especially applicable to the treatment of water for domestic uses,
manufacturing purposes, the generation of steam in boilers &c.
In the treatment of liquids by electrolysis it is well recognized that the purifica-
tion is effected largely by the ozone which is liberated by the decomposition of
water. Heretofore, however, this process of purification by the aid of electricity
has been slow, incomplete, and generally unsatisfactory owing to the comparatively
small amount of ozone forined under the influence of the electric current.
I have discovered that the formation of the ozone within the water under treat-
ment is dependent upon the presence therein of free oxygen on which nascent oxygen,
liberated by the decomposition of the water by the electric current, re-acts, con-
verting it into ozone; and also that the fault with the processes of purification by
electrolysis heretofore known or used rests in the fact that the electric current must
first charge the liquid with oxygen before any considerable amount of oxygen can
be produced in the solution.
The object of my invention is to attain a more perfect and rapid destruction or
precipitation of the impurities held in suspension or solution in the water than has
heretofore been accomplished under the influence of the electric current; and my
invention consists, essentially, in treating the water to be purified to the simultaneous
action of an electric current and an independent supply of oxygen introduced
continuously into the solution during the passage of the said electric current, so that
the nascent oxygen generated continously by the decomposition of water by the
electric current will immediately combine with the dissolved oxygen which is in
excess in the solution producing thereby a maximum amount of ozone under con-
ditions most favorable for the complete and rapid purification of the water by the
destruction of the impurities or their reduction to the insoluble state so that they
may be conveniently eliminated by filtration or otherwise.
In the accompanying drawings, I illustrate diagrammatically means for carrying
out my improved process of destroying or rendering the impurities in water insoluble,
although I do not confine myself to any special form or arrangement of apparatus,
the essential feature in this respect consisting in any arrangement of the parts
whereby oxygen may be continuously introduced into, and dissolved by the water
while under the influence of the electric current by the decomposition of the water
by the said electric current will immediately combine with the free oxygen introduced
into the solution, to form ozune, the action of which in destroying or rendering
insoluble impurities held in suspension or solution is well known.
Figure 1, is a plan; and
Figure 2, a sectional elevation of apparatus sufficient to effect the carrying out
of my process.
In the drawings A, represents an elongated tank or chamber in which
electrodes B, B', of carbon, platinum or other material not prejudicially acted upon
by the oxygen, or by the impurities contained in the liquid under treatment are
arranged alternately, said electrodes being connected with the respective poles of a
battery, dynamo or other source of electricity.

page_text: C, is the liquid supply pipe 'having gate valve c, and exit pipe D, also provided
with valve d, by which the flow of the liquid from the chamber A, may be regulated..
It is obvious that this channel or chamber A, may be varied in form and con-
struction materially without deviating from my invention. It may consist of a mere
section of an ordinary main or pipe system, and may be enclosed or open to the
atmosphere. I prefer however to close it so that the oxygen may be introduced
under pressure and its escape retarded as-far-as possible.
The oxygen may be supplied from any convenient source, that shown in the
drawings consisting of a reservoir E, charged with the compressed gas, e, being the
· charging pipe 'with valve e', 'and F, the distributing pipe with valve f. The
distributing pipe F, passes into the chamber A, the section of the pipe therein being
perforated to allow the escape of the oxygen into the chamber and contents.
By this arrangement the liquid under treatment may be simultaneously charged
with oxygen and subjected to the action of an electric current, so that by allowing
the liquid to flow through the chamber A, the process may be rendered continuous.
Impurities that are precipitated and rendered insoluble by my process' may be
removed by filtration or may be allowed to settle.
I am aware that air has been forced mechanically into water for the purpose of
purifying the same by contact and agitation therewith, after the manner of natural
phenomena, as for instance in the United States Patent to Collins No. 240,813,
dated May 3rd 1881.
I am also aware that electricity is used alone for the purification of liquids as in
the English Patent to Phillips 2761 of 1888, 1 not only expressly disclaim such
processes, but confine myself-exclusively to the purification of water by destroying
for removing its impurities insoluble by the simultaneous treatment thereof with free
oxygen and an electric current. The new and valuable results attained by my
special process prove the utility of my invention, said results including the rapidity
and thoroughness with which the impurities are destroyed or rendered insoluble and
the perfection of purification of the water obtained thereby as compared with all
prior methods:. For instance where air alone is forced mechanically through the
water very little oxidization can take place in proportion to the volume of air
introduced and the time devoted to the treatment. On the other hand if electricity
alonel is used the treatment has to be prolonged until the water becomes charged
with free oxygen by the decomposition of the water before ozone is produced in
sufficient quantity to effect any practical degree of purification; whereas upon
starting my improved process of treatment the water simultaneously with free
oxygen and to the decomposing action of the electric current, ozonification and
purification commence immediately within the solution, the excess of oxygen
insuring the utilization of the nascent oxygen given off by the action of the electric
current on the water for the instantaneous generation of ozone which permeates
through the whole body of water attacking and precipitating all the impurities
contained therein.
I am also aware that the use of electricity in conjunction with air or oxygen has
been suggested as a means of ageing or ripening wine and other liquors as in the
United States Patent to Storm, No. 57,009, but this does not anticipate my invention
which is not designed for or adapted to the ageing of liquors.
The very object of my improved process is to destroy the impurities in the water or
- render them insoluble. In the treatment of liquors for ageing there are no impurities
to remove, the ageing of the liquor consisting in the formation of ethers &c., therein
which impart the required "bouquet," and there being no precipitation or elimination,
buttrather a strengthening of the liquid by concentration.
Furthermore, the process of ageing liquor disclosed by Storm is intermittent, only
a comparatively small body of liquor being capable of treatment at one time,
whereas my process of destroying or precipitating the impurities in water is
continuous, the water to be purified as it flows freely through the apparatus, passing
under the combined influence of the free oxygen and the electric current for a
suitable distance or length of time and then flows off without interruption.

page_text: By my improved process far more work (decomposition and precipitation) is
effected in a given time and with a given expenditure of energy, than has heretofore.
been attainable by the use of electricity for this purpose, and the use of a continuous
independent supply of free oxygen in conjunction with the electric current is the
novel and distinguishing feature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said'
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that.
what I claim is;
The continuous process of purifying water herein set forth, consisting in rendering
impurities contained therein insoluble, or destroying them, by the action, simul-
taneously of a supply of free oxygen independently introduced, and the decomposing
action of an electric current, substantially in the manner set forth.
Dated this 27th day of June 1892.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.