IMPROVEMENTS - IN METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING SALT BRINES AND OTHER SOLUTIONS AND FOR COLLECTING 'AND REMOVING THE SALT OR. OTHER CRYSTALS PRECIPITATED THEREFROM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Whiteman of N° 7 Staple Inn in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent for an Invention of. IMPROVEMENTS - IN
METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING SALT BRINES AND OTHER
SOLUTIONS AND FOR COLLECTING 'AND REMOVING THE SALT OR. OTHER
CRYSTALS PRECIPITATED THEREFROM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES a commu-
nication from Herman Frasch a person resident at Cleveland in, the
County of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio United States of America
1
.
29
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Whiteman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1883.
WILLIAM THOMAS WHITEMAN of N° 7.Staple Inn in. the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING
SALT BRINES AND OTHER 'SOLUTIONS AND FOR COLLECTING AND REMOVING THE
SALT OR OTHER CRYSTALS PRECIPITATED THEREFROM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
[a communication from Herman Frasch a person resident at Cleveland in the
County of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio United States of America]
This Invention has reference more particularly, to the manufacture of salt from
the brine of natural wells, or springs although it is in part applicable to the
evaporation of other, brines and the recovery of salt therefrom to the recovery of
other crystallizable substances from their solutions and to the evaporation of liquids
generally.
It comprises the following improvements which for convenience of description
are divided into groups.
}
First. The brine or other solution is made to circulate continuously..through the
evaporator, or grainer (composed in whole or in part of a shallow evaporating
trough) and the current is thrown into eddies so as to favour the precipitation of
salt or other crystals. These on disturbance, are more frequent or more violent.
according to the fineness of the crystals which it is desired to produce.. The brine
may be and preferably is heated to favour the evaporation and the heater is further
utilized to create or maintain the circulation by causing it to raise the temperature
in one leg, of aU or, inverted syphon, which connects the opposite ends of the
trough with, each other. The syphon consists preferably of a box or tank: divided
by a vertical partition extending nearly to, the bottom, thereof. The eddies..or
disturbances, may most conveniently be formed by placing, boards oro similar
obstructions in the current but other means may be resorted to for the purpose....♥
Second-In order to produce fine salt it is found desirable to raise the
"

page_text: temperature of the brine comparatively high say to two hundred and five degrees
(205) Fahrenheit as it leaves the heater. In such case the formation of the salt
crystals proceeds rapidly and they are liable to form a skin upon the surface
which interferes with the evaporation and also with the precipitation of the salt.
To overcome this difficulty jets of air are blown through the solution. They
break up the skin and favour the precipitation of the salt. As the tendency of
the air jets is to keep back the skin above referred to the current of brine should
have sufficient rapidity to carry the skin over the air jets so that it may be broken
up by them. This rapidity is most easily secured by contracting the cross section
of the trough immediately in front of the air jets. The obstructing boards above
referred to will answer this purpose as well as assist in the formation of eddies.
The air jets favour precipitation by agitating the brine in the same way as the
obstructions and they may be used for this purpose even when there is no
danger of a skin forming. In making coarse salt less agitation or none at all is
employed.
To prevent the stopping of the holes through which the jets are delivered by the
precipitation of salt steam or vapour of water is mixed with the air injected. The
admixture is or may be made and the air blast at the same time created by the use
of a steam injector in the pipe leading to the jet pipes.
L.
Third. The evaporation may be carried on by filling the grainer or evaporator
with brine and evaporating it till the salt has mainly precipitated leaving the
impurities with a small quantity of salt in solution then emptying and refilling
the apparatus and so on but it is found advantageous unless the brine be very
impure to introduce fresh brine during the evaporation so as to keep up the
liquid in the apparatus and to remove it only when nearly saturated with
impurities
In case the brine contains gypsum or like impurities which are precipitated by
heat the fresh brine is supplied to the current in the evaporator at the hottest part
that is immediately after leaving the heater. The gypsum then settles before the
brine has cooled sufficiently to deposit salt.
Fourth-The heater preferred consists of a series of flues set in the ascending
leg of the U or syphon. Where the fluid (gas or liquid) is not very hot a simple
set of flues answers every purpose but where it is desired to use the products of
combustion taken directly from a fire chamber as the heating agent it is necessary
or advantageous to provide means for preventing the incrustation of salt upon the
flues since if incrustation takes place the gases are likely to burn out the flues.
To prevent this the brine is heated before it reaches the hot flues so that when it
flows over them it is a less than saturated solution and is not liable to deposit salt.
This heating can be done and the heat of the products of combustion utilized
by providing return flues below the direct ones the collection of salt in the
bottom of the U or syphon is or may be avoided by providing a heating flue
under it.
Fifth The salt collects in or upon receivers placed on the bottom of the
evaporator and they are removed from time to time whenever a sufficient quantity
has collected. The receivers are made in whole or in part of canvass or other
fabric or other perforated or porous material so that the salt may drain when the
receivers are lifted from the evaporator without removal from the receivers.
track is or may be placed above the grainer or evaporator to aid in the lifting and
transportation of the salt the receivers being hoisted by a tackle connected
with a carriage on the said track and after draining being transported by
means of it
A
The improvements specified in the second third fourth and fifth paragraphs as
well as those contained in the first are applicable in whole or in part to other
solutions than those of common salt (sodium chloride).
It is obvious that a part only of the improvements could be used without the
others

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Thomas Whiteman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th November 1883.
WILLIAM THOMAS WHITEMAN of No 7 Staple Inn in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING
SALT BRINES AND OTHER SOLUTIONS AND FOR COLLECTING AND REMOVING THE
SALT OR OTHER CRYSTALS PRECIPITATED THEREFROM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
A communication from Herman Frasch a person resident at Cleveland in the
County of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio United States of America.
"3
This invention has reference more particularly to the manufacture of salt from
the brine of natural wells or springs although it is in part applicable to the
evaporation of other brines and the recovery of salt therefrom to the recovery of
other crystallizable substances from their solutions and to the evaporation of
liquids generally
It comprises the following improvements which for convenience of description
are divided into groups.
First. The brine or other solution is made to circulate continuously through
the evaporator or grainer (composed in whole or in part of a shallow evaporating
trough) and the current is thrown into eddies so as to favour the precipitation of
salt or other crystals These on disturbance are more frequent or more violent
according to the fineness of the crystals which it is desired to produce. The brine
may be and preferably is heated to favour the evaporation and the heater is further
utilized to create or maintain the circulation by causing it to raise the temperature
in one leg of a U or inverted syphon which connects the opposite ends of the
trough with each other. The syphon consists preferably of a box or tank divided
by a vertical partition extending nearly to the bottom thereof. Thé eddies or
disturbances may most conveniently be formed by placing boards or similar.
obstructions in the current but other means may be resorted to for the purpose.
Second-In order to produce fine salt it is found desirable to raise the temperature
of the brine comparatively high say to two hundred and five degrees (205°) Fahrenheit
as it leaves the heater. In such case the formation of the salt crystals proceeds
rapidly and they are liable to form a skin upon the surface which interferes with
the evaporation and also with the precipitation of the salt.
To overcome this difficulty jets of air are blown through the solution. They
break up the skin and favour the precipitation of the salt. As the tendency of the
air jets is to keep back the skin above referred to the current of brine should have
sufficient rapidity to carry the skin over the air jets so that it may be broken up
by them. This rapidity is most easily secured by contracting the cross section of
the trough immediately in front of the air jets. The obstructing boards above
referred to will answer this purpose as well as assist in the formation of eddies.
The air jets favour precipitation by agitating the brine in the same way as the
obstructions and they may be used for this purpose even when there is no danger
of a skin forming. In making coarse salt less agitation or none at all is employed.
To prevent the stopping of the holes through which the jets are delivered by the
precipitation of salt steam or vapour of water is mixed with the air injected The
admixture is or may be made and the air blast at the same time created by the use
of a steam injector in the pipe leading to the jet pipes:
.
Third The evaporation may be carried on by filling the grainer or evaporator
with brine and evaporating it till the salt has mainly precipitated leaving the
impurities with a small quantity of salt in solution then emptying and refilling the
apparatus and so on but it is found advantageous unless the brine be very impure

page_text: to introduce fresh brine during the evaporation so as to keep up the liquid in the
apparatus and to remove it only when nearly saturated with impurities
In case the brine contains gypsum or like impurities which are precipitated by
heat the fresh brine is supplied to the current in the evaporator at the hottest part
that is immediately after leaving the heater. The gypsum then settles before the
brine has cooled sufficiently to 'deposit salt.
L
"Fourth-The beater preferred consists of a series of flues set in the ascending
leg of the U or syphon. Where the fluid (gas or liquid) is not very hot a simple
set of flues answers every purpose but where it is desired to use the products of
combustion taken directly from a fire chamber as the heating agent it is
necessary or advantageous to provide means for preventing the incrustation
of salt upon the flues since if incrustation takes place the gases are likely
to burn out the flues. To prevent this the brine is heated before it reaches
the hot flues so that when it flows over them it is a less than saturated
solution and is not liable to deposit salt. This heating can be done and the heat
of the products of combustion utilized by providing return flues below the direct
ones. The collection of salt in the bottom of the U or syphon is or may be avoided
by providing a heating flue under it
"
Fifth The salt collects in or'upon receivers placed on the bottom of the evapo-
rator and they are removed from time to time whenever a sufficient quantity has
collected. The receivers are made in whole or in part of canvas or other fabric-or
other perforated or porous material so that the salt may drain when the receivers
are lifted from the evaporator without removal from the receivers. A "track or
rail is or may be placed above the grainer or evaporator to aid in the lifting and
transportation of the salt the receivers being hoisted by a tackle connected with a
carriage on the said track or rail and after draining being transported by means
of it
I
The improvements specified.in the second third fourth and fifth paragraphs as
well as those contained in the first are applicable in whole or in part to other
solutions than those of common salt (sodium chloride)
'
It is obvious that a part only of the improvements could be used without the
others.
'
Having thus described the nature of this invention I will proceed to describe the
manner in which it is to be performed reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and. to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.
Figures 1 and 1* represent in plan the two ends (the middle portion being
removed) of a grainer or evaporator constructed in accordance with the said
invention Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the end shown in Figure 1
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical cross sections on lines x x and y y respectively Figure 2
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on lines zz and Figure 6 is a perspective view of
one of the salt receivers. Figures 7, 8 and 9 represent another form of apparatus
also constructed in accordance with the said invention Figures 7 and 8 being
vertical longitudinal sections in different planes and Figure 9 a plan Figure 10 is
a plan view of the salt receivers shown in Figure 7.
"
:
Referring to Figures 1-5 A is the evaporating trough divided by the partition B
which extends nearly to the farther end so as to form an out going and a return
conduit and C the box or tank divided by the partition B extending nearly to the
bottom so as to form an inverted syphon or U. In one compartment of the
box or
leg of the syphon are placed the flues D E
The direct flues D occupy the upper part of the compartment or syphon leg.
They communicate with the fire chamber F from which they receive the hot gases
or products of combustion and they deliver the said gases into the connecting
flue G whence they pass through the return flues E which occupy the lower part
of the compartment or syphon leg
From the return flues E the gases pass by the flue H into the flues I beneath
the tank C or under the bottom of the syphon the said flues I extend under both
. compartments or syphon legs. Their arrangement is clearly shown in Figure 5

page_text: wherein the dotted lines a b indicate the position of the front and back walls of
the tank above K is a chimney or up take into which the flues I deliver the gases
or products of combustion. The brine in contact with the flues D E F G being
heated becomes specifically lighter than the brine in the other compartment or
syphon leg and therefore rises, and flows through the evaporating trough A in the
direction, of the arrows. L is a small trough with perforated bottom supported
above the outgoing conduit of the evaporating trough A near the tank or syphon C.
Fresh brine runs from the pipe M into this trough L and escaping thence through
perforations in the bottom mingles with the current of brine in the evaporator or
grainer where the said brine having just left the direct flues D is hottest. The
fresh brine being immediately raised in temperature any gypsum or similar
impurity held in solution is precipitated and being carried along by the current
settles on the bottom of the evaporating trough. At suitable distances apart as
well in the outgoing as in the return conduit are placed obstructions N shown as
boards placed across the current which throw the current into eddies and increase
its velocity at those points the first obstruction in the outgoing, conduit is
preferably placed at such a distance from the tank or syphon leg C that the
precipitated gypsum will have a chance to settle before reaching it.
Behind each of the obstructions N on the bottom of the evaporating trough is a
perforated pipe P connected with a larger distributing pipe Q into which air is
forced by the steam injector R. The pipe Q is common to all the pipes P so that
the air forced into the pipe Q and mixed with the condensed, steam from the
injector Renters the perforated pipes P and passes in jets through the brine. As
shown in Figure 1 there are two sets of pipes P on opposite sides of the pipes.Q.
The extra set is for supplying a second evaporator placed alongside the one shown
with its cold side or return conduit of the evaporating trough adjacent thereto.
The pipe P as also the steam pipe for supplying the injector R and the pipe M are
provided with cocks or valves for controlling the flow of fluid through them. The
trough A may be of any desired length. It is preferably about double, the
combined length of the portions shown in Figures 1 and 1° say two hundred feet
with a width of eighteen feet.
The salt receivers or collectors S are each made of straight cross pieces c hooped
cross pieces d and a canvas covering ė The cross pieces c'd are joined together at
their ends, by a mortise and a metallic strip the said ends are also connected by a
rope to which the canvas covering is secured. On the bottom of the canvas
covering is a loop f. In Figures 1 and 1ª the receivers S are shown only in a
small part of the trough. They are, to be placed' all along it on the bottom of the
trough except where the gypsum is to deposit.
}
:
1
The operation is as follows:-The fire being started in the fire chamber F and
the tank or syphon C and evaporating trough being filled with brine, the hot gases
or products of combustion passing through the flues D. E. G. H. I heat the brine
in the tank or syphon C and cause it to flow round and round through the tank or
syphon and the evaporating trough. The cold or cool brine from the return
conduit of the evaporating trough coming in contact with hotter and hotter
surfaces to wit first the top of the flues I then the exterior surfaces of the flues E D-
and the side walls of the flues HG has its temperature gradually raised until
finally it leaves the tank or syphon and enters the outgoing conduit of the
evaporating trough. This gradual raising of temperature utilizes the heat of the
gases to the best advantage and also avoids the precipitation of the salt upon the
flues in which the gases are very hot. As the brine enters the evaporating trough
it receives the fresh brine, from the trough L and raises its temperature without a
substantial loss of its own on account of the difference in volume.
-:
The rise of temperature throws down the gypsum in the brine and it settles out
of the liquid. The brine as it flows through the evaporating trough loses its heat
and its water until the liquid being super-saturated throws down salt. This begins
to take place ordinarily after the gypsum has settled out.
The precipitation of the salt is favoured by the eddies which the'obstructions N'

page_text: produce in the flowing brine. If very fine salt is to be made the fire in the fire
chamber F is so regulated that the brine is highly heated in the ascending leg of
the syphon say to two hundred and five degrees Fahrenheit or thereabout at the
exit and steam is turned onto the injector R so as to force air or rather mingled
air and steam through the perforated pipes P.
The jets of air break up the skin which otherwise would form upon the liquid
and favour the precipitation. If a coarse grade of salt is to be made the fire is not
made so hot and the air blast is turned off or diminished.
The brine may be heated to a temperature of one hundred and seventy degrees
to one hundred and ninety degrees Fahrenheit at its exit from the tank or syphon.
Of course the brine could also be heated to other degrees if desired The salt
precipitated settles out of the liquid and collects in the salt receivers. These when
full or as full as may be desired are hoisted out and allowed to drain and then
carried away by carriages running upon a rail or rails above the grainer or
evaporator (as shown in Figure 7 T being the rail and U a carriage thereon)
They are raised by attaching the hoisting rope to the hooped pieces d at their
crossing. The cross pieces c d forming a frame keep the canvas stretched so that
the contents of the receivers may more easily drain and so that also the capacity
of the receivers is increased. In order to dump the receivers a hook is inserted in
the loop fand the former support being withdrawn the receiver is upheld thereby
bottom upwards so that the contents at once fall out into the bin or other
receptacle prepared to receive it. The gypsum which collects in the evaporating
trough is shovelled out from time to time. The evaporator or grainer is also
emptied whenever the brine becomes charged with impurities.
The apparatus shown in Figures 7. 8. and 9. is somewhat simpler than the fore-
going. The parts A B B¹ C and N are substantially the same as those indicated
by the same letters in Figures 1-5. The parts L. M. P are omitted but could be
used if desired. The heater consists of a simple set of flues X through which
steam or other hot fluid (gas or liquid) may be circulated. The salt receivers S
consist of simple canvas aprons bound with rope and provided with loops at the
corners. The operation is substantially as before described except of course as to
the parts omitted or modified.
The evaporator may be filled by any appropriate means and may be emptied by
a suitably placed outlet.
Modifications may be made in details without departing from the spirit of the
invention. The forms proportions and materials may be varied.
Having thus described the nature of this invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim as the said invention of
'Improvements in methods of and apparatus for evaporating salt brines and other
solutions and for collecting and removing the salt or other crystals precipitated
therefrom and for other purposes."
First The method of and means for evaporating salt brine and other solutions
and crystallizing the refrom the salt or other material in solution by creating or
maintaining a circulation of the liquid in the grainer or evaporator and making
eddies or disturbances in the current substantially as described.
Secondly-The method of and means for preventing the formation of a skin of
salt or other crystals upon the brine or other solution in the evaporator by the use
of jets of air or other gas substantially as described.
Thirdly The method and means for preventing the clogging of the holes in
the injecting pipe by mixing steam with the air or gas injected substantially as
described.
Fourthly The method of and means for evaporating salt brine and other
solutions by heating and circulating the same and adding fresh brine or solution
as the evaporation proceeds substantially as described.
Fifthly The introduction of fresh brine into the hot part of the circulation so
as to effect the precipitation of gypsum or like impurities before the salt begins to
deposit substantially as described.

page_text: Sixthly The method of and means for preventing the destructive incrustation
upon the heating surfaces of the salt or other material more soluble in a hot
than a cold menstruum by causing the brine or other solution in the ascending leg
of the syphon to pass over surfaces progressively increasing in temperature
substantially as described.
Seventhly The collection of the salt upon removeable receivers substantially in
the manner and by the means described.
Eighthly An evaporating or graining apparatus comprising in combination a
trough an inverted syphon connecting the ends of said trough with each other
and formed of a partitioned box or tank or the equivalent thereof and a heater
substantially as described.
'
Ninthly The combination with the evaporating trough and syphon or partitioned
box of the heater having flues arranged substantially as shown in Figures 1-5
and described with reference thereto
Tenthly The combination with an evaporator or grainer of removeable
receivers and the elevated rail or rails and carriage or carriages thereon substan-
tially as described.
Eleventhly The combination of the pierced air pipes with the evaporating
trough contracted at intervals in advance of said pipes to increase the rapidity of
the current substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Thomas Whiteman have hereunto set
my hand and seal this seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.