IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SEPARATION AND UTILIZATION OF VOLATILE AND CONDENSIBLE GASES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th June 1872.—A communication from abroad by Alexandre
Lemaire and Jules Sonnois, both of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do herchy declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SEPARATION AND UTILIZATION OF VOLATILE
AND CONDENSIBLE GASES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Alexandre Lemaire
and Jules Sonnois, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a mode of and peculiar apparatus for
separating volatile and condensible gases from the liquids or solids
which may contain them, and for utilizing such gases when so separated
in the production of motive power, or in the obtainment of cold or heat
for various useful purposes.

page_text: In carrying out this Invention two distinct apparatus both working
conjointly are requisite, namely, 1, a separator for separating and liqui-
fying by powerful mechanical pressure the gas from the substance
containing it; and 2, a condenser for condensing the said separated
gus. Both these apparatus are according to this Invention of a peculiar
construction.
The separator consists of a cylinder (by preference of cast steel)
capable of withstanding a pressure of a 1000 atmospheres. The upper
part of this cylinder receives a piston or plunger worked by a screw
spindle and powerful lever like a fly press. A short distance below
the piston in the cylinder there is formed a valve seat, upon which
fits a mitre valve, which is raised or lowered so as to open or close
the same by a spindle having a screw thread formed upon its lower
end which works in an internal screw formed in a vertical spindle
situate at the lower end of the cylinder and rotated in order to raise or
lower the valve by spur gearing actuated by a ratchet lever. In licu
of this arrangement of valve and seat a slide valve worked by a lever
may be employed which opens and closes transversely to the axis of the
oylinder,
In order to maintain the packing of the piston perfectly tight under
the great pressure to which it is subjected a peculiar arrangement of
packing is employed consisting of a leaden ring of the same diameter
internally as the piston or plunger; round this ring is placed a ring of
india-rubber maintained in its position vertically by top and bottom
wrought-iron rings or washers, which are pressed down by a screwed plug
or gland inserted into the top of the cylinder. In lieu of india-rubber
lead or other suitable metal may be employed. The piston or plunger is
bored out along a portion of its length, and the said bore communicates
by a lateral opening (capable of being olosed by a screwed plug) with
any good vacuum producing apparatus, whereby a vacuum may be
established in the upper part of the cylinder. A pressure guage com-
municates with the interior of the cylinder, and a lateral outlet from the
upper portion of the cylinder just above the valve when in its closed
position communicates through a pipe and a peculiar screw actuated
cock having one or two valves maintained tight by lead packing as
hercin-after described with the worm of the condenser (also hicrein-after
described). Another lateral opening in connection with a pipe and a

page_text: similar cock to that above referred to serves to connect the bottom of thic
cylinder with the interior or body of the condenser.
This condenser consists of a closed cylindrical vessel provided with a
wrought-iron coil or worm, or with a series of pipes or tubes. A pressure
guage is connected with the interior of the worm or coil in order to
indicate the pressure therein, and a second pressure guage is so applied
as to show the pressure in the interior of the vessel surrounding the said
worm or coil.
In employing the above described apparatus a concentrated ammoniacal
solution is introduced into the cylinder of the separator by means of a
pump by preference of cast steel. After having established a vacuum
through the passage in the piston or plunger the valve is elevated and
the piston is caused to descend so as to exert a pressure to the extreme
limits of the pressure guage on the liquid solution containing the
ammonia. The valve which maintained open the communication between
the pressure guage and the lower portion of the interior of the cylinder
is then to be closed. By means of the piston or plunger powerful
pressure is again applied, after which the valve is lowered down on to its
seat, when the upper capacity of the cylinder from the piston to the
valve will be found to be filled with liquified ammonia gas, whilst in the
lower part of the cylinders there will remain water slightly saturated
with ammonia. This water is directed into the body of the condenser
whilst the liquified gas which has been separated is directed into the
worm or condensing tubes. On opening a cock in connection with the
worm the gas may be allowed to pass into the slide valve chest of a
motive-power engine, and after having accomplished its work thercin it
escapes by the exhaust pipe through a two-way cock into the body of
the condenser which contains the water that has been separated by the
pressure from the liquified gas. In some cases a stirrer or agitator may
be provided in the bottom of the condenser for the purpose of agitating
the liquid contained therein, and thereby augmenting the absorbing
properties of the same. If in lieu of directing the gas after it has left
the engine back to the condenser the two-way cock be closed so as to
shut off the return gas from the condenser the engine would cease to
work, since evaporation continuing ice will be formed. By forcing down
the piston or plunger as far as the valve in the separator in order to send
the liquified gas into the worm or condensing tubes and by forcing the
water which has been separated from the gas into the body of the

page_text: condenser by means of a pump or other suitable contrivance the engine
will be started. On taking the resaturated water from the condenser
and forcing it back into the cylinder of the separator, the operation may
be recommenced and continued indefinitely. The pipe which conducts
the gas back from the motive-power engine into the body of the con-
denser is fitted with a valve which prevents the water of condensation
from entering the escape pipe. Blow through pipes connect the cylinder
and valve chest of the engine with an intermediate pipe between the
two-way cock and the condenser in order that the water of condensation
which passes through them may be directed into the condenser. Although
ammonia has been more particularly referred to as the gas employed,
it is obvious that other volatile substances which are capable of volati-
lization, condensation, and compression, such, for example, as alcohol,
ether, and chloroform, may be used.
The peculiar cock herein-before mentioned is specially constructed
with a view to withstanding great pressures, such, for example, as from
200 to 300 atmospheres and upwards. The cock is closed by one or the
other of two valves attached to one and the same screw spindle which
works through a stuffing box packed with a leaden ring like the piston
or plunger of the separator. The valves have cach an annular projection
and recess formed on the face, which projection enters a corresponding
groove having a leaden ring in the bottom so as to form the surface or
seat against which the valve closes perfectly tight. A lateral branch
from the body of the cock may be provided for the attachment of a
pressure guage, whilst a second lateral branch serves as the connection
for the pipe leading to the body of the condenser.