Improvements in and relating to Distillatory Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Distillatory Apparatus.
I, ALFRED DE KUNWALD of 1 Boulevard St. Denis, Paris, France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
All the methods or processes at present employed for distilling are attended not
only with very considerable expense for heating, but so great a number of inconveniences
have to be contended against that it is surprising that science and many years'
experience have not led to more complete results. Custom and prejudice are no doubt
to a great extent responsible for this, and before discussing the important advantages
resulting from my invention I think it well to analyse scientifically the objections
attendant on the various methods now employed.
I will commence by describing the intermittent apparatus with open fire. This
kind of apparatus which is used in most distilleries has the following draw-backs.
The products of distillation often have a very disagreeable flavor due to the fact that
the liquid to be distilled is not in sufficient quantity in the still and that it becomes
burnt. This injury is likewise produced even in the presence of a sufficient charge
of the liquid to be distilled and it is for this reason that many liquids such as wine
and cider produce much froth or foam in consequence of the ebullition. In this
case the heat produced by the fire cannot be communicated directly to the liquid to
be distilled and the sides or walls of the still are overheated and thus cause a partial
decomposition of the liquid submitted to distillation. When the liquor or wash con-
tained in the still is spent and it is required to renew it in order to continue the
operation there is a very great inconvenience. This is that the complete emptying of
the apparatus which is exposed directly to the intense heat arising from the fire is abso-
lutely impossible, because the liquid adhering to the sides is carbonized in
the heat before there is time to introduce fresh liquid into the still. The following
alternative thus presents itself, either to extinguish the fire during the operation of
emptying or to withdraw the still containing the boiling residue or vinasses from the
fire, to empty the still and then to add a fresh quantity of liquid to be distilled, and to
replace the apparatus in position.
consequence
of
Various improvements have been made in this apparatus such as sheet iron plates
to temporarily intercept the destructive action of the fire; also movable burners or
fires, but all these have greater or less drawbacks.
Continuous apparatus with open fire. These apparatus are very objectionable and
incomplete for the following reason. The quantity of liquid which is distilled enters
the still in a regular manner without taking account of the greater or less intensity of
the fire. It is therefore evident that if the fire for any reason temporarily produces
less heat the quantity of alcohol will diminish in the same proportions as the intensity
of the fire diminishes and the alcohol not distilled will flow away extensively with the
wash or residues which leave the apparatus. If, on the contrary, the heat of the fire
ncreases then the alcoholic degree of the product of the distillation immediately
owers considerably in consequence of the volatilization of the large quantity of water
contained in the wash. It has besides been shown by practice that the products
btained by this kind of distillation have almost always a very disagreeable flavor
lue to the over-heating of the liquids submitted to distillation.
Seeing the impossibility of regulating the inlet of the liquor into the still in pro-
ortion to the heat produced by the fire in continuous apparatus and the impossibility
f effecting the emptying of the stills in intermittent apparatus without separating the
till from the fire and the absolute impossibility of preventing by this method of

page_text: heating the overheating of the liquids submitted to distillation whether in continuous
or in intermittent apparatus it is quite clear that all these apparatus no matter of
what kind are attended with many drawbacks.
It remains for me to consider the apparatus heated by steam and to show both the
advantages and the disadvantages which they possess.
Intermittent apparatus heated by steam. The liquor to be distilled being heated
by means of copper coils or worms in which the steam circulates it is clear that over-
heating is quite prevented, but on the other hand the costs of heating in apparatus of
this kind are almost doubled.
In order to show the great expense of fuel in these apparatus I will explain the
theory on which they are based. The heat transmitted by the fire to the generator
produces the evaporation of water contained therein. When the steam has sufficient
tension and consequently a temperature sufficiently high to cause the ebullition of the
liquid contained in the still, the outlet cock is opened and the steam at a temperature
exceeding 100° Centigrado produces by its passage through the coil or worm the
ebullition of the liquid contained in the still. The steam from the generator escapes
while the alcoholic vapors arising from the distillation of the liquid contained in the
still are disengaged and pass into other receivers which in their turn heat the following
charge of the liquid to be distilled. Now it is clear that the steam which escapes at
a temperature which is approximately that of the point of ebullition of the liquid
contained in the still, is completely lost. A simple calculation shows this. Supposing
that in order to evaporate 100 litres of liquid a quantity of fuel is necessary, the
100 litres evaporated in the still requiring approximately 100 litres of water likewise
evaporated in the generator we shall have for an effective distillation of 100 litres
a total of 200 litres evaporated, say 2 x as fuel, in addition to the heat necessary for
bringing 100 litres of cold water to the boiling temperature in the generator.
In certain improved apparatus the steam which escapes is utilized for heating the
water for feeding the generator and by employing this method the cost of fuel is notably
reduced, but in comparing this apparatus with those with open fire the costs of working
the former are about 50 per cent. more for heating. These apparatus require besides
a constant surveillance and in order to avoid serious accidents it is necessary to
constantly maintain the water in the generator at a sufficient height by means of an
injector or feed pump. There is again the great drawback of constant incrustations
in the interior of the generator, and which are a permanent source of danger of
explosions. Besides these incrustations covering the walls of the boiler with a layer
which is a bad conductor of heat, lead to a considerable increase of expense for fuel.
Continuous apparatus heated by steam. These apparatus have the same objections
as those previously mentioned in all that relates to constant care and surveillance and
to the great expense for heating. The return of the liquids to be distilled being in
these apparatus always regular and constant and not being submitted directly to the
variations of temperature which are produced in the generator, it is easy to understand
that the distillation properly so called is more irregular. In order to remedy this
objection different apparatus have been constructed such as steam regulators of various
kinds which give good results as long as the pressure in the boiler is sufficient to
constantly give the minimum of steam necessary to effect the distillation of the wash
or liquor which regularly enters the still. But if by any inadvertence the pressure is
suddenly lowered in the boiler the quantity of steam produced therein will be insufficient
to effect the complete decomposition of the liquor submitted to distillation and this
will result in a considerable loss of alcohol.
My invention consists of what may be called a generator condenser which allows of
condensing and returning automatically to the generator the steam utilized for heating
the stills. This apparatus can be applied in all. cases where steam is utilized as the
means of heating, and the excess steam in the generator can be utilized as a motive
power or for other purposes.
My invention also includes a novel apparatus which automatically regulates the inlet

page_text: of the liquor or wash into the stills of continuous apparatus in direct proportion to the
progress of the distillation. This apparatus is applicable to apparatus working with
an open fire as well as to those heated by steam.
Before describing the construction of my generator-condenser I will state the chief
advantages which result from its use. 1st. There is considerable economy of fuel due
to the fact that the steam which serves for heating the still returns to the boiler at a
temperature approaching that of its evaporation. 2nd. No surveillance is necessary
as the condensed steam returns automatically to the generator in a constant and
regular manner. 3rd. There is no danger of explosion as the steam produced by the
generator is constantly condensed by the liquid which is being distilled. 4th. No
incrustation can be produced as the water contained in the generator does not diminish
in volume and therefore always remains the same. 5th. High pressure generators
are unnecessary as the pressure in my apparatus is always below one atmosphere.
6th. The excess steam in my apparatus can be utilized for other purposes. 7th. The
return of the liquor or wash in the case of continuous apparatus is effected by the use
of my novel regulator which automatically regulates the quantity of liquid to be
introduced into the still in proportion to the steam that the generator produces.
My apparatus has the great advantage that all loss of alcohol becomes impossible,
because even if the fire of the generator became suddenly extinguished the return of
the liquor would in this case be also suddenly stopped.
My apparatus is based on the following principle-If a hermetically closed vessel
contain water up to a certain level so that the mouth of a pipe communicating with
the side of the vessel is completely submerged, and if there is another pipe com-
municating with the upper part of the vessel a suction or pressure exerted in a pipe
or vessel with which the other ends of both pipes communicate will not produce any
change in the water level in the vessel.
I will now describe a generator-condenser. The generator or boiler for producing
the steam necessary for the distillation is placed above the fire place; a pipe conducts
the steam from the generator to a receiver or vessel in which the still is placed.
Another pipe returns the water of condensation into the generator. There are cocks
for liberating the air which is in the space or jacket between the receiver and the
still at the commencement of the operation. There is a metal ring or flange on the
outside of the still bottom which prevents the liquid that condenses on the outside of
the still from falling into the mouth of the pipe that admits the steam. There is an
outlet for the products of distillation. The arrangement for heating the still is the
same whether for continuous apparatus or for intermittent apparatus.
The working of the apparatus is as follows:-The water in the generator is vaporized
by the fire. The steam thus produced passes through the conducting pipe and enters the
space between the receiver and the still. The still absorbs the heat produced by the
condensation of the steam from the generator and the products of condensation which
run down the outer wall of the still to the ring or flange above described collect in the
bottom of the receiver and afterwards return into the boiler by the return pipe. At
the beginning of the operation the cocks before mentioned are opened so as to allow
the steam to gradually drive out the air from between the receiver and the still.
In small distilleries where the fire place is near the still my apparatus can be
constructed with the still arranged above the generator, the generator having an
upward continuation which forms the stean jacket to the still, taking the place of the
receiver above described.
My regulator for controlling the inlet of the liquor into the continuous apparatus in
exact proportion to the distillation of the wash comprises a pressure guage fitted to a
pipe connected to the upper part of the still for showing the tension of the vapors.
When the apparatus is at work the liquid in the still produces vapors which pass off
by the outlet pipe. It is evident that if the volume of these vapors increases the
outlet having always the same diameter, the pressure in the interior of the still will
increase: if on the contrary the evaporation of the liquid dimini-hes the ten-ion of
the vapors in the still will diminish. These differences of pressure act on the pressure

page_text: guage and it is evident that it will be sufficient to transmit the oscillations or variations
produced to the inlet pipe for the liquors in order to obtain an introduction of liquor
in proportion to the progress of the distillation.
Dated this 18th day of October 1889
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Distillatory Apparatus.
I, ALFRED DE KUNWALD of 1 Boulevard St. Denis, Paris, France, 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 :-
All the methods or processes at present employed for distilling are attended not only
with very considerable expense for heating, but so great a number of inconveniences
have to be contended against that it is surprising that science and many years'
experience have not led to more complete results. Custom and prejudice are no
doubt to a great extent responsible for this, and before discussing the important
advantages resulting from my invention I think it well to analyse scientifically the
objections attendant on the various methods now employed.
1 will commence by discussing the intermittent apparatus with open fire. This
kind of apparatus which is used in most distilleries has the following drawbacks.
The products of distillation often have a very disagreeable flavor due to the fact that
the liquid to be distilled is not in sufficient quantity in the still and that it becomes
burnt. This injury is likewise produced even in the presence of a sufficient charge
of the liquid to be distilled, and it is for this reason that many liquids such as wino
and cider produce much froth or foam in consequence of the ebullition. In this
case the heat produced by the fire cannot be communicated directly to the liquid to
be distilled and the sides or walls of the still are overheated and thus cause a partial
decomposition of the liquid submitted to distillation. When the liquor or wash
contained in the still is spent and it is required to renew it in order to continue the
operation there is a very great inconvenience. This is that the complete emptying of
the apparatus which is exposed directly to the intense heat arising from the fire is
absolutely impossible, because the liquid adhering to the sides is carbonized in con-
sequence of the heat before there is time to introduce fresh liquid into the still. The
following alternative thus presents itself, either to extinguish the fire during the
operation of emptying, or to withdraw the still containing the boiling residue or
vinasses from the fire, to empty the still and then to add a fresh quantity of liquid to
be distilled, and to replace the apparatus in position.
Various improvements have been made in this apparatus such as sheet iron plates
to temporarily intercept the destructive action of the fire; also movable burners or
fires, but all these have greater or less drawbacks.
Continuous apparatus with open fire. These apparatus are very objectionable
and incomplete for the following reason. The quantity of liquid which is distilled
enters the still in a regular manner without taking account of the greater or loss
intensity of the fire. It is therefore evident that if the fire for any reason temporarily
produces less heat the quantity of alcohol will diminish in the same proportions as
the intensity of the fire diminishes and the alcohol not distilled will flow away
extensively with the wash or residues which leave the apparatus. If, on the contrary,
the heat of the fire increases then the alcoholic degree of the product of the distillation
immediately lowers considerably in consequence of the volatilization of the large
quantity of water contained in the wash. It has besides been shown by practice
that the products obtained by this kind of distillation have almost always a very
disagreeable flavor due to the overheating of the liquids submitted to distillation.

page_text: Seeing the impossibility of regulating the inlet of the liquor into the still in
proportion to the heat produced by the fire in continuous apparatus, and the
impossibility of effecting the emptying of the stills in intermittent apparatus without
separating the still from the fire, and the absolute impossibility of preventing by
this method of heating the overheating of the liquids submitted to distillation
whether in continuous or in intermittent apparatus, it is quite clear that all these
apparatus, no matter of what kind, are attended with many drawbacks.
It remains for me to consider the apparatus heated by steam and to show both the
advantages and the disadvantages which they possess.
Intermittent apparatus heated by steam. The liquor to be distilled being heated
by means of copper coils or worms in which the steam circulates it is clear that
overheating is quite prevented, but on the other hand the costs of heating in apparatus
of this kind are almost doubled.
In order to show the great expense of fuel in these apparatus I will explain the
theory on which they are based. The heat transmitted by the fire to the generator
produces the evaporation of water contained therein. When the steam has sufficient
tension and consequently a temperature sufficiently high to cause the ebullition of
the liquid contained in the still, the outlet cock is opened and the steam at a tem-
perature exceeding 100° Centigrade produces by it passage through the coil or worm
the ebullition of the liquid contained in the still. The steam from the generator escapes
while the alcoholic vapors arising from the distillation of the liquid contained in the
still are disengaged and pass into other receivers which in their turn heat the following
charge of the liquid to be distilled. Now it is clear that the steam which escapes at
a temperature which is approximately that of the point of ebullition of the liquid
contained in the still is completely lost. A simple calculation shows this. Supposing
that in order to evaporate 100 litres of liquid a quantity of fuel is necessary, the
100 litres evaporated in the still requiring approximately 100 litres of water likewise
evaporated in the generator we shall have for an effective distillation of 100 litres a
total of 200 litres evaporated say 2 a as fuel in addition to the heat necessary for
bringing 100 litres of cold water to the boiling temperature in the generator.
In certain improved apparatus the steam which escapes is utilize for heating the
water for feeding the generator, and by employing this method the cost of fuel is
notably reduced, but in comparing this apparatus with those with open fire the costs
of working the former are about 50 per cent. more for heating. These apparatus
require besides a constant surveillance and in order to avoid serious accidents it is
necessary to constantly maintain the water in the generator at a sufficient height by
means of an injector or feed pump. There is again the great drawback of constant
incrustations in the interior of the generator and which are a permanent source of
danger of explosions. Besides, these incrustations, covering the walls of the boiler
with a layer which is a bad conductor of heat lead to considerable increase of expense
for fuel.
Continuous apparatus heated by steam. These apparatus have the same objections
as those previously mentioned in all that relates to constant care and surveillance and
to the great expense for heating. The return of the liquids to be distilled being in
these apparatus always regular and constant and not being submitted directly to the
variations of temperature which are produced in the generator it is easy to understand
that the distillation properly so called, is more irregular. In order to remedy this
objection different apparatus have been constructed such as steam regulators of various
kinds which give good results as long as the pressure in the boiler is sufficient to
constantly give the minimum of steam necessary to effect the distillation of the wash
or liquor which regularly enters the still. But if by any inadvertence the pressure is
suddenly lowered in the boiler the quantity of steam produced therein will be insuffi-
cient to effect the complete decomposition of the liquor submitted to distillation, and
this will result in a considerable loss of alcohol.
My invention consists of what may be called a generator-condenser which allows of
condensing and returning automatically to the generator the steam utilized for heating
the stills. This apparatus can be applied in all cases where steam is utilized as the

page_text: means of heating, and the excess steam in the generator can be utilized as a motive
power or for other purposes.
My invention also includes a novel apparatus which automatically regulates the
inlet of the liquor or wash into the stills of continuous apparatus in direct proportion
to the progress of the distillation. This apparatus is applicable to apparatus working
with an open fire as well as to those heated by steam.
Before describing the construction of my generator-condenser I will state the chief
advantages which result from its use.
1st. There is considerable economy of fuel due to the fact that the steam which
serves for heating the still returns to the boiler at a temperature approaching that of
its evaporation.
2nd. No surveillance is necessary as the condensed steam returns automatically to
the generator in a constant and regular manner.
3rd. There is no danger of explosion as the steam produced by the generator is
constantly condensed by the liquid which is being distilled.
4th. No incrustation can be produced as the water contained in the generator does
not diminish in volume and therefore always remains the same.
5th. High pressure generators are unnecessary as the pressure in my apparatus is
always below one atmosphere.
6th. The excess steam in my apparatus can be utilized for other purposes.
7th. The return of the liquor or wash in the case of continuous apparatus is effected
by the use of my novel regulator which automatically regulates the quantity of liquid
to be introduced into the still in proportion to the steam that the generator produces.
My apparatus has the great advantage that all loss of alcohol becomes impossible,
because even if the fire of the generator became suddenly extinguished the return of
the liquor would in this case be also suddenly stopped.
My apparatus is based on the following principle (see Figure 1) represents a
hermetically closed vessel containing water up to the level so that the mouth of
the pipe
a is completely submerged. b is a pipe communicating with the upper part
of the vessel x. If a suction or pressure be exerted at the opening of the pipe 2 the
level of the water in a will nevertheless undergo no change either at n or at v.
I will now describe a generator-condenser (see Figure 2). is the fire-place, the
boiler for producing the steam necessary for the distillation, n the water level in
the boiler, a pipe conducting the steam from the generator to the receiver c in
which the still e is placed. a is a pipe returning the water of condensation into the
boiler. rrare cocks for liberating the air which is in the space or jacket between
the receiver c and the still e at the commencement of the operation. d is a metal
ring or flange on the outside of the still botiom which prevents the liquid that con-
denses on the outside of the still e from falling into the mouth o of the pipe b. his
the outlet for the products of distillation. The arrangement for heating the still is
the saine whether for continuous apparatus or for intermittent apparatus.
The working of the apparatus is as follows, The water in the generator is vaporized
by the fire. The steam thus produced passes through the pipe 6 and enters the space
between the receiver c and the still e. The still e absorbs the heat produced by the
condensation of the steam from the generator and the products of condensation which
run down the outer wall of the still to the ring or flange d collect in the bottom
of the receiver c and afterwards return into the boiler by the pipe a. At the
beginning of the operation the cocks are opened so as to allow the steam to
gradually drive out the air from between the receiver c and the still e.
In small distilleries where the fire place is near the still my apparatus can be
constructed as shown in Figure 3. is the fire-place, the boiler, n the water
level, the air outlet cocks, e the still, 9 an upper continuation of the boiler.
The fire causes ebullition of the water in the boiler x and the steam which rises
between the sides of g and e gives off all its latent heat.
My regulator for controlling the inlet of the liquor into the continuous apparatus in
exact proportion to the distillation of the wash will be understood on reference to
Figure 4. x is the still containing the boiling wash. h is the opening by which the

page_text: alcoholic vapors are carried off. p is a pipe for feeding the still, t is a pipe for running
off the vinasses or residue. m is a pipe to which a pressure guage is fitted for showing
the tension of the vapors in the still. When the apparatus is at work the liquid in the
still produces vapors which pass off at h. It is evident that if the volume of these
vapors increases, the outlet having always the same diameter, the pressure in the
interior of the still will increase; if on the contrary the evaporation of the liquid
diminishes the tension of the vapors in the still will diminish. These differences of
pressure act on the pressure guage pipe m and it is evident that it will be sufficient to
transmit the oscillations or variations produced to the pipe p in order to obtain an
introduction of liquor in proportion to the progress of the distillation. For this
purpose the pipe m can be fitted with a spring piston which rises and falls according
to the variations of pressure, and the piston rod be made to control a valve or cock on
the pipe p.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim in respect of distillatory apparatus is :-
1. The improved apparatus hereinbefore called a generator-condenser arranged and
working substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
2. The apparatus constructed and working substantially as herein before described
for regulating the inlet of the liquor or wash into the stills of continuous apparatus in
direct proportion to the progress of the distillation.
Dated this 19th day of November 1889
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.