IMPROVEMENTS IN " REFRIGERATING APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
"
REFRIGERATING APPARATUS which Invention has been
communicated to me from abroad by Adam Natanson of 49 Avenue Friedland
Paris in the Republic of France, Engineer to be as follows:-
This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus in which cold is produced by
the evaporation of a liquid in a vacuum in the presence of a hygroscopic liquid
and it consists in the improved arrangement and construction of the parts as
hereinafter described whereby the apparatus is rendered less expensive and more
regular and efficient in its action. The hygroscopic liquid employed in carrying
out this Invention consists preferably of an aqueous solution of basic chloride of
zinc but any other suitable hygroscopic liquid may be employed if found
desirable.
This improved apparatus is provided with an evaporating vessel containing a
solution of chloride of magnesium or other salt of such density as to be incon-
gealable at temperatures considerably below zero centigrade. The incongealable
liquid or cooling agent after traversing the vessels or places to be cooled or
refrigerated is received in a tank whence it is drawn through a pipe into the
evaporator herein before referred to the supply being controlled by a float.or ball
cock arrangement. The flow of the incongealable liquid through the evaporator
is regulated by means of partitions so arranged as to cause the stream to follow a
zig zag course and the temperature is lowered by the evaporation of a portion of
the water of the saline solution or cooling liquid. This evaporation is promoted
by means of discs or wheels partially immersed in the liquid and partaking of a
continuous rotary motion. These discs serve both to obtain an extended surface
for evaporation and also to retain froth or vapours calculated to produce bubbles.
These discs are fixed upon a horizontal shaft and are made of sheet metal perforated
with holes forming cells which take up at each revolution a certain quantity of
the liquid which becomes cooled when the thin layers or films thus formed are

page_text: converted into vapour. The loss of water resulting from the evaporation is made
good when necessary. by an equivalent quantity of water supplied from a
concentrating vessel hereinafter described and delivered into the tank to which the
cooling agent returns. The whole apparatus or certain parts thereof such as the
pumps may be immersed in an incongealable liquid in order to prevent the accidental
admission of air and the tanks or vessels are preferably covered with suitable heat
excluding materials.
'
The cooling agent is drawn from the evaporating vessel by means of a pump
which delivers the liquid into a tank or vessel provided with an over flow pipe
whence it is distributed in any suitable manner to the places or apparatus which
are to be cooled or when ice is to be made the moulds containing the liquid to be
frozen may be placed in this tank which in this case is divided by partitions into
suitable compartments for the reception of the moulds. These partitions are so
arranged that the cooling liquid entering at one end of the tank circulated in a
continuous stream between the moulds without mixture of the liquids and issues
at the farther end after effecting the requisite interchange of temperature. The
moulds are hoisted out of the tank and transferred successively at suitable intervals
from one compartment to another, so as to advance in the opposite direction to the
cooling liquid by means of an overhead winch.
The tank receiving the cooling agent on its return to the refrigerator is arranged
underneath the evaporating vessel and distributing tank so that the liquid tends
to ascend to the former owing to the high vacuum present therein the passage of
the liquid being regulated by a float or ball cock arrangement.
-
The basic chloride of zinc or other suitable hygroscopic liquid brought to the
required density is contained in a condensing vessel in which a vacuum is produced
by means of a powerful air pump. A suitable pipe connects the evaporator herein-
before described with the condenser which is provided with internal partitions in
a similar manner to the said evaporator. The concentrated hygroscopic liquid
passes through the condensing vessel and escapes saturated with evaporated water
from the evaporator. A horizontal shaft is passed through this condensing
apparatus and carries wheels which revolve continuously between the internal-
partitions. These wheels are composed of concentric hoops of suitable metal the
said hoops being of such width and arranged at such distance apart as to present
a large surface of absorption for the condensation of the current of aqueous vapour
in a relatively contracted space. In order to absorb the heat generated by the
condensation of the aqueous vapours in the hygroscopic liquid the vessel is entirely
enclosed in a casing in which circulates water delivered by a perforated pipe and
in order to better maintain the hygroscopic liquid at the required temperature each
compartment is traversed underneath the wheels by one or more pipes through.
which cold water is caused to circulate.
The pump communicating with the condensing vessel expels the air drawn into
the distributing tank in which a partial vacuum is produced by means of a second
air pump..
A pump draws off the chloride saturated with water from the condenser and
delivers. it into the evaporating or concentrating vessel hereinbefore referred to at
the same time causing the liquid to pass through a cooler or apparatus for effecting
an interchange of temperature wherein it becomes heated.
This evaporating or concentrating vessel serves to restore the weakened
hygroscopic liquid to the proper degree of density and is connected with an air
pump which produces a vacuum promoted and maintained by. means of a condenser
worked with a jet of water. This air pump acts on a column of water forming a
liquid piston in order to prevent the evaporation of the hygroscopic liquid from
prejudicing the vacuum in the condensing and evaporating vessels. This evapo-
rating or concentrating vessel is arranged internally in a similar manner to the
evaporator herein before described the liquids of low density entering at one.
end and issuing at the opposite end after being brought to the proper degree of

page_text: density by circulating between the partitions and being acted on by the rotating.
discs or wheels. The liquids are heated and evaporated by the direct action of
steam circulating in a coiled pipe or pipes arranged in the lower part of each
compartment. A revolving helix or endless, screw of perforated or unperforated
sheet metal may be substituted for the discs and partitions arranged as herein-
before described with reference to the condensing and evaporating or concentrating
vessels.
A pump working under pressure draws the concentrated liquid from the
concentrating or evaporating vessel through the cooler and forces this cooled liquid
into the condenser firstly herein before described. The water which has been
employed for cooling in the cooler is supplied to this condenser and thence proceeds
to the second condenser the distilled water from the concentrator being returned
to the tank communicating with the evaporator.

page_text: "
I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the this Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS" which Invention has been communicated to me
from abroad by Adam Natanson of 49 Avenue Friedland Paris in the Republic of
France Engineer and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to refrigerating apparatus in which cold is produced by
the evaporation of a liquid in a vacuum in the presence of a hygroscopic liquid
and it consists in the improved arrangement and construction of the parts as
hereinafter, described whereby the apparatus is rendered less expensive and more
.regular and efficient in its action. The hygroscopic liquid employed in carrying
out this Invention consists preferably of an aqueous solution of basic chloride of
zine but any other suitable hygroscopic liquid may be employed if found desirable.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the corresponding figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows the general arrangement of the
parts of the improved apparatus with their connections and Figures 2 to 6 represent
details drawn to a larger scale and herein after described.
This apparatus is provided with an evaporating vessel A figure 1 (shewn in
vertical section in figure, 2) containing a solution of chloride of magnesium or other
salt of such density as to be incongealable at the temperatures considerably below
zero centigrade, obtained by the evaporation of the solution in vacuo and in presence
of a hygroscopic liquid. The incongealable liquid or cooling agent of varying
temperature after traversing the vessels or places to be cooled or refrigerated is
received in a tank,D, provided with a nonconducting jacket, whence it is drawn
through a pipe t into the evaporator A herein before referred to, the supply being
controlled by a float or ball cock arrangement a¹. The flow of the uncongealable
liquid through the evaporator A is regulated by means of partitions c (figure 2) so
. arranged as to cause the stream to follow a zig zag course and the temperature is
lowered by the evaporation of a portion of the water of the saline solution or
cooling liquid. This evaporation is promoted by means of discs or wheels b
partially immersed in the liquid and partaking of a continuous rotary motion.
These discs which serve both to obtain an extended surface for evaporating the
liquid in thin films and also to retain froth or vapours calculated to produce bubbles
are fixed upon a horizontal sbaft, driven by a pulley a* and are made of sheet metal
preferably perforated with holes forming cells which take up at each revolution a
certain quantity of the liquid which becomes cooled as the thin layers or films thus
formed are converted into vapour. The loss of water resulting from the evaporation
is made good when necessary by an equivalent quantity of water distilled or
supplied from a concentrating vessel I hereinafter described and delivered into the
tank D. The evaporater A is preferably immersed in an incongealable liquid, in

page_text: order to prevent the accidental admission of air, but if the joints are sufficiently
air tight this precaution may be dispensed with. The tanks or vessels containing
the cold liquids are preferably encased in suitable non conducting materials.
The cooling agent is drawn from the evaporating vessel A through a pipe a by
means of a pump B which delivers the liquid into a tank or vessel C figure 1
provided with an over flow pipe c leading to the vessel D and whence it is
distributed to pipes arranged in any suitable manner in the places or apparatus
which are to be cooled. The pump B works under a sufficient head of liquid to
compensate for the differences in the vacuum, and may be immersed in the
incongealable liquid in order to prevent leakage. When ice is to be made the
moulds containing the liquid to be frozen may be placed in the tank C which in
this case is divided by partitions into suitable compartments for the reception of
the moulds. These partitions are so arranged that the cooling liquid entering at
one end of the tank is circulated in a continuous stream between the moulds
without mixture of the liquids and issues at the farther end after effecting the
réquisite interchange of temperature. The moulds are hoisted out of the tank and
transferred successively at suitable intervals from one compartment to another, so
as to advance in the opposite direction to the cooling liquid, by means of an over-
head winch. The tank D receiving the cooling agent before its return to the
evaporater A, is arranged underneath the vessel A and the distributing or cooling
tank C, so that the liquid tends to ascend continuously through the pipe t to the
vessel A owing to the high vacuum present therein.
The basic chloride of zinc or other suitable hygroscopic liquid, brought to the
required density, is contained in a condensing vessel E (shown in the general view
figure 1 and in longitudinal and transverse section in the details figures 3 and 4)
connected by a pipe e¹ to a powerful air pump F serving to produce a vacuum in
the vessels E and A. A pipe é connects the evaporator A with the condenser E.
which is made of suitable metal according to the nature of the hygroscopic liquid
employed, and is provided with internal partitions e figure 3 (forming) compart-
ments connected alternately at the upper, and at the lower ends in a similar
manner to the said evaporator. The concentrated hygroscopic liquid passes through
the pipe e² to the condensing vessel and escapes saturated with evaporated water
from the evaporator through a pipe e³. A horizontal shaft is passed through this
condensing apparatus and carries wheels et which revolve continuously between the
internal partitions e³. These wheels are composed of concentric hoops (figure 4) of
suitable metal the said hoops being of such width and arranged at such distance
apart as to present a large surface of absorption, for the condensation of the
current of aqueous vapour, in a relatively contracted' space-In order to absorb
the heat generated by the condensation of the aqueous vapours in the hygroscopic
liquid, the vessel E is entirely enclosed in a casing E' in which circulates water
delivered by a perforated pipe p (figure 4) and in order to better maintain the
hygroscopic liquid at the required temperature each compartment is traversed
underneath the wheels e by one or more pipes through which cold water is
caused to circulate.
The two cylinder pump F communicating with the condensing vessel E through
the pipe e¹ works with a liquid piston (that is with a liquid packing) and delivers
the air into a distributing tank C¹ in which a partial vacuuin (corresponding to
about 75 centimetres of mercury) is produced by means by a second air pump H.
The pump F works in a hygroscopic liquid preferably the same as is employed in
the condenser E..
A pump G draws off the chloride saturated with water from the condenser E
through the pipe e³ and delivers it through a pipe into the evaporating or
concentrating vessel I herein before referred to, at the same time causing the liquid
to pass through a cooler or apparatns J for effecting an interchange of temperature
when it becomes leated.
The evaporating or concentrating vessel I serving to restore the weakened
hygroscopic liquor to the proper degree of density. is constructed of suitable metal.

page_text: according to the liquid employed, and is connected with the pump H which
produces a vacuum promoted and maintained by means of a condenser / figures 1
and 6 worked with a jet of water. This pump is placed at a lower level than the
vessel Land is assisted in its action by the rarefaction produced in this vessel, and is
capable of producing a vacuum equivalent to a mercurial .column of about
70 centimetres corresponding with the boiling point of the hygroscopic liquid..
The pump H exhausts or produces a vacuum in the apparatus I for concentrating
the hygroscopic liquid and as it would require to be inconveniently large if it were
made to absorb all the vapours a surface or injection condenser. is interposed
between the apparatus I and the pump H. The vapours from I condensed at h
and the pump H draws hot water only.
are.
A pipe connects the pump H and the vessel C¹ placed above the pump F. The
object of this pipe is to enable a relative vacuum to be made in this vessel which
receives the air or vapour from the pump F. This arrangement greatly diminishes
the work thrown on the pistons in producing the vacuum as in place of working
under atmospheric pressure or 76 centimetres of mercury they work under a
pressure of not more than from about 5 to 6 centimetres of mercury. The
evaporating or concentrating vessel I. represented separately in longitudinal and
transverse section in figures 5 and 6 is arranged internally in a similar manner to
the evaporator E and its action is analogous to that of the boilers or evaporators
used in the manufacture of sugar. The liquids of low density enter at one end, and
escape at the opposite end, after being brought to the proper degree of density by
circulating between the partitions 22, and being acted on by the rotating discs or
wheels which are perforated as shewn in figure 6 in a similar manner to the
discs in the evaporater A. The liquids are heated and evaporated by the direct
action of steam circulating in a coiled pipe or pipes 8 arranged in the lower part
of each compartment-A revolving helix or endless screw of perforated or
unperforated sheet metal may be substituted for the discs and partitions arranged
as hereinbefore described with reference to the condensing and evaporating or
concentrating vessels.
A pump V working under pressure draws the concentrated liquid from the
concentrating or evaporating vessel I through the cooler J and forces this cooled
liquid into the condenser E. The water which has been employed for cooling in
the cooler is supplied to this. condenser and thence proceeds to the second
condenser or concentrater the distilled water from the concentrator being discharged
at a temperature of about 40. degrees centigrade, or returned to the tank
communicating with the evaporator. A counter shaft L driven by any suitable
motor M-imparts motion to the pumps B, F, G, V and H and to the agitators
working in the vessels A, E, I.
"
The arrangement hereinbefore described of an apparatus for concentrating in
vacuo and in a continuous manner the hygroscopic liquids which have been used
and become diluted, cannot be employed with advantage for concentrating
sulphuric acid-Sulphuric acid is now very generally employed as a hygroscopic
liquid and in order to concentrate it in this apparatus, the apparatus or those parts
in contact with the acid have to be constructed of lead, which owing to the nature
of this metal cannot withstand the action of the highly heated steam required
to carry the concentration beyond the usual limit of 60 degrees Beaumé
(density 1.711).
Figure 7 sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings represents an apparatus in
which the concentration of the acid in a continuous manner to about 64 degrees
can be effected without disadvantages resulting from the employment of leaden
concentrating vessels. This improved concentrating apparatus is combined with
an evaporator A and a condenser or absorber E constructed and operating as
herein before described. The said apparatus consists of a column M of cylindrical
or other form made of acid proof materials such as lava for example. In this
column a grating m supports a layer N of fragments of lava, coke or the like. The
pump G supplies a tank g² through a pipe g¹ with the hygroscopic liquid or diluted

page_text: acid which it draws from the absorber E through a pipe e³. This acid is
distributed by a sprinkler T over the material contained in the column M. At the
same time air heated to from about 300 to 325 degrees centigrade, is injected
through the pipe U under the grating m. This air passing in an opposite direction
to the acid flowing in a thin film over the extended surface presented by the
fragments of coke or other substance at N carries off the water and restores the
acid to its original degree of concentration. The concentrated acid escapes through
a siphon tube s and is delivered into a refrigerater R of any suitable construction
whence it passes cooled to the tank of the air pump F. The air which has passed
through the column M escapes through a pipe U and heats the acid in the
distributer g before being discharged. By these means the acid may be concen-
trated to about 64 degrees Beaumé in' place of 60 degrees which are obtained in
apparatus made of lead. I make no claim to this concentrating apparatus except
in combination with the particular refrigerating apparatus bereinbefore described.
The air pump F which is a pump working with a liquid piston, employing as a
liquid preferably the sulphuric acid which has just been concentrated, and does not
emit vapours which would be liable to prejudice the vacuum. The acid is drawn
into the absorption boiler E by the effect of the vacuum which is produced therein,
and a float f which opens or closes the suction pipe f¹ preserves a constant level in
the tank.
In order to obtain air at 300 degrees centigrade any suitable system of heating
apparatus may be employed but it is preferred to employ an apparatus constructed
as hereinafter described in order to obtain the hot air as free as possible from dust:
This apparatus consists essentially of a furnace O divided into two compartments I
and I containing heating tubes K K¹ of the class known as field tubes of
varying diameter and length into which dip small tubes k k¹ communicating with
chambers separated by suitable partitions from the chambers L L¹ commu-
nicating with the tubes K K¹.
Air (which may be filtered if required by means of a suitable filter in the supply
or. suction pipe) is forced into the distribution chamber by a fan V and is
conducted by the small tubes to the lower extremities of the tubes K' whence it
escapes partially heated into the chamber L¹. From this chamber the air passes in
the direction indicated by the arrow into the chamber whence it is distributed
through the tubes k to the lower extremities of the tubes K whence it issues at the
desired temperature and passes along the pipe U to the space below the grating m
in the column M.
A fire is made on a grating p in the compartment I of the heater and the
products of combustion after heating the tubes K in their ascent pass through a
passage pl into the other compartment of the furnace where they heat the tubes K'
in descending through this compartment and finally escape through a grating p²
provided with valves for regulating the draught and obtaining a uniform distribution
of the air. The gases then pass into a chimney Y where they may be further
utilised by means of a tube Y' for warming the air supplied to the tubes K.
I make no claim to this air heating apparatus except in its combination with the
particular refrigerating apparatus herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First-The general arrangement and combination of parts forming an improved
refrigerating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Second The employment in the vessels A E and I of discs or wheels turning
upon a horizontal axis and presenting a large surface in combination with
compartments separated by partitions which cause the liquids to follow a zig zag
or circuitous course all substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings,

page_text: Third-The employment in the vessels A'E and I of an endless screw.
turning upon a horizontal axis substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
set fortb.
Fourth-In refrigerating apparatus of the class herein before described the
employment of the vessel E for obtaining a cooling or condensing action by the use
of water in combination with the vessel I, effecting the concentration and
evaporation of the hygroscopic liquids by means of steam, the lower part of the
said vessels being arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth-The employment of a hygroscopic liquid for forming a liquid piston in
the air pump or pumps of a refrigerating apparatus substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described.
6
Sixth-The arrangement whereby the pumps for circulating the liquids are
caused to work in tanks filled with the same liquids for the purpose of preventing
the entrance of air substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Seventh-The employment in combination with the improved refrigerating or
cold producing machines hereinbefore described and claimed of the column M.
containing pieces of coke, lava or the like over which the hygroscopic liquid. is
caused to pass in the opposite direction to a current of air sufficiently heated to
remove therefrom or evaporate the water which the said liquid has absorbed in the
refrigerating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth: The employment in combination with the improved refrigerating or
cold producing machines hereinbefore described and claimed of improved air
heating apparatus provided with tubes resembling field boiler tubes K and K'
into which filtered or other air is forced by any suitable apparatus by means of the
tubes and k¹ the said air being caused to travel in an opposite direction to the
flow of the heating gases from the furnace and being employed for concentrating
the hygroscopic liquid employed in the refrigerating apparatus all substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.