IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SULPHURIC ACID
Year: 1874

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF
AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SULPHURIC ACID."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Alfred Nobel, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.

page_text: In carrying out this Invention two leaden or other chambers capable
of resisting the action of sulphuric acid are used. Into the first of
these chambers sulphuric acid and atmospheric air are admitted, and by
a second pipe steam is admitted thereto.
Before commencing the operation there is introduced into the first
chamber sulphuric acid mixed with a small quantity of nitric acid (say
about 2 per cent.) in sufficient quantity to cover the bottom of the
chamber. This acid is kept in constant circulation by passing it through
a cooling worm into an elevated cistern connected by a pipe with the top
of both leaden chambers. The acid as it is discharged into the chambers
falls upon a rotating disc, which disperses it through the chambers in
the form of very fine spray. Thus the sulphurous gas as it enters the
first chamber becomes diffused through a descending acid vapour.
The
nitric acid, nitrous acid, or hyponitrous acid contained in the acid spray
dispersed by the rotating disc gives up a portion of its oxygen to the
sulphurous acid, which thus becomes converted into sulphuric acid. The
binoxide of nitrogen resulting from this reaction unites with the oxygen
of the atmosphere and becomes reconverted into hyponitrous acid and
reacts on the sulphurous acid. The sulphuric acid formed by the re-
action is drawn off so as to keep it at an almost constant level in the
chamber.
As the sulphuric acid is formed the acid which is at the bottom of the
chamber loses a portion of its nitric acid. This is compensated for by a
continuous jet of this acid coming from an elevated vessel. The entrance
of the nitric oxide is so regulated as to effect the production of the
sulphuric acid with the minimum amount of nitric acid. From the first
chamber the gaseous products pass to the second chamber, carrying with
them mechanically a small quantity of liquid acid, and here they again
meet with an atmosphere of sulphuric acid spray, produced as already
described. This acid absorbs the hyponitrous acid which escapes from
the first chamber, and falling to the bottom of the chamber returns by
a connecting tube to the first chamber. From the second chamber the
gaseous products pass into a tower, which is filled with coke, and which
only serves to retain the particles of acid carried along mechanically by
the current of gas. From the lower the unabsorbed gases pass to a
chimney, which serves to give the necessary draught.
Jusfead of steam being supplied to the first chamber the quantity
of water required for regulating the density of the sulphuric acid pro-

page_text: duced may be led direct to the acid contained in the bottom of the
chamber. Again, instead of causing an excess of atmospheric air to
enter the chamber and regenerate in this chamber the hyponitrous acid
by the reaction of the oxygen of the air upon the binoxide of nitrogen
found the air may be admitted direct to the second chamber to reconvert
the binoxide of nitrogen into hyponitrous acid. Nothing interferes with
this process since the sulphuric acid charged with hyponitrous acid as it
falls to the bottom of the chamber flows thence through a coupling
tube into the first chamber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Alfred
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR
MANUFACTURING SULPHURIC ACID," being a communication to me from abroad
by Alfred Nobel, of Paris, in the Republic of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was

page_text: to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):-
The object of this Invention is to obtain a large production of concen-
trated sulphuric acid in chambers of comparatively small capacity, and
that at a small expenditure of nitrogen acids (acides nitrogenés).
The Invention does not extend to the preparation of the sulphurous
acid required in this manufacture, as that may be prepared in any
approved manner. When mixed with atmospheric air and steam the
sulphurous acid is introduced into a leaden chamber or chambers for
conversion into sulphuric acid.
In Sheet 1. of the accompanying Drawing 1 have shewn in longitudinal
sectional elevation an arrangement of apparatus used for carrying out
the Invention. A and B are two leaden or other chambers capable of
resisting the action of sulphuric acid. By means of the pipe a the
sulphuric acid and atmospheric air are admitted to the chamber A, and
by a second pipe e steam is admitted to the same chamber.
Before commencing the operation there is introduced into the chamber
A sulphuric acid mixed with a small quantity of nitric acid in sufficient
quantity to cover the bottom of the chamber. This acid is kept in
constant circulation by allowing it to flow into a cooling worm d sur-
rounded by water, which serves to regulate the temperature of the acid
mixture. This cooling worm empties itself into the reservoir e, and the
acid is taken up thence and forced by the pump f into an elevated
reservoir g connected by a pipe g' with the top of the two leaden
chambers. By a branch pipe h (supplied with a regulating cock) the
acid is discharged on to a rotating disc i situate near the top of the
chamber A, and carried by a pendent spindle. This disc is rotated by
bevil gearing set above the chamber A, as shewn, and it is used to
disperse the acid through the chamber in the form of very fine spray.
Thus the sulphurous acid gas as it enters the chamber by the pipe a

page_text: becomes diffused through a descending acid vapor.
The nitric acid,
nitrous acid, or hyponitrous acid contained in the acid spray dispersed
by the rotating disc gives up a portion of its oxygen to the sulphurous
acid, which thus becomes converted into sulphuric acid. The binoxide
of nitrogen resulting from this reaction unites with the oxygen, of the
air admitted to the chamber, and becomes reconverted into hyponitrous
acid and reacts on the sulphurous acid. The sulphuric acid formed by
the reaction is drawn off by the pipe R so as to keep it at an cheost
constant level in the chamber.
As the sulphuric acid is formed the acid which is at the bottom of the
chamber loses a portion of its nitric acid. This is compensated for by a
continuous stream of this acid coming from an elevated vessel K and
entering the chamber by a pipe e. The supply of the nitric acid is so
regulated as to effect the production of the sulphurous acid with the use
of a minimum amount of nitric acid. From the chamber A the gaseous
products pass to the second chamber B, carrying with them mechanically
a small quantity of liquid acid, and here they again meet with an
atmosphere of sulphuric acid spray, produced as already described, the
acid falling from the branch pipe 7 on to a rotating disc 2 similar in all
respects to that shewn at i. This acid absorbs the hyponitrous acid
which escapes from the chamber A by the pipe m, and falling to the
hottom of the chamber B returns by a connecting tubes to the first
chamber A. From the chamber B the gaseous products pass into a
tower T, which is filled with coke, and which only serves to retain the
particles of acid carried along mechanically by the current of gas. From
the tower T the unabsorbed gases pass by a pipe U to a chimney, which
serves to create the necessary draught.
Instead of steam being supplied by the pipe c to the first chamber A
the quantity of water required to facilitate the chemical reaction and
for regulating the density of the sulphuric acid produced may be added
to the acid contained in the bottom of the chamber. Again, instead of
causing an excess of atmospheric air to enter the chamber and regenerate
in this chamber the hyponitrous acid by the reaction of the oxygen of
the air upon the binoxide of nitrogen formed the air may be admitted
direct to the second chamber B to reconvert the binoxide of nitrogen
into hyponitrous acid. Nothing interferes with this process since the
sulphuric acid charged with hyponitrous acid as it falls to the bottom of
the chamber flows thence through the tube s into the first chamber.

page_text: In Sheet II. of the Drawings a
modification of the arrangement,
described with reference to Sheet 1., is shewn, the only difference being
that instead of two chambers there is but one A, A, A, A, and instead
of revolving discs used to disperse the sulphuric acid of the chambers
injectors are adapted, which may serve the double purpose of raising as
well as dispersing the sulphuric acid of the chamber A, A, A, A. The
situation of these injectors is indicated in Sheet 11. of the Drawings by
b, b, b, and they may be worked either by compressed air or by steam on
the usual plan for raising and dispersing liquids.
If sufficient atmospheric air is admitted along with the sulphurous
acid through the pipe a, or from the injectors b, b, b, the reconversion of
binoxide of nitrogen into hyponitric acid, and consequently the re-
utilization of the nitrogen acids will take place in the one chamber
A, A, A, A, without resorting to two separate chambers.
By means of the injectors b, b, b, working with compressed air or
steam if preferred, the sulphuric acid supply in the chamber A, A, A, A,
will be kept in continual circulation rushing into the chamber, where
being caught by the compressed air at the moment of emersion it is
diffused as fine spray.
Instead of a rotating disc, as above described, or injectors, as shewn
in Sheet II. of the Drawings, any other mechanical arrangement may
be employed for obtaining the dispersement of the liquid. These changes
will not modify the principal parts of the Invention, which may be
summed up as follows:--
Instead of introducing into large leaden chambers gaseous sulphurous
acid, atmospheric air, nitrous vapours, and steam, which cause a reaction,
I introduce the sulphurous acid into a small leaden chamber, where it
comes into contact with a large surface of sulphuric acid dispersed and
containing a small quantity of nitric, nitrous, or hyponitrous acid.
Instead of using a large tower filled with coke to absorb by means of
the concentrated sulphuric acid the hyponitrous acid which escapes I use
a small chamber much less costly and more efficacious for the reason
that the dispersion of the liquid by means of a rotating disc, injector, or
other contrivance, allows of presenting to the hyponitrous acid a surface
of sulphuric acid much greater than when this acid flows upon coke.
In effect it will be understood that the quantity of hyponitrous acid
decomposed in the chamber A by the sulphurous acid is converted into

page_text: The principal advantages of the system are:-
1. A large production of sulphuric acid by means of chambers com-
paratively very much reduced in dimension.
2. A greater concentration of the sulphuric acid than is obtained with
the use of the ordinary chambers.
3. A great economy of nitrogen acids relatively to the present cost.
4. A constant and uniform temperature in the leaden chambers
obtained by the circulation of the acid through the cooling worm d
and which facilitates the chemical reaction that takes place in those
chambers.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of
Improvements
in the Mode of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Sulphuric Acid," as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim manufacturing
sulphuric acid in the manner and by the means above described with
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of June, in
the year of our Lord. One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.