Improvements in Apparatus Employed in the Ammonia-
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 26th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 6th May, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by LA SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET LA
CRÉATION DE SOUDIÉRES, of 95, Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the
Republic of France.]
Improvements in Apparatus Employed in the Ammonia-
I, OLIVER IMRAY of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to apparatus employed in the ammonia-soda process, for
carbonating the soda, recovering the ammonia and calcining the bicarbonate of soda.
The first or carbonating operation is the treatment of a solution of ammoniacal
sodium chloride, to effect precipitation of bicarbonate of soda by blowing carbonic
acid gas through the solution. In order to effect this thoroughly and economically,
the gas must be minutely subdivided and brought thoroughly into contact with all
parts of the liquid, whilst at the same time the apparatus employed should be simple in
construction moderate in height, and not liable to obstruction, and it should present
an extended surface for cooling, and be quite accessible for cleansing. In order to
fulfil these objects the carbonating apparatus according to this invention is constructed
in the following manner. It is made in the form of an annular cylinder standing
vertically the annular space being charged to about three quarters of its height with
the liquid which is continuously supplied by a pipe entering at the top of the vessel
and dipping into the upper part of the liquid. In the annular space there are many
tiers of removeable shelves projecting from the sides and nearly meeting in the middle,
each shelf having an edge bending downwards and made with many indentations.
Between each two tiers of these shelves there is a middle shelf or deflecting plate the
edges of which approach nearly to the walls of the annular space. The carbonic acid
gas enters by a pipe near the bottom and passes through a distributing screen, and
then finds its way in bubbles through the liquid, these bubbles being broken up many
times as they pass the indented edges of the shelves, and the liquid being thus kept. in
agitation while the gas is kept long in contact with it. The precipitate with a portion

page_text: of the liquid is drawn off from time to time by a pipe near the bottom. Owing to
the annular form of the vessel it presents a very extended cooling surface. For
recovering the ammonia, two vessels are employed, an upper vessel in which free
ammonia or carbonate of ammonia is liberated by heat from the solution of
bicarbonate of soda, and a lower vessel in which the liquid, after being operated on in
the higher vessel, has the ammonium chloride which it contains decomposed by lime
and the ammonia liberated by heat. Apparatus by which this operation can be carried
on in an effective and continuous manner is, according to this invention arranged as
follows. The upper vessel is in the form of a cylinder standing vertically, divided
into a number of superposed compartments by horizontal partitions through each of
which there are apertures having mouthpieces extending above the partition. Over
these mouthpieces are placed bell shaped deflectors having numerous indentations at
their edges which rest on the partition. From each compartment an overflow pipe
communicates with the next lower compartment, each inlet being separated from the
outlet by a deflecting plate which causes the liquid that enters to flow quite round the
compartment before it can reach the overflow. The liquid to be operated on is supplied
by a siphon pipe to the uppermost compartment, and flows from compartment to
compartment till finally it issues at the bottom by a pipe leading to the lower vessel
or lime still. While the liquid is descending through the successive compartments,
gas and steam, supplied at the bottom, ascend from each compartment to the next
above, through the mouth pieces under the bell deflectors by the indented edges of
which the streams are subdivided so that they rise in numerous bubbles through the
liquid in the compartment. The gases finally pass away by a pipe at the top of the
vessel. Each of the partitions has through it a hole fitted with a plug which can be
removed for the purpose of emptying a compartment. The lower vessel or lime still
is in like manner divided by horizontal partitions into a number of superposed
compartments, the partitions having holes through them with upwardly projecting
mouth pieces over which are bell deflectors with indented edges. In the lower part of
the vessel there is a compartment supplied with steam, through which pass a number
of tubes so that the liquid in the tubes is heated by the steam surrounding them.
There is also a pipe dipping down into the liquid nearly to the bottom, by which steam
can be blown in. While liquid from the upper still flows into the highest compart-
ment, milk of lime is also admitted to mix with it, and the mixed liquid descends from
compartment to compartment by overflow pipes, a portion being from time to time
drawn off by a pipe at the bottom. The calcination of the bicarbonate of soda is
effected according to this invention by apparatus of the following kind. Within an
oven heated by a fire at one side is mounted a horizontal cylinder resting on rollers
by the revolution of which the cylinder is caused to revolve. Through a stuffing box
packed with asbestos at one end of the cylinder passes a central shaft which is caused
to revolve in the direction opposite to that of the cylinder. This shaft has on it bosses
to which are jointed arms carrying two blades indented at their edges, with the
indentations so arranged that the projecting teeth of the one blade correspond with
the hollows of the other. At the opposite end of the cylinder there is an internal
bearing for the end of the shaft formed at the elbow of a stationary pipe which passes
through asbestos packing to the outside; the interior branch of this pipe extends from
the elbow upwards nearly to the periphery of the cylinder. Through a manhole at
one end, the cylinder is charged with the bicarbonate to be calcined, and while the
cylinder revolves and the blades revolve in the opposite direction, the bicarbonate is
subdivided, turned over and over and thoroughly exposed to the heat, while the
liberated gases and vapours escape by the pipe at the end.
ABEL & IMRAY,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus Employed in the Ammonia-
soda Process.
1, OLIVER IMRAY of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents 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 :-
1
This invention relates to apparatus employed in the ammonia-soda process, for
carbonating the soda, recovering the ammonia, and caleining the bicarbonate of soda.
The first or carbonating operation is the treatment of a solution of ammoniacal
sodium chloride to effect precipitation of the carbonate of soda by blowing carbonic
acid gas through the solution. In order to effect this thoroughly and economically,
the gas must be minutely subdivided and brought thoroughly into contact with all
parts of the liquid, whilst at the same time the apparatus employed should be simple
in construction, moderate in height and not liable to obstruction; it should also present
extended surface for cooling and should be quite accessible for cleaning. In order to
fulfil those conditions, the carbonating apparatus according to this invention is con-
structed as shewn in part section and in sectional plan by Fig. 1 of the accompanying
drawings. It consists of a vessel in the form of an annular cylinder, having within
the annulus numerous shelves p serrated at their edges, which project from the sides
and nearly meet in the middle, and above each pair of these is a curved deflector p¹
also serrated at the edges and supported on cross bars T above the shelves p.
Tho
vessel being filled up to A with solution admitted by a pipe B which descends so as to
have its mouth immersed, carbonic acid gas admitted at Cis first broken up into
streams by the serrated screen or deflector D and is farther subdivided as it ascends
through the liquid by the serrations of the shelves p, and plates p'. Portions
of the liquid and its precipitate of bicarbonate of soda are from time to time
withdrawn at R. Owing to the annular form of the vessel, it presents a very extended
cooling surface, and the gas is well subdivided and brought into contact with all parts
of the liquid by the serrated deflectors which can be readily removed and replaced.
For recovering the ammonia, two vessels are employed, an upper and a lower, as shewn
in elevation, part sections and sectional plans by Fig. 2. The upper vessel A is divided
into compartments by horizontal partitions F having through them mouth pieces E
covered by bells with serrated edges. Each compartment is charged with the liquid
to a level determined by over-flow pipes t from each compartment to the next below,
each inlet being separated from the outlet by a deflecting plate which causes the liquid
that enters to flow quite round the compartment before it reaches the overflow. The
liquid to be distilled enters the highest compartment by the pipe D and proceeds
downwards through the successive compartments. The gas and steam pass upwards
through the mouthpieces E and past the serrated edges of the bells by which their
streams are subdivided causing agitation. By removing a plug in any partition F the

page_text: compartiment can be emptied when required, manholes G giving access. The dis-
engaged gases pass away by a pipe H to be condensed. The liquor flows by a pipe N
at the bottom to the second vessel B where the lime treatment is applied. This vessel
is also divided into compartments by partitions each having two mouthpieces surmounted
by bells K having serrated edges, each compartment being supplied by an overflow
pipe T from that above it. The overflow pipes T being alternated at opposite sides, the
liquid has in each compartment to pass across from the one bell K to the other. Milk
of lime is continuously supplied by the pipe M to meet the liquor from A entering by
the pipe N. Thus in the highest compartiment the lime reacts on the hydrochlorate
of ammonia causing separation of the ammonia as the liquor passes through the lower
compartments. At the bottom of the vessel are tubes Sheated by steam around them,
the steam being thus kept separate from the liquor so as not to dilute it. From time
to time a cock U is opened to run off a portion of the liquid that collects at the bottom
of the vessel.
The calcination of the bicarbonate of soda is effected by apparatus such as is shewn
in end view and longitudinal and transverse sections by Fig. 3. C is a rotating
cylinder, mounted on rollers G on shafts A, within a furnace chamber heated by a fire
at one side. Along the axis of the cylinder extends a shaft B which is driven by
gearing in a direction opposite to that of the cylinder. The shaft B passes through a
stuffing box packed with asbestos at the one end of the cylinder, and at the other end
it works in a bearing formed on a bent pipe T which also passes through an asbestos
stuffing box. To the shaft B are hinged arms carrying two scraper Blades L which
have indented edges, the projecting teeth of the one blade corresponding in position
with the intervals between the teeth of the other blade. From the pipe T a branch M
is directed upwards by which escapes the gases and vapours liberated during calcina-
tion. P is a manhole for charging and discharging the cylinder. The simultaneous
movement of the cylinder and shaft B is effected by the connecting gear KHONI
as shewn, the pinion H2 which works the rollers G being fitted to slide out of gear
when the cylinder is stopped for charging or discharging. Owing to the rotation of
the cylinder C it becomes uniformly heated and by means of the blades L the
bicarbonate is subdivided, turned over and over and thoroughly exposed to the heat
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim in respect of
apparatus employed in the ammonia soda process, is :-
1. The carbonating apparatus, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1.
2. The apparatus for regenerating the ammonia, substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 2.
3. The apparatus for calcining the bicarbonate of sola substantially as described
with reference to Fig. 3.
73
11
52
CRE
1 1007
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.