Improvements in Absorbers for Ice Machines and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1899
Improvements in Absorbers for Ice Machines and the like.
I, PIERCE ROE MCCRARY, of 110, Liberty Street, New York, in the County
of New York, and State of New York, one of the United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to absorbers in which ammonia gas is absorbed by weak
ammoniacal liquor.
A pan is provided for catching the waste water and is furnished with a drain
pipe. The lower part of the absorber consists of manifolds supported in the
pan and connected together at one end. The other ends of the said manifolds
have a mixing pipe for gas and liquor connected to them. This mixing pipe has
two pipes connected to it, one for admitting weak liquor from the ammonia
still or retort, and the other for admitting expanded ammonia gas from the
expansion coils of the brine tank or other expansion coils. The ammonia gas
is brought into contact with the weak liquor in the mixing pipe and is partly
absorbed by it.
A series of substantially vertical pipes is provided. These pipes have their
lower ends connected to the said manifolds, and a second set of manifolds is
provided and connected to the upper ends of the said pipes. The upper manifolds
are suitably connected together and form the upper part of the absorber.
Perforated inlet pipes are provided in the lower manifolds and are connected
to the mixing pipe so as to form extensions of it. The perforatious cause the
gas to issue at a series of points in the length of the pipes so that the gas is
distributed amongst the vertical pipes which connect the lower manifolds with
the upper manifolds. The gas and liquor pass upward through the vertical
pipes in the same direction from one set of manifolds to the other, and the
gas is absorbed by contact with the liquor.
Fenders or guides are provided at the upper parts of the vertical pipes, and
water sprinklers are provided above the upper manifolds. The water flows
from the sprinklers onto the upper manifolds and is guided into contact with
the vertical pipes by the fenders so that it is caused to trickle down the said
pipes.
A strong ammonia-water receiver is provided and is suitably connected to the
upper manifolds, and the strong water receiver has a pipe for connecting it to
the still or retort. A waste pipe is also provided for the exit of incidental
gases which are thrown out during the process by reason of their being non-
absorbable under existing conditions. A pipe also is provided to connect the
upper manifolds with the receiver so as to equalize the pressure in the said
manifolds and receiver.
The expanded ammonia gas is brought into intimate contact with the weak
liquor in the mixing pipe, the manifolds and their connecting pipes, and a
uniform distribution of the gas is effected by the perforated pipes. The manifolds

page_text: and their connecting pipes are cooled by the water from the spray pipes to
facilitate the absorption of the gas. A portion of the cooling water is converted
into steam as it trickles down the vertical pipes by the heat of the hot liquor
within them, and the cooling of the absorber is effected partly by conduction
and also partly by evaporation, because the absorber is exposed to the atmo-
sphere. A portion of the heat is abstracted from the absorber by the water,
and an additional portion of heat is caused to become latent by the conversion
of a portion of the water into steam or vapour.
An absorber constructed according to this invention requires much less cool-
ing water than absorbers as heretofore constructed, partly because of the novel
manner in which the cooling water is used, and partly because of the use
of the perforated pipes for distributing the gas uniformly in the liquor and
causing it and the liquor to flow in the same direction through the absorber.
Dated this 28th day of September 1899.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
Agent for Applicant, 70/1 Palace Chambers, Westminster S.W.
Improvements in Absorbers for ice Maonines and the like.
I, PIERCE ROE MCCRARY, of 110, Liberty Street, New York, in the County
of New York, and State of New York, one of the United States of America,
Mechanical 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:-
This invention relates to absorbers in which ammonia gas is absorbed by weak
ammoniacal liquor.
A pan is provided for catching the waste water and is furnished with a drain
pipe. The lower part of the absorber consists of manifolds supported in the
pan and connected together at one end. The other ends of the said manifolds
have a mixing pipe for gas and liquor connected to them. This mixing pipe has
two pipes connected to it, one for admitting weak liquor from the ammonia
still or retort, and the other for admitting expanded ammonia gas from the
expansion coils of the brine tank or other expansion coils. The ammonia gas
is brought into contact with the weak liquor in the mixing pipe and is partly
absorbed by it.
A series of substantially vertical pipes is provided. These pipes have their
lower ends connected to the said manifolds, and a second set of manifolds is
provided and connected to the upper ends of the said pipes. The upper manifolds
are suitably connected together and form the upper part of the absorber.
Perforated inlet pipes are provided in the lower manifolds and are connected
to the mixing pipe so as to form extensions of it. The perforations cause the
gas to issue at a series of points in the length of the pipes so that the gas is
distributed amongst the vertical pipes which connect the lower manifolds with
the upper manifolds. The gas and liquor pass upward through the vertical
pipes in the same direction from one set of manifolds to the other, and the
gas is absorbed by contact with the liquor.
Fenders or guides are provided at the upper parts of the vertical pipes, and
water sprinklers are provided above the upper manifolds. The water flows
from the sprinklers onto the upper manifolds and is guided into contact with
the vertical pipes by the fenders so that it is caused to trickle down the said
pipes.
A strong ammonia-water receiver is provided and is suitably connected to the

page_text: upper manifolds, and the strong water receiver has a pipe for connecting it to
the still or retort. A waste pipe is also provided for the exit of incidental
gases which are thrown out during the process by reason of their being non-
absorbable under existing conditions. A pipe also is provided to connect the
upper manifolds with the receiver so as to equalize the pressure in the said
manifolds and receiver.
The expanded ammonia gas is brought into intimate contact with the weak
liquor in the mixing pipe, the manifolds and their connecting pipes, and a
uniform distribution of the gas is effected by the perforated pipes. The manifolds
and their connecting pipes are cooled by the water from the spray pipes to
facilitate the absorption of the gas. A portion of the cooling water is converted
into steam as it trickles down the vertical pipes by the heat of the hot liquor
within them, and the cooling of the absorber is effected partly by conduction
and also partly by evaporation, because the absorber is exposed to the atmo-
sphere. A portion of the heat is abstracted from the absorber by the water,
and an additional portion of heat is caused to become latent by the conversion
of a portion of the water into steam or vapour.
An absorber constructed according to this invention requires much less cool-
ing water than absorbers as heretofore constructed, partly because of the novel
manner in which the cooling water is used, and partly because of the use
of the perforated pipes for distributing the gas uniformly in the liquor and
causing it and the liquor to flow in the same direction through the absorber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view of the absorber and the receiver, partly in section.
Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line - in Figure 1.
1 is the pan for catching the waste water, and 2 is its drain pipe. 4 are the
manifolds which constitute the lower part of the absorber and which are con-
nected together at one end by the pipe 4. The other ends of the manifolds 4
have a mixing pipe 5 connected to them. A pipe for weak liquor and a
pipe 7 for expanded ammonia gas are connected to the pipe 5.
A series of substantially vertical pipes 8 connects the lower manifolds 4
with upper manifolds 9 which are connected together by a pipe 10.
11 are the perforated inlet pipes in the lower manifolds. These pipes 11 are
connected to the mixing pipe 5, and the gas and liquor pass upward from one
manifold to the other through the pipes 11.
12 are the fenders or guides at the upper part of the absorber for causing
the cooling water to trickle down the pipes 8, and 13 are the sprinklers for
discharging the cooling water onto the upper part of the absorber.
16 is the strong ammonia-water receiver which is connected with the upper
manifolds by a pipe 14 having a valve 15.
17 is the pipe for connecting the receiver 16 with the still or retort. 19 is
the waste pipe for the exit of incidental gases, and 20 is the pipe which equalizes
the pressure in the manifolds and receiver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In an absorber, the combination, with manifolds and pipes connecting
them, of a perforated inlet pipe arranged in one set of manifolds and operating
to cause the gas and liquor to flow in the same direction through each said pipe
from one set of manifolds to the other, substantially as set forth.
2. In an absorber, the combination, with manifolds and connecting pipes
exposed to the atmosphere, and means for causing gas and liquor to flow in
the same direction through the said manifolds and pipes of devices for dis-
charging cooling water onto the upper part of the absorber, and guides con-
straining the cooling water to trickle over the said pipes, substantially as set
forth.

page_text: 3. In an absorber, the combination, with manifolds and pipes connecting
them, of a perforated inlet pipe in one set of manifolds, a mixing pipe con-
nected to the said perforated pipe, and separate pipes for gas and for liquor
connected to the said mixing pipe, substantially as set forth.
4. In an absorber, the combination, with a pan having a drain connection,
and manifolds and connecting pipes exposed to the atmosphere and supported
in the said pan; of a perforated inlet pipe for gas and liquor arranged in the
lower set of manifolds, and means for discharging cooling water onto the upper
set of manifolds, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1899.