Gases by Liquids or Solida.
Year: 1885

page_text: Gases by Liquids or Solida.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE ABSORPTION OF GASES BY LIQUIDS OR SOLIDS
"
(a communication to me from abroad by George Lunge, Philosophiae Doctor,
Professor of Chemistry, of Zürich, Switzerland, and Ludwig Rohrmann, of
Kranschwitz, Silesia, in the Empire of Germany) to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for bringing gases
into intimate contact with liquid or solid substances, whereby the action of the
gases upon such liquids or solids is made to take place as perfectly as possible, a
result required in many operations of industrial chemistry.
The improved apparatus consists of a lower shallow flat vessel forming the base
of the apparatus, provided at one end with a lateral inlet pipe for the gases, and at
the other end with a lateral outlet pipe for the liquid.
The upper edge is surrounded with a trough into which dips the lower edge of a
flange projecting downward from the bottom of a horizontal plate arranged above,
so as to form a hydraulic or water-lute. This horizontal plate forms the bottom of
a second flat shallow vessel which is also surrounded with a trough into which dips
a flange projecting downward from the bottom of a third vessel, and so on for as
many similar vessels arranged one above the other as may be required, each
forming a water joint between its descending flange and the trough round the
vessel below.
Across the bottom of each of the shallow vessels described a row of holes is
made, those in each vessel being at or near the opposite end to those in the vessels
above and below, and the upper side of each hole is surrounded by a low collar
projecting somewhat above the bottom of the vessel the remainder of which is plain
and horizontal.
The lower surface of the bottom of the vessels is preferably made slightly
inclined so that it slopes down from the row of holes to the opposite end, and
longitudinal shallow grooves or furrows are preferably made along this inclined
Burface.
Supposing the apparatus to be applied to effecting the action of gases upon a
liquid, the gases enter the vessel through the inlet pipe first described, whilst the
liquid is allowed to fall through a regulating cock or valve upon an upper plate
which covers the set of superposed vessels. This covering plate is similar to the

page_text: other vessels, but if the gases which leave the apparatus are to be further utilized,
the holes in the plate are provided with troughs or waterlutes by which they can
be connected to pipes which carry the gases away
The gases ascending through the holes in the several vessels pass through the
apparatus in a zigzag direction and are then brought into intimate contact with
the liquid which flowing over the low collars which surround the holes as above
described descends from plate to plate and finally flows off in a highly concentrated
state through the discharge pipe from the lower vessel. The gases not only come
in contact with the thin layer of liquid spread upon the upper surface of the plates
but also with the layers of liquid which adhere to the inclined lower surface of the
latter along which it flows.
In order to keep tight the several water joints, water or other suitable fluid is
supplied from a cock or valve into the uppermost trough, whence it descends by
means of overflow spouts situated alternately at opposite ends of the apparatus,
passing through all the hydraulic lutes and finally being discharged from the lowest
trough. This stream, which may be either constant or intermittent, serves
advantageously in many cases for the purpose of keeping the apparatus cool.
In a slightly modified form of the apparatus just described, the bottom plate of
each vessel is provided with a large number of small holes, the total combined
sectional area of which should be greater than that of the gas inlet pipe. The
lower side of each plate is made plain and horizontal, and their upper surface may
be slightly hollowed between the small holes which are arranged in alternate
positions in the several plates so that the liquid passing through them falls upon
the solid plate below, and is thus scattered about. The ascending gases are also
thoroughly dispersed and made to change their course by the method of arranging
the holes in the plates and are thus intimately mixed with the dispersed and broken
up liquid.
In order that, the liquid may form thin layers over the whole plate and in the
hollows in the latter and to provide against the plates not being perfectly
horizontal, their upper surface may be divided by shallow ribs or ledges into
different compartments.
=
The top or covering plate is similarly arranged, but may have in each compart-
ment one or more large holes instead of a number of smaller ones, and these large
holes may be connected by water-lutes with pipes through which the gases can be
conveyed away.
The liquid may be advantageously supplied and spread over the top covering
plate through a reaction wheel made to revolve by the liquid issuing from it, and
in order to distribute the liquid uniformly over the plate below, shallow grooves or
furrows may be made on the lower surface of the top covering plate, extending
radially from the holes in the latter.
If in the improved apparatus it is required that the gases should act upon solid
substances or mixtures of solid and liquid substances; the several plates may be
singly supplied with such substances and superposed upon each other, and when
the operation is ended, they can be lifted off and emptied successively.
The form of apparatus first described is most appropriate for treating such
substances in form of powder or mud, whilst that last described is more convenient
for treating coarsely granulated substances.
The apparatus may be constructed of stoneware, earthenware, metal, or any
other suitable material, and it may be made square, circular, or of other convenient
shape.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Effecting the Absorption of
Gases by Liquids or Solids.
J, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35; Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me
from abroad by George Lunge, Philosoph Doctor, Professor of Chemistry, of Zurich,
Switzerland, and Ludwig Rohrmann, of Silesia, in the Empire of Germany) and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described in and
by the following statement and accompanying drawing (that is to say) :-
:
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for bringing gases
into intimate contact with liquid or solid substances, whereby the action of the
gases upon. such liquids or solids is made to take place as perfectly as possible, a
result required in many operations of industrial chemistry.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of the invention, figure 1
is a vertical section of the apparatus, figure 2 is a bottom view of part of the
apparatus, figure 3 a vertical transverse section taken in the plane of the line a, B,
(figure 2), and figure 4 a vertical transverse section taken in the plane of the
line y, 6, (figure 2 of the same part).
The vessel A forming the base of the apparatus, is provided with the inlet
pipe a for the gases, and the outlet pipe k for the liquid, and is surrounded by a
trough b, into which fits the downward projecting socket c of the plate B¹, in order
to constitute a hydraulic or water-lute or seal. This plate B₁ is likewise sur-
rounded by a trough.e, in which is placed the downward projecting socket c of a
following plate B'. Upon this plate B' there is placed another plate B³ of similar
construction, and in the same way any number of plates B B of similar
construction may be successively superposed, one over another, always forming
hydraulic lutes, between the trough.e of each plate and the socket c of nach
adjoining plate..
To these plates B¹ B' B' rows of holes d are arranged in such a way, that these
rows of holes are situated alternately on the right and on, the left side of the
plates. The upper ends of the holes d are surrounded by low collars, but the
remainder of the upper surfaces of the plates are plain and horizontal.
The lower surfaces of the plates are preferably inclined as shewn in figure 1 in
such manner that it slopes down from the holes d to the opposite side of the plate.
Shallow furrows or grooves 1 (figures 2-4) starting from the holes d, the purpose
of which is hereinafter described and specified may be advantageously arranged
upon the inclined lower surfaces.
Supposing that it is desired to effect in the apparatus an action of gases upon a
liquid. The gases in this case enter the vessel A through the pipe a, whilst the
liquid to be treated is flowing through the pipe f upon the top or covering plate ✪
of the superposed vessels.
This covering plate C is analogous in construction to: the other plates B¹ B? B³ ;)
but if the gases, which leave the apparatus are to be conveyed to some other
:

page_text: r
apparatus, to be further utilized, the holes d of the covering plate Care provided
with hydraulic lutes connecting these holes to the pipes which convey the gases to
the following apparatus
The gases ascending through the holes d pass the apparatus in a zig-zag-line,
and are thereby brought into very intimate contact with the liquid which, flowing
over the low collars, which surround the holes d, descends from plate to plate and
finally flows off in a highly concentrated state through the pipe k.
The gases not only come into contact with the thin layer of liquid spread upon
the upper surfaces of the plates B¹ B' B³, but also with the layers of liquid, which
adhere to the inclined lower surfaces of the plates, the liquid flowing down by
adhesion from the holes d over such inclined lower surfaces. By this means, there
is a very extensive surface of contact afforded between the gases and the liquids.
In order to form the hydraulic lutes, water or any other convenient liquid, as
the case may be, is made to run through the cock g into the uppermost trough e of
the apparatus.
The liquid descends by means of overflows situated alternately at opposite sides
of the troughs e, passes in this way through all the hydraulic lutes and finally
leaves the trough b, running off at h.
This stream of liquid through the hydraulic lutes, which may either be con-
tinuous or intermittent, serves in many cases advantageously for cooling the
apparatus.
In some cases the apparatus above described may be slightly modified in the
manner represented by the figures 5-9 of the drawing, in which figure 5 is a
vertical section of the modified apparatus, figure the top view and figure 7 the
bottom view of the covering plate C, figure 8 is the top view of one of the other
plates, figure 9 is a part of the vertical section figure 5 on a larger scale.
The plates B¹ B B are in this modified construction of the apparatus provided
with numerous small holes, the total cross-section of which is made greater than
that of the gas inlet pipe a
The lower surface of the plates is plain and horizontal and the upper surface
may be slightly hollowed out at m (figure 9) between the small holes. The latter
are arranged in alternate positions in the several plates, so that the liquid passing
through the holes falls upon a solid part of the plate below and is thereby scattered
about. The ascending gases are thoroughly dispersed and caused to continuously
change their course by the manner of arranging the perforations of the plates and
they are intimately mixed with the dispersed or broken up and atomized liquid.
In order that the liquid forming very thin layers upon the plates and being
contained especially in the hollows m, may be spread as uniformly as possible over
the plates B B and also to provide against the contingency of the plates being
somewhat out of level, the upper surfaces of the latter are divided by ledges i into
a number of entirely separate compartmenta
The same arrangement is also given to the covering plate C (figure 6) which
may have in each compartment one or more larger holes d instead of a greater
number of small ones.
These larger holes d, as already stated in the description of the first apparatus
represented in figure 5, can be easily connected by means of waterlutes with the
pipes which convey the gases to some other piece of apparatus.
The liquid may advantageously be spread over the surface of the covering
plate C by means of a reaction wheel (figure 5) made to revolve by the liquid
issuing from it; and in order to distribute the liquid uniformly over the plate
below, furrows n (figure 7) may be made, extending radially from the holes d on
the lower surface of the covering plate C.
solid
If in the improved apparatus. it is required that the gases should act upon
bodies or mixtures of solid and liquid bodies, the plates B' B' may be singly filled
with the solid or the mixture of solid and liquid substances, and superposed one
over another and as soon as the operation is ended, they may be lifted off and
emptied, one after the other,

page_text: The apparatus shewn in figures 1-4 is more appropriate for treating solid
substances in the form of powder or mud, whilst the apparatus shewn in
figures 5-9 is more convenient for treating coarsely granulated substances.
apparatus may be constructed of stoneware, earthenware, metal, wood, or any
other suitable material.
The
Instead of the square or circular shape of the plates B¹ B³ shewn by the drawings
any other form may be employed.
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. The combination, in an apparatus for effecting the action of gases upon
liquids or solids, of the vessel A, the superposed plates B¹ B* &c and the covering
plate C, all connected, and if required also cooled, by hydraulic lutes, substantially
as set forth and shewn.
2. In the superposed plates B₁ B³ B³ &c (figures 1-4) the inclined lower
surfaces substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. The superposed plates B (figures 5-9) provided with numerous small holes
arranged in alternate positions in the successive plates, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
4. The arrangement of ledges i upon the surfaces of the superposed plates B¹ B³ &
and the. covering plate C, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dotad this 21at dov of Mov 1886
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Inventor.