Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1886

page_text: Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The invention which is set forth in this specification relates to the art of artificial
refrigeration and to machinery and processes employed therein, the said invention
having reference more particularly to that system of cooling liquids and other
articles in which ammonia, or. other gas, which can be separated by heat from a
liquid and then condensed to the liquid condition by pressure, may be employed to
abstract heat from the article to be cooled by the evaporation of the liquefied gas.
The object of the invention is mainly to economise the fuel which is required to
liberate the gas from the liquid which contains it, and to condense the gas by
pressure to the liquid condition. The invention is divided into three sections.
The first section of it consists of certain improvements in the art or process of
artificial refrigeration, which improvements are not restricted to the peculiarities
of the mechanism or apparatus employed in performing them. The second section
of the invention consists of certain combinations of devices or apparatuses, which
are not restricted to the peculiarities of construction of the individual parts or
members of the combinations, but include also the use in the same combinations of
substitutes or equivalents for the said individual parts or members. The third
section of the invention consists of improved constructions of individual parts of
the apparatus, which constructions, although not essential to the first two sections
of the inventions, are desirable as being superior in the opinion of the inventor to
constructions previously known for the same individual purposes.
The several sections of the invention are recited in the claims at the close of this
specification. The principal members of the said combinations by means of which
the said improvements of the first section may be carried into effect are the
following; viz., A still, or other evaporator fitted with steam heating devices by

page_text: means of which ammonia, or other gas, can be liberated by heat from a liquid
which contains it: A cooler, by means of which the liberated gas may have its
temperature reduced: A steam engine by means of which the power required to
compress the liberated gas is developed: A compressing pump, by means of which
the gas may be condensed: A condenser by means of which the heat evolved by
the compression of the gas is removed, so that the gas is liquefied: A reservoir for
the liquefied gas: A refrigerator, in which the liquefied gas is evaporated in contact
with pipes or vessels containing the material whose heat is to be abstracted: An
absorber, in which the vaporized gas is absorbed in a weak solution of it, so as to
obtain a strong liquid suitable for being introduced into the still: An interchanger,
by means of which the strong liquid on its way to the still is heated by the weak
or spent liquid drawn from the still: A receiver, or tank which receives the liquid
produced by the absorption of the gas, and from which this strong liquid is supplied
to the still: One or more pumps by means of which the liquids may be circulated
through the apparatus: A steam boiler or steam generator for generating steam of
the requisite tension for working steam pumps and the engine which operates the
compressing pump: Various pipes, or other connections, and valves, by means of
which the above members are connected.
. In order that the invention may be fully understood, I have represented in the
'accompanying drawings and will proceed to describe the best form of apparatus
which has thus far been devised to embody the invention for practical use.
Fig. 1 of the said drawings represents a side view of the entire apparatus in its
most complete condition.
Fig. 1 represents a side view of the apparatus modified as hereinafter described.
Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the still which it is preferred to use.
Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the interchanger.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the secondary absorber.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the secondary absorber showing the reservoirs of
liquid within it.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a part of the still showing the connecting pipes
between the manifolds and the steam coils within the-still.
Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of a secondary still which it is preferred
to use.
Fig. 8 is a central vertical section of the steam trap.
Fig. 9 is a central vertical section of the primary absorber.
Fig. 10 is a central vertical section of the regulator for regulating the height of
the liquid in the still.
Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the same.
Fig. 12 is a plan of one of the coils of pipe which it is preferred to use for the.
interior of the still,
Fig. 13 is a plan of one of the drip pans which it is preferred to use in the upper
section of the still.
Fig. 14 is a central vertical section of the said drip pan.
Fig. 15 is a horizontal section of one of the stuffing boxes of the still through
which the supply and drain pipes of each heating coil are passed.
As the inventor prefers to use ammonia as the liquefiable gas, the said apparatus
is adapted to the use of gaseous ammonia which may be liberated from commercial
aqua ammonia by heat. The still in which this liberation is effected is constructed
preferably with an upper section A³, and with a lower section or body A. This
lower section is fitted preferably with a series of coils of pipes B, into which steam
may be conducted by means of two manifolds or distributing pipes C, D, whose
branches are connected with the respective series of pipes within the said still
section. The said series of coils constitute the steam heating devices of the still;
and they are also connected with two other manifolds or branch pipes CD, through
which the condensed water from the series of coils within the said still section
or body is permitted to escape. The branch from each manifold to each coil within
the still is fitted with a valve by means of which the supply of steam to each coil

page_text: may be controlled. The bottom of the still body is fitted with a pipe 14, and
valves through which the weak or spent aqua ammonia from which the gas has
been liberated may when necessary be permitted to escape. The upper section A³,
of the still is fitted internally by preference with a series of shallow perforated drip,
pans E, so that the aqua ammonia which is admitted to the top of the still by a
pipe 3, may drip successively from one pan to the other while gaseous ammonia
(liberated in the body of the still by the heat from steam in the coils) passes
upward and heats the descending liquid. The gaseous ammonia which is liberated
in the still passes through the gas escape pipe 4, and is conducted preferably into a
trap G, the upper portion of which is fitted internally with a worm pipe g, through
which water is circulated, so that any aqua ammonia vapor which is mixed with
the gaseous ammonia on its exit from the still may be condensed, leaving the
gaseous ammonia practically anhydrous.. The gaseous ammonia escapes from the
top of the trap G, through the pipe 5, which is connected with a worm of pipe of
the cooler N, in its passage through which the gaseous ammonia cooled by means
of a current of water in the tank of the cooler in which the worm of the cooler is
immersed; the cooling water being introduced by the pipe 29, and being permitted
to escape by the pipe 28. The cool gaseous ammonia from the cooler is conducted
by the pipe 5* to the compressing pump U, by means of which the gaseous
ammonia is sufficiently compressed to condense into a liquid form when cooled to
the temperature which is attainable by the use of the liquid which is used to cool
it. This compressing pump is driven by the steam engine Q in the usual manner;
the construction of the steam engine and compressing pump which I prefer to use
being that which is commonly known as Guild & Garrison's Improved Ammonia
Compressor" (crank and fly wheel pattern). The steam for operating the com-
pressing engine Q, is supplied by a steam generator or boiler at the requisite
tension; the valve chest of the engine being connected with the boiler or generator
by a steam pipe and throttle valve in the usual manner.
As the steam generator.
or boiler may be of any of the ordinary constructions used for supplying steam
engines, the steam boiler is not represented in the drawings.
16
.
The compressed gaseous ammonia is conducted directly from the gas compressing
pump or compressor U, through the pipe 5, to the condenser H, the said pipe being
connected with the coil or worm contained in the tank of the condenser and the
compressed ammonia is cooled by the action of a current of water in the tank of
the condenser in which the worm or coil is imniersed; the cooling water being
introduced in the said tank by the pipe 27 and permitted to escape by the
pipe 26. The lower end of the worm or coil of the condenser is connected with
the reservoir I, for the liquefied anhydrous ammonia, which flows from the worm
of the condenser; and this reservoir is preferably fitted with a glass gauge w, and
with an escape pipe 21, controlled by a valve; so that the user may take notice of
any strong aqua ammonia which may flow into the receiver from the condenser,
and may at intervals permit it to escape through the escape pipe 21. The liquefied
anhydrous ammonia is conducted from the reservoir I, by the pipe 7, to the
refrigerator J. As the apparatus represented in the drawings is designed to reduce
the temperature of a practically uncongealable liquid, which is used as a medium
to receive heat from rooms or from articles to be cooled, and to transfer that heat
to the ammonia, the refrigerator J, consists of a tank for the uncongealable
liquid and of a coil of pipe which is immersed in the same. The anhydrous
ammonia is conducted by the pipe 7 to the upper end of the said refrigerator
coil, and is vaporized by the heat of the uncongealable liquid from which the
heat is abstracted. The vaporized ammonia is conducted by the pipe 10 to the
absorber K, in which it is brought in contact with the spent weak ammonia from
the bottom of the still A, and is re-absorbed; the re-absorption being facilitated by
the cooling action of a current of water which is circulated through coils of pipe
contained within the absorber. In order to ensure the absorption of the whole of
the vapor, a secondary absorber M, is provided, and is connected with the bottom of
the primary absorber K, by a pipe 12, down which the aqua ammonia and such

page_text: gaseous ammonia as escapes absorption in the primary absorber pass to a coil of
pipe P, contained in the tank of the secondary absorber. This absorbing coil of
pipe is kept cool by being immersed in a bath of non-congealable liquid, and the
aqua ammonia from the absorbing coil is conducted into the strong aqua ammonia
receiver N, from which the still is supplied by means of the steam pump S.
Additional aqua ammonia-receivers N³, N³, are fitted into the tank M, of the
secondary absorber, and the additional receivers are connected in series with the
first receiver N, by means of pipes n; so that any vapor of ammonia which escapes
unabsorbed from the first receiver is condensed in the water or weak ammonia,
with which the additional receivers are filled at the commencement of the working
of the apparatus. In case the first receiver does not afford a supply for the still as
it is required, either fresh ammonia is introduced into the receiver or, if the
ammonia in the second receiver has become strong enough, a supply from it is
transferred to the first receiver, and the ammonia from the second additional
receiver, is transferred to the one next the first receiver.
In order that the secondary absorber may be kept as cool as possible, it is fitted
with a second coil O, whose members alternate with those of the absorption
coil P; and this second coil is connected at each end with the pipes 10, 11, which
conduct the vapor of ammonia from the refrigerator J; so that by setting the
valves in the pipes properly, the current of cool ammonia vapor from the refri-
gerator may be caused to pass through the said second coil O, in the secondary
absorber, on its way to the primary absorber, instead of being permitted to pass
directly through the pipes 10, 11, to the primary absorber; and that the cool
ammonia vapor may thus abstract heat from the bath of liquid in the secondary.
absorber and thereby cool the absorbing coil P. The said cooling coil O of the
secondary absorber is also connected by a pipe 8, and valves with the receiver I, of
the anhydrous ammonia; so that when a greater cooling action in the secondary
absorber is desirable, anhydrous ammonia may be admitted to the cooling coil O,
and vaporized therein; the vapor then passing upward through the pipe 11 to the
primary absorber K.
The water which is generally used to keep the primary absorber cool, is conveyed
by the pipe 24 to the manifold which is connected with the coils in the primary
absorber, and is discharged through the manifold connecting with the other ends of
the coils and permitted to escape. When however the temperature of the water
which is available for cooling is not low enough, the cool uncongealable liquid in
the tank of the secondary absorber may bé circulated through the coils of the
primary absorber K, and may be returned to the tank of the secondary absorber.
In this case the supply of cooling water is shut off and the circulating pump T, is
put in opération. This pump takes the uncongealable liquid from the secondary
absorber through the pipe 22, and forces it through the pipe 23, into the coils of
the primary absorber; whence it is returned through the pipe 25 to the tank of
the secondary absorber M.
In the use of the said apparatus, the level of the aqua ammonia in the still A is
preferably maintained below the level of the lowest coil of heating pipes, and for
this purpose the inventor employs the regulator R, which (as represented fully in
fig. 10) contains a float r³, operating a valve r³, whereby the spent aqua ammonia
is permitted to escape from the still whenever it exceeds the level determined by
the regulator. This spent ammonia (as before described) is conveyed to the
absorber to reabsorb the anhydrous vapor of ammonia. In order that the heat
of this spent ammonia may be eliminated to a greater or less extent, and may be
utilized to warm the strong aqua ammonia which is supplied from the receiver N
to the still, the discharge pipe (15) from the regulator is not connected directly
with the primary absorber K, but is connected with it through the intervention of
the interchanger L; while the pipe 2 through which strong aqua ammonia is
supplied to the top of the still, is not connected directly with the top of the still,
but is connected with it through the intervention of the same interchanger L. The
interchanger L, is constructed by preference of a tank containing two independent

page_text: coils of pipe whose members alternate. One of these coils of pipe I³, is connected
at its upper end with the pipe 15 proceeding from the regulator, and is connected
at its lower end with the pipe 16 proceeding to the absorber. The other coil of
pipe 1, is connected at its lower end with the pipe 2, proceeding from the aqua
ammonia supply pump, and is connected at its upper end with the pipe 3 pro-
ceeding to the top of the still. Hence the current of warm spent aqua ammonia
escaping from the bottom of the still passes in a downward direction through one
of the coils of the interchanger to the absorber, while the supply of strong aqua
ammonia, taken from the ammonia receiver by the pump S, passes in an upward
direction through the second coil of the interchanger to the top of the still. The
tank of the interchanger is filled with any suitable liquid, such as water, which
surrounds the two coils of pipe, receives heat from the spent aqua ammonia in one
coil and transfers it to the strong aqua ammonia in the other coil; so that the
temperature of the spent ammonia is reduced before it enters the absorber, and the
temperature of the strong aqua ammonia is raised before it enters the top of
the still.
The trap G is connected at its bottom with the bottom of the still A, and with
the regulator R, by means of the pipes 17, 14; so that any aqua ammonia which
condenses in the trap may be permitted to escape. A secondary still F, is provided
to operate upon either weak ammonia taken from the bottom of the still by the
pipe 18, or upon a fresh supply of ammonia that may be introduced into it. The
aqua ammonia in this secondary still is heated by a coil of pipe into which steam
is admitted through the pipe f, while the condensed water is permitted to escape
through the pipe f². The liberated gaseous ammonia from this secondary still is
conducted by the pipe 19 to the primary absorber K and the spent aqua ammonia
is permitted to escape at intervals from the bottom of the secondary still through
the pipe 20. The various pipes in the apparatus are fitted with valves (all of
which are designated v) so that the flow of the fluid through each pipe may be
controlled as necessary. The valve chest of the steam engine Q is connected with
a steam boiler by means of a steam pipe in the usual manner, and the exhaust pipe
of the steam engine is connected by means of the pipe 30, with the upper end of
the manifold C, which supplies steam to the series of coils within the still body;
Bo that the steam may first have its mechanical force utilized in the compression
of the gaseous ammonia, and that then the available heat of the spent or exhaust
steam may be utilized to liberate the gaseous ammonia from the aqua ammonia in
the still. By thus using the exhaust steam from the compressing engine to liberate
the gas in the still, the use of steam taken directly from the boiler for that purpose
is saved, with considerable economy of fuel. The exhaust pipes from the circulating
pumps S, T, may also be connected with the same manifold C, so as to utilize the
heat of the exhaust steam from these pumps. The condensed water from the series
of coils in the still body supplied with exhaust steam is permitted to escape through
the manifold C.-
In order that an additional supply of heat may when necessary be furnished for
the liberation of the gaseous ammonia in the still, a second manifold D is provided
to supply a portion of the coils in the still with the steam taken directly from the
steam boiler, and the condensed water is permitted to escape from the coils so
supplied through the manifold D².
In order that the exhaust steam from the steam engine may not be materially
choked in case there is more exhaust steam than is necessary to heat the aqua
ammonia in the still, a relief valve X, is placed in the exhaust pipe, so that
whenever the pressure of the exhaust steam exceeds the desired limit the surplus
escapes through the relief valve.
The steam pumps S and T, which form parts of the above described apparatus,
are steam pumps of the ordinary construction used for pumping liquids; and each
is connected with the steam generator or boiler in the usual manner by a pipe and
a throttle valve. The still is represented more particularly at Fig. 2; its upper
section A', being fitted with a series of drip pans E which are represented on a

page_text: larger scale in figs. 13 and 14. Each of these drip pans is perforated with a series
of holes and a heavy burr e³, projecting about of an inch above the surface of
the pan is raised around each hole. Hence the aqua ammonia which is delivered
to the upper pan of the series overflows through the holes and drips in succession
from one pan to the other; a thin layer of it being retained in each pan, so as to
expose a large surface of the liquid. The heated vapor arising from the lower
section of the still impinges against the lower sides of the drip pans, and passing
up through the perforations in the successive drip pans, and in the opposite
direction to the descent of the aqua ammonia meets the latter in its downward
course. The practical result is that an exchange of heat takes place from the
rising vapor to the descending liquid; the temperature of the rising vapor being
lowered thereby sufficiently to condense the greater part of the whole of the vapor
of water accompanying the liberated gaseous ammonia, while the descending aqua
ammonia is materially heated and some of its gaseous ammonia is liberated.
The construction of the lower section A of the still and of the coils of pipe B,
which constitute the steam heating devices thereof is represented more particularly
in figs. 2, 6, 12, and 15. Each of the series of coils is formed of one continuous
pipe bent into a close spiral, the whorls B2, B3, of which are one plane (or there-
abouts) and are separated from each other by a space of of an inch more or less.
The ends of each coil are reduced and have welded to them pieces of pipe, preferably
of smaller diameter than the coils. One of these smaller pipes 6 is extended
preferably over the coil, and the other small pipe 6', is extended under the coil.
Both pipes b, 6* are preferably extended outward in radial lines; and they, pass
laterally through stuffing boxes in the shell of the still. These stuffing boxes (as
represented in fig. 15) have a screw cap 6, a gland 65, and lead or other soft metal
packing be, so that a gas tight joint is obtained without the employment of fibrous
material. The upper pipe b, is employed to supply steam to the coil; while the
lower pipe 6, is employed to drain the water of condensation from the coil and if
necessary to permit the escape of any superfluous steam. The upper pipe b, of
each coil, is connected with the manifold C, through which steam is supplied;
while the lower pipe 6' is connected with the manifold C², for the condensed water.
A portion of the coils in the still are also connected by means of pipes d, d³, with
two additional manifolds D, D2, through one of which (D) steam, taken directly
from the steam boiler, may be supplied directly to the coils connected with this
manifold, while the condensed water may be permitted to drain off through the
manifold D. The connecting pipes between the pipes and the manifolds are
fitted with valves so that any one or more coils may be shut off in case of leakage;
and that the lower coils of the still may be connected or disconnected at will
with either the manifolds C, C, or with the manifolds D, D'. A distributing
coil B3, is arranged in the lower section of the still above the coils of steam pipe B.
This distributing coil is pierced at its upper side with a series of small holes, and
the ends of the coil are connected with the bottom of a shallow pan B³ which is
placed above the distributing coil. This pan catches the aqua ammonia dripping
from the upper section of the still and delivers it to the distributing coil B³, from
which it is distributed to the steam coils beneath. The aqua ammonia from the
distributing coil drips upon the uppermost heating coil, and enveloping it in a
thin film drips from it to the next coil beneath, and so on from coil to coil to the
bottom of the still where it collects in a mass. As the level of the mass of aqua
ammonia in the bottom of the still is maintained below the level of the lowest
steam heating coil, or at least below the level of some of the steam heating coils,
the greater part or the whole of the gaseous ammonia is liberated from the aqua
ammonia while the latter is in a thin film upon the heating coils, thereby avoiding
the violent ebullition which would be produced if all the coils were submerged in
the aqua ammonia, and the gaseous ammonia which was liberated by heat had to
pass through a large body of liquid; the practical result of which would be the
ejection from the still of more or less of the aqua ammonia with the gaseous
ammonia passing from the still,

page_text: In order that the strength of the aqua ammonia used in the apparatus may be
increased when desired, the secondary still F, is employed. This secondary still
(as represented in fig. 8) is fitted internally in its lower portion with a coil of steam
heating pipes, f, and in its upper portion with a series of shallow drip pans E, of
the same construction as those of the body of the still A. It has a glass gauge w
to permit the level of the liquid within it to be noted, and a blow off pipe 20 at
its bottom. This secondary still may be supplied with commercial aqua ammonia;
but-it is preferred to supply it with weak or spent aqua ammonia taken from the
bottom of the still A through a pipe 18; this pipe delivering the aqua ammonia
to the uppermost drip pans of the secondary still, to which it is forced by the
internal pressure in the still A. The gaseous ammonia liberated in the secondary
still is conducted by the pipe 19 to the absorber K, where it is absorbed with the
spent gas proceeding from the refrigerator and thus increases the strength of the
aqua ammonia received in the receiver N.
When the apparatus thus described is to be put in operation, steam is got up in
the steam generator or boiler; the ammonia receiver N is charged with commercial
aqua ammonia, say of the strength of 26° Beauma; and the other receivers N', N³,
are charged with weak aqua ammonia. Steam from the steam boiler is admitted
into the lower coils of steam heating pipe in the still body A which are connected
with the manifold D and the supply pump S, is put in operation to supply the aqua
ammonia to the upper section A', of the still. Gaseous ammonia is liberated by
the heat in the still, and the air which is displaced by it may be permitted to
escape through an- escape valve. After the air has escaped, the escapè valve is
closed, so that the liberation of the gas takes place in confinement, the liberation is
continued until the tension of the gaseous ammonia rises to the pressure at which
it is deemed expedient to work, say to from 80 to 100 lbs. to the square inch. Then
the compressing engine Q and compressing pump U are started, and the supply of
steam from the steam boiler to the steam heating coils in the still A is shut off.
The exhaust steam from the compressing engine is then admitted to the steam
heating coils by the manifold C, and continues the liberation of the gaseous
ammonia, which passes through the apparatus as previously described, effecting the
refrigeration, and being re-absorbed by the weak or spent aqua ammonia from the
bottom of the still. The ammonia receiver N, should be replenished when necessary
either with fresh commercial aqua ammonia, or with aqua ammonia taken from
the next secondary receiver N2, which should then be replenished from the third
receiver N³.
When the apparatus is working, the gaseous ammonia from the still A, is further
compressed by the operation of the compressing engine and compressor (QU) 80
that the total compression which is attained in the apparatus is effected in part by
the liberation by heat of the gas from its solution under confinement in the still,
and in part by the mechanical force exerted by the steam in the compressing
engine; and the compressed gas is reduced to the liquid condition by cooling it in
the condenser H. On the other hand, the liberation of the gas in the still is
effected by the heat of the exhaust steam from the compressing engine; so that
the mechanical force of the steam generated in the steam boiler is utilized first to
develop the power required to compress the gas, and the inherent heat of the
exhaust steam from the compressing engine is subsequently utilized to liberate the
gas from its solution and to partially compress it by the accumulation of its tension
under confinement in the still and in the connections with the compressor. As the
gas is partly compressed by reason of its confinement while liberation takes place,
the capacity of the compressing pump and engine may be reduced as compared
with those operating upon gas liberated from cool anhydrous ammonia as previously
practiced, and the power required in the steam engine to carry on the compression
to the degree required to cause the liquefaction of the gas when cooled, is materially
reduced.
The invention is not restricted to the precise form of apparatus represented
in the drawings; as the construction of the members of this apparatus may be

page_text: greatly varied without ceasing to embody the first and second sections of the
invention. Moreover, some of the members herein before described may be omitted.
Thus, in the apparatus represented in the drawings, the pipes 4, 5, 5*, the trap G,
and cooler W, connect the still with the compressor U, and form the connection
between the two; but if the liberated gaseous ammonia leaving the still is not to
have the aqueous vapor separated from it, or if this operation is performed
sufficiently in the still, the trap. may be omitted and the escape pipe 4, from the
still, may be conducted directly to the cooler W. On the other hand, if the cooling
of the gaseous ammonia is to be omitted, the cooler W, may be dispensed with and
the connection from the still to the compressor may be made directly, or through
the intervention of the trap G, or its substitute. This modification however
recommended. If deemed best, the interchanger L, may be omitted, and the warm
spent ammonia may be cooled by other means, while the strong ammonia may be
supplied to the still either directly or through the cooling coil g, in the trap G.
A single absorber may be used if deemed best; and the condenser may have the
lower end of its coil enlarged so as to form the reservoir for the liquefied gas, thus
dispensing with a separate reservoir.
not
The object of maintaining the level of the aqua ammonia in the still body below
the level of some of the coils in the still body is to permit the larger part of the gas
in the liquid to be liberated quietly from the thin film of liquid dripping or flowing
over the coils of pipes, and thus avoid the violent ebullition that would occur if
the liquid covered the heating pipes before a portion of the gas was liberated from
it. The regulator is not essential to this method of working, as the same result
may be attained by regulating the escape under pressure of the spent aqua
ammonia from the bottom of the still by means of a cock or a screw valve in the
escape pipe; which cock or valve may be occasionally regulated by the attendant;
and there is always sufficient pressure of gas in the still body to force out the
spent aqua ammonia and drive it to the absorber.
With the above described apparatus the compression of the gas is effected as
before described in part by the tension accumulated by the liberation of the gas
by heat while under confinement, and in part by the mechanical force of the
compressing pump and engine; the apparatus may, however, be modified so that
the compression of the gas may be affected wholly by liberating it by heat from
the solution of it in the still. In this case the compressing engine and pump Q..U,
are dispensed with as well as the cooler N, and the gas from the steam trap G, is
conducted directly by the pipe 5 to the condenser H. The apparatus thus modified
may have the form represented in fig. 1*; wherein the various devices are
designated by the same letters and figures as are applied to the corresponding
devices in fig. 1. When the apparatus has the form represented in fig. 1*, the
liberation of the gas in the still is effected by the exhaust steam from the steam
pumps S, T, which is conducted to the manifold C, by the pipe 30. When the
exhaust steam from the pumps S, T, is not sufficient to liberate the requisite
quantity of gas from its solution in the still, exhaust steam taken from steam
engines employed in the vicinity of the refrigerating apparatus may also be
conducted to the manifold C, thereby utilizing a waste product which would
otherwise be exhausted. into the atmosphere. If sufficient exhaust steam cannot
be procured, more or less of the lower coils of steam heating pipe in the still
body A, are shut off from the manifolds C, C³, and steam taken directly from the
steam boiler is admitted to these coils through the manifolds D, D'.
In the operation of ammonia ice machines heretofore, one of two systems has
been adopted. According to one system, the ammonia gas is liberated by heat
from commercial aqua ammonia of the strength of about 26° Beaumé, and a
difficulty arises which is that in warm climates and in summer even in temperate
climates, the temperature of the available water used for cooling the condenser is
too high to permit the ammonia to reach a sufficiently high tension to condense
to the liquid condition without the employment of steam of high pressure, to
liberate the ammonia gas from its aqueous solution. According to the 'other

page_text: system, mechanical compressors are employed to compress the ammonia gas to the
tension required to permit its condensation by the cooling water available for that
purpose. To each of the above methods there is the objection that it involves the
consumption of a large amount of fuel, and is of course expensive. The inventor
of the above described apparatus has discovered that the necessary tension of the
ammonia gas can be obtained in the modified apparatus represented in fig. 1,
without the aid of mechanical compressors, and with the use of only steam of low
tension as a liberating agent, and with any reasonable temperature of the cooling
water, by increasing the strength of the aqua ammonia employed above the
strength of 26° Beaume, in about the proportion of of a degree Beaume for each
degree of rise of the temperature of the water above 55° F. used to cool the
condenser.
The discovery of this principle enables exhaust steam to be made use of as the
liberating agent, and thus by utilizing a waste product rendering the production of
ice or artificial cold very much cheaper.
The objection to the use of exhaust steam as the liberating agent in this class of
apparatus has been that unless the cooling water is at or below a temperature
of about 55 F. the ammonia gas liberated from the aqua ammonia usually employed
(say about 26° B.) under the tension attainable by the heat of the exhaust steam
(say the tension of about 100 lbs. to the square inch) will not condense to the liquid
condition.
}
A proper increase above 26° Beaume in the strength of the aqua ammonia in
the still completely overcomes this difficulty, and permits the use of steam of low:
tension, which has already accomplished mechanical work and which has hitherto
been discharged into the atmosphere without further useful service. In many cases.
the exhaust steam from the steam pumping engines required for various offices in
the apparatus (such as pumping the aqua ammonia from the strong ammonia tank
to the still, circulating the cooling liquid around or in the absorber, pumping the
cooling water for the condenser, when a natural flow cannot be obtained, and
circulating the non-congealable liquid through the pipes in the rooms or through
the tanks to be cooled), is sufficient to liberate the ammonia gas from the aqua
ammonia in the still. When the exhaust steam from this source of supply is not
sufficient it can be obtained as a waste product from other steam engines which
may be in the vicinity, and when there is a failure of all these as sources of exhaust
steam, or when from any other cause it may be desirable to obtain a larger supply
of heat for the still, steam can be taken to the coils of the still direct from a steam
boiler or generator.
The efficiency of the exhaust steam may be increased by super-heating it by
causing it to pass through any convenient form of super-heater, which by preference
is arranged to be heated by the waste heat from the furnace used to heat the steam
boiler or generator for supplying steam to the pumping engines, and thus further.
economize the heat.
r
For the most effective working of the above described process it is necessary to
provide some means to enable the liquid in the absorber to take up sufficient
ammonia gas to keep the strength of the aqua ammonia up to the working point.
The strength of the aqua ammonia in the absorber is dependent upon two con-
ditions; viz, the temperature of the absorber, and the pressure of the ammonia gas
contained therein. Either of these elements can be varied, and in the forms of
apparatus which have hereinbefore been described both may be varied to a certain
extent.
The pressure in the absorber is increased by making it of two sections which are
denominated the primary absorber, and the secondary absorber, and by elevating
the first (designated K in the drawings) above the second, (designated M) preferably
not less than 30 feet, so as to obtain a pressure in the second section of the absorber;;
and also by cooling both sections of the absorber by water circulations, and in the
case of the second section of the absorber by the spent gas from the expanding or
freezing coils. The liquid from the upper or primary absorber K, flowing down the

page_text: connecting pipe 12, produces in its descent a suctional force due to the fall of the
liquid, and carries with it bodily any portion of the gaseous ammonia or vapor
which may not have been absorbed in the primary absorber K, and delivers it into
the second absorber where the said portion is absorbed in consequence of the lower
temperature and the greater pressure.
The weak ammonia in the primary absorber will only absorb an amount of vapor
due to the temperature and pressure therein, which is not enough to enable the
exhaust steam of 212° to create sufficient tension in the still to cause the ammonia
gas to liquefy in the condenser H, when the cooling water is above about 55° F.
temperature. With aqua ammonia of commercial strength of about 26° Beaune,
heat of 212° F. will raise the pressure of the ammonia gas in the still to about
100 lbs. With only 100 lbs. pressure in the condenser and a temperature of about
55° F. the ammonia gas will be condensed to a liquid, and freezing work can be
performed; but when the cooling water is materially above 55° F. a higher pressure
must be maintained in the still and condenser, and either steam of a higher tem-
perature than 212° F. or ammonia stronger than 26° Beaume must be used; and in
order to utilize the exhaust steam whenever water below about 55° temperature
cannot be obtained for condensation and for cooling the absorber, the method of
applying a medium cooled artificially to the absorber or of applying increased
pressure in a section of the absorber is adopted or both are adopted as previously
described; or a portion of steam is taken for that purpose directly from the boiler
to some of the heating pipes arranged in the still; or two or more of these methods
are used.
At a temperature of 50° F. and atmospheric pressure water will absorb
670 volumes of ammonia gas, and the resulting aqua ammonia will have a specific
gravity of 0.875 or about 31° Beaume; and at the same temperature with a
pressure of two atmospheres water will absorb about 1300 volumes of ammonia gas
and have a specific gravity of about 0.825 or about 41° Beaume, and will boil at a
temperature of about 10° F. at atmospheric pressure. At a pressure of 160 lbs. above
the atmosphere a temperature of 212° will liberate ammonia gas and reduce the
strength of ammonia of 41° Beaume to about 26° Beaume, giving with a tempera-
ture of 30° F. in the condenser, a working margin of about 15° Beaume, or
300 volumes of gas.
When the temperature of the available condensing water is too high to effect the
cendensation of the anhydrous ammonia at the pressure which is attainable by the
use of exhaust steam in the heating pipes of the still, the aqua ammonia in the still
must be reinforced. This may be done in several modes. Thus the secondary still
may be charged with commercial aqua ammonia, and the gaseous ammonia may be
liberated from it by heat and conducted to the absorber. Or, anhydrous ammonia
may be introduced into the apparatus; the part of the apparatus into which the
anhydrous ammonia is preferably introduced being the reservoir of the anhydrous
ammonia. Or the weak aqua ammonia in the bottom of the primary still may be
run into the secondary still and its gaseous ammonia may be liberated from it;
while fresh commercial ammonia may be introduced into the primary still. By
either of these proceedings. the strength of the aqua ammonia in the apparatus
may be strengthened to the requisite extent for the temperature of the condensing
water, and for the liberation of the gaseous ammonia by the use of steam of low
tension such as the exhaust steam from steam engines.
The coupling shown in Figure 16 is designed to connect long reaches of pipe
and form a strong steam and gas tight joint. It is designed to be packed with
metal or asbestos or other material not easily acted upon by corrosive liquids or
gases.
The device consists of a cylindrical sleeve provided with threads at each end
externally and with internal threads in the central portion, a pair of glands, screw
caps and packing.
The ends of the sleeve are reamed out to leave a space for packing and glands.
The caps are annular threaded to screw over the ends of the sleeve and pierced

page_text: with holes for the pipes. The glands are annular and provided with flanges. The.
pipes are threaded in the usual way. The coupling is used as follows: The lead or
soft metal ring for packing is placed in the recesses provided at each end of the
sleeve, the glands are inserted, and the caps started in loosely. The pipes are then
passed through caps glands, and packing and screwed into the sleeve in the usual
manner. After the joint is made up in that manner as tight as is practicable the
caps or nuts are screwed up firmly, thus pressing the gland against the lead
compressing it and forcing it to make a tight joint.
63, sleeve; b, screw caps; b, glands; 66, soft metal packing, the parts being the
same and arranged in the same order as the stuffing box shown in Figure 15.
What is claimed under the first section of the invention is :-
First. The process of refrigerating an article substantially as before set forth,
consisting of the following operations; viz., the liberation by heat of gas from a
Bolution of gas in a liquid under confinement, so that the gas is partially compressed
to the required degree by its accumulated tension; the reduction of the partially
compressed gas to the liquefied condition by mechanical force and by cooling it;
the cooling of the article by the evaporation of the liquefied gas; and the
absorption by a liquid of the gas resulting from the evaporation.
Second. The process substantially as before set forth of producing anhydrous
liquid ammonia from aqua ammonia by the heat of steam and pressure, which
consists in subjecting the aqua ammonia under pressure to the heat of steam of
low tension, and in increasing the strength of the aqua ammonia as the pressure
under which the ammoniacal gas is liberated is increased.
Third. The process substantially as before set forth of producing anhydrous
liquid ammonia from aqua ammonia in confinement by the heat of steam and by
condensation, which consists in subjecting the aqua ammonia in confinement to the
heat of steam, in cooling the ammoniacal gas by water, and in increasing the
strength of the aqua ammonia as the temperature of the cooling water is increased.
Fourth. The process substantially as before set forth consisting of the following
three operations; viz.
1st. The conversion of water into steam of a tension suitable for use in a steam
engine.
2nd. The passage of the steam through an engine whereby the tension of the
steam is mainly utilized for the production of power.
3rd. The passage of the spent or exhaust steam from the engine to the still,'
whereby the heat of the exhaust steam is utilized for the separation of gas
from the liquor in said still.
Fifth. The process substantially as before set forth, consisting of the following
four operations; viz.
1st. The conversion of water into steam of a tension suitable for use in a steam
engine.
2nd. The passage of the steam through an engine, whereby the tension of the
steam is mainly utilized for the production of power.
3rd. The super-heating of the exhaust steam from the engine.
:
4th. The passage of the super-heated exhaust steam to the still, whereby the:
inherent heat of the super-heated exhaust steam is utilized for the separation
of gas from the liquid in said still.
Sixth. The method substantially as before set forth of preventing, the violent
ebullition of liquid in the still by causing the liquid to flow over the heating pipes
of the still, and by maintaining the level of liquid below some of said heating.
pipes.
What is claimed under the second section of the invention, is :-
Seventh. The combination substantially as before set forth of the still fitted
with steam heating devices, the compressing pump, and the steam engine that
drives it, by connections whereby the exhaust steam from the steam engine that.
drives the compressing pump is supplied to the steam heating devices of the still,

page_text: and the gas liberated in the still is conducted to and compressed by the compressing
pump.
Eighth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the still fitted with
steam heating devices, the compressing pump, the steam engine, the condenser, and
the reservoir of liquefied gas, by means of connections, whereby the exhaust steam
from the steam engine that drives the compressing pump is supplied to the steam
heating devices of the still, the gas liberated in the still is conducted to the com-
pressing pump, the compressed gas is conducted to the condenser, and the liquefied
gas is conducted to the said reservoir.
:
Ninth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the still fitted with
steam heating devices, the compressing pump, the steam engine that drives it, the
condenser, the reservoir of liquefied gas, the refrigerator, and the absorber, by means
of connections, whereby, the exhaust steam from the said steam engine is supplied
to the steam heating devices of the said still, the gas liberated from the said still is
compressed by the compressing pump driven by the said engine, the compressed
gas is condensed into the said reservoir, the liquefied gas from said reservoir is
conducted to the refrigerator, the gas from the refrigerator is conducted to the
absorber, and is therein absorbed by the spent liquid from the still.
Tenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the steam generator,
the steam engine, and the still, by pipes which connect the steam generator with
the still through the intervention of the steam engine, whereby the tension of the
steam is mainly utilized in the said engine, and the inherent heat of the exhaust
steam from said engine is utilized in the liberation of gas from the liquid in
said still.
Eleventh. The combination substantially as before set forth of the steam
generator, the steam engine, the super heater, and the still, by pipes, whereby the
tension of the steam is mainly utilized in the said engine and the inherent heat of
the super-heated exhaust steam is utilized in the liberation of gas from the liquid
in said still.
Twelfth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the steam
generator, the steam engine, and the still by means of pipes, which not only
connect the said still with the steam generator through the intervention of the
steam engine, but also connect said still directly with said generator, whereby the
contents of said still may be heated in part by the heat inherent in the exhaust
steam, and in part by the heat of steam taken directly from the steam generator.
What is claimed under the third section of the invention, is :-
Thirteenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the condenser
for the gaseous ammonia with a reservoir (for the condensed ammonia) provided
with two exit pipes at different levels, whereby the aqua ammonia may be drawn
off separately from the anhydrous ammonia.
Fourteenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the absorber
with a secondary absorber (arranged at a lower level than the absorber) and an
ammonia receiver, by means of pipes, whereby the flow of ammonia from the
absorber to the secondary absorber and ammonia receiver is utilized substantially
as set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the still body
with a series of internal superimposed coils and steam supply and waste manifolds.
Sixteenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the still body
with a series of internal superimposed coils, and steam supply and waste manifolds,
and a distributer for distributing liquid upon said coils.
Seventeenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the still body
with a series, of internal superimposed coils, steam supply and waste manifolds, and
valves in the connections between the said coils and said manifolds, whereby the
said coils may be operated independently.
Eighteenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the still
body with a series of superimposed coils, two steam supply manifolds, two waste

page_text: manifolds, and valves in the connections between said coils and said manifolds,
whereby the said coils may be independently supplied with steam of different
tensions.
Nineteenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the still body,
the internal coil having its supply and exit pipes extended through said body, and
the stuffing boxes fitted with soft metal packings through which said supply and
exit pipes pass.
Twentieth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the lower still
section provided with a series of internal superimposed coils, with an upper still
section provided with a series of superimposed drip pans.
Twenty first. The combination substantially as before set forth of the lower still
section provided with a series of superimposed coils, with an upper still section
which is provided with a series of superimposed drip pans and communicated
directly with said lower still section, so that the liquid from said series of pans
passes directly downward to said series of coils.
Twenty second. The spiral coil having supply and drain pipes extended laterally
from the inner and outer ends of said coil beyond the periphery thereof, the whole
being constructed without joints.
Twenty third. The absorber constructed substantially as before set forth with an
inlet passage for the ammoniacal gas, an outlet passage for the liquid ammonia, a
distributer, and a series of superimposed coils which are connected with water
supply and exit pipes.
Twenty fourth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the receiver
for strong ammonia, with the surrounding tank, and with a coil of pipe arranged
within said tank.
Twenty fifth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the receiver
for strong ammonia with the surrounding tank, and with two independent coils of
pipe arranged within said tank.
Twenty sixth. The combination substantially as before set forth of a primary
absorber with a secondary absorber consisting of a tank fitted internally with a
coil for the aqua ammonia which is delivered from the said primary absorber.
Twenty seventh. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
absorber with the strong ammonia receiver arranged at a distance below the said
absorber, whereby the flow of ammonia from the said absorber to the said receiver
is utilized as before set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant..