IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATU3 F03 DISTILLING AND E ECTIFYING ALCOHOLS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 24,, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of
France, and 38, Porchester Terrace, Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATU3 F03 DISTILLING AND E ECTIFYING ALCOHOLS ".
A communication from Francois Desire Savalle, residing at Boulevard.
oforesaid
Sealed the 13th October 1865, and dated the 28th August 1865.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 28th August 1865, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRI
ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 24, Rue du
Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 38, Porchester Terrace,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND RECTIFYING ALCOHOLS," com-
municated to me be by Francois Desire Savalle, a person residing at Boulevard
Magenta, Paris, in the Empire of France, aforesaid, and have petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her

page_text: Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn declaration that it
is a communication.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, reference being had to the figures of the
accompanying Drawing, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say: -
These improvements relate.. to a system of construction of apparatus and
parts of apparatus applicable to the distillation and rectification of alcohols
obtained from grain, molasses, and other sources. The said apparatus are
provided with a steam regulator also applicable to distilling and rectifying
apparatus of other systems.
Distilling apparatus, Fig. 1.-The improved apparatus is distinguished by
the great power of each of its organs and the great simplicity of its whole.
It is composed, 1st, of a tubular column foot A; 2nd, of a column B;
3rd, of a purger for the froth C; 4th, of a tubular refrigerator D for heating
the wash and for cooling the raw spirits; 5th, of a steam regulator E; 6th, of
a feeding reservoir F, which may be replaced by a pump.
The column foot A is a pedestal or foot enclosing a tubular drum; the
steam which serves for heating the apparatus enters the latter by a, the con-
densed steam is discharged by the tap b, the spent wash is placed in the
column foot outside the tubular drum, and in the tubes which join the two
extremities of the latter. This arrangement allows of exposing in a small
volume a large heating surface, and of extracting with greater facility the
alcoholic parts of the matter on account of the small capacity of the apparatus;
it also facilitates the reparations necessary for the heating system, as this
tubular drum may be removed from the column foot and replaced by a new
one without interrupting the work for any length of time. This system of
heating is applicable to apparatus for distilling molasses, and in all cases
where it is wished to prevent the mixture of the condensed steam with the
spent wash. In other cases the column foot may be replaced by a simple
.injection of steam direct into the column.
The column B is composed of a certain number of plates varying according
to the force of the apparatus, generally twenty-five, thirty, or more. These
plates are numbered and pierced with a steam passage varying from eight to
twelve per cent. of the surface of the plate; this steam port surface is dis-
tributed over the plate in different ways, either by round, square, or elongated
holes, or by caps or tubes placed at the surface of the plate and returning the
steam into the liquid which the plate contains. The essential point is to give

page_text: the amount of steam port surface indicated.. In distilling columns of other
systems, this surface is only in the proportion of from three to four per cent.
of the surface of the plates. The above increase of steam port surface is one
of the causes of the great power of the improved apparatus.
For some columns I find it advantageous to diminish the passage of the
steam in the upper plates, particularly in those provided with perforated
plates; these plates differ from those of former constructions by the small
quantity of liquid retained on their surfaces. In former columns the depth of
the layers of liquid varied from six to eight centimetres (two inches one-
fifth) to three inches one-fifth), whereas in the improved columns it varies
from one to four centimetres (two-fifths of an inch to one inch two-fifths
only). By this means a more rapid flow and a greater division of the wash on
the plates is obtained.
The froth plunger c receives all the steam from the column B as well as
the matters often carried off by this steam; it rejects the liquids by its lower
extremity (d). The purged vapours leave by its upper end (e); thus are
prevented the bad effects resulting from a too abundant alimentation of steam
which often deranges the ordinary apparatus, and spoils the products by
mixing raw matters with them.
The tubular wash-heater and spirit refrigerator is composed of a cylinder
provided with several bottoms and false bottoms (F, F¹, g, g¹); two of the
latter are connected by a series of tubes and divide the apparatus into two
distinct compartments. The first, formed by the outside of the tubes, receives
the steam; the second, formed by the lower part (h), the interior of the tubes,
and the upper part (i) receives the wash. The first compartment is sub-
divided by the false bottoms (J, K, L,); these latter are fixed to the cylindrical
part, and provided with a series of openings equal in number to the tubes
which pass through them. The first false bottom (j) has openings three
millimetres (three twenty-fifths of an inch); the second (K) has openings two
millimetres (two twenty-fifths of an inch), and the third (L) has openings one
millimetre (one twenty-fifth of an inch) only larger than the outside diameter
of the tubes. This part of the apparatus is distinguished by the small quantity
of wash it contains, which varies from one to two cubic centimetres (two-fifths
to four-fifths of an inch); for each square centimetre (two-fifths of an inch)
of heating and condensing surface. These thin layers of wash allow of using
to its profit all the heat derived from the alcoholic vapours. Again, this wash
heater has the advantage of being easily cleaned by taking off the lid, passing
a brush in each tube, and then emptying the heater by its lower end (h). If
the wash to be distilled is too much heated by fermentation, the heater may

page_text: be made lower and broader, and the raw alcohols made to pass into a tubular
refrigerator containing water in a cold state placed under the heater, and
receiving the alcohol condensed in the latter.
The steam regulator E is constructed on the following principles:-Firstly,
the employment of the pressure existing in the apparatus as the motive power
of the regulator which regulates the heating of this apparatus; secondly,
causing this pressure to act on water, quicksilver, or other liquid so as to drive
a part of it into another receptacle; and, thirdly, causing at a given moment the
column of manometrictric pressure to occupy a horizontal space large enough
to act on a powerful float capable of opening a valve or tap controlling the
steam which heats the apparatus whose pressure it is wished to regulate. The
lower boiler (m) being filled with water, the pressure of the distiling column
causes a part of this water to rise into the upper boiler (n); the float (o)
placed in this latter is raised by the water, and communicates its movement
to the lever (p); this lever partially opens or shuts the steam valve (q). This
regulator is distinguished by its arrangement and by the great power com-
municated to the float. In large apparatus the float displaces nearly forty
litres of liquid (eight gallons eight-tenths) and weighs nearly twenty kilo-
grammes (forty-four pounds); the water, in raising it, developes a pressure
of twenty kilogrammes (forty-four pounds), which is increased tenfold by
the lever (p) in order to open and shut the steam valve. The strength
of the regulator is proportioned to that of the apparatus to be regulated.
The float may of course be applied to one or other of the layers of the
manometric liquid as well on the ascending as on the descending layer driven
out by the pressure; the regulator may even be made with two floats, each
placed on one of the levels of the manometric liquid.
Working of the apparatus.-The reservoir (F), the tubes of the wash
heater, and the column foot being filled with wash, steam, is introduced into
the tubular drum by (a). A part of the liquid contained in the column
foot is reduced to steam, which passes successively through all the plates
of the column and the froth purger, and by its condensation heats the wash
contained in the wash heater. The products of the condensation which
are raw alcohols run off at (t); at this moment the tap No. 1 is opened,
the waste pipe (s) of the wash heater acts, and the plates of the column
are successively filled with wash. The steam which passes through these
plates removes the alcohol from the wash, which after passing through all
the plates and the circular drum leaves the apparatus by the tap No. 3
as spent wash. The operation is continued, and lasts as long as the
apparatus is fed with wash and steam, the alcoholic product, raw spirit, runs

page_text: off by the tube (t).
The degree of this alcohol is regulated by the amount,
of wash fed by the tap No. 2.
Advantages of the apparatus.-The advantages of this apparatus, compared
with those of former systems, are, firstly, it is cheaper although its force is
at least double that of other apparatus; secondly, it procures a notable economy
of fuel by the division of the liquids in the columns, and the rapidity of the
operation by the use of the wash heater which uses all the heat emitted by the
alcoholic vapours to the profit of the wash, and does away with the necessity
of pumping cold water for refrigerating; by the use of the steam regulator a
quantity of steam regular and proportioned to the volume of liquid distilled is
employed; thirdly, it produces alcohols of better quality by the rapidity of
the operation and by the use of the froth purger which prevents the mixture of
any raw matter. The raw alcohols thus obtained are rectified by the apparatus
herein-after described.
Rectifying apparatus, Fig. 2.-This apparatus is composed of; 1st, a boiler
with two compartments, (a and b); 2nd, a column with plates (c); 3rd, a
tubular condenser (d); 4th, an analysateur (e); 5th, a tubular refrigerant
(F); and 6th, a steam regulator (G).
The rectifying boiler (a, b,) has two compartments. The lower one pro-
vided with its heating worm receives the raw spirits. The upper compartment
is provided with a steam crown (a', a',) with a waste pipe (b¹), fixing the
height of the liquid in this boiler at twenty or thirty centimetres only (eight to
twelve inches), and with a tube (c¹) communicating with the lower boiler.
Another tube c coming from the column, and having a three-way cock (No. 2)
serves for the introduction of the retrogradation of raw alcohol from the
column into the upper boiler during the operation, or for discharging the
essential oils towards the end of the operation. The column C is constructed
in the same way as the column B of the distilling apparatus. It is composed
of a certain number of plates made and arranged as above described. They
are provided with a waste pipe, (d', d" d¹¹) plunging in a box. The opening
for the steam varies from six to twelve per cent. of the total surface of the plates.
In rectifying columns of other systems this opening or port surface is employed
in a proportion of from two to four per cent. only of the total surface of the
plate which is one cause of the small power of these apparatus. In some
rectifying columns I consider it advantageous to diminish the port surface in
the upper plates, particularly in those made with perforated plates. The
colum plates of this improved rectifying apparatus differ from those of
former systems by the different layers of liquid held at their surfaces. In the
old columns this layer is the same for each plate, and varies from five to eight

page_text: centimetres (two to three and one-fifth inches) in height, which gives these
plates a capacity of from five to eight centimetres (two inches to three inches
one-fifth) cubic per square centimetre (two-fifths of an inch) of the surface
of the plate. In the improved rectifying columns this capacity varies
from one to three cubic centimetres (two-fifths of an inch to one inch one-
fifth) per square centimetre (two-fifths of an inch) of the surface of the plate,
and is progressively carried to three cubic centimetres (one inch and one-fifth)
in the lower plates. The slight liquid capacity possessed by the improved recti-
fying column contributes to the quality of the products, the liquids contained
by the plates coming from the retrogradation of the condenser pass rapidly on
the upper plates of the column and maintain there a low temerature. This
lowering of the temperature in the column causes an easy condensation of the
aqueous liquids, and those charged with essential oils. The tubular condenser D
is composed of a cylinder provided with a bottom and two false bottoms, in
these latter is fixed a series of tubes which form thus two distinct compart-
ments, one of which formed by the exterior of the tubes receives the vapours
to be condensed, and the other formed by the lower part, the inside of the
tubes and the upper part, receives the condensing water. This condenser
receives the alcoholic vapours by its upper part (g), the liquid formed by
the condensation returns towards the plates of the column by the tube h,
the pure vapours leave the condenser by the tube (i) on their way to the
refrigerator. This condenser is distinguished by the following principles.
Firstly, its slight capacity for condensing water. The water it contains is equal
to one or two cubic centimetres, (two-fifths to four-fifths of an inch) per square
centimetre (two-fifths of a square inch) of condensing surface, whereas in
existing systems from thirty to sixty cubic centimetres (twelve to twenty-four
inches) per centimetre square (two-fifths of an inch) of the condensing
surface are used. The slight capacity of the condensers utilizes this water on
account of its division to the maximum of its condensing power, and thus
obtains a very vigorous condensation by the rapidity and division of the flow of
the water on a condensing surface. The condensers of former systems having
a surface of six square metres only develop this surface in a distance never
less than six or seven metres in length (from nineteen to twenty-two feet).
My improved condenser of equal superficial size develops the same con-
densing surface in 80 centimetres of length only (about two-and-a-half feet).
The vapours in my analysing condenser are thus submitted directly to the
totality of the condensing surfaces. In these condensers the alcoholic vapour
is submitted while making but a short passage to all the condensing surfaces.
The above two principles of construction may be applied to other forms different

page_text: from those represented. Thus, for instance, instead of giving to the tubular
condenser a vertical position the tubes might be placed horizontally, instead
of causing the water to pass in these tubes it might be made to pass outside,
instead of employing tubes, partitions might be used, or the condensing surfaces
could be disposed in any other suitable way.
The tubular refrigerator resembles the wash heater above described. Its
construction is based like it on the small quantity of refrigerating water it
contains, which is about from one to two cubic centimetres (two-fifths to four-
fifths of an inch), to each square centimetre (two-fifths of an inch) of
refrigerating surface. In this refrigerator the steam enters a first compart-
ment () where it is condensed; reduced to liquid it runs on the tubes in thin
layers on its way to a second compartment (k). The cold water entering at
the lower end rises in the tubes and refrigerates at the lower part of the
tubular series while it condenses at the upper part.
The steam regulator is identically the same as that above described.
Working of the apparatus.-The lower compartment of the boiler being
filled with raw spirit, the latter is brought to boil by introducing steam from
the generator into the heating worm (m). The alcoholic vapours pass through
the double bottom, fill the second boiler, and rise through the plates of the
column. At this moment the water tap No. 2 is opened in order to feed the
condenser with cold water. The alcoholic vapours which leave the column
enter, the tubular condenser, become condensed there, and return in a liquid
state successively on all the plates of the column; these latter being charged
with alcohol, the feed of cold water is diminised, by closing partially the tap
No. 2, bringing the cold water to the condenser, so as only to condense about
two-thirds of the vapours which arrive in it. These two-thirds condensed
return to the column, pass successively on all the plates, and descend by the
tube (c) and the tap No. 1, in order to charge the second compartment of
the boiler. The vapours derived from the lower compartment of the boiler
are thus partially purified and condensed in the second compartment before
rising in the column. The vapoours which are not condensed in the condenser
go into the analysateur, there depose their watery parts, which they would
otherwise have carried with them, and pass to the refrigerator. The first
products obtained are etheric, and have a bad taste; they are set aside. The
alcohol, which comes next, is pure, neutral, very strong, and only contains two
or three per cent. of water. The operation continues thus, and the working
is kept uniform by the use of the steam regulator, which maintaining a regular
pressure of steam in the apparatus keeps up a constant supply of this steam by
the openings provided for the purpose, and the production is necessarily

page_text: regular. A steam thermometer z is placed on the upper compartment of
the boiler, showing by its scale the moment when it is deprived of alcohol;
then the tap No. 1 is turned in order to direct the liquid coming from the
column towards the oil reservoir. The steam coming from the generator is
shut off, the pressure in the column is destroyed, and the contents of the
plates emptied by the tap No. 1. The water in the boiler is then run off and
the operation is terminated.
The boilers of my rectifying apparatus are constructed so as to work during
twenty hours only, as longer operations produce products less fine. The
surface of one of the plates of my columns compared with the production per
hour of the apparatus, is only one hundred and ninety centimetres square
(seventy-two inches) per litre, (one pint decimal, seven hundred and sixty)
of spirit produced. The surface of the tubular condensers compared with the
production per hour, is from seven hundred to one thousand two hundred
centimetres (two hundred and eighty to four hundred and eighty inches)
square, per litre (1.760 pint) produced, while the surfaces of the condensers
in other apparatus, compared with the production per hour, is three hundred
centimetres square (one hundred and twenty square inches only per litre
(1.760 pint) of liquid, and the surfaces of the old condensers compared with
the surface of one of the plates of the column, is only twenty centimetres
(eight inches) square of condensation, by centimetre (two-fifths of an inch)
square of the surface of one of the plates.
In my apparatus, on the contrary, the surface of the condensers is to that
of the plates of the column as forty is to one. The surface of my tubular
refrigerator is from six hundred to a thousand centimetres (two hundred
and forty to four hundred inches) square, by litre (1.760 pint) of spirit
produced.
The advantages of the rectifying apparatus above described are, they act
more quickly and cost less; they lose less alcohol on account of the rapidity of
their working and of the reduction of the outside elements of their organs.
They furnish products finer and of a higher standard.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise mechanical details above given, which may be
obviously modified without departing from the principles laid down as the base
of the Invention; but what I claim is,-
Firstly, the steam-port surface of the plate column B of the distilling appa-
ratus, which varies between eight and twelve per cent. of the surface of each
plate.

page_text: Secondly, the division in thin layers on the plates of the distilling columns of
the wash in order to exhaust its spirit more completely and more rapidly.
Thirdly, the dosing in the wash heater, constructed as above described, of one
to four cubic centimetres (two-fifths to four-fifths of a cubic inch, per square
centimetre (two-fifths of an inch) of heating and of refrigerating surface.
Fourthly, in the improved steam regulator; firstly, the use of the pressure
existing in an apparatus as the motive power of the regulator which
controls the heating of this apparatus; secondly, causing this pressure to act
on water, quicksilver, or other liquid so as to drive a part of it into another
receptacle; and, 3rdly, causing at a given moment the column of manometric
pressure to act on a powerful float capable of opening a valve or tap con-
trolling the steam which heats the apparatus, whose pressure it is wished to
regulate; 4thly, the arrangement of the 'steam regulator, giving great power
to the float by the lever transmission, with a slight difference in the level of
the liquid; 5thly, the peculiar arrangement of the steam valve, working
almost without friction, by the perforation of the part S, S¹, of the upper
reservoir for the introduction of water under the float in such a way as to raise
it vertically and prevent the irregular action produced by the pressure of the
water on one single point.
Fifthly, the division of the raw spirit in thin layers on the surface of the
plates of the rectifying column C.
Sixthly, the steam-port surface of the plates of the rectifying column, which
vary between six and twelve per cent. of the surface of each plate.
Seventhly, the slight capacity of the condensers, whereby the condensing
water is utilised to the maximum of its refrigerating power.
Eighthly, the two principles above indicated for the construction of the
tubular condenser D, which are, 1st, that the alcoholic vapours are sub-
mitted in a short passage to all the condensing surface, so that for each ten
centimetres (four inches) of the length of the condenser the vapours come in
contact with fourteen thousand square centimetres (five thousand six hundred
nches) of condensing surface or more; whereas in this apparatus the surface
sat most five hundred centimetres square (two hundred inches); and,
econdly, the very small quantity of water contained by them in proportion to
heir surface.
Ninthly, increasing the surface of the condensers in proportion to that of
he plates of the column.
Tenthly, the general construction and operation of the above apparatus and
arts of apparatus, whether employed separately, together, or in connection

page_text: with other apparatus, the whole substantially as above described and repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawings.
Eleventhly, causing in the construction of refrigerators and wash heaters
the alcoholic vapours to pass successively through several compartments, so
as to condense the vapours in the first compartments, and to refrigerate the
products of the condensation in the following compartments, in order to obtain
more useful effects both for the refrigeration and heating.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.S.)