Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating Sulphuric and other Acids.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating Sulphuric and other
Acids.
I, ELI DYSON, of Vickers Street, Miles Platting Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of apparatus chiefly employed in the
concentration of sulphuric acid in which the evaporating or concentrating vessels
are placed on an incline one above another or with the edge of one above that on
one side and below that on the other side and it is designed to provide a more
efficient apparatus than any at present in use.
It consists essentially in constructing the evaporating or concentrating vessels of
cast iron with an internal coating of a suitable vitreous or other acid resisting
enamel (these may be made of two or more separate pieces placed together when in
position in the furnace) in constructing the syphons by which the liquor is carried
from one vessel to the next with a double curve or of double U form to deliver the
liquor from the bottom of one vessel to the top of the next in the series and to
prevent the syphon becoming empty should the liquor fall below the proper level
or the supply cease so that it will restart running as soon as the liquor rises again
to its proper level, in a regulating float-valve of triangular or other suitable shape
rising and falling in the supply pipe to control and regulate the flow of acid from
the supply cistern to the concentrating vessels and in the arrangement and
construction of the apparatus whereby greater efficiency is maintained.
The furnace is constructed with an arched flue which passes under the concen-
trating vessels or retorts and enters a flue surrounding the vessels wherein the
heated gases and products of combustion come in direct contact with them. The
fire grate is placed preferably at one end the flues running longitudinally of the
apparatus.
The concentrating vessels or retorts are placed on the top of the arched flue
which is inclined so that each vessel is on a lower level than the one preceding and
the upper flue which surrounds them is enclosed by cast iron flue covers protected
on the upper surface with a suitable non-conductor and acid-resisting material so
that the upper ends of the vessels project up into a chamber in which the fumes or
vapour are collected and carried away to condensers, or can be made with a loose
cover, and also with connecting nozzles or tubes.
The evaporating or concentrating vessels or retorts are constructed of cast iron
enamelled on the internal surfaces with a vitreous or other acid resisting material
and with a projecting lip upon which the syphon which conveys the liquor to the
next vessel rests.
The syphons are made of glass and are constructed of a special double curved or
double Ushape to maintain a constant level and continuous flow of acid through
the concentrating vessels or retorts also to convey the acid from the bottom of one
vessel to the top of the next and so that the syphon cannot become emptied
of liquor should the level fall or the flow cease. By this means all portions of the
acid are thoroughly exposed to the heat while they descend to overflow again
through the syphons.
The supply cistern is provided with inlet and outlet taps and with a float valve
to control the flow of acid. This valve consists of a hollow triangular bell or other
suitable shaped float with a hollow closed shank or stem placed to rise and fall in

page_text: the mouth of the supply pipe which is constructed of corresponding shape. Should
the acid in the supply tank rise too high the pressure on the float causes it to rise
and close the mouth of the supply pipe which thus remains closed until the flow of
the liquor through the delivery pipe reduces the pressure by lowering the level
therein when the valve again opens and the supply continues to flow.
Outside the furnace I place a number of coolers consisting of vessels similar to
the concentrating vessels of enamelled cast iron two or more of these are placed in
an air flue or chamber through which a current of air is caused to flow and the
remainder are set in water chambers with a current of cold water flowing through.
From these coolers the liquor passes to two large earthenware jars for holding a
reserve of the concentrated acid before bottling off and from these vessels it flows
to an operating vessel of enamelled iron fitted with a suitable tap for drawing off
the acid into carboys.
Between the furnace and the coolers the acid flows over a cast iron enamelled
spout or conduit provided with a glass cover fitted into a recess or rabbetted sides so
that the acid can be seen flowing through and a similar conduit conveys the acid
from the coolers to the earthenware reserve jars.
The fumes and vapour evaporated from the acid in the concentrating vessels are
carried away from the chamber in which they collect through square or other tubes
of hard earthenware (such as that known as metalline) to a condeuser scrubber
suitably arranged for receiving same for complete condensation. The fumes or
vapour are first carried backwards and forwards through a number of pipes and
then through one or more towers filled with coke or other suitable material the
fumes which collects therein are condensed and any remaining gas is carried to the
chimney.
The supply tank is fitted with inlet and outlet pipes each provided with suitable
taps. The inlet pipe extends down nearly to the bottom of the tank and is of
inverted funnel bell mouth or other suitable shape. In this is fitted a hollow float
valve of corresponding shape which when the liquor rises too high in the tank rises
in the tube and closes it. The hollow valve may be open at the bottom and closed
at the top with a stem or shank extending some distance up the inlet pipe.
The flow of acid to the concentrating vessel is regulated by this valve and a
constant flow is maintained throughout the apparatus by the syphons which convey
it from one vessel to the next.
Dated this 16th day of September 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating Sulphuric and other
Acids.
I, ELI DYSON, of Vickers Street, Miles Platting, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Manager, 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 that class of apparatus chiefly employed in the
concentration of sulphuric acid in which the evaporating or concentrating vessels
are placed on an incline one above another or with the edge of one above that on
one side and below that on the other side, and it is designed to provide a more
efficient apparatus than any at present in use.
It consists essentially in constructing the evaporating or concentrating vessels of
cast iron with an internal coating of a suitable vitreous or other acid resisting
enamel (these may be made of two or more separate pieces placed together when

page_text: position in the furnace), in constructing the syphons by which the liquor is
arried from one vessel to the next with a double curve or of double U form to
eliver the liquor from the bottom of one vessel to the top of the next in the
ries and to prevent the syphon becoming empty should the liquor fall below the
roper level or the supply cease so that it will restart running as soon as the liquor
ses again to its proper level, in a regulating float-valve of conical, bell or other
itable shape rising and falling in the supply pipe to control and regulate the
ow of acid from the supply cistern to the concentrating vessels and in the
rangement and construction of the apparatus whereby greater efficiency is
aintained.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings:-
.
Fig. 7. Side elevation of the cooler looking from opposite side to Fig. 1..
Fig. 8. Sectional elevation of concentrating vessel removed from plant (enlarged).
Fig. 9. Sectional elevation of same at right angles to Fig. 8.
Fig. 10. Sectional elevation of syphon (enlarged).
The furnace A is constructed with an arched flue B which passes under a second
chamber or flue C in which the concentrating vessels or retorts D are situated
leading to a third flue E in communication with the chimney stack. The chamber
or flue C is connected with the furnace A and flue B by vertical or other
openings Fat intervals along its length through which the products of combustion
pass those further from the furnace being of greater area than those that are
nearer to it to allow of an equal temperature throughout the flue C. The flue C
is covered by metal or other plates e with openings through which the vessels D
pass and which hold them upright in position. The concentrating vessels rest on
the top or arch of the flue B and the heated gases and products of combustion come
in direct contact with them. The fire grate of the furnace A is preferably placed
at one end of the flue B which runs longitudinally of the apparatus.
The flue B and the arched top on which the concentrating vessels or retorts D
are placed is inclined from one end to the other so that each of the vessels D is on
a lower level than the one preceding it.
The concentrating vessels D are preferably made as shown with covers d and
connecting tubes or nozzles by which they are connected with a pipe or tube G
running longitudinally of the apparatus through which the fumes or vapour rising
from the acid is conducted to a condensing tower.
The evaporating or concentrating vessels or retorts D are constructed of cast
iron enamelled on the internal surfaces with a vitreous or other acid resisting
material and are provided with a projecting lip " upon which the syphon H which
conveys the liquor to the next vessel rests.
The syphons H are made of glass or other suitable material and are constructed
of a special double curved or double U shape to maintain a constant level and
continuous flow of acid through the concentrating vessels or retorts from one to the
next so as to convey the acid from the bottom of one vessel to the top of the next
and so that the syphon cannot become emptied of liquor should the level fall or the
flow cease. By this means all portions of the acid as it becomes concentrated are
equally exposed to the heat as it descends from vessel to vessel the heavier acid
being lifted from the bottom of one vessel to the top of the next.
The fumes and vapour evaporated from the acid in the concentrating vessels D
are carried away therefrom through the tubes G of hard earthenware (such as that
known as metalline) or other suitable material to a condenser or scrubber suitably
arranged for receiving same for complete condensation. The fumes or vapour are
first carried backwards and forwards through a number of pipes and then through

page_text: one or more towers filled with coke or other suitable material the fumes which
collect therein are condensed and any remaining or uncondensed gas is carried to
the chimney.
Above the furnace are placed a series of supply tanks I and J from which the
acid passes to the concentrating vessels D. The supply tanks J are placed over
the flue so that the liquor flowing therethrough is gently heated to a moderate
temperature before entering the first of the series of concentrating vessels D.
These tanks are of ordinary construction and are fitted with division plates or
partitions each alternate one being provided with an opening or passage j³ at the
bottom to cause the liquor to flow in a sinuous course through them.
The first supply tank I is fitted with inlet and outlet pipes K K each fitted with
suitable taps. The inlet pipe K extends down nearly to the bottom of the
tank and is provided with a float valve L to control the supply of acid. This
valve consists of a hollow conical, bell shaped or other suitable shaped float L with
a hollow closed shank or stem l. The lower end of the inlet or supply pipe K is of
similar shape and the float is placed therein the hollow shank extending up the
pipe K. The float may be open at the bottom or enclosed as found most desirable.
The float I rises and falls in the mouth of the inlet pipe K as the liquor in the
tank rises and falls. Should the acid in the supply tank 1 rise too high the
pressure on the float L causes it to rise and close the mouth of the supply pipe K
which thus remains closed until the flow of the liquor through the delivery pipe K¹
reduces the pressure by lowering the level therein when the valve L again opens
and the supply continues to flow. The flow of acid to the concentrating vessel is
regulated by this valve and a constant flow is maintained throughout the apparatus
by the syphons which convey it from one vessel to the next.
Outside the furnace I place a number of coolers M consisting of vessels similar
to the concentrating vessels D of enamelled cast iron two or more of these are
placed in an air flue or chamber N through which a current of air is caused to flow
and the remainder are set in water chambers O with a current of cold water flowing
through. From these coolers the liquor flows to a vessel P of enamelled iron in
which it is collected; this vessel is fitted with a suitable tap p for drawing off the
acid into carboys. The water flows into the chambers O through the pipes o and
after circulating around the vessels M flows out through the pipes o'. Any acid
condensing in the tube G is carried off by the pipe g.
If desired the liquor may flow from the coolers before entering the vessel P
through one or more large earthenware or other jars for holding a reserve of the
concentrated acid before bottling it off.
Between the furnace and the coolers the acid flows over a cast iron enamelled
spout or conduit R provided with a glass cover fitted into a recess or rabbetted sides
so that the acid can be seen flowing through and a similar conduit conveys the
acid from the coolers to the vessel P.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
-
1. In apparatus for concentrating acids and other liquids provided with a heating
furnace and heat conducting flues or chambers constructing the concentrating
vessels of cast iron with an internal coating of a vitreous acid resisting enamel or
material substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for concentrating acids and other liquids the combination with
the concentrating vessels of syphons constructed with a double curve or double
U form to deliver the acid or other liquid from the bottom of one vessel to the top
of the next substantially as described and shown.
3. In apparatus for concentrating acids and other liquids the combination with
the supply tank of a conical, bell shaped or other suitably shaped float valve
provided with a hollow stem extending up into the inlet pipe the bottom end of
which corresponds with the shape of the valve substantially as described and shown.

page_text: 4. In apparatus for concentrating acids and other liquids the combination with
the furnace and concentrating vessels of a cooler and cooling vessels constructed
and arranged substantially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 5,
6, and 7.
5. Apparatus for concentrating acids and other liquids constructed and arranged
in combination substantially as herein described and shown.
Deted this 18th day of June 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and Loudon, Patent Agents.