Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Concentrating Sulphuric Acid.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Concentrating
Sulphuric Acid.
I, IVAN LEVINSTEIN of Minshull Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Chemical Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the method of and apparatus for concentrating
sulphuric acid and other liquids described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me No. 19,213 dated the 26th day of October A.D. 1892.
In the apparatus described in my former Specification, there was a separate
furnace or fire-place for each row of concentrating vessels, the hot gases from
which were divided and conducted into two flues on opposite sides of the flue or
passage in which the concentrating vessels stood. From each of these side flues
the hot gases passed into the central flue through lateral apertures and were thus
brought into direct contact with the concentrating vessels therein.
Also, the vapours arising from the evaporation and concentration of the acid
were conducted by a separate arrangement of pipes to a tower.
According to these improvements, instead of employing a single fire-place for
each row of vessels, I use one fire-place for two rows. The hot gases from the fire
are led into two flues each of which may he regulated by a separate damper, and
each of which is directly under one of the rows of concentrating vessels. From
each of the fues leading from the fire, the hot gases are led into the flue
containing the lower parts of the concentrating vessels, which they traverse in a
zig-zag path.
The two flues containing the mouths of the concentrating vessels are each
divided into two parts, and between them is constructed another flue or passage,
also divided into two parts.
The vapours arising from the concentration of the acid contained in the upper
part of the series of vessels are drawn into one part of the divided centre passage
or flue, and conveyed to a tower.
The vapours arising from the lower vessels of the series (say the two lower
vessels), pass into the other part of the divided passage or flue and are conveyed to
a suitable absorbent apparatus.
With this improved construction and arrangement of the apparatus it is found
that the number of concentrating vessels in each row may be reduced from
fourteen to eight, whilst at the same time, the output is increased by one-third.
That is to say, one-third more acid can be equally concentrated with sixteen
vessels than could previously be concentrated with twenty-eight. At the same
time, the advantages of increased compactness and a great economy of labour and
fuel are secured as well as a saving in the recovery of the vapours, practically all
those containing SO, being separated and readily utilised.
Dated this 4th day of November A D 1904
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Concentrating
Sulphuric Acid.
I, IVAN LEVINSTEIN of Minshull Street, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Chemical Manufacturer, 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 the method of and apparatus for concentrating
sulphuric acid and other liquids, described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me No. 19213 dated the 26th day of October A.D. 1892.
In the apparatus described in my former Specification, there was a separate
furnace or fire-place for each row of concentrating vessels, the hot gases from
which were divided and conducted in two flues on opposite sides of the passage in
which the concentrating vessels stood. From each of these side flues the hot
gases passed into the central flue through lateral apertures, and
brought into contact with the concentrating vessels therein.
were thus
Also, the vapours arising from the evaporation and concentration of the acid
were conducted by a separate arrangement of pipes to a tower.
According to my present improvements, instead of employing a single fire-
place for each row of vessels, I use one fire-place only for two rows. 'The hot
gases from the fire are led into two flues, each of which may be regulated by a
separate damper, and each of which is directly under one of the rows of
concentrating vessels. From each of the flues leading from the fire, the hot gases
are led into a flue containing the lower parts of the concentrating vessels, which
they traverse in a zig-zag path.
The two flues or passages containing the mouths of the concentrating vessels
each consist of or contam two zones or parts and between the flues there is another
flue divided into an upper and a lower part. The vapours arising from the
concentration of the acid contained in the upper vessels of the series of vessels
are drawn into the upper part of the divided central flue, whence they pass to a
tower for utilisation in the usual way.
The vapours arising from the lower vessels of the series, say the two lower
vessels, pass into the lower part of the divided central flue and thence flow of are
conveyed to a suitable absorption apparatus.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention and will now be described.
Figure is a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 is a plan. Neither of these
figures are drawn to a plane section, the upper part of Figure 1 being drawn
along the axis of the series of concentrating vessels, and the lower part along the
line ay Figure 2. In Figure 2 the upper part is a sectional plan of the
flue or passage in which the series of concentrating vessels is arranged, and
the lower part is a sectional plan through the fire place and one of the flues
therefrom. Consequently in Figure only one of the concentrating vessel flues is
shewn, and one of the flues from the furnace, together with one half of the fire-
place and one half of the central divided flue.
The furnace, F, is arranged at the middle of the front part of the apparatus.
From the furnace two similar flues lead out, one of which is shewn at f, Figure 2,
the other being under the opposite concentrating flue C. Each of these flues
leads, at f¹, into one of the concentrating flues C, its deflection being caused by the
cover plate g, and each of the concentrating flues is constructed to contain, by
preference, eight vessels, arranged in the usual manner, in a descending series
The concentrating flue is partly closed at the top by the plates A, which are
supported by vertical supports h, between which the hot gases can pass freely, and

page_text: in which plates openings a are formed for the admission of the concentrating
vessels. The lower parts of these vessels, which are not shewn in the drawings,
are consequently enclosed in the flue C, and are exposed to the hot gases from the
furnace which pass around them in a zig-zag manner. After passing the
concentrating vessels, the hot gases from the furnace are led to the chimney
through the openings B. The mouths of the concentrating vessels are contained
in the passage D. from which there are openings d d to the central divided flue or
passage E. There may be any convenient number of these openings, but I prefer
to use four as indicated by the drawings. Of these, three, marked d, open into
the upper part of the flue E, and one, d, into the lower part E¹. It will be seen
that the flues CD are quite separated when the concentrating vessels are in the
openings a.
The lower members of the series of concentrating vessels contain the more
concentrated liquid and are exposed to the greater heat. In the case of sulphuric
acid concentration therefore, the heavier vapours will flow out through the
opening into the lower part of the flue E¹ and thence through the pipe P to an
absorption tank or apparatus. The lighter vapours pass through the openings d
into the upper part of the flue E and thence pass, through the pipe G, to a tower
or to a condensation apparatus for recovery.
Gutters H, are arranged on each side of the concentrating vessels, as in the
older apparatus, for carrying away any spilt or escaping fluid.
With this improved construction and arrangement of the apparatus, it is found
that the number of, concentrating vessels in each row may be reduced from
fourteen to eight, whilst at the same time, the output is increased by one-third.
That is to sav, one-third more acid or other fluid can be concentrated with
sixteen vessels than could previously be concentrated with twenty-eight. At the
same time, the advantages of increased compactness and a great economy of
labour and fuel are secured, as well as a saving in the recovery of the vapours,
practically all the vapours containing SO, being separated and readily utilised."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my 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 sulphuric acid, of the type set forth, the
combination and arrangement with two series of concentrating vessels, of one
furnace or fireplace and two flues therefrom which flues respectively enter the flues
or passages in which the bottoms of the concentrating vessels are arranged, sub-
stantially as described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for concentrating sulphuric acid, of the type set forth, a
concentrating flue or passage in which the lower parts of the concentrating vessels
are contained and through which the hot gases from a fire pass, in combination
with a separate flue or passage in which the mouths of the concentrating vessels
are contained, and with a divided side or central flue communicating therewith,
through which the vapours pass to the recovery apparatus, substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. The herein before described improvements in the method of and in the
apparatus for the concentration of sulphuric acid, substantially as set forth and as
llustrated by the accompanying drawings.
D 1000
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.