Concentration of Liquors and Utilization of Steam arising therefrom.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Concentration of Liquors and Utilization of Steam arising
therefrom.
We, WILLIAM JULIUS MIRRLEES, and ALFRED JOHN LIVERSEDGE, of
The Mirrlees Watson & Yaryan Co. Ld., 45 Scotland Street Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the concentration of liquors which require to be
treated in the manufacture of sugar, caustic soda, and other alkalies, also the
waste liquors or bye products arising in the manufacture of cellulose from vegetable
fibres, the manufacture of soap and candles, distillers' waste liquors, the waste
liquors of wool scouring or washing, and other liquors.
There are well known methods of effecting the concentration required, in which
the vapour generated from the liquor is entirely wasted; also methods in which
the vapour generated is more or less utilized, as for example in the ordinary process
of evaporation by multiple effect wherein vapour generated from the liquor in one
pan or vessel is used to effect a further concentration of the same liquor in another
pan or vessel.
In our process we have for our object the utilization of the vapour given off
during the concentration of one liquor for boiling or treating another liquor, and
in other ways.
For this purpose we employ, first, a steam boiler of any suitable type, worked
in the ordinary way; secondly a closed concentrating vessel in which the liquor
under treatment is concentrated by the aid of the steam under pressure generated
in the primary steam boiler; whilst, thirdly we convey the steam generated from
the liquor in the concentrator in any suitable way, to the vessel or apparatus in
which the secondary or supplementary operation, that is the utilization of this
steam is to be effected. The concentrating apparatus may be of any suitable type
in which steam can be used as the heating medium, and may be either a single or
multiple effect apparatus. In the latter case the steam may be taken for the
secondary process from any one or more of the effects.
Our invention may be used in many manufactures, of which the following are
examples.
In the course of the manufacture of commercial caustics, as usually followed, the
following are two essential operations.
First. The causticizing of the carbonate solution by the aid of lime and heat.
Second. The concentration of the caustic solution obtained by the previously
mentioned operation.
In the first operation a large amount of steam is expended; in the second a
large amount of steam is produced.
In our process the concentration is effected more or less under pressure, in
apparatus heated by steam obtained from an ordinary steam boiler, and the steam
generated from the caustic liquor during the process of concentration, or as much
of it as may be convenient, is conveyed to the causticizers or agitators for use in
the first operation mentioned above.
It will be obvious that in this arrangement the concentration corresponding to
the amount of steam supplied to the causticizers is effected at the small expen-
diture of fuel represented by little more than the losses in transmission between
steam boiler and causticizers.
In soap works where caustic solutions are prepared from solutions of the
may not only use the steam generated from the liquor in the
carbonate. we

page_text: concentrating apparatus for the causticizing operation, but we may also, or instead,
use it in the soap boilers, or we may use it for the concentration of the spent lye
from the soap boilers when the latter is to be treated for the recovery of glycerine.
On the other hand we may substitute the spent lye which is to be treated for the
recovery of glycerine, for the caustic solution in our primary concentrating
apparatus, and use the vapour arising from the concentration of the spent lye for
the causticizing of the carbonate solution, or for the concentration of the caustic
solution, or in the soap boilers, or in a combination of any of these processes.
-
Again in paper or other works where cellulose is produced by the. boiling of
vegetable fibres in alkaline solutions, a waste liquor is obtained from which the
alkali may be recovered by concentration and incineration. In such cases we treat
the waste liquor in our primary concentrating apparatus and use the steam
generated therein, in the causticizing operations, or in the pulp boilers or digestors,
or for drying or heating operations in connection with the further treatment of the
pulp or its manufacture into paper.
Again in distilleries there is a large quantity of refuse liquor, the residuum of
the distillation, and also a large amount of steam used in drying the grains and in
the distillation of the spirit. In such cases we concentrate the waste liquor in our
primary concentrating apparatus and use the steam generated therein for drying
the grains or for the distillation of the spirit.
Dated this 18th day of February 1892.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Concentration of Liquors and Utilization of Steam arising
therefrom.
We, WILLIAM JULIUS MIRRLEES and ALFRED JOHN LIVERSEDGE, of
The Mirrlees Watson & Yaryan Co. Ld. 45 Scotland Street Glasgow, North
Britain Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
imanner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to the concentration of liquors which require to be
treated in the manufacture of sugar, caustic soda, and other alkalies, also the waste
liquors and bye products arising in the manufacture of cellulose from vegetable
fibres, the manufacture of soap and candles, distillers' waste liquors, the waste
liquors of wool scouring or washing, and other liquors.
There are well known methods of effecting the concentration required, in which
the vapour generated from the liquor is entirely wasted; also methods in which the
vapour generated is more or less utilized, as for example, in the ordinary process of
evaporation by multiple effect wherein vapour generated from the liquor in one pan
or vessel is used to effect a further concentration of the same liquor in another pan
or vessel.
In our process we have for our object the utilization of the vapour given off
during the concentration of one liquor for boiling or treating another liquor, and in
other ways.
For this purpose we employ, first, a steam boiler of any suitable type worked in
the ordinary way; secondly a closed concentrating vessel in which the liquor under
treatment is concentrated by the aid of the steam under pressure generated
-in the primary steam boiler; whilst thirdly we convey the steam generated from
the liquor in the concentrator in any suitable way, to the vessel or apparatus in
which the secondary or supplementary operation, that is the utilization of this
steam is to be effected. The concentrating apparatus may be of any suitable type
in which steam can be used as the heating medium, and may be either a single.or

page_text: multiple effect apparatus. In the latter case the steam may be taken for the
secondary process from any one or more of the effects.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect we have hereunto appended an explanatory diagram of a multiple effect
apparatus with our improvements, of which A, A', A* represent the three
evaporating vessels, while is the pipe for carrying the steam generated from the
liquor in the vessel A. into the causticizer C. Steam from the boiler is introduced
into the concentrating apparatus by the pipe D.
Our invention may be used in many manufactures, of which the following are
examples.
In the course of the manufacture of commercial caustics, as usually followed, the
following are two essential operations.
First. The causticizing of the carbonate solution by the aid of lime and heat.
Second. The concentration of the caustic solution obtained by the previously
mentioned operation.
In the first operation a large amount of steam is expended; in the second a large
amount of steam is produced.
In our process the concentration is effected more or less under pressure, in
apparatus heated by steam obtained from an ordinary steam boiler, and the steam
generated from the caustic liquor during the process of concentration, or as much
of it as may be convenient, is conveyed to the causticizers or agitators for use in
the first operation mentioned above.
It will be obvious that in this arrangement the concentration corresponding to
the amount of steam supplied to the causticizers is effected at the small expenditure
of fuel represented by little more than the losses in transmission between steam
boiler and concentrator and between the latter and the causticizers.
In soap works where caustic solutions are prepared from solutions of the
carbonate, we may not only use the steam generated from the liquor in the con-
centrating apparatus for the causticizing operation, but we may also, or instead,
use it in the soap boilers, or we may use it for the concentration of the spent lye
from the soap boilers when the latter is to be treated for the recovery of
glycerine. On the other hand we may substitute the spent lye which is to be
treated for the recovery of glycerine, for the caustic solution in our primary
concentrating apparatus, and use the vapour arising from the concentration of
the spent lye for the causticizing of the carbonate solution, or for the concen-
tration of the caustic solution, or in the soap boilers, or in a combination of any of
these processes.
Again in paper or other works where cellulose is produced by the boiling of
vegetable fibres in alkaline solutions, a waste liquor is obtained from which the
alkali may be recovered by concentration and incineration. In such cases we
treat the waste liquor in our primary concentrating apparatus and use the steam
generated therein, or as much as may conveniently be so employed, in the causticizing
operations, or in the pulp boilers or digestors, or for drying or heating operations
in connection with the further treatment of the pulp or its manufacture into paper.
Again in distilleries there is a large quantity of refuse liquor, the residuum
of the distillation, and also a large amount of steam used in drying the grains
and in the distillation of the spirit. In such cases we concentrate the waste liquor
in our primary concentrating apparatus and use the steam generated therein, or
as much as may conveniently be so employed, for drying the grains or for the
distillation of the spirit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of caustics, the combination of a steam boiler and a closed
steam heated concentrating apparatus for concentrating the caustic solution, with a
vessel in which steam, generated from the caustic liquor in the concentrating

page_text: apparatus, is used to aid the causticizing of the carbonate solution, substantially as
herein before described.
2. In the manufacture of soap, the combination of a steam boiler and a closed
steam heated concentrating apparatus for concentrating a caustic solution, with a
vessel in which soap is boiled by the aid of steam generated in the concentrator;
from the caustic solution; or with a vessel in which spent lye is concentrated (with)
a view to the recovery of the glycerine) by the aid of steam generated from the
caustic solution in the caustic concentrating apparatus, or with a combination of
such vessels, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In the manufacture of soap or candles the combination of a steam boiler and
a closed steam heated concentrating apparatus for concentrating spent lye (with a
view to the recovery of glycerine) with a vessel in which soap is boiled by the aid
of the steam generated from the spent lye in the spent lye concentrator, or with a
vessel in which a solution of caustic is concentrated by the aid of steam generated
from the spent lye in the spent lye concentrator, or with a vessel in which materials
for the manufacture of candles are boiled or otherwise treated by the aid of steam
generated from the lye in the lye concentrating apparatus, or with a combination
of such vessels substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In the manufacture of cellulose for paper or other purposes, the combination
of a steam boiler and a closed steam heated concentrating apparatus in which waste
liquor resulting from the boiling of vegetable fibre is concentrated, with a vessel in
which the said vegetable fibre is boiled more or less by the aid of steam generated
from the waste liquor in the waste liquor concentrating apparatus, or with a vessel in
which the solution of soda recovered from the waste liquor is causticized by the aid
of steam generated in the waste liquor concentrator, or with drying machines or
appliances in which steam generated from the waste liquor in the concentrating
apparatus is used as the heating medium, or with a system of pipes for heating
rooms in which steam generated from the waste liquor in the waste liquor concen-
trator is used as the heating medium, or with a combination of such vessels and
appliances, substantially as described.
5. In the manufacture of spirit, the combination of a steam boiler with a closed
steam heated concentrating apparatus for concentrating waste products of the
distilling process, with a distilling apparatus in which steam generated from the
waste liquor in the concentrating apparatus is used more or less for the distilling
operation; or with a drying apparatus for drying grains in which steam generated
from the waste liquor in the concentrating apparatus is used as the heating agent,
or with a combination of such distilling and drying appliances, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
6. In the manufacture of sugar where carried on in conjunction with the
manufacture of spirit, the combination of a steam boiler and a closed steam heated
concentrating apparatus for concentrating a weak sugar liquor, with a distilling
apparatus in which steam generated from the weak sugar solution in the concen-
trating apparatus, used as the distilling agent, substantially as described.
7. In the washing or scouring of wool, yarn, or cloth, the combination of a steam
boiler and a closed steam heated concentrating apparatus for concentrating the
waste products of the washing or scouring operations with washing or scouring
machines or dyeing vats in which steam generated from the waste liquor in the
concentrating apparatus is used to aid the washing or scouring process; or with
appliances for drying the wool, yarn or cloth, in which steam generated from the
waste liquor in the concentrating apparatus is used as the heating medium, or with
a system of pipes for heating rooms in which steam generated from the waste
liquor in the waste liquor concentrator, is used as the heating medium, or with a
combination of such washing or scouring and drying and heating appliances,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
8. In the manufacture of meat extracts, the combination of a steam boiler and a
closed steam heated concentrating apparatus for concentrating waste liquors
resulting from the manufacture, with apparatus in which the weak extract is

page_text: concentrated more or less by the aid of steam generated from the waste liquor in
the waste liquor concentrating apparatus, or with apparatus in which the meat is
boiled by the aid of steam generated from the waste liquor in the waste liquor
concentrating apparatus, or with a combination of such concentrating and boiling
appliances.
Dated this 18th day of November 1892.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.