The Combined Generation and Application of Electricity Supply and the Manufacture of Salt.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
Date of Application, 22nd May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
The Combined Generation and Application of Electricity Supply and
the Manufacture of Salt.
I, HARRY TEE, of 50, Castle Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The subject, the matter of the application for patent, has mainly for its object
and effect, special applications and extensions of the methods of and means for the
combined production of electricity, and manufacture of salt from brine, by one and
the same quantity of fuel, set out in the Specifications of my former Patents
Nos. 6565, and 6565A, of 1895.
In the said specifications, processes, or methods, and machinery or apparatus,
are set forth by which, by one quantity of fuel, brine is evaporated and salt made,
and also electricity is produced, which electricity was applied mainly to the
electrolytic dissolution of compound substances in liquid form or solution. In the
special applications and extensions of the processes or methods, and apparatus or
machinery, the subject, partly, of the present application for patent, brine is boiled
in closed pans or vessels of forms as set forth in my former patents or as here-
after described, by coal or gaseous fuel, and the steam given off is taken to a steam
engine and is employed therein as motive power, and this engine drives an electric
generator, and produces electricity, which electricity is employed for the combining
or fusion of substances, either in solid or liquid form for the manufacture of
compound substances. For instance, it may be employed in the production of
calcium carbide from which acetylene gas can be made, or for any analogous or
equivalent purposes. Or, again, the electricity may be employed in any electro-
metallurgical or electro-chemical manufacture; and also for other purposes to
which it may suitably be applied.
In another case, these ends, effects and applications are obtained by burning fuel
in steam generators proper; and generating power and electricity, while the steam
after doing work in the engine is exhausted and led into or under a salt pan to boil
or evaporate brine, and produce salt, and in some cases also to produce power and
further electricity from the steam given off from the brine.
An improvement in the closed salt pan in which the steam is employed for motive
power, as described, consists in constructing such pans to work under pressure. In
one arrangement a pan is provided on the outside with pockets to receive the salt
raked into them, having at the bottom an opening, and a valve-say a coned valve
Below this opening
moved vertically-adapted to close and open said opening.
and valve there is a closed chamber into which the salt drops, having on the lower
When the valve is closed, and the door open,
part a suitable close fitting door.
the salt can be removed from this chamber. The bottom of the pan on which the
rakes work is, in some cases, flat and stayed, as when it is double and steam
heated, or in other cases.
In some cases it may be stayed through the centre, in which case the rake shaft

page_text: would be tubular and revolve round the stay; and it may also be stayed from the
sides outside.
In another modification, the bottom may be coned in a downward direction,
towards a central outlet tube, through which the salt would be discharged; while,
in another case, it could be coned upwards from the sides.
According to one arrangement of gas or coal fired salt pan of the kind referred to,
two circular pans would be combined and the fires placed under one, and the gases
therefrom led by flues under the other part of this portion of the pan, and under all
the other portion. By this means the full heat of the fuel would be given up to the
closed pans.
The two circular sides of the two portions would join at each side
near the centre, so that the two parts produce one vessel, the brine being able to
flow from one to any other part, while the roof would be carried over in the form
of a dome or domes.
In a modified form of steam heated closed salt pan, for making salt and producing
steam under pressure, several sets of steam and brine chambers may be disposed
one above the other in a pile, and rakes employed in each, all of which would be
worked from a common central shaft. The pockets into which the salt is raked
would be each provided with a valve, and a salt chamber or tube below. The brine
containing chambers would be in connection with each other, so that the steam
space thereof would be common, and the steam will be carried away under any
suitable pressure at which it may be produced from the dome at the top of the pile
of chambers. In plan, this generator and salt producer would be circular as in the
other cases.
Dated this 21st day of Mar 1897
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
The Combined Generation and Application of Electricity Supply and
the Manufacture of Salt.
I, HARRY TEE, of 50, Castle Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, 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 subject, the matter of the application for patent, has mainly for its object
and effect, special applications and extensions of the methods of and means for the
combined production of electricity, and manufacture of salt from brine, by one and
the same quantity of fuel, set out in the Specifications of my former Patents
Nos. 6565, and 6565A, of 1895.
In the said specifications, processes, or methods, and machinery or apparatus,
are set forth by which, by one quantity of fuel, brine is evaporated and salt made,
and also electricity is produced, which electricity was applied mainly to the
electrolytic dissolution of compound substances in liquid form or solution. In the
special applications and extensions of the processes or methods, and apparatus or
machinery, the subject, partly, of the present application for patent, brine is boiled
in closed pans or vessels of forms as set forth in my former patents or as here-
after described, by coal or gaseous fuel, and the steam given off is taken to a steam
engine and is employed therein as motive power, and this engine drives an electric
generator, and produces electricity, which electricity is employed for the combining
or fusion of substances, either in solid or liquid form for the manufacture of
compound substances. For instance, it may be employed in the production of

page_text: calcium carbide from which acetylene gas can be made, or for any analogous or
equivalent purposes. Or, again, the electricity may be employed in any electro-
metallurgical or electro-chemical manufacture; and also for other purposes to
which it may suitably be applied.
In another case, these ends, effects and applications are obtained by burning fuel
in steam generators proper; and generating power and electricity, while the steam
after doing work in the engine is exhausted and led into or under a salt pan to boil
or evaporate brine, and produce salt, and in some cases also to produce power and
further electricity from the steam given off from the brine.
In the drawings hereto annexed, some modifications of pans or boilers adapted
to make salt and generate steam under a comparatively high pressure, are
illustrated. Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 a plan, shewing one
of such a pan or boiler adapted to be heated by coal (or gas) burned directly under
it. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, and Figure is a plan shewing a modified
construction of such a pan or boiler. And Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, shew further
modifications of this kind of pan or boiler.
In using pans or boilers, heated primarily by the fuel employed, the steam
would be generated at pressures, say, up to 30, 40, 50, lbs., or over; and this steam
is taken or led to a steam engine of the condensing type, which it drives, while the
engine is connected with, and drives an electric generator. In connection with the
engine and electric generator, electric furnaces, or apparatus of any known suitable
kind, are employed, in which the electricity so produced is employed for the
production of heat, and the material, as for instance carbon and lime, subjected to
The electric arc or heat, and calcium carbide produced. An apparatus and parts
combined and adapted to effect these ends, is shewn in Figure 9, in which a are the
boilers or salt pans producing steam of a pressure such as referred to, and salt. e is
the engine to which the steam is conducted by a pipe el. f is an electric generator
driven by the engine e; the engine and dynamo being advantageously of the steam
turbine type, as Parson's engine, and the dynamo and engine being on the same
shaft, and directly driven. g is the condenser, to which the steam from the engine
is conducted by the pipe g¹, and wherein it is condensed, and a vacuum maintained.
And h are the electric furnaces. Thus, it will be seen, that the one quantity of
fuel, whether in the solid or gaseous form, used under the salt pan or boiler, produces,
on the one hand, calcium carbide, or other electro chemical product, by the heat
generated by the electricity or electric arc, and, on the other, salt.
In another case, the electro-chemical combination (or other substance) made by
the heat produced by the electricity, or the electric arc, and salt, are produced by
one and the same quantity of fuel, by first using the fuel in a steam generator of
the ordinary type, and driving a high pressure engine by the steam, which
generates the electricity, and then making salt by exhausting the steam from the
engine at a considerable pressure, and conveying and utilizing this steam into or
under salt pans, as specified in my prior said patent.
Referring now to the improved constructions and forms of the closed salt pans
or boilers shewn in the drawings, adapted to work under comparatively high
pressure; it is well known that in closed salt pans, it is necessary that the metal
surface in contact with the brine, and through which the heat is transmitted to it,
must be kept clear of salt, mechanically, as by rakes or scrapers, in order to avoid
the rapid caking of the surfaces with salt; without which, in a short time, namely,
a few hours, they are rendered useless; and the objects of the invention, in this com-
nection, have been to contrive a construction which, while the heating surface could
be kept clean and free of salt mechanically, steam from the brine under pressures
such as referred to may be generated in it; and at the same time will constitute a
practical apparatus, which will work continuously without liability of becoming
blocked up, or require frequent cleaning or attention. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a
construction of pan or boiler, and arrangement of parts, by which these objects and
effects can be advantageously obtained. The pan or boiler is generally designated a,
and has within it a central shaft b, supporting rakes or scrapers 6', suspended from

page_text: connected.
arms 6³.
The bottom a of this boiler is coned downwards from the edge towards
the centre, that is to say, it is in the form of an inverted cone; and at the centre
there is a conduit a³, leading down from the bottom in an inclined direction
towards the side, where a closed chamber c is provided, to which, the conduit a³ is
In the case shewn, this chamber c at the entrance of the conduit a³, has
a valve c¹ and a close fitting door at the lower part.
Below the bottom a' of the
pan, the furnace d is provided, from which flues, d', lead the gases of combustion all
under the pan; and, in some cases, from one pan, as shewn in the figures, these gases
are led to flues under another similar pan; and from this pan, the cool gases pass
to the chimney or outlet. Of course these pans could be fired by gas made in a
gas producer, instead of a coal fire, if desired.
In action, as the salt deposits on the bottom a¹ by the evaporation of water of the
brine, it is raked by the rakes 61 towards the centre, the rakes being inclined to
effect a centripital action; and it passes from here by the conduit a into the closed
When
vessel c, the valve c¹ of which is normally opened and the door closed.
the vessel c is full, the valve c¹ is closed, and the door opened, and the salt
removed.
In the modified apparatus shewn in Figure 5, the apparatus comprises a plurality
of superposed vessels a, with conical bottoms a¹ and roofs a², and connected together
at their centres by necks at. These vessels are enclosed at the sides by walls d²,
the spaces d within constituting flues, while partition walls prevent the gases
from acting on the roofs a². The lowermost of the vessels is heated below by solid
fuel (or gas) in the furnace space d; and the gases of combustion, after acting on
the bottom of this vessel pass up into the flues d¹ between the lower and second
vessels; then up into the upper chamber d, and, finally, away by the chimney
flue d¹. When the boiler or pan is gas fired, the whole quantity of gas may be
burned in the bottom furnace or chamber d, or partly here, and partly in those
above. The uppermost vessel a constitutes both an evaporating vessel, and a steam
vessel, the upper part of which constitutes a steam dome. The bottoms of these
vessels a are scraped by rakes 6', operated from a common central rotating shaft b,
which moves the salt centripitally to the central openings at, as in the pan above
described. Below the lower vessel a there is a salt depositing chamber c, the
connection a³ between it, and the salt pan above, is controlled by a valve c¹; while
the salt is removed from this chamber through the door c². The salt made in the
upper vessels a passes into the lowermost vessel a, and thence into the vessel c, the
valve c¹ being normally open. To remove the salt from c the valve c¹ is closed,
and c being then cut off from a, the door ² can be opened; the pressure in c being
first relieved.
In the modification shewn in Figures 6 and 7, an equivalent form of apparatus to
that shewn in Figures 1 and 2 is shewn; that is, the bottom a¹ is coned, but in the
reverse direction to that shewn in Figure 1; and in lieu of the salt being discharged
at a central outlet, it is discharged into closed pockets * at the outside of the pan,
and thence into the chamber c¹. The salt is raked to the periphery, and passes into
the closed pocket e* and chamber c; in the top of which there is an opening, con-
trolled by a valve c¹ of conical form, which works up and down vertically onto and
off its seat, by a screw and wheel gear c¹. The bottom of the chamber c is
provided with a door 2 for the removal of salt collected.
The modified superposed arrangement of pan or boiler, shewn in Figure 8, is
more particularly serviceable where the brine is heated by steam; and the steam
given off from the brine being under a comparatively high pressure in the generator
In this case, the several pans a are of annular form, around a central opening a³
through which the operating shaft b, passes, and which is common to all the pans
and upon which the rakes b¹ are supported by arms, similarly as above described
Under these pans, there are closed chambers d, into which steam of sufficien
pressure to boil the brine in a, is introduced; and the steam generated from th
brine, passes from the several pan trays into the central openings a³, whence i

page_text: 5. Apparatus for the combined generation of steam under high pressure, and
manufacture of salt, comprising a plurality of bodies a in communication with each
other, and with a revolving rake or rakes in each of said bodies, operated from a
common central shaft; substantially as set forth.
6. The apparatus, for the purposes specified, having parts arranged, combined,
and adapted to operate, as set forth with reference to, and shewn in, Figures 1 and 2.
7. The apparatus, for the purposes specified, having parts arranged, combined,
and adapted to operate, as set forth with reference to, and shewn in, Figure 5.
8. The apparatus, for the purposes specified, having parts arranged, combined,
and adapted to operate, as set forth with reference to, and shewn in, Figures 3 and 4.
9. The apparatus, for the purposes specified, having parts arranged, combined,
and adapted to operate, as set forth with reference to, and shewn in, Figures 6 and 7.
10. The apparatus, for the purposes specified, having parts arranged, combined,
and adapted to operate, as set forth with reference to, and shewn in, Figure 8.
Dated this 21st day of February 1908
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.

page_text: passes into a dome or chamber at the top, which serves as a common steam chamber
to the whole apparatus.
In the modification shewn in Figures 3 and 4, the pan is provided with a flat
double bottom a¹, the lower plate al and al being stayed together by stay bolts a³,
or other suitable stays. The bottom plate al may be flat, as shewn in full lines, or
curved or coned, as shewn in dotted lines. By this construction of stayed double
bottom, and domed or conical top, the pan can be worked under pressure, as
described. When this apparatus is in action, the salt is raked into a pocket at the
side, as in Figures 6 and 7. The pan may be heated by gas; and when this is done,
the temperature of the gas will be regulated to a safe working degree, and preferably
the stay bolts are enclosed in cast iron tubes, while the bottom plate al may be lined
with firebrick. If, as may be done, the pan is set upon another chamber i below,
as shewn in dotted lines, and brine circulated through this chamber, the full
temperature capable of being produced by gas, may be employed; and the brine in
the lower chamber will be fed into the pan a; and thus this chamber will serve
as a feed heater. The pan a may, if desired, be heated by live steam introduced
into the double bottom.
As hitherto constructed, apparatus of the kind referred to, for the combined
generation of steam, and the manufacture of salt, in one apparatus, have only been
proposed and constructed to generate or raise steam at the pressure of the
atmosphere, the steam being used at this pressure in a condensing low pressure, or
vacuum steam engines; whilst, according to the present invention, it has, in its
object and effect, to provide an apparatus in which steam, at comparatively high
pressures that is, pressures up to any reasonable degree which can be satisfactorily
used can be raised, in conjunction with the manufacture or production of salt, in
a practical and more economical manner. By these constructions, arrangements,
and modes of operating apparatus of this kind, as herein described, and the use of
the steam at the higher pressures generated in them, in the engines employed to
generate the electricity, the efficiency of the plant has been very greatly raised;
the output of electricity and electro-chemical products, for a given size of power-
salt-plant thereby enormously increased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
:-
1. The application, and combined process of the economical manufacture of
calcium carbide or other substances (produced by heat generated by electricity or
the electric arc), and salt, by one and the same quantity of fuel, of the combination
of a closed salt pan or boiler, a steam engine and electric generator, and electro
chemical furnaces or apparatus, said products being produced by boiling the brine
in the closed pan or boiler, by coal or gas, as described, thereby producing salt and
steam, utilizing the steam so generated in, and driving, a steam engine, generating
electricity by said engine, and employing such electricity for the production of heat
in suitable apparatus, upon substances, as described, and manufacturing substances
by said heat; substantially as set forth.
2. The herein described improved closed mechanical pan or boiler, constructed
and adapted to manufacture salt by evaporation, and to generate steam under
pressures such as referred to; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The improved apparatus for the combined generation of steam under high
pressures, and manufacture of salt, for purposes such as described, comprising a
circular vessel with a conical or sloping bottom, and a conical or domed roof; a rake
within same, acting upon the bottom, and adapted to move the salt in the manner
described; and a closed chamber in which the salt produced collects, and from
which it is withdrawn; substantially as set forth.
4. The apparatus for the combined generation of steam under high pressure, and
manufacture of salt, comprising the body a, internal rakes for moving the salt
made, the collecting chamber c with valve thereon; operating substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.