Improvements in Washers for the Extraction of Tar, Ammonia, Carbonic Acid, and Sulphuretted Hydrogen from Coal Gas.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washers for the Extraction of Tar, Ammonia,
Carbonic Acid, and Sulphuretted Hydrogen from Coal Gas.
I, FREDERICK SOUTHWELL CRIPPS of 9 High Street, Sutton, in the County
of Surrey, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-.
The working part of the washer consists of a horizontal disc plate having annular
projections or rings or flanges cast on the under side of same and to which are
attached thin strips of sheet iron having the edges notched or serrated or perforated.
An entrance-chamber or distributing-box (tapered in shape in plan) projects from
the side of the vessel containing the washer, extending to the center of same and
having openings cast in either side communicating with the alternate spaces between
the annular rings of washing devices. The cast iron disc plate is perforated with
annular openings for the passage of gas after it has been washed. The entire disc
plate with its devices complete is fixed in a cylindrical vessel, having an inlet for
the gas on the side connected with the entrance chamber before mentioned and an
outlet above.
When at work the vessel is filled with liquor to a level sufficient to seal the
dipping edges of the sheet iron devices, the level being regulated by an overflow
valve. The tar is continuously drawn away from the lowest level of the washer by
a contrivance which renders periodical flushing out of the apparatus unnecessary,
the washer is therefore always effective when gas is passing and a constant seal and
pressure is maintained. The action is as follows:-The gas enters the entrance
chamber or distributing box of the apparatus and passes out on either side of it
into the annular inverted channels or troughs which are sealed in liquor. The
liquor level is depressed inside these troughs but rises on the outside until the gas
can pass between the lower serrated edges of the dipping devices. In doing so it
is brought into intimate contact with the water or liquor outside, the gas being
split up into a number of separate streams bubbles through the liquor and escapes
through the annular openings in the top of disc into the upper part of the vessel
and away by the outlet. In large size washers the disc would be made in sectors
or segments to facilitate fixing.
The
The apparatus is made for insertion into the foot of cylindrical vessels known as
scrubbers in gas works, or it is made in a separate form complete in itself, either
circular or rectangular, but in the rectangular shape the distributing box and
inverted channel troughs are arranged in straight lines instead of circles.
apparatus is designed to (1) bring the gas into the closest possible contact with the
liquor in the vessel by splitting the gas up into the maximum number of streams
the area occupied by the washer will admit of, making each stream impinge against
the liquid and bubble through it in a fine state of subdivision. (2) To effect
perfect washing with the minimum of back pressure. (3) To maintain an equal
passage of gas throughout the whole surface of the liquor. (4) Automatic working,
i.e. as fast as the impurities are extracted from the gas they are removed from the
vessel. (5) Simplicity of construction and ready adaptability to existing scrubbers.
(6) Self cleansing action to preserve uniform working.
Dated this First day of August 1893.

page_text: Improvements in Washers for the Extraction of Tar, Ammonia,
Carbonic Acid, and Sulphuretted Hydrogen from Coal Gas.
I, FREDERICK SOUTHWELL CRIPPs of 9 High Street, Sutton, in the County
of Surrey, Civil and Mechanical 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 washer consists of such parts and is so constructed as to extract tar,
ammonia, carbonic acid and sulphide of hydrogen from coal gas, and to auto-
matically discharge these impurities from the said washer. And in order that the
nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is performed may be
understood, I append a sheet of illustrative drawings, and the following description
thereof:-
Figure 1. is a sectional elevation through the centre of the washer.
Fig. 2. is a plan of the washer with the top plate removed.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view shewing the serrated edges of the sheet iron devices.
The working part of the washer consists of a horizontal dise plate A having aunular
projections or rings or flanges B cast on the underside of same and to which are
attached thin strips of sheet iron C having the edges notched or serrated as shown
in Fig. 3. An entrance chamber or distributing box D, (tapered in shape in plan)
projects from the side of the vessel containing the washer, extending to the centre
of same and having openings E on both sides communicating with the spaces
enclosed between the annular rings of washing devices. The cast iron disc-plate is
perforated with'annular openings F for the passage of gas after it has been washed.
The entire disc-plate A with its devices complete is fixed in a vessel G having an
inlet H for the gas on the side connected with the entrance chamber D before
mentioned and an outlet I above.
When at work the vessel is filled with liquor to a level sufficient to seal the
dipping serrated edges of the sheet iron devices the level being regulated by an
overflow valve J. The tar is continuously drawn away from the lowest level of
the washer by a specially constructed overflow K rendering periodical or
intermittent flushing out of the apparatus unnecessary, a constant seal and pressure
is therefore maintained and gas never passes through the apparatus without being
washed.
The overflow K consists of two tubes-one inside the other. The outer or
larger one is fixed in position and is in direct communication with the tar in the
lower part of the vessel G and with the gas in the upper part of the said vessel.
The inner tube is adjustable in height. The tar enters and rises up the outer tube
and overflows into the inner one passing out of the latter by the syphon tube at its
foot.
The action of the washer is as follows:-The gas enters the entrance chamber,
or distributing box D of the apparatus and passes out on either side through the
openings E into the annular inverted channels or troughs L which are sealed in
liquor.
The liquor level is depressed inside these troughs but rises on the outside of
them, until the gas can force its way between the lower serrated edges of the
.dipping devices C. In doing so, the gas is brought into intimate contact with the
water or liquor outside, the gas being split up into a number of separate and minute
streams bubbles through the liquor and escapes by the annular opening F in the
top of the disc A into the upper part of the vessel and away by the outlet I.
In washers of large size the disc A is made in sectors or segments to facilitate
fixing. The apparatus is made for insertion in the foot of cylindrical vessels known
as scrubbers in gasworks or it is made in a separate form, complete in itself either

page_text: circular or rectangular, but in the rectangular shape the distributing box D and
inverted channel troughs L are arranged in straight lines instead of circles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The suspension from flanges or ribs cast on the underside of a horizontal plate
or plates, vertical strips of sheet iron or steel having the lower edges serrated or
perforated for subdividing the gas.
2. The arrangement of the said ribs and strips so as to form inverted channels or
troughs dipping into liquor and in such a way that gas admitted into the troughs
shall not escape except by forcing its way between the serrated edges and through
the liquor in the containing vessel.
Dated this Twelfth day of December 1893.