Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Evaporating Brine and other Solutions and for similar Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Evaporating Brine
and other Solutions and for similar Purposes.
I, ADOLF KNOor, of 16 Marienstrasse Minden, Westphalia in the Empire of
Germany 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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus by means of which fine-salt, that is to say, salt
obtained in the form of small particles is extracted from brine or salt solution.
My improved apparatus also serves for extracting crystals from solutions of other
chemical salts, as well as for other chemical operations.
In the said apparatus a vacuum created by hydrostatic pressure is employed, into
which is introduced the salt solution which evaporates on the heated walls of the
vessel, and allows the crystals to separate, whilst at the same time the vapours formed
are condensed in a second vessel, an air pump serving to maintain the said
vacuum.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents the improved apparatus with the rotary distributing pipe, in
section and partial elevation.
Figure 2 represents the said apparatus with a fixed distributing pipe.
Figures 3 and 4 show two other forms of the fixed distributing pipe.
A is the vessel in which the salt solution is evaporated. This vessel which is
preferably of cylindrical shape, is surrounded externally by a chamber a into which
steam is introduced, in order to continually heat the walls b of the vessel A. Any
other suitable heating device for the walls & may be used, but the one above described
and represented in the drawing is preferable. A pipe d passes through a stuffing
box e in the centre of the cover of the air-tight vessel A. The pipe dis arranged to be
set in rotation by a pair of bevel wheels fand is connected with the admission pipe /
for the salt solution by means of a tight joint g. The said pipe d terminates below the

page_text: cover of the vessel A in two or more arms which extend to near the heated walls of
the said vessel. This vessel A is provided with a conical bottom k converging
downwards and connected with the pipe which extends into a collecting receptacle m.
A second vessel B communicates with the vessel A by a pipe this vessel contains a
rose through which cold water is caused to pass into the vessel B. A pipe 7 connects
the said vessel with a pump not shown on the drawings and the pipe q of the vessel B
leads to a water discharge vessel r.
During the operation of the apparatus, salt solution is caused to flow through the
pipe into the vessel A, and the arms are at the same time caused to turn slowly,
the solution is therefore discharged close to the heated walls b, the water of the
solution evaporates, and allows the salt to drop in very fine particles upon the conical
bottom k. By reason of the smooth walls and conical bottom k, the fine salt passes
down through the pipe into the collecting vessel m from which also the concentrated
solution passing down simultaneously can be scooped and if desired again passed
through the vessel A.
The steam generated by the evaporation and, the vacuum is conducted through the
pipe o to the vessel B and is condensed by cold water coming from the rose, it then
flows through the pipe g to the vessel r.
The vacuum is maintained in the vessel B by the air pump connected with the
pipe p. Should the vacuum become too great air may be admitted according to
requirements through a cock s or through an automatic valve in the cover of the
vessel A, (a pressure up to of an atmosphere is sufficient for most purposes).
Several evaporating vessels A can if desired be grouped around a condensing
vessel B.
The apparatus, when brine is employed supplies an extremely fine salt, owing to
the disturbed crystallization. The efficiency of the apparatus is based especially upon
this, that the salt formed cannot adhere to the smootli internal sides of the vessel A
and therefore passes off continuously.
In Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings is shown a modification of the apparatus in which
the pipe d is stationary, and therefore the mechanism for turning the pipe, consisting
of the wheels with accessories, is dispensed with.
In order to distribute the liquid entering above in a very thin jet, and to enable a
rapid evaporation an inverted funnel having a cover is arranged in the interior of
the vessel A, Figure 2. Around the edge of this funnel is a narrow annular opening
that extends to near the wall of the vessel, so that, when the liquid to be evaporated
onters through the pipe it passes out in the form of a thin spray against the
internal sides of the vessel A and is evaporated, while the salt is separated as a fine
powder.
In order to effect as good a distribution of the stratum of liquid as possible, small
guide-vanes u can be arranged between the walls of the funnel shaped eduction t as
shown in Figure 3; the liquid then runs down in spiral lines on the internal sides of
the vessel A, and then remains for still longer time in contact with the hot internal
surface, thus effecting the evaporation still more rapidly.
In lieu of the funnel-shaped eduction t, small pipes can be used which are bent
spirally as shown in Figure 4 as well as downward and, which extend from the
admission pipe d so that the liquid flows down in a spiral direction in thin sprays
onto the internal side of the vessel A, and evaporates in the manner above described,
whilst the salt passes down through the pipe 1.
Besides the aforesaid arrangements, for introducing the liquid into the vessel A the
eduction passages may be arranged in terraces or in a similar manner. The object of
these modifications is solely to spread the liquid in a thin stratum continuously and
uniformly upon the heated internal sides of the vessel A.
The improved apparatus, whether constructed as shown in Figures 1, 2 or 4, can be
used not only for extracting fine-salt from brine, but it can also be employed
(a) In the condensation of milk.
(b) In the preparation of milk sugar.
(c) In the preparation of acetic acid. tartaric acid and other concentrated acids.

page_text: 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
For extracting fine-salt, for distilling alcohol and other spirituous liquors and for
separating and rectifying the various kinds, furthermore for evaporating sugar-sirups,
for condensing beer, milk, for preparing milk-sugar, acetic acid, tartaric acid, and
other concentrated acids, as well as for evaporating and concentrating liquids
generally.
First. An apparatus, consisting of the cylindrical evaporating vessel A in which
the liquid to be evaporated is conducted through a rotating pipe di Figure 1
against externally heated, smooth, walls d, as above described and represented in the
drawings.
Second. The distributing pipe, consisting of the pipe d extending into the vessel A
through a stuffing box, of the arms i, and the gearing f, Figure 1, as described and
represented in the drawings.
Third. The apparatus, consisting of the cylindrical evaporating vessel A having a
rotating pipe d'i, and of a condenser B in which the vapours generated are condensed,
as above described and represented in the drawings.
Fourth. The fixed pipe d with the distributing plate in which vanes u can be
arranged, as described and represented with reference to Figures 2 and 3.
Fifth. The fixed pipe d connected with the small pipes v, Figure 4, for distributing
the liquid from the said pipe d in the form of a thin spray upon the heated walls of
the vessel A.
Sixth. The combination of the distributing apparatus, Figures 3 and 4, with the
condensing vessel B, as and for the purposes above specified.
1
1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.