Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating, Concentrating, and Distilling Liquids.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating, Concentrating, and
Distilling Liquids.
We, WILLIAM JULIUS MIRRLEES of the firm of The Mirlees Watson and
Yaryan Company Limited, Engineers, and DAVID BALLINGALL, Manager of the
said Company of 45 Scotland Street, Glasgow, in the Counties of Lanark and
Renfrew, North Britain do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for evaporating, concentrating, or distilling
liquids in single or multiple effect, and has for its object the better utilization of
the heating surface and simplification of the construction of this class of apparatus.
In applying this invention the liquid to be treated is circulated through tubes
placed horizontally or angled to the horizon in a heating chamber, and the vapour
is separated from the liquid in a vessel at one end of this chamber; the whole or
any portion of the liquid can be returned to the inlet ends by a tube or tubes at a
lower level. These return tube or tubes may pass through the heating chamber or
outside of it, and the whole or any portion of this liquid may be withdrawn from
the apparatus or sent to the next effect if there should be one.
In another arrangement the liquid is fed into the lower tubes, the liquid and
vapour passing up from one series of tubes to the other and finally discharged
from the top series of tubes into a vessel where the vapour is separated from the
liquid, the concentration of the liquid being regulated by the quantity of the feed
liquid, or the whole or any portion of the liquid is returned and fed into the lower
tubes, as described in the first operation.
To facilitate the circulation we may make the tubes tapered, or we may make
the lower or return series of tubes greater or less in size or more or fewer in
number than the top series of tubes.
Dated this 18th day of May 1892.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating, Concentrating, and
Distilling Liquids.
We, WILLIAM JULIUS MIRRLEES of the firm of The Mirrlees Watson and
Yaryan Company Limited, Engineers, and DAVID BALLING ALL, Manager of said
Company, both of 45 Scotland Street Glasgow, in the Counties of Lanark and
Renfrew, North Britain, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for evaporating concentrating
and distilling liquids in single or multiple effect, and has for its object the better
utilization of the heating surface and simplification of the construction of this class
of apparatus.
In carrying out this invention the liquid to be treated is circulated through tubes
passing horizontally or up through tubes inclined to the horizon through a heating
chamber, and the vapour is separated from the liquid in a vessel at one end of this
chamber, from which chamber the whole or any portion of the liquid is returned to
the inlet end of tubes or end of tubes furthest from the separator by a tube or

page_text: tubes at a lower level. When the tubes are inclined to the horizontal the best
results will probably be obtained with tubes at an angle less than 45°. We do not
contemplate arranging the tubes near the vertical. These return tube or tubes
may pass through the heating chamber, or outside of it, and when passing through
the heating chamber these also form part of the heating tubes. From the separator
any desired portion of the concentrated liquid is withdrawn or passed on to the
next effect should the apparatus be on the multiple effect principle.
In another arrangement the liquid is fed into the lower series of tubes in the
beating chamber, the liquid and vapour passing up from one series of tubes to the
other, and discharged from the top series of tubes into a vessel where the vapour
is separated from the liquid, the concentration of the liquid being regulated by the
quantity of the feed liquid, or any desired portion of the liquid may be returned
and fed into the lower tubes, as described in the previous class of apparatus; the
distribution of the feed to the bottom series of tubes being regulated by small fixed
openings or by means of a suitable adjustable valve or valves, or the natural flow
of the liquid and vapour may be allowed to distribute the feed without the
intervention of fixed openings or adjustable valves. The tubes in the heating
vessel may be either horizontal or inclined to the horizon rising in the direction of
flow of the liquid. To facilitate circulation the heating tubes may be tapered, the
area increasing in the direction of flow; also in apparatus where the liquid is fed
into the lower series the number or size of the heating tubes in the upper series
may be increased to allow for the increasing volume of the streams of mixed vapour
and liquid.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect we have hereunto appended four explanatory sheets of drawings in the
several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the heating tubes inclined to the
horizon with the return tube outside the heating chamber.
Figure 2 is a sectional end view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation showing the return tubes inside the heating
chamber and also acting as heating tubes.
Figure 4 is a sectional end view of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation showing the return tubes in separate heating
chambers inclined to the horizon upwards in the direction of flow.
Figure 6 is a sectional end view of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation showing the liquid fed into the lower series of
tubes and discharged from the top series of tubes into the separating chamber.
Figure 8 is a sectional end view of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a detail of fixed regulating openings to be used in apparatus shown
in Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 10 is a sectional end view of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a detail of movable regulating valve to be used in apparatus shown
in Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 12 is a sectional end view of Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation showing application of return tubes to apparatus
shown in Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 14 is a sectional end view of Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a sectional elevation showing the liquid fed into a lower tube and
the higher series of tubes increasing in number as the volume of vapour increases.
Figure 16 is a sectional end view of Figure 15.
In the several forms of this invention shown on accompanying drawings, A is the
heating chamber. B, B are the evaporating tubes passing through the heating
chamber A. C is the vessel where the liquid and vapour are separated from one
another. D is a return tube, or D, D return tubes returning the liquid or part of
the liquid from the separating vessel C to the inlet end E of the evaporating
tubes B B. F is the steam inlet from the boiler or the vapour inlet from a

page_text: previons effect or any other heat generator to heat the liquid in the tubes B, B.
G is the inlet for the liquid to be heated. H is the concentrated liquid outlet.
I is the outlet for the vapour generated from the liquid. J is the outlet for the:
water of condensation. K in Figures 7 and 13 is the regulating fixed opening
or adjustable valve admitting the liquid into the lower series of tubes. In
Figures 9 and 10 (showing detail of fixed regulating openings K in Figures 7
and 13) L is an angled plate in which are drilled the openings M, M opposite the
bottom series of tubes B, B, the plate L being held in position by a screw or
screws N. In Figures 11 and 12 (showing detail of adjustable regulating valve K
in Figures 7 and 13) O is a sliding valve in which are drilled holes P, P; the
position of these regulating holes relative to the edges of the lower series of
tubes B, B, and consequently the amount of their opening being regulated by means
of the adjustable screwed spindle and hand-wheel R.
In Figures 1 and 2 the liquid to be concentrated is circulated through the
evaporating tubes B, B, and the whole or part returned to the inlet end E of the
tubes B, B by the pipe or tube D outside the heating chamber A.
The vapour
evaporated from the liquid is carried off by the outlet J, and the concentrated
liquid is withdrawn through the pipe H, the level of the liquid in the separating
chamber being regulated by the height of the pipe H.
In Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 the return pipes or tubes D, D are carried inside the
heating chamber, and also act as heating tubes. Otherwise the apparatus are the
same as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In the foregoing Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the heating tubes are shown inclined
to the horizon, rising in the direction of flow of the liquid, but they may be made
horizontal. The inclination of the tubes may be varied in different machines for
treating different liquids, but the best results will probably be obtained with an
inclination less than 45°. The advantages of our invention would be lost by making
the tubes nearly vertical.
In Figures 7 and 8 the liquid to be concentrated is admitted into the lower series
of tubes B, B by the regulator K, and passes up along with the vapour generated
through the upper series of tubes, as indicated by arrows until finally discharged into
the separator C from which the liquid and vapour is carried off as described for
Figure 1.
In Figures 13 and 14 the liquid is passed through the tubes as in Figures 7 and 8,
but the apparatus has the addition of the return tubes D D, by which any desired
portion of the liquid is returned to the bottom series of tubes. In Figures 15 and 16
the liquid to be concentrated is fed into a lower tube B, the number of tubes gradually
increasing to allow for the increased volume of the streams of liquid and vapour;
otherwise the arrangement is the same as in Figures 7 and 8. Although only one
group of increasing number of tubes are shown, any number of groups may be
employed in one heating chamber, and the distribution of the liquid arranged
as in Figures 7 and 8.
In Figures 7, 8, 13 and 14 a distributor K is shown, but it may be dispensed with
and the circulation in the tubes allowed to distribute the feed liquor. In all the
illustrations parallel tubes of the same size have been shown, but they may be made
tapered or increased in size or number as the volume of the vapour increases in
passing to separating chamber.
Single effect apparatus have been illustrated, but any number of these apparatus
may be combined to form multiple effect apparatus and the connections made as is
usual in such apparatus.
The resultant concentrated liquor may be recovered or run to waste, or the vapour
of distillation may be condensed and recovered, or run to waste, or both may be
recovered, depending upon the nature of the liquid and what is required to be
recovered.
One or more apparatus constructed on the system now described may be combined
with single or multiple effect apparatus of other construction and that in any order
in the series of vessels forming the combination.

page_text: 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. The general arrangement and combination of the parts constituting the
apparatus for concentrating evaporating and distilling liquids as hereinbefore
described and shown on the annexed sheets of drawings.
2. In apparatus for concentrating, evaporating and distilling liquids substantially
as herein before described and shown on the accompanying drawings, the heating of
the liquid in tubes passing either horizontally or inclined to the horizon through
heating chambers, and the separation of the liquid from the vapour in a vessel at
one end of this chamber, the whole or any portion of the liquid being returned at a
lower level to the inlet ends of the tubes.
3. In apparatus for concentrating, evaporating and distilling liquids substantially
as herein described and shown on the accompanying drawings, the heating of the
liquid in tubes passing horizontally or inclined to the horizon through a heating
chamber, the liquid being fed into the lower tubes and passing with the vapour
upwards from one series of tubes to the other until discharged into a vessel at
one end of the heating chamber where the vapour is separated from the liquid.
4. In apparatus for concentrating, evaporating and distilling liquids substantially
as herein described and shown on the accompanying drawings the heating of the
liquid in tubes passing horizontally or inclined to the horizon through a heating
chamber, the liquid being fed into the lower tubes and passing with the vapour
upwards from one series of tubes to the other until discharged into a vessel at one
end of the heating chamber where the vapour is separated from the liquid; and a
pipe or pipes to return a portion or the whole of the liquid in the separating
chamber to the inlet to the lower tubes.
5. In apparatus as in Claims 2, 3 and 4, the making of the higher series of
tubes either greater in number or larger in size, or making all the heating tubes
tapered to allow for the increasing volume of the streams of liquid and vapour.
Dated this 17th day of February 1893.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.