improvements що мала therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: being date of first Foreign Application (in (25th Jan., 1880
France),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 17th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug. 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
improvements що мала
therefor.
I, RAOUL PIERRE PICTET of Geneva, Switzerland, Chemist, 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvemente in the manufacture of acetylene
and in apparatus therefor.
In all existing processes for the production of this gas a great rise of temperature
occurs due to the violent reaction which takes place when the calcium carbide or
"carbite" comes into contact with water. Moreover in proportion as the tempera-
ture rises the nascent acetylene is partly decomposed, giving up its carbon and
forming hydrogen accompanied by a mixture of other bodies, hydro-carbons and
ammoniacal bodies not accurately determined, which are given off with the
undecomposed acetylene. This rise of temperature also causes explosions which
render the manufacture of acetylene by the existing processes very dangerous.
The process which is the subject of the present application is intended to
obviate the rise in temperature which accompanies the evolution of the acetylene
and in consequence to prevent the formation of hydrogen and other secondary
products.
The acetylene is produced at the lowest possible temperature and care is taken
that the temperature shall not rise during the operation.
I have discovered morcover that it is important to eliminate all traces of
atmospheric air so as not to contaminate the acetyleue and also that it is essential
to introduce the carbite by minute fragments into a large mass of water.
In the annexed drawings I have shewn an apparatus suitable for the production
of acetylene under the conditions above set forth.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus and Figure 2 a vertical section of
a modified form of apparatus which may be employed.
A is a vat of sheet metal, preferably cylindrical, with two openings a a' for the
liquid to flow in and out. In this vat A is another vat B resting as shown on
girders a. b is a funnel in the vat B, & a metal sheet acting as a screen and
are holes formed at intervals in the funnel. C is a refrigerating worm with

page_text: entrance c and exit c¹. D is a bell, entering the water contained in the vat B,
which serves to collect the acetylene which passes from it by the pipe d.
In Figure 2 the same letters denote similar parts. The bell D is here dispensed
with and replaced by the upper portion of the vat B which is fitted with a gas
tight cover F. The vat B is provided with a pipe for the introduction of water
and an overflow pipe 6. E, E are hoppers with shoots e for the introduction of
the carbite.
As is shown the space between the two vats is filled with liquid which is kept
circulating this liquid is introduced at a and flows out at a' : water or brine may be
used or any liquid which can be maintained at the desired temperature. Baffles
not shown in the drawings cause the circulating liquid to come into contact with the
whole of the surface of the walls of the vats.
The vat B is filled with water or brine containing the chloride of an alkali and
is provided with an overflow pipe.
The bell D. is supported above the water so that its rim is a little below the
surface its exterior diameter is a little less than the interior diameter of the vat B
so as to leave au annular space all round by which the carbite broken into small
pieces can be introduced. The carbite is broken by any suitable means and is
brought to the edge of the vat by shoots, conveyors, by hand or otherwise.
The worm C having a large surface serves to keep the water in the rat B at the
desired temperature which may vary according to ciroumstances between, - 45° C.
and +60° C.
I find that the best product practicable is obtained when the process is carried
on at a relatively low temperature not oxceeding say 20° C.
Water or brine cooled as required circulates in the worm or volatile.liquids may
be used such as ammonia, sulphurous aoid, Pictet liquid methyl chloride, carbonic
acid &c.
The pieces of carbite while passing through the water are freed from air and
fall onto the funnel b down which they roll to the bottom of the vat where they
form a heap as shown. The air which is freed from the carbite escapes from the
apparatus by the open aunular space at the top of the vat B, or through the
shoots e and open topped hoppers E as the case may be.
The acetylene comes off freely and is partly washed while rising through the
water in tho vat B. If any bubbles of gas riso betweeu the funnel and vat they
meet the sheet or screen 6 which is gas tight and pass through the holes 6* in the
circumference of the funnel.
The acetylene evolved collects in the bell D whence it passes by the pipe d to a
suitable gasometer.
From time to time the bell may be raised to clean the apparatus. In the
modified form of apparatus shown in Figure 2 this cleaning may be accomplished
by a manhole suitably situated in the vat B.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the details of construction
of the apparatus which may be varied at need.
Having now particularly described an 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 process of manufacturing acetyleue which consists in introducing the
carbite in small pieces into a large mass of water in such a manner as to get rid of
the air mingled with it before the acetylene is evolved and collected, this mass of
water being maintained during the whole of the operation at a constant and
relatively low temperature, substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene consisting of the combination of
two vats placed ouo inside the other between which circulates a liquid maintained
at a relatively low temperature, the inner vat containing a refrigerating worm in
which circulates a liquid at low temperature to maintain the water in such inner
vat at the desired temperature and the water in the said inner vat having an open

page_text: or free surface through which the carbite falls so as to allow of the escape of air
from the apparatus substantially as described and illustrated.
3. Apparatus substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
1000
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.