Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 20th June, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
I, JOHN RICE of Cattedown, Plymouth in the County of Devon, Foreman of
Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, the sulphur or sulphur pyrites
is burnt in suitable burners, and the sulphurous acid produced is carried by flues
together with some nitrous and nitric acids generated in iron pots from the mixture
of nitrate of sodium and sulphuric acid, through the Glovers tower to leaden
chambers in which steam and air are also admitted. Here, the different gases
react on one another and sulphuric acid is produced.
By this process I have discovered that a great deal of the nitrous fumes are
lost by passing them through the tower, on account of the great heat, and that by
passing them direct to the first of the leaden chambers a considerable economy
and improvement in the working is effected.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a separate chamber for the
nitrate of sodium pots, so that the sulphurous gases would pass under these pots
to the Glovers tower and the nitrous fumes would pass direct to the first chamber
instead of going through the tower.
In the uitrous chamber dampers are preferably provided, one for admitting a
small percentage of sulphurous gases and the other to pass through to the Glovers
tower if it was required, so that either plan could be worked. The nitrous fumes
may be conducted to the first chamber by means of a pipe preferably provided
with a damper or valve to regulate or entirely shut off the passage.
I have found, after many years experience, that immediately the hot weather
sets in more nitrate of sodium is used than at other times, and by this invention I
am convinced that the same amount of nitrate of sodium will be used at all seasons
of the year.
ليمي
1
Combo 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
I, JOHN RICE of Cattedown Plymouth in the County of Devon, Foreman of
Works, 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 :-
Hitherto, in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, the sulphur or sulphur pyrites is
burnt in suitable burners, and the sulphurous acid produced is carried by flues
together with some nitrous and nitric acids, generated in iron pots, from the mixture
of nitrate of sodium and sulphuric acid, through the Glover's tower to leaden
chambers in which steam and air are also admitted. Here, the different gases
re-act on one another and sulphuric acid is produced.
By this process, I have discovered that a considerable quantity of the nitrous
fumes is lost by passing them through the tower, on account of the great heat,
and that, by passing them direct to the first of the leaden chambers, a considerable
economy and improvement in the working are effected.
Now my apparatus is designed for the purpose of doing this, and of giving the
acid maker a greater control of the nitrous fumes.

page_text: Referring to the drawing :—
Figure 1 is a vertical elevation, partly in section;
Figure 2, plan of same; and
Figure 3, a vertical elevation, partly in section, taken at right angles to
Figure 1.
In these―
A, is the main flue from the pyrites or sulphur kilns:
B, an airtight cast iron or other suitably constructed chamber in which the nitre
pots are placed. It is situated immediately above the flue A and is kept hot
thereby:
C, a damper regulating the passage, when required, of sulphurous acid into
chamber B from flue A:
D, a damper regulating the exit of gases from chamber B into passage A :
E, a passage controlled by damper D :
F, a valve, and G passage admitting the nitrous gases to the sulphuric acid
(lead) chamber:
and
H, a main pipe or passage conveying gases from passage A to the Glover tower:
I, the nitrate pots.
It will be obvious, from this drawing, that, by opening damper C and valve F,
some of the sulphurous gases and the nitrous gases can go direct to the lead
chamber, or, by closing these two and opening damper D, the nitrous gases can go
with the sulphurous ones direct to the Glover tower, or, by closing both dampers
and opening valve F, all the nitrous gases will go direct to the chamber and all the
sulphurous ones to the tower, while, by partial closing of these dampers and valve,
any modification of these three conditions can be secured. Thus the acid burner
has a perfect command of his procedure as far as the nitrous gases are concerned.
It is not absolutely essential to my invention that chamber B shall be super-
imposed on flue A; it could be heated by an independent furnace or flue, but I
prefer to utilise the heat of the sulphurous gases.
I have found that, by the use of this apparatus, there is no more expenditure of
nitrate of soda in summer than in winter, though the reverse is the almost universal
experience with the ordinary plant, and that the pyrites burns better, leaving only
2 per cent. of sulphur in the ash instead of from 5 to even 17 per cent. in some
instances by the ordinary system, while there is a large saving in nitrate.
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
1. In the manufacture of sulphuric acid, the arrangement of the nitrous gas
apparatus in such manner that, by means of valves or dampers or the like, some,
none or all of the said gas can be passed to the Glover tower and some, none or
all of it direct to the sulphuric acid lead chamber at the option of the attendant.
2. The nitrous gas apparatus and its appurtenances substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes described.
Dated this 19th day of June 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.