IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONCENTRATION OF SULPHURIC ACID
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Garroway of Glasgow in the County of Lanark
Manufacturing Chemist for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONCENTRATION OF SULPHURIC ACID
33
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Garroway at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd April 1883.
WILLIAM GARROWAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Manufacturing
chemist, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND
CONCENTRATION OF SULPHURIO ACID,"
"
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus to be used in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, and in the process of concentration of such acid.
The improved apparatus comprises a series of open beakers, basins or tubes of
hard Bohemian glass, or glazed ware, and of cylindrical or approximately cylindrical
form, which are fitted within a flue or flues, and are so connected together that acid
or liquor may be caused to flow continuously through the series. The beakers or
basins may thus be placed on the bottom of a sloping or inclined flue and
connected together by glass siphon tubes, the ends of which dip into the liquor in
each adjacent pair. In a modified arrangement, the beakers are formed with a
projecting lip or spout on one or both sides, and are arranged on steps in the flue,
so that the liquor entering, the highest beaker or basin of the series, overflows into
the second, and each in turn flows over into the next in order continuously.
Or the same form of beakers or basins may be made of several different sizes or
of different heights, so that a set of two or more similarly connected together may
be placed on a step at one level, and be arranged, so that the liquor overflows or is
drawn off by siphon tubes into the lower set or sets. Or the cylindrical tubes or
vessels may be placed horizontally and be upturned at the ends and the liquor led
in and withdrawn through pipes, so that the tubes or vessels are only partially
filled and a large surface of liquor is exposed.
In an arrangement of the improved apparatus designed for use in the process of
manufacturing sulphuric acid, the series of open beakers or vessels in any of the

page_text: forms described is placed in a sand-bath within the flue which conducts the sulphur
fumes from the sulphur or pyrites ovens or furnaces to the oil of vitriol chamber.
Through the series of beakers within the fluo is caused to pass a continuous
slowly moving stream of the nitrous vitriol or liquor obtained from the Gay-Lussac
towers used in the process of manufacture of sulphuric acid, that is, sulphuric acid
impregnated with nitrous acid. The hot sulphurous fumes passing over this stream
of liquor heats the liquor, and liberates the nitrous acid, which passes away with
the fumes to the oil of vitriol chamber, and therein is deoxidised in the process of
forming sulphuric acid. The liquor as it passes through the series of beakers is
robbed of the nitrous acid, and the liquor which is drawn off from the last of
the series is sulphuric acid alone.
By this means a considerable saving may be effected in the quantity of nitro
which is commonly used in the nitre pots in the sulphur or pyrites ovens or
furnaces to produce nitrous acid to mix with the sulphurous acid generated in these
ovens, and the apparatus may be erected at much less cost than the usual Glover's
tower for which it is substituted. The liquor within the beakers may be heated to
facilitate the separation of the nitrous acid from the sulphuric acid, by means of
the waste hot gases from adjacent furnaces passing through a flue below the
beakers.
In an arrangement of the improved apparatus designed for use in substitution of
the leaden boilers or the Glover's tower employed to concentrate sulphuric acid or
raise the degree of strength or density of the acid from the point at which it leaves
tho oil of vitriol chamber to that at which it enteres the usual platinum still, the
series of beakers in any of the forms described is arranged within a hot flue
through which passes the waste hot gases or products of combustion of any
adjacent furnaces.
The weak sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol is led from the oil of vitriol chamber, or
from a tank or vessel, into the first of the series of beakers, and flows slowly
through the beakers in a continuous stream.
A large proportion of the water in the acid is evaporated and the acid increases
in density to the degree at which it is usual to admit it to the platinum still.
When the concentration is not sufficiently completed by causing the acid to flow
through the beakers placed within a single flue, a series of flues ranged side by side
or adjacent to each other may be fitted with the beakers, and the acid may be run
first through one series, and then through another until sufficiently concentrated.
The beakers or vessels are by preference partly surrounded with sand or similar
material to maintain a comparatively uniform temperature, and prevent risk of
breaking the glass vessels.
The use of small beakers or vessels of the kind described, instead of the large
retorts and leaden vessels commonly employed, has the advantage that little or no
damage is done, and little loss of acid is sustained, in the event of a single vessel
breaking, while the heat can be applied more directly to effect the concentration
than in the case of the Glover's tower.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Garroway in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd October
1888.
WILLIAM GARROWAY, of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, Manufacturing
chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND
CONCENTRATION OF SULPHURIC ACID
"
My said Invention relates to improvements in apparatus to be used in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, and in the process of concentration of such acid.
Various methods of carrying out the Invention are illustrated by the accom-
panying Drawings, in which figure 1 is a horizontal section, figure 2, a longitudinal
vertical section, and figure 3 a transverse vertical section of a modification
of the improved apparatus as adapted for concentrating sulphuric acid, or for
manufacturing sulphuric acid from the nitrous vitriol of the vitriol chambers.
Figures 4 and 5 show modified arrangements of the improved beakers or
concentrating vessels employed.
The improved apparatus comprises a series of open beakers, basins or tubes B of
hard Bohemian glass or glazed ware, and of cylindrical or approximately cylindrical
form, which are fitted within a flue or flues F, and are so connected together that
acid or liquor may be caused to flow continuously through the series. The bonkers
or basins may thus be placed on the bottom of a sloping or inclined flue, or in a
long compartment F forming part of the main fluo as is indicated in figures 1, 2
and 3, and they may be connected together by glass siphon tubes S, the ends of
which dip into the liquor in each adjacent pair, as in figure 4. In a modified
arrangement, the beakers are formed with a projecting lip or spout 6 on one or
both sides, and are arranged on steps or on a slope in the flue so that the liquor
entering the highest beaker or basin B of the series overflows into the second, and
ench in turn flows over into the next in order continuously as is indicated
particularly in figure 2. Or the same form of beakers or basins B may be made of
several different sizes, or of different heights, as shown in figure 5, so that a set of
two or more similarly connected together may be placed on a step at one level, and
be arranged, so that the liquor overflows (or is drawn off by siphon tubes) into the
lower set or sets. Or the cylindrical tubes or vessels may be placed horizontally
and be upturned at the ends, and the liquor led in and withdrawn through pipes,
so that the tubes or vessels are only partially filled and a large surface of
liquor is exposed.
In an arrangement of the improved apparatus designed for use in the process of
manufacturing sulphuric acid, and which is represented in figures 1, 2 and 3, the
series of open beakers or vessels B in any of the forms described is placed in a sand
bath B' within the flue F¹ which conducts the sulphur fumes from the sulphur or
pyrites ovens or furnaces O to the oil of vitriol chambers. Through the series of
beakers B, within the flue, is caused to pass a continuous slowly moving stream of
the nitrous vitriol or liquor obtained from the "Gay-Lussac towers" used in the
process of manufacture of sulphuric acid, that is, sulphuric acid impregnated with
nitrous acid. The hot sulphurous fumes from one or more of the ovens O passing
over this stream of liquor heats the liquor, and liberates the nitrous acid which
passes away with the fumes to the oil of vitriol chambers, and therein is deoxidised
in the process of forming sulphuric acid. The liquor as it passes through the
series of beakers B is robbed of the nitrous acid, and the liquor which is drawn off
from the last of the series is sulphuric acid alone. The drawing off of the liquor
from the last beaker B may be effected by a siphon or by a tube S', connected to
the beaker and passing out through the wall of the flue. By this means a con-

page_text: siderable saving may be effected in the quantity of nitre which is commonly used,
in the nitre pots in the sulphur or pyrites ovens or furnaces O, to produce nitrous
acid to mix with the sulphurous acid generated in these ovens; and the improved
apparatus may be erected at much less cost than the usual "Glover's tower" for
which it is substituted. The liquor within the beakers B may be heated to
facilitate the separation of the nitrous acid from the sulphuric acid by means of the
waste hot gases from adjacent furnaces passing through a flue below the beakers.
In the illustration, the beakers are heated in a sand bath formed in the com-
partment F, the heat being derived from the hot fumes passing through the
Aue F.
In an arrangement of the improved apparatus designed for use in substitution
of the leaden boilers or the Glover's tower employed to concentrate sulphuric acid
or raise the degree of strength or density of the acid, from the point at which it
leaves the oil of vitriol chambers to that at which it enters the usual platinum
still, the series of beakers B in any of the forms described and illustrated is
arranged within a hot flue similar to that represented in figures 1, 2 and 3, through
which pass the waste hot gases or products of combustion of any adjacent furnaces
whose heat may be available.
The weak sulphuric acid or oil of vitrol is led from the oil of vitriol chambers or
Gay Lussac tower, or from a tank or vessel into the first of the series of beakers B,
and flows slowly through the beakers in a continuous stream. A large proportion
of the water in the acid is evaporated and the acid increases in density to the
degree at which it is usual to admit it to the platinum still.
When the concentration is not sufficiently completed by causing the acid to flow
through the beakers placed within a single flue, a series of flues ranged side by
side or adjacent to each other, may be fitted with the beakers, and the acid may be
run first through one series and then through another until sufficiently concen-
trated. The beakers or vessels are by preference partly surrounded with sand or
similar material as is indicated in the Drawings, to maintain a comparatively
uniform temperature and prevent risk of breaking the glass vessels.
The use of small beakers or vessels of the kind described instead of the large
retorts and leaden vessels commonly employed has the advantage that little or no
damage is done, and little loss of acid is sustained in the event of a single vessel
breaking, while heat can be applied more directly to effect the concentration than
in the case of the Glover's tower, which only receives the hot sulphurous fumes
from the sulphur or pyrites ovens after the fumes have parted with the greater
part of their heat in traversing the flues that lead to the tower.
I am aware that glass retorts have been arranged within hot flues for the purpose
of concentrating sulphuric acid and saline solutions passing in a continuous stream
through the retorts, but such retorts are covered vossels, each having a separato
conducting tube for leading off the vapours rising from the surface of the liquor
being concentrated, and in them the surface of the liquor is not exposed to hot
fumes passing over them as in the beakers or vessels which I employ. By the use
of the improved form of open beakers herein described, the important advantage
over the older forms of retorts is obtained that the nitrous fumes in the vitriol
passing through the beakers is carried back with the sulphurous fumes of the
sulphur or pyrites ovens to the oil of vitrol chambers, and the expense of burning
nitre in the ovens may in general be avoided, while the improved apparatus is
advantageously employed in lieu of the cominon leaden boilers or Gay Lussac
tower for the purpose of concentrating weak solutions of sulphuric acid, whether
such solutions contain nitrous fumes or not.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The arrangement within a hot flue of a series of open beakers of the
improved construction described, so connected that a continuous stream of sulphuric
acid may flow through them and be therein exposed and subjected to heat for the
purpose of concentrating the acid, substantially as herein described and illustrated,

page_text: Second. In apparatus for the manufacture of sulphuric acid, the arrangement
within a flue conveying hot sulphurous fumes to the vitriol chambers, of a series of
open beakers or vessels through which is passed a continuous stream of nitrous
vitriol, the nitrous fumes of which are liberated and mingle with the sulphurous
fumes in said flue, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Third. The improved construction of open glass or earthenware beakers or vessels
herein described, arranged and adapted to convey sulphurous acid or nitrous vitriol
in a continuous stream through a hot flue, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
In Witness whereof, I the said William Garroway, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this First day of October, in the year of our Lord thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER C.E.
Fel. Inst Patent Agents
Glasgow.
WILLIAM GARROWAY. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Garroway of Glasgow in the County of Lanark
Manufacturing Chemist for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Garroway at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd April 1883.
WILLIAM GARROWAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Manufacturing
Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND
CONCENTRATION OF SULPHURIC ACID."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus to be used in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, and in the process of concentration of such acid.
The improved apparatus comprises a series of open beakers, basins or tubes of
hard Bohemian glass. or glazed ware, and of cylindrical or approximately cylindrical
form, which are fitted within a flue or flues, and are so connected together that acid
or liquor may be caused to flow continuously through the series. The beakers or
basins may thus be placed on the bottom of a sloping or inclined flue and
connected together by glass siphon tubes, the ends of which dip into the liquor in
each adjacent pair. In a modified arrangement. the beakers are formed with a
projecting lip or spout on one or both sides, and are arranged on steps in the flue,
so that the liquor entering, the highest beaker or basin of the series, overflows into
the second, and cach in turn flows over into the next in order continuously.
Or the same form of beakers or basins may be made of several different sizes or
of different heights, so that a set of two or more similarly connected together may
be placed on a step at one level, and be arranged, so that the liquor overflows or is
drawn off by siphon tubes into the lower set or sets. Or the cylindrical lubes or
vessels may be placed horizontally and be upturned at the ends and the liquor led
in and withdrawn through pipes. so that the tubes or vessels are only partially
filled and a large surface of liquor is exposed.
In an arrangement of the improved apparatus designed for use in the process of
manufacturing sulphuric acid, the series of open beakers or vessels in any of the

page_text: forms described is placed in a sand-bath within the flue which conducts the sulphur
fumes from the sulphur or pyrites: ovens or furnaces to the oil of vitriol chamber.
Through the series of beakers within the flue is caused to pass a continuous
slowly moving stream of the nitrous. vitriol or liquor obtained from the Gay-Lussac
Lowers used in the process of manufacture of sulphuric acid, that is, sulphuric acid
impregnated with nitrous acid. The hot sulphurous fumes passing over this stream
of liquor heats the liquor, and liberates the nitrous acid, which passes away with
the fumes to the oil of vitriol chamber. and therein is deoxidised in the process of
forming sulphuric acid. The liquor as it passes through the series of beakers is
robbed of the nitrous acid, and the liquor which is drawn off from the last of
the series is sulphuric acid alone.
By this means a considerable saving may be effected in the quantity of nitre
which is commonly used in the nitre pots in the sulphur or pyrites ovens or
furnaces to produce nitrous acid to mix with the sulphurous acid generated in these
ovens, and the apparatus may be erected at much less cost than the usual Glover's
tower for which it is substituted. The liquor within the beakers may be heated to
facilitate the separation of the nitrous acid from the sulphuric acid, by means of
the waste hot gases from adjacent furnaces passing through a flue below the
beakers.
In an arrangement of the improved apparatus designed for use in substitution of
the leaden boilers or the Glover's tower employed to concentrate sulphuric acid or
raise the degree of strength or density of the acid from the point at which it leaves
the oil of vitriol chamber to that at which it enters the usual platinum still, the
series of beakers in any of the forms described is arranged within a hot flue
through which passes the waste hot gases or products of combustion of any
adjacent furnaces.
The weak sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol is led from the oil of vitriol chamber, or
from a tank or vessel, into the first of the series of beakers, and flows slowly
through the beakers in a continuous stream.
A large proportion of the water in the acid is evaporated and the acid increases
in density to the degree at which it is usual to admit it to the platinum still.
When the concentration is not sufficiently completed by causing the acid to flow
through the beakers placed within a single flue, a series of flues ranged side by side
or adjacent to each other may be fitted with the beakers, and the acid may be run
first through one series, and then through another until sufliciently concentrated.
The beakers or vessels are by preference partly surrounded with sand or similar
material to maintain a comparatively uniform temperature, and prevent risk of
breaking the glass vessels.
The use of small beakers or vessels of the kind described, instead of the large
retorts and leaden vessels commonly employed, has the advantage that little or no
damage is done, and little loss-of acid is sustained, in the event of a single vessel
breaking, while the heat can be applied more directly to effect the concentration
than in the case of the Glover's tower.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Garraway in the Great Secal Patent Office on the 2nd October
1883.
WILLIAM GARROWAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Manufacturing
Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND
CONCENTRATION OF SULPHURIC ACID."
My said Invention relates to improvements in apparatus to be used in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, and in the process of concentration of such acid.
Various methods of carrying out the Invention are illustrated by the accom-
panying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a horizontal section, Figure 2, a longitudinal
vertical section, and Figure 3 a transverse vertical section of a modification
of the improved apparatus as adapted for concentrating sulphuric acid, or for
manufacturing sulphuric acid from the nitrous vitriol of the vitriol chambers.
Figures 4 and 5 show modified arrangements of the improved beakers or
concentrating vessels employed.
The improved apparatus comprises a series of open beakers, basins or tubes B of
hard Bohemian glass or glazed ware, and of cylindrical or approximately cylindrical
form, which are fitted within a flue or flues F, and are so connected together that
acid or liquor may be caused to flow continuously through the series. The beakers
or basins may thus be placed on the bottom of a sloping or inclined flue, or in a
long compartment F¹ forming part of the main flue F as is indicated in Figures 1, 2
and 3. and they may be connected together by glass siphon tubes S, the ends of
which dip into the liquor in each adjacent pair, as in Figure 4. In a modified
arrangement, the beakers are formed with a projecting lip or spout bon one or
both sides, and are arranged on steps or on a slope in the flue so that the liquor
entering the highest beaker or basin B of the series overflows into the second, and
cach in turn flows over into the next in order continuously as is indicated
particularly in Figure 2. Or the same form of beakers or basins B may be made of
several different sizes, or of different heights, as shown in Figure 5, so that a set of
two or more similarly connected together may be placed on a step at one level, and
be arranged, so that the liquor overflows (or is drawn off by siphon tubes) into the
lower set or sets. Or the cylindrical tubes or vessels may be placed horizontally
and be upturned at the ends, and the liquor led in and withdrawn through pipes,
so that the tubes or vessels are only partially filled and a large surface of
liquor is exposed.
In an arrangement of the improved apparatus designed for use in the process of
manufacturing sulphuric acid, and which is represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the
series of open beakers or vessels B in any of the forms described is placed in a sand
bath. B within the flue F1 which conducts the sulphur fumes from the sulphur or
pyrites ovens or furnaces 0 to the oil of vitriol chambers. Through the series of
beakers B, within the fluc, is caused to pass a continuous slowly moving stream of
the nitrous vitriol or liquor obtained from the "Gay-Lussac towers" used in the
process of manufacture of sulphuric acid, that is, sulphuric acid impregnated with
nitrous acid. The hot sulphurous fumes from one or more of the ovens O passing
over this stream of liquor heats the liquor, and liberates the nitrous acid which
passes away with the fumes to the oil of vitriol chambers, and therein is deoxidised
in the process of forming sulphuric acid. The liquor as it passes through the
series of beakers B is robbed of the nitrous acid, and the liquor which is drawn off
from the last of the series is sulphuric acid alone. The drawing off of the liquor
from the last beaker B may be effected by a siphon or by a tube S', connected to
the beaker and passing out through the wall of the flue. By this means a con-

page_text: siderable saving may be effected in the quantity of nitre which is commonly used,
in the nitre pots in the sulphur or pyrites ovens or furnaces O, to produce nitrous
acid to mix with the sulphurous acid generated in these ovens and the improved
apparatus may be erected at much less cost than the usual "Glover's tower" for
which it is substituted. The liquor within the beakers B may be heated to
facilitate the separation of the nitrous acid from the sulphuric acid by means of the
waste hot gases from adjacent furnaces passing through a flue below the beakers.
In the illustration, the beakers are heated in a sand bath formed in the com-
partment F', the heat being derived from the hot fumes. passing through the
flue F.
In an arrangement of the improved apparatus designed for use in substitution
of the leaden boilers or the Glover's tower employed to concentrate sulphuric acid
or raise the degree of strength or density of the acid, from the point at which it
leaves the oil of vitriol chambers to that at which it enters the usual platinum
still, the series of beakers B in any of the forms described and illustrated is
arranged within a hot flue similar to that represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3, through
which pass the waste hot gases or products of combustion of any adjacent furnaces
whose heat may be available.
The weak sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol is led from the oil of vitriol chambers or
Gay Lussac tower, or from a tank or vessel into the first of the series of beakers B,
and flows slowly through the beakers in a continuous stream. A large proportion
of the water in the acid is evaporated and the acid increases in density to the
degree at which it is usual to admit it to the platinum still.
When the concentration is not sufficiently completed by causing the acid to flow
through the beakers placed within a single flue, a series of flues ranged side by
side or adjacent to each other, may be fitted with the beakers, and the acid may be
run first through one series and then through another until sufficiently concen-
trated. The beakers or vessels are by preference partly surrounded with sand or
similar material as is indicated in the Drawings, to maintain a comparatively
uniform temperature and prevent risk of breaking the glass vessels.
The use of small beakers or vessels of the kind described instead of the large
retorts and leaden vessels commonly employed has the advantage that little or no
damage is done, and little loss of acid is sustained in the event of a single vessel
breaking, while heat can be applied more directly to effect the concentration than
in the case of the Glover's tower, which only receives the hot sulphurous fumes
from the sulphur or pyrites ovens after the fumes have parted with the greater
part of their heat in traversing the flues that lead to the tower.
I am aware that glass retorts have been arranged within hot flues for the purpose
of concentrating sulphuric acid and saline solutions passing in a continuous stream
through the retorts, but such retorts are covered vessels, each having a separate
conducting tube for leading off the vapours rising from the surface of the liquor
being concentrated, and in-them the surface of the liquor is not exposed to hot
fumes passing over them as in the beakers or vessels which I employ. By the use
of the improved form of open beakers herein described, the important advantage
over the older forms of retorts is obtained that the nitrous fumes in the vitriol
passing through the beakers is carried back with the sulphurous fumes of the
sulphur or pyrites ovens to the oil of vitriol chambers, and the expense of burning
nitre in the ovens may in general be avoided, while the improved apparatus is
advantageously employed in lieu of the common feaden boilers or Gay Lussac
tower for the purpose of concentrating weak solutions of sulphuric acid, whether
such solutions contain nitrous fumes or not.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I claim is:-
--
First. The arrangement within a hot flue of a series of open beakers of the
improved construction described, so connected that a continuous stream of sulphuric
acid may flow through them and be therein exposed and subjected to heat for the
purpose of concentrating the acid, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

page_text: Second. In apparatus for the manufacture of sulphuric acid, the arrangement
within a flue conveying hot sulphurous fumes to the vitriol chambers, of a series of
open beakers or vessels through which is passed a continuous stream of nitrous
vitriol, the nitrous fumes of which are liberated and mingle with the sulphurous
fumes in said flue, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Third. The improved construction of open glass or earthenware beakers or vessels
herein described, arranged and adapted to convey sulphurous acid or nitrous vitriol
in a continuous stream through a hot fine, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
In Witness whereof, I the said William Garroway, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this First day of October, in the year of our Lord thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
Witness,
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER. C.E.
Fel. Inst. Patent Agents,
Glasgow.
WILLIAM GARROWAY. (L.s.)