IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ALKALI WASTĘ
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Simpson of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Alkali Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO
BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ALKALI WASTĘ
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Simpson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1883.
JAMES SIMPSON, of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster Alkali Manufacturer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ALKALI
WASTE
"
When alkali waste is subjected to the action of water and direct steam pressure
in a closed vessel whereby a high temperature is attained a large proportion of the
sulphur compounds is rendered soluble with the formation of a certain quantity of
sulphuretted hydrogen. If a solution of a salt such as chloride of calcium be
employed instead of water the relative proportions of sulphhydrate of calcium and
sulphuretted hydrogen may be modified.
Now in the varied plans for applying water or solutions and steam pressure to
alkali waste for the purpose of extracting the sulphur in the liquid or gaseous form
one main difficulty has been the expense of manipulating or operating upon a large
amount of waste.
•
The object of my invention is to provide cheap and efficient apparatus whereby
the difficulty above mentioned may be overcome
Apparatus under my invention consists essentially of a vessel provided with the
following parts and openings
First. A feeding way with valve closing tight.
Second. A movable bottom
Third. A steam supply pipe conducting the steam below the surface of the mass
under treatment, governed by a valve
Fourth. A withdrawing way with a valve or tap
In use a supply of alkali waste and water or solution are fed into the vessel, the
feeding way is closed tight by a valve say with weighted lever. Steam is next
turned on and when the mass has been sufficiently digested say in 20 to 30 minutes
the withdrawing way valve or tap is opened and the liquid containing the soluble
sulphur compounds is drawn off. The movable bottom is then opened and the
residue of the charge withdrawn,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th August
1883.
JAMES SIMPSON of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ALKALI
WASTE"
When alkali waste is subjected to the action of water and direct steam pressure
in a closed vessel whereby a high temperature is attained a large proportion of the
sulphur compounds is rendered soluble with the formation of a certain quantity of
sulphuretted hydrogen. If a solution of a salt such as chloride of calcium be
employed instead of water the relative proportions of sulphydrate of calcium and
sulphuretted hydrogen may be modified.
Now in the various plans for applying water or solutions and steam pressure to
alkali waste for the purpose of extracting the sulphur in the liquid or gaseous form
one main difficulty has been the expense of manipulating or operating upon a large
amount of waste.
The object of my invention is to provide cheap and efficient apparatus whereby
the difficulty above mentioned may be overcome.
Apparatus under my invention consiste essentially of a vessel or chamber-
provided with the following parts and openings.
First. A feeding way with door or valve closing tight.
Second A movable bottom
डर
Third. A steam supply pipe conducting the steam below the surface of the mass
under treatment governed by a valve.
Fourth A withdrawing way or discharge pipe with a valve tap or equivalent.
In use a supply of alkali waste and water or solution are fed into the vessel the
feeding way is closed tight by a valve say with weighted lever. Steam is next
turned on and when the mass has been sufficiently digested say in 20 to 30 minutes
the steam is turned off the withdrawing way valve or tap is opened and the liquid
containing the soluble sulphur compounds is drawn off together with any sulphu-
retted hydrogen that may have been formed. The movable bottom is then opened
and the residue of the charge withdrawn.
In practice I prefer to construct the apparatus in all respects like the Filter
Press described in the specification to British Letters Patent N° 2816 of the year
1882 granted to myself and E. W. Parnell with the exception that as before stated
a steam supply pipe to conduct the steam below the surface of the mass under
treatment is provided, and the outlet way or passage is fitted with a valve tap or
equivalent. Ordinarily I prefer to fit the steam pipe in the manner shown in the
accompanying drawing, but it is manifest that in case the re agent employed for
the treatment of the waste necessitated mechanical agitation, the steam pipe may
be fitted near the bottom of the vessel or chamber and a stirrer used like that
described in the before mentioned specification. If a solution of chloride of
magnesium is employed no stirrer is required.
In practice I find it advantageous to erect the apparatus in close proximity to
the Black Ash Vats in order that the waste may either be introduced into the
vessel or chamber by its own gravity or with a minimum of manual labor. The
liquor or gas or both given off or evolved during treatment may be conducted to
any convenient place by the withdrawing way or discharge pipe and treated in the
manner found most expedient. Of course if the apparatus is employed for treating
old waste it should be placed as near the heap as possible.

page_text: The sectional view hereunto appended illustrates apparatus under my invention
for use in the treatment of alkali waste. a is the vessel or chamber carried on
standards b of which three are preferably employed, c feeding way closed by the
door or valve d suspended from the weighted lever e, f movable bottom held in
position and raised and lowered by means of the hydraulic ram g, h hydraulic
cylinder and sole plate. i steam supply pipe turned down within the chamber or
vessel so that the open end is beneath the mass under treatment. steam valve to
govern or control the passage of steam through the pipe i, kwithdrawing way or
discharge pipe. tap or valve. The apparatus is made mainly of cast iron parts
bolted together and a filter bed may be placed above the false bottom, or equivalent
means employed to separate solid and liquid matter.
It will be obvious that the above apparatus is applicable to the treatment of
alkali waste with different reagents for the production either of gas or solution or
of both as may be required.
Having now described and illustrated the nature of the said invention in such
manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect I
claim :-
In apparatus for the treatment of alkali waste, the combination of the vessel or
chamber a feed way c with door or valve d movable bottom f. steam supply pipe i
valvej withdrawing way or discharge pipe k and tap or valve l.
In Witness Whereof I the said James Simpson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eighth day of August in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three