IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING BI-CARBONATE OF SODIUM
Year: 1885

page_text: I THOMAS CAPPER of Hartford Hill near Northwich in the County of Chester
Auctioneer and Valuer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING BI-CARBONATE OF SODIUM " (communication
from abroad by Doctor Sigismund Pick of Szczakowa Galicia, in the Empire of
Austria) to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in plant for making the bi-carbonate of
Sodium by the ammonia soda process, and it consists of six apparatus which are
based on these two principles
1 On distributing as much as possible the carbonic acid and the steam used in
the process, which is obtained by a perforated and peculiarly shaped cap and,
2 On this principle that the most exhausted liquor (at the distillation) and the
most saturated liquor (at the saturation) meets with the fresh current of steam
(or carbonic acid) and the fresh liquor with the most exhausted steam or carbonic.
acid.
This improved apparatus is constructed combined and operated substantially
as hereinafter described reference being had to the accompanying two sheets of
drawing.
The brine enters the works through the pipe b of the top compartment of the
apparatus A, which consists of a set of cylinders of a same description, the brine
enters at the bottom of the cylinder and leaves it by another pipe of a higher level,
so that there is always as much bring in the cylinder, as the height of the overflow
pipe will allow. This quantity of brine is used for washing the carbonic acid not
absorbed in the apparatus D, and the other gases mixed with it (nitrogen and
oxygen, carbonic oxide) which are distributed by the cap G in order to retain the
last traces of ammonia. After having been used for this purpose the brine enters
the apparatus B, which also consists of a set of cylinders, but is used for the purpose
of absorbing the ammonia entering by the pipe S in the brine.
"
The aminonia is entirely absorbed and only at the beginning of the operation,
when the apparatus "E & F" are filled with air, some gas leaves the apparatus "B"
through the top gaspipe.

page_text: The ammoniated brine leaves the apparatus through the pipe a and flows into
the vessel "C" which is of a suitable shape to let the ammoniated brine settle, the
bottom part having the form of a cone. The muddy liquor can be let off by the
cock "m" and can be distilled again.
The clear ammoniated brine is pumped through the pipe "" in the cylindrical
part of the vessel "C" into the apparatus "D"; the pipe "" is connected with
each of the four or more vessels, of which the apparatus consists.
These vessels are of the same shape- as the vessel "C" and they consist of a
conical and cylindrical part. The cylindrical part contains perforated horizontal
plates "PP" for distributing the carbonic acid pumped in it through "O" and
distributed in the bottom conical part through a cap of the shape G. In the top
cover of these vessels is a manhole, which is opened when the vessel is empty,
salt is filled through it; it rests on the highest perforated plate and the ammoniated
brine entering through the pipe "1" (which ends at a higher level than the highest
perforated plate) is compelled to pass the salt and to dissolve it. While the vessels
are filling no gas (carbonic acid) is pumped in; the top valve "v" is opened, the
" is closed; but three (or more) vessels are saturated with carbonic acid
and working in such a way, that the carbonic acid is entering one by opening the
valve "," it is pressed through the liquor and the perforated plates and leaves
through the pipe at the top, the valve "v" being closed, and the valve "u" being
opened.
valve "u
•
"
Then it passes the next vessels in the same way and leaves (after the greatest
part of the carbonic acid has been absorbed), the last vessel through the valve "v
and is washed free from ammonia in the apparatus "A." When the saturation of
the ammoniated brine has gone far enough, the liquor containing the muriate of
ammonia with the bi-carbonate of sodium is let out by the cock "f" and the latter
separated from the former in the usual way, by filters, filter processes or centrifugal
machines.
The ammonia from the muriate of ammonia is regenerated by means of the
apparatus "E & F." The liquor is pressed in the apparatus "E" through the
pipe "f" by means of a pump or a raiser; it drops on a plate "pl" of a peculiar
shape, giving a large surface to the liquor and to the steam. These plates rest on
other plates with a large hole in the centre to allow the steam to go upwards and
the liquor to go downwards, the lowest compartment of the apparatus "E" contains
a cap (G) and an overflow pipe "f" through which the liquor free from carbonate
of ammonia runs in the highest compartment of the apparatus "F." This apparatus
serves to set free the ammonia of the muriate of ammonia by means of milk of
lime, which is pumped into the highest compartment through the hole "m"
The mixture of milk of lime and muriate of ammonia is going downwards in the
apparatus "F" which is of the same description as the apparatus "A" It only
differs from it by steam being used (entering through the pipe "d") instead of
carbonic acid. Through the pipe "st" the distilled liquor, free from ammonia, is
leaving the apparatus, it can be regulated by means of a cock or valve. The
ammonia is leaving the apparatus through the pipe "S," either cooled or not it
passes in the apparatus "B" through the pipe "S."
When the bi carbonate and muriate of ammonia (the liquor saturated with
Carbonic acid) has entirely left one vessel, the Carbonic acid is shut off by closing
the valve "i" to pass into the next vessel :-the valve "u" is closed and "v" is
opened, and the vessel is filled with fresh ammoniated brine and so on.
Dated:
T100-

page_text: I THOMAS CAPPER, of Hartford Hill near Northwich in the County of Chester,
Auctioneer and Valuer do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication from Doctor Sigismund Pick, of Szczakowa, Galicia, in the Empire of
Austria) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in plant for making the bicarbonate of.
sodium by the ammonia soda process, and it consists of six apparatus which are
based on these two principles
1. On distributing as much as possible the carbonic acid and the steam used in
the process, which is obtained by a perforated and peculiarly shaped cap, and
2. On the principle that the most exhausted liquor (at the distillation) and
the most saturated liquor (at the saturation) meets with the fresh current of
steam (or carbonic acid), and the fresh liquor with the most exhausted steam or
carbonic acid.
"
This improved apparatus is constructed, combined and operated substantially as
hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.
.
The brine enters the works through the pipe 6 of the top compartment of the
apparatus A, which consists of a set of cylinders A¹ of a same description; the
brine enters at the bottom of the cylinders A' and leaves them by another pipe b¹
of a higher level, so that there is always as much brine in the cylinder as the
height of the overflow pipe will allow. This quantity of brine is used for washing
the carbonic acid not absorbed in the apparatus D, and the other gases mixed with
it (nitrogen and oxygen-carbonic oxide) which are distributed by the cap G, in
order to retain the last traces of ammonia. After having been used for this
purpose, the brine enters by the pipe 6 into the apparatus B, which also consists
of a set of cylinders, but is used for the purpose of absorbing the ammonia entering
by the pipe & into the brine. The ammonia is entirely absorbed and only at the
beginning of the operation (when the apparatus E and F are. filled with air) some
gas leaves the apparatus B through the top gas pipe 6111.
The ammoniated brine leaves the apparatus through the pipe a and flows into
the vessel C, which is of a suitable shape to let the ammoniated brine settle, the
bottom part having the form of a cone. The muddy liquor can be let off by the
cock m and can be distilled again. The clear ainmoniated brine is pumped through
the pipe in the cylindrical part of the vessel C into the apparatus D; the pipe
is connected with each of the four or more vessels D₁ of which the apparatus
consists.
These vessels D¹ are of the same shape as the vessel C and they consist of a
conical and a cylindrical part.
The cylindrical part contains perforated horizontal plates p (the holes in which
are preferably of a conical form) for distributing the carbonic acid pumped into it
through o, and distributed in the bottom conical part through a cap of the shape G.
In the top cover of these vessels is a manhole h which is opened when the vessel is
empty-salt is filled through it; it rests on the highest perforated plate and the
ammoniated brine entering through the pipe L (which ends at a higher level than
the highest perforated plate) is compelled to pass the salt and dissolve it. While
the vessels are filling, no gas (carbonic acid) is pumped in; the top valve vis

page_text: opened, the valve u is closed; but three or inore vessels are saturated with carbonic
acid and working in such a way that the carbonic acid is entering one by the
opening of the valve i, is passed through the liquor and the perforated plates and
leaves through the pipe wat the top the valve v being closed and the valve u
being opened; it then passes the next vessels in the same way and leaves (after the
greatest part of the carbonic acid has been absorbed) the last vessel through the
valve and pipes x to be washed free from ammonia in the apparatus A. When
the saturation of the ammoniated brine has gone far enough, its liquor, containing
the muriate of ammonia with the bicarbonate of sodium, is let out by the cock f
and the latter separated from the former in the usual way, by filters, filter presses,
or centrifugal machines.
ย
The ammonia from the muriate of ammonia is regenerated by means of the
apparatus E and F.
The liquor is passed into the apparatus E through the pipe f, by means of a
pump or a raiser; it drops on a plate p 1 of a shape giving a large surface to the
liquor and to the steam. These plates rest on other plates y having a large hole in
the centre to allow the steam to go upwards and the liquor to go downwards. The
lowest compartment of the apparatus E contains a cap G, and an overflow pipe f¹,
through which the liquor free from carbonate of ammonia runs into the highest
compartment of the apparatus F. This apparatus serves to set free the ammonia
of the muriate of ammonia by means of milk of lime, which is pumped into the
highest compartment through the pipe m l.
The mixture of milk of lime and muriate of ammonia is going downwards in
the apparatus F, which is of the same description as the apparatus A; only
differing therefrom by steam being used (entering through the pipe d¹at the
bottom of the apparatus) instead of carbonic acid. The distilled liquor, free from
ammonia, is leaving through the pipe st, its outflow may be regulated by means of
a cock or a valve. The ammonia is leaving the apparatus through the pipe 8 at the
top of the apparatus E; either cooled or not, it passes into the apparatus B through
the pipe 8.
When the bicarbonate and muriate of ammonia (the liquor saturated with
carbonic acid) has entirely left one vessel, the carbonic acid is shut off, by closing
the valve i, to pass into the next vessel, the valve u is closed and v is opened, and
the vessel is filled with fresh ammoniated brine, and so on.
Having now particularly described and 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. In apparatus for making Bi-carbonate of Sodium, an apparatus for the con-
tinuous saturation of ammoniated brine with carbonic acid with means for better
distribution of the carbonic acid, substantially as described and illustrated ABCD
of the drawings.
2. The apparatus E F for effecting the regeneration of the ammonia used in the
manufacture of the Bi-carbonate of Sodium, constructed, combined and arranged
to operate substantially as herein before described, and whether in combination
with the apparatus A B CD, or other saturator.
3. The particular construction and arrangement of the cylinders A¹ in apparatus A,
whereby a portion of the solution is retained therein substantially as described.