provements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1893-4ccepted, 7th Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
We FRANCIS BECKMANN HACKER, of 32 Alexander Street, Charleston, in the
County of Charleston, State of South Carolina, United States of America.
President Wando Phosphate Company, and PETER SPENCE GILCHRIST of 23
Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, aforesaid, Chemical Engineer 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in the apparatus which is used in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, and especially to the connections between the several
lead chambers, the lead chambers and the Glover tower, and between the chambers
and the Gay Lussac tower.
The object of our invention is to reduce the chamber space which is needed in
the manufacture of acid, to increase the quantity of acid, to reduce the cost of the
necessary plant, to provide for carrying off the excessive heat caused by the mixing
of the gases in the formation of the sulphuric acid, and to provide for the quick and
thorough mingling of the molecules of the gases as they pass from chamber to
chamber.
To these ends our invention consists in certain features of construction and
combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and claimed..
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure is a broken sectional elevation showing a pipe or column arranged
between two adjacent chambers of a sulphuric acid producing apparatus, the column
being provided with cooling and mixing pipes, the column and pipes forming an
essential part of our invention;
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view of a modified form of the invention, in which adjacent chambers
are connected by a horizontal or straight casing or passageway having a series of
cross cooling and mixing pipes therein; and
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the chambers 10, which are constructed in series
in the usual way, represent the ordinary lead chambers of a sulphuric acid producing
apparatus, and these chambers have interposed between them an upright case or
column 11 which connects with one chamber by a passage 12 at the bottom, and
with the opposite chamber by a passage 13 at the top. Leading horizontally across
the case 11, between the inlet passage 12 and outlet passage 13, are a plurality of
cold air pipes 14, which are not placed in regular rows but are arranged to offer an
obstruction and resistance to the gases which pass upward through the case, so as
to cause the quick and thorough mingling of said gases.
The pipes 14 are preferably of lead and connect with an air flue 15 on one side
of the case 11 and with a stack 16 on the opposite side. This arrangement provides
for a natural draft of cool air through the pipes, which has a tendency to lower the
temperature in the case 11, but if desired, artificially cooled air may be forced
through the pipes. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the chambers 10 are connected
by a straight or horizontal case 17 which thus forms a straight passage between
them, and the passage is interrupted by numerous cross pipes 14* like the pipes 14
already described, these pipes connecting with an air flue 15 and with a stack 16°.
In all the figures, from 1 to 4, are seen lutes or dishes 18 which are placed on
top of the cases 11 and 17, and these lates or dishes contain weak sulphuric acid or
water, which is arranged to drip downward over the pipes 14 thus reducing the
D

page_text: temperature in the cases and supplying moisture in the form of vapor which
promotes the acid process.
In the drawings, we have shown the pipe case or column embodying our invention
as arranged between two lead chambers 10, but it will be understood that the pipe
case or column may be placed between the Glover tower and the first lead chamber
of the series, and between the last lead chamber and the Gay Lussac tower. In
carrying out the invention the pipe case or column may be arranged between all
the chambers or between any necessary number of them.
When the pipe column or case is used, the gases as they pass through it, are
obstructed by the pipes so as to cause a quick and thorough mingling, and the air
draft through the pipes, together with the moistening described above, causes a
comparatively low temperature to be maintained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to he performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1. The combination with a sulphuric acid apparatus, of a column or case
interposed therein and provided with a series of obstructing air pipes, substantially
as described.
2. In a sulphuric acid apparatus, the combination with lead chambers connected
together, of a series of obstructing air pipes in the connection between the said
chambers, substantially as described.
3. In a sulphuric acid apparatus, the combination with lead chambers, and a case
or column connecting the said chambers, of a series of pipes in the case or
column, and means for supplying a current of air through the said pipes,
substantially as described.
4. In a sulphuric acid apparatus, the combination with lead chambers, and a case
or column connecting the said chambers, of a series of cross pipes arranged in the
case or column, an air flue with which one end of the pipes connects, and a stack
with which the other end of the pipes connects, substantially as described.
5. In a sulphuric acid apparatus, the combination with lead chambers, and a case
or column connecting the chambers, of a series of obstructing air pipes arranged in
the said case or column, and moistening lntes on the case or column and delivering
upon the said pipes, substantially as described.
Dated this hond
A
1000
F. B. HACKER,
P. S. GILCHRIST,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.