Process and Apparatus for Accelerating Alcoholic Fermentations and at the same time Obtaining Pure Carbon Dioxide.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process and Apparatus for Accelerating Alcoholic Fermentations
and at the same time Obtaining Pure Carbon Dioxide.
We, ALOIS GRAUAUG, of Dolna, Tuzla, Bosnia, Manufacturer, and Dr. JOSEPH
KRANZ, of 1, Stock-im-Eisen-Platz, Vienna, General Representative of the
Actiengesellschaft fur Treberntrocknung in Cassel, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
With the alcholic fermentation of sacchariferous substances, the sugar is split
into alcohol and carbon-dioxide. From subsidiary fermentations other volatile
substances and empyreumatic substances are at the same time obtained. The fer-
menting masses also originally contain various volatile scented substances
depending upon the raw material employed and the technical processes to which
they may have been subjected before the commencement of the fermentation.
In order to render the fermentation process, as it is carried out in various
industries, as rational as possible, the fermenting mass must be afforded the
greatest possible contact surface with atmospheric air, and be maintained in
such contact.
In view of the fact that the presence of the said by-products produced with
the fermentation are detrimental to the process and that every mechanical
arrangement for collecting such products from the surface of the fermenting
body, causes more disadvantage than advantage, volatile by-products of fermen-
tation are, according to the present invention, conducted together at the place
where they are generated, the said products being mainly carried along by the
carbon-di-oxide, by which means the circulation in all the layers of the ferment-
ing mass is increased, the gas mixture is led off without detriment to the fer-
menting process, and pure carbon di-oxide free from air, and suitable for
consumption is obtained from the gas mixture.
For these purposes according to the present invention a process and apparatus
are employed which shall be hereinafter described with reference to the accom-
panying drawing.
In the fermenting vessel G, Fig. 1, a gas collector a is introduced in such
manner as to be surrounded on all sides by the fermenting mass.
This collector has at its circumference openings or pipes covered by louvre
Blades or similar scale or roof like coverings and so formed and inclined as
shewn at Fig. 1 and 1 that they lead, the carbon-dioxide forming inside and
outside the collector, and which carries with it the other volatile products into
the collector where they are caused to ascend. The form of the collector im-
mersed in the fermenting mass is adapted to the form of the particular fermenting
vessel employed and tapers to a point at top.
In close connection with this collector is arranged a vessel 6 with double walls,
which being filled with water, serves for the hydraulic closure of the recipient
balanced by a counterweight as shewn.
From the interior of the recipient c a pipe d leads to the suction and force

page_text: pump e, the speed of which can be regulated by a regulating device actuated by
the rising and falling of the recipient e, as shewn.
From the pump the pressure pipe g, provided with a test cock 9º, leads to the
threeway cock h from which the pipes gl and branch off to the purifying
batteries, 2, 3, and 4,, . These purifying batteries, which are alternately
in operation, consist of vessels in which are, at short distances apart, closely
fitting finely perforated partitions; they are filled with purifying liquid deprived
of air, usually boiled water. At bottom the vessels are provided with discharge
cocks, and they communicate with cach other by means of pipes he and h³ h
From the purifying batteries pipes and provided with pressure gauges.
and lead to the threeway cock m, which is connected by means of the pipe n
with the long coiled heating pipe o contained in the heater p. Into the heater
is introduced steam at q which, in flowing round pipe o, can escape at r.
The water of condensation produced flows, off at s.
The heating pipe o is connected by the pipe t with the dephlegmator u.
The dephlegmator has at top and bottom tightly fitting tube plates in which
are fixed the tubes v. At w cold water enters the dephlegmator, and after flowing
through the tubes r, escapes therefrom at .
At the dephlegmator is provided with a discharge cock.
Lastly, a pipe y leads from it to the gasholder 2.
As hereinbefore stated it is essential for accelerating the fermenting process
that all volatile products mixed with the carbon di-oxide should be collected
from all layers of the fermenting body as they are generated and be led off.
With very large fermenting vessels it is therefore of advantage, to employ
several gas collectors connected together but preferably so that the gas produced
in each flows to the same recipient.
By leading off the volatile products which are near the collector, a flow of the
fermenting body in that direction and a circulation through all layers is effected,
which is exceedingly advantageous for the continuous and consequently rapid
course of the fermentation.
After the collection of the volatile products of fermentation they are treated
as follows:-
The balanced recipient c is raised by the inflow of the carbon-dioxide, and
by that means the pump e is at once put in action.
In order that no vacuum may ever occur under the recipient c nor that this
may be raised out of the bermetic water seal of vessel b the recipient is, as
already stated, connected to the pump by a regulating device f so that the action
of the pump is regulated according to the position of the recipient c. The three-
way cock is, at the commencement of working closed against the pump e and
the testing cock gº is opened. This takes place until the carbon dioxide escaping
from the testing cock is shown to be free from air when tested, for example
with potash lyc for ascertaining the content of air. The test cock go is then closed
and the threeway cock h is so turned as to establish the communication between
the pumpe and the purifying battery
The threeway cock m is then closed against A¹ The gaseous mixture then
flows into the purifying battery filled with purifying liquid deprived of
air, and passes through the same in very fine bubbles."
When the gas mixture arrives at a perforated partition it has to force its way
through the same whereby the gas bubbles are always made to change their sur-
face and consequently they become thoroughly washed. The introduction of the
gas mixture into this purifying battery is continued until the purifying liquid
contained therein under pressure of about 3 atmospheres is saturated, the gases
being absorbed by the said liquid, such as water.
When this is the case, the threeway cock is closed against gi and the pres-
sure pipe is put in communication with by setting the threeway cock h cor-
respondingly. At the same time the threeway cock m is closed against and
is turned so as to establish the communication between and .

page_text: In the purifying battery the same purifying and saturating process is
repeated, as also the known chemical combination of the carbon dioxide with
the purifying liquid, as was the case in ³.
During this time, the three way cock being opened, the gas mixture will be
liberated from the purifying liquid in the first battery in consequence of the
decrease of pressure in so far as it is not retained in solution and during such
discharge a repeated washing takes place for retaining the mechanically carried
substances in the purifying liquid.
The carbon-dioxide purified to the above extent passes through the pipe n
into the pipe o of the heater p. The pipe o being surrounded by steam heats
the gas passing through and in particular the gaseous by-products to boiling
point.
The mixture thus heated, then passes through the pipe into the dephleg-
mator. Through the pipes of the dephlegmator flows cold water, and in con-
sequence of the considerable cooling-action of the cold outer surfaces of the
pipes upon the gas mixture, the condensible constituents and any purifying
liquid carried along with them are condensed into liquid form and are dis-
charged at j.
The pure dry carbon-dioxide leaves the dephlegmator through the pipe y and
passes into the gasholder z from which it may if necessary be made to pass
through a calcium chloride cylinder for drying it before use.
The above described process as also the apparatus for carrying it out form a
complete whole.
The several phases of the process, the separation of the gas mixture at the
moment of generation, the purification and deplilegmation thereof to a perfectly
pure condition as also the apparatus employed for these purposes are in neces-
sary connection with each other.
The object in view namely the obtaining of perfectly pure fermentation carbon
dioxide as free as possible from air and appropriate for consumption can only
be obtained by the above described combined process and apparatus, no phase or
part of apparatus of which can be dispensed with, the method of leading off the
gases and that of purification, being only applicable in a rational manner with
carbon-dioxide produced by fermentation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. Process for accelerating and rendering more remunerative alcoholic fer-
mentation processes, which consists in leading off the carbon-dioxide generated
together with the volatile by-products carried along thereby from all layers of
the fermenting body while this is always subject to normal pressure at its sur-
face substantially as described.
2. Process for purifying the carbon-dioxide obtained as set forth in the first
claim and mixed with mainly alcoholic and empyreumatic substances, which
consists in subjecting such gases to the action of washing apparatus under pres-
sure for the purpose of retaining in the washing medium the constituents soluble
therein beyond the point of saturation, while on decreasing the pressure the
carbon dioxide is subjected to a second washing process in the same battery
vessels, substantially as described.
3. In combination with the process referred to in the second claim, the pro-
cess of purifying the carbon dioxide obtained as set forth in the first claim from
condensible impurities by first heating the gas mixture coming from the washing
battery, and then suddenly cooling the same, substantially as described.
4. The use, for leading off the volatile products of a fermenting process, of a
collector that is completely immersed in the fermenting mass, whose sides are
provided with shielded openings in such a manner that the fermenting mass

page_text: can circulate freely, while the gas mixture is led by the shields of the openings.
from its points of generation in all the layers of the mass into the interior of the
collector in order to ascend thence into a recipient, substantially as described:..
Dated this 8th day of July 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.