IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING ON THE DISTILLATION AND PURIFICATION GLYCERINE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Joseph O'Farrell, of Dublin in the County of
Dublin, Ireland, M. R I. A; FCS for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CARRYING ON THE DISTILLATION AND PURIFICATION
GLYCERINE
OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Joseph O'Farrell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1883.
FRANCIS JOSEPH O'FARRELL, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
M. R. I. A.; F. C. S., "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING-ON THE
DISTILLATION AND PURIFICATION OF GLYCERINE
"
My Invention has for its object the contruction and arrangement of suitable
apparatus for separating and purifying crude glycerine obtained from waste soap
lye or other sources wherein glycerine occurs, in a more efficient and more
economical manner than hitherto so far as I am aware; and is especially designed
for use in connexion with the method of carrying on such process described in
certain Letters Patent granted to me for-"Improvements in the Method of
Separating Glycerine from Spent Soap Lyes, Saline, and other Substances, and in
Apparatus therefor," dated 27th. day of July, 1881, and numbered 3284.
To this end, I propose in the first instance to conduct the Glycerine and aqueous
vapors, after they have passed over from the still, through a chamber or condenser
consisting of a series of pipes or tubes of suitable condensing surface around which
I cause a circulation of water to be maintained at a temperature of about
100° centigrade. This temperature is kept up by the passage of the glycerine and
aqueous vapors through the condensing pipes or tubes.
The glycerine while passing through this chamber is condensed, and is thence
conducted into a vessel or receiver Suitably placed underneath for its reception,
while the water or any volatile impurities are carried away in the gaseous state to
a separate condenser provided with a worm surrounded by cold water where they
are condensed, and are then drawn off into a vessel or receiver from which they can

page_text: be removed at pleasure. Or I may introduce a second high-temperature condensing
chamber for the purpose of separating by condensation any glycerine that may be
carried over with the water before passing on to the cold water condenser.
Through these chambers or condensers a constant vacuum is maintained by
means of an exhaust pump; and through the agency of this vacuum I am enabled
to deal with the crude glycerine obtained from soap lye or other source for the
purpose of obtaining therefrom chemically pure glycerine in the manner above
described.
Between the first described chamber and the vessel for receiving the glycerine
I arrange a suitable contrivance, whereby the liquid in its passage may be drawn
off and examined without disturbing the distillation, or the vacuum existing
throughout the system.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Joseph O'Farrell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1883.
FRANCIS JOSEPH O'FARRELL, of Dublin, in the county of Dublin, Ireland,
M. R. I. A., F. C. S., "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING ON THE
DISTILLATION AND PURIFICATION OF GLYCERINE "
My Invention has for its object the construction and arrangement of suitable
apparatus for separating and purifying crude glycerine obtained from waste soap-
lye, or other sources wherein glycerine occurs in a more efficient and more
economical manner than hitherto so far as I am aware; and is especially designed
for use in connexion with the method of carrying on such process described in
certain Letters Patent granted to me for Improvements in the method of
separating glycerine from spent soap lyes, saline, and other substances, and in
apparatus therefor," dated 27th. day of July, 1881, and numbered 3284.
The
To this end propose to conduct the glycerine and aqueous vapours, after they
have passed over from the still A illustrated in accompanying drawings through a
chamber or condenser B, consisting of a series of pipes or tubes of suitable con-
densing surface around which I cause a circulation of water to be maintained at a
temperature of about 100° centigrade. This temperature is kept up by the passage
of the glycerine and aqueous vapors through the condensing pipes or tubes.
glycerine while passing through this chamber is condensed, and is received in a
suitably placed vessel or receiver Carranged underneath. A second or supplemental
vessel C is here introduced for the following purpose-In case any portion of the
crude glycerine should pass over mechanically, and be received in the vessel C, this
vessel may be cut off from the system by means of the tap f, and the second or
supplemental vessel C' brought into action to receive the pure glycerine, thus
enabling the distillation to be carried on without intermission.
From the chamber B the liquid passes on to a second high-temperature con-
densing-chamber D, where any glycerine which might pass over from the first
chamber is arrested and separated by condensation and then received in a vessel E
placed underneath.
From this chamber D the water and any volatile impurities are carried away in
the gaseous state to a condenser F, provided with a worm surrounded by cold
water where they are condensed, and then drawn off into a vessel or receiver G,
from which they can be removed at pleasure.
Through these chambers or condensers a constant vacuum is maintained by
means of an exhaust pump, and through the agency of this vacuum I am euabled
to deal more efficiently with the crude glycerine of soap lye or other source under
treatment for the purpose of obtaining therefrom almost chemically pure glycerine
in the manner described.
Between the first-described chamber and the vessel for receiving the glycerine,
I arrange a suitable contrivance whereby the liquid in its passage may be drawn
off and examined without disturbing the distillation or the vacuum existing
throughout the system.
The following are amongst some of the advantages claimed by this Invention.
1.-The distillation is more regular, and is completed in a much shorter time
than by the methods hitherto in use.
2. The amount of steam required for the distillation is less than when the
operation is carried on under atmospheric pressure, and the quantity of
glycerine obtained is increased.

page_text: 3-Owing to the lower temperature at which the distillation is effected there is
no carbonization of the organic matter contained in the crude glycerine, or
of the glycerine itself, and consequently there is no loss by the formation
of tar, or other residual matter which would impart color and odor to the
glycerine,
4-By the arrangement of the condensers, and the maintenance of a constant
vacuum, the glycerine is completely separated from the aqueous vapor
which carries the volatile fatty acids and similar impurities to the cold-
water condenser.
5-By this process the distilled glycerine is obtained anhydrous, and almost
chemically pure in one single distillation, and free from color and odor, and
of a much better quality than is obtained by the methods hitherto in use.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
plying same in practice, I would have it understood that what I desire to claim
the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is-
1st. The construction and application of apparatus for carrying on the dis-
tillation and purification of glycerine, substantially as described, and
illustrated in accompanying drawings.
2nd. The construction and arrangement of the condensers B and D substantially
for the purpose and in the manner described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Joseph O'Farrell, have hereunto set my
nd and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord, One
ousand eight hundred and eighty three.
ICICHר כזהד
TOCEDIT O'RADDEIT