IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR OSMOSE TREATMENT OF SACCHARINE LIQUORS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN IMRAY of No 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR OSMOSE TREATMENT
OF SACCHARINE LIQUORS" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for treatment of saccharino liquors by the
osmose process. In this treatment, it is found that the quantity of crystallisable
sugar produced depends in great measure on the quantity of salts climinated in the
exosmose liquid, but in the osmose apparatus ordinarily employed scarcely half of
the total quantity of salta is eliminated, and this quantity is accompanied by a
proportion of sugar which is the greater the less dense the osmosed liquid. It is
therefore desirable to maintain as much as possible the density of the liquid under
osmose treatment, so as to eliminate rapidly as much as possible of the salts.
For this purpose, the osmose apparatus is, according to the present invention, so
constructed that there is formed above its series of cells a reservoir in which a
steam coil is arranged to heat and concentrate the liquid in the reservoir which
communicates freely with the alternate cells below. This reservoir with its coil
may extend over the whole series of cells, or it may extend over only part of the
scries, so that the other part may act as the ordinary osmose apparatus. That
apparatus consists of a series of open frames, generally rectangular in shape which
are clamped together in a strong frame with sheets of parchment paper between
them, as in a filter press. These sheets form a tight joint round the edges and also
constitute the diaphragms through which the osmose action takes place, dividing
the apparatus into cells which are alternately those that are charged with water
and those that are charged with saccharine liquor. Each frame for a water cell
has a hole through its upper bar near one angle and also a hole through its lower
bar near the opposite angle, each of these holes having a side passago into the interior
of the frame, and it has also a third hole through the lower bar which does
not communicate with the interior. Each frame for a saccharine cell has three
holes corresponding with those mentioned, but only one of them, the third, has a

page_text: side communication with the interior; the upper bar has several narrow passages
or slits through it from inside to outside. When the frames are all clamped
together, alternating the water-cells with the saccharine cells, the three sets of holes
form continuous passages along the whole series of cells, the first supplying water
from funnels at the ends of the apparatus, the second constituting the outlot for
water governed by stop-cocks at the ends, and the third being an inlet for saccharine
liquor from funnels at the ends. Now, according to this invention, the side bars
of these frames are extended some distance upwards, and all these extensions, when
the frames are clamped together,. form the sides of a trough reservoir above the
cells, the ends of this trough being upward extensions of the end plates of the
apparatus, or, in case the reservoir extends only over part of its length, being
upward extensions of two of the frames made by widening upwards their top-bars
The reservoir thus formed is in free communication with the saccharine cells through
the slits of their top bars. Also from each of the water cells an air tube extends
up above the level of liquid in the reservoir. In the reservoir is placed the steam
coil, which, by evaporating a portion of the liquid, maintains its density at the
required degree. Each sheet of the parchment paper which separates the cells
may be cut in such a shape that strips of it extend up the extensions of the side
bars so as to make tight joints between them, but as this involves cutting much of
the paper to waste, these extended parts of the bars may be faced with thin layers
of caoutchouc. When the concentrating reservoir extends over only part of the
apparatus, the saccharine cells that are not situated immediately below it, com-
municate with it by holes in the frames which constitute the ends of the trough.
Band 1: 014 J... CAL... 1001
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.

page_text: I, JOHN IMRAY of No 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR OSMOSE TREATMENT OF SACCHARINE
LIQUORS" and in what manner the samo is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for treatment of saccharine liquors by
the osmose process. In this treatment, it is found; firstly, that the quantity of
crystalisable sugar produced when subjecting saccharine matters to osmose treat-
ment, and particularly molasses, in the manufacture and refinery of sugars, depends
in a great measure upon the quantity of salts eliminated in the osmose liquid;
secondly, that in the osmogenes employer in the manufacture and refinery of beet
sugar, in working the osmose so is to reduce the density of the molasses from
40° Beaumé in the cold to 8° Beaumé at boiling temperature, only a quantity of
salts varying from 45 to 50 per cent of the total quantity in the residues can be
eliminated; thirdly, the sugar which always accompanys eliminated salts in the
exmoso liquid occurs in larger quantity necording as the osmose has been produced
with syrups or molasses of low density. This quantity of sugar becomes in
particular considerable when the exuose liquid has a density below 20° Beaumé;
fourthly, the useful effect of the osmogene during a unit of time is all the greater,
that is to say, the eliminated salts are in greater quantity, according as tho density
of the liquid in osmose is greater. In operating with molasses during the first
period of the osmose in which the degree of Beaumé is reduced from 40° to 20%, the
proportion to residues in the exostose liquid is from 0-5 part of sugar for one part
of residues. In the second period, from 20° to 14°, this proportion becomes 15 of
sugar to one of residues. During the third period, from 14° to 8° the proportion is
from 2 to 3 of sugar for one of residues. It results from this that in carrying on
the process in osinogenes of known construction it is not possible to separate more
than 50 per cent of the salts. These observations shew that tho economic problein
to be solved for effecting a maximum elimination of the salts with a minimum
elimination of sugar in a minimum of time would be, to prevent the liquid in
Usinoso from decreasing in density in equally great proportions. According to the
present invention this result is produced in effecting the evaporation of the osmosed
liquid in proportion. as the indosmose current carries the water into the liquid in
usmose so as to maintain this liquid at nearly a constant degree of density. This
operation is effected in the osmogene itself by means of a novel arrangement which
may be designated under the name of "evaporative osinogene with strong osmose.'
The evaporative osmogene is arranged like the "Dubrunfaut" osmogene with
100 frames as usually constructed, but with the following modifications. The
upper parts of each of the frames are so arranged as to form a reservoir of liquid
above all the frames, in which reservoir the liquid in osmose passes into each frame.
The liquid in osmose passes out of each of the frames through holes arranged at
the upper part of each molasses frame and passes into the upper part of the
osmogene forming the reservoir: The steam coil arranged horizontally is placed
""

page_text: "
per
"
in a layer of osmose liquid contained in this reservoir and serves for the evaporation
of the osmose liquid in proportion as it passes from each of the molasses frames
into this reservoir. By this means, in combining the action of the osmose which
decreases the density of the liquid in osmose and the action of the steam which
effects evaporation, one can obtain at pleasure the degree of density desired not 5
only in the osmose liquid, but also in the liquid contained in the frames. In effect,
under the influence of the evaporation the density of the osinosed liquid increases,
and this density being superior to that of the liquid contained in the frames, this
liquid, by virtue of its greater density, descends and mixes with the former so that
a simultaneous movement
is established 1
and " descensum
per ascensum
which maintains the liquid in osmose in the frames at a degree approaching the
degree of the osmosed liquid in a state of ebulition in the evaporator above the
frames. The osmosed. liquid, the density of which has been thus raised and
maintained for a sufficient length of time and conveyed to a new evaporative
osmogene producing the same. evaporative effect, cau lose, during one single 1
operation, up to 75 to 80 per cent of the salts which it contained in entering in
osmose, at the same time eliminating a much less quantity of sugar in the exosmose
liquor and yielding to crystallisation a quantity of sugar much greater than
that obtained by the ordinary osmogenes. The ordinary osmogene of 100 frames
can be so arranged that one half thereof produces the above described effect of
evaporative osmogene, while the other half produces the effect of ordinary osmogene,
by effecting in say 50 of the frames the necessary modifications for producing the
reservoir of osmosed liquid in which the evaporating coil is placed. This double
osinogene can, like the preceding one, eliminate the greatest quantity of the salts of
the liquids in osmose in one and the same operation in a continuous manner, the
one half being converted into an evaporative osmogeno while the other half remains
an ordinary osmogene and produces a strong osmose and a yield of sugar from the
osmosed liquids which it is impossible to produce with the ordinary osmogenes.
I will describe the arrangements of the two descriptions of osmogenes with their
essential organs :
1st Evaporative osmogene: All the organs which exist in the improved
"Dubrun-faut" osmogene such as are ordinarily used, exist in the evaporative
osmogene but they are modified so as to be appropriated to the necessities of the
new functions of the osinogene. The said modifications are shown on the accom-
panying drawings Fig. 1, framo for water; a a, upper and lower transverse bars
of the frame in the evaporative osmogeno; b b, vertical side bars of the frames;
c, horizontal collecting conduit provided with vertical tube which conveys the
water into the upper part of the evaporative osmogene; e, horizontal collecting
conduit provided with its vertical tube e' serving for the escape of the waters of
exosmose in the evaporative osmogene. These water frames should contain in their
upper transverse bar an air tube d of brass fixed in the thickness of tho frame so as
to be water tight. This tube should be about 4 inches above the upper edge of
the evaporative reservoir and it should be of the form indicated at Figs. 4 and 5.
Fig. 2, Molasses frame. f, upper transverso bars of the molasses frames of the
evaporative osmogene, h h lateral vertical side bars of the frame; i horizontal
collecting conduit with vertical tubes serving for the introduction of the molasses
into the lower part of each frame of the evaporative osmogene; kk vertical tubes or
conduits formed in the upper transverse bar fand serving for the escape of the osmosed
molasses from the molasses frames into the evaporative osmogene. These conduits
should have an oblong form being about 3/4 inch long by about "/" wide. Instead
of being placed laterally, the molasses conduit i could be placed near the middle of
the frame as shewn at Fig. 8. It will be seen from the above description of the
molasses frames Fig. 2, and the water frames Figs. 1 and 8 that in placing these
different frames one against the other and fixed between two cast iron plates by
means of a screw on a frame, and separated from each other by a sheet of parch-
ment paper forming a water tight joint, they will constitute above the united water

page_text: frames and molasses frames a reservoir into which will pass the molasses in osmoso
in each frame through the conduits & formed in the transverse bars f, the depth of
the reservoir being equal to the external projection of the pieces b b of the water
frames and h h of the molasses frames, that is to say, about 5 inches to
9 inches above each of the frames. These frames, thus united, constitute the
evaporative osmogene as shewn at Fig. 4. The upper projections t t Figs. 1 and 2
of the molasses frames form a reservoir a fed by the molasses in osmose in the
molasses frames. The sides of this reservoir a formed by the projections of the
frames are rendered water tight by a sheet of parchment paper and a caoutchouc
band B and are tied together between the end plates eel by means of the screw G.
H H are bolts tying together end plates e c² and EE is n cast iron frame; F F
rails upon which rest the 100 frames: A steam coil D placed in the reservoir a
serves to effect the evaporation of the osmosed liquids passing from the molasses
frames by the conduits k. The molasses arrive at the bottom of the molasses
frames by one or other of the funnels ff and pass away at the opposite end by
one or other of the discharge funnels 2 h. On the other hand, water passes to
the upper part of the frames through one or other of the funnels g*g* and passes
away by one or other of the discharge funnels ³k. A horizontal pipe communi-
cating on the right hand side with the collecting conduit of the molasses frames,
and on the left hand side with the collecting conduit of the water frames, establishes
a communication between the two series of frames. When the osinogene has a
certain length, there may be several separate supply funnels for the inolasses.
Thus, in the case of two separate supplies, the first frames would be fed by a
conduit ✿, while the other half would be fed by a conduit ³ which does not
communicate with the first half of the frames as shown at Fig. 9.
Osmogene fulfilling the double function of evaporative osmogene and ordinary
osmogene; terined "Evaporative Osmogene with double osmose.
This double osmogene is shewn at Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 10, it contains 120 fraines
like the preceding one, CO frames are transformed into evaporative osmogene A,
while the 60 others remain in the condition of ordinary osinogene B. The two
groups of frames are separated by a molasses feeding frame C shewn separately at
Fig. 3. This frame differs from all the others in its thickness, which should be
double that of the ordinary frames, and by its height, which should be equal in the
whole of its upper part, not only to the transverse bar of each frame, but also equal
to the projection of the vertical parts bb of the water frames and h h of tho
molasses frames. This frame thus forms, at its upper part, a kind of large panel J
serving as enclosure to the reservoir a so as to enclose the liquid in this reservoir.
This frame may be of wood, or preferably of cast iron. It should contain, at its
upper part, which forms a projecting panel on each side thereof, a bolt I which ties
this frame to the cast iron end plato e of the back end of the osmogene so as to tie
the parts together in such a manner as to ensure that there shall be no escape of.
liquid through the parchment of the separator. This framo is provided, at its
upper part, with an overflow aperture m extending horizontally half through the
side of the evaporative osmogene and communicating with the inside of the frame
by means of a vertical conduit o formed in the thickness of the panel J. This
frame contains in its upper part, but on the side opposite to the evaporative
osmogene A, that is to say, towards the ordinary osmogene B, a collecting conduit L,
Fig. 3 in communication with the interior of the frame C by means of a vertical
conduit L' formed in the thickness of the frame. This arrangement establishes a
communication of the evaporative omogene A, with the ordinary oзmogeno B
in such manner that the molassra, arriving through the funnel, osmosed in A,
and evaporated in a by the steam coil D', passes through the overflow hole m of
the frame C into the lower collecting conduit of the inolasses frame of the ordinary
osmogene B, and flows away at the desired rate by a funnel ½³ of the ordinary.
osmogeno B, after having been subjected to a new osmose of greater or less degree

page_text: according to the density of the osmosed liquid which passes away at h³. The other part
of the apparatus remains the same as at Fig. 4. Water circulates in the water frames
in the ordinary manner. It may be made to circulate in the water frames of each of
the osmogenes A and B so as to obtain only a single exosmoso water of the same
composition, or the communication may be intercepted by means of the frame C, as
shewn in the drawing, so as to obtain separately the exosmose liquids coming from
the water frames of the evaporative osinogene and the exosmose liquids of the water
frames of the ordinary osmogene, which arrangement is to be preferred. In the
arrangement shewn in the accompanying drawing, the water enters the apparatus
from the two funnels g³ and escapes at the lower part of the frames by the
funnels h² and h. and j' are cocks serving to establish a communication between
the molasses frames and the water frames; and K' K² and are discharge cocks.
Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 10 shew all the accessories of the osmogene. M M are tho
reheaters for the molasses which feed, by means of a feed box with ball cock N,
one or more osmogenes. Figure 7 shews two opposite osmogenes fed by one and
the same molasses conduit O. P P are water heaters feeding the osmogenes by
means of feed box with ball cock Q and a conduit R. Tho feed cocks T T, for the
water and the molasses, may be replaced by calibrated siphons, the section of which
is calculated for the quantity of molasses and water which are to be introduced into
the osmogene. In all these apparatus, cach frame should be provided with an
external water level indicator, and for the evaporative osmogene with doublo
osmose, the passage of the molasses from the evaporative osmogene to the ordinary
osmogene can be regulated by means of a slide in case of there being several
holes, m, superposed serving as entrance for the molasses into the ordinary
osmogene. Instead of having a vertical air tube upon each frame, there may be
one or more horizontal air tubes passing across all the frames, but only com-
municating with the water frames, which horizontal tubes would open at the ends
into the atmosphero by means of vertical tubes. The osmogene above described,
operating half as evaporative osmogeno and half as ordinary osmogene, could easily
be transformed into a double evaporative osmogene. It would be sufficient for this
purpose to transform the 60 frames of the ordinary osmogene into frames for
evaporative osmogene so as to form at the upper part of Ba reservoir a, and in
which would be placed a steam coil D as in a. By this means, an evaporative
osmogene with two compartments would be obtained in which the liquid in osmose
would be subjected to two successive osmoses without mixture.
The evaporative osmogenes above described are composed of 100 and 120 frames,
but it is possible to increase the number of frames at will, the number being only
limited by the necessity of obtaining between each two frames a water tight joint,
the difficulty of effecting which increases with the number of frames in consequence
of the tying being less perfect. The dimensions adopted in the construction of the
new evaporative csmogene which have given, up to the present time, the best results,
ora os follows.

page_text: frames so as to form a water-tight joint between them. This arrangement causes
a rather large waste of parchment-paper.
In order to avoid this waste each
extremity of the upright of the frames of the evaporator may be provided with a
thin caoutchouc band B, Figs. 4 and 5, fixed to the projection of each frame. In
this case the ordinary sheets of parchment paper may be used without special shaping.
The arrangement of the two osmogenes, the one evaporator with strong osmose
the other with simple osmose fed from the former, presents great advantages as
regards the regularity of the osmose and of the purifying effect produced. It is
very possible to obtain the same effects by means of two separate osmogenes by
putting in communication the evaporative osmogene shown at Fig. 4 with an
ordinary osmogene already existing in the sugar factory. It is sufficient, for this
purpose, to place at the exit of the osmosed molasses, in the evaporative osmogene
which takes place at the upper part thereof, in communication with the lower part
of the ordinary osmogene whereby this second osmogene will be fed with liquid
already osmosed in the evaporativo osmogene. This arrangement may be carried
out without in any way altering the existing osmogenes. It is sufficient to place
the ordinary osmogene at a lower level than the evaporative osmogene, so that tho
overflow from the latter, in passing away through the discharge funnel, falls
directly into the supply funnel of the ordinary osinogene. The osmosed liquid
passing away from the evaporative osmogene might also be employed to feed
several ordinary osmogenes of smaller size by discharging the liquid into the
conduit which would distribute it into the feed funnels of the osmogenes, serving
to effect the second osmose. This arrangement, which realizes the conditions of the
evaporative osmogene with double effect, permits of the utilisation of the existing
osmogenes in sugar factories, but it should only be employed for the sako of
economy in exceptional cases, on account of the difficulties that may occur in the
working, and in the control of the useful effect produced by the osmose in each of
these osmogenes.
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, The use of apparatus for osmose treatment of saccharine liquors wherein the
density of the osmose liquid is increased by the evaporation thereof in the apparatus
itself by means of a steam coil situated in a reservoir in the upper part of the
apparatus communicating with the interior of the frames or cells, substantially as
herein described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings.
2, The use of osmose apparatus with doublo osmose action consisting of the
combination of evaporative osmose apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding
claim, either with ordinary osmose apparatus or with a second evaporative osmose
apparatus, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of
the drawings.
3, In osmose apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claims, effecting
the feed of the molasses frames by means either of a common conduit or of several
independent conduits and of slits or oblong holes in the upper transverse bars of
the frames of the evaporative osmose apparatus, in order to allow the molasses to
circulate freely from the frames into the evaporating reservoir, formed by the
upward extension of the sides of the frames, substantially as described.
4, The use, in combination with the water frames of the evaporative osmose
apparatus of vertical or horizontal air tubes whereby the interior of the frames are
put in communication with the outer air substantially as herein described.
5. The use of strips of parchment paper or caoutchouc interposed between the
projecting parts of the contiguous water and molasses frames that form the
evaporating reservoir, whereby the joints between such projections are rendered
water-tight substantially as herein described.
6, The formation of a combined evaporative osmose apparatus by the interposition
between the two parts of a separating frame, which receives the molasses from tho

page_text: evaporating trough and distributes it among the molasses frames of the ordinary
osmose apparatus by means of a lower collecting conduit substantially as herein
describe 1.
7, The arrangements for separately feeding the osmose frames of the combined
evaporative and ordinary osmose apparatus substantially as herein described.

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