A Process and Apparatus for Increasing the Bleaching Properties of Chlorine Gas.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1891-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1892
COME LIE DI BULL
A Process and Apparatus for Increasing the Bleaching Properties of
Chlorine Gas.
1 CARL KELLNER Director of the Kellner-Partington Paper Pulp Company
Limited of New Market Lane Brown Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, 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 :-
My invention consists in subjecting the dry chlorine gas to violent vibrations by
sending through it (the dry gas) either a rapidly alternating, or a frequently
interrupted electrical current at high tension.
This current may be produced with a very small expenditure of power, by means
of an alternating electrical apparatus or dynamo connected with a transformer,"
or otherwise by means of an electro-static induction apparatus which, for industrial
purposes may be constructed with several plates or cylinders placed in rows on a
revolving axle.
The most suitable arrangement for treating chlorine gas consists of a number of
tubes or flat cells made of thin glass; any apparatus however may be used for the
purpose which is adapted for transforming oxygen into ozone.
A laboratory apparatus adapted for this purpose is shewn in section at Fig. 1 on
the annexed drawing.
A is a glass jar filled with dilute sulphuric acid. B-C is a double glass tube
made from two test tubes B and C of different diameters placed one inside the
other and fused together at the mouth, the inner portion B of which is also filled
with dilute sulphuric acid, whereas the space between B and C is connected at the
lower end with the chlorine feed pipe a, and at the upper end with the discharge
pipe b.
e and e¹ are electrodes dipping into the fluid, el being, by preference, in the
form of a chain.
The alternating or intermittent current at high tension passing through the fluid
as a "dark discharge" flows through the gas which enters at a and passes out at b
and imparts to it an efficiency and properties surpassing those of ordinary chlorine
gas in the same degree as the properties of ozone are superior to those of oxygen.
Or, the same effect may be produced in a modified degree by "sparking."
For energising chlorine gas according to my invention for the practical application
thereof to industrial purposes I prefer flat glass troughs or cells arranged alter-
nately in an earthenware vessel or chamber.
Fig. 2 on the annexed drawing is a plan view. Fig. 3 a partial longitudinal
section and Fig. 4 a transverse section of an apparatus which may be employed for
this purpose.
f. is a vessel or chamber made of earthenware in which are arranged a number of
vertical troughs or cells y which are open at the top and filled with dilute sulphuric
acid or other good conductor.
These cells are arranged alternately at one or other side of the vessel or
chamber as shown at Fig. 2 so that the chlorine gas which enters the vessel or
chamber at h and leaves it at i shall pass around and between all the troughs
or cells in a zigzag or serpentine course as shown by the arrows.
k, kare the electrodes which are connected together alternately to the opposite
poles in the usual manner so that the electric current at high tension passes through
the gas in traversing from one cell to the other.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The new process for changing the properties of chlorine gas and energising
or increasing its bleaching efficiency which consists in passing through the dry gas
electrical currents at high tension, which are either interrupted in quick succession
or the direction of which is rapidly changed or reversed, and this either in the form
of a "dark discharge" or of a stream of sparks.
Secondly. I claim for carrying on the aforesaid process an apparatus consisting
of a series of troughs or cells of thin glass placed close together in a chamber, and
filled with a fluid which is a good conductor, or with metal filings or other suitable
material, and connected with a source of electricity, whilst the chlorine gas under
treatment is conveyed and caused to circulate in the said chamber round and
between the said cells substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings annexed.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1891.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.