Improvements in and Connected with Apparatus for Distributing Air or Gases to Liquids.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Apparatus for Distributing Air
or Gases to Liquids.
I JAMES JONES MELDRUM, of 25 Cathedral Yard, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This Invention has reference to those processes which have for their object the
oxidation, aerating, agitating, or other treatment of liquids by air or gases, or the
absorption of gases by liquids, by passing atmospheric air or gases through them,
such liquids whilst under treatment being contained in tanks, vessels, or chambers,
and the process conducted therein; and it also refers particularly to that one of the
above described processes in which it is necessary or desirable to distribute equally,
and pass different volumes of air or gas through the liquor, at different stages of the
process, or at different times.
One of the main objects of this Invention is to provide a simple mode of carrying
out the above type of process and also apparatus of a simple form, efficient, and of
low initial cost, by which this mode may be practised. The mode of operation, and
apparatus, by which I attain the ends and objects specified I will now describe,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate the
Invention.
For the sake of brevity and simplicity I will describe one application of the Inven-
tion, say a case of oxidizing liquors where two different volumes of air are to be
passed through the liquor at two different stages, namely one at an early stage of the
process and one at a later stage.
In the ordinary modes hitherto practised in liquor oxidizing processes, in tanks or
vessels, by passing air through it, the air has had to be conducted to the tanks.and
distributed by pipes or chambers horizontally arranged, the distribution of air being
effected through holes or apertures in the pipes or chambers, and these holes or

page_text: apertures have heretofore been arranged in one or more rows on the under side of the
pipe or chamber, or in a row at the upper side, or all round the pipes, indiscriminately.
Now according to this Invention I construct the distributing pipes or chambers and
arrange or dispose the apertures in such a manner that a single pipe or chamber serves
to distribute equally throughout the whole length or extent of its apertures or holes,
smaller or larger volumes of air, accordingly as said smaller or larger volumes are
delivered to the pipe or chamber.
1 effect this end by constructing a distributing pipe or chamber of a diameter
sufficient to freely take the larger volume of air to be distributed, and I arrange and
dispose the apertures or holes in two or more rows, lying in horizontal planes, arranged
one above the other. One example of a pipe in cross section and outside elevation is
shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, respectively, in which it will be seen one
row of holes, a, is provided in the top of the pipe Z and two rows, b, near the bottom.
In operation, when a volume of air is passed into the pipe, of a pressure great enough
to pass through a certain head of liquor in a tank in which the pipe might be situated,
and such volume being sufficient to properly fill the top row of apertures a, this
volume will be equally distributed throughout this set of holes, none of it escaping by
the lower holes, this of course being due to the greater head and pressure of liquor
upon these holes. If now, however, a volume, equal to say about three times the
former volume, and large enough to fill properly the upper row of holes a, and the
two lower rows of holes b, be passed into the pipe, then this greater volume will
also be practically equally distributed throughout the length of the distributing
pipe.
Precisely the same result will occur when using a pipe provided with two rows of
upper holes a, and one row of lower holes b, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, only of
course the difference of volume which will flow through the two sets of holes will not
be so great as in the case of the pipe shown in Figures 1 and 2.
It will be evident that if more than two different volumes of air or gas are to be
equally distributed by one pipe, an additional set of holes must be provided for every
change or increase of volume to be discharged and distributed; and in proportioning
the areas of the holes of the different rows, the difference of head, and consequent
pressure of liquor, under which the different rows will exist, will have to be taken
into consideration, as well as the difference in volumes to be distributed.
The air or gas to be distributed may be supplied to the distributing pipes or
chambers either by "steam-jet," or other motor, and may be caused to pass through
the liquid by blowing or forcing it through at a pressure greater than that of the
atmosphere, or by treating the liquid in a closed chamber and exhausting the said
chamber above the liquid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would state in conclu-
sion that the apparatus set forth particularly in the above description, constitute
merely special examples, and consequently serve to illustrate, only, the Invention,
and I therefore wish it to be understood, that I do not intend to limit the Patent to
any particular forms, or constructions, or arrangements of the apparatus in connection
with which it may be used, or any particular form, or construction, or arrangement
of the pipes, chambers, conduits by or through which the air or gases are to be
distributed, as all these, in applying this Invention, may be modified and arranged in
various ways and forms without departing from the scope or spirit of the Invention ;
and I declare that what I claim in respect of my Invention is :-
1. In processes in which air or gases are supplied to liquids for purposes such as
specified, effecting the distribution of different volumes of said air or gases to said
liquids through two or more sets or rows of holes or apertures arranged in different
horizontal planes; substantially in the manner described for the purposes set forth.
2. In apparatus for distributing air or gases to liquids, for the purposes of
oxidation, aeration, agitation, or other purposes, or for the absorption. thereby of
said air or gases, the construction of pipes or chambers substantially as . described,

page_text: consisting in the arrangement of holes or apertures of said pipes or chambers by
which a single pipe or chamber, or a set of pipes or chambers, serves to distribute
different volumes of said air or gases.
3. Pipes or chambers for distributing air or gases to liquids, for purposes
such as specified, provided with two or more rows of holes or apertures, said rows
being arranged in horizontal planes at different heights or levels in or on said pipes
or chambers.
Dated this Twants oighth dox of Fahr 1000