IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- THE APPARATUS CONNECTED FACTURE OF PURE SPIRITS OF WINE AND IN THEREWITH.
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Maurice Bauer of the firm of M Bauer & Cie London
6. Union Court Chambers for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
THE APPARATUS CONNECTED
FACTURE OF PURE SPIRITS OF WINE AND IN
THEREWITH. Communicated to him from abroad by Julius Alfred Stelzner of
Alt Chemnitz in the Kingdom of Saxony Merchant and Spirit Manufacturer
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Maurice Bauer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1883.
MAURICE BAUER, of the firm of M. Bauer & Cie London 6 Union Court
Chambers IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PURE SPIRITS OF WINE,
A communication from Julius
AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Alfred Stelzner of Alt-Chemnitz in the Kingdom of Saxony Merchant and Spirit
Manufacturer
In all the methods hitherto known and applied in the manufacture of pure
spirit, without taste or smell, a repeated rectification of the raw spirit is requisite,
or it is subjected to filtration and various other processes.
The object of my said invention is to obtain pure spirits of wine from the raw
spirit without such last mentioned processes, by one continuous process, and by
means of apparatus which is capable of either intermittent or continuous operation.
The means whereby I carry my said improvements into effect, are as follows:-
A metallic vessel, of suitable dimensions, is fitted with a perforated diaphragm
accross the same. Above this Vessel are suitable pipes and a cooling vessel, con-
nected with a cold water cistern. A central spirit pipe is fitted above the cooling
vessel. The connection of the upper tube terminates at the top of the upper
chamber of the vessel with a curved pipe. In the same Chamber there are two
cold water pipes which terminate in fincly perforated roses or nozzles, for the
purpse of producing a fine water spray in such Chamber.
Near to this Chamber is fitted up a raw spirit reservoir or receiver, with a gauge
fitted thereto for shewing the quantity contained therein. From this spirit
reservoir a pipe, fitted with a stop cock, descends to and enters a Steam injector,

page_text: which is fitted with a steam pipe and supplied with high pressure steam. The
motion of the Steam carries with it a suitable quantity of the raw spirit into the
Lower chamber of the vessel before named, the terminal being fitted to and con-
nected with two sets of radial perforated tubes which distribute the spirit in the
form of fine spray in such lower chamber. A coil of pipe is also fitted in this
chamber, supplied with high pressure Steam to keep the same at a suitable
temperature to evaporate the spray.
A small Reducing apparatus fitted with shelves and communicating tubes and
also a coil of pipe is also fitted up, with such adjuncts as are necessary for the
process of cooling and condensing the alcoholic vapours.
The operation of my said apparatus is as follows:-' -The apparatus is first warmed
by means of direct high pressure steam. Raw spirit is then caused to enter the
lower Chamber of the main vessel, centrally, by means of the injector and radial
pipes, being regulated according to the capability of the Vessel for work. This
chamber being warmed by the steam coil, the raw spirit becomes immediately
vapourised, and is washed and attenuated by the pure steam issuing 'therewith
from the radial pipes. The alcoholic vapours so operated upon then rise to the
upper chamber, where they meet and mix with the fine water spray from the two
spray producing nozzles, whereby such vapours are successively reduced and
thoroughly washed. The Upper chamber is kept cooler than the lower Chamber.
The application of detersives are advantageous, and they may be introduced
into the apparatus either with the spirit or water spray. I apply particularly
carbónic natron, carbonic chalk, carbonic magnesia, or carbonic strontium, also oils
or other ingredients of like effect, much depending upon the constitution of the
raw material to be worked up.
By means of the repeated washing of the raw material by the pure steam and
water and by the detersives, I obtain an almost pure and clear product in the
vessels, thus proving the great facilities obtainable by continuous working; and for
such working a small pipe is fitted which prevents the accumulation of the con-
densed vapours and also prevents the ethal-alcohol from coming into contact with
the boiling alcohol in the upper portions of the apparatus. The ingredients, as
they are drawn off, enter the Reducing apparatus, and the alcohol is separated from
the detersives.
I may mention that the consumption of steam in my process of continuous work
is not greater than that used in intermittent work.
My said invention is applicable not only to the production of pure spirits of
wine, but also to spirits of less purity; and is equally applicable to intermittent
working.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Maurice Bauer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd August
1883.
27
MAURICE BAUER of the firm of M. Bauer & Cie. London 6 Union Court
Chambers "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PURE SPIRITS OF WINE
AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH Communicated to me from
abroad by Julius Alfred Stelzner of Alt Chemnitz in the Kingdom of Saxony
Merchant and Spirit Manufacturer
In all the methods hitherto known and used in the manufacture of pure spirit
without taste and smell a repeated rectification of the raw spirit is requisite or it
is subjected to filtration and various other processes.
The object of this invention is to obtain pure spirits of wine from the raw spirit
without such last mentioned processes by one continuous process and by means of
apparatus which is capable of either intermittent or continuous operation.
The apparatus by which the said invention is carried into effect is constructed as
hereinafter described.
The still consists of a metal vessel of suitable dimensions divided internally by
means of a perforated diaphragm into two chambers or compartments. Above
this vessel and communicating with the upper compartment thereof by means of a
curved pipe are columns provided with cooling casings or vessels which com-
municate by means of pipes with a cold water cistern which columns communicate
at top by means of a tube with other apparatus of the kind ordinarily used into
which the spirit or vapour from the columns passes. Communicating with the
said cooling casings or vessels are pipes which are carried down to the still and
terminate in the upper compartment thereof. These pipes are provided with stop
cocks and at their lower ends are fitted with roses or nozzles by which the water
passing through them from the cooling casings is distributed in the said compartment
in the form of fine spray.
Near the said vessel or still is fitted up a raw spirit reservoir or receiver
provided with a gauge for showing the quantity contained therein. From this
spirit reservoir a pipe fitted with a stop cock descends to and enters a steam
injector which is fitted with a steam pipe and supplied with steam. Leading from
the injector is a pipe which terminates in the lower compartment of the still or
vessel hereinbefore described the terminal of the said pipe being provided with a
sprinkling appliance and arranged between two sets of radial perforated pipes
from which steam is distributed into the said still or vessel which steam at once
evaporates the spirit discharged by the injector. A coil of pipe is fitted in the
lower compartment of the said still or vessel and supplied with steam to keep the
still at a suitable temperature.
A small reducing apparatus or spirit extracting apparatus fitted with shelves
and communicating tubes and a coil of pipe connected with the coil in the lower
compartment of the still and fitted with other necessary adjuncts is arranged
in proximity to the still and into this apparatus the water from the still passes
continuously by means of a pipe leading from the bottom of the still and
terminating in the said reducing apparatus. The water thus passing from the
still carries with it the heavy alcohols and other impurities and these are
separated from the water in the said reducing apparatus the spirit passing over
from the upper part thereof to a cooler which is supplied with water by a pipe
leading from the upper cooling casing of the columns hereinbefore referred to.
The apparatus hereinbefore described is illustrated in Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawing which is a vertical section of the whole apparatus necessary
for working according to the improved process herein described with the exception
of the dephlegmator the cooler and other parts ordinarily used whose functions
remain unaltered and which are omitted for the sake of clearness of illustration.
In the said drawing A is the still a² is the diaphragm by which it is divided

page_text: internally B' B2 are the two chambers or compartments C C are the columns above
the still A and c¹ is the curved pipe by which the said columns communicate with
the still. CC² are the casings or coolers which surround the said columns X' is the
cold water cistern and x1 x2 are the pipes by which water is conveyed to the said
coolers the pipe x leading from the cistern ✗ to the casing C' and the pipe
leading from the said casing C₁ to the casing C². L L are the pipes leading from
the coolers to the still and are the roses or nozzles at their lower ends. By
this arrangement of the said pipes the water from the cistern X first enters the
casing C and thence passes partly by the pipe L' to the chamber B' where it is
discharged in the form of fine spray and partly by the pipe to the casing C
whence it passes by the pipe L2 into the said chamber B. E is the raw spirit
reservoir, the gauge, g the steam pipe, H the steam injector, h the pipe leading
thereto from the reservoir E, i is the pipe leading from the injector to the
chamber B2 and K is the sprinkling appliance. J J are the two sets of radial
perforated pipes one of which sets is shown separately in plan in Figure 2 a a are
pipes by which steam is conveyed to the said pipes J J and b is the coil of pipe
in the lower compartiment or chamber B2 of the still. F is the reducing apparatus,
f1f1 the shelves therein, f2 f2 the communicating tubes, d the coil of pipe
which is connected with the coil b by means of the pipe b, c is the pipe by which
the water from the still A enters the apparatus F, the said pipe c being provided
with a sprinkling appliance K' at its end, G, is the cooler, g₁ is the pipe by which
the apparatus F. communicates therewith and g² is the pipe which conveys water
from the casing C¹ to the said cooler.
The method of using and the action of the apparatus herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing are as follows:-
The whole is first warmed by passing steam through it. When. the apparatus
has been sufficiently warmed steam is supplied to the pipes J J water is supplied
to the pipes L L and raw spirit is caused to enter the chamber B² the quantity of
spirit allowed to pass to the injector H being only so much as the apparatus is
capable of at once working up. By the action of the steam issuing from the
pipes J J and the heat diffused by the coil b the raw spirit fed into the
chamber B is at once evaporated and is diluted and washed by the steam from
the said pipes J J. The alcoholic vapour thus produced and treated passes to the
chamber or compartment B¹ where the said vapour is repeatedly and equably
diluted and further washed. From the said compartment the vapour which has
been already considerably refined passes to the columns C C or into other similar
apparatus of ordinary construction.
The water from the chamber B' carrying with it the heavy alcohols and other
impurities from which the spirit fed into the still A has been freed passes con-
tinuously to the reducing apparatus F where as herein before stated the said
alcohols and impurities are separated from the said water which passes off by the
pipe e.
Thus a thorough refining may with ease be carried on continuously.
In cases where the apparatus is required to work for a long period it is
advantageous to connect the small discharge cock of the low wine pipe leading
from the dephlegmator to the columns with the still by means of a small pipe in
order by partial discharge into the still of the vapour condensed by the dephleg-
mator to prevent a collection of ethylic alcohol in the columns.
It is advantageous to place the nozzle or sprinkling apparatus K from which the
spirit is discharged into the still A as far as practicable below the columns C and
any suitable known form of sprinkling apparatus which will thoroughly diffuse
the liquid issuing therefrom may be used.
It is advantageous to introduce steam at a very low pressure and well distributed
between the water sprinkling appliances and to supply warmer water to the lower
water sprinkling appliance than to the upper one and in cases where several water
sprinkling appliances are used the water supplied to each successively higher one
should be of a lower temperature than that supplied to the one next below.

page_text: Instead of dividing the still into two compartments only it may be advantageously
divided into three or more compartments by means of perforated diaphragms.
When the still is thus divided the matter to be treated is introduced into the
middle compartment the apparatus for producing the water spray is arranged in
the upper compartment or compartments and into the lower compartment or
compartments the heavy alcohols are conducted or descend.
Carbonate of soda, carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, carbonate of
strontium, oil or other refining matter or matters according to the nature or
property of the raw material to be treated may be introduced into the apparatus
either with the raw spirit or with the water supplied to the sprinkling appliances.
The process and apparatus hereinbefore described are applicable not only to the
production of pure spirits of wine but also to the production of spirits of less
purity.
The introduction of water in a divided state below the columns either with or
without refiuing materials is of great utility in non continuous distillation for the
rectification of alcohol as a finer product is thereby obtained.
The alteration of ordinary non continuously working rectifying apparatus into
continuously working apparatus may be effected without interruption of working
and at a low cost.
The consumption of steam in working the process herein before described is not
greater than in the ordinary known methods of non continuous rectification.
When refining materials oils for example are used they may be recovered in the
reducing or spirit extracting apparatus F.
Having thus described the nature of this invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the
precise details herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing
but I claim as the said invention of "Improvements in the manufacture of pure
spirits of wine and in the apparatus connected therewith."
First The method hereinbefore described of producing best refined neutral
spirits of wine direct from raw spirit without preliminary treatment of the same
and at one rectification the said method consisting in continuously introducing the
said raw spirit in a finely divided state into the still along with steam and there
subjecting it to the action of water in a fine spray and steam the spirit thus acted
on and refined or partially refined passing continuously to the distilling apparatus
in the form of vapour and the impurities passing continuously from the still with
the water substantially as herein before described.
Secondly The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting the
apparatus herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly The use in apparatus for producing refined spirits of wine from raw
spirit according to the process hereinbefore described of any one or more of the
parts hereinafter mentioned of the apparatus herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing the said parts being the steam distributing apparatus,
the dividing and sprinkling appliances for the matter to be treated, the dividing
and sprinkling appliances for water, the reducing apparatus or spirit extracting
apparatus for obtaining the alcohol to be separated and recovering the refining
materials, the cooling casing or casings for the columns and the injector.
In witness whereof I the said Maurice Bauer have hereunto set my hand and
seal this thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three