Process of Utilizing the Waste of Distilleries, Breweries, Glucose and Starch Works, and the like, for the Préparation of Fuel.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug.,
1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process of Utilizing the Waste of Distilleries, Breweries, Glucose
and Starch Works, and the like, for the Préparation of Fuel.
I, ALEXANDER PARKS, of Martinsburg, County of Berkeley, State of West
Virginia, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 has relation to a new and useful method or process of utilizing the
waste products of distilleries, glucose and starch factories, breweries, and other
works producing waste of a similar nature, and it has for its object to provide a
simple and inexpensive method for separating the nitrogenous or solid portions of
the said waste from its liquid portion, and converting said solid portions into a fuel
suitable for use in steam boiler-furnaces and for other purposes, as will fully herein-
after appear.
Heretofore, for the want of a cheap and effectual method of utilizing it, the
waste of distilleries, breweries, and similar works, has been considered a veritable
nuisance and has always been a source of expense and trouble to the manufacturer;
and it is the object, therefore, of this invention to provide an effectual and com-
paratively rapid process whereby this heretofore useless waste may be converted
into a fuel suitable for burning in the furnaces of the works or factory, thereby
effecting a great reduction in the expenses for fuel.
In practising my method I discharge the hot waste as it comes from the still, or
In this condition it
other receptacle, into a tank or vat, or other suitable vessel.
is very hot and in a liquid form, the solid portions being very finely comminuted
and intimately mixed with the liquid portion, and it is therefore necessary to employ
some method other than straining or draining, or pressing, for quickly and effectually
separating the liquid from the solid portions. To accomplish this in the most
effectual and quickest way, and lose the least possible quantity of the solid
matter, I permit the same to settle to the bottom of the tank, and while this
In this way
precipitation is taking place, run off from the surface the liquid matter.
very little of the solid matter is run off, and I am enabled to separate 60 or 70 per
cent. of the water, leaving in the bottom of the tank a thick semi-liquid mass of
nitrogenous material, which is in condition to be carried through the second stage
of the process.
The semi-liquid mass, while hot, is run or discharged from the first tank through
a trough, into another tank or vessel, upon the bottom of which is spread a loose
layer of suitable depth of reasonably fine coal, coke, cinders, saw-dust, or other
substance of a like combustible nature. The bottom, or near the bottom, of this
tank is slatted or provided with suitable openings, whereby the watery matter drained
from the waste material by the said porous layer of fuel, (coal, coke, &c.) will be
run off or discharged from the tank. In this manner 40 or 50 per cent. of the water
remaining in the waste after the first separation may be extracted therefrom,
while the same is still in a hot condition. The quantity of fuel spread upon the
bottom of the tank will of course vary with the exigencies of each case, and may
be varied without departing from my invention, but I have found that about a
three inch layer of fuel for a twelve inch layer of waste answers very well, and
serves to extract quickly and effectually the free watery matter from the mass.
The waste is left in this tank to drain a few hours, or until it becomes thoroughly
drained, (its condition being shown by the cracks in its surface), when it is removed,
together with the lower stratum of porous fuel, by shoveling, or otherwise, and
thrown upon a slightly inclined open slatted floor, where it is allowed to remain as
long as desirable to further drain. Instead of placing the material upon the

page_text: inclined slatted floor it may be taken directly to the boiler house as it may be
burned, if desired, immediately upon its removal from the draining or second tank.
It will be observed that in removing the waste from the second tank together
with the coal, coke, or other fuel, the two will become thoroughly mixed, and thereby
form a fuel of great heating capacity, as experiment has demonstrated.
When the fuel thus formed is taken to the boiler-house it may be mixed before
introduction into the furnace, with additional coal, coke, cinders, or other material
of a like nature, if it is found desirable.
It may be desirable, in some cases, not to mix the layer or stratum of loose
material in the bottom of the draining tank with the drained waste, in which case
the said layer may be formed of gravel or other similar loose material that will
serve to drain and conduct off the water. When the gravel is employed, of course,
some means must be used to prevent the waste and gravel mixing, for instance,
the gravel may be placed in pockets or receptacles formed on the bottom of the
tank. The waste as it comes from the draining tank may be used as fuel without
any further treatment, but it is desirable to mix it with a suitable quantity of coal
or other fuel before using.
This method is particularly adapted for reclaiming the waste of distilleries, but
I can see no reason why it cannot be employed with equal advantage for utilizing
the waste of glucose and starch works, breweries, and the like.
An essential feature of my invention is based on the knowledge of the nature of
the fermentation of grains, there being five stages or periods involved, namely,
from the grain in its natural condition to the first or starchy stage, then to the
second stage by which the starch is changed to sugar, then to the third stage by
which the sugar is turned to alcohol, then to the fourth stage by which the alcohol
is converted into vinegar, and then to the last stage by which the vinegar is turned
into putrid matter. Now, in my invention, I take the waste or slop hot and fresh,
just as it comes from the still, when it is in the third or alcoholic stage. I find in
practice that it is imperatively necessary to keep the slop as near that stage as
possible while I am working it to remove the water, hence I work it while it is
hot. If I do not take it at or near the alcoholic state, I cannot separate the
water and make a solid workable mass, because the waste in a short time will pass
into the fourth or acetic condition, and thence rapidly to the putrid stage, as is evident,
in which latter stage it becomes impossible to separate the water, the whole matter
becoming a slimy unmanageable mass, which would require a very long period,
say a month, to get into condition for use, and even then the life has gone out of
the material and it is therefore not nearly so valuable as when used immediately.
In
I run the semi-liquid matter on as thin a layer of fuel, as possible, just sufficient
being used to serve as a filtering agent. The advantage in using. fuel is that it
may be removed with the waste and will serve to enhance its value as a fuel.
using other materials than fuel as a filtering or draining medium, the material
becomes gummed and clogged and has to be thoroughly washed before it can be
used again, and even after thorough washing, it soon has to be removed and new
material substituted. Hence the great advantage of using fuel as a filtering
material.
The main idea is to dispose of the waste each day as it is produced, so as to
avoid storing and accumulations, which would require a large space and buildings.
By this process I do away with the necessity of having large storage buildings and
put the waste in condition to be used immediately, it being taken directly to the
tire room in its wet condition and there burned.
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 :
1. The method herein described of reclaiming and preparing for use the waste
of distilleries, &c., consisting in running off the surface liquid from the hot waste
131

page_text: precipitated matter upon a bed of porous material, where it is permitted to drain,
this porous bed serving to extract most of the remaining liquid from the mass,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The method herein described of reclaiming and preparing for use the waste
of distilleries, &c., consisting in first separating the liquid and solid matter therein,
then discharging the semi-liquid solid matter upon a layer of broken coal, coke,
or other fuel, where it is permitted to drain, and finally mixing the drained waste
with the porous body of fuel, whereby the waste is converted into fuel, substantially
as described.
Duted this 96th low of ML. 1801
ALEXANDER PARKS,
By L. W., per F. B.