IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CONDENSING MURIATIC ACID GAS AND OTHER FUMES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Stirling Newall and Henry Bowman, of
the Washington Chemical Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CONDENSING MURIATIC
ACID GAS AND OTHER FUMES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Stirling Newall
and Henry Bowman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,.
with their Petition, on the 13th January 1874.
We, ROBERT STIRLING NEWALL and HENRY BOWMAN, of the
Washington Chemical Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CON-
DENSING MURIATIC ACID GAS AND OTHER FUMES," to be as follows :-
The mode of condensing muriatic acid gas now commonly in use is by
a high tower or receptacle filled with coke or other substance in such a
manner as to expose extensive surfaces over which water is caused to
pass, and the gas on coming in contact therewith is slowly absorbed by
the water and condensed.

page_text: Now our Invention consists in admitting the gas into small low
chambers, and injecting amongst it water divided into the finest spray,
so as to bring the largest possible surface of water in contact with the
gas, and thereby produce a rapid condensation of the gas in a more
efficient and economical manner than by the mode hitherto used.
.
The chambers employed for the purpose are or may be made of any
suitable heat conducting substance capable of resisting the action of the
acid or fume. These chambers may be either cubical or cylindrical in
form, and may be cooled by the application of water to the outside.
The gas is admitted either at the bottom or the top of the chamber,
and the spray jet is introduced at the top of the same, which spray may
be produced by any suitable means, provided it be made fine enough.
The incondensable gas is carried off by a flue from the top, and the con-
densed gas descends to the bottom of the chamber, whence it is run off
as required.
A series of chambers may be used if required, one leading into
another, and each having a spray jet, with one common terminal flue or
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Stirling Newall and Henry Bowman in the 2
Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
STIRLING NEWALL and HENRY BOWMAN, of the Washington Chemical
Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Robert Stirling Newall and Henry Bowman,
Her special licence that we, the said Robert Stirling Newall and Henry
Bowman, executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said Robert Stirling Newall and Henry Bowman, executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF CONDENSING MURIATIC ACID GAS AND OTHER FUMES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Robert Stirling Newall
and Henry Bowman, executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Stirling Newall, on behalf
of myself and of the said Henry Bowman, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
The mode of condensing muriatic acid gas now commonly in use is by
a high tower or receptacle filled with coke or other substance in such a
manner as to expose extensive surfaces over which water is caused to
pass, and the gas on coming in contact therewith is slowly absorbed by
the water and condensed.
Now our Invention consists in admitting the gas into small low
chambers, and injecting amongst it water or other fluid divided into the
finest spray, so as to bring the largest possible surface of water or other
fluid in contact with the gas, and thereby produce a rapid condensation of
the gas in a more efficient and economical manner than by the mode
hitherto used.
The chambers employed for the purpose are or may be made of any
suitable heat conducting substance capable of resisting the action of the
acid or fumes. These chambers may be either cubical or cylindrical in
form, and may be cooled by the application of water to the outside.
The gas
is admitted either at the bottom or the top of the chamber,
and the spray jet is introduced at the top of the same, which spray may
be produced by any suitable means, provided it be made fine enough.
The incondensable gas is carried off by a flue from the top, and the

page_text: Fig. 1 represents in vertical section a series of low chambers, and Fig. 2
is a plan or horizontal view of the same.
A, A, are the chambers, which may be formed of Yorkshire flags and
supported on pillars; B, B, are a number of small pipes through which
the gases or fumes are conveyed from the furnace or other place of
production to the chambers. Similar series of pipes are used for connecting
the chambers together, which are of small size, and are kept cool by
water or otherwise, so as to cool the gases or fumes passing through
them. The gases or fumes enter at one side of the chamber, and the exit
is at the other side.
The spray is introduced at the top of each chamber, as indicated in
the Figures, and being produced from water under great pressure forced
through small orifices forms a fine spray or mist, which mixes with and
condenses the gases or fumes, and carries them to the bottom of the
chamber, whence the products of condensation are run off as required.
Instead of producing the spray from water it may be produced from
dilute acid or solutions of salts or other matter in suspension (such as
milk of lime), capable of absorbing gases or fumes when injected into
the chambers in the form of spray.
The last chamber of the series has a pipe open to the atmosphere a
through which the incondensable gases escape.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we
claim as of our Invention is,—

page_text: First. The condensing of muriatic acid gas by cooling it and causing a
fine spray of water or weak acid to mix with it in low chambers, as
herein-before described.
And, Secondly. The condensing of other fumes by cooling them and
injecting a spray of water or other fluid or solution or milk amongst
them, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Stirling Newall, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
FRED. S. NEWALL,
Ferndene,
Gateshead,
Clerk to R. S. Newall.
R. S. NEWALL. (L.S.)