Improvements in Apparatus for the Evaporation of Liquids.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Evaporation of Liquids.
We JOHN GEORGE CHAMBERLAIN of Tipton in the County of Staffordshire
Manufacturer, and GEORGE EDWARD DAVIS of 301 Great Clowes Street Munchoster
in the County of Lancaster Chemical Engineer and Consulting Chemist do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Apparatus for the evaporation of liquids in a partial vacuum has long been known,
but has not come into very general use, on account mainly of its complicated naturo,
and the expense necessarily accompanying such complications. With even greater force
does this apply to those forms of apparatus, wherein the steam or vapour evolved from
one vessel is made to evaporate liquid in another, the operation being assisted by a
partial vacuum.
Our invention relates to the construction of evaporating apparatus, working by
means of a partial vacuum, and also by means of multiple effect, so as to reduce the
cost thereof, to ronder them as automatic as possible and but little likely to get out of
order during the temporary absence of the attendant.
We construct our evaporating vessels of any suitable material, and of such a form
that the steam or vapour employed for evaporation passes through a series of curved
tubes, the ends of which are firmly fixed in a plate of metal the curved tubes passing
into the liquid undergoing evaporation. Provision is made for draining off the liquid
condensed in the interior of these tubes and a steam trap of any ordinary pattern is
adaptol to let out this condensed liquid without allowing any escape of vapour. The
evaporating vessel itself is fitted with froth-breakers whenever the liquid undergoing
evaporation is liable to intumescence.
The evaporating vessel where only one is employed has the liquor chamber con-
nected with a wator-jet condenser, which we construct in such a manner, that when
passing the quantity of water necessary for the condensation of the vapour, which the
still is constructed to produce, a sufficient vacuum is produced to draw the vapour and
air or other gases from the vessel without the aid of a pump.
The evaporating vessel is fitted with an overflow pipe for the concentrated liquor,
which we term the tail pipe and through this pipe there is a constant flow of liquor
while the still is at work. The liquid supplied to the evaporating vessels is either
forced into the same by means of a pump, or run in from a tank placed at a sufficient
elovation which must be regulated by the steam pressure employed.
The water tank, feeding the water-jet condenser is placed at a sufficient elevation
above the condenser to give the necessary velocity of flow to produce the required
vacuum. The tail-pipe, already described, we construct about thirty five feet in
length to overcome the action of atmospheric pressure, but where this construction is
not possible for want of space, or other reasons, we attach an ejector or pump, or fix a
series of closed vessels, or place a special valve and tank to receive the concentrated
liquid and allow of its outflow without disturbing the partial vacuum to any serious
extent.
The construction of the apparatus hereinbefore described, applies to apparatus of
single effect, that is to say, consisting of one vessel only, and one set of curved tubes,
the water-jet condenser producing a sufficient vacuum to evaporate the liquid at a
much lower temperature than that of the heating medium, and when supplied with
steam from an ordinary Lancashire boiler, such an apparatus will evaporate about
seven and three quarter pounds of water per pound of fuel used at the boilers, the
boiling point being reduced to about 130° F. When it is desired to economiso fuel,
two or more vessels are employed, and they are so placed that the steam compartment,
or vapour chamber of the last effect is in connection with the liquor chamber of the

page_text: next vessel, and so on throughout the series. In an apparatus of multiple effect as
aforesaid, the liquid undergoing evaporation is made to flow from vessel to vessel
through a pipe of sufficient diameter.
When ten vessels are employed in series about 77 pounds of water are evaporated
in this apparatus for every pound of fuel burned at the steam boilers.
Dated this 11th day of November 1889.
J. G. CHAMBERLAIN.
GEORGE E. DAVIS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Evaporation of Liquids.
We, JOHN GEORGE CHAMBERLAIN of Tipton in the County of Stafford Engineer and
GEORGE EDWARD DAVIS of 301 Great Clowes Street, Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Chemical Engineer and Consulting Chemist do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be porformed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to the construction of evaporating apparatus working by
means of a partial vacuum and also by means of multiple effect so as to reduce
the cost thereof and to render them as automatic as possible and but little likely to
get out of order during the temporary absence of the attendant
Wo construct our evaporating vessels of any suitable material and of such a
form that the steam or vapour employed for evaporation passes through a series of
curved tubes, the ends of which are firmly fixed, the tubes projecting into the liquid
undergoing evaporation as shown at A in the drawing accompanying this Specifica-
tion. The bottom of the still A consists of a hollow metal casting into which the
steam required for evaporation is admitted. This hollow casting is fitted with a per-
forated midfeather and connected by means of a tube with the steam-trap B. The
top of the hollow casting is also perforated and into the perforations are firmly fixed
the ends of the curved metal tubes A, through which the steam used for evaporation
is made to flow, the condensed water falling into the hollow base and is removed from
thence by the steam trap B. The evaporating vessel A is fitted with an overflow
pipe E out of which the concentrated liquor runs in a constant stream when the still is
at work. The pipe E we term the tail-pipe. Where the liquid undergoing evapora-
tion is liable to intumescence we connect the vapour outlet of the still A by means
of a pipe with an empty vessel C which we term a froth-breaker, the outlet from this
being connected with the hollow base of the next still as shown in the drawing. The
necessary vacuum is maintained by means of the water-jet exhauster condenser D
which is constructed in such a manner that when the necessary quantity of water is
passed through it to condense the vapour a sufficient vacuum is maintained to draw
the gases and
vapours from the vessel or still without the aid of a pump. The liquid
supplied to the evaporating vessel is either forced into the vessel by means of a pump
or run in from a tank placed at a sufficient elevation, which must be regulated by the
steam pressure employed.
The water tank to feed the water-jet exhaustor condenser B is placed at a sufficient
elevation above the condenser to give the necessary velocity of flow to produce the
required vacuum, sixteen feet bead will be ample in all cases, but it may be less
according to circumstances.
The tail pipe E already described we construct about thirty five feet in length, the
lower end dipping into water, but where this construction is not possible for want
of space or other reasons, we attach an ejector or pump to withdraw the liquid
without disturbing the partial vacuum to any serious extent.
The construction of the apparatus herein before described applies to apparatus
of single effect, that is to say consisting of one vessel only the water jet exhauster
condenser D producing a sufficient vacuum to evaporate the liquid at a much lower
temperature than that of the heating medium, and when supplied with steam from

page_text: an ordinary Lancashire boiler such an apparatus will evaporate about seven and three
quarter pounds of water per pound of fuel used at the boilers, the boiling point being
reduced to about 130° F.
When it is desired to economise fuel two or more vessels are employed, as shown
in the drawing, and they are so placed that the steam compartment or vapour chamber
of the last effect is in connection with the liquor chamber of the next vessel or
effect, and so on throughout the series.
In an apparatus of multiple effect as aforesaid the liquid undergoing evaporation is
made to flow from vessel to vessel, through a pipe of sufficient diameter, & the flow
regulated by the cock placed thereon.
When ten vessels are employed in series about seventy seven pounds of water are
evaporated in this apparatus for every pound of fuel burned at the steam boilers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. The construction and use of the apparatus herein described and illustrated for
the purpose of the evaporation of liquids, and
Second. The use of the water jet exhauster condenser in connection with vacuum
stills, or stills working by multiple effect, to replace the vacuum pump now generally
employed.
Dated this 9th day of August 1890.
J. G. CHAMBERLAIN.
GEORGE E. DAVIS.