AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING THE NITROUS PRODUCTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex,, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING THE NITROUS PRODUCTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SULPHURIC ACID "to be as follows:-
1
Careful analysis of sulphuric acid proves that it contains nitrous ingredients
representing almost all the nitric acid or nitrate employed. The recovery of these
ingredients has been attempted by employing a number of Gay Lussac towers, but
the results have not proved satisfactory, chiefly because by these means there is
not effected that intimate mixture of the gases which is necessary for that reaction
of the nitrous ingredients, the sulphurous acid and the oxygen, which results in
the formation of nitrous acid that is absorbed and retained by the sulphuric
acid.
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for effecting the required
intimate admixture without resistance to the flow of the fluids. At the top of
a tower, lined with lead, are placed several sets. of apparatus delivering showers
of concentrated sulphuric acid about 60° Beaumè, which descend on to a stratum
of coke about a foot deep laid on a grating raised about a yard above the bottom
of the tower. The gas enters under this grating, rises up through the showers of
sulphuric acid, and is led by a pipe from the top down to the bottom of the Gay
Lussac tower,
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS
FOR RECOVERING THE NITROUS PRODUCTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC
ACID," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
Careful analysis of sulphuric acid proves that it contains nitrous ingredients
representing almost all the nitric acid or nitrate employed. The recovery of
these ingredients has been attempted by employing a number of Gay Lussac-
towers, but the results have not proved satisfactory, chiefly because by these.
means there is not effected that intimate mixture of the gases which is necessary
for that reaction of the nitrous ingredients, the sulphurous acid and the oxygen,
which results in the formation of nitrous acid that is absorbed and retained by the
sulphuric acid.
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for effecting the required
intimate admixture without resistance to the flow of the fluids. At the top of
a, tower, lined with lead, are placed several sets of apparatus delivering showers
of concentrated sulphuric acid, about 60° Beaumé, which descend on to a stratum.
of coke about a foot deep laid on a grating raised about a yard above the bottom"
of the tower. The gas enters under this grating, rises up through the showers of
sulphuric acid, and is led by a pipe from the top down to the bottom of the Gay
Lussac tower.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing shews a vertical section of the said
apparatus Fig. 2 shews a sectional plan and Fig. 3 a transverse section. A is a
tower of either rectangular circular or oval cross section, constructed of lead, in
a similar manner to a Gay Lussac Tower, but which is not filled with coke like
the latter, being merely provided with a shallow layer C thereof, about one foot
in thickness, placed upon a grating situated about three feet from the bottom, such
layer serving to subdivide and equalize the gaseous current.
At the upper part of the tower are provided one, two, or more apparatus for
distributing the sulphuric acid, which is thus caused to descend in a shower, of
àbout 60° to 62° Beaumié. "In front of each distributor a window is provided in
the tower in order to enable its action to be watched. It is advisable to employ
only acid that has been clarified by subsidence and filtration. The gas entering
through the pipe B, rises through the layer of coke C and on issuing at top, is led
through a pipe to the bottom of a Gay Lussac Tower, the size of which can in this
case be reduced,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The use of apparatus constructed and operating substantially as herein described
for effecting an intimate mixture of the gases to be treated before entering the
Gay Lussac Tower, and for absorbing the main portion of the nitrous compounds
contained therein.