IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE of AMMONIA
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Israel Swindells, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster,
Analytical Chemist, and Robert Lancaster, of Widnes, in the samic County,
Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE of AMMONIA,”
16
Sealed the 28th October 1876, and dated the 9th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Israel Swindells and Robert
Lancaster at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th August
1876.
ISRAEL SWINDELLS, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, Analytical
Chemist, and ROBERT LANCASTER, of Widnes, in the same County, Manufacturing
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA."
Our Invention consists in utilising the gases evolved in blast furnaces used in
manufacturing iron.
In some cases these gases and the cyanogen combined with them are allowed to
escape into the atmosphere, but in other cases they are conveyed in tubes under
steam boilers to generate steam, we propose to inject superheated steam into the
tubes containing the gases and cyanogen, either before or after they act on the
steam boilers, the steam, gases, and cyanogen thus combined are passed through
incandescent fuel, the vapours thus formed are condensed by passing through a still
or worm, by which process ammonia is produced.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Israel Swindells and Robert Lancaster in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th December 1876.
ISRAEL SWINDELLS, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, Analytical
Chemist, and ROBERT LANCASTER, of Widnes, in the same County, Manufacturing
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA."
Our Invention consists in utilising the gases evolved in blast furnaces used in
manufacturing iron.
In some cases these gases and the cyanogen combined with them are allowed to
escape into the atmosphere, but in other cases they are conveyed in tubes under
steam boilers to generate steam. We propose to inject superheated steam into the
[Price 2d.]

page_text: tubes containing the gases and cyanogen, either before or after they act on the
steam boilers, the steam, gases, and cyanogen thus combined are passed through
incandescent fuel, and the vapours thus formed are condensed by any well-known
process to produce ammonia.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
operation we will proceed to describe the manner of performing the saine.
We take from any conveniently formed blast surface for smelting iron the gases
and cyanogen therein generated, and pass such gases in combination with highly
superheated steam through any conveniently formed pipe or pipes into a closed and
highly heated iron retort or clay furnace, of suitable form and dimensions, and
erected in a vertical or other position, into which incandescent fuel or other material
may be inserted. In superheating the required steam we prefer to adopt the means
employed in iron smelting furnaces for heating the hot blast.
The combination of gases thus emitted in the latter process are further conveyed
through any convenient form of pipe into a solution of line, cream of lime, or other
caustic baso, when it is found needful to absorb all or any portion of carbonic acid
which may exist in conjunction with the remaining gases. The residue of these
gases are also further conducted through suitably formed pipes into a highly heated
closed vessel or chamber filled with broken bricks or other inaterial to combine the
latter gases, and thereby produce ammoniacal gases, which gasos may be passed
through, cooled down, and condensed in towers constructed of any convenient
material, form, and dimensions, into which broken bricks or other material may be
placed, or by any other known process of condensation.
In the manufacture of muriate or other salt of ammonia the muriatic or other
acid must be poured into the top of the condensing towers to meet the ascending
vapours, but without the use of acids caustic and carbonate of ammonia may be
produced.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described a convenient
manner of performing the saine, we declare that we claim utilising the waste gases
from blast furnaces for manufacturing ammonia and the salts of ammonia, as
described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Israel Swindells and Robert Lancaster, have
hereto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fourth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.