IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF NITROUS VAPOURS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Georges Prim, of Mons, in the kingdom of Belgium, for
an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF NITROUS VAPOURS,
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Georges Prim at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1882.
GEORGES PRIM of Mons in the Kingdom of Belgium
PRODUCTION OF NITROUS VAPOURS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TE
"
This Invention is based on the property of electricity of high tension in the form
of sparks or in the form of a continuous current or silent discharge to cause the
combination of the oxygen of the atmospheric air with the proportional part of its
azote so as to form nitrous vapours.
As source of electricity I make use of a Ruhmkorff bobbin supplied by a dynamo
or a magneto electric machine. From the bobbin two pairs of wires are con-
ducted into a recipient of air, inside of which air is submitted to the effect of
electricity. The electric current passes through one pair of wires with sparks,
through the other pair in the form of a silent discharge, all as hereinafter
described.
The reason of applying two pairs of wires is to make use of the extra current of
second order resulting from every spark in the first pair and which entering the
second pair reinforces the silent discharge.
As I have ascertained that the effect of electricity is almost destroyed by a
current of air and as on the other hand it is necessary to renew the air in pro-
portion to the combination of its elements I give to the air reservoir such
proportions as to allow the air to be introduced without producing a sensible
current, viz; in a slow manner comparatively to the volume of the recipient or
reservoir.
The entrance of the air is effected in the upper part of the recipient by means of
several pipes branching off from a main pipe through which the air is injected by
means of an air pump or a blower.

page_text: The produced nitrous vapours as well as the overplus of the non-combined azote
escape by an orifice in the bottom of the recipient and from which they are
conducted to the apparatus of absorption where they are transformed into nitric
acid or into nitrates, according to the matters used for that purpose.
As I have ascertained that the effect of electricity is increased in compressed air,
I inject the air under a pressure superior to the atmosphere and provide the orifice
of escape with a valve loaded in accordance therewith."
Humidity favoring the formation of nitrous vapours, the air before its injection
in the recipient is passed through a reservoir containing water.
A convenient form of apparatus is as follows: The compressed air injected
through a pipe into a reservoir containing water, goes by way of a main pipe and
smaller pipes into the upper part of a recipient. There it is submitted to the
action of electricity.
From a Ruhmkorff bobbin two pairs of wires are conducted into the recipient;
one pair goes to the exterior faces of a condenser composed of two sheets of
glass covered outside with metal plates and maintained in a parallel position,
the electric current is conducted by silent discharge into the space between the
glass sheets which are separated by an adequate distance; by the other pair of
wires electricity is discharged with sparks. At every spark an extra current of
second order is provided and enters the first pair of wires where it reinforces the
silent discharge.
In the bottom of the recipient is an orifice provided with valve wherefrom the
formed nitrous vapours are conducted by a pipe to the apparatus of absorption
which may be of any system used in chemical works. The valve serves to
maintain the necessary pressure inside the recipient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Georges Prim in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th November
1882.
GEORGES PRIM of Mons in the Kingdom of Belgium
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF NITROUS VAPOURS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
")
This invention is based on the property of electricity of high tension in the form
of sparks or in the form of a continuous current or silent discharge to cause the
combination of the oxygen of the atmospheric air with the proportional part of its
azote so as to form nitrous vapours
As source of electricity I make use of a Ruhmkorff bobbin supplied by a dynamo
or a magneto electric machine From the bobbin two pairs of wires are conducted
into a recipient of air inside of which air is submitted to the effect of electricity.
The electric current passes through one pair of wires with sparks, through the
other pair in the form of a silent discharge, all as hereafter described.
The reason of applying two pairs of wires is to make use of the extra current of
second order resulting from every spark in the first pair and which entering the
second pair reinforces the silent discharge.
As I have ascertained that the effect of electricity is almost destroyed by a
current of air and as on the other hand it is necessary to renew the air in
proportion to the combination of its elements I give to the air reservoir such
proportions as to allow the air to be introduced without producing a sensible
current vis in a slow manner comparatively to the volume of the recipient or
reservoir,
The entrance of the air is effected in the upper part of the recipient by means of
several pipes branching off from a main pipe through which the air is injected by
means of an air pump or a blower.
The produced nitrous vapours as well as the overplus of the non-combined azoto
escape by an orifice in the bottom of the recipient and from which they are
conducted to the apparatus of absorption where they are transformed in nitric acid
or in nitrates, according to the matters used for that purpose.
As I have ascertained that the effect of electricity is increased in compressed air,
I inject the air under a pressure superior to the atmosphere and provido the orifice
of escape with a valve loaded in accordance therewith. Humidity favouring the
formation of nitrous vapours, the air before its injection in the recipient is passed
through a reservoir containing water.
A convenient form of apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 being a side elevation of so much of same as will be necessary to explain
the invention Figure 2 is a section through c d and Figure 3 is a section through
a b both of Figure 1.
The compressed air injected through a pipe e into a reservoir B containing water,
goes by way of a main pipe f and smaller pipe g into the upper part of a
recipient A. There it is submitted to the action of electricity.
From a Ruhnkorff bobbin R two pairs of wires m, m² and n n' are conducted
into the recipient A one pair m, m³ goes to the exterior faces of a condenser
composed of two sheets of glass V V₁ covered outside with metal plates h and
maintained in a parallel position by a support t the electric current is conducted
by silent discharge into the space between the glass sheets V V¹ which are
separated by an adequate distance; by the other pair of wires n, n' electricity is
discharged with the sparks. At every spark an extra current of second order is
produced and enters the first pair of wires m, m³ where it reinforces the silent
discharge.

page_text: In the bottom of the recipient A is an orifice i provided with valve 8 wherefrom
the formed nitrous vapours are conducted by a pipe k to the apparatus of absorption
which may be of any system used in chemical works. The valve s serves to
maintain the necessary pressure inside the recipient A Having now described the
nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
I declare that I claim as my improvements in the production of nitrous vapours
and in apparatus therefor.
First The utilization of the extra current of second order of a bobbin for
reinforcing the silent discharge substantially as set forth.
Second: The particular arrangement described for renewing of the air in the
receiver wherein the electricity is operating
Third: The use of compressed air or fluid as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth: The simultaneous action in one and the same receiver of the silent
discharge and sparks substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Georges Prim have hereunto set my hand and
seal this seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two: