Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acids and similar Substances.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
[Communicated from abroad by THE BAKER AND ADAMSON CHEMICAL COMPANY, a
Corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, and having its office at Easton, in the State of
Pennsylvania aforesaid.]
Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acids and similar Substances.
I, PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 6, Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: -
This invention relates especially to the manufacture of hydrochloric acid and
similar substances which are formed by the absorption of gases by liquids, the
especial object of the invention being to provide an improved apparatus for this
purpose, by which the heat liberated by the condensation of the gas is efficiently
removed, so as to quickly and conveniently secure a concentrated acid.
The present invention combines the simultaneous absorption of the gas by the
liquid and the cooling of the absorbing liquid, and, in the apparatus embodying the
invention in the preferred form, the gas is absorbed by liquid within passages
through which the gas and water flow, and the absorbing liquid is cooled by a
cooling liquid applied to the walls of the passages, so as to remove continuously
the heat liberated by condensation. The cooling liquid may be applied otherwise.
but is preferably applied by sprinkling water over the pipes which are used to
form the passages, and which preferably extend horizontally, and are arranged one
above the other, so that the absorbing liquid flows through the successive pipes
from the top to the bottom of the series, and the cooling liquid trickles down over
the successive pipes, the cooling liquid preferably being applied in such quantities
as to be wholly or largely evaporated during the cooling operation. A concentrated
acid may thus be secured by a single operation, the water absorbing the gas so as
to become saturated therewith, on account of the low temperature at which the
water is maintained by the constant removal of the heat liberated by condensation
of the gas.
Pipes of any common form, and of suitable size, may be used for the passage of
the absorbing liquid and gas, but the best results are secured by providing these
pipes with dams at or near their delivery ends, at which the liquid passes from
the pipes, so that the liquid is retained within the pipes to the level of the top of
the dam, and flows from the pipes over the top of the dam. This increases the
surface of the liquid in contact with the gas, so that an increased surface contact
is secured, and, by retarding the flow of the liquid, and retaining it for a longer

page_text: time within the pipes, increases the absorption of the gas by the liquid. Any
sediment in the liquid also is retained by the dams, so that a better product is
obtained, the sediment and liquid retained by the dams being removed after the
absorption operation in any suitable manner.
For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description of an apparatus
for carrying out the invention is the best form will now be given in connection
with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and the
features forming the invention will then be specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the delivery end of one of
the pipes.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same, on the line 3 of Fig. 2.
Referring to said drawings, A is a pipe through which the gas to be absorbed
enters the apparatus, preferably directly from the still; B a receiver for the acid,
and from which the acid may be drawn off by the cock 10 or other suitable means;
Ca vertical pipe rising from the top of the receiver B, and to which the gas
passes from the pipes A through the top of the receiver; D horizontal or slightly
inclined pipes entering the pipe C at one end, and at the opposite end communicat-
ing with a vertical pipe E; Fa pipe through which the absorbing liquid is intro-
duced into the top pipe D; G a perforated water pipe above the pipes D, for
sprinkling cooling liquid on the latter; and H is a trough below the pipes, receiving
any cooling liquid not evaporated as it passed over the pipes D. The pipes D
form passages for the absorbing liquid and the gas, and these pipes are con-
structed so as to form, at opposite ends, troughs a and spouts b, the spout at the
end of each pipe being above the trough at the end of the next pipe, so that the
absorbing liquid, after passing through the whole length of a pipe D, is delivered
into the next lower pipe, and thus passes through the whole series of pipes, and
then from the bottom pipe into the receiver B. It will thus be seen that the gas
from the pipe A passes through the vertical pipe C into all the pipes D, where it
is largely absorbed by the liquid passing successively through these pipes. Any
excess of gas passing through the pipes D into the pipe E, is delivered from the
top of the pipe E as desired.
In the preferred form of apparatus shown, each of the pipes D is provided, near
its delivery end, with a. dam c, projecting into the pipe a sufficient distance to
secure the retention of the water. in the pipe to the level required, this dam being
shown as extending nearly to the middle line of the pipe. This dam is preferably
formed, as shown, by a V-shaped upward projection of the lower wall of the pipe,
and the dam is preferably positioned just inside the end of the pipe, as shown, so
that the outer side of the dam forms a spout b, with an inclined surface over which
the water flows from the top of the dam to the trough a of the next lower pipe.
By this construction, the dam and spout may be formed conveniently and cheaply,
and a suitable delivery spout be provided, without increasing the size of the pipe
at the end. This latter feature is of value in the practical construction of the
apparatus, as both ends of the pipes D may thus be passed through openings in
the respective vertical pipes C, E, without increasing the size of these openings
beyond the usual periphery of the pipes, which is necessary in case the spouts pro-
jeet beyond the normal periphery of the pipes. While, however, it is preferable to
forn. the dams integral with the pipes, and by an upward projection of the wall
of the pipes, as shown, it will be understood that these dams may be formed other-
wise than shown, and that they may not be so constructed and positioned as to
form also the delivery spouts, although this is preferable.
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in constructions of
different form from that shown, and that the invention is not to be limited to the
specific, form of the apparatus' illustrated, although this apparatus is preferred,
and in itself forms a part of the invention, and may be used for other purposes than
those specifically described, and without the cooling liquid applied to the pipes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me from
abroad, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. An apparatus for preparing hydrochloric acid and other substances formed
by the absorption of gases by liquids, having a series of pipes arranged for the
reception of the gas and absorbing liquid, and for the passage of the gas and
liquid through them in contact for absorption of the gas by the liquid, and means
for applying cooling liquid to the pipes during the absorption operation, to remove
heat liberated by condensation of the gas, substantially as described.
2. An apparatus for preparing hydrochloric acid and other substances formed
by the absorption of gases by liquids, having a series of horizontal pipes arranged
for the delivery of the absorbing liquid from each pipe to the next pipe, whereby
the absorbing liquid passes through said pipes successively; connections for supply-
ing each of said pipes with gas independently of the others; and means for
applying cooling liquid to said pipes during the absorption operation and carrying
off the cooling liquid, to remove the heat liberated by condensation of the gas,
substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus for preparing hydrochloric acid and other substances formed
by the absorption of gases by liquids, the combination with a series of horizontal
pipes arranged one above the other, and constructed and arranged for the delivery
of the absorbing liquid from each pipe to the next pipe, whereby the absorbing
liquid passes through said pipes successively, and connections for supplying said
pipes with gas, of means for sprinkling cooling liquid upon said pipes, substantially
as described.
4. An apparatus for preparing hydrochloric acid and other substances formed
by the absorption of gases by liquids, having a series of pipes arranged for the
reception of the gas and absorbing liquid, and for the passage of the gas and liquid
through them in contact for absorption of the gas by the liquid, and having dams
at or near their delivery ends over which the liquid passes, and means for
applying cooling liquid to the pipes during the absorption operation, to remove
heat liberated by condensation of the gas, substantially as described.
5. An apparatus for preparing hydrochloric acid and other substances formed
by the absorption of gases by liquids, having a series of horizontal pipes arranged
for the delivery of the absorbing liquid from each pipe to the next pipe, whereby
the absorbing liquid passes through said pipes successively, said pipes having dams
at or near their delivery ends over which the liquid passes, connections for supply-
ing each of said pipes with gas independently of the others, and means for applying
cooling liquid to said pipes during the absorption operation, and carrying off the
gas, substantially
cooling liquid, to remove the heat liberated by condensation of the
as described.
6. The combination with a series of pipes arranged for the flow of liquid through
them, of connections for supplying said pipes with liquid, and with a current of
aeriform fluid, said pipes having dams at or near their delivery ends over which
the liquid flows, substantially as described.
7. The combination with horizontal pipes arranged one above the other, and
having at their ends inlet and outlet openings for liquid and aeriform fluid, and
closed between said openings for the passage of liquid and aeriform fluid through
the pipes, with the aeriform fluid held in surface contact with the liquid, said pipes
being constructed and arranged for the delivery of liquid after its passage from
one pipe to the inlet of the next lower pipe, whereby the liquid passes through
said pipes successively, of connections for supplying liquid to the top pipe, and
connections for supplying said pipes with a current of aeriform fluid, substantially
as described.
8. The combination with vertical pipes C, E, of the pipes D arranged one above
5 the other, and entering said pipes C, E, said pipes D having at their delivery ends

page_text: dams formed by inwardly projecting integral portions of the pipe walls, sub-
stantially as described.
9. A gas absorption apparatus substantially as described in connection with
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of March 1908