IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING LIQUIDS BY EVAPORATION
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Calliburcès, of Rue Telegraphe, Pera, Turkey, for
the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING
LIQUIDS BY EVAPORATION."
Sealed the 5th December 1879, and dated the 3rd October 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Peter Calliburcès at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1879.
PETER CALLIBURCES, of Rue Telegraphe, Pera, Turkey. "IMPROVED MEANS AND
APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING LIQUIDS BY EVAPORATION."
My Invention relates to the concentration of liquids by evaporation, which I
effect by subjecting them to pulverisation and ventilation by means of apparatus
which I will describe, referring to the accompanying Drawings. Fig. 1 is a sido
elevation, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a plan of the apparatus; Fig. 4
is a transverse section on the line A, B, shewing the pumping apparatus in eleva-
tion, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line C, D. The other Figures
represent details of the apparatus, to which I will more particularly refer in the
course of the following doscription of its several parts, which are as follows:-
1. The part which draws in and discharges air for pulverising the liquid to be
concentrated and contributing to its ventilation consists of two pumps E, F, shewn
in section at Fig. 10, in plan at Fig. 11, and in part section to an enlarged scale at
Fig. 14. Their barrels are fitted with pistons, each provided with three steel
packing rings G, shewn in plan at Fig. 13. A system of valves K, L. M, N, is
arranged between the pumps to operate as follows:-When the piston of the
pump E ascends the valve K opens, admitting air to E, whilst the valve L (by
which E communicates with the narrow orifice I of the pulveriser J) closes, and
thus the pump E is filled with air. When its piston descends the valve L opens,
whilst K closes, and thus the air drawn in by the previous ascent of the piston is
forced out at the narrow orifice I of the pulveriser, drawing with it a portion of
liquid from the receptacle P in the form of very finely divided spray or liquid
powder.
In like manner, when the piston of the pump F ascends, air is drawn in by the
opening of the valve M, communication with the orifice of the pulveriser being cut
off by the closure of the valve N. The pump F is thus filled with air, which on the

page_text: descent of its piston (the suction valve M closing) is discharged through the valve
N by the narrow orifice I of the pulveriser, pulverising and ventilating a portion of
the liquid which it draws from the receptacle P. Fig. 6 represents, to an enlarged
scale, the details of the pump valves, shown in elevation at R, and in plan at S.
They are caoutchouc discs mounted over gratings under guards T.
2. The part of the apparatus which gives reciprocating motion to the pumps
consists of a fly wheel V on a double crank shaft, the cranks Y being linked by
rods Z to the pump pistons, so that as the shaft revolves these pistons are caused to
reciprocate alternately.
3. The part of the apparatus which principally affects the evaporation of the
pulverised liquid by its ventilation consists of a fan a (shewn in section at Fig. 12)
having a wheel with blades b curved a little backwards so as to propel the air by
their convex surfaces when they revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow.
This wheel is enclosed in a circular case having on one side a central opening for
admission of air and having in the lower front part of its circumference another
opening e for expulsion of the air. The fan is driven by a band f from the fly
wheel V, the fly wheel shaft being itself driven by a band i from a steam engine or
other suitable motor. The inlet aperture c of the fan communicates by a pipe j
with the pipe k, to which I refer hereafter. The outlet aperture e of the fan leads
to a pipe opening immediately above the narrow orifice I of the pulveriser. The
mouth of the pipe L, shewn in horizontal section at Fig. 9, has at its middle a
vertical plate m, carried backwards so as to divide the issuing air into two lateral
currents and prevent it from impinging violently against the jet of the pulveriser,
or carrying off the drops of pulverised liquid.
4. The pulverising part of the apparatus consists of a tube n communicating at
its one end with the discharge of the pumps E, F, and having at its other end a
narrow orifice or horizontal slit through which the air is forcibly expelled by the
pumps effecting pulverisation of the liquid contained in the receptacle P. Above
the slit is a projecting lip O and on each side there is a plate p, which by preventing
the issuing air from passing upwards or sideways causes it to rush straight across
the tops of a number of vertical diaphragins arranged in the pulveriser J, as shown in
section at Fig. 7 and in plan at Fig. 8. A number of these diaphragins are parallel
to the mouth of the tube n, and others beyond them are perpendicular thereto, the
latter butting against a plate q, which has the effect of minutely dividing the spray
of liquid blown against it. I find it advisable not to make the spaces between the
diaphragms of the pulveriser less than 1th of an inch in width, otherwise they are
apt to become stopped by the solid or viscid portious of the material under treat-
ment. The diaphragms of the pulveriser are immersed in the liquid contained in
the receptacle P. This receptacle may, in cases where the liquid treated is not
affected by heat, be warmed by surrounding it by a bath of liquid heated by steam
or otherwise.
5. The evaporating vessel r has its bottom inclined downwards towards the
receptacle P, so that the liquid projected in spray by the pulveriser can flow back
and be again projected repeatedly until it looses its fluidity. The heads of the
evaporating vessel can be removed by handles t so as to give access to the interior
for clearing it of the concentrated material. The evaporating vessel is itself con-
tained in a casing uchaged with water, which can be heated by a steam coil v
supplied through a cock x, and provided with a waste pipe y. From the upper
part of the evaporator two pipes Z, A', carry off the vapour, these pipes being
made with moveable parts C to allow of separation when the cover of the vessel
has to be removed.
6. A set of pipes E¹ serve to conduct air from the external atmosphere to the fan
and pumps, with means of heating the air when required. For the latter purpose
an internal pipe F¹ receives at G products of combustion from a fire, which may be
that of the boiler used for supplying steam to the engine and coils. The annular
space, which has no communication with the pipe F1, forms the passage for air by
the pipe H to the pumps, and by the pipe j to the fan, the air entering it by the

page_text: aperture I, preferably from a high level, so as to be free from organic germs and
other impurities.
The whole apparatus rests on a base J¹, which may be a wooden framing, as
shewn, and its operation is as follows:-In order to evaporate the aqueous portion
of any liquid, the liquid to be treated is charged into a vessel of suitable size com-
municating by a pipe with the receptacle P of the pulveriser, this pipe being
provided with a stop cock for regulating the supply in proportion as the evaporation
proceeds. It is often of advantage to divide the concentrating operation into several
stages. Thus a certain quantity of the liquid, after partial concentration, is drawn
off from the receptacle, and other portions are operated on in like manner till the
whole has undergone partial concentration. This is again farther concentrated by
portions, and so on until the whole has reached the degree of concentration
required. Heat may be applied by the steam coils and by the heating of the air,
and the liquid itself may be supplied in a heated condition, but in many cases where
the material treated is such as may be affected by heat the process is carried on at
ordinary temperatures, the evaporation being nevertheless effected rapidly and
completely by the means described, that is to say, the minute subdivision of the
liquid and its mixture in the finely divided condition with air, so as to expose a
very large surface to the evaporating action, and its repeated exposure in this
manner to fresh supplies of air.
The apparatus may be applied to concentration of vegetable or animal juices,
salinc, saccharine, or other solutions, either in a partial manner so as to obtain a
less dilute liquid, or in a more complete manner so as to obtain the solid ingredients
in a pasty or crystallised condition. In cases where it is desired to retain a portion
of the fragrance of a liquid treated, the vapour, instead of being allowed to escapo
into the atmosphere, may be made to pass through a cold coil, by which it is
condensed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,―
First. The method, substantially as herein described, of concentrating a liquid by
effecting its minute subdivision and mixture with air in a vessel in which it is
repeatedly so treated.
Second. The construction of apparatus for concentrating a liquid as herein
described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In the apparatus referred to in the preceding claim, the combination of a
set of pumps and a fan and their horizontal outlets for air with a number of
vertical passages for liquid for effecting the pulverisation and ventilation thereof,
substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The combination of the pulverising and ventilating apparatus referred to
in the preceding claim with an evaporating vessel having an inclined bottom for
returning the liquid to be repeatedly operated on, substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The combination of the evaporating vessel referred to in the preceding
claim with a water bath and steam coils for heating the same, substantially as
herein described.
Sixth. The arrangement of a flue within the air pipe for heating the air supply
of the pumps and fan, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Calliburcès, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty third day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
P. CALLIBURCES. (L.S.)