Hydrogen and in Apparatus Employed therein.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1887
Complete Left, 27th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
Hydrogen and in Apparatus Employed therein.
We, ALEXANDER MACOMB CHANCE and JAMES FREDERICK CHANCE of Oldbury in
the County of Worcester, Alkali Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
It is well known that a mixture of alkali waste and water may be completely
decomposed with production of carbonate of lime and sulphuretted hydrogen by
passing through it, preferably in a series of vessels gases containing carbonic acid
such as those evolved from a closed limekiln but the sulphuretted hydrogen
produced is diluted by such large and varying quantities of other gases that it
cannot easily be turned to account.
:
By the present invention the sulphuretted hydrogen obtained is accompanied by a
much smaller and very constant quantity of other gases, so that it may be burned
directly in air for the manufacture of sulphurous and sulphuric acids or be profitably
treated for the production of sulphur or for other purposes.
In carrying our invention into effect we introduce the mixture of alkali waste and
water as a thin cream (the coarser portions which are practically free from sulphide
of lime having been previously separated) into a series of vessels connected by
pipes and furnished with inlet and outlet ways as hereinafter described and we pump
or pass through some or all of such vessels gases containing carbonic acid. We
prefer to use the gases evolved from a closed limekiln consisting almost entirely of
carbonic acid and nitrogen. When these gases entering the first vessel come into
contact with the mixture of alkali waste and water not only is the carbonic acid
absorbed by the free lime with production of carbonate of lime and by the sulphide
of lime with production in the presence of water of carbonate of lime and sulphuretted
hydrogen but also this latter being driven forward and meeting with fresh quantities
of free lime and sulphide of lime is by them absorbed with production of sulphydrate
of lime so that at first the gases issuing from the last vessel contain neither carbonic
acid nor sulphuretted hydrogen and may be allowed to escape into the atmosphere
passing however as a precautionary measure when desired through milk of lime

page_text: contained in a subsidiary vessel. We regard the presence in the alkali waste of a
certain quantity of free lime as of material assistance to the complete retention of
the sulphuretted hydrogen during this part of the operation and we may if necessary
add lime to the waste but ordinarily there will be sufficient free lime to prevent the
necessity of any such addition, when after a time the issuing gases begin to contain
sulphuretted hydrogen, we close the outlet from the last vessel, and open that from
some one of the intermediate vessels. Where we find that the issuing gases contain
a much larger quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen than is equivalent to the carbonic
acid contained in the entering gases in consequence of the fact that the carbonic acid
is now acting upon the sulphydrate of lime formed as aforesaid, and that for each
equivalent of carbonic acid absorbed two equivalents of sulphuretted hydrogen are
being evolved. We therefore conduct away separately these gases, so long as they
contain sulphuretted hydrogen in sufficient quantity preferably into a gasholder and
apply them to any of the above mentioned purposes, when the quantity of
sulphuretted hydrogen contained in them becomes too small, we close this outlet
and having emptied the first vessel or vessels, in which the decomposition of the alkali
waste has been completed and filled another or others later in the series with a fresh
mixture of alkali waste and water, we resume our operations as at first and so proceed
continuously.
The apparatus which we prefer to employ consists of a series of vessels of any
convenient shape or size, but preferably in the form of vertical cylinders each vessel
being furnished with a false bottom perforated with small holes or with any other
arrangement for the distribution of the gases in thin streams over the whole of the
waste. The main conveying the gases from the lime-kiln is carried in a line over
the top of the series of vessels and is so connected with each of them by pipes that
the gases may be introduced at or near the bottom of any one of them. The top of
each vessel is connected by pipes both with the bottom of the succeeding vessel and
with the aforesaid main so that the gases issuing from it may be conducted to the
bottom either of the succeeding vessel or of any one of the others there is also
attached to the top of each vessel an exit pipe connected to an exit main running the
entire length of the series of vessels such main being again divided into two distinct
mains leading away from the apparatus. The last vessel in the series is fitted with a
second exit pipe which is connected to a main running the entire length of the series
of vessels which we call the return main, such main being furnished with branches
attached to the connecting pipes between each vessel of the series. Each vessel is
also furnished with means for filling and emptying. All the above mains, pipes and
connections are furnished with the necessary valves or taps so that we are enabled to
work any or all of the vessels in a continuous series, making any vessel or vessels
the first intermediate or last of the series or to pass over or throw entirely out of the
series any one or more.
The mud consisting mainly of carbonate of lime resulting from the decomposition
of the alkali waste may be used in the black ash furnaces in the place of limestone,
or for making cement or for other purposes.
Dated this Fifteenth day of June 1887

page_text: Improvements in Treating Alkali Waste to Obtain Sulphuretted
Hydrogen and in Apparatus Employed therein.
We ALEXANDER MACOMB CHANCE and JAMES FREDERICK CHANCE of Oldbury
in the county of Worcester Alkali Manufacturers, 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 :-
It is well known that a mixture of alkali waste and water may be completely
decomposed with production of carbonato of lime and sulphuretted hydrogen by
passing through it, preferably in a series of vessels, gases containing carbonic acid
such as those evolved from a closed limekiln ; but the sulphuretted hydrogen
produced is diluted by such large and varying quantities of other gases that it
cannot easily be turned to account.
By the present invention the sulphuretted hydrogen obtained is accompanied by a
much smaller and very constant quantity of other gases so that it may be burned
directly in air for the manufacture of sulphurous and sulphuric acids, or be profitably
treated for the production of sulphur, or for other purposes.
In carrying our invention into effect we introduce the mixture of Alkali Waste
and Water, preferably as a thin cream, into a series of vessels connected by pipes
and furnished with inlet and outlet ways as hereinafter described and we pump or
pass through some or all of such vessels gases containing carbonic acid. We prefer
to use the gases evolved from a closed limekiln consisting almost entirely of carbonic
acid and nitrogen-When these gases entering the first vessel come into contact
with the mixture of alkali waste and water, not only is the carbonic acid absorbed by
the free lime with production of carbonate of lime and by the sulphide of lime with
production in the presence of water of carbonate of lime and sulphuretted hydrogen,
but also this latter being driven forward and meeting with fresh quantities of free
lime and sulphide of lime is by them absorbed with production of sulphydrate of
lime ; so that at first the gases issuing from the last vessel contain neither carbonic
acid nor sulphuretted hydrogen or merely traces thereof and may be allowed to
escape into the atmosphere, passing however as a precautionary measure when desired
through milk of line contained in a subsidiary vessel, or through purifiers containing
oxide of iron or lime. We regard the presence in the alkali waste of a certain
quantity of free lime as of material assistance to the complete retention of the
sulphuretted hydrogen during this part of the operation, and we may if necessary add
lime to the waste, but ordinarily there will be sufficient free lime present to prevent
the necessity of any such addition. When, after a time the issuing gases begin to
contain sulphuretted hydrogen in appreciable quantity, we close the outlet from the
last vessel and open that from some one of the intermediate vessels where we find that
the issuing gases contain a large proportion of sulphuretted.hydrogen in consequence

page_text: of the fact that the carbonic acid is now acting upon the sulphydrate of lime formed
as aforesaid, and that for each equivalent of carbonic acid absorbed two equivalents
of sulphuretted hydrogen are being evolved. We therefore conduct away separately
these gases so long as they contain sulphuretted hydrogen in sufficient quantity,
preferably into a gas holder, and apply then to any of the above mentioned purposes.
When the quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen becomes too small we close this outlet,
and having emptied the first vessels or vessels in which the decomposition of the
alkali waste has been completed, and filled another or others later in the series with a
fresh mixture of alkali waste and water, we resume our operations as at first and so
proceed continuously. Before treating the waste as above described we prefer to
separate the coarser portions of it by passing the mixture of waste and water through
a sieve or grating or by any other convenient means, and we may crush these coarser
portions if desired and treat them similarly to the rest of the waste. Or the whole
of the waste may be treated so as to crush the coarser portions of it before it is
treated with the Gases containing carbonic acid in the series of vessels.
The mud consisting mainly of carbonate of lime resulting from the decomposition
of the alkali waste may be used in the black ash furnaces in the place of limestone
or for making cement or for other purposes.
The apparatus which we employ consists of a series of vessels furnished with pipes
and connections so that they may be worked in series in manner substantially as
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
small holes.
k
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation part being in section and Figure 2 a plan of
one modification of apparatus under our invention, a are seven tall cylindrical vessels
such as we prefer to use and are marked 1 to 7. bare false bottoms perforated with
c man holes and lids for allowing access to the interior of the vessels.
d taps or valves above and e taps or valves below the perforated bottoms b, for the
purpose of running off the contents of the vessels a, the taps or valves e being used
only when it is necessary to empty the space below the perforated bottoms. f carbonic
acid Gas supply main; g descending pipes, leading from the supply main to the
vessels a beneath the perforated bottoms 6; the pipes g being fitted at the bends
with pieces g' having covers, or with hooded bends, to allow of the use of rods to
clear away any stoppage in the said pipes 9. These rods may be, and preferably
are, fixed to work through stuffing boxes. A connecting main. i return main. pipes
leading from the connecting and return mains hi to the descending pipes g. pipes
leading from the tops of the vessels a to the said connecting and return mains. taps
or valves on branch pipes from the Gas supply main f, for opening and closing
communication between the said main f and the descending pipes g. m n taps or
valves in the pipes k between the vessels a and the connecting main h, and between
the connecting main h and return main i respectively. op taps or valves in the
pipes between the descending pipes and connecting main h, and between the
connecting main h and return main i respectively. q r taps or valves between
the pipes and in the mains h and i respectively. s exit main connected to the tops of
the vessels a through pipes t. u taps or valves on the pipes t, for opening and closing
communication between the exit main and the vessels a. vtap or valve for opening
and closing communication between the exit main s and the gas holder or store for
sulphuretted hydrogen, or place where the same is to be used.
w tap or valve
between the exit mains and the atmosphere. By another arrangement the exit
mains may be closed at one end and be at the other end divided into two branches,
one leading to the atmosphere and the other to the gas holder or place where the
sulphuretted hydrogen is to be stored or used, each branch being furnished with a
tap or valve. The taps u v w should always be either fully opened or fully closed,
since if only partly opened they are liable to become worn by the action or friction
of the Gases. We do not therefore use these taps to govern the flow of gases, but
we put for this purpose one or more other taps which we call check taps, and which
are not shewn in the appended drawings, on the main s Although these check taps
hecome worn, the other taps will always close tightly and prevent leakage. *, is a
conduit for the mixture of alkali waste and water. y are pipes connecting the

page_text: conduit & with the tops of the vessels a. taps or valves in the pipes y. In place
of the false bottoms b, distributing roses or other arrangements may be employed.
In treating alkali waste under our invention, in the apparatus herein described, the
number of vessels used for one cycle of operations will depend in a great measure on
their size and construction, and on the power of the pump aspirator or other agent
by which the Gases are to be forced or drawn through the series of vessels. But it
will not be convenient to employ fewer than three vessels for one cycle of operations,
as we require a last vessel from which the first gases are delivered into the
atmosphere, an intermediate vessel from which the strong gases are taken for storage
or use, and a first vessel the contents of which shall during the time that the two
kinds of gases are passing away, have become completely carbonated.
In describing as follows our method of procedure we assume the employment of
five vessels in one cycle of operations. These vessels, say numbers 1 to 5 as on the
appended drawings, are filled to the required height, say about two thirds full, with
the mixture of alkali waste and water through the conduit a, pipes y, and taps z.
Communication is then shut off between the vessels a and the conduit r, and the
tap 7 between the Gas Main and the descending pipe g leading to the first vessel, in
this case No. 1, is opened so as to allow the Gases to enter the said vessel. Such
taps m, q and o are opened as will allow the gases passing off from the first vessel to
flow by the pipes k, main h, and pipes j and 9, to the second vessel of the series and
so on to the last vessel, in this case No. 5. From this last vessel the gasos pass by
a pipe t and tap u to the exit main s, and from the exit mains by the tap w to the
atmosphere.
After a time it is found that gases may be obtained from one of the vessels,
probably in this case No. 3, containing sufficient sulphuretted hydrogen to render
them of use.
The tap m therefore between the third and fourth vessels, and the tap u
between the fifth vessel and the exit main, and the tap w in the exit main are closed;
whilst the tap u, in the pipe t leading from the third vessel to the exit main, and the
tap v, on that end or branch of the exit main which leads to the gas holder or place
where the sulphuretted hydrogen is to be used, are opened.
Whilst the strong gas is passing away through the tap v to be utilized, other empty
vessels of the series, in this case say Nos. 6 and 7, are filled with a mixture of
alkali waste and water. When the gas issuing past the tap v becomes too dilute
for use, the said tap 1 and the tap u between the third vessel and the exit main are
closed, and the tape between the first vessel of the series and the gas main f, and the
tap o between the second and third vessels, are also closed. The tap between the
Gas main fand the third vessel and also the several taps m, q, o governing communi-
cation between the third and remaining vessels are opened. The tap u between the
last vessel, in this case now number 7, and the exit main and the tap w in the exit
main are also opened.
The contents of vessels Nos. 1 and 2, which should now have been completely
carbonated, are blown or drawn out through the taps d. If it is found that the
contents of only one of these vessels have been completely carbonated only that one
of them is emptied, the other being connected to the Gas main so as to become the
first of the series, instead of the third vessel being so connected as above set forth.
If it is desired that a vessel or vessels in the direct order of the series should be
omitted, say No. 3 in the series 2, 3, 4, 5, 67, the tap o between the second and third
vessels and the tap m between the third and fourth vessels are closed, and the taps q
between vessels Nos. 2 and 4 opened. When the series is so used that Gases have to
travel from one vessel to another in the opposite direction to the series, that is to say
from a vessel later to a vessel earlier in the series, such taps m. n. r. p. o are opened
as will allow the gases to flow from such later vessel through the return main i to the
descending pipe g leading into the earlier vessel.
It will be obvious that by the proper opening and closing of taps or valves any
number of vessels may be used in series, and that any of the said vessels may be
made in turn the first, intermediate, or last of the series, and that any vessel or

page_text: vessels may be passed over. It will further be obvious that the vessels may be worked
as two series.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would point out that we
do not confine ourselves to every detail of apparatus, for example a vessel or vessels
could be divided into compartments and used in the place of a series of vessels, but
what we claim is
First Treating alkali waste to obtain sulphuretted hydrogen, substantially in the
manner herein described.
Second In obtaining sulphuretted hydrogen from alkali waste separating from the
sulphuretted hydrogen a large portion of the other gases substantially in the manner
described.
Third Apparatus to obtain from alkali waste sulphuretted hydrogen separated from
a large portion of the other gases, such apparatus consisting of vessels and mains in
combination with pipes taps valves and connections all substantially as set forth.
E
FOOT 1900RACT TO ATOT TO INTAL AGTTO LAY CIMA ORG
Per pro J. T. KING,
Agent,
James Johnson.