Improvements in or connected with Pumping and Absorbing Chlorine Gas, and Apparatus for Use therein.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Pumping and Absorbing
Chlorine Gas, and Apparatus for Use therein.
We, PHILIP JOHN WORSLEY a Director of The United Alkali Company
Limited WILLIAM WINDUS Bristol, Manager and BENJAMIN BRACEY Foreman
all of Netham Chemical Works, Bristol do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Chlorine gas, particularly when diluted with air or other inert gases, such as is
obtained by the Deacon process or other similar processes, is difficult to absorb in
milk of lime or other solutions. The difficulty arises chiefly from the corrosive
action of chlorine gas, which renders the use of ordinary metallic pumps and pipes
almost impossible, and necessitates the use of very extensive surfaces of the
absorbing liquid. The apparatus usually employed is liable to frequent and costly
repairs.
By our invention we are able to force the chlorine gas through a considerable
depth of milk of lime or other solution, whereby we obtain complete absorption in a
comparatively small apparatus.
We pass the chlorine gas from whatever source it may be derived, through or
over a hygroscopic substance exposing a large surface for instance coke moistened
with sulphuric acid. By this means we obtain the chlorine gas in a dry condition,
in which we find it does not act readily on ordinary metals, and can be pumped by
means of an ordinary air compressor. We can use an ordinary pump to force the
dry chlorine gas through pipes or passages which may be metallic pipes under the
surface of the absorbing fluid, and at any suitable depth below the surface connect
to them a distributor, which causes the chlorine gas to pass in fine streams or bubbles
through the liquid.
As drying apparatus we may employ a lead chamber or tower, or an earthenware
vessel filled with pieces of coke or the like over which a steady stream of strong
sulphuric acid is kept flowing an inlet pipe at the top serving to convey the dry gas
to the pump.
The pump we use may be of ordinary construction and may be made of metal for
instance of cast iron. The inlet and outlet valves may also be made of metal. Or
the pump cylinder and piston may be lined with ebonite or the like materials and
the valves may be indiarubber valves. We find it advantageous to lubricate the
compressor freely with a pure mineral oil, which, besides its use as a lubricant,
protects the metallic parts against any slight action the chlorine may have the oil
must be of such quality that it is not acted upon by chlorine gas.
The pipes or passages conveying the gas from the drying apparatus to the pump
and from the pump to the absorbing apparatus may be made of cast iron or
earthenware and the same material may be used for the distributor.
The distributor consists of a system of pipes or passages having slots or the like
on the under side which slots prevent the accumulation of solid matter and consequent
choking of the distributor. The gas issues from these slots or the like in fine
streams or bubbles and rises upward through the absorbing liquid.
The pipes or passages of the distributor may pass through the sides of the vessel
containing the absorbing fluid and may be provided with flanges and movable covers
so as to permit of ready access for cleaning purposes.
Dated the 26th day of A nonst 1802
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Pumping and Absorbing
Chlorine Gas, and Apparatus for Use therein.
We, PHILIP JOHN WORSLEY, a Director of The United Alkali Company
Limited WILLIAM WINDUS of Bristol, Manager and BENJAMIN BRACEY
Foreman, all of Netham Chemical Works Bristol 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:-
Chlorine gas, particularly when diluted with air, or other inert gases, such as
is obtained by the Deacon process, or other similar processes, is difficult to absorb
in milk of lime, or other solutions. The difficulty arises chiefly from the corrosive
action of chlorine gas, which renders practically impossible the use of ordinary
metallic pumps and pipes and the necessity for the use of very extensive surfaces
of the absorbing liquid. The apparatus usually employed is moreover liable to
frequent and costly repairs.
By this invention we are able to force the chlorine gas through a considerable
depth of milk of lime, or other solution, whereby we obtain complete absorption
in a comparatively small apparatus.
We pass the chlorine gas, from whatever source it may be derived, through, or
over, a hygroscopic substance exposing a large surface; for instance, coke
moistened with sulphuric acid. By this means we obtain the chlorine gas in a
dry condition, in which we find it does not act readily on ordinary metals, and can
be pumped by means of an ordinary air compressor. We can use an ordinary
pump to force the dry chlorine gas through passages, or pipes, which may be
metallic pipes to beneath the surface of the absorbing liquid and at any suitable
depth below the surface connect to them a distributor which causes the chlorine
gas to pass in fine streams, or bubbles, through the liquid.
As drying apparatus we may employ a lead chamber or tower, or an earthenware
vessel filled with pieces of coke or the like over which a steady stream of strong
sulphuric acid is kept flowing. The moist gas enters at the bottom and an outlet
pipe at the top serves to convey the dried gas to the pump.
The pump we use may be of ordinary construction and may be made of metal
for instance of cast iron. The inlet and outlet valves may also be made of metal.
Or the pump cylinder and piston may be lined with ebonite or the like materials
and the valves may be india rubber valves. We find it advantageous to lubricate
the pump or compressor freely with a pure mineral oil, which, besides its use as a
lubricant, protects the metallic parts against any slight action the chlorine may
have. The oil must be of such quality that it is not acted upon by chlorine gas,
and the said oil can be introduced in any suitable and usual manner.
The pipes
or passages conveying the gas from the drying apparatus to the pump and from
the pump to the absorbing apparatus and also the distributor may be made of cast
iron or earthenware for example.
The distributor consists of a system of pipes or passages having slots, or the
like, on the underside which slots or the like prevent the accumulation of solid
matter and consequent choking of the distributor. The gas issues from these
slots, or the like, in fine streams, or bubbles, and rises through the absorbing
liquid.
The pipes, or passages, to the distributor may pass through the sides of the
vessel containing the absorbing liquid and may be provided with flanges and
moveable covers so as to permit of ready access for cleaning or other purpose.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an arrangement of apparatus
suitable for use in carrying this invention into effect. The moist chlorine gas
enters by the pipe A into the drying apparatus consisting of a vessel B in which

page_text: coke is supported the said coke being moistened by sulphuric acid supplied by the
hooded pipes c leading from the receptacle C for the acid, the acid and the
moisture removed from the gas leaving by the liquid seal outlet at c². The dried
gas after passing in contact with the acid moistened coke passes by the pipe D to
the pump E which is shewn as a horizontal double acting pump but it may be a
pump or forcing device of any convenient kind. The gas is forced by the pump
through the pipe F into the vessel G containing the absorbing liquid the pipe F
having distributing branches f perforated on their undersides so that the gas
issues in fine streams or bubbles directed downwards and then it passes upwards
through the liquid. g is the outlet from the vessel G and H is a stirrer situated
beneath the pipe F and branches and driven by any suitable power and gearing.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of this vessel and its adjuncts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In pumping and absorbing chlorine gas passing it through, or over, a
hygroscopic material so as to dry the said gas before it passes to the pumping
apparatus and absorbing vessel substantially as herein before described.
2. In
apparatus for pumping and absorbing chlorine gas the combination with
the pumping apparatus and the absorbing vessel of an apparatus containing a
hygroscopic material and pipes or passages connecting them together so that the
gas passes through the drying apparatus before it passes through the pumping
apparatus to the absorbing vessel substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In apparatus for pumping and absorbing chlorine gas as claimed by the
preceding second claiming clause the combination of means for supplying mineral
oil to the pump or the like substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
4. In apparatus for pumping and absorbing chlorine gas the combination with
the subject matters of the preceding second and third claiming clauses of a
distributor in the absorbing vessel having slots or the like on the underside
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
5. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the apparatus
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings for the
purpose described.
Dated this 24th day of May 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.