Improvements in Apparatus for use in the Manufacture of Bi-carbonate of Soda by the Ammonia Soda Process.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in the Manufacture of
Bi-carbonate of Soda by the Ammonia Soda Process.
We, JOHN VIVIAN, of Godwell, St. Bees, in the County of Cumberland, Civil
Engineer, and GEORGE BELL, of 59, Sandown Lane, Wavertree, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical and Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows
--
This invention has reference to apparatus for use in the manufacture of bi-
carbonate of soda by the process generally known as the ammonia-soda process.
The apparatus comprises two or more vessels hereinafter called carbonators
arranged one above another, and each provided with a perforated valve adapted to
act as a gas and blow off cock, the said carbonators having formed around them a
jacket or jackets within which brine on its upward course, preparatory to its
treatment in the carbonators, is caused to circulate for the purpose of cooling the
contents of the said carbonators and of receiving any ammonia that may leak
therefrom. Between the two carbonators or it may be between each pair of
adjacent carbonators if more than two be used, is a cooling apparatus in which
carbonic acid is cooled as it flows from one carbonator to another.
An arrangement of apparatus according to this invention with three carbonators
is as follows: :-
Two of the carbonators, each having conical ends are arranged one above the
other within a cylindrical casing that forms an annular space or jacket surrounding
the said carbonators and through which brine is caused to flow on its way it may be
to a storage tank or tanks or to a saturator, or direct to one of the carbonators.
The lower end of the lower conical ended carbonator has connected to it a carbonic
acid gas supply pipe with hollow valve perforated at top and blow off. The
carbonic acid gas (CO2) from the engine is forced through this perforated valve
into the said lower carbonator and rises through the liquor therein. The carbonic
acid gas arriving in the conical upper part of the lower carbonator, flows, through
a cooler arranged between the two carbonators and a perforated valve, into the
lower part of the upper carbonator, ascends through the liquor in that carbonator,
and such part of it as reaches the conical upper part of this carbonator passes by a
suitable arrangement of pipes to a perforated distributing pipe opening into the
third carbonator which is of cylindrical form and is arranged above the other two
carbonators and the cylindrical casing surrounding them.
This third carbonator is in communication with a tower in which any excess of
carbonic acid gas and any free ammonia are collected. Suitable communication is
provided between the upper or second conical ended carbonator and the third
carbonator above it.
By utilising the brine in its upward course preparatory to its treatment in the
carbonators, for cooling their contents the power ordinarily required to pump up
water specially for this purpose, is saved. The cooling action of the brine, aided
by that of the cooler between the first and second carbonators, and which serves to
prevent the carbonic acid carrying heat from one carbonator to another, serves to
keep the contents of the carbonators cool and thereby to increase the yield of
bi-carbonate of soda.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in the Manufacture of
Bi-carbonate of Soda by the Ammonia Soda Process.
We, JOHN VIVIAN, of Godwell, St. Bees, in the County of Cumberland, Civil
Engineer, and GEORGE BELL, of 59, Sandown Lane, Wavertree, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical and Chemical Engineer, 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 has reference to apparatus for use in the manufacture of bi-
carbonate of soda by the process generally known as the ammonia-soda process.
The apparatus comprises two or more vessels hereinafter called carbonators
arranged one above another, and each provided with a perforated valve adapted to
act as a gas and blow off cock, the said carbonators having formed around them a
jacket or jackets within which brine on its upward course, preparatory to its
treatment in the carbonators, is caused to circulate for the purpose of cooling the
contents of the said carbonators and of receiving any ammonia that may leak
therefrom. Between the two carbonators, or it may be between each pair of
adjacent carbonators if more than two be used, is a cooling apparatus in which
carbonic acid is cooled as it flows from one carbonator to another.
An arrangement of apparatus according to this invention with three carbonators
is shown in the accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the apparatus; and
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the lower portion, these two portions when in use,
being arranged one above the other, but they are shown separate in order that
they may be drawn to such a scale that the construction shall be clearly
understood.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line A B of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation to a larger scale of one of the perforated valves.
1 and 2 are two carbonators of cylindrical form each having conical ends, and
arranged one above the other within a cylindrical casing 3 that forms an annular
space or jacket 4 surrounding the said carbonators and through which brine is
caused to flow as hereinafter described, from a supply pipe 5. 6 is a third
carbonator of cylindrical form closed at the top and arranged above the other two
carbonators and the jacket surrounding them. This carbonator is formed by an
annular plate 7 the top of the carbonator 2, and an upward extension of the
casing 3.
6ª is an external pipe for connecting the carbonators 2 and 6 when
necessary. To the lower end of the carbonator 1 is connected a carbonic acid gas
supply pipe 8 and a valve 9 that is adapted when moved laterally to serve as a blow
off valve to discharge the contents of the carbonator 1 into a pipe 10. Between the
two carbonators 1 and 2 is a similar valve 11. These valves 9 and 11 which are of
rectangular form in cross section are each made hollow as shown more clearly in
Fig. 4 being open at one end for the admission of carbonic acid gas, closed at the
other end, and perforated at the top for the escape of the gas into the carbonator
above. Each valve is arranged to slide in a casing 12 and is moved laterally by a
screw spindle 13 able to rotate, but not to move endways, and which at one end
works in a screw threaded boss 14 on the valve, and at the other end projects
through a stuffing box and carries a worm wheel 15 by which it can be rotated to
move the valve into its open and closed attitudes by a worm 16 and hand wheel 17.
The spindle of each valve may be connected to the piston of a hydraulic cylinder
so that the valve can be opened and closed by hydraulic pressure in a manner that
will be readily understood. 4* 4* are openings through the casing 3 and the casing
forming the walls of the carbonators 1 and 2. One of these openings serves for
gaining access to the hand wheel 17 for operating the valve 11, and the other
enables the pipes 19 and 20 hereinafter mentioned, to be readily connected to the
carbonators 1 and 2 respectively. Between the carbonators 1 and 2 is a cooling

page_text: apparatus consisting of two series of vertical pipes 18 and 18 that are in communi-
cation at the top; one series 18 is in communication by a pipe 19 with the upper
end of the carbonator 1 and the other series (18) is in communication by a pipe 20
with the interior of the hollow valve 11. These pipes 18 and 18" are arranged
within a casing 21 in communication with the jacket 4 by branch pipes 22. Between
the carbonators 2 and 6 is a similar cooling apparatus connected at one end by a
pipe 23 with the top of carbonator 2 and at the other end by a pipe 24 with a
26 is a pipe
perforated pipe 25 located near the lower end of the carbonator 6.
that places the interior of the casings 21 in communication with each other and
26 is a pipe for leading brine from the upper casing 21 to a brine tank at the top
of the apparatus. Above the carbonator 6 and supported by suitable framing 27 is
a saturator comprising an outer cylindrical casing 28 and an inner cylindrical
vessel 29. Above the saturator is a tower 30 charged with coke 31 resting upon a
perforated support 32 below which is a tray 33. 34 is an outlet pipe with valve 35
and branches 36 & 37 for placing the lower end of the tower in communication with
the inner and outer upper parts of the saturator. 38 is an ammonia gas supply
pipe, provided with valve 39 and branch pipes 40 & 41 in communication with
perforated pipes 42 and 43 respectively located in the inner and outer lower part of
the saturator. 44 and 45 are pipes, 46 a valve and 47 another pipe for conveying
liquor from the saturator to the carbonator 6. 48 is an external pipe connecting
the upper part of the carbonator 6 with the lower portion of the tower 31 at a point
above the tray 33. 49 is a gas outlet near the top of the tower.
50 is a tray having a perforated bottom arranged above the coke in the tower.
Above the tower is a brine cistern 51 with outlet pipe 52 above the tray 50. The
apparatus hereinbefore described is supported by suitable framework 52 and is
covered by a roof 53.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The carbonators 1, 2 and 6 are charged from the saturator with brine saturated
with ammonia gas. Carbonic acid gas from an engine is then forced through the
pipe 8 and valve 9 and into the carbonator 1 rising through the liquor therein.
The carbonic acid gas arriving in the upper end of this carbonator flows through
pipe 19 into the lower cooling apparatus passing upward through the tubes 18 and
downwards through the tubes 18°. It then flows through pipe 20 and perforated
valve 11 into the carbonator 2, rises through the liquor therein to the top of the
carbonator 2 whence it passes through pipe 23 into the upper cooling apparatus,
flowing through tubes 18 and 18 thereof and the pipe 24 to the perforated pipe 25
by which it is distributed through the liquor in the carbonator 6. The gas now
absorbed in this carbonator passes through pipe 48 into the tower 31 through
which it rises meeting the descending brine which absorbs any ammonia that
may be present in the escaping gas. The gas not absorbed escapes by the outlet 49
and is further dealt with if necessary.
Whilst carbonic acid is passing through the carbonators in the direction of the
arrows shown in full lines, and converting the saturated brine therein, into
bicarbonate of soda, brine is forced by an engine through the pipe 5 into the
annular space 4 between the carbonators 1 and 2 and the casing 3, the brine
circulating upward through the said space and cooling the contents of the two
carbonators.
The brine then flows through the two branches 22 into the casing 21 of the
lower cooler and through pipe 26 into the casing of the upper one whence it passes
by pipe 26 to the brine cistern 51, through the cock 26. From this cistern the
brine descends through the top cock 52 and pipe 52 into the upper tray 50
percolates through the coke 31 in the tower 30 and into the tray 33.
passes through the pipe 34 and cock 35 into the inner or outer portions of the
saturator by the pipe 36 or 37 or into both portions, as may be desired, where it is
treated with ammonia gas supplied from any suitable still.
It then
The ammonia gas enters the saturator through pipe 38, cock 39, and pipes 40
and 42 or pipes 41 and 43, or through all of these pipes, as may be desired, when

page_text: the brine is sufficiently saturated with ammonia gas, it is run off through pipes 44
and 45, cock 46 and pipe 47, into the carbonator 6; after a suitable interval it is
allowed to pass by pipe 6ª into carbonator 2, and after a further interval it is
allowed to pass by opening valve 11 from carbonator 2 into carbonator 1 wherein
its conversion into bicarbonate of soda by the action of the carbonic acid gas is
completed. The valve 9 is then opened and the bicarbonate of soda and the
liquor with which it is mixed are allowed to pass into the pipe 10 and thence to a
filter to be further dealt with in the ordinary manner. The dotted arrows indicate
the upward & downward course of the brine through the apparatus.
By utilizing the brine in its upward course through the space or jacket 4 pre-
paratory to its treatment in the carbonators 1 and 2, for cooling their contents, the
power ordinarily required to pump up water specially for this purpose, is saved.
The cooling action of the brine, aided by that of the coolers between the adjacent
pairs of carbonators, and which serves to prevent the carbonic acid carrying heat
from one carbonator to another, serves to keep the contents of the carbonators cool
and thereby to increase the yield of bi-carbonate of soda.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for the manufacture of bicarbonate of soda by the ammonia-soda
process, the arrangement of two carbonators one above another, and cach provided
with a hollow perforated valve adapted to act alternately as a gas and blow-off
cock, so that gas can be distributed to the contents of the carbonator above it and
the contents of said carbonator can be run off when desired, substantially as herein-
before described.
2. Providing one or both of the carbonators referred to in the preceding claim,
with a jacket through which brine can be caused to circulate on its upward course
preparatory to its treatment in the carbonators, for the purpose of cooling the
contents of the said carbonator or carbonators, and of receiving any ammonia that
may leak therefrom, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the arrangement of two or more
carbonators one above another and cooling apparatus external to and between the
said carbonators or between each adjacent pair of carbonators if more than two be
used, and through which cooling fluid can be caused to flow substantially as herein-
before described for the purpose specified.
4. In apparatus for the manufacture of bicarbonate of soda by the ammonia-soda
process, the combination of two carbonators arranged one above another; a
connecting neck or pipe with perforated gas and blow-off cock between them;
a cooler arranged external to and between the carbonators; two connections so
connected to the carbonators that gas flowing from one to the other will pass
through the cooler; and a jacket through which brine is caused to flow in contact
with the wall of one or both carbonators previous to being utilized in the
carbonators to produce bicarbonate of soda, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The improved apparatus for the manufacture of bicarbonate of soda by the
ammonia-soda apparatus, substantially as described and shown.
TL 101 1
1001
W. Lloyd Wise,
JOHN VIVIAN.
GEORGE BELL.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.