Improvements in or relating to Saturators for Use in the Manufacture of Sulphate of Ammonia.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
Improvements in or relating to Saturators for Use in the Manufacture
of Sulphate of Ammonia.
I, PATRICK DUGGAN 25 Pier Road Rosherville Kent, Chemical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in saturators for use in the manufacture
of sulphate of ammonia, and the same is carried out as follows:-
The bottom of the saturator into which the sulphate falls is conical or curved so
that the sulphate as formed falls towards an outlet which communicates with a pipe
and into this pipe an injector pipe protrudes said injector pipe being supplied with
steam for the purpose of discharging the sulphate of ammonia into a suitable
receptacle.
By employing or placing the injector outside the saturator the condensation of
steam which takes place owing to the cooling action which takes place when the
injector pipe is passed through the contents of the saturator is avoided.
If desired the sulphate of ammonia may be allowed to discharge through the
action of gravity suitable valves being employed to allow of its exit.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Saturators for Use in the Manufacture
of Sulphate of Ammonia.
I, PATRICK DUGGAN, of 25 Pier Road, Roshervilie, in the County of Kent,
Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to saturators for use in the
manufacture of sulphate of ammonia, and is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing, which represents a vertical sectional elevation of a saturator with the
improvements applied thereto.
A is the vessel forming the saturator preferably made circular in plan, and
supported by columns B or otherwise as may be convenient. The saturator is
preferably provided with a cover C made in parts hinged together so that it can
be readily opened to admit of the entrance of workmen into the interior of the
saturator when necessary.
The bottom of the saturator A is made of a conical or curved shape as shown in
the drawing so that the sulphate as formed falls towards an outlet D which
communicates with a discharge pipe E into the lower end of which protrudes the

page_text: nozzle F of an injector pipe G supplied with steam, compressed air or other
suitable fluid for the purpose of discharging the sulphate of ammonia through the
pipe E into a strainer or other suitable receptacle.
In certain kinds of saturators at present in use injectors are employed for
discharging the sulphate of ammonia deposited at the bottom of the saturating
vessels; but the injectors are placed inside the said vessels, and the steam supplied
to them has to pass through a pipe surrounded by the comparatively cool liquor
which is to be acted upon. The consequence is that a great deal of the steam is
condensed before it reaches the nozzle of the injector, and the action of the
latter is consequently very imperfect. By placing the injector wholly outside the
saturator, as shown in the drawing, condensation of steam in the pipe G may be
very largely avoided, as the said pipe can be covered with insulating material to
protect it from cooling action of any kind, and the efficiency of the injector as a
discharging means is thereby materially increased; so much so in fact that I am
enabled with my apparatus to raise the salt fifteen feet, or even more, above the
level of the acid in the saturator, and consequently to deliver it on to the
drainer at such an elevation that it may be discharged from the latter into
the store without the intervention of the trucks usually employed; besides
which the injector apparatus can be readily got at for repair or renewal.
In the drawing, H are the pipes through which the ammonia gas is introduced
into the saturator, I the pipe through which the sulphuric acid is introduced, and
J is an outlet for gas or vapour generated in the saturator.
If desired the injector may be dispensed with, and the sulphate of ammonia
discharged by the action of gravity alone a valve being employed to regulate its
exit. A suitable arrangement for this purpose is shown in the drawing, where
K represents a plug or valve made of any suitable material fitted liquid-tight into
the outlet opening D, and connected to a stem L which passes up through the
cover C, and is provided at its upper end which a crosshead M guided by the
bridge-piece N fixed on the stationary part of the cover C. P is a screw the thread
of which engages with a corresponding thread formed in the bridge-piece N, or
in a nut connected therewith. The upper end of the screw P is provided with
a hand-wheel Q or other suitable means for turning the screw, and the lower end
is provided with a collar R which takes into and is free to turn in a recess in the
crosshead M, being retained therein by the cover plates SS bolted to the cross-
head. It will now be understood that by turning the screw P the plug or valve K
with its stem L can be raised or lowered at pleasure so as to open or close the
outlet D without turning round the said plug or valve K. If preferred the
screw P may be formed on the upper end of the stem L; but in that case the plug
or valve K is caused to turn round as it rises and falls; I prefer however, the
arrangement shown in the drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The improvement in or relating to saturators for use in the manufacture
of sulphate of ammonia, which consists in the employment in connection
therewith of an injector for discharging the sulphate of ammonia therefrom
arranged and applied externally to the vessel forming the saturator, substantially as
described.
Second. The improvement in or relating to saturators for use in the manufacture
of sulphate of ammonia, which consists in making the bottom of the saturator
vessel of conical or curved shape with an outlet opening at the lower end of such
conical or curved bottom, the said opening being connected with a discharge
pipe provided with an injector for effecting the discharge of the sulphate of
ammonia, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Third. The improvement in saturators for use in the manufacture of sulphate of
ammonia, which consists in making the bottom of the saturator vessel of conical

page_text: or curved shape with an outlet opening at the lower end of such conical or
curved bottom, the said opening being provided with a plug or valve to allow
of the discharge of the sulphate of ammonia by gravity, substantially [as
described.
Fourth. The improvement in saturators for use in the manufacture of sulphate.
of ammonia, which consists in connecting the discharge pipe to an opening in
the bottom of the saturator and in combining an injector with such discharge.
pipe for the purpose of discharging the sulphate of ammonia from the saturator,.
substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of January
P. DUGGAN,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent..