Improvements in the Manufacture of Ammonia.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 18th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Ammonia.
WILLIAM MODONNELL MACKEY, Analytical Chemist, 32 Victoria Chambers,
South Parade, Leeds, in the County of York, and JOHN FREELAND HUTCHESON,
Merchant, 22 St. Enoch Square, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object the formation of ammonia from the nitrogen of
the air.
In carrying out our invention we use a vertical furnace (preferably lined with
basic material) into which we charge carbonate, oxide, hydrate or nitrate of
potassium, and we may also use a certain proportion of similar compounds of
barium, calcium or sodium.
We charge these materials into our furnace along with carbon in the form
of charcoal, coke or coal a blast of air (preferably heated) is supplied by one or
more tuyers near the bottom of the furnace.
At the tuyers, or at a short distance above, cyanide is formed, and is carried up
in the form of vapour or fume, and at a suitable height in the furnace it meets a
supply of steam which decomposes the cyanide forming ammonia. And the
ammonia passing up through the upper and cooler part of the materials is after-
wards led, along with the products of combustion, through any suitable condensing
apparatus.
The liberated alkali is mostly caught by the descending charge, and being
carried down is again acted on by the nitrogen of the blast and forms cyanide as
before.
It is only necessary to supply carbonate, oxide, hydrate or nitrate of potassium
(with a proportion of similar compounds of barium, calcium or sodium when used)
sufficient to replace that lost in working by being carried off with the ammonia
and products of combustion, and also that combining with the ash of the fuel.
The alkali carried away as aforesaid may be recovered by any suitable
arrangement.
We may use in addition to solid fuel a proportion of gaseous or liquid hydro-
carbons, introducing them along with or near to the air blast.
Dated this Ninth day of July 1894.
WM. McD. MACKEY.
JOHN F. HUTCHESON.
Improvощению о
We,
WILLIAM MCDONNELL MACKEY, Analytical Chemist, 32 Victoria
Chambers, South Parade, Leeds, in the County of York, and JOHN FREELAND
HUTCHESON, Merchant, 22 St. Enoch Square, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
Price 27

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention has for its object the production of ammonia from the nitrogen of
the air.
In carrying out our invention we use a vertical furnace (preferably lined with
basic material) into which we charge carbonate, oxide, hydrate or nitrate of
potassium, and we may also use a proportion, generally not exceeding 20 per cent.,
of similar compounds of barium, calcium or sodium.
We charge the potassium compound or its mixture with these materials into
the furnace along with carbonaceous material preferably charcoal or coke ;
a blast of air (preferably heated) is supplied by one or more tuyeres near the
bottom of the furnace. At the tuyeres, or at a short distance from them, cyanide
is produced and is carried up in the form of vapour or fume. At a suitable height
in the furnace we provide steam pipes and introduce a supply of steam which
decomposes the cyanides producing ammonia and alkaline carbonate. The ammonia
passing up through the upper and cooler part of the materials in the furnace is
afterwards led along with the products of combustion, through any suitable
condensing apparatus by which the ammonia is recovered, the uncondensable gases
passing away. The liberated alkaline carbonate is mostly carried down by the
materials descending in the furnace to be again acted on by the nitrogen of the
blast and to produce cyanide as before.
It is only necessary to supply carbonate, oxide, hydrate or nitrate of potassium
(with a proportion of similar compounds of barium, calcium or sodium, when used)
sufficient to replace the amount lost in working, partly by being carried off with
the ammonia and products of combustion, and partly by combining with the ash of
the fuel to form slag.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of 'this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The herein described process for manufacture of ammonia by subjecting potassic
or other alkaline compounds and carbonaceous materials in a furnace to the action
of air blasts and of steam.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1805
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.