An Improved Mode of and Apparatus for Effecting the Flow of Liquids, with the Object of Heating or of Cooling the same or Absorbing Gases into Flowing Liquids.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 19th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of and Apparatus for Effecting the Flow of
Liquids, with the Object of Heating or of Cooling the same or
Absorbing Gases into Flowing Liquids.
We, ALFRED WACHÉ and EDMOND LOCOGE, both of Douai, in the Republic of
France, Manufacturing Chemists, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The improved mode of circulating liquids on which the present invention is
based, consists in a novel mode of applying a vacuum, which, in combination
with the well-known principle of gravitation in connection with liquids, will
create a rapid circulation.
This circulation of liquids it is proposed to utilize for the heating and con-
centration, or the cooling, of the same, or for the absorption into the liquids of
gaseous products.
The apparatus employed in securing these several results will be modified
according to requirements-the circulation in each case being maintained in a
precisely similar manner. Supposing it is intended to concentrate a liquid
according to this invention, I provide two barometrical pipes, say A and B, of
a suitable height, having regard to the density of the liquid to be treated, and
plunge them into a vessel constituting a basin or reservoir of a barometer. These
tubes are connected at their upper parts to an air-tight vessel, the pipe A reaching
ucar the top, and the pipe B opening into the lower part thereof.
Connected with the upper part of this vessel is a tube leading from a vacuum
pump, and connected with the bottom of the vessel is a tube closed by a cock.
The nipe A is provided, near its lower end, with one or several cocks, for the
introduction of air thereto.
These cocks should be placed at a level above that of the liquid in the basin or
reservoir into which the pipes dip.
In working this apparatus, the liquid to be treated is supplied to the reservoir,
the cocks of the pipe A are closed, and the closed air-tight vessel is opened to.
the air pump.
A vacuum being produced in the apparatus, tlie liquid rises in the pipes A
and B to the barometric equilibrium, which will be below the air-tight vessel.
On opening one of the cocks in the pipe A, air will rush into the column of
liquid under the action of the vacuum, and force up the liquid in the pipe, dis-
charging it into the closed vessel, from which it will pass into the descending
tube B. and return to the reservoir, from which it again mounts by A, and
80 011.
By these means, continuous circulation may be secured.
The circulating apparatus thus constituted may be applied with advantage
to the transmission of heat to any liquids that it may be desired to concentrate,
to cool, or to heat.
It is known, in effect, that the rapidity of the circulation plays an important
part in the transmission of the heat, and that the co-efficient of transmission may
vary from one to ten times, according to the speed of circulation.
In order to utilize the apparatus for the distillation or the concentration of
liquids, it will suffice to elevate the temperature of the same by any convenient
system of heating.

page_text: The best arrangement will consist in adapting to the ascending tube A a steam
jacket.
It will be obvious that the single tube A may be replaced by a nest of tubes,
so as to increase the heating surface..
In this case it will be desirable to arrange that each tube of the nest shall have
its separate air-cock.
It will be easy to combine several simple elements in such a manner as to
produce an evaporating apparatus with multiple effect, by regulating the vacuum
in each apparatus according to the temperature of the steam created.
It may here be remarked, that the same apparatus can work equally well with
a vacuum varying from 20 to 70 centimetres of mercury.
For cooling liquids, instead of jacketting the ascending pipe, the descending
tube will be jacketted for the circulation of cold water, or some refrigerating
liquid, the circulation of the water therein being from below upwards.
In this way, the refrigerating liquid; and the liquid to be cooled, will circulate
methodically in a sense inverse the one to the other.
It will be obvious that several apparatus may be associated in series, so as to
work in a continuous manner.
In the case where the concentration or the refrigeration would cause precipitates,
these will fall naturally to the reservoir, from whence they can he removed in
any convenient manner.
It will be advantageous, in this case, to divide the reservoir into two compart-
ments say a and b, by means of a partition.
The deposits will subside to the bottom of the compartment b, whilst the liquid
will naturally decant itself by flowing over the partition into the compartment a,
ready to remount the tube A and so on.
If it be desired to utilize the apparatus as an absorber of gas, or of vapours,
by liquids, it will suffice to connect the air-tight vessel with the receiver or
apparatus from whence comes the gas or the vapour to be absorbed.
Under the effect of the vacuum, this gas will be drawn in, and will pass through
the vessel from below upwards, in a sense inverse or contrary to that of the
absorbing liquid. It will be well, in this case, to arrange in the vessel several
deflectors, to break up the liquid and gaseous currents, so as to increase their
contact, and thus facilitate the absorption.
The apparatus thus constituted lends itself admirably to the absorption of
ammonia by sulphuric acid, or of acetic acid in vapour by milk of lime, or of
carbonic acid by limed sugar-juice etc., etc.
An absorption methodical and complete will therefore be obtained by arranging
'a certain number of these apparatus one after the other, to act upon one and
the same supply of circulating liquid.
Dated this 10th day of July 1800
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of and Apparatus for Effecting the Flow of
Liquids, with the Object of Heating or of Cooling the same or
Absorbing Gases into Flewing Liquids.
We, ALFRED WACHÉ and EDMOND LOCOGE, both of Douai, in the Republic of
France, Manufacturing Chemists, 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:-
The improved mode of circulating liquids on which the present invention is

page_text: based, consists in a novel mode of applying a vacuum, which, in combination
with the well known principle of gravitation in connection with liquids, will
create a rapid circulation.
This circulation of liquids it is proposed to utilize for the heating and con-
centration, or the cooling of the same, or for the absorption into the liquids of
gaseous products.
The apparatus, employed in securing these several results will be modified
according to requirements-the circulation in each case being maintained in a
precisely similar manner.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus for circulating and concentrating
liquids, constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus adapted for heating the liquid under
treatment; and
Fig. 3. is a sectional elevation of the apparatus adapted for cooling the liquid.
Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of apparatus, when used for absorbing gas or
vapours by liquids.
Supposing it is intended to concentrate a liquid according to this invention,
I provide two barometrical pipes, say A and B. of a suitable height, having regard
to the density of the liquid to be treated, and plunge them into a vessel C, con-
stituting a basin or reservoir of a barometer. These tubes are connected, at their
upper parts to an air-tight vessel D, the pipe A entering near the top, and the
pipe B entering at the bottom of the said vessel.
Connected with the upper part of this vessel is a tube D', leading from a vacuum
pump; and connected with the bottom of the vessel is' a tube Ds (Fig. 1), closed by
a cock, not shewn.
The pipe A is provided, near its lower end, with one or several cocks a, for the
introduction of air thereto.
These cocks should be placed at a level above that of the liquid in the basin or
reservoir C, into which the pipes dip.
In working this apparatus, the liquid to be treated is supplied to the reservoir C:
the cocks of the pipe A are closed, and the closed air-tight vessel D is put
in communication with an air-pump.
A vacuum being produced in the apparatus, the liquid rises in the pipes A
and B to the barometric equilibrium shown at 1, 1, which will be below the air-
tight vessel.
On opening one of the cooks a in the pipe A, air will rush into the column of
liquid under the action of the vacuum, and force the liquid up the pipe, discharging
it into the closed vessel D, from which it will pass into the descending tube B;
and return to the reservoir C, from which 'it again mounts by A, and so on.
By these means, continuous circulation may be secured:
The circulating apparatus thus constituted may be applied with advantage for
the transmission of heat to or from any liquids that it may be desired to concentrate,
to cool, or to heat.
It is known, in effect, that the rapidity of the circulation plays an important
part in the transmission of the heat, and that the co-efficient of transmission may
vary from one to ten times, according to the speed of circulation.
In order to utilize the apparatus for the distillation or the concentration of
liquids, it will suffice to elevate the temperature of the same by any convenient
system of heating.
An arrangement directed to this end is shewn at Fig. 2 and consists in adapting
to the ascending tube A a steam jacket A¹, provided with a steam inlet pipe a¹.
and outlet pipe a
It will be obvious that the single tube A may be replaced by a nest of tubes,
so as to increase the heating surface.
In this case it will be desirable to arrange that each tube of the nest shall have
its separate air-cock.

page_text: It will be easy to combine several simple elements in such a manner as to
produce an evaporating apparatus with multiple effect, by regulating the vacuum
in each apparatus according to the temperature of the steam created.
It may here be remarked that the saine apparatus can work equally well with
a vacuum varying from. 20 to 70 centimetres of mercury.
For cooling liquids, instead of jacketting the ascending pipe A, the descending
tube B will be provided with a jacket, B, for the circulation of cold water, or
some refrigerating liquid, the circulation of the water therein being from below
upwards as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3.
In this way, the refrigerating liquid, and the liquid to be cooled, will circulate
methodically in a sense inverse the one to the other.
It will be obvious that several apparatus may be associated in series, so as to
work in a continuous manner.
In the case where the concentration or the refrigeration would cause precipitates,
these will fall naturally into the reservoir, from whence they can be removed in
any convenient manner.
It will be advantageous, in this case, to divide the reservoir into two compart-
ments and c, by means of a partition c*.
The deposits will subside to the bottom of the compartment c, whilst the liquid
will naturally decant itself by flowing over the partition c* into the compartment c¹,
ready to remount the tube A, and so on.
Referring now to Fig. 4, if it be desired to utilize the apparatus for effecting
the absorbtion of gas, or of vapours, by liquids, it will suffice to connect the air-
tight vessel D by the tube D, with the receiver or apparatus from wlience comes
the gas or the vapours to be absorbed.
Under the effect of the vacuum, this gas will be drawn in, and will pass through
the vessel from below upwards, in a sense inverse, or contrary, to that of the
absorbing liquid. It will be well, in this case, to arrange in the vessel several
deflectors, to break up the liquid and gascous currents, so as to increase their
contact, and thus facilitate the absorption.
In the apparatus shewn at Fig. 4 the gas to be absorbed is drawn in at D³,
under the action of the vacuum produced at D: It passes through the vessel 1)
from below upwards, and then successively through the vessels D³ and D', in
the same direction. The gases which are non-condensable; or are not condensed,
are drawn out by the vacuum pump.
The absorbing liquid enters at E into the compartment of the tank C, passes
up the pipe A into the vessel D', down the pipe B into compartment, up the
pipe A, into the vessel D³, down the pipe B¹ into compartment e, up the pipe. A³
into the vessel D, down the pipe B into compartment c, which has an overflow
at F.
The operation may be continuous or it may be made intermittent by cutting
off the feed of fresh liquid at E, in which case the same liquid will circulate
through the apparatus as long as may be desired:
Instead of three vessels arranged in series, as shown in Fig. 4, it is obvious
that any desired number may be employed.
The pipes A, A2, A3, are shewn jacketted by an envelope A which will serve
for heating or cooling the liquid, as desired.
The apparatus thus constituted lends itself admirably to the absorption of
ammonia by sulphuric acid, or of acetic acid in vapour by milk of lime, or of
carbonic acid by limed sugar-juice etc., etc.
An absorption methodical and complete will therefore be obtained by arranging
a certain number of these apparatus one after the other, to act upon one and
the same sunnly of circulating liquid:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. An apparatus for the circulation of liquids composed of a double column,

page_text: the one for ascending liquid, provided with cocks near the bottom for the intro-
duction of air, the other for descending liquid, both columns being plunged at
bottom into a vessel forming a reservoir, and a separator of solid matters, with or
without compartments, and being connected on the other hand, at the top, to
a vessel in which a vacuum is produced, the whole arranged and working sub-
stantially as above explained.
2. The application of the circulatory apparatus forming the subject of Claim 1,
to the distillation or the concentration of liquids by means of the adaptation to
the said apparatus of a suitable system of heating, and in particular by means of
either of a steam jacket arranged round the ascending tube, or a nest of vertical
tubes constituting the ascending column.
3. The combination of several of the apparatus forming the subject of Claim 2,
in order to produce an evaporating apparatus. with multiple effects as above
explained.
4. The application of the circulatory apparatus forming the subject of Claim 1,
to the refrigeration of liquids, by means of the adaptation to the said apparatus,
either of an envelope, of circulation of cold water, or of a refrigerating 'liquid round
the descending tube, or of a nest of tubes constituting a descending barometric
column.
5. The application of the circulatory apparatus forming the subject of Claim 1,
to the absorption of gases or vapours by liquids, or to the condensation of all
condensable vapours this application consisting in causing the gases und liquids
to circulate in a sense inverse the one to the other, in one or several receivers,
forming barometric chambers, and associated as herein described.
1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.