Improvements in Aqua Ammonia Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application. 27th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aqua Ammonia Engines.
I, CHARLES LUDWIG HORACK, of 147 Henry Street, Brooklyn, Kings County,
State of New York, U.S.A., Civil and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention, IMPROVEMENTS IN AQUA AMMONIA ENGINES, to be
as follows:-
My invention refers to aqua ammonia engines, wherein ammonia gas is expelled
from aqua ammonia in a boiler or generator by heat, and the gas, after propelling
the piston of an engine, is reabsorbed by weak liquid withdrawn from such boiler
and cooled, exhaust gas and absorbing liquid being thereupon returned jointly to
such boiler or generator.
The following are the novel features invented by me :
My ammonia gas generating apparatus consists preferably of two sections, or
generators. Into the first one I introduce the strong aqua ammonia and by
heating it to a certain degree I expel from it ammonia gas comparatively free
from water vapor, which gas I afterwards employ for refiigerating purposes. The
aqua ammonia-so heated in the first generator I then conduct into the second one,
where I heat it further, thereby expelling from it additional ammonia gas mixed
with water vapor, which I employ in propelling the piston of the engine, the
liquid after such second heating being cooled while in transit to the absorbing
apparatus. In the absorbing apparatus it is mixed with the exhaust of the
engine and the spent refrigerating gas, and after also cooling the mixture of liquid
and gas so obtained and thus securing complete or nearly complete absorption of
the latter, the strong solution is again introduced into the first generator as
mentioned above, through a suitable feed pump..
The part of the gas to be used for refrigerating purposes I pass in a continuous
column through a by-pass around the engine, cool it therein while under pressure
so as to liquefy it, then allow it to expand so as to produce artificial cold and
apply such cold to the absorbing liquid and after such liquid has been brought
in contact with the exhaust I apply such cold also to the combined liquid and
exhaust.
I afterwards absorb the spent refrigerating gas by the same liquid, but I prefer '
to employ such liquid first in absorbing the exhaust of the engine, so as to get the
full benefit of the artificially low temperature of such liquid, so as to thereby
overcome back pressure on the engine.
The absorbing liquid after it leaves the generating apparatus is first brought in
contact with some other cooling agent, the artificial cold being reserved to produce.
the reduction of its temperature to the lowest degree desired.
I prefer to construct the by-pass wherein the gas is liquefied for refrigerating
purposes so as to make it drain into the absorbing apparatus, so as to thereby
discharge from it promptly any water that may have been carried into it with the
ammonia gas from the generator.
The feed liquid while in transit from the feed pump to the generator I employ.
as cooling medium in liquefying the refrigerating gas.
Where the cooling operations above referred to take place, the cooling medium
and the gas or the liquid to be cooled are separated in the usual manner, the one
passing through and the other around suitable tubes for such purpose.
I connect both generators directly with the engine, the refrigerating apparatus, the
absorbing apparatus and the feed pump, so as to be able, after opening or:

page_text: closing the proper valves in the connecting pipes, to run the apparatus with only
one generator.
I also make provision for regulating the amount of absorbing liquid discharged
into the absorbing apparatus of the engine, in accordance with the pressure existing
at the time near its exhaust ports, the higher the pressure there, the greater being
the amount of cooling liquid required.
For such purpose I arrange a flexible diapliragm in communication with the
exhaust pipe of the engine, and use the expansion of such. diaphragm caused by
increased pressure in the exhaust pipe for automatically operating a valve through
which the absorbing liquid is made to flow, so as to thereby increase the effective
discharge area of the valve.
In case the absorbing liquid be conveyed to the absorbing apparatus through a
pump, the expansion of such diaphragm could be used for enlarging the effective
area of the valve admitting gas or steam to its power cylinder, whereby likewise
the discharge of absorbing liquid will be increased by increasing the speed of
the pump.
The combined exhaust vapor and absorbing liquid I pass through cooling tubes
of an absorber, which are inclined so as to drain towards a receiving well or the
feed pump, whereby I secure their free passage through the absorber, and more
thorough mingling of gas and liquid therein.
As free gas may enter the suction end of the feed pump or its delivery chamber
and may there cause difficulty by impeding passage of liquid through the same,
I provide pipes with proper valves leading from the pipe carrying the cooled
absorbing liquid into the suction pipe and the delivery chamber, for the purpose of
absorbing such free gas there.
Dated this 17th day of March 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aqua Ammonia Engines.
I, CHARLES LUDWIG HORACK of 147 Henry Street, Brooklyn, Kings County,
State of New York, United States of America, Civil and Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AQUA
AMMONIA ENGINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The accompanying drawing shows a side elevation partly in section of an
apparatus constructed according to my invention:. 1 is a boiler wherein aqua
ammonia is heated by steam circulating through tubes 2, 2, such steam being
admitted to chambers with which such tubes connect through a pipe 3 and valve 4
and discharged through valved pipe 5 after said steam has given up part of its heat
to the aqua ammonia surrounding tubes 2, 2 and has thereby become condensed.
This ammonia boiler is hereinafter termed the generator. Any other suitable form
of generator and employing any other proper heating, medium might be used in
connection with my improvements.
From the upper space of the generator the ammonia vapor expelled by the heat
of the steam will pass, through valve 6, pipe 7, and throttle valve 8 into engine
cylinder 9. and after propelling the pistop therein, will be discharged into exhaust
pipe 10.
From the lower part of the generator, solution weakened by the expulsion of
part of its gas is conducted to exhaust pipe 10 through pipe 11, cock 19, coil 12,
Dine 13. coil 14..pipe 15, valve 16, pipe 17, cock 20 and spray jet 18. Such liquid

page_text: is cooled while passing through coils 12 and 14 as mentioned hereafter. Upon the
meeting of the exhaust vapor and liquid in pipe 10 partial absorption of the former
takes place and the more readily when the temperature of the liquid is very low,
and in order. to thus obtain a vacuum on the piston I make special provision for
cooling such liquid as follows: 21 is a coiled pipe receiving ammonia gas under
generator pressure from main pipe 7. As said coiled pipe within reservoirs 23.
and 24 is surrounded by cooling liquid as described below, the gas therein becomes
liquefied and being permitted to escape through a small aperture 25 into
reservoir 26 again assumes the gaseous form and in doing so takes up the latent
heat of vaporisation previously surrendered by it in reservoirs 23 and 24 and in
doing so reduces to a very low temperature the absorbing liquid passing through
coil 14, such liquid having already been reduced in temperature while passing
through coil 12, by cooling water supplied through pipe 28 and discharged through
pipe 29. 22 and 30 are cocks.
The refrigerating gas passes from casing 26 through pipe 31 into coil 32 placed
in the exhaust pipe underneath spray jet 18 and from there through pipe 33 into
the lower part of receiving well 34, where it is absorbed by the combined absorbing
liquid and exhaust vapor of the engine, aided if necessary by further absorbing
liquid introduced through branch pipe 35 which is provided with a cock 36 and a
spray jet 37.
The refrigerating gas while passing through coil 32 will still be of very low
temperature and will thus materially promote the absorption of the exhaust vapor
by the liquid discharged from jet 18; to complete such absorption I afterwards
pass gas and liquid jointly through tubes 38, 38 of an absorber 39, such tubes
being surrounded by cooling liquid, and finally introduce the same through pipe 40
into receiving well 34 underneath its liquid line. Cooling water is made to circulate
through coil 41, pipe 42, absorber 39 and pipe 4. 44 is a branch of pipe 31
connecting with a suitable supply of water, and 46 a branch of pipe 33. 45, 47
and 48 are cocks. When the refrigerating apparatus is not in operation cooling
water can be substituted for refrigerating gas in coil 32 through such branch pipes
and cocks.
50 is the liquid cylinder of a feed pump and 60 its suction pipe connecting with
the well 34.
I regulate the discharge of absorbing liquid into exhaust pipe 10 as follows:
54 is a pipe branching out of main pipe 10 and closed at its enlarged end by a
diaphragm 55. The hinged lever 56 is attached to and moves with said flexible
diaphragm, and it also connects with and regulates the movement of stem 57 of
valve 16 through which the absorbing liquid is made to flow. Said valve is
preferably a balanced valve, independent in its movements of the pressure in
pipe 15 and similar in construction and in its connections to throttle valves used in
air compressors, where the pressure of the compressed air regulates the quantity of
steam supplied to the steam cylinder. Valve 16 is arranged so that its water-way
and consequently its discharge of liquid into pipe 17 is reduced when its stem is
moved downward, and increased when said stem with the disk attached to it within
said valve moves upwards. 58 is the usual weight for counteracting the tendency
of the diaphragm to expand outward, and for depressing the stem of valve 16 as
the pressure within pipe 54 decreases. By this arrangement gradual movement of
the regulating mechanism for the supply for absorbing liquid is secured. Valve 16
having been so adjusted by properly locating weight 58 on lever 56 as to allow.
under the pressure ordinarily existing in pipe 15 the passage of an amount of
absorbing liquid through valve 16 just sufficient to produce the desired vacuum in
pipes 10 and 54, any reduction of the pressure within said pipes will cause the
outer atmosphere aided by weight 58 to force diaphragm 55 and with it lever 56,
steni 57 and the valve disk attached to it downward thus preventing the discharge
through nozzle 18 of an excess of absorbing liquid. With an increase of pressure
in pipes 10 and 54 movement of such parts in an upward direction and an increase
in the quantity of liquid discharged through nozzle 18 will take place.

page_text: If free gas from well 34 should enter pump cylinder 50, or its suction pipe 60,
gas seals would be formed therein interfering with the proper operation of the
pump. To overcome this difficulty I provide pipe 59 connecting suction pipe 60
with pipe 35 containing cooled absorbing liquid under pressure, and also run a
branch pipe 64 from pipe 59 into the delivery end of the pump.
63 is a check
valve in pipe 60 adjusted to close towards well 34 when cocks 61 and 62 in pipe 59
are opened and absorbing liquid is thereby introduced into the part of pipe 60
nearest the pump, so as to absorb the free gas that may have reached the same.
By opening cock 65 in pipe 64, absorbing liquid may for a like purpose be
introduced into the pump.
Feed pump 50 forces the strong solution resulting from the absorption of the
exhaust vapor through pipe 66, casing 23, pipe 67 and check valve 68 into
generator 1, said check being intended to retain the liquid therein. In casing 23
the feed liquid has imparted to it part of the heat contained in the ammonia gas
which is to be used for refrigerating purposes, thus turning to useful account heat
which would otherwise be wasted.
Instead of using refrigerating gas in direct contact with the pipes containing the
vapor, or the liquid which is to be cooled, brine may be used as an intermediary, as
is commonly done in ice machines.
It is practically impossible to obtain ammonia gas free from water vapor by
heating aqua ammonia. The lower the degree of heat employed, the freer will be the
gas from water. Comparatively pure gas is needed for purposes of refrigeration,
while some water vapor employed with the gas in the engine cylinder will improve
the lubrication therein and will add to its efficiency. It will therefore generally be
best to employ two generators, one as 70, principally for furnishing gas for
refrigerating purposes heated to a lower temperature than generator 1, which then
may be employed principally for supplying the engine. In that case, cock 69 in
pipe 67 will have to be closed and the feed liquid be introduced into generator 70
through pipe 71 having cock 72 and will have to be withdrawn from there after
losing part of its gas, through pipe 73 having cock 74, prior to entering generator 1.
75 is the gas pipe of generator 70, and 76 and 77 cocks connecting with said pipe,
and it will readily be seen how with the aid of the various pipe connections and
cocks as described, the two generators may be utilized jointly in the manner
described, or all the gas required for operating the engine as well as the
refrigerating apparatus may be developed in one of said generators only.
The cooling of the refrigerating gas, where the same passes through the lower
part of coil 21 within casing 24 is accomplished by cooling water.
By combining absorbing liquid while at its lowest temperature with the exhaust
of the engine and prior to combining it with, the spent exhaust gas, I obtain the
greatest possible benefit by utilizing this lowest temperature in reducing the back
pressure on the engine. The refrigerating gas I pass through a continuous passage
draining towards the absorbing apparatus as shown, thus doing away with the
injurious effect of water vapor carried along with such gas condensing in said pipes
and forming liquid seals, or pockets of liquid.
The cooling tubes of the absorber are shown to be inclined, so as to drain
towards the receiving well. This not only secures free circulation of the liquid
within such absorber but also causes any free gas within said tubes to be more
readily absorbed by the liquid. If the. absorbing liquid should be discharged into
the absorbing apparatus by a pump, a regulating valve as 16 with corresponding
connections between it and a diaphragm attached to the exhaust pipe of the engine
might be placed in the pipe supplying the vapor or steam for operating such pump,
so as to increase the speed of such pump as the pressure in the exhaust pipe
increases, and vice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I claim is:
1. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for successively

page_text: heating aqua ammonia in two generators, employing the vapor from the first
generator in a refrigerating apparatus and from the second generator for propelling
an engine, and employing liquid from the second generator for absorbing the
exhaust of the engine and of the refrigerating apparatus.
2. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for heating aqua
ammonia in two generators successively, propelling an engine with vapor from the
second generator and absorbing its exhaust with liquid therefrom, and employing
the vapor from the first generator alternately for refrigerating purposes and for
operating such engine.
3. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for heating aqua
ammonia in a generating apparatus, using part of the vapor so evolved for propelling
an engine, compressing and cooling another part of such vapor in a by-pass around
the engine, causing it to afterwards expand therein and using the artificial cold so
developed in cooling the liquid employed for absorbing the exhaust of the engine.
4. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for absorbing
the exhaust vapor of an ammonia engine and absorbing the spent ammonia vapor or
gas previously expanded for purposes of refrigeration, by bringing absorbing liquid
withdrawn from the generating apparatus and cooled first in contact with the
exhaust of the engine, and afterwards bringing the combined absorbing liquid and
exhaust in contact with the spent refrigerating gas.
5. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for heating aqua
ammonia in a generating apparatus, passing part of the vapor or gas developed
therein through an engine cylinder for propelling its piston, liquefying another part
thereof by cooling it under pressure, allowing it to expand for purposes of
refrigeration, absorbing the exhaust from the engine and the spent refrigerating gas
by liquid withdrawn from the generating apparatus and cooled, passing the strong
solution resulting therefrom back into the generating apparatus and using said
solution as cooling medium for the refrigerating gas.
6. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for absorbing the
exhaust of an aqua ammonia engine comprising a spray jet communicating with the
liquid space of the generating apparatus and an absorber containing laterally
inclined tubes surrounded by a cooling medium.
7. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for relieving the
suction pipe of an aqua ammonia pump of free ammonia gas by discharging into it
absorbing liquid withdrawn from the generator and cooled.
8. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for relieving the
cylinder of an aqua ammonia pump of free ammonia gas by discharging into it
absorbing liquid withdrawn from the generator and cooled.
9. The construction and employment of the improved apparatus for automatically
adjusting the supply of liquid to the absorbing jet of an aqua ammonia engine in
accordance with the pressure existing in the exhaust pipe.
[Lולה .ALנמ
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.