Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
I, NATHANIEL PALMER PRATT, of Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United
States of America, Chemist, 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 relates to the manufacture of sulphuric acid.
The object is to accelerate the chemical action in, and thus increase the effective
working capacity of a given acid-producing space by agitation, mixture, and
projection of the gases therein throughout the whole extent of this space; thus,
also, accelerating the draught and the production of sulphur dioxide at the furnace,
or presentation thereof from the generator;
Furthermore, rapidly, repeatedly and coutinuously to return the greater part of
the nitrous anhydride with any accompanying other nitrogen acids for action again
as an oxygen-carrier between the oxygen present and the sulphur dioxide; as well
as unaltered nitro-sulphuric acid, unconverted sulphur dioxide, and unprecipitated
sulphuric acid;
Furthermore, to precipitate a great portion of the sulphuric acid existing ns
suspended misty particles in the chamber-atmosphere which has escaped previons
precipitation and return the portion unprecipitated, thus saving what would
otherwise be lost;
Furthermore, to break up substantially all the nitro-sulphuric acid, also existing
as suspended misty particles in the chainber-atmosphero and which has escaped
previous decomposition into nitrous anhydride and sulphuric acid, conserving a body
of nitrous anhydride with rapid and repeated use thereof; thus enormously
increasing the action of nitrous anhydride in a given time, the portion escaping the
Gay-Lussac tower being replaced by fresh additions through the Glover tower in
tho usual way; and, at the same time, retaining practically all the sulphuric acid
resulting from the splitting up; and,
Finally, to convert all the sulphurous acid remaining, which has escaped previous
conversion, into sulphuric acid and save practically the whole of this.
With these objects in view, the invention consists in quickening the chemical
action by strong mechanical agitation of the acid-producing materials;
Furthermore, in saving, by circulation, active agents and products that would
otherwise escape, and returning them to the chambers; and,
Finally, in the apparatus and details thereof for carrying the invention into
effect.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, showing a
portion of the interior of a sulphuric-acid plant constructed to carry my invention
into effect;
Figure 2 is a view, in horizontal section, taken on the line x-x, Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail, in vertical section, of the front portion of the
acid-chamber;
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the condensers;
Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section, of the front portion of the acid-chamber,
showing the connection between the Blues leading from the condensers and the fan;
and

page_text: Figure 6 is a similar view of Fig. 5, showing in place of a fan, a steam-injector
for agitating the contents of the acid-chamber, and also a number of comminuting
and condensing columns for causing cross-currents within the chamber.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the furnaces; B the nitre-oven
connecting with the furnace; C the Glover-tower; D the Gay-Lussac tower;
E the acid-chamber; F the condensers; G the cooling-chamber; and H the
compressor. As these parts may be of any of the well-known or preferred
constructions, a detailed description of them, further than to show their connection
and co-operation, is deemed unnecessary.
The acid-chamber E, which may be a single-chamber, as shown, or a number of
connected chambers, is provided at its front end with a casing in which is mounted
a fau or blower J, driven by any suitable power, as by engines K. The fan is
constructed of any suitable acid-resisting material and its shaft of iron or steel,
that portion of the shaft within the casing being corered with lead or the like to
prevent corrosion. In this instance, a single fan is shown, but it is to be understood
that, if desired, two or more fans may be used, or a steam-injector L, as shown in
Fig. 6, or any other mechanical appliance capable of causing a progressive mixing
and circulation within the acid-chamber may be employed, and that these parts may
be connected with any part of the aoid-producing portion of the apparatus, whereby
a thorough mixing throughout the same will be insured. Connecting with the fan-
casing I are two flues or pipes i, which lead to and connect with the condensers F
at or near the tops thereof, and connecting with the bottom portion of the condensers
are flues or pipes, which open into the sides of the acid-chamber, as best shown in
Figs. 1 and 4. The condensers are each furnished with a packing composed of any
suitable acid-resisting material or materials which will allow spaces for draught and
surfaces for condensation, conversion and decomposition. Arranged in the top of
each of the condensers, and at a proper distanco above the contained packing, is a
suitable spraying device' such as a rose-nozzle, or the like, which connects through
pipes with the tank M containing water, or dilnte sulphuric acid, the latter being
supplied from the cooling-chamber G through a pipe g, or from any other preferred
source. Each of the condensers is also provided, at its bottom portion with an
escape-pipe, through which the condensed sulphuric acid escapes from the
condensers to the chamber-pan e. In this instance, I have shown but two
condensers; but it is to be understood that any number may be employed, combined
in any suitable order with one or more chambers of the plant.
The cooling-chamber G is connected with the acid-chamber by means of a fluo g³,
having, by preference, a damper 9ª, and with the Gay-Lussac tower by a flue N,
and the acid-chamber is connected with the Glover towen by a flue O
connecting the top of the Glover tower with the acid-chamber at a point above
the fan, a steam-supply pipo e' supplying the necessary water for hydration to the
said chamber.
Located preferably below the acid-chamber are two tanks P and Q connecting.
with acid-eggs R and S, respectively. The tank P receives the nitrous vitriol
running from the bottom or pan of the Gay-Lussac tower, from whence it is rua
into acid-egg S, thence forced by compressed air to a tank T above the Glover
tower, where it is showered down through its contained packing, and, after yielding
up its nitrogen acids to the gases from the farnace, the acid passes through a pipe q
into the tank Q and is drawn into the acid-egg R; thence it is forced, by compressed.
air, to the tank U over the Gay-Lussao tower, and so on.
If desired, the acid-chamber may be provided with a number of comminuting and
condensing columns V, for additionally mixing the acid-producing materials.
If, for any purpose, it should be desired to cut out the mixing and circulation
attachment, as for repairs, without stopping the work and resort merely to the usual
apparatus, the blust may be stopped or shut off, as by a damper in the blast-flue.
The other flues i could then be closed to prevent return from the acid-chamber, as
by dampers.

page_text: 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;-
1. The method of manufacturing sulphuric acid substantially as described.
2. The apparatus entire and the details theroof, substantially as described.
3. In the manufacture of sulphuric acid the method of accelerating and increasing
the production which consists in mechanically agitating the materials throughout
the acid producing portion of the apparatus substantially as described.
4. In the manufacture of sulphuric acid the method of insuring substantially
complete and rapid admixture of the materials and of bringing back portions for
re-use or saving which consists in producing a current or draught through the acid-
producing portion of the apparatus independent of and in addition to the ordinary
draught and from and toward the rear end thereof back to its front portion that is
to say a circulation therethrough substantially as described.
5. The method of saving and decomposing any nitro-sulphuric acid present
which has escaped previous decomposition and of precipitating and saving substan-
tially the entire amount of sulphuric acid freed in the decomposition by projecting
the nitro-sulphuric acid against suitable surfaces under subjection to the action of
water or weak sulphuric acid and returning whatever thereof remains undecomposed
and whatever sulphuric acid remains unprecipitated to the apparatus substantially
as described.
6. The method of manufacturing sulphuric acid which consiste in generating
sulphurous acid and feeding it into a container concurrently introducing nitrogen
acids oxygen and steam or water spray then mechanically agitating the materials
throughout the acid-producing portion of the apparatus and finally trapping the
sulphuric acid substantially as described.
7. The method of manufacturing sulphuric acid, which consists in generating
sulphurous acid and passing it into a container concurrently introducing nitrogen
acids, oxygen and steam or water spray then mechanically agitating the materials
and trapping the sulphuric acid near the rear of the acid-producing portion of the
apparatus and finally conducting the nitrogen acids to the front thereof substantially
as described.
8. The combination with the acid-producing portion of a sulphuric acid plant of
mechanical meaus for causing a rapid progressive mixture of the contained materials,
substantially as described.
9. The combination with the acid-producing portion of n sulphuric acid plant of
fans blowers or other blast mechanism acting to intermix the contained materials
progressively substantially as described.
10. The combination with the acid-producing portion of a sulphuric acid plant of
fans or other circulation inducing mechanism and comminuting and condensing
columns substantially as described.
1 1
L 1005
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.