Improvements in Apparatus for Incinerating Spent or Used Alkaline Lyes or other Waste Products or Precipitates Containing Carbonaceous Matter.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Incinerating Spent or Used Alkaline
Lyes or other Waste Products or Precipitates Containing
Carbonaceous Matter.
We, THOMAS MCDOUGAL, of the firm of James Brown & Co., of Eskmills,
Penicuick, in the County of Mid Lothian North Britain, Paper Maker, and JOHN
JARDINE, of the same place Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object, by means of improved apparatus to obtain
increased economy in fuel, and other advantages, together with diminished wear
and tear, in the processes for treating spent or used. alkaline lyes, such as are
produced in the paper manufacture, or other waste products or precipitates
containing carbonaceous matters, for the reduction of the matters to ashes in order
to recover the alkali, or for other purposes.
In existing apparatus for the same purpose the spent lye has hitherto been supplied
of a comparatively low strength or density; but by the recent introduction of
improved preliminary evaporation apparatus the lye has been brought to a con-
siderably increased strength or density; and it is for dealing with such denser lye
that the apparatus comprised in the present Invention has been designed.
The improved apparatus which may be appropriately termed a duplex-reversiblo
incinerator, is contained or formed in a long low structure at each end of which there
is a fuel grate. A flue or arched passage or space extends from one fuel grate to
the other, and in the bottom of this flue are formed two incinerating hearths which
are slightly depressed flat-bottomed recesses intended to alternately receive charges
of the lyes or matters previously very highly concentrated in upper parts of the
structure. Immediately above the lower, or incinerating flue, there is an upper flue
or space extending from end to end of the structure the bottom of it being inclined
downwards from each end to the middle. A large part of the top of the upper flue
is occupied by one or more evaporating pans. The lye is supplied to the evaporating
pan in which it is concentrated by the action of hot gases passing along the upper
fue and is drawn alternately from each end, into the upper flue at the upper ends of
the inclined bottom, being next transferred at the middle through suitable ports
alternately into each of the incinerating hearths below. Working doors are provided
in the side or sides of the flues for the introduction of instruments for stirring and
controlling the movements of the matters and for removing the ashes or final products.
Ports or communications fitted with dampers or valves are formed between the lower
and upper flues, and the upper flue communicates with a chimney or chimneys by
ports at each end these ports being also fitted with dampers or valves.
The upper
Hue is divided by a vertical longitudinal middle partition having at its end ports with
dampers or valves.
Dampers or valves are also provided to control the admission
of air at the fuel grates.
When a charge in one of the incinerating heartbs has become sufficiently dried
and heated, it takes fire and when this take place, the various dampers or valves are
set so that the current of hot gases passes from the ignited material over the other
hearth (the material in which is at an earlier stage) and on reaching the outer end
enters one side of the upper flue, proceeds along it to the other end, returns along
the other side of the middle partition and then escapes to the chimney. By the time
that the burning material in one hearth becomes worked off that in the other hearth
will be ignited or be ready to ignite. The valves or dampers are then reversed so
that the currents of hot gases will proceed along the flues in directions opposite to
those in which they were previously passing.

page_text: With this improved or duplex-reversible arrangement the heat evolved by the
burning of each charge is more completely utilised in the earlier stages of other
charges and less fuel is required to be burned in the grates, than in existing apparatus.
whilst there is less overheating of the flues and other parts, and there is less waste of
alkali, the ash recovered being cleaner and purer.
Dated this Thisisth day of October 1888
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Incinerating Spent or Used Alkaline
Lyes or other Waste Products or Precipitates Containing
Carbonaceous Matter.
We, THOMAS MCDOUGAL, of the firm of James Brown & Co., of Eskmills,
Penicuik, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Paper Maker, and JOHN
JARDINE, of the same place, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object, by means of improved apparatus, to obtain
increased economy in fuel and other advantages, together with diminished wear and
tear, in the processes for treating spent or used alkaline lyes, such as are produced in
the paper manufacture, or other waste products, or precipitates containing carbonaceous
matters, for the reduction of the matters to ashes in order to recover the alkali, or for
other purposes.
In existing apparatus for the same purpose the spent lye has hitherto been supplied
of a comparatively low strength or density; but by the recent introduction of
improved preliminary evaporating apparatus the lye has been brought to a considerably
increased strength or density; and it is for dealing with such denser lye that the
apparatus comprised in the present Invention has been designed.
The improved apparatus, which may be appropriately termed a duplex reversible
incinerator, is contained or formed, according to one modification, in a long low
structure, at each end of which there is a fuel grate. A flue or arched passage
extends from one fuel grate to the other, and in the bottom of this flue are formed
two incinerating hearths. Immediately above the lower or incinerating flue there is
an upper flue a large part of the top of which is occupied by one or more evaporating
pans. The lye is supplied to the evaporating pan or pans in which it is concentrated
by the action of the hot gases passing along the upper flue, and is drawn alternately
from each end, into the upper flue. The lye is next transferred at the middle of the
upper flue through suitable ports alternately into each of the incinerating hearths
below. Ports or communications fitted with dampers or valves are formed between
the lower and upper flues, and the upper flue communicates with a chimney or
chimneys by ports at each end, these ports being also fitted with dampers or valves.
The upper flue is divided by a vertical longitudinal partition having at its ends ports
with dampers or valves. Dainpers or valves are also provided to control the admission
of air at the fuol grates.
When a charge in one of the incinerating hearths has become sufficiently dried and
heated, it takes fire, and when this takes place, the various dampers or valves are set
so that the current of hot gases passes from the ignited material over the other hearth
(the material in which is at an earlier stage) and on reaching the outer end enters
one side of the upper flue, proceeds along it to the other end, returns along the other
side of the middle partition and then escapes to the chimney. By the time that the
burning material in one hearth becomes worked off, that in the other hearth will be
ignited or ready to ignite. The valves or dampers are then reversed so that the
current of hot gases will proceed along the flues in directions opposite to those in
which it was previously passing.

page_text: With this improved or duplex-reversible arrangement with its alternate action, the
heat evolved by the burning of each charge is more completely utilised in the earlier
stages of other charges, and less fuel is required to be burned in the grates than
in existing apparatus, whilst there is less overheating of the flues and other parts,
and there is less waste of alkali, the ash recovered being cleaner and purer.
In cases in which sufficient length of space is not conveniently available for building
the structure with the two incinerating hearths in the same line, the two parts may
be built side by side or in any other convenient way, with the same results, provided
that the flues, ports, or communications and dampers or valves are arranged so that
there may be two alternating actions, during one of which the currents of hot gases
pass from one hearth in which the final ignition process is then going on, over
the other hearth in which the material is at an earlier stage, and during the other of
which actions the currents are transposed or reversed, the hearth in which ignition
previously took place receiving a fresh charge of material to be acted on by the
hot gases from the other hearth the materials in which will then be in a state of
ignition.
And in order that the said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to bo
hereinafter referred to and representing a convenient and practically successful
modification of our improved apparatus.
Figure. 1, on the sheet of drawings is a horizontal section as through the upper
flue of the structure, figure, 2, is a longitudinal vertical section, and figures, 3,
and 4, are transverse vertical sections as taken through one of the hearths and
through one of the fuel gratos respectively. In these drawings the same reference
letters are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In a long low building there are two fuel grates, A, B, each occupying a narrow
space across the end, and provided with doors for introducing fuel. A flue or arched
passage or space, C, extends from one fuel grate to the other, and in the bottom of
this Hue are formed two incinerating hearths, D, E, which are slightly depressed
flat-bottomed recesses intended to alternately receive charges of the lyes or matters
previously very highly concentrated in the upper parts of the structure. Immediately
above the lower or incinerating flue, C, there is an upper flue or space, divided by
a longitudinal vertical partition, F, into two passages or flues, G, H, extending from
end to end of the structure the bottoms of these passages being inclined downwards
from each end to the middle. A large part of the top of the upper flues, G, H, is
occupied by an evaporating pan, J. The lye is supplied to the evaporating pan, J,
in which it is concentrated by the action of hot gases passing along the upper
flues, G, H, and is drawn alternately from each end, into the upper flues, G, H, at
the upper ends of the inclined bottom, being next transferred at the middle through
suitable ports, K, alternately into each of the incinerating hearths, D, E, below.
Working doors, L, M, are provided in the outer sides of the flues, G, H, and C, for
the introduction of instruments for stirring and controlling the movements of the
matters and for removing the ashes or final products. Ports or communications, N, P,
fitted with dampers or valves, N', N, P1, P2, are formed between the lower flue, C,
and the upper flues, G, H. The upper flues, G, H, communicate with each other at
the ends by ports, Q, R, with dampers or valves, and are also provided with
outlet ports, S, T, having dampers or valves and communicating with a chimney or
chimneys.
The arrows show the directions of the current of hot gases when the material is
being incinerated or burned in the hearth, D, which is toward the left hand in the
drawing the dampers or valves, N¹, Q, and S, being opened and the others closed.
When the reversed or alternato action takes place the current of hot gases proceeds in the
directions opposite to those shown by the arrows, and the dampers, P, R, and T, are
then opened and the others closed. The ports, N, P, over the fuel grates are at
their upper parts each provided with two dampers, the second dampers, N2 and P2,
serving for regulating the currents, and for allowing a direct passage from the ends
of the lower flue, C, to the outlet ports, S, T, when required.

page_text: When the lye becomes very dense in the evaporating pan, ), (through the efficient
heating action due to the arrangement) it will not be necessary for it to pass from the
pan to the upper extremities of the inclined hottoms of the flues, G, H, but may he
transferred thereto at any points found suitable, or even at the middle or lowest parts.
Or the lye may be transferred directly from the evaporating pan, J, into the incinerating
hearths, D, E. Any convenient construction or arrangement of pipes with stopcocks
may be adopted in connection with the evaporating pan, J, for the purpose of
leading the lye therefrom to, and distributing it in, the flues, G, H, or incinerating
hearths, D, E, the most economical results being obtained by watching the action and
regulating the supply and distribution of the lye accordingly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what wo
claim is :-
1. Constructing, combining, and arranging the parts of apparatus for incinerating
spent or used alkaline lyes or other waste products or precipitates containing
carbonaceous matter, in the improved manner substantially as hereinbefore describod.
2. Arranging incinerating hearths and flues in connection with each other, and
providing dampers or valves by suitably adjusting or setting which the currents of
hot gases may be made to pass alternately from one hearth over another substantially
in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Sixteenth day of May 1880
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.