IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Livesey, of the South Metropolitan Gas
Works, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Livesey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1877.
GEORGE THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Old Kent
Road, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
PURIFICATION OF GAS."
This Invention has reference to the improvement of that class of vessels known
as "washers," and has for its object the arrangement of the apparatus in such a
manner as to render it more efficient for the abstraction of tar, ammonia, carbonic
acid, and sulphuretted hydrogen, and cheaper in construction than in those
generally employed.
The Invention consists of a rectangular, circular, or other convenient shaped
vessel or case, covered both at top and bottom, and divided into a number of
compartments by a series of horizontal discs or plates of metal perforated with a
great number of holes, say of about one-sixteenth of an inch, more or less, in
diameter. These discs or plates are fastened to the sides of the case, the joints being
made water-tight. From one end or side of each plate or disc there is a tube which
passes through, rises about half an inch, more or less, above it, and descends to
within about an inch of the next lowest disc, plate, tray, or sieve, where it dips into
a larger tube or cup closed at the bottom, so as to seal the descending pipe when
the apparatus is supplied with liquid.
With the view of providing even greater facilities for the free passage of the
water or liquid from one tray to that next below it than that afforded by the dip
pipes or tubes before described, it may be desirable to make these conduits extend
the whole width of the vessel, and by slightly raising one end of the perforated plate
forming the disc or tray about half an inch, more or less, and attaching to the
raised edge a piece of plain sheet iron, which descends into a seal or cup on the next
D

page_text: lowest tray, a more efficient channel will be provided. The case is provided with
an inlet for gas at or near the bottom, and an outlet at or near the top. A pipe is
also furnished for the delivery of liquid at or near the top, and an outlet for the
same at or near the bottom.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Water or other suitable liquid is
delivered in a continuous stream from the supply pipe into the vessel. Gas is also
admitted from the inlet. The liquid falls upon the first perforated tray or disc, and
would pass through it, but is prevented by the ascending column of gas, which
passes through the holes in the disc, and then forces its way through the half inch
stratum of liquid, the liquid being broken up and converted into froth by the gas
in its endeavour to pass to the outlet. The liquid flows off from the top of the
small tube or the larger openings, heretofore described, into the seal cup, which it
overflows, and then falls on to the next lowest tray. The same action takes place
in each of the divisions or compartments before described. It will be seen that
although pure water is admitted above, it is in its course downwards brought so
completely into contact with innumerable streams of gas, that the most thorough
washing of the latter takes place, and results in the absorption of ammonia to such
an extent as to constitute strong liquor, and the removal of other impurities.
"
·SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Thomas Livesey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
August 1877.
GEORGE THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Old Kent
Road, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
PURIFICATION OF GAS."
This Invention has reference to the improvement of that class of vessels known as
"washers," and has for its object the arrangement of the apparatus in such a manner
as to render it more efficient for the abstraction of tar, ammonia, carbonic acid, and
sulphuretted hydrogen, and cheaper in construction than in those generally
employed.
The Invention consists of a rectangular, circular, or other conveniently shaped
vessel or case, covered both at top and bottom, and divided into a number of
:compartments by a series of horizontal discs or plates of metal perforated with a
great number of holes, say of about one-sixteenth of an inch, more or less, in
diameter. These discs or plates are fastened to the sides of the case, the joints being
made water-tight. From one end or side of each plate or disc there is a tube which
passes through, rises about half an inch, more or less, above.it, and descends to
within about an inch of the next lower disc, plate, tray, or sieve, where it dips into
a larger tube or cup closed at the bottom, so as to seal the descending pipe when
the apparatus is supplied with liquid; or the descending pipe may be curved like
an inverted syphon, and so seal the passage.
With the view of providing even greater facilities for the free passage of the
water or liquid from one tray to that next below it than that afforded by the dip
pipes or tubes before described, it may be desirable to make these conduits extend
the whole width of the vessel, and by slightly raising one end of the perforated plate
forming the disc or tray about half an inch, more or less, and attaching to the
raised edge a piece of plain sheet iron, which descends into a seal cup or trough on
the next lower tray, a more efficient channel will be provided. By making the
liquid conduits in this manner, a more convenient passage is afforded for the tar,
and its possible accumulation on the trays prevented. The case is provided with an
inlet for gas at or near the bottom, and an outlet at or near the top. A pipe is also
furnished for the delivery of liquid at or near the top, and an outlet for the same at
or near the bottom.

page_text: In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings are
attached hereto, of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 is a front sectional elevation; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan through A, B, C, D,
Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, is an end sectional elevation. In Fig. 1 E is the body or case of the
wasber, and F, F, the perforated plates, trays, or sieves, screwed or otherwise fastened
to wooden bearers G, G, which are supported by Tiron bearers H, H; these Tiron
bearers being turned down at their ends, and bolted to the case E, as at I. J is
the water or liquid inlet, and K is a dash plate to break the force of the liquid in its
delivery. L, L, are the tubes for conveying the overflow liquid from one tray to
another, and may be either curved, as at M, or straight, as at N. In the latter case
they are each surrounded by a seal cup O. It will be seen that the three lower
perforated plates are bent up at P, as before described, the overflow conduit being
formed as at Q, the bottom edge of the vertical plates dipping into seal troughs R.
S is the inlet for the gas, and T the outlet for the same, while U is the outlet for
the liquid. In Fig. 2 only one of the plates F is dotted over to represent the
perforations, but the whole of the plates are in reality perforated in the same
manner,
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Water or other suitable liquid is
delivered in a continuous stream from the supply pipe into the vessel. Gas is also
admitted from the inlet. The liquid falls upon the first perforated tray or disc, and
would pass through it, and descend like falling rain, but is prevented by the
ascending column of gas, which passes through the holes in the disc, and then forces
its way through the half inch stratum of liquid, the liquid being broken up and
converted into froth by the gas in its endeavour to pass to the outlet. The liquid
flows off from the top of each tray by the small tubes, or by the larger openings
herein-before described, into the seal cup or trough, which it overflows, and then
falls on to the next lower tray. The same action takes place in each of the divisions
or compartments before described.
It will be seen that although pure water may be admitted above, the result of its
contact with streams of gas, so numerous as to convert them into bubbles, is to change
the liquid into strong ammoniacal liquor, combined with other impurities, by the
time it reaches the bottom, while the gas is at the same time subjected to a more
thorough and efficient washing in consequence of the innumerable particles into
which it is broken up, and in consequence of the gas in its passage upward coming
into contact with weaker liquor, until in the top tray it meets with pure water
only.
The Invention is not limited to the number of trays arranged as described, nor is
it confined to the application of these trays to vessels specially made to contain
them, since they may be applied to existing vessels or parts of vessels.
In order to ensure the perfect action of the apparatus it is essential that the
perforations in the plates should not be too large. It is herein-before stated that
they should be about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, but the size may be
modified in proportion to the depth of the stratum of liquid on the plates, and also
to the quantity and pressure of the gas admitted.
Washers made with perforated trays, which cause the liquid to descend like
showers of rain within the vessel are not new, but washers with trays having
perforations of such a size and arranged so as to produce the before-described effect are
new. In the former case the liquid passes in drops through the gas, whereas in the
latter the gas passes in bubbles through the liquid.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or
arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention,
but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the con-
struction of washers provided internally with perforated plates furnished with

page_text: inverted syphon or overflow pipes or conduits; arranged as herein-before described
and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Thomas Livesey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GEORGE THOMAS LIVESEY. (L.S.)