IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AND PURIFYING AIR AND OTHER GASES BY MEANS OF STEAM AND WATER, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR REFRIGERATING PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Browne at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1878. A communication
from abroad by Isidore Dreyfus, of New York, in the United States of
America.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, 5, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AND PURIFYING AIR AND OTHER GASES BY MEANS
OF STEAM AND WATER, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR REFRIGERATING PURPOSES." A
communication from abroad by Isidore Dreyfus, of New York, in the United
States of America.
The object of this Invention is twofold, and the apparatus may be employed for
the accomplishment of either or both objects.
The first object and use of this Invention consists in the employment, such as
herein-after described, of steam to carry air or other fixed gases into a condensing or
compressing chamber, a jet or stream of water being carried along and brought
into contact with the air or gases by the same instrumentality deprives the
said air or gases of all moisture by condensation of the steam or vapor that
may be present. The air or gases may then be drawn from the chamber at a
suitable outlet, or it or they may be allowed to collect in a separate condenser or
collector, and thence drawn as may be needed for any purpose whatsoever.
The second object and use of this Invention consists in purifying atmospheric air,
or in separating therefrom noxious gases, vapors, or effluvia, which may be generated
by heat or otherwise in various industries, such as in chemical, smelting, rendering,
rectifying, distilling, or other works and places, by the employment of steam to
convey such gases or vapors into a condensing chamber, where on being brought
into contact with water or other liquid they will be either condensed and dissolved
in or mechanically mixed with the water or other liquids, and be precipitated or
absorbed by chemical or mechanical combination and thus deodorize and purify
atmospheric air from gases or vapors calculated to render it foul.
The water or liquid may separately be collected and purified by chemical processes
or it may be wasted, according to circumstances.

page_text: The apparatus may be said to consist of two parts united by means of tubing or
pipes and suitable cocks to establish or cut off communication between the said
parts.
One part of the apparatus is constructed on the Giffard injector principal, and
consists of a chamber containing concentric annuli, each having a separate inlet, and
all uniting and discharging into said chamber, which for this purpose I call "the
combining chamber."
The central inlet being connected with a steam generator terminates in a nozzle
through which steam is caused to issue in the direction imparted by it. Surrounding
the steam nozzle is a second nozzle communicating or having its inlet connected
with air or a gas receiver or generator.
The steam jet at the nozzle by its velocity produces a vacuum or partial vacuum
at the mouth of the second nozzle, which vacuum will induce the air or gas from
the receiver to combine with or be carried along by the steam.
Surrounding the last nozzle is a chamber formed to leave an annular space around
the aforesaid second nozzle. The upper part of said chamber is contracted to con-
stitute as it were a third nozzle above the second.
The three nozzles it will be seen are thus arranged successively on
one above the
other commencing with the steam nozzle, which is the lowest in order. The last
chamber is connected at its inlet with a reservoir of water or suitable liquid.
In the forward motion of the body of gas, or air and steam combined, and in
passing the contracted portion or ring of the third nozzle, the water or liquid will be
forced up, and combining with the gas or air and steam the, following will take
place: The steam' becomes instantly condensed and the vacuum at the nozzle is
thereby rendered more perfect while the air is expelled and driven forward, and any.
grases or vapors or other matters capable of being dissolved in or absorbed by water
will be thus incorporated with and carried along by the body of water into the
aforesaid combining chamber, and thence through a pipe into a receiver. The latter
may be of any suitable construction to collect and compress or condense the air,
gases, or vapors carried into it by the stream of water, and to discharge at a suitable
pressure the excess of water or liquid accumulated therein. Provision should also
be made for emptying the chamber when not in use, and for the connection with it.
of air or gas-conveying means.
1 3
The following is a description of a receiver of a preferred construction, consisting
of a cylinder surmounted by a spherical cap or dome through the centre of which a
pipe passes. Concentrically with the said cylinder a second interior cylinder, open at
the top and perforated at the sides in the lower part thereof, is firmly and tightly
secured to the bottom of the receiver.
The pipe penetrates centrally into the last described cylinder and terminates
about the upper part thereof into a flare mouth to discharge the water and air or
gases in a diffused stream, which breaking against the perforated sides of the lower
portion of the interior cylinder will more readily liberate the aeriform from the
liquid particles, which former will rise and collect in the dome of the chamber until
it shall have collected sufficiently to fill the whole capacity of the chamber, when it
will be compressed to any given degree of compression by means of the water,
discharge which may be regulated accordingly or otherwise.
An automatic discharge may be employed consisting of a siphon in equilibrium
requiring but slight pressure to cause the flow of water, but it may be increased or
decreased at pleasure. A purging cock is provided at the lower side of the chamber
and a connection with a suitable air or gas conductor.
This Invention is not confined to the absolute use of tubes or chambers as heretofore
specified, but may, for instance, change the steam connection for the water connection
or for the air connection, or use the air pipe as a water connection or otherwise
interchange the different inlets at will. Neither is it intended to confine this In-
vention to the construction heretofore described, but I may use instead the internal
inlet of steam, another nozzle or pipe connected with a steam supply pipe, with a
valve or cock so fixed to open or close said steam supply. This steam jet nozzle
i.).

page_text: is placed centrally in the longitudinal line of the apparatus or of the air ducts, the
outlet of the said nozzle pointing toward a conduct or a series of ducts or conducts
so arranged that when steam valve is opened the air or gases are drawn into the
apparatus through opening or successive openings leading towards the main injecting
apparatus until it reaches the combining chamber of the same. These ducts or
conducts may be arranged as a series of successive tapering nozzles, increasing
successively until the last reaches at or near the main inlet of the machine."
Instead of the tapering nozzles said ducts may be plain, smooth, straight-sided or
tapering, they may be channelled or corrugated, continuous or perforated, stationary
or adjustable; all those nozzles being so arranged that the smaller one is the first
receiver of the steam jet and air or gases, and they increase successively until they
reach the main body of the apparatus.
An increasing voluted or spiral pipe may be used in place of successive nozzles,
as heretofore described, the air or gas entrance being continuous in this case.
By the open valve of steam pipe steam rushes out said steam pipe, its jet entering
next nozzles or air pipes carries along with great velocity a given amount of air,
gases, or vapor, according to varying steam pressure.
In entering the successive volute pipes or nozzles the induced motion of steam
jet carries in an increasing quantity of air or vapors until it reaches the main
entrance of the machine, where it meets a stream of water which will condense or
absorb the steam and vapors, and by it produce a vacuum at mouth of the air ducts,
thereby increasing the quantity of said air, gases, or vapors entering therein. The
velocity imparted carries said vapor, gases, or air through a contracted neck in the
apparatus to the discharge pipe below.
Should any steam be left uncondensed it would forcibly meet the water at said
contracted point and thoroughly be condensed by it.
If instead of air or gases conduct the apparatus is connected with a smoke stack or
a flue, or conduct coming from a chamber or series of chambers, rooms, or furnaces
wherein smoke vapor is generated or wherein dampness is accumulated, the described
steam jet would accelerate these, cject or draft them out, and as soon as smoke or
vapor comes in contact with the stream of water forcibly they become condensed or
absorbed and are carried off with the water, either to be wasted or for the purpose
of reconstituting another or new produce of manufacture.
Their applications and uses are too numerous to be enumerated, but I would
briefly state that I deem this Invention of great use in industrial pursuits as a
means of compressing air, and of promoting health by purifying it of all-noxious.
gases which are generally discharged into the atmosphere of factories, mills, and
other industrial works.