IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR RECOVERY OF SALT FROM SALT WATER OR BRINE
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, of the Firm of
Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Patent Agents, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR RECOVERY OF
SALT FROM SALT WATER OR BRINE."-A communication from abroad
by Barthelemy Antoine Gutton, Engineer of Nancy, France.
Scaled the 7th September 1869, and dated the 12th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Clinton Edgcumbe
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th March 1869.
I, CLINTON EDGCUMBE BROOMAN, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman,
and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PRO EMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR
RECOVLEY OF SALT FROM SALT WATER OR BRINE," to be as follows:-

page_text: This Invention relates to the manufacture of salt, and has for its object
a process for the manufacture of a crystallizable salt in special vessels,
which process is founded partly on the employment of mechanical
means and partly upon the theory of the tension of saturated vapours,
in order to utilize one, two, three, or four consecutive times the latent
heat of the vapours condensed away from the air, and in consequence to
economise the combustibles used in the said manufacture.
1st. The generator or boiler seen in longitudinal section in Figure 1,
and longitudinal section in Figure 2, and generally in plan in Figure 6.
A boiler formed with three compartments B, A, B', is submitted to the
action of a furnace, the flames of which pass underneath the compart-
ment A. This compartment A is closed at the higher part; it com-
municates at the bottom with the compartments B and B'. The vertical
partitions which separate it from B and B', have their lower extremities
always dipped in salt water, so that the vapours formed by ebulition can
only escape by the tube C. In the interior of this compartment Ca
kind of carriage or slide a circulates in an alternate rectilinear movement,
the four wheels of which roll upon two corner irons fixed on each side
of the boiler, and the axle of which, pierced with holes, receives the rods
of scrapers d suspended vertically and exactly touching and scraping
the bottom of the boiler in such a manner as to keep it always
clean and to prevent the adherence of salt as well as to throw the
latter into the compartments B and B', open to the air. The salt is
removed from these compartments by the workmen or any suitable
mechanism. The vapour in escaping by the tube of the generator A
passes through C¹ into the (rectauffeur) refrigerator D, circulates around
the numerous pipes of the apparatus D, (seen in vertical section in
Figure 3 and in horizontal section in Figure 4) condenses while giving
up its latent heat, and flows as water out through the pipe E.
It is evident that the disposition of the boiler, shown in Figures 1
and 2, can assume another firm, and the mechanical means used to
extract the salt may be varied, a screw or buckets may be made use of
but the characteristic feature of this part of the Invention consists in
enclosing the vapours in a compartment closed from the air in order
afterwards to be able to condense them entirely and to extract at the
same time the salt in proportion to its formation.
The reheater D, Figure 3, is in communication with an emptying

page_text: apparatus (seen in the same vertical section (Figure 3) and in sectional
clevation in Figure 6) by the tube R. F is a chamber of sheet iron
formed of two distinct compartments by means of two concentric
cylinders F, F. The inner cylinder F¹ does not go down to the bottom
but is open at its lower part. Its top is bell-mouthed and terminated by a
cap or cover 6 which is united to the exterior cylinder by a hermetic joint.
The cap or cover is of sheet or cast iron; it has three openings; a man-
hole G, a cock H, of a special form, and a steam dome I, terminated at
the top by a tube to which a pipe J is fitted. The exterior cylinder F
is terminated at the bottom by a cover or cap. At the lower side of
this cylinder F is an inclined pipe e which proceeds outside to a certain
height. This pipe during the operation is the only free opening of the
chamber F. The pipe e is provided laterally with a large circular
orifice, which puts it in communication with a horizontal reservoir Z
capable of containing all the water coming from F, F", for a certain
time. Near the top of the exterior cylinder F is a pipe g communicating
(see Figure 3) to the double pump K by its drawing tube. The same
pump K is in connection with the lower compartment L of the pipe
apparatus D by its flow back pipe h. This apparatus D is composed of
three hermetic compartments. The lower compartment L is connected
with the higher compartment M by a series of numerous pipes present-
ing a total calculated surface. The compartment N which contains all
these pipes is divided itself into several horizontal divisions 1, 2, &c.
by plates of sheet iron intended to cause the vapour proceeding from the
generator A to circulate round the pipes. The lower compartment L
is furnished with a man-hole O, for cleansing purposes, and with an
emptying pipe P. The higher compartment is furnished with a guage R
and a smaller tube Q, communicating with the cock F of the chamber F.
The reheating apparatus D, the pump K, the chamber F, and the little
air pump Y, seen in the general plan view, Figure 6,.are in connection.
(solidaire).
The forms described may be varied but the object of the Invention is
to manufacture salt by virtue of the law of saturated vapours by the
reheating and the successive vaporization or cooling of the same satu-
rated water circulating in the three apparatus F, K, D, in a continuous
manner, and then to extract the salt thus formed in proportion to its

page_text: The pipe J of the dome b, Figure 5 proceeds towards a large flat
tank S, (see the general plan Figure 6, and the section Figure 7,) and is
furnished along its length with a large number of pipes T, T, T, T, which
all abut upon the pipe U(Figure 6,) which proceeds from the bottom of
the basin S and plunges into a tolerably deep well V. In its course this
pipe is met by another pipe X of large diameter communicating with a
little air pump Y, Figure 6. The disposition described has for its object
the condensation of the vapours away from the air in the pipes J, T, T, T,
and U, in order to reheat the saturated water of the basin. One can
also obtain this result by condensing the vapours in double envelopes.
All the apparatus are as much as possible enveloped by coverings of
brick or other bad conductor of heat.
At the commencement of the operation A, F, Z, S, are suitably filled
with cold water saturated with salt, and the fire is lighted under the
boiler A. Before ebullition the pumps K and Y are set in action. The
furnace develops heat in the boiler A where it causes a change in the
state of saturated water within it, the salt being collected on the one
part and vapours on the other. This vapour, which is lost or almost
lost in the ordinary processes, contains in the latent form the largest
part of the heat which has entered the boiler A. This heat is brought
into D, and thence into F, where it causes in its turn a change in the
state of the water contained therein, the salt being collected on the
one part and vapour on the other. This newly formed vapour under
the permanent action of the air pump Y carries off in the latent state
the greater part of the heat which had first penetrated F. Lastly, this
vapour is condensed in the tubes of the tank S, and leaves there its
latent heat, which in its turn transforms the water of the tank into
separated salt and vapour which escapes into the atmosphere, the
infinite reservoir where the greater part of the heat which penetrates
into S is lost.
Vapours which have worked mechanically on the piston of a primo
mover can also be condensed and made to produce a quantity of salt
at least equal to, the weight of coal-expended. It suffices for this
purpose to place a series of tubes J, T, T, T, U, upon the escapement
of the cylinder and to enclose them within a tank of salt water placed
near the machine.
In the general plan Figure 7, two cocks x, z, of a special form are

page_text: shown, which permit the direction of the vapour proceeding from A to
be changed and to make it pass immediately into the pipes J, T, T, T, U,
while avoiding the circuit D, K, F. The vapour in this case will
condense directly in the series of pipes of the tank S. This arrangement
dispenses with the air pump for the ebullition in the boiler A, the
compartments B and B' of which are open to the air, requires that
atmospheric pressure should exist throughout the circuit. These two
cocks can be made use of when the pumps, or one of the apparatus F,
and D are being repaired or cleaned, but in that case salt will only
be made in A and S, that is to say, that about one-third of the weight
of salt manufactured with the same expenditure of coal will be lost.
This alternative arrangement is equally a part of this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 11th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLINTON
EDGCUMBE BROOMAN, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company,
of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, Her special licence
that I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe
Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OP AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR
RECOVERY OF SALT FROM SALT WATER OR BRINE," (communicated to me froin
abroad by Barthelemy Antoine Gutton, Engineer, of Nancy, France,)
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe

page_text: Brooman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the samo to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of salt, and has for its object
a process for the manufacture of a crystallizable salt in special vessels,
which process is founded partly on the employment of mechanical means
and partly upon the theory of the tension of saturated vapours in order.
to constitute an evaporizing apparatus, utilizing one, two, or more
consecutive times the latent heat of the vapours condensed away from
the air, and in consequence economizing the combustibles used in
the said manufacture.
The ensemble of this system of evaporation is represented in the
general view shown at Figure 6 (Sheet ii.) of the accompanying
Drawings, and comprises four principal apparatus.
First. The generator or boiler seen in plan at Figure 6 (Sheet ii.),
in longitudinal section at Figure 1 (Sheet i.), and in transverse section
at Figure 2 (Sheet i.).
Secondly. A reheater or refrigerator (rechauffeur) with pipes D, seen
in plan at Figure 6 (Shect ii.), in vertical section at Figure 3 (Sheet i.)
and in transverse section at Figure 4 (Sheet i.).
Thirdly. A chamber f with two cylindrical compartments, seen in
plan at Figure 6 (Sheet ii.), and in vertical section at Figures 3 and 5
(Sheet i.).
Fourthly. An evaporating vessel or tank S with pipes seen in plan
at Figure 6 (Sheet ii.), and in transverse section at Figure 7 (Sheet ii.).
To this ensemble is united a stove ar reheater seen in the plan
Figure 6 (Sheet ii.) and in section Figure 8 (Sheet ii.). I now proceed
to describe in detail these apparatus, and their accessory parts.

page_text: The generator or boiler seen in longitudinal section at Figure 1
(Shicct i.), in transverse section at Figure 2 (Sheet i.), and generally in
plan at Figure 6 (Sheet ii.) A boiler formed with three compartments
B, A, B', is submitted to the action of a furnace the flames of which
pass underneath the compartment A. This compartment A is closed.
at the higher part; it communicates at the bottom with the com-
partments B and B'. The vertical partitions which separate it from
B and B have their lower extremities always dipped in salt water
so that the vapours formed by ebullition can only escape by the tube C.
In the interior of this compartment A a kind of carriage or slide a
circulates in an alternate rectilinear movement, the four wheels of which
roll upon two corner irons fixed on each side of the boiler, and the axle.
of which pierced with holes receives the rods of scrapers d, d, d,
suspended vertically and exactly touching and scraping the bottom
of the boiler, in such a manner as to keep it always clean and to prevent
the adherence of salt as well as to throw the latter into the two com-
partments B and B¹ open to the air. The salt is removed from these
compartments by workmen, or by any suitable mechanism.
The refrigerator with pipes seen in plan at Figure 6 (Sheet ii.), in
vertical section at Figure 3 (Sheet i.), and in transverse section at
Figure 4 (Sheet i.) The vapour in escaping by the tube C of the
generator A passes through C' into the refrigerator D, circulates around
the numerous pipes of the apparatus D (seen in the above Figures)
condenses whilst giving up its latent heat, and flows as water out
through the pipe E. This refrigerator or reheating apparatus D is
composed of three hermetic compartments. The lower compart-
ment L is connected with the upper compartment M by a numerous
series of pipes presenting a determined total surface. The compart-
ment N which contains all these pipes is itself divided into several
horizontal divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, by metal plates intended to cause
the vapours proceeding from the generator A to circulate around
the pipes. The lower compartment L is provided with a manhole Ọ
for cleaning purposes, and with an exit pipe P. The upper compartment
is provided with a manometric tube or guage R, and with a pipe Q,
communicating with the cock H of the chamber F, which I proceed:
to describe.
"
The chamber with two cylindrical compartments.-The pipe Q
puts the. refrigerator or reheater D into communication with the

page_text: chamber with two cylindrical compartments seen at Figure 3 (Sheet i.),
which is a vertical section, and at Figure 5 which is a sectional clevation.
The chamber F is of shect iron and is formed with two distinct com-
partments by means of two concentric cylinders F, F. The inner
cylinder F' does not go down to the bottom but is open at its lower
part. Its top is bell mouthed and terminated by a cap or cover b, which
is united to the exterior cylinder by a hermetic joint. The cap or
cover b is of sheet or cast iron; it has three openings, a man-hole G, a
cock H of a special form, and a steam dome I, terminated at the top
by a tube to which a pipe J is fitted. The exterior cylinder F is
terminated at the bottom by a cover or cap. At the lower side of
this cylinder F is an inclined pipe e which proceeds outside to a certain
height; this pipe during the operation is the only free opening of the
chamber F. The pipe e is provided laterally with a large circular
orifice which puts it in communication with a horizontal reservoir Z
capable of containing all the water coming from F, F, for a certain
time. Near the top of the exterior cylinder F is a pipe g, communi-
cating (see Figure 3) with the double metallic pump K by its drawing
tube. The same pump K is in connection with the lower compartment
L of the pipe apparatus D by its flow back pipe h; the reheating or
refrigerating apparatus D, the pump K, the chamber F, and the little
air pump Y, seen in the general plan view Figure 6 (Shect ii.) arc in
connection (solidaire.)
The evaporating tank with pipes seen in plan at Figure 6 (Sheet ii.),
and in transverse section at Figure 7 (Sheet ii.). The pipe J of the
dome Figure 5 (Sheet i.) proceeds towards a largo flat tank S, and
is furnished along its length with a large number of pipes T, -T, T, T,
which all abut upon the pipe U, (Figure 6,) which proceeds from the:
bottom of the tank S and plunges into a tolerably deep well V. In
its course this pipe is met by another and larger pipe X communicating
with the little air pump Y above mentioned. This disposition has for
its object the condensation of the vapours away from the air in the
pipes J, T, T, T, and U, in order to reheat the saturated waters of thic
tank. One can also obtain the result by condensing the vapours in
double envelopes.
All the apparatus are as much as possible enveloped by coverings
of brick or other bad conductor of heat. The action of the apparatus
will he readily understood

page_text: At the commencement of the operation A, F, S, being filled with
cold water saturated with salt, and the fire being lighted under the
boiler A. the water after a certain time will begin to boil. The vapours
procceding from the pipe O will circulate and condense around the
pipes of the apparatus D; but before ebullition takes place the
carriage or slide of the compartment A, and the pumps K and Y are
put in motion. The carriage provided with scrapers will throw the
salt as it is formed into the compartments B and B', from whence it
may be readily removed during the boiling. The pump Y will draw
the air contained in the circuit U, T, T, T, and J, and in the chamber F.
The saturated water will rise in the cylinder under the action of the
atmospheric pressure as in an imperfect barometer. The pump K
will draw the water from the chamber F and send it into the rehcater
D, and this water reheating while traversing the pipes of the apparatus
D will flow through the cock H into the chamber F, and thus the salt
water will circulate indefinitely under the action of the pump from F
into D and return again into F after having been reheated by its passage
among the pipes of D.
If
Figure 3 (Sheet i.) shows the upper level of the water a, a'. It is
maintained by convenient feeding apparatus to a desired height above
the bottom of the pipe e, which with regard to the density of the water
saturated with sea salt renders it apparent that the degree of vacuum
constantly maintained which be about half the atmospheric pressure.
the air pump tended to produce a greater vacuum air bubbles would
enter the cylinder by the pipe e and would bring back the equilibrium
of pressure to be maintained while the apparatus are at work to half
an atmosphere. The cock H should be gradually closed, and the closing
should be fixed at the moment when the pressure indicated by the
guage R is upwards of 4 of an atmosphere. The saturated water
passing across the tubes of the reheater D may rise in temperature up
to 212° Fahrenheit (100° Centigrade) (the temperature of the steam
which heats the tubes) without giving up vapours and consequently
without depositing salt. In proceeding the saturated water, contained
in the chamber F will after a certain time begin to boil at a tem-
perature of 190° Fahrenheit (90° Centigrade) the salt will then be
deposited and withdrawn through the pipe c, and the water will
return again to be reheated up to 212° in the pipes of the reheater D;

page_text: it is then returned into the chamber F where it is cooled down to 191°
Fahrenheit (90° Centigrade) when the salt is deposited and vapours
These vapours from the chamber F, under the
atmosphere will circulate through the series
set free, and so on.
pressure of half an
of pipes J, T, T, T,
U and condense in their course and be
discharged as water into the well. But the circulation of the vapours
continuing in the pipes J, T, T,
reheat the saturated water of the
salt in the open air.
---
T, U, their latent heat will
tank S, which will then deposit
It will be perceived that according to this process the first apparatus
placed upon the fire is submitted to ebullition, that the air is first sent
from the compartment A through the pipe-C, and that the vapours
having a tension a little higher than the atmospheric pressure are
totally deprived of air, and in consequence can entirely condense around
the pipes of the reheater D. It will also be perceived that the vapours
on proceeding from the chamber F at the boiling temperature are under
a lower pressure than that of the atmosphere, and will be equally
deprived of air, and will totally condense in the series of pipes
J, T, T, T, --- U.
The Invention, therefore, specially consists in the employment of a
series of apparatus arranged so as, first, to utilize all the latent heat
of the vapours deprived of air by boiling; and secondly, to extract
the salt from these vapours in proportion to its production. It is clear
that the condensation can take place in a double bottom of the tank S
instead of in the pipes, a modification which makes no alteration in the
process.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
Firstly. The process of and apparatus, substantially as described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings, for the manufacture or recovery
of salt from salt water or brine.
Secondly. The employment of the partly closed boiler, whereby I
utilize the vapours deprived of air by extracting the salt from them
during ebullition, so that these vapours may be utilized twice, as above
described, or only once by causing them to pass directly from the
compartment A into the series of pipes J, T, T, T, U, by means of