and Bi-carbonate of Soda and Allied Products.
Year: 1888

page_text: and Bi-carbonate of Soda and Allied Products.
I MILTON ROBERT WOOD of Ash Street, Brooklyn in the State of New York,
United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of mono-carbonate and bi-carbonate of soda,
by what is known as the ammonia method, which consists, in its essential principles, in
introducing carbonic acid gas into a brine solution previously saturated with a desired
quantity of ammoniacal gas. In order to successfully carry out such method, it is
necessary that there should be a perfect mixing of the gas or gases with the solution,
and that there shall also be a thorough absorption of the gases by the solution, and an
absorption of the heat produced by the chemical action.
In carrying out the ammoniacal method, it is found that the best results are
obtained where the carbonic acid gas is introduced in the lower portion of a body of
liquid, so that all the gases which do not immediately combine with the solution, will
pass upwards, and will be utilized in charging the upper portion of the brine under
treatment.
An important object of my invention is to provide for carrying out the method with
a quantity of liquid, and at the same time to maintain substantially a specific and
smaller body of solution in which the gas is first introduced, and on which it primarily
acts; also to provide for the proper agitation of the solution in the primary vessel, or
that portion of the solution which constitutes the substantially specific body on which
the gas first acts; and also to provide for the absorption and conducting away of heat
generated by the chemical action.

page_text: My present invention consists in the combination, in an apparatus for the manu-
facture of mono-carbonate and bi-carbonate of soda and allied products, of a lower
primary vessel, and one or more secondary vessels superposed one above another, and
unobstructed, and constantly open throats or passages connecting the top of each vessel
with the bottom of the vessel next above, thereby adapting the vessels for containing
substantially specific and limited bodies of liquor, which will fill all the vessels except
the upper one, and which, through the throats or passages, form in effect, a single
hydrostatic column, an inlet passage for liquor to one of the secondary vessels, an
agitator, and a coil for the circulation of a refrigerant arranged in one or more of the
vessels.
and
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a partly sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation upon the plane of the dotted linex Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both Figures.
A, designates a lower primary vessel; and B, C, designate two secondary vessels,
which are superposed one above another, and both above the primary vessel A.-One
or more secondary vessels may be employed in connection with a primary vessel, and
the several vessels are connected together, the upper part of each being connected
by one or inore throats or passages 6 with the bottom of the vessel next above.-I
have here shown two throats or passages bas connecting each vessel A B with the
vessel above it. The vessel may be of cast iron or other suitable material, and of any
form which will withstand the internal pressure produced within them in the chemical
action. They may advantageously consist of cylinders arranged with their axes
horizontal, as here shown, and closed at the ends by suitable heads. The primary
vessel A has a discharge throat 61, with which is connected a discharging apparatus or
trap, formed by two valves, c, having between them a chamber or pocket c¹.-The
apparatus may be operated in this way intermittently, or the flow of the product from
the primary vessel may be continuous, and be controlled by a single valve at the outlet
throat b-D, designates a supply tank, which may be of any suitable capacity, and
from the bottom of which a pipe d leads to the inlet passage of the secondary vessel B.-
The upper secondary vessel C may be surmounted by a safety valve e, and from said
vessel may lead a pipe el to the upper part of the supply tank D.-By such an arrange-
ment of parts, an equilibrium of pressure will be maintained between the vessels A B C
and the supply tank D, and the solution may flow from said tank to the secondary
vessel B under control of a valve d¹ in the pipe d.
Within the primary vessel A is arranged an agitator E, which may be formed by
suitable blades or wings radiating from a central shaft E', and this shaft may have a
socket bearing e in one head of the vessel A, and may project through a stuffing
box in the other head of said vessel, and be provided with a pulley e to receive a
driving belt.
I have also shown the primary vessel A as provided with a coil F, with which
communicates, at one end, a supply pipe f, and from the other end of which leads a
delivery pipe -The flow of a refrigerating medium, such as cold brine, through the
coil F, may be controlled by a valve f, in the pipe f, and by such refrigerant, the heat
generated by the chemical combination of the gas with the brine, will be absorbed and
conducted away. I have also shown a similar coil F for the circulation of a refrigerant,
arranged in the first secondary vessel, and provided with supply pipe f, and delivery
pipe, as before described. I may also, if desired, arrange an agitator within the
secondary vessel B.
G designates a gas pipe which extends into the primary vessel A, and which may be
perforated for the distribution of the gas passing through it and entering the vessel A,
in order that a more perfect and complete action of the gas upon the solution may
result. The flow of gas through the pipe G from a carbonic acid gas generator, may
be controlled by a valve h, and with the pipe G may be connected a branch pipe G¹, in
which is a valve h¹, and which may lead from an ammoniacal gas generator.
In the operation of the apparatus, I prefer usually to use a. brine solution which has

page_text: been previously charged with a desired quantity of ammoniacal gas, and if the apparatus
be always used in this way, a simple gas pipe G leading from the carbonic acid gas
generator will be all that is required.-I may, however, charge the apparatus with a
simple brine solution, and then first introduce the ammoniacal gas through the branch
pipe G and the pipe G, and afterwards shut off the flow of ammoniacal gas, and
introduce the carbonic acid gas to produce chemical action.-The chemical action of
the carbonic acid gas upon the brine solution which has been charged with ammoniacal
gas, will produce bi-carbonate of soda, which is insoluble in the solution of chlorido
of ammonia, and the product of the apparatus will be drawn off in the form of an
emulsion, or milky fluid from the outlet throat 6', after which the bi-carbonate may be
separated by a centrifugal machine or vacuum filter in a well known manner.
It is advantageous to employ a series of separate, but connected vessels, arranged
one above another, and connected by contracted throats or passages as described, as by
such means a substantially specific body of solution is maintained in the lower vessel,
on which the gas primarily and most effectively acts, and any gas which may not
combine with the solution in the primary vessel, escapes upward through the throats
or connections into the secondary vessel or vessels, and is there utilized in charging
the solution preparatory to its descent to the primary vessel, where a more active
chemical action takes place.
I have here represented the supply tank D as smaller in size than it should be as
compared with the vessels A, B, C, for the purpose of reducing the size of the drawing,
but it will be understood that said tank inay be of any suitable size.-I have also
shown, in the end of each of the vessels A, B, C, a man-hole, i, which may be closed
by a suitable plate or bonnet, and through which access may be had to the vessels for
inspection, repair, or cleaning.
I am aware that it is not now, in various chemical manufactures, to employ a number
of vessels connected so that the gas or liquor may he passed from one to another
of them, and I do not, in general terins, claim such a construction as of my
invention.
I am also aware of the construction and combination of parts shown and described
in British Patent No. 4491 of 1881, and I do not include such an apparatus in my
invention. My apparatus is distinguished from that which forms the subject of the
said British Patent, in having primary and secondary vessels which are superposed
one above another, and connected by throats or passages which are unobstructed, and
constantly open, and which lead from the top of one vessel to the bottom of the vessel
next above. These constantly open and unobstructed throats or passages provide for
holding, in the series of vessels, a quantity of liquid sufficient to fill all the vessels
excepting the top one, and to partially fill the top one. My apparatus is also
distinguished from that shown in the said British Patent, in having a gas inlet to the
primary vessel, and an inlet for liquor to one of the secondary vessels, and with my
apparatus a method of operation is possible which is wholly impossible with the
apparatus shown in the said British Patent. My construction and combination
provides for maintaining, in the apparatus, substantially specific and limited bodies of
liquor in the several vessels, but which, owing to the constantly open throats or
passages, form, in effect, a single hydrostatic column. Owing to my construction, I
secure the passage of gas from the lower vessel upwards through all the vessels of the
series, and through the entire depth of liquor in the bydrostatic column, and inasmuch
as the liquor inlet is to one of the secondary vessels, and as the entering liquor is
lighter than that which is partially charged with gas, and therefore has a tendency to
riso, the entering liquor and gas rise together, and opportunity is afforded for the
more complete action of the gas upon the liquor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what, I
claim is :-
In an apparatus for the manufacture of mono-carbonate and bi-carbonate of soda or
allied products. the combination of a lower primary vessel and one or more secondary

page_text: vessels, superposed one above another, and unobstructed and constantly open throats
or passages connecting the top of each vessel with the bottom of the vessel next above,
thereby adapting the vessels for containing substantially specific and limited bodies of
liquor, which will fill all the vessels except the upper one, and which, through the
throats or passages form, in effect, a single hydrostatic column, an inlet passage for
liquor to one of the secondary vessels, and an agitator and a coil for the circulation of
a refrigerant arranged in one or more of the vessels, and a pipe for introducing gas
into the primary vessel, whereby the gas is caused to ascend freely through the entire
body of liquor in the vessels in succession, and the entering liquor is free to rise with
the gas, substantially as herein described."
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.