Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Alcohol by Saccharification and Fermentation by Means of Mucedineae.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1898,
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Alcohol by
Saccharification and Fermentation by Means of Mucedineae.
We, AUGUSTE COLLETTE, Junior, and AUGUSTE BOIDIN, both of Seclin, (Nord) in
the Republic of France, Distiller and Chemist respectively, 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:-
In the Specification accompanying our Patent Application of the 28th of August
1897, No. 19858, we described a process for the manufacture of alcohol by means
of mucedineae and the succession of the operations which are necessary for carry-
ing out our invention in practice.
The process of the manufacture of alcohol by mucedineae may be applied by
practical people but it necessitates in practice the installation of means which
may form a known or somewhat modified system which being employed with our
improved process constitutes a patentable invention.
This was our case at the commencement of putting our invention in practice,
but in the course of manufacture by means of already known apparatuses we found
reason to modify them considerably and even to create fresh ones and consequently
to improve and invent parts in order to produce a whole series of apparatuses form-
ing a novel one as a whole and more particularly applicable for the manufacture
of alcohol by means of mucedineae with the object of enabling the process to be
carried out in a rapid, certain, economical and quite practical manner.
The present invention therefore has for its object an improved and special
arrangement of apparatus which we have designed and which as a whole forms a
mechanical system which we have created with the object of making use of the
process of manufacture of alcohol by mucedineae much better than has hitherto
been done.
Our invention consists therefore as a whole in a combination of parts which taken
separately are known and of others specially arranged for the object set forth, that
is to say to obtain the best results by our patent process owing to the combination
of mechanical means which we have discovered.
The raw material previously liquefied in vats or boiling pans usually employed
in distilleries is brought by direct flow or by means of a simple pump into the other
parts of our apparatus, that is to say into the vat in which the saccharification and
fermentation is effected.
In order that these parts may perform the desired effects the following con-
ditions must be fulfilled :-
1. The maintenance of the antiseptic conditions and the means of preservation
during the whole of the operation in all parts of the apparatus.
2. Agitation in such a way as to maintain the constant immersion of the
uncedinere.

page_text: 3. The introduction of pure air necessary for the propagation of the
mucedineae.
4. The possibility of introducing cultures and drawing samples or tests from the
vat whilst carefully avoiding any chance of infection.
5. The discharge of the gases of fermentation in a continuous manner and with-
out inrush of air being able to take place.
The autoclave which we employ is composed principally of a closed and perfectly
tight metal vessel provided at its upper part with a mechanical gearing operating
an agitator and a pipe and tap bringing the wort. This pipe is flattened above
and laterally and the position of the tap is such that no liquid can remain accumu-
lated in the pipe during the operation of charging. Such constitutes the charging
apparatus.
At the upper part of the vat there is a pipe for effecting the impregnation with
mucedineae, and a pipe for discharging the carbonic acid. In order to render the
inspection more easy and to keep the apparatus free from infection there is also
employed an air filter with its pipes and taps. A little below the upper edge of
the vat there is a pipe perforated with holes bringing the water necessary for
cooling the outside. This pipe may be replaced by a suitable arrangement for
internal cooling. The vat is provided with sightholes allowing the height of the
liquid to be inspected and also it is fitted with a thermometer and an apparatus
allowing of samples being drawn. At the bottom of the vat there is a special valve
or tap by which the discharge is effected and the introduction of steam or air.
Having thus described the whole of the vat or autoclave, we will now describe
the various apparatuses in detail, reference being made to the accompanying
drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is an elevation of a series of four vats.
Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the vats.
Figure 3 is an elevation of same.
Figure 4 is a view on an enlarged scale of the upper part of a vat.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a vat.
Figure 6 is a view in section on an enlarged scale of the arrangement of water
joint.
Figure 7 is a plan view of same.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the collector with the steriliser or wadding
filter.
Figure 9 is a cross section of same.
Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus for drawing samples.
In these figures the same letters indicate the same parts.
L is the pipe bringing the wort, are pipes distributing the wort to the vats.
Each of these pipes is provided with a tap E arranged in such a way that liquid
can never lodge therein. A device A for agitating the mass contained in the vat
is operated by means of a suitable mechanical arrangement. As there must exist
in the interior of the vats a pressure superior to the atmospheric pressure the shaft
of the agitator must be provided at its upper part with an arrangement of water
joint capable of course of being replaced by a stuffing box or caulking.
P is a pipe running from the top of the vat or vessel and serving for enabling
air or carbonic acid to escape which is conveyed into a scrubber H and may escape
to the outside, or if required be collected by means of a pipe I.
a pipe for supplying water to the scrubber. J is a pipe surrounding the vat. Said
I', Figure 4, is
pipe is intended to bring water for external refrigeration and for this object is
perforated with little holes in order to form a rain on the external surface of the
vat or vessel. Of course the cooling or refrigeration may be produced by a coil
or worm in the interior of the vat or vessel. M is a steam pipe bringing steam to
the bottom of the vat or vessel by means of a branch m which is bifurcated in such
a way as to be able to supply steam for sterilising the collector F. N is a pipe
conveying air before the sterilisation. This air is brought by a pipe n to the air
filtering apparatus G. This part of our apparatus will be more fully described with

page_text: reference to Figure 8. At K¹ there is a valve or tap for discharging the vat or
vessel and also for enabling air or steam to be introduced.
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the autoclaves having at O a pipe for sterilising
the vat and a stuffing box. This pipe is connected to the collecting apparatus F
and brings if required steam or air into the stuffing box or joint of the agitator A.
B is an orifice for introducing the mucedineae.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section showing the arrangement of the water joint Q
through which the shaft R of the agitator passes, said shaft having wings R¹ R",.
the inclination of which is arranged in such a way that the liquid is constantly
conveyed from the top to the bottom. This shaft is held at the bottom by a ring S
fixed on a cross bar T having three branches.
Figure 4 is a view in elevation of one of the tanks or vats showing more clearly
the arrangement of pipes of which mention has already been made with reference
to Figure 1. C are the sight holes or windows allowing the height of the liquid
in the vats to be ascertained. D are manholes. At the lower part of the autoclave
there is a three way cock intended to empty the vat or vessel when the operation
is terminated and serving also for the introduction of steam for the sterilisation as
well as the introduction of sterilised air. The discharge pipe may be closed by
means of a solid joint.
Figure 6 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section of the water joint through
which the shaft R of the agitator passes. This water joint is composed of two
tubes U U fitting one in the other. The tube U forms a circular trough closed
at its lower part by a ring u. The trough formed is partly filled with water. This
water constituting the water seal serves to prevent the external air entering the
vessel or vat. The shaft R of the agitator A is carried by a ring V resting on
balls V. W is a circular trough intended to receive the excess of water and also
to serve for the filling of the joint.
The following is the order of the operations:-
The wort introduced into the vat is sterilized by the introduction of steam
brought by the pipe M, said steam passing through a vertical pipe m.
This pipe m
is provided with a sludge tap m², see Figure 9. When the wort is sterilized,
the introduction of steam is stopped and air under pressure is introduced by means
of the pipe N¹ into the wadding filter G by a pipe n. This air having been filtered
then passes through the collector F, descends by means of the pipe m¹ and enters
the vat or vessel. At the same time by means of the pipe I cold water is sent into
the refrigerating pipe in order to bring the contents of the autoclave to the desired
temperature. At this moment the contents of the vat are ready to be impregnated
by means of the pipe B. The introduction of air is maintained during the whole
period of saccharification and similarly the agitator is kept in motion. During
the period of fermentation the discharge of carbonic acid takes place by means of
the pipe P, the said gas passing into the scrubber H and being discharged by a
pipe T
The scrubber H is composed of a vessel of sheet metal provided with pipes both
for the admission and for the discharge of the gas and water. At the level of the
gas inlet a sheet metal plate is fixed, perforated in such a way that the gas is
equally distributed in the liquid. These operations being terminated, the fer-
mented wort is conveyed to the distilling apparatus by means of the tap K¹.
During the saccharification and fermentation it is necessary to draw samples
and this is effected by means of the apparatus shown in Figure 10. This arrange-
ment is composed principally of a chamber X connected by a pipe X' which may
convey steam arising from the collector or air also arising therefroin. The chamber
or bulb X is connected to the vat or vessel by a pipe having a tap X". The chamber
or bulb and its pipes are first sterilised by an injection of steam. The latter is then
shut off and, after cooling, communication is opened with the vat. A small
quantity of wort passes into the chamber X and under the pressure of pure air
is received in a suitable vessel by means of a tap X111.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
1. In the manufacture of alcohol by means of mucedineae, the use and combina
tion of a system of apparatus, consisting of a vat or series of vats provided with
disinfecting, sterilising and impregnating apparatuses, also air, steam and water
inlets, means for discharging carbonic acid and steam, an air and steam collector
and an
agitator, substantially as herein before described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In combination with a fermentation vat or vessel for the manufacture of
alcohol by mucedineae and with the parts connected therewith, a pipe for supply-
ing wort to the said vat or vessel and a pipe for introducing steam for sterilising
the said wort by an injection of said steam, said pipe being provided with a tap,
substantially as herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
3. In combination with a fermenting vat for the manufacture of alcohol by
mucedineae, and with the parts connected therewith hereinbefore mentioned, the
use of a pipe for supplying air under pressure, said air passing into a filter, and
then into a collector which is capable of being sterilised in order to reach the vat
perfectly pure, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
4. In combination with a fermenting vat for the manufacture of alcohol by
mucedineae, and with the parts connected therewith, the use of a pipe surround-
ing the vat or vessel or even inserted in a spiral in the vat with the object of
providing a circulation of cold water for the purpose of reducing the internal
temperature in the said vat or vessel and its contents to a suitable degree for the
treatment of the said material by impregnation with mucedineae, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
5. In combination with a fermentation vat or vessel for the manufacture of
alcohol by mucedineae, and with the parts connected therewith, the use of a pipe
for the impregnation with mucedineae, substantially as described and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
6. In combination with a fermentation vat for the manufacture of alcohol by
'mucedineae, and with the parts forming part of the said vat, the use of an internal
agitator operated at the exterior of the vat, the shaft of said agitator passing
through a water joint or stuffing box, substantially as described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
7. In combination with a fermentation vat for the manufacture of alcohol by
mucedineae, and with the parts forming part of said vat, the use of a pipe for dis-
charging the air or carbonic acid produced during the period of saccharification
or bat of fermentation, such gas which produces in the vat a pressure superior to
the atmospheric pressure being conveyed into a scrubber placed in proximity to
the vat, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
8. In combination with a fermentation vat for the manufacture of alcohol by
mucedineae and with the parts forming part thereof, the use of an apparatus for
drawing samples of the manufactured material, consisting of a chamber or bulb
fitted at its lower part with a tap and its upper part with a pipe branching from the
steam and air pipes, said steam and air pipes being in communication with the
fermentation vat and with the sterilisable collector, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown.
9. In combination with a fermentation vat for the manufacture of alcohol by
mucedineae, and with the parts forming part thereof, the use of a water joint
through which passes the driving shaft in the interior of the vessel, said joint
consisting of two concentric tubes, one of which is closed at its lower extremity
and in which water is contained which prevents all entrance of air, substantially
as described and shown.

page_text: 10. The general construction and combination of parts, taken as a whole form-
ing the improved apparatus for the manufacture of alcohol by mucedineae, sub-
stantially as herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of July 1898.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.