IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE DECOMPOSITION OF CIILORIDE OF CALCIUM IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THEREFROM HYDROCHLORIC ACID AND CHLORINE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Solvay, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS
FOR THE DECOMPOSITION OF CIILORIDE OF CALCIUM IN ORDER TO OBTAIN
THEREFROM HYDROCHLORIC ACID AND CHLORINE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Solvay at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th February 1880.
ERNEST SOLVAY, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE DECOMPOSITION OF
CHLORIDE OF CALCIUM IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THEREFROM HYDROCHLORIC ACID
AND CHLORINE."
When it is required to obtain hydrochloric acid from a mixture of chloride of
calcium and clay or other silicious or aluminous substance which is introduced
into an upright cylinder or cupola, it may be done either by heating the said
cylinder exteriorly, and blowing into it at the bottom vapor of water more or less
mixed with air, or by conveying into the said cylinder the products of combustion
from a furnace or several furnaces, accompanied by a suitable quantity of vapour
of water, or by adding in the said cylinder the fuel itself to the mixture which is
to be decomposed, and introducing at the bottom the necessary air and steam;
or else by simply heating only the steam and air previously to their entrance into
the cylinder. In the application of the means last described I have invented a
method which renders the operation thoroughly effective.
It consists,-
Firstly. In providing at the bottom of the cylinder or cupola an annex or retort
made of fire clay or cast iron, which really is a continuation of the inside of the
said cylinder or cupola, and serves as a passago for the decomposed mixture which
issues from it.
Secondly. In placing round this retort a furnace or several furnaces so as to keep
up a suitable temperature.

page_text: Thirdly. In blowing in at the bottom of the said, retort the mixture of air. and
steam which is to effect the decomposition, and the liberation of the hydrochloric
acid in the cylinder or cupola. By these means the air and steam blown into the
cupola can profit by the heat of the material, issuing from it, and are also heated
by the furnaces outside it, and this is effected at the precise moment when, and
nearly at the exact spot where, they should be applied.
The retort should not be of too great diameter in order that the leat outside it
may penetrate sufficiently into it.
In the foregoing description I have only referred to the liberation of hydro-
chloric acid, but it is obvious that this same arrangement of parts will be equally
effective in causing chlorine to evolve directly from the chloride of calcium, the
only difference being that instead of causing vapor of water inore or less mixed
with air to pass into the retort, only air is introduced into it.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ernest Solvay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th August
1880.
ERNEST SOLVAY, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE DECOMPOSITION OF
CHLORIDE OF CALCIUM IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THEREFROM HYDROCHLORIC ACID
AND CHLORINE,"
When it is required to obtain hydrochloric acid from a mixture of chloride of
calcium and clay or other silicious or aluminous substance which is introduced into
an upright cylinder, or tower, or cupola, it may be done either by. heating the said
cylinder or tower exteriorly, and blowing into it at the bottom vapour of water
more or less mixed with air, or by conveying into the said cylinder or tower the
products of combustion from a furnace or several furnaces accompanied by a suitable
quantity of vapour of water, or by adding in the said cylinder or tower the fuel
itself to the mixture which is to be decomposed, and introducing at the bottom the
necessary air and steam, or else by simply heating only the steam and air previously
to their entrance into the cylinder or tower.
In the application of the means last described I have invented a method which
renders the operation thoroughly effective.
It consists, firstly, in providing at the bottom of the tower or cupola an annex
or retort made of fire clay or cast iron, which really is a continuation of the inside
of the said tower or cupola, and serves as a passage for the decomposed mixture
which issues froin it.
Secondly. In placing round this retort a furnace or several furnaces so as to keep
up a suitable temperature.
Thirdly. In blowing in at the bottom of the said retort the mixture of air and
steam which is to effect the decomposition, and the liberation of the hydrochloric
acid in the tower or cupola.
By these means the air and steam blown into the cupola can profit by the heat
of the material issuing from it, and are also heated by the furnaces outside it, and
this is effected at the precise moment when, and nearly at the exact spot where,
they should be applied.
The retort should not be of too great diameter in order that the heat outside it
inny penetrate sufficiently into it.
In the foregoing description I have only referred to the liberation of hydrochloric
acid, but it is obvious that this same arrangement of parts will be equally effective
in causing chlorine to evolve directly from the chlorine of calcium, the only difference
being that instead of causing vapour of water more or less mixed with air to pass
into the retort, only air is introduced into it.
Having now explained the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, means pursued by me in
carrying the same into effect.
The said Drawing represents a sectional elevation of a tower or cupola for
obtaining hydrochloric acid or chlorine from a mixture of chloride of calcium and
clay or other silicious or aluminous substance, constructed according to my
Invention. a represents the tower or cupola, and a¹ the inner cylindrical chamber
in which the decomposition of the mixture is effected. The said chamber a' is
provided at the bottom with an annex or retort b made of fire clay, which forms
a continuation of the inside a of the said tower a, and serves as a passage for the
decomposed mixture issuing from the said tower; c is a furnace extending round
the said retort, the products of combustion passing through the flues c¹ to the
outside of the said retort b, upon which they impinge in their passage to the
chimney through the flues d, d; c is a passage through which the decomposed

page_text: mixture passes out from the retort b. Air and steam (or air alone when chlorine
is to be produced) are blown into the bottom of the retort b through an aperture
or pipe, not shewn in the Drawing, situated in any convenient part of the retort b,
and a suitable aperture or pipe, also not shewn in the Drawing, is situated at the
top of the tower or cupola a. It will be readily understood that the mixture of
chloride of calcium and clay or other silicious or aluminous substance operated
upon in the tower or cupola a' passing out in a decomposed state through the
annex or retort b and passage e is traversed by the air and and steam, or the air
alone blown into the apparatus through the aperture or pipe in the retort b, and
the material issuing from the said tower or cupola a' being heated by the products
of combustion from the furnace c imparts its heat to the said air and steam or air,
which passing into the tower or cupola in a highly heated state effects the decom-
position of the mixture therein, and the liberation of the hydrochloric acid or of
the chlorine.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be performed, I wish it to be well understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of my said Invention; but I claim as my Invention, the application and adjunction
to the lower part of the decomposing cylinder or cupola used in the manufacture
of hydrochloric acid or of chlorine by the process of mixing chloride of calcium
with silicious and aluminous substances of an annex or retort heated from the
outside, into which the decomposed matter is caused to pass, the steam and air, or
the air alone, for producing in the said cupola the liberation of the hydrochloric
acid or of the chlorine being blown into the said annex or retort in the opposite
direction to that of the issuing matter.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Solvay, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ERNEST SOLVAY. (L.S.)