GB147286A - Improvements relating to the treatment of peat - Google Patents

Abstract

147,286. Olsson, M. C. April 16, 1919. Peat, preparing.- To facilitate the extraction of water therefrom, peat is heated in a closed vessel and a sudden expansion of the resulting vapour is effected by suddenly causing a reduction of pressure in the vessel. When the peat is heated under a pressure greater t h a n atmospheric, the heated peat may be discharged suddenly into a chamber under atmospheric pressure. An apparatus suitable for use when the pressure in the heating-vessel is suddenly reduced below atmospheric is illustrated in the accompanying sectional elevation. The heating-vessel 1 has a peat-inlet valve 7 and a discharge valve 8, pressed against its seat by a spring 9 contained in a housing 10, which is pivoted to the vessel 1 by means of a spindle 11 provided with a handle 12. A spring-pressed lever 13, actuated automatically by a lever 25 and a cam 26, serves to lock the valve 8 in its closed position while the peat is being fed into the vessel and heated. The heating is effected by hot waste or other gases circualting through a helical flue 4 in a jacket 3, surrounding the vessel; the gases enter the flue through an inlet pipe 5 and leave by an exit-pipe 6. The lower part of the vessel 1 projects into a vacuum chamber 15, fitted with a screw discharging-means 20 and a peat-discharging valve 24. The upper part of the chamber 15 communicates with a vacuum ejector 17, operated by water supplied through a pipe 18 and having a long discharge pipe 19. Communication between the chamber 15 and the ejector 17 is opened and closed by means of a rotary valve 16 on the spindle of which the cam 26 is mounted. The vessel 1 is filled with peat which is heated to about 100‹ C. and the valve 7 is then closed. The valve 16 having been opened and the valve 24 closed, a vacuum of about twenty-four inches is produced in the chamber 15, by means of the ejector 17. After closing the valve 16, simultaneously releasing the valve 8 by means of the cam 26 and lever 25, the peat is suddenly discharged into the chamber 15, and from this chamber by the discharging-means 20, after opening the valve 24.