US1034216A - Apparatus for removing suspended liquids and solids from gases. - Google Patents

Description

H L. DOHERTY. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SUSPENDED LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS PROM GASES. APPLICATION FILED 111:0. 31, 1909.

1,0342 1 6. Patented July 30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Fl 9.4.

Fla-l Henry Dhhertv, Qwbntoz HJLDOHBRTY, APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SUSPENDED LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS FROM GASES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.31, 1909.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mm? e Henry- L. Dnheft Q vg-MMI HENBY L. DOHERTY,

on NEW YORK, N. Y:

AP?ABATUS FOR REMOVING SUSPENDED LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS FROM GASES.

Specification of Letters lPatezic.

Patented July 30, 1912.

Application filed necembemrl'iaoa Serial No. 535,843. v

To all'whom'z't may concern: v

.Be' it known that I, HENRYL'JDQ'HERTY, a

citizen of the United States,'and a resident' of. New York. city, in the county ,of -N w-- York and State of New York,-have invented. certain new and; useful. Improvements in Apparatus for, Removing Suspended'l iquids and Solids from Gases, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to an apparatus for removing suspended liquids and solids from gases, and particularly to atype of such apparatus in which the gaseous current is caused to follow a spiral path.

The object of my invention is to provide means for separating from a' gaseous current substantially all of the. suspended liquid and solid particles which it contains with special reference to the removal of tar and dust particles from illuminating gas.

In my invention which is the subject of Letters Patent No. 798,667, dated Sept. 5,; 1905, I have revealed an apparatus-- for accomplishing the above object by passing the gaseous current through a helical passage at' a rapid rate, whereby a rapid rotary motion is given to the current and the suspended liquid and solid particles thrown off by the centrifugal force,'so developed. This pres, ent invention embodies an improvementon the one, which is the subject, of the Letters Patent mentioned, by virtue of which I am enabled to communicate a whirling motion to the gas current, while permitting each particle thereof, theoretically, to travel al= ways in the same horizontal plane. By this method and apparatus, I am enabled t0 separate the suspended matter from the gas by the utilization of centrifugal force, and,

at the same t-in1e,'avoid therelatively high I pressure that isrequi sitefor carrying outthis method in myformer apparatus.

is a'vertical diametrical section through the apparatus on the line'rr B of .Fig. 2. Fig.

2 is a horizontal, cross-section through 'the part elevation of the apparatus showing the method of suspending the lift of the apparatus and the water and pressure gages,

etc. Fig. 4' is a detail of the water gage showing the manner in which itis connected. Fig. 5 is aiplan of the apparatus showing the blower or eirhauster according to which means is u'sedfto communicate the necessary In the accompanying draw nga-Figure vertical section-of the upper part of the tar: extractor, showing the device for supplying the liquid, when there is none, or at least'a deficiency, in the gas itself. Fig. 7 isan enlarged horizontal section through the 'top of theextractor showing a top view of the liquid-supplying-device.

In the several figures, 1, designates the outer vessel of the apparatus, which is simply a fixed cylindrical tank with the addition of'the various gas and liquid connections, gages, etc.

2, designates the vertically-movable bell or lift, which works within 1, and contains the device for communicating the whirling motion to the gas current.

3, designates the spiral partition or wall forming the gas passage through 2.

'4, in the design shown, is the gas .inletpipe,5the gas discharge pipe. 6, the semicylindricalsheet fastened to 1 to forman enveloping chamber, 6, for the gas inlet 4..

7 is the cross beam resting on columns 8,

. 8', which.support the. pulleys'9 and 9"over which the rope or chain 10 supporting the bell-chambert2 ,"passes. One end' of this chain, 10, is attached to the ring 11 of the bell-chamber, 2,"and the other is fixed to a eounterweight,12. I, 1 13, is a-Water gageindicating the liquid level in the bell-chamberh-a'nd leis the;

corresponding pressure. gage. I5, is Us connection ,from the gages to "the interior of the-gas inlet-chamber 6'. i 1 6, is'the connection from the liquid in tank -17, is a connection for. introducing the liq uid for the seal, when starting up the appa ratus; j i I 18 is the liquor discharge pipe for drawing off theliquor when desired.

19, is the tar well in which the tar' collects'owing to the fact that its specific gravthe gage- 13 to .ity is heavier than that of the ammoniacal,

liquor in theapparatus.

20, is the tar dscharge pipe, having a from the gas is discharged:

The method of operation of the particular apparatus shown isasfollowsz The seal valve 21, through which the tar separated in 1 having been hrough-t'up tothe prop-er level, and the counterweight 12 weighted to the pointth at" will have just sufficient unbalanced Weight, to the bell-hamber 2', to ex. ert thepressure on the gas requisite to force velocity to the: gas. Fig. *6 is an enlarged through the usual condensing 'andpuri fying apparatus, the valves 22 and 23 on the gas inlet and discharge passages, respectively, are opened and gas flows through the gas inlet pipe 4 to the gas-distributing chamber 6 formed by the sheet 6. As shown, the pipe, 4, projects well above the surface of the liquid seal in 1. The relative depths of the lift and liquid seal are so adjusted that, in its highest position, the gas passages of the lift are under a seal corresponding to the maximum pressure to which the gas will be subjected in the separator.

Any suitable stoppingdevice may be provided to prevent the lift 2 from being forced out of its seal by an abnormal gas pressure. In the present design of apparatus it is arranged that the cross-beams 7 will engage andstop the motion of 2 when the latter is at its highest permissible position. The gas passes from 6' to the outer term nation of "spiral passage 25, thence'through the successive con'volutions of 25 until it enters last convolution enveloping the gas-collecting chamber 2-1 of the lift- 2. This, as shown, is

"formed by a pipe, 24, fastened to the top of veloped .throws the liquid andsolid parti-l,

cles suspended-win the gas to the periphery v of the gaseous current, and therefore against;

the outer wall of the spiral passage. This is always wet with a film of liquid (tar, when the gas passed through the apparatus is: crude illuminating gas) which immediately seizes upon theparticles dust or globules of tar, ammoniacal liquor, etc.) and retains them. As the separated matter accumulates, it runs down the vertical spiral Wall and into. the liquid seal at the bottom.- Here the tar being of higher specific gravity than the water and ammoniacal liquor collects in the tar well 19. It may be drawn 05 either continuously or intermittently through the,

pipe 20.

If, during the operation of the apparatus, the volume of gas passing through the same should increase above the normal the tend ency would be to build up the pressure in the chamber 2. Since, however, this is coun- 't'erweighted, the result of the increased flow of gas is, simply, to raise the chamber 2, as the flow of gas increases, the free area of the gas passages increasing, of course, with the upward movement of the chamber 2; Since the area of the gas passages through the apparatus thus keeps pace with the increase in the flow of the gas, the pressure remains substantially constant at the normal gas pressure for the apparatus. Owing to the design of. the apparatus, variations in the flow of gas, within the limits for which the a paratus was designed has absolutely no e ect upon the eflicient working of the separator. Since the differential pressure between inlet and outlet remains, substantially, constant the velocity of the gas passing through the separator is also constant; and, as the separation of the gas and suspended matter depends mainly upon the velocity, the efiiciency of the apparatus is evidently independent of the volume of gas passing.

The spiral passage 25 for the attainment of the highest efiiciency of operation should be quite narrow. While I do not limit myself to this dimension, I consider that a cross-d1mens1on of the spiral passage of from 1 to 2 in. gives the best results. With both the suction and discharge pipes of the.

blower can, at my option, operate the separator either under induced or forced draft.

,Also, I can pass the gaseous currentfeither from the center to the peripheryg'r or vice ;versa, as may be preferred. It is evident,

also, that by shifting the blower suction connection to the pipe 5, I can establish an induced draft from the periphery to the center of my separating chamber. It is to be understood, that I do not limit myself to either direction of flow of the gaseous current through the separator, or to working with either forced or induced draft. As long as the necessary differential of pressure, between the gas inlet and outletIto my separator to give the necessary. velocity to the gas is secured, it is evident that, within ordinary ranges of pressure, it is a matter of comparative indifference whether the actual pressure happens to be above or below atmospheric.v I prefer to pass the gaseous current from the periphery to the center of my separator as I thereby subject the current to a gradually increasing angular vc locity, and consider that I can work with less .back pressure for an equal maximum angular velocity; communicated to the gas current, than when passing the gas from center 'to periphery.

In the foregoing description, I have considered, simply, the application of my invention to the removal of suspended matter weenie from gas, which itself carries .Lrsufiioient iquidto coat and carry out of the solid particles in suspension, -l Vhen, the other hand, I wish to remove suspended dust from a vin suspension, I supply the deficiency in liquid to 28', to the spiral liquid-distributing' pipe 29. "This pipe has numerous small perforations, 30, in its bottom and coiled in the spiral passage shown, tie interior extremity of beingcapped. The liquid dischargingfrom'perforations 3O falls onto the deflecting plate 3.1, which is fastened to the spiral wall,

3, of the passage, with spacers, 32, separating it from actual'contact with the Wall,-

" pressure at which the liquid is supplied tinuous spiral passage is p I inner-peripheryot the lit, to the axis of the through 28 Filtered tar is, l find, well adapted for. the film-forming liquid, but it is manifest that'any other liquidmay be substituted therefor, if preferred. v

Having described my invention, what I claim is:.

1. An apparatus forseparating from a gaseous fluid particles suspei'idcd therein which comprises in combination a gas holder comprising a, tank member and a lift men"- ber a continuous spiral passage in said lift member, an. outlet for gaseous fluid at the center of said passage and an inlet for gaseous fluid at the outer termination of said spiral passage.

- An apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, particles suspended therein, which comprises in combination a gas holder comprising a tank member and a'lift memher, a substantially, vertical, continuous spiral partition. fastened to the top of the said lift and its lower edge terminating in the sealing liquid contained. in the. tanlv member of said gas holder, whereby a conformed" from the 7 same, ani'outlet for gaseous fluid at the axis of the lift and an inlet for gaseous fluid at the inner periphery of said l ft,

3. An apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, particles suspended therein, which, compr I holder coinnrisin tank-member and a lift 1 1 1 member, a substantially VGZ-lilfifl continuous spiral partition attached to the'top cf the ,lift of said gas teri'ulnating in,

.r tans of said gas holder, who one spiral passage is formed reiov a continufrom the inner i or air current) or treat a gas con taming much sol d and little-liquid matter v the surface of the vertical wall of. the spiral through theflexlble hose s in combination a gas.

smaller cross-section than said axial holder and its lower edge the sealing liquid in the by the sealing liquid in-the tankof said gas holder a continuous spiral partition having its inner convolution enveloping said perforated pipe and the extremity of its outer convolution attached to the shell of said lift, the upper edge of said partition. being attached to the top of said lift and its lower edge terminating in the sealing liquid in said tank, whereby there is formed a continuous ,spiral passage through the space incloscd by said lift from said axial perforated pipe to the inner periphery of said lift, an inlet for gaseous fluid communicating with the outer convolution of said spiral passage and an outlet for gaseous fluid communicating Withthe said perforated pipe.

5. An apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, particles suspended therein, which comprises in combination a gas holder having a substantially vertical perforated pipe attached to the top ofthe lift of the same and its lower extremity sealed by the scaling liquid in the tank of said".gas holc. a continuous spiral partitionhaving its inner convolution enveloping said perfojrated pipe and the extremity of its outer convolution attached to the shell of said lift, the upper edge of said partition being attached to the top of said lift and its lower edge terminating i'nithe sealing liquid in said tank, whereby there is formed a continuous spiral passage't'hroughthe space inclosed by said lift from said axial perforated pipe to a place on the inner periphery of said lift, a projecting extension of the -shell-of said lift inclosing a chamber which is. in communication with the outer, convolution. of said spiral passage, a projecting A:

sealing liquid in said tank, said gas passage "passing through the bottom of the tank of I said gas holder, and terminating abovethe being. of smaller cross-section than the chamber formedby the shell of said lift, andso located with reference to such ,cham: her that it projects into said: chamber, a receptacle for tar communicating with the bottom of said tank, a pipe for withdrawing tar from said receptacle, means for introducing sea-ling liquid into said tank and means foik withdrawing surplus liquid from said ta" 6. In combination, an open-top tank adapted to hold a sealing-liquid, an openbottoni tank of smaller cross-section than said open-top tank, said open-bottom tank being adapted to telescope with saidopen-top, a counter-weighting device attached to said open-bottom tank, means for introducing gas into said open-bottom tank and means for discharging gas from said open-bottom tank, 'a' spiral gas passage within said open bot-tom tank connecting said gas-introducing-meanswith said gasdischarging. means, and a draft-producing means, connected to the lnterior of said open-bottom tank for the purpose of producing a draft through the spiral passage of said open-bottom tank.

7.-In an apparatus for separating suspended matter from a body of gaseous fluid,

' the combination of a draft-producing'means to impart motion to said body of gaseous fluid, a spiral passage of constant length but variable cross-sectiom-means for automatically varying the cross-section of said spiral passage according to the volume of gas flowing therethrough, and means for wlthdrawing-from said spiral passage the matter separated therein from the body of gaseous fluid. :1 assing therethrough.

8. apparatus for separating" from a gaseous fluid particles suspended; therein;

.which comprises in combination, a gasholder, comprising atank member and a lift member, a continuous sp ral passage in said lift member, means for, supplying a.

film of liquid to the outer wall of said spiral passage, an inlet for gaseous fluid at the outer termination of said spiral-passage and an outlet for gaseous fluid at the central termination of said spiral passage.

9. An apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid particles suspended therein, which comprises in combination a gas holder having a substantially vertical continuous spiral partition fastened to the top of the lift of the same and itslower edge terminating in the sealing. liquid in said -gas holder, whereby a continuous spiral passage is formed from the inner periphery o-f said lift to the axis of the same, a spiralperforated pipe located in the upper part of said spiral passage and, following the convolu tions of the same, a deflecting plate attached to the wall of said spiral passage but not in contact with said wall, below said spiral free area 0 perforatedpipe, and means for supplying .liquid to said spiral perforated ipe, an mlet for gaseous uid at the perip cry of said lift and an outlet for gaseous fluid at the axis of said lift, and a receptacle for tar' in communication with the lower part of the tank of said gas holder.

- 10.rIn an apparatus for separating suspended matter from a body of aseous fluid the combination of a draft-pro ucing means to impart motion to said body of gaseous fluid, a spiralpassage of constant length but variable cross-section, means for supplying liquid to the outer wall of said spiral passage, means for automatically varying the cross-scctionof said spiral passage according to the volume of 'gas flowing therethrough and means for withdrawing from ,a gaseous fluid, matter suspended therein,

the combination of a spiral passage having the spiral wallthereof, substantially vertical, a gas conduit connected to the central extremity of said massage, a gas conduit connected to the peripheral extremity of said passa e, and means for varying the l the cross-section of said passage according to the volume of gas flowing therethrough.

' 13. In an apparatusfor separating from a gaseous fluid, matter suspended therein, the} combination of a cylindrical chamber, having a substantially vertical continuous spiral partition fastened to the top of said cylindrical chamber but terminating above the bottom'of said chamber, whereby a continuous spiral passage is formed from the center {to the periphery of said chamber, a gas cdnduit connected to the central extremity of said passage, means for automatically varying the free area of said spiral passage according to the volume of gas passing therethrough, a gas-chamber in free and unobstructed communication with the eri heral extremit Y of said s iral 3as- P g 5 P l sage, an a gas conduit connected with said gas chamber.

14. In an apparatus for separating from. a gaseous fluid, matter suspended therein, the combination of a spiral passage, means for supplying a liquid to the'outer wall of said

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