US1492498A - Centrifugal apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J. F. WAIT CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 13, 1920 2 Sheets$heet 1 awe swag April 29, 19241. 492,498

J. F. WAIT CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 13 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 x-x Axis o mzm I .9.

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. Application filed December 13, 1920. Serial No. 430,348.

To all whom it may coacem:

Be i 'known that Jo's'rm F. WAIT, citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Ap-.

paratus, of which the followingis a specification.

In the manufacture of chemical compounds or in the alteration of the forms of chemical com ounds and likewise in the separation an combination of various substances it is often desirable to employ the useof pressure created by the centrifugal force of the masses, this force being developed -by the rotation of these masses. The method of manufacture or separation, etc.,

as indicated above, permits of the produc tion of purer products with higher yields than is possible by ordinary means and makes itpossible to carry out reactions or alterations otherwise impossible or impracticable by ordinary means.

The pressure developed within amass of some substance contained withina rotating vessel is dependent upon the density of the mass, the speed of rotation, the depthof the liquid and the distance of the part of the mass under consideration from the center of rotation. This pressure has a definite mathematical value for any .set of conditions of speed, specific gravity, depth. and radius ofv rotation. The pressure in any given section of themass increases as the geometric center of this 'mass moves away" from the'center of rotation, other factors,

I order to secure high being constant.

pressure it is ther fore desirable to have the mass at as great a distance from the center of rotation as is possible.

-Many upon the application of pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure for the com lete reaction. With the ordinary design 0 apparatus for the production of high pres sures many mechanical dii ficulties are encountered. By the generation of th1s pressure in the manner suggested, these difliculties are for the most partovercome. The apparatus proposed has the added advantage and of affording a simple means of procuring high pressures and at low temperatures.

In order to carry out the above mentloned processes for the application of highpreschemical reactions are dependent I of permittingof continuous operation.

sure to chemical reactions or alterations of substances I have invented the following 'types of. apparatus which may be-adapted to processes of this'sort. The apparatus in which the process is operated consists of a rotating vessel of a cylindrical or conical shape. The uses of this form with the addition of the necessary supplementary chambers within the vessel to produce certain desired results which are essential to the successful operation of the processes mentioned are believed to be new, and the various forms and combinations of them. with the supplementary chambers and other parts hereinafter described constitute my invention.

" Iii the accompanying drawings Figs. 1

is preferably cylindrical in shape-and which encloses an inner shell or drum B.

The inner shell is so des gned as to force all of the entering substances which pass into the vessel through an axial inlet fD to take a definite path in flowing towards the discharge. The path should include positive restriction in the chamber F between the shells, the distance between the inner shell and the outer shell defining the width or sectional area of the chamber andv being less than the distance between the 'outer shell and the discharge lip or orifice edge of the axial outlet E. This simple form with inlet and outlet at opposite ends is cited as an example but the simple chamber type of apparatus involving this same rinciple may have anyone of many other orms. It is this principle of construction causing a definite path of flow-and hence the development of pressure (within the contents of the vessel) of definite values for definite time periods, the latter being a function of the sectional area of the sub stance at the place under consideration, the

the length of the uantity flowing and that is'characteristic c amber of that area, of my invention.

Another form ofthis apparatus in which the chamber is more complicated and the path of flow more extensive is shown in Fig. 2. In this type of apparatusthere is a plurality of concentric chambers F with a plurality of concentric walls and passages therebetween communicating at opposite ends alternately which cause the substances passing through the apparatus to travel through the outermost section, the width or radial distance between the outer shell and the guiding shell, on the outer side of the last flow-way, being less than the distance between the outer shell and the discharge lip or orifice edge E. The outlet E may be at either end of the apparatus with respect to the inlet D.

In one form of apparatus the chamber H may be included. This chamber may consist of a suitably shaped shell with the necessary inlet and outlet channels 71 so that a cooling fluid may be led into and discharged therefrom. An electric or other unit or means G may also be applied to heat the vessel. A

In some processes it is desirable to feed substances into the reacting chamber or portion under high pressures in such a manner as to prevent two components thereof from mixing or coming into contact before they have become subjected to pressure in excess of atmospheric. In some instances it is desirable to heat one or more of the components before they become mixed or are brought into contact with one another.

I To carry out such a reaction, the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 in one of its many forms may be applied. In this case there are two component parts which are to enter the reaction vessel separately, one of these being heated before the contact. D and J -represent the inlets of the two components.

the electrical unit G The component entering D is heated by or its equivalent. The point of contact of mixing is in this case K, the components being kept separated by a cupped wall L untilthey reach this point. v

My invention in this case includes the means whereby two or more component parts are passed into a rotating vessel and permitted to enter into contact only after they have been subjected to pressure in excess of atmospheric and a means whereby heat may be applied to one or all of the entering components. after they have become subjected to a pressure in excess of -atmospheric.

In order to assist in some reaction it is desirable to add or abstract heat from the substances subjected to the pressures in excess of atmospheric. For this purpose my invention includes means for heating and cooling the contents of the revolving vessel by which these contents are subjected to'the pressure'mentioned. Any one of the common methods such as interal or external electrical or' steam heating maybe applied depending upon the temperatures to be maintained and the nature of the reaction. For cooling any commonly known agent such as cold Water or brine or the direct expansion of ammonia may be resorted to, the selection of cooling agent depending entire- 1y upon the conditions of reaction.

The application of anelectric potential to reacting substances while they are subjected to a pressure in excess of atmospheric assists in carrying out many chemical reactions and in producing modifications and separating substances. My invention therefore includes means for applying an electrical potential to two or more electrodes laced within substances while they are main ained at a pressure in excess of atmospheric. Figure 4 indicates one possible position of two electrodes 6 and 7, each of which is con- ,nected to a source of electrical energy. The electric potential may be used for the generation of heat, for producing a chemical reaction or for producing a physical reaction such as a separation or combination.

Vith some reactions'it is desirable to introduce a gas into a liquid substance while the latter is under pressure'in excess of atmospheric. For this purpose my invention includes ways and means whereby a gaseous material may be passed or injected into the contents of a rotating vessel.

The injection may be carried out by means of a jet for entering liquid within an opening connecting with a gas supply somewhat as the common type of aspirator or air ejector. Such a device is shown in Figure 5. in which the gas enters through a pipe S, and the liquid through a pipe R. Another possible form suitable for use with gases which are initially under a pressure in excess of atmospheric consists of a tube for conveying the feed liquid with a small nozzle therein which is attached to the gas supply. Any form equivalent to these in action may be substituted for the type described. The discharge from the injector must be within the substances contained in the vessel.

In some reactions it is also desirable to prevent large particles from passingthrough the rotating vessel. These particles may be component parts of the reaction or they may be parts of a catalyst. For the purpose of retaining such particles my invention includes means whereby the contents of the rotating vessel are filtered. the filtration being carried out in general as indicated in Figure 6 wherein M is the filtering medium or drumand l? the inner support or perforated drum for the same, the direction of flow through this mediumbeing in general towards the axis of rotation or else parallel to it due entirely to the pressure rection.

meaees exerted by the centrifugal force of the masses, the final discharge being usually out one end of the vessel or b any other means than through the side urthest from the axis of rotation.

In'some forms of apparatus it is desirable to combine the\ types of vessels with special chambers as above described under the various cases cited with the means for filtration.

The invention also includes a means for confining a catalyst in the outer-section of the rotatingvessel so that the catalyst will be available there for assisting thereactioh. The form of apparatus shown in Figure 7 will permit of operation in this manner. In this apparatus R is an annular screen or other equivalent structure in each end of the outer chamber whose function it is to confine the catalyst Y to one section of the chamben For reactions involving gaseous substances it is frequently desirable to secure thorough mixing by means of a structure equivalent to that shown in Figure 8, wherein a section of the inner shell B carries a plurality of external saw teeth T, holes or other equivalent devices for distributing the gas and causing it to mix thoroughly. S represents the gas inlet, D the liquid inlet and E the discharge.

In order to insure complete flow'of all of the particles through the rotating vessel it is sometimes desirable to place ribs, guides, vanes or other devices to give positive flow to all the component parts in the desired d1- Figure 9 illustrates this type of construction, with a spiral rib N on the outer side of the inner drum B.

Thus for carrying out reactions with viscous substances or substances which should be thoroughly mixed or which need mechanical assistance inpassing through the vessel, ribbons, feet, small buckets or other attach merits must be provided to act as a mechanical conveyor (as N in Figure 9) to assist in the movement of the materi s. These may be stationary or have relative motion with reference to the outside walls of the vessel, as would be the case of drum B revolved slowly with respect to drum A.

For operation on processes yielding o1- sonous vapors or in which it is desire to recover or treat the effluent vapors it is desirable to place the revolving vessel within a chamber 8 (see Figure 10) which isconstructed to exclude the outside atmosphere and in which it is possible to maintain a pressure other than atmospheric. This type of construction also finds application with substances having a volatile constituent or component parts which must be treated in an inert or other atmosphere, with composi tion difierent than air. A product inlet V and a product outlet L could be attached to the chamber 0 as well as the vapor inlet or outlet Z,

This invention relates to apparatus for carrying out those processes which are dependent upon the positive maintenance of pressure 1n excess of atmospheric upon the.

reacting components for the carrying out of the desired reaction, the general construction being such that this pressure is de veloped by the centrifugal force of the masses, the centrifugal force in turn being created by the revolution of the masses with in the vessel.

The means for supporting and revolving the vessel are not shown, as they would be supplied by any one skilled in the art, involving merely the use of such supports and power devices as are known to produce rotation of the vessel.

I claim:

1. A rotary vessel for the treatment of substances under pressure in excess of atmospheric, provided with a chamber within the bowl constricted to insure a definite rate and direction of flow of the substances as they are passed through the vessel; and also provided with a secondary chamber therein adapted to receive and discharge a secondary substance into the main chamber, such secondary chamber being separated at the inlet from the main chamber,

3. A rotating vessel adapted to the development of pressure, having therein a filtering medium and having an axial inlet at one end and an axial outlet at the opposite end, and means to cause the passage of the liquids through the filtering medium towards the center of rotation of the vessel and said axial outlet 4. rotary vessel for centrifugal action comprising an outer drum having an axial inlet and outlet, an inner drum within said drum, and forming therewith a constricted annular space, and a secondary axial inlet communicating with said space, to discharge a secondary substance into the same.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUSTIN F. WAIT. Witnesses:

MICHAEL R. CUsAcK, J. CLAUDE CONNELLY.

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