US1586823A - Process of producing nitrogen compounds and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Description

June 1 1926.

- E. s. MATTHEWS PROCESS OF PRODUCING NITROGEN COMPOUNDS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Original Filed August 2 19 5% $1 mtO'LMQ-txS MAQMAV;

Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN S. MATTHEWS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed August 29, 1917, Serial No. 188,736. Renewed October 23, 1925.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in process of producing nitrogen compounds and apparatus therefor, and its object is to provide a more etficient process for this purpose and to supply a need in such processes as have been available heretofore.

More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide steps in the process of lo producing nitrogen compounds by which nitrogen is effectively oxidized and further whichwhile they are in the state of oxides of nitrogen will prevent them after being formed from dissociating until they have reached a condition of stability, and to provide apparatus for carrying out these steps of the process.

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood,.I will now proceed to describe the same in the following specification, and their point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus which is an embodiment of a part of my invention,

and illustrates a means for practicing my novel process.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view 80 partly in section, of the same apparatus and certain additional parts.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in both of the figures.

10 designates a casing which forms a chamber 11, lined with a high heat resistant material12, such for example, as alundum and around the outside of which are a plurality of cooling pipes 13. 14 and 15 are electrodes between which a series of electric arcs are formed, preferably by an alternating current. On opposite sides of these electrodes are the pole pieces 16 and 17 of an electro-magnet, the energizing coil of which, designated by 18, is supplied from a direct current source of energy.

This electrical apparatus is described but briefly as it is well known and in common use.

20 is a water jacketed nozzle through which dry air under pressure is blown through the electric are. 21 is a pipe from an air compressor 22. The suction pipe of the air compressor leads from a de-hydrator 23 filled with quick lime or other suitable hygroscopic material. Water is supplie from a pump 24 through a pipe 25 to the.

water jacket of the nozzle from which it flows through a pipe connection 26 into the pipe coils 13. 27 is a check valve in pipe 25 and 28 is the supply pipe to the pump.

'30 is a casing which forms a pressure chamber in open communication with chamber 11 through which the gases pass after they emerge from the chamber 11. In this chamber is a spiral pipe coil 31, one end of which is connectedto the discharge end of the cooling pipes 13 and the other end of which designated by 32 is connected with a steam dome 33,. 34 is the steam pipe from this dome.

35 is a lining of refractory material which covers the inside of the pipe coil 31. This lining is thicker at the end thereof which is adjacent to the chamber 11.

36 is another pipe coil.in the pressure chamber. This is supplied with water from the pump 24 through a reducing valve 29 and a pipe 37. 38 is a discharge pipe from coil 36. I

At the end of the pressure chamber is a relief valve 39 set to open at .a pressure slightly less than that at which air is introduced into chamber 11' through nozzle 20.

40 is a duct leading from the pressure chamber 30 beyond the relief valve into the base of an absorbing receptacle 41'. 42 is another duct leading from the top of absorbing receptacle 41 into the base of a second absorbing receptacle 43, and 44 is an exhaust pipe leading from the top of this receptacle 43.

Water is su plied from pump 24 through a reducing va ve 45 and a pipe 46 into the s top of the first absorbing receptacle. From the bottom of the first receptacle it runs through a pipe 47 into the top of the second receptacle from the'bottom of which it runs out through a pipe. 48.

50 is .a steam motor, 51 its supply pipe, and 52 a valve therein. Its exhaust pipe is designated by 53. The motor 50 is shown diagrammatically connected to drive the compressor 22 and the pump 24 by belts 54 and 55 respectively.

The operation is as follows: A fluctuating arc is produced between the electrodes 14 and 15. The dry air passing through this arc is subjected to its heat and its oxygen and nitrogen are united there y. During this operation the gases are m intained und der pressure and the structure of the apparatus is such as to maintain and retain the heat within the chamber, thus increasing the yield of oxides of nitrogen. By drying the air before its introduction into the chamber 11, the hydrogen contained in its moisture is removed, the presence of which is undesirable.

This heating of the gases may be accomplished in other of the well known Ways. The synthesized gases are at a very high temperature. IVithout pressure these gases would in cooling pass through temperatures at which they are extremely unstable. But I have discovered that if pressure is maintained upon them while they pass through these critical temperatures of dissociation, they will not dissociate and may be reduced to lower temperatures at which they are stable. Therefore, in my process these hot gases are cooled below the critical temperature of dissociation before the pressure is released. The pipe coil 31 tends to cool the gases and the refractory lining 35 is provided to protect the coil. The heat absorbed by the water is not wasted but is retained by discharging the pipe coil 31 into the steam dome 33 and leading the steam therefrom through pipe 34 into the steam motor 50.

By the time the gases have reached pipe coil 36 their temperature has been reduced to such an extent as to make it practicable to omit a protective lining such as 35. Here the gas temperature is further reduced so that by the time the oxides of nitrogen reach the relief valve 39 they are no longer in their sensitive condition but are in a condition of stability.

The oxides of nitrogen are absorbed by the water passing through the receptacle 41 in the usual manner, but I prefer to repeat this absorbing process in one or more receptacles such as 43 so that when the gases are discharged through pipe 44: practically all of the oxides of nitrogen have been removed and absorbed by the water so that the liquid passing out through pipe 18 is acidulated to a greater degree of concentration than is usual with former processes.

The principle of this invention is broad enough to cover its use with other gases than air.

I also contemplate for the purpose of obtaining a greater yield of product, the introducti on of oxygen with the air.

I intend only such limitations as are imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. synthesizing oxygen and nitrogen by heating'air under pressure maintaining the pressure, absorbing heat from the product while still under pressure, and utilizing the absorbed heat for producing the pressure on the air and said products.

2. Synthesizing oxygen and nitrogen by compressing air, passing the air under pressure through a heating medium maintaining the pressure, and passing the air and its products through a heat absorbing passage while still under pressure, and utilizing the absorbed heat for compressing and circulating the air and said products and for applying cooling fluid to the heat absorbing passage.

3. An apparatus for forming nitrogen compounds comprising a heating pressure chamber and a cooling pressure chamber in communication therewith, means for passing air and its synthesized components under pressure through said chambers, a water jacket for said cooling chamber, and means for passing water through said synthesized components.

4. An apparatus for forming oxides of nitrogen comprising a heating pressure chamber and a cooling pressure chamber in communication therewith, means for passing air and its synthesized components under pressure through said chambers, a water jacket for said cooling chamber, means for forcing water into said water jacket, a motor for actuating said circulating and forcing means, and means for utilizing the heat absorbed the water acket in said motor.

5. An apparatus for forming nitrogen compounds comprising a heating pressure chamber and a cooling pressure chamber in communication thegewith, means for passing air and its synthesized components under pressure through said chambers, a water jacket for said cooling chamber, means for forcing water into said water jacket, means for passing water through said synthesized components, a motor for actuating said circulating, forcing and passing means, and means for utilizing the heat absorbed by the water jacket in said motor.

6. An apparatus for forming nitrogen compounds comprising a heating pressure chamber and a cooling pressure chamber in comi unication therewith, means for passing air and its synthesized components under pressure through said chambers, and a water jacket for said cooling chamber arranged to reduce the temperature of said air and its synthesized products while the pressure thereon is still maintained.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28 day of August, 1917.

EDIVIN S. MATTHEIVS.

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