US461431A

US461431A - Mining sulphur

Info

Publication number: US461431A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1908-10-20

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. FRASUH.

MINING SULPHUR.

No. 461,431. Patented 001.520, 1891.

we norms L1-zas co., ware-mno., mmm-.10". u, 4:A

l (N5 Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

- H. PRASCH.

MINING SULPHUR.

N5.-461,431. 'Patented 001;. zo, 1891.

UNTED STATES" PATENT- OFFICE.

HERMAN FRASOH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MINING SULPHUR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,431, dated October 20., 1891.

Application filed December 26, l 890. Serial No. 375,800. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN FBAsCH, a citizen of the United States, resid-ing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain newr and useful Improvements in Mining Sulphur, of which the following specification is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the removal 0f sulphur from deposits in the earth which consist of or contain free sulphur, and is particularly useful in the removal of the sulphur` from deposits which are overlaid with beds of quicksand and which therefore cannot be mined in the usual way by sinking a shaft; but each of the improvements constituting the said invention is included for all the uses to which it may be adapted. By means of the present invention, moreover, a refining of the sulphur is effected in the mining 0peration. Y

The invention consists in liquefying the sulphur in the mine or underground deposit by means of a solvent vehicle and lifting the solution to the surface by a pump or other known or suitable means of raising liquids. For the purpose of liquefying the sulphur the invention includes solvents in general of sulphur, (among which bisulphide of carbon, tar, petroleum, and other hydrocarbonorethereal oils may be mentioned,) and the solvents may be used at any appropriate degree of tempera-4 ture. The sulphur may be recovered from the solvent in different ways, as by distillation in case a Volatile solvent is used, or by crystallization on cooling in case a hot solvent is employed for liquefying the sulphur in the mine. The nature of the solvent used, the temperature at which it is used, and the mode of recovering the sulphur therefrom are, however, matters of practical consequence; and' the invention covers processes or improvements involving such matters as special features of invention. 'lhus, for example, the use of the solvent hot (or raised more or less above ordinary atmospheric temperature) constitutes a special feature; also,the recovery of the sulphur by separation on cooling; also,

the use of petroleum as a solvent; also, the use of a solvent non-volatile at the meltingpoint of sulphur, and in particular petroleum intermediate in gravity between burning and the present liquid.

lubricating oils say oilof 36 Baume; also, in introducing and removing the solvent or in circulating it through the sulphur deposit without filling the cavity. These special features areeach included separately, as Well as v in connection with one or more of the others. Further, the invention consists in inducing a circulation of a solvent in the underground cavity (Whether wholly or partly full) by introducing the fresh liquid near the bottom of the cavity or point at which the sulphur solution is removed. If the liquid be hot when introduced, the high temperature makes it specifically lighter than the liquid already in the cavity, so that it tends to rise, and thus induces a circulation of the whole fluid mass. The solution of the sulphur in the vehicle also makes the liquid in the cavity specifically heavier, and consequently increases the differences in density between the infiowing and This part of the invention extends to the circulation, as above indicated, of a liquid iu general adapted to liquefyf ing the sulphur. In this connection the Word liquefy is used in the general sense of reducing to aliquid state irrespective of which of the known modes of effecting liquefaction is empl0yed,thekn0wn modes of liquefactionbeing, first, solution, and, second, fusion. It is to be understood, however, that neither' mode has been utilized in the removal of sulphur from underground mines prior to my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Which form part of this specification, Figure I is a diagram of a plant for mining sulphur in accordance With the invention. Fig. II is a diagram of the mine or well on an enlarged scale. Fig. III is a diagram of a somewhat different arrangement of Well. Fig. IV is a View illustrating another mode of finishing the cleans.- Y

be provided with perforations 2 at the side,

IOO

or may be otherwise provided with a strainer, or it may be more or less open. 'The casing B may be provided With small openings 3 and 3 to act as air-vents. The opening 3 is shown as provided With a valve inthe form of a screw-plug, so that it can be opened or closed at will. At the surface of the ground there is a casing-head D, having a lateral tube 4. The tubing C extends through the casing-head D, which is shown provided with a stutng-box around the tubing. A lateral pipe 8 leads from-the tubing. At the bottom of the tubing is the working barrel F of the pump, and at F F are the piston and the check-valve. The piston is operated by the sucker-rod F", extending through the tubing O and passing out through a stuiing-box at the top of the tubing to suitable means for reciprocating it. The whole arrangement is like the pumping means employed in oil- Wells.

At E is a heater with steam-pipes G for raising the temperature of the solvent which is to be introduced into the mine. A pipe 5 conducts the hot Huid from the heaterE and discharges it into the mine through the casing B. A feeding-pump could be interposed in this pipe (like the pump F* of Fig. III) in.

stead of the solvent being allowed to run from the heater into the mine by gravity alone. The lateral pipe S from the tubing C delivers the sulphur solution into vessels for recovering the sulphur. These vessels, as shown in Fig. I, are coolers G, in the form of large frusto-conical buckets, which are set in a vat G,supplied with cooling' medium, as cold water entering lby pipe 7 and escaping by pipe 7.

The pipe 8 is supplied with a lexible hose 8', such as used for oil,(petroleum,) by which the sulphur solution can be run into any cooler G in the vat G.

At H is a strainer for drawing off the solvent from the sulphur which has been separated by cooling in the buckets G. It consists of a vessel having a perforated false bottom 9, which is covered With a cloth. A pipe lO connects the space under the false bottom with the inlet of a pump K, Whose outlet is connected by the pipe ll with the heater E. The straining-vessel H has a close-itting removable cover 12, and a pipe 13 enters just below said cover for admitting into the said vessel. a luid for removing the last traces ot` solvent from the sulphur.

In order to carry out the process of the present invention with the apparatus described, the heater E may be filled With petroleum distillate of, say, 36 Baume, Which is then heated to, say, 250o Fahrenheit, at which temperature it is capable of dissolving one hundred per cent. of sulphur. When this oil has been raised to the proper degree of heat, it is introduced through the casing B into the bottom of the well. There it comes in contact with the sulphur or sulphur-containing walls of the cavity, which it dissolves, forming a sulphur solution. This solution is pumped up by means of the pump F F F and discharged through the tubing C and pipe 8 into one or more ot the vessels G. Here it is allowed to cool and .deposit the sulphur. 60 Fahrenheit the oil Will contain about four percent. of sulphur. Vhen this temperature is reached, the buckets G are emptied into the strainer H. This oil, lightly charged With sulphur, passes through the false bottom 9 and is returned by a pump Kinto the heater E. When its temperature has been raised, it is again introduced into the Well. As the cavity in the mine increases itis not necessary to increase the quantity of solvent used, since the solvent maybe allowed to only partially ll the cavity, as indicated by the dotted lines. By introducing the hot solvent at or near the bottom of the cavity it naturally rises as soon as it escapes from the casing B and creates a circulation, which flows over and comes in contact With the sulphur, dissolving the same, so that it can be pumped out in a liquid condition. It is evident that the hot solvent could be introduced considerably above the bottom of the tubing C or at the upper part of the cavity Vin the mine; but in that case the advantage of obtaining acirculation, as just stated, would notbe had. The solvent can be introduced'continuously at the same time that the sulphur solution is pumped out, thus making a continuous operation, or the solvent can be introduced, allowed to stand, and then the sulphur solution be pumped out. Instead of raising the oil to the temperature indicated, it may be raised to a less temperature or to a higher temperature. The cooling also might be to a temperature other than o0"v Fahrenheit. It is possible also to employ this petroleum solvent in a cold state; but this is not considered advantageous. The portion of the solvent which adheres can be removed by-Washing the sulphur with a volatile solvent ot' the oil, like bisulphide of carbon or benzine. The cover 12 can be closed when this is effected, the solvent being introduced through the pipe 13. It passes with `the heavy oil through the false bottom.9, and may be allowed to pass through the pump K into the heater E. Only a small quantity is required. When the sulphur is removed from the straining-'vessel H, any of the light solvent which may adhere passes ott as vapor.

Instead of using a light solvent to Wash off the heavy oil, this may be effected by theintroduction of steam into the vessel H through the pipe 13. To separate the'water of condensation from the oil, a separator or trap J, Fig. IV, may be inserted between the vessel H and -the pump K. This is a common appliance in oil-refineries and needs no description here."

Instead of employing petroleum-gas oil, as the product above-mentioned is called, aniline or phenol might be used or other appropriate solvent.

toc

Instead of raising the solution of sulphur by means of a pump at the bottom of the Well, a pump Fk, (see Fig.`III,) which discharges the solvent from the heaterE into the casing B, may be utilized for that purpose by introducing enough solvent or other fluid to fill the cavity in the mine. By introducing the casing B into the cavity, as shown in dotted lines in this figure, air can be pumped in to Iill the space (or part of the space) above the end of the casing, thus confining the solvent to the lower part ot' the cavity.

Instead of using a solvent non-volatile at the melting-point of sulphur, like petroleumgas oil, aniline, or phenol, a volatile sulphur solvent, like benzol, (coal-naphtha,) benzine,

(petroleum-n aphtha,) or bisulphide of carbon, may be used. This would preferably be ernployed in the cold state, but may be heated. It can be introduced into the mine through the casing B either at the top 0r bottom of the cavity, and when it has become saturated or charged with sulphur is removed by the pump F F F (see Fig. V) and discharged into a suitable steam-heated still M, in Which the solvent is evaporated from the sulphur. The temperature at the bottom of the still is preferably sufficient to melt the sulphur, s0 that it can be drawn off at 15 in a liquid state. The evaporated solvent is recovered in a condenser N and is reused for the liquefying of the sulphur in the mine. As shown, the pump K discharges the condensed solvent into the tank P, from which it iiows into the Well or mine, and the sulphur solution from the mine is discharged into tank Q, from which it is drawn into still M. The volatile solvent could be made to fill the cavity in the mine; but preferably it would be introduced so as to only partially fill the same, as described, for the non-volatile solvent. It can be forced into and out of said cavity by a pump at the surface of the ground, as exhibited in Fig. III.

It will be understood that the variousmodes described are all Within the invention and are embraced by some one or more of the following claims, special claim being also made to that mode Which employs a heated solvent and separates the sulphur by cooling or'being so made as to apply to such mode and one or more of the other modes or to their substantial equivalents.

I do not herein claim the apparatus described; but the same forms part of the subject-matter ot' my application of even date, Serial No. 375,799.

I claim as my invention or discoveryl. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in introducing a sulphur solvent into the mine or underground deposit and removing the sulphur solution formed thereby, substantially as described.

2. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in sinking a well through overlying strata to and into or through the sulphur or sulphurbearing deposit to be mined, introducinginto the cavity and in contact with the sulphur a 'sulphur solvent, and removing the solution of sulphur formed thereby, substantially as described.

3. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in liquefying the sulphur in the mine by means of a solvent and removing the sulphur solution through a pipe or conduit from the cavity of tlie mine, substantially as described.

4. The process of recovering sulphur from underground deposits and at the same time effecting a refiningof the sulphur, consisting in liquet'ying the sulphur in the mine or underground deposit by bringing in contact therewith a solvent of sulphur, removingthe sulphur solution, andseparating the solvent and sulphur from. each other, substantially as described.

5. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in introducing a sulphur solvent into the mine, removing the sulphur solution, separating the solvent andthe sulphur from each other, and returning the solvent into the mine7 substantially as described.

` 6. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in liquet'ying the sulphur in the mine by asolvent, removing the sulphur solution,and recovering sulphur therefrom by cooling said solution, substantially as described.

7. The process of mining sulphur, consisting indissolvng the sulphur in the mine by means of a heated solvent and removing the sulphur solution, substantially as described.

8. The process of recovering sulphur from underground deposits, consisting in bringing into contact with the sulphur in the mine a hot solvent of sulphur, removing the sulphur solution, and separating the sulphur from the' solvent by cooling, substantially as described.

9. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in introducing a heated solvent into the mine and removing the sulphur solution in a continuous manner, substantially as described.

10. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in partially filling the cavity in the mine With a solvent liquid and removing the sulphur solution from the cavity, substantially as described.

11. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in dissolving the sulphur in the mine by means of a heated Asolvent non-volatile at the melting-point of sulphur and removing the sulphur solution, substantially as described. 12. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in dissolving the sulphur in the mine by IOO l5. Theimprovement in mining sulphur by means of a liquid adapted to liquefy the sulphureonsisting` in introducing the said liquid below the level of the liquid in the cavity and withdrawing the liquefied sulphur and vehicle from a lower point', substantially as described.

16. The improvementin miningsulphurby means of a liquid adapted to liquety sulphur, consisting in introducing the said liquid in a heated state below the level of the liquid in the cavity and withdrawing the liquefied sulphur and vehicle from a lower point, substantially as described.

17. Theimprovement in mining sulphur by means of a liquid adapted to liquefy the sulphur and introduced into the cavity in the speeieation in the presence of two witnesses. 3 o

HERMAN FRASCI-I. Attesting witnesses:

G. W. BoUDrNoT, F. W. LOTHMAN. f