Патент USA US2576318

Nov. 27, 1951
2,576,315
E. swARTz
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING SOLUTIONS
È Sheets-Sheet l
Filed Jan. 20, 1948
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Nov. 27, 1951
E. swARTz
2576,13 1 5
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING soLuTIoNs
5 Sheets-Sheet 2
Filed Jan. 20, 1948
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Nov. 27, 1951
E_ SWARTZ
2,576,315
APPARATUSV FOR PREPARING SOLUTIONS
Filed Jan. 20, 1948
5 Sheets-Sheet 5
Nov. 27, 1951
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Filed Jan. 20, 1948>
2, 576,315
E. SWARTZ
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING SOLUTIONS
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2,576,315
Patented Nov. 27, 1951
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PATENT n oFFlc-E`j-¿fî
2,576,315
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APPARATUS Fon PREPARmGsoLUTIoNs
Edward Swartz, Belmont, Mass. A .,
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Application January zo, 194s, serial N9. 3,297-Y
1 claim. (o1. 23-272)
be substantially a saturated solution with respect
, This invention relates to` a method of and ap
paratus for preparing solutions of soluble solids,
to the solid. l In -such case, its- concentration
such as aqueous solutions of salts, or brines, of
presents a constant and absolute value. Conse
quently the eñiuent stream of solution maybe
predetermined concentrations and in large vol
umes.
mixed with a stream of solvent to producer an .ul
timate solution of any concentration, corre
sponding to the ratio of the volume of the stream
of solution to the volume of the stream of
,
In the art of dissolving solids, it is common
practice to prepare solutions in batches, using ap
propriate proportions of the solid to be dissolved
vand of the solvent, and subjecting the resulting
The mixing of a stream of a solution of a solid
mixture to various conditions of agitation, tem 10
having a concentration up to and including sat.
perature, and the like, to promote and to com
solvent.
In some instances, however, and especially
where large volumes of solutions are required,
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sulting in a uniform, vhomogeneous solution of
any desired lower concentration, and such-con
centration maintainedA constant as long «as-dee
sired. By changing and controlling the -ratio of
the volumes of such streams of solution and» of
which may be of the same or different concen
trations from time to time, such procedures and
apparatus are not convenient and in manyire
‘
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-uration and a stream of the solvent may be ef
fected rapidly, continuously and completely, .re
plete the solvent action.
spects may be quite inadequate.
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In operations where solutions of different con
solvent, the concentration of the resultant stream
to obtain them without resorting to diiîerent pro
cedures or providing separate dissolving »tanks for
each' concentration of solution that may be
wise. changed and controlled, -and determined,
centration are frequently required` it is desirable y20 of the ultimate solution produced may be like
needed.
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rBy the present invention solutions may be pre
and thereafter maintained constant atvsuch re
adjusted ratio.
25
pared of a wide range of predetermined concen
trations, from a single source of solid matterv to
be dissolved and a single source of solvent, and
f
The invention will be described with reference
to its application for the preparation of large vol
umes of solutions of readily soluble salts, such- as
of common salt in water, together with apparatus
suitable for this purpose. A representative ex
ample of such apparatus is illustrated inïthe ac-'
the concentration of the solution produced may
be rapidly adjusted, according tothe quantity or 30 companying drawings, in which: '
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concentration oi’ solution required.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with'parts broke
It is found that by contacting any given solid
away, of a dissolving tank and attachments for
to be dissolved with a continuous stream of a
solvent thereof, for sufñcient time and in suitable
proportions, a preliminary solution of the solid
may be produced, of >a predetermined controlled
the control of the introduction of the salt and for
the control of the introduction of Water, as the
35
solvent;
Fig. 2 is a Y plan view
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of the dissolving
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concentration, (preferably substantially satu
appurtenant
- Fig. 3 is a detail
attachments
view ofshown-in
the valveFig.
and 1;'
itsfcon-.f
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rated, but which may be less than saturated, or`
re-adjusted from time to time. if desired). and
that by introducing a stream of freshsolvent into
nections, as shown at the right of Fig. 1, at rightY
.
the concentrated .solution thus prepared, and
se, as shown‘in Fig. 3;-
solution formed and of the solvent stream, a con-y
tinuous supply of an ultimate solution of any de
sired concentration >may be obtained. More
over, such concentration willl be constant, as ef
passed therethrough and, if the rate of iiow of
the solvent does not exceed the rate of solubility
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Fig. 6 is across-sectional view ofthe »valve
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continuous stream of a solvent liquid maybe
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housings, showing the whole valve, and -includ
ing the valve handle and dial, in the plane 6_-6'_
of Fig. 1;
It is found that by providing a suflicient mass
sents an adequate or excessive surface area, a
»
Fig. 5 is a cross-'sectional view of a portionY of
the valve in the plane of 5_5 of Fig. 4;' "
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fected and maintained, and yet may be varied at
of soluble solid matter, which is open and pre->
thereto; '
Fig; `«i isan enlarged top view of the valve, perA
controlling the relative volumes or rates ofthe
will.
angles
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Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail crossfsection of a
portion of the valve, as shown in Fig. 6, but
showing vthe valve stem raised by one-quarterv
turn;
Fig. 8 is a view of the valve dial, per se, als'
of the solid, the resultant stream o! solution will 525: seenvfrom` the plane 8--8 of Fig. 6, with a scalev
2,576,315
0-100 indicating the salinity of the resulting so
lution in percentage of saturation;
Fig. 9 is a chart showing the settings of the
valve stem, with reference to a 360° turn, plotted
against the corresponding flow of water through
the bottom coil, through the top Acoil, the total
tom of the tank and having perforations- 23
therein (Figs. 1 and 2) directed downwardly
against the bottom 8 of the dissolving tank l.
The total cross-sectional area of the periora
tions 23 is greater than the cross-sectional area
of the coil 22, the water pipe line 2| leading
ñow of resulting brine solution, and the salinity,
thereto, or the main pipe line 9.
in percent concentration, of the corresponding
with half-inch pipe, perforations 23 in coil 22,
.may Vary from .,a‘ï’f diameter at ,theinlet to à”
ultimate .brine solutions produced;
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For example,
Fig. 1,0 is a detail, with other portions broken
in diameter at the extreme opposite end of coil
away, showing a modified form of valve arrange-`
22 and their total areas shall equal or exceed
ment, using two separately controlled valves, but
Fig. 11 is a view of the two dials, _corresponding
to the two valves shown in Fig. 10; and `
¿the total cross-section of the half-inch pipe.
The other outlet 24 from the valve I1 (Figs. 2,
'3 ande). Aleads the other stream of water through
the Apille 25..into the upper portion of the dis
solving‘tank'through the coil 26 which is pro
Fig. 12 is a chart showingthe settings’ ofthe'
“ vided :with .periorations 21, as shown in Fig. l.
corresponding generally to the valve arrangement ` `
shown in Fig. 3;
These perforations 21 likewise should present a
total cross-sectional area equal to or greater than
valves with reference to a 360° turn of the valve ,
stems of the modification shown in Figs. 10 and"
the cross-section of the coil l2li, pipe 25 :orl main
water >line 9, 'andfshould’also increase* ingtheir
l1, and the corresponding now of water through ‘
the lower coil, through the top coil, and thetotal
cross-sectional areas, Y' from 'the inlet- portion 'of
flow lof resulting Vbrine solution inr gallons per
coil 26`to thev extreme opposite end of coil 26,
to equalize viiow therethrough 'on all portions _of
hour against'~ a corresponding scale of salinity of
the ultimate solution; as indicated directly upon
thedi'als of the valve in percentages, V0-l00%.
In carrying out the process of the invention in
theThe
coil.outer A housing i8 of Vvalve Ilo is
l provided
`the apparatus illustrated, theysalt in >granular
form is charged into a dissolving ytank l through
with anl inner housing l28 which is generally‘cylin'
drical in shape, having a hollow `central ’portion
the central >cylindrical hopper 2 which is sup
29, and closed> by the top 3U which is screwj
ported on thev top by the cover 3. _' The salt is
threaded into the- upper' portion of the outer
preferably inV uniformly granular conditionvbut
housingls.
may be either coarse or ñne, as desired, or o_f
Mounted longitudinally- of andwithin'the in~
ner housing 28 is ,provided the valve represented
generally by the numeral 3l _having a handle-.32
at its outer end-'and a valve stern screwàthreadf
ed at'l33 in the upper" portionof the` housing 28
and provided'with aivalvef34/_at its lowerrex'
mixed sizes of crystals. The dissolving tank may
be ñlled with the` salt up tothe lower end 4 of
the hopperl 2 or to any intermediate height, as
’desiredas indicated by the dotted lines` at levels
5, Gor 1.
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level 5, a continuous supply may be furnished .
through the hopper 2 from a bin above (not 40
shown) by continuous flow under> gravity. If
a'lower level is had, as 'indicated at 6, the sale
may be automaticallyY supplied in continuous
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Likewise,
a
lower level of salt may >be provided," for any
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tremity »andl afvalveïmembe'r A'3,5' intermediate
>If it is> desired to _operate the salt‘bedat the
amount's’or in successive batches.
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reason, as at 1. In the latter case, howevenga
minimum depth of salt bed must be maintained
at` all- timesi'above thebottom 8 of the dissolv
thereof.'
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The controll'edwater supply to the apparatus,
therefore, under .a lconstant head,'is delivered
into the inlet I9 _of valve. nlL’passes Vthroughthe
space 36 between'the housing I8` andthe inner
housing 28, as shown in Figs.. 5, ,6 andï7,"and
thence throughlthe openings ,'31 -through ,the in
ner housing'Zßiinto the lov/'er,îportion29a ofthe
space Í2.*_3 betweenfthe outer-„housing `l8 .andthe
innerhousing 2A8_...'_'I`,hii~:f- lower space 29a within
ing tank, for lreasons which will become man_i- Y A the housing' 2_8 is separated from the upper por
fest from the followingodisclosure.>
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' Referring to Fig. 1, a continuous‘supply of
water is‘ provided', as through the water main
9;»'controlled by valve l0 and` passing through a
pressurev regulator ll, thereby to assure _apre- .
tion 23b of thj‘e‘space ZSjby the inwardlypro
jecting shoulderjportionßß of the inner hous
ing 28A and _the valve member> 35 which seats
thereagainst. Thel lower!Y end of' the area, 29a
opens outwardly? ,through the. central aperture
» determined head or water pressure of the'ni'ain
39„.the margin 4«lll> of> whichïconstitutes a valve
supplyl lineidelivered to the apparatus, as indi
cated byk thel pressure valve i2.' This main sup
ply flows` thence through the pipe 13' controlled
seat for the Vvalve 34 providedon the lower end
(as shown in Figgö) of the valvestein 3|. VThis
openingleads into the space 4I inthe lower por---
by‘ a'positive shut-off valve M vand through a . ‘_ tion of the housing i8 and thence to the4 outlet
positive but automatically controlled shut-off
valve f5vr and 'coupling |‘6 to the control valve I7
as more specifically illustrated in Fig. 8."
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24 ofthevalvel'l.
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The upper portionZSb. of the space 2.9 as above
described Vis. 'separated from .thelower .portion 2.9%
'-Referringt'o: Figs. '4 andi 5 which >show the
by the seating of the Vvalveïíiiì against the shoul~
valve l1 in greater detail", it will be >observed that
der 38v except, however,. iorthe recess 42 -(as
the'valveV comprises an outer housing I8 having 65 shown in> Fig. 6)V whichÍ provides a. bypass be-f
aninlet I9 thereto adapted to receive the main
tweenY theV chamber'> 29“ andthe: chamber 29h,
water supply» as delivered to the apparatus;
the elîective cross-section of which, however;-isThe valve I1 is devised and constructed to di~
determined Yby thevertical .positionfofthis re
vide theA main stream of water' supplied thereto
cess with‘ respect _toits engagement _wi-ththe
into two streams, one of which passes-through 70 shoulder 38.,v As shown inFig. 6.,. it is opento
the outlet. 20 shown in Figui and through the
its maximumfposition when valve 34. is »closed
pipe 2l as shown in Figs. V1 and 3, to the «bot
against valve seat vlill. -
tom portion ot thedissolving tank I throughthe
The chamberV 291°:opens.through*apertures-.dit`
perforated oon ‘amounted in the bottom poel
passing s through . the4 inner. = housing 28 1 into . ythe
tion of the dissolving tank slightly above the :bot 76 chamber [email protected] between the inner housing 28 and
2,516,315
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the youter housing I8.
a
in turn to the -outlet 20 o'f kthe valve I1 above
mentioned;
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saturated brine and pure water which' are thus
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s The valve stem 3I _ isprovided with a pointer
45 which, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, swings over
thedial 46 upon rotation of the handle-32. This
mixed.
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At the same time the upward movement of
the valve stem 3I raises the :valve 35 and the
recess 42 therein so as to proportionately close
the bypass «from the chamberßiìa through the
recess and into the upper chamber 29b and hence
dial is divided and calibrated to- indicate the
tov reduce the flow of water through the opening
concentration of solution delivered in accordance
43 into the chamber 44 and thence to the outlet
with its corresponding settings in terms of per
centage of saturation of the resulting solution. 10 20 and pipe 2I leading to the bottom portion -of
the dissolving tank I.
A-fter charging thev dissolving tank with salt,
The result of thus reducing the ñow of water
as above described, the pressure control device
to the bottom ofthe dissolving tank and intro
II will be set to deliver the main ysupply of water
ducing or increasing the i'low of 'water to the
from the pipe 9 at the pressure as indicated by
the gauge I2 (e. g. 20 pounds per square inch, 15 upper part of the tank will' determine the pro
portions of saturated solution and of water which`
with a %" supply line). ` The valve I0 will then
are'comingled in the upper portion of the ’dis
be open. The valve I4 and the valve I5` will
solving tank immediately before it is drawn off
then be opened, the function and operation of
for use. The resulting concentrations of the brine
which will be described below.
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The valve I1 will then be opened by the handle 20 solutions produced may therefore be positively
calibrated and are, as representedV by the dial
32 to a position as indicated by the pointer 45
shown in Fig. 9, in terms of percentage of satura
on dial 46 corresponding to the percentage of
tion Aor salinity.
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saturation or salinity of the solution to be pre
As a matter of precaution against possible
pared. In so doing the lower valve 34'will be
raised from its valve seat 40 a definite distance 25 overiiowing of the tank in case the brine is not
being used as fast as made, or for any other
and the recess 42 in the valve 35 will be raised
reason, the automatic control valve I5 may be
a corresponding distance with respect to the
actuated by providing a plug 50 mounted at a
shoulder 33.- These movements will be respec
suitable level in the upper portionrof the dis
tively in a direction of opening the- aperture
.from the chamber 29a into the ’chamber 4I'and 30 solving tank I and having poles 5I and 52 pro
jecting into the tank. With this arrangement, if
thence to the outlet 24 and closing the opening
the level of the brine solution should rise suf
from the top of chamber 29a through the recess
iiciently so as to make contact between the poles
or bypass 42 into the upper chamber 29b and
5I and 52, such contact would be effective to
thence through the chamber 44 to the outlet 29.
In other words, with the valve turned down 35 operate the solenoid 53, thereby to close the'valve
I5 and shut oiï the main supply of water to the
into its lowermost position, the bottom valve 34
apparatus.
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will be closed and all of the water which is
As a further precaution against overflow, as in
directed into chamber 29a will flow through the
case of interference with electric current to op
bypass recess 42 through the youtlet'ZIJ and thence
through pipe 2I to the bottom of the dissolving 40 crate the solenoid 53, an overiiow syphon 54 may
be provided in the outlet pipe 48 rising to a higher
tank. Upon’pa'ssing out through the :perforated
level than the poles "5I and 52 and discharging
coil 22 and into the bottom of the dissolving
into the vertical outlet pipe 55 to the drain 5E.
tank and thence upwardly through the charge
The latter may also be connected to the bottom
of granular salt therein, this water supply will
dissolve and become saturated with thesaltand 45 of the dissolving tank I through the valve 51 and
the drain or sump 59 mounted in the bottom 8
accumulate above the salt bed to a level as indi
of the dissolving tank for cleaning purposes.
cated at 41 from which it may overflow through
As pointed out above, it is convenient to con-l
the loutlet pipe 48 and thence through the outlet
duct the process and operate the apparatus upon
pipe 49 to a reservoir or to the point of con
sumption. Under these conditions the depth of 50 the basis of a supply of water to the bottom of
the dissolving tank such that upon passing
the salt bed must be such that the volume and
through the bed of salt it dissolves the salt suñLl
rate of flow of water from the main 9 through
ciently to form a saturated solution whatever ad
valve I1 and out through the outlet 20 will pro
justment of the valve may be employed. How
duce a supernatant, saturated solution above the
salt bed in dissolving tank I. A depth of about 55 ever, it is to be understood that a solution of
lesser concentration than saturated may be pro
3 inches (or more) of salt is usually suñicient
duced by the stream of water introduced into the
under conditions similar to those described above.
bottom of the dissolving tank and the resulting
Ii’ from this position, however, the valve handle
stream of salt solution coming up through the
32 is turned to raise the valve stem 3I and hence
60 salt bed into the upper portion of the tank I,
the valve or bib 34 from the valve seat 40, water
may be diluted by a proportionate amount of
will be permitted to pass from the chamber 29ab
water mingled therewith at the top of the dis
downwardly into the chamber 4I and thence
solving tank, to form a still more dilute solution,
through the outlet 24 to the pipe line 25 and
if such adjustment is desired.
coil 25, and thence through the perforations 21
In fact, instead of a single control valve I1,
into the upper portion 'of the dissolving tank I
>two independent control valves may be mounted in
and below the surface 41 of the saturated solu
its stead, as indicated in Fig. 10. In this figure,
tion of brine formed therein. This introduction
- like numerals indicate corresponding parts as il
of water directly into the brine solution is eiîec
lustrated in Fig. 3, but instead of the valve I 1 the
tive to mingle with it promptly and completely
main water supply line, at the union I5, is pro
vided with a T-connection 59, one arm of which
so that upon -overflowing through the pipe 48
leads through the pipe 6D to the valve 6I and
and through the pipe 49 to the point of use,
thence into the pipe 2I’ leading to the bottom of
the resulting ultimate solution will have a con
the dissolving tank I and the other arm leading
centration which is reduced proportionately to
the valve setting and the resultant streams of 75 through pipe 62 to valve 63 and thence through
2,676,315;
pipe 25’ in the upper portionof thel dissolving
tank I.
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Withthis arrangement the valves 6l and 63
may be any form of simple direct valve with
pointers 64 and 65 respectively mounted on the
stems thereof and above dials 66 and >6l respec
tively, likewise vcalibrated in terms of rates of flow
or percentage of salinity of the solution to be
prepared.
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The operation of this modification of the
method and apparatus ofthe invention will be
clear when it is considered that a given supply
of Water is provided and is proportionately di
verted below and above the bed of salt in the
changed promptly and 'at will from one concen-ß
tration :to another by suitable settings accordingly
of a single valve or of two separate independent
valves by which ‘to determine the volume of con
centrated or saturated solution and the volume of
solvent ¿with which it is> co-mingled uniformly
and completely aswell as quickly, immediately
before use.
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It should be understood that the present dis
closure is for the purpose of illustration only and
that this invention includes all modifications and
equivalents which .fall Within the scope of the
appended claim.
I claim:
v
dissolving tank l and that the resulting stream
An apparatus for preparing aqueous salt solu
of salt solution and of fresh water respectively
tions comprising a tank, hopper means extending
are co-mingled in the upper portion of the dis
downwardly into said tank for feeding salt to a
solving tank and before being withdrawn there
bed thereinfand determining the height of said
from in proportions as determined by the _setting
bed, means above the bottom of said tank for sup
of the valves. Thus, as indicated in Fig. l1, if 20 porting a bed of salt thereon, 'a water inlet con
the valves SI and 63 are set at 6D and 60, the
duit, a branch conduit from said vinlet conduit
resulting salinity of the solution prepared in the
leading into the bottom of the tank and arranged
top of the dissolving tank run oiî .through the
therein with openings to give an uniform upflow
pipe 48 will be’60% of the saturated solution.
of water over substantially the cross-,sectional
In changing the operation of the method and
area of the bed, a second branch conduit eX
apparatus from the production of a brine solu
tending into said tank above the outletv of the
tion of one concentration to the production of a
hopper having a plurality ofY openings to dis
brine solution of a dilîerent concentrationV there
tribute Water into ‘the tank above the bed, an out
will bea slight lag owing to the volume of super
let conduit above the bottom opening of the hop
natant brine solution contained above the salt 30 per for determining the upper level of solution,
bed in the top of the dissolving tank l. After
and a common valve between said water linlet and
adjustment of the valve, this residual amount of
said branch conduits constructed to regulate and
brine solution will necessarily be carried out
adjust the relative flow through said branches to a
through the overflow pipe 48 to either spill or be
desired concentration of solution for flow through
sent to the point of use as desired. However, the
said outlet,
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amount of this residual solution of the previous
EDWARDv SWARTZ.
concentration may be reduced by mounting the
upper coil 26 closely beneath the top surface 4l
REFERENCES CITED
of the brine because the mixing of the fresh
The following references are' of record in the
Water and of the brine solution will take place 40 ñle of this patent:
quickly and completely in a small volume and
1
UNITED STATES PATENTS
such residual solution of the previous adjustment
Number Y
is limited to that contained in the tank above Salt
Name
Date
level or the coil 26 and between it and the sur~
1,928,008
Courthope _______ __ Sept. 26, 1933
vface -41 leading to the outlet 48. It will be seen,
therefore, that by the present method and appa
V1,975,749 V
Lang ___.. __________ __ Oct. 2, 1934
ratus a constant supply. of solution may be pre
2,006,085
2,083,076
Lehmkuhl ________ __ June 25, 1935
Mau ______________ __ June 8, 1937
pared of predetermined and dependable concentra
tion in continuous large volumes and yet may be
2,201,101
2,412,106
Sinkwich _________ __ May 14, 1940
Swartz ____________ __ Dec. 3, 1946