THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

AND JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Vol. CV.

FRIDAY. MAY 2, 1913.

No. 2731.

ADVANTAGES OF THE DIRECT METHOD OF
AMMONIA RECOVERY*

Report to the German Coke Committee.

By C. Heck.

The method of recovering sulphate of ammonia
direct from coke-oven gases forms one of the most
important of the numerous improvements which have
been introduced into by-products recovery practice in
the last 10 years, the separation of the tar from the
crude gases and the passage of the gases through

cooled down to 27 to 35 degrees Cent, and forced through
an acid scrubber charged with 3 in. lumps of firebrick,
the acid liquor being maintained in continuous circula-
tion by a pump until a certain concentration was
attained, whereupon it was run off, at intervals, into a
saturation tank, where the sulphate of ammonia crystal-
lised out. The ammoniacal gas liquor condensed during
the cooling of the gas was treated in a still. The saving
effected by this method did not satisfy the inventor, who
then tried scrubbing the gases without cooling, and in
1903 elaborated the system illustrated diagrammatically

Joachim Colliery of the Gewerkschaft Konigin
Elisabeth, is shown in fig. 2.

In this plant the hot crude gas is passed, according
to requirements, through the first or second attemperator
m, then into the cooler d, and, after being thus cooled
down to 125 to 130 degrees Cent, and deprived of about
80 per cent of its tar, reaches the eight saturation tanks
of the ammonia works, where the ammonia is combined
with sulphuric acid and a further 10 to 15 per cent, of
tar is removed. The gas then passes through two
supplementary washers, and a cylindrical vessel, cooled

GAS TO THE OVENS

WAS

COOL/NG

WATER P/PE

p RECEIVER

Il J—Ofc

Fig. 1.—The Brunck System, 1903.

a, Coke ramp; b, coke ovens ; c, pusher track; d dlf coolers ; e, pit; f, absorption apparatus; g, suction fan; h, final cooler; i, tar pit;
k3 tar gutter; I, coke pusher; m, gas attemperator; n3 tar pump.

6^

S5M

•MM

MW-

•S500'-

-OW'/O-

-21/000-

3090

k

In
p

CD

CD

S

1 6009

I

□Udqdckkki

» 0D0D0D

sooa t yjax>

lllllllllll
■lllllllll

Fig. 2.—Plan Installation on the Brunck System at the Friedrich Joachim Colliery.

a, Coke ramp; b, coke ovens ; c, pusher track; d d13 coolers ; e, saturator house; /, salt store ; g, sulphuric acid tanks; s, engine and pump house; n, stores;

i, manager's room; I, laboratory; m baths ; u, attemperator; v, boilers ; w, chimney stack; x3 waste heat flue ; z, coke pusher;

ppl3 pumps; V B loading and storage tanks; r, fans; t3 exhausters; k3 re-coolers; h3 centrifugal purifiers.











sulphuric acid doing away with scrubbing-water and the
production of water of condensation, so that no expulsion
of water by distillation is necessary.

The first direct process on the market was that of
Brunck, whose experiments in this connection date back
some 12 to 15 years. The earliest Brunck plant was set
up in 1900 at the Kaiserstuhl Colliery, Dortmund. The
coke-oven gas, about 280,000 cubic feet in 24 hours, was

* Gluckauf,

in fig. 1. The gas, at a temperature of 125 degs. Cent,
and over, was discharged by the oven main under the
bell of the saturation tank f, traversing the acid
scrubber d (to remove the residual ammonia), the
suction fans g, and the final cooler h, where the final
traces of tar and water were deposited, to be returned
to the ovens or used for other purposes. A plan of the
installation for a battery of 60 (90) ovens, which has
been in operation for several years at the Friedrich

with water to condense naphthalene, sulphuretted
hydrogen, &c., then a tubular cooler and gas fan, which
returns it to the ovens or delivers it to the boilers for
steam raising.

The saturation tanks are of wood, lined with lead, and
have serrated bell covers. The sulphate of ammonia
formed in the tanks is taken out from time to time and
thoroughly washed with warm water, by means of an
air blast, the tar collecting on the top being returned to