PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID. 9 
In the new modification of the chamber method described in this 
publication a complete mixture of the gases and the control of their 
temperature is brought about without the use of expensive or com- 
plicated apparatus and with practically no danger of clogging the 
system. While this method has been tried out only in the laboratory, 
and some of the analytical data are not altogether satisfactory, the 
results obtained prove that the primciple is good and that the proc- 
ess, if worked on a factory scale, would probably be commercially 
successful. ; 
In a review of the patent literature on the subject an apparatus 
was found which is somewhat similar to the one herein described. 
This United States patent (No. 446060) was taken out by E. and J. 
Delplace in 1891 and consists of a lead chamber having the shape of a 
ring with a sector cut out. The chamber is provided with two gas 
inlets at unequal distances from the center and contains at intervals 
distributing pipes leading from the upper part to the lower part of 
the chamber, so that the hot gases can be more thoroughly mixed 
with the cooler. The mventors state that in such a chamber the 
constant change in the direction of the gases and their impinging on 
the sides of the chamber cause a thorough mixture and a condensa- 
tion of the acid formed. In this patent the right is reserved to vary 
the shape of the chamber provided the gases are led through a circu- 
lar route. 
The main objections to the above apparatus, in the opinion of the 
writer, are, first, that the chamber as described is of such a size that 
there must be spaces therein where the gases are relatively inactive; 
second, the pipes for conveying the hotter gases from the upper to 
the lower part of the chamber: would hardly accomplish this unless 
they were the only route provided for the passage of the gases, and 
this according to the specifications is not the case; third, the use 
of pipes within the lead chamber unless they are cooled is always 
objectionable because of their excessive corrosion and the serious 
consequences resulting therefrom; fourth, a chamber of the shape 
described occupies an enormous amount of ground space. Where 
land values are high, this entails a large outlay for a factory site, as 
well as an expensive building to house the chamber. 
NEW MODIFICATION OF THE CHAMBER PROCKHSS.! 
This method is based on the fact that if a mixture of warm gases 
is drawn downward through a special flue their resistance to the 
downward pull, together with the constant change of their course, 
will tend to mix them very intimately, and unless the internal diam- 
eter of the flue is too great there will be practically no zones of inac- 
1 Work carried on under the direction of Dr. F. K. Cameron, to whom the author is indebted for much 
valuable assistance. 
527°—Bull. 283—15——2 
