The effect of this washer is first, to break up the current of gas, and then force it violently into the water; at the same time sending into it the spray of water thrown up by the brooms.  This double operation is constantly going on, so that the gas, having been saturated by the transfusion into it of a vigorous shower of water (into the bulk of which it is subsequently immersed), is forced, on leaving the water, to again undergo similar treatment.  The same quantity of gas is therefore several times submitted to the washing process, till at length it finds its way to the outlet, and makes its escape.  The extent to which the washing of the gas is carried is, consequently, only limited by the speed of the apparatus, or rather by the ratio of the speed to the initial pressure of the gas.  This limit being determined, the operation may be continued indefinitely, by making the gas pass into several washers in succession.  There is, therefore, no reason why the gas should not, after undergoing this treatment, be absolutely freed of all those properties which are susceptible of removal by water.  In fact, all that is requisite is to increase the dimensions of the vessel, so as to compel the gas to remain longer therein, and thus cause it to undergo more frequently the operation of washing.  These dimensions being fixed within reasonable limits, if the gas is not sufficiently washed, the speed of the apparatus may be increased; and the degree of washing will be thereby augmented.  If this does not suffice, the number of turbines may be increased, and the gas passed from one to the other until the gas is perfectly clean.  This series of operations would, however, with any kind of washer, result in thoroughly cleansing the gas.  The only thing that makes such a process practically impossible is the very considerable or it may be even total loss of pressure which it entails.  By the new system, the loss of pressure is nil, inasmuch as each turbine becomes in reality an exhauster.  The gas, entering the washer at the axis, is drawn to the circumference by the rotatory motion of the brooms, which thus form a ventilator.  It follows, therefore, that on leaving the vessel the gas will have a greater pressure than it had on entering it; and this increase of pressure may be augmented to any desired extent by altering the speed of rotation of the axis, precisely as in the case of an exhauster.

Forcing the gas violently into water, and at the same time dividing the current, is evidently the most simple, rational, and efficient method of washing, especially when this operation is effected by brooms fixed on a shaft and rotated with great speed.  Therefore, if there had not been this loss of pressure to deal with—­a fatal consequence of every violent operation—­the question of perfect washing would probably have been solved long ago.  The invention which I have now submitted consists of an arrangement which enables all loss of pressure to be avoided, inasmuch as it furnishes the apparatus with the greatest number of valuable qualities, whether regarded from the point of view of washing or that of condensation.