Patent GB-190524840-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Continuous Cycle Ammonia Power or Refrigerating Apparatus.
Filed: 1905-11-30
Granted: 1906-08-23
Abstract: 24,840. Clarke, Chapman, & Co., and Robson, J. Nov. 30. Vapour-engines.-A continuous cycle ammonia power or refrigerating plant comprises essentially a gas-producer 2 of the type described in Speficication No. 25,560, A.D. 1902, but having a waterdistributing, baffle 18<a>; a boiler 3 for ammonia solution resembling that described in Specification No. 12,639, A.D. 1904, and fitted with a feedsupplying arrangement 63; a heat exchanger 9 ; absorbers 10, 11 for strong and weak ammonia an anhydrous liquid ammonia receiver 12 which supplies cooling-coils in the absorbers ; a condenser 13 and a cooler 14 for the exhaust from the principal motor 15. A tank 16 supplies water to the condenser 13 and cooler 14, circulation being effected by a pump 7. The gas-producer 2 is supplied with air from a blower 4 driven by a motor 49, the air passing into an annular belt 19, and thence by pipes 20 to the vaporizing chamber 17, to which water is supplied by drip pipes 47. The mixed air and vapour then passes into the annular space 21, and thence by pipes 22 to the space between the inner shells 23, 24, emerging from the chamber 26 beneath the grate bars through slits 27. A water lute 38 allows the ashes to be removed without interfering with the continuity of working. The producer gas passes from the fuel chamber 29 to the space between the shells 24, 31, and thence through a dust-trap 39 to the perforated grate of the boiler 3. An uptake 41 and valves 43, 45 enable a small fire to be maintained in the producer when the main apparatus is not.working. The supply of air to the producer is regulated by the boiler pressure, communicated by a pipe 53 to a valve 52 in the pipe 50 which supplies ammonia to the motor 49 which drives the blower. The boiler 3, of the vertical type, is fitted with water-tubes 57 between the side and top of the fire-box, and with Field tubes 58 depending over the bars, upon which pieces of fire-clay or other material are piled. Smoke-tubes 60 run up through the boiler as shown. To prevent priming, a baffle-plate 55 is fitted within the boiler, the dome 61 also acting as a separator. The feedcontrolling mechanism comprises a float 64 moving in a casing 63, and actuating an equilibrium valve 65 which moves over a port 66 by which ammonia passes to furnish power to the feed-pump 5. A measuring-valve 80 is controlled by the feed-pump, so that each stroke of the pump, which feeds strong ammonia solution into the top of the boiler through a pipe 71, allows a corresponding quantity of weak ammonia solution to be discharged from the bottom of the boiler by a pipe 79. This effect is obtained by reduction of the diameter of a part of the pump-rod which moves past the outlet 84 from the pipe 79 to the heat interchanger 9, adjustment to secure continuous working being made by a valve 82. Arrangements are made to prevent outflow past the valve when the pump is not working, e.g. by allowing it to stop only at the end of the stroke, when the measuring-valve is closed. The weak solution withdrawn from the boiler passes through the tubes of the interchanger 9, where it heats the strong solution on its way to the boiler, though a connexion 85 into the weakammonia absorber 11, thence by a pipe 90 into the strong-ammonia absorber 10, and finally back through a tube 74 and the space around the tubes of the interchanger to the suction pipe 73 of the feed-pump 6, whence it is delivered to the boiler as stated. To prevent the formation of an air-lock by the accumulation of ammonia vapour in the suction pipe 73, the pump may be connected so as to draw cold strong ammonia from the absorber 10, and to force it into the bottom of the exchanger 9 and thence into the feed-pipe, any gas liberated from the heated liquid passing on with it. The operation of the apparatus is as follows :-The ammonia generated under pressure from, the solution in the boller 3 is conveyed from the dome 61 through a water-separator 100, -the liquid from which passes to the absorber 10-partly to the principal motor 15 and partly to the condenser 13. The ammonia liquefied in the latter is collected in a receiver 12, passing thence through a flash valve 94 into coils 91, 92, which cool the absorbers. It is then led through a tube 96 within a stand-pipe 97 to a receiver 8 for ammonia vapour, whence are supplied the motor 49 which actuates the blower, and, when the float permits, the cylinder 5 which drives the feed-pump 6 and the circulating-pump 7. These exhaust into the pipe 115, which joins the pipe 105 conveying the exhaust from the motor 15 after it has been cooled by passage through the tubes of the cooler 14. The gas then enters the absorber 10, where it passes through a baffle-plate 88, and pursues a zigzag path past baffles 87, being then conveyed by a pipe 75, which is fitted with a non-retnrn valve 76, to the space below a baffle-plate in the absorber 11. Any gas collecting at the top of the latter may be absorbed by spraying through it from a point above the liquid level part of the weakened solution drawn from the boiler. Water from the tank 16 is circulated by means of the pump 7 through the condenser 13 and the exhaust-cooler 14, being returned to the tank by way of the stand-pipe 97, in which it is cooled by the expanding ammonia from the cooling-coils, and the tube shown.