Patent GB-190610708-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Ammonia Apparatus Specially Adapted for the Propulsion of Submarine Vessels.
Filed: 1906-05-07
Granted: 1907-02-07
Abstract: 10,708. Clarke, Chapman, & Co., and Robson, J. May 7. Vapour engines.-Ammonia apparatus, specially adapted for the propulsion of submarine vessels, is shown in the Figures, Fig. 7 being a section through Fig. 1. The apparatus comprises oilmotors 3 with tandem ammonia cylinders 4, 5, an ammonia generator 7, a series of absorbers 27, 38, 42 containing cooling - coils 45, storage receivers 50, 51, 52, 53 for liquid anhydrous ammonia, condensers 59, 60 with separate circulating-pumps, a pump 85 for circulating the ammonia, evaporating-coils 99, a measuring-valve, and connexions and valves between the various elements. The measuring-valve and absorbers are of the kind described in Specifications Nos.24,840 and 24,840A, A.D. 1905. The ammonia cylinders have double stumng-boxes, with a distance-piece located between them, into which oil is forced under pressure, and a hollow piston-rod common to the oil engine cylinders, into which enters an ammonia feed-tube. The oil-engine cylinders have cooling- jackets and stuffing-boxes around which is passed ammonia solution to the generator 7. The generator 7 comprises a cylindrical vessel containing steel tubes 16, heated by the oil-engine exhaust, which passes in through the pipe 8 and is exhausted through the pipe 153 to the atmosphere. The upper part is provided with baffles forming a water separator. The evaporating-coils are contained in the walls of the vessel and are surrounded by water, the coils being connected to the pump 85, ammonia cylinders, and storage receivers. The vapour from the generator passes to cylinders 4, the exhaust passing by a pipe 26 to the absorber 27, the unabsorbed ammonia passing on through the rose 39 into the second absorber 38 and finally into the third absorber, where it meets a spray 43 of dilute ammonia solution. The ammonia evaporated in the cooling-coils 4, 5, which are supplied from the receivers, passes to the cylinders 5. The ammonia evaporated in the evaporating-coils passes to the cylinders 4, the exhaust from which passes to the absorbers, Beneath the water, the vessel is driven by the anhydrous ammonia in the storage receivers, the vessel coming to the surface when all the ammonia has been evaporated. The receiver! are recharged by passing the ammonia from the generator 7 through the condensers 59, 60. The pump 85 when not in use .for supplying the evaporating-coils, passes strong ammonia solution from the absorber 27 through the heat-interchangei 110 and oil-engine jacket to the generator. Simul. taneously weak solution passes from the generator 7 through the measuring-valve' and heat interchanger 110 to the spraying-nozzle 43, and ammonia solution passes from the absorber 38 to the absorber 27. For starting the apparatus, the receivers are charged with liquid anhydrous ammonia and the absorbers with water. The engine is then driven by ammonia. As the bulk of liquid in the absorbers increases, it overflows and charges the receivers. One receiver is reserved for aqueous am. monia only. When the vessel is on the surface of the water, one receiver only is used, the remainder being reserved for working below water.