IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS " APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER FOR USE IN STEAM
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Lionel Swift at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1882.
LIONEL SWIFT of 65 Millbank Street in the City of Westminster Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOILERS
"
APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER FOR USE IN STEAM
My invention has for object the separation from water used in steam boilers, of
impurities, such as calcareous, argillaceous, earthy, fatty, or other matters, and the
rendering of such water neutral, so as to prevent incrustation and the corrosion of
the boiler.
To this end I cause the water, before it has entered the boiler, and also a portion
of the water that has already been some time in use or one of them, to be drawn
or forced into a vessel in which they or it are together or is heated to a sufficient
temperature to cause the deposition of those matters which can be thrown, down
by this means. This vessel is of such a capacity that the water passes through it
at a velocity that allows of the decantation of the impurities and it is also provided
with appliances for the introduction of bodies or reagents that will cause or favour
the removal of the various impurities. After the solid impurities have been
removed the water is forced or drawn through or over zinc in some convenient form
such as bars, cylinders or lumps, hydrogen is set free and the water is rendered
powerless to attack or corrode the boiler into which it is then delivered.
One form of the apparatus according to my invention consists of a cylindrical
vessel upon which is mounted a device acting both as an injector and an ejector,
with three inlets, one for the admission of live steam, one for the admission of feed
water, and the third communicating with the boiler at, or near, the water level to
serve for the withdrawal of scum and other floating impurities When these three
inlets are opened the steam draws in feed water and water or scum from the boiler
simultaneously and projects them down a central tube within the cylindrical
vessel onto a saucer shaped splash dish, where they are intimately mingled and
their direction is reversed. The combination of the high pressure steam with the
water raises the whole above the boiling point and solidifies many of the matters
previously held in solution, which are then separated by precipitation as the water
gradually rises up the centre of the apparatus through a grating or baffle plate
above the splash dish, and fall to the bottom ready to be blown out through a mud
TD 11

page_text: cock. The space between the central tube and the outer walls of the apparatus is
divided by means of two cylindrical partitions or diaphragms into threo annular
spaces connected together by perforations in the said cylindrical partitions or
diaphragms. The water, as lins been already explained, rises up the central space,
depositing as it goes the greater part of the matters in suspension; it then descends
the middlo annular space, which only extends about two thirds of the depth of the
apparatus, and then turns and enters the third or outer annular space which has a
branch for the exit of the water. Within this space there are arranged pieces of
zinc such as rods, bars, plates, or lumps, preferably of a double T or + shape in
section, which have the effect of setting free hydrogen and neutralizing the water
so as to render it innocuous to the boiler. The apparatus for the introduction of
substances capable of acting chemically or otherwise to effect or facilitate the
purification of the water consists of a vessel perforated with holes and surrounded
with a jacket connected to the water supply. The top is closed with n lid
constructed like a screw-down valve. The caustic baryta, hydrate of lime, soda,
or other substance is placed in the cylinder and water is forced through it to
dissolve it and carry it into the apparatus.
The apparatus is provided with the necessary manholes for cleaning the various
parla and is lagged to prevent waste of heat by radiation.
The arrangement above described may be modified,-thus in one modification the
combined injector and ejector is arranged at the side and connected by a suitable
pipe connection to a central pipe entoring the vessel at the bottom.