IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FRESH WATER BY DISTILLATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Kirkaldy of N° 40 West India Dock Road, Poplar
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FRESH WATER BY DISTILLATION
»
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kirkaldy at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1883.
JOHN KIRKALDY of N° 40 West India Dock Road Poplar in the County of
Middlesex Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FRESH
WATER BY DISTILLATION
"
This invention bas for its object improvements in apparatus for producing fresh
water by distillation.
For this purpose I form a condenser of a cylindrical case closed at the top with
a suitable cover. A steam pipe fitted with a steam cock is led down through the
centre of the cover and below the cover any desired number of nozzles are made to
branch radially from it. To each nozzle I attach the upper end of a helical metal
worm. The several worms at their lower ends are similarly connected by radial
nozzles to a pipe passing downwards through the centre of a horizontal partition
fixed across the casing near the bottom. This pipe opens into the lower com-
partment below the horizontal partition, this compartment is made to form &
filtering chamber. Cooling water is passed in at the bottom of the upper
compartment of the cylindrical case and flows away through an outlet at the top.
Steam is admitted to the coils by the steam cock at the top. Fresh water passes
from the lower ends of the coils into the filter and is drawn off from below the
filter bed through an outlet pipe which preferably is led upwards to above the level
of the top of the filter bed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Kirkaldy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th October
1883.
JOHN KIRKALDY of N° 40 West India Dock Road Poplar in the County of
Middlesex Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FRESH
WATER BY DISTILLATION
"
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for producing fresh
water by distillation.
For this purpose I form a condenser of a cylindrical case closed at the top with
a suitable cover. A steam pipe fitted with a steam cock is led down through the
centre of the cover and below the cover any desired number of nozzles are made to
branch radially from it. To each nozzle I attach the upper end of a helical metal
worm. The several worms at their lower ends are similarly connected by radial
nozzles to a pipe passing downwards through the centre of a horizontal partition
fixed across the casing near the bottom. Or the ends of the coils might otherwise
be made to open into the compartment below the horizontal partition-steam may
also be supplied to the upper ends of the coils in other ways than the one above
mentioned. When the water condensed in the apparatus is to be used as drinking
water I form the lower compartment into a filtering chamber. Cooling water is
passed in at the bottom of the upper compartment of the cylindrical case and flows
away through an outlet at the top. Steam is admitted to the coils by the steam
cock at the top and freshwater passes from the lower ends of the coils into the
filter and is drawn off from below the filter bed through an outlet pipe which
preferably is led upwards to above the lovel of the top of the filter bed.
The Drawings hereunto annexed shew examples of apparatus constructed
according to my invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation. Figure 2 a horizontal section and Figure 3 a vertical
section of one form of the apparatus.
A is the upper compartment of the casing, B the lower compartment Othe
steam pipe led down through the cover of compartment A and having nozzles
projecting radially from it to each of which is attached the upper end of a helical
worm D-the lower ends of the worms are similarly connected to a short pipe E
which passes through the bottom of compartment A. and opens into com-
partment B. F is a pipe by which a stream of water can be admitted to the
lower part of the compartment A, and G is an outlet pipe by which water can
flow off from this compartment. His a filter bed resting on a perforated arched
plate which is supported by the bottom of the compartment B. I is a perforated
plate placed above the top of the filter bed. J is an outlet pipe for carrying off
filtered water from below the filter bed.. K is a pipe by which air may be admitted
to the chamber B.
In the form of apparatus shewn at Figures 4. 5. 6 and 7 the coils are grouped
closer together so as to economize space and for the same reason each coil has in its
centre a helical coil of smaller diameter. The upper ends of both coils are connected
to radial nozzles on the steam pipe as shown.
The lower ends of the coils are led separately through the bottom of the com-
partment A and open directly into compartment B. In order also to ensure that
each of the several coils grouped around the steam pipe C shall be properly cooled
by a stream of water, the central portion of the compartment A is composed of a
number of separate tubular columns each containing one or more of the tubular
coils. At the bottom of the compartment below these tubular columns are other

page_text: divisions by means of which an equal supply of water from the water inlet pipe F
to each column is ensured. The way in which these divisions are arranged is
clearly shown by the horizontal section Figure 7.
Preferably I make the tubular coils of copper but they might be of other suitable
metal. In some cases also I form the coils of corrugated tubes, the corrugations
may either be made longitudinally or transversely-the tubes also may be either
brazed or solid drawn.
Should any one or other of the tubular coils at any time become defective it can
be readily disconnected and the nozzles to which it was secured can be closed by
screw plugs or caps so that the apparatus may be worked with the remaining coils
only or another coil could very readily be substituted for the damaged coil.
Both forms of the apparatus above described are shewn to be adapted for
producing filtered water suitable for drinking purposes. Similar condensing
apparatus may however be used as a surface condenser for marine or other engines,
and the fresh water produced may be returned to the boilers as when other
constructions of surface condenser are used.
Having thus described. the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same I would have it understood that I claim :-
First. The combination of apparatus substantially as herein before described for
producing fresh water by distillation.
Second The use in surface condensers producing fresh water by the condensation
of steam of a series of helical tubular worms either plain or corrugated and either
brazed or solid drawn, such tubes being contained in a casing through which a
stream of water is driven substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said John Kirkaldy have hereunto set my hand and
seal this tenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
-JNO KIRKALDY.
(L.S.)