Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Feed-water for Steam Generators.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Feed-water for Steam
Generators.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by François Chapsal of 2 Place des Batignolles
Paris in the Republic of France Engineer) and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The apparatus forming the object of this invention is constructed with an auxiliary
chamber or receptacle in the form of a dome attached or connected to a steam
generator being more particularly intended for use with locomotive boilers. The feed
water being caused to pass through a decanting apparatus in the interior of this
chamber, which is provided with passages for the circulation of steam, is heated and
deposits the salts which are precipitated by the heat the purifying operation being
completed by the action of a filter."
The feed water being supplied by the force pump or injector is conducted either
directly to the decanting apparatus through one or more tubes connected together, and
placed either inside or outside of the generator or through any suitable heating
apparatus likewise arranged either on the interior or exterior of the generator.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate in vertical section arrangements which may be
employed in the construction of the decanting apparatus. Figure 2 being a section
taken at right angles to the section in Figure 1 and Figures 3 and 4 illustrating
modifications as hereinafter described. This apparatus is constructed with a series of
hollow cones N (or other surfaces of revolution) for the circulation of steam arranged
upon a central vertical tube t forming their axis and which is in communication with
the steain space of the boiler, the water resulting from the condensation of the steam
in these cones flows away into the tube t through orifices P and returns to the boiler.
This tube t serves likewise for conducting to the boiler the purified water from the
filter bereinafter described.
The feed water passes in the first place through the heater which may be of any
known or suitable construction or it may simply enter the apparatus through a tube K
arranged in the interior of the boiler as indicated in Figure 1. The water thus intro-
duced ascends in the apparatus flowing in the zig-zag or serpentine direction indicated
by the arrows in the drawing, Figures 1 and 2, about the hollow cones N in which the
steam circulates. These arrows show that the water is compelled to remain for a
considerable time in contact with the heating cones N. These cones are arranged
alternately with baffle plates partitions or screens S which receive the deposits which
separate from the water as it becomes heated. These screens or plates Sare inclined
as represented in the drawing so that the deposits roll or slide down to the wide
parts at the sides of the inner case E of the purifier. The deposits are then dis-
charged through orifices into the annular space acting as a mud collector between
the inner case E and the outer case R.
The deposits being thus separated and collected between the casings E and R can
be removed or blown out through a mud cock V Figure 1. The upper part of the
annular space being closed no circulation or movement of water takes place in the
mud collector and the impurities naturally sink to the bottom. The water flowing

page_text: upwards in the apparatus becomes progressively heated by its prolonged contact with
the hollow cones in which the steam circulates and its purification becomes more and
more perfect as it proceeds and approaches the upper part of the apparatus. When it
reaches the part marked X it passes through a filter X Y formed by two diaphragms
or perforated plates between which is placed a layer of fragments of coke, sand or
other filtering material. The water then passes to the upper part of the chamber
from which it is conducted to the generator or boiler through the central pipe t.
In certain cases it may be found preferable to cause the water to pass through a
separate pipe or tube (Figure 6) arranged in the interior of the tube t as this
enables the steam to circulate in the cones without risk of being obstructed by the
water. This arrangement is represented in Figure 6 which also illustrates the arrange-
ment of a small tube 2 placed inside the water tube t¹ and connecting the upper part
of the dome or chamber of the purifier directly with the steam space in the boiler in
order to preserve the balance of pressure throughout all parts of the decanting
apparatus.
Orifices M (Figures 1, 2 and 3) formed in the tube t cause the water to be drawn
off from the lower part of the body of water above the filter so as to obviate carrying
over of the froth which may be formed in escaping from the filter. These orifices are
controlled by a float Q attached to a short tube sliding freely upon the tube t so that
the outlet orifices M are not uncovered until the water has risen to a certain level and
raised the float Q and the aforesaid short tube.
The Figures 4 and 5 illustrate two modified arrangements of the decanting
apparatus in which the plates or screens S retaining the mud are likewise formed by
hollow cones in the interior of which steam is caused to circulate. In this case the
water passes through these hollow plates or cones by means of tubes U being com-
pelled to circulate in a zigzag or circuitous direction around or about the cones as in
the preceding arrangement. This arrangement is what is more particularly represented
in Figure 3. Figure 4 represents a slightly modified form of these hollow plates or
cones S in which in place of forming double cones as represented in Figure 3 they
are formed with a flat or plane base or bottom plate.
This form has the effect of enlarging or augmenting the spaces at C in which the,
water is relatively quiescent thus facilitating the deposit of the mud or solid matters.
Figure 5 represents this arrangement in plan and Figure 5 is a detail drawn to a
larger scale of the construction of the conical screens or partitions. The top plates 1
and the bottom plates 2 are rivetted on an asbestos ring or washer 3 which forms a
sufficiently tight joint with the inner casing E.
In order to augment the area of heating surface acting on the water the hollow
cones may be constructed with corrugated plates of sheet metal.
The open end of the pipe above the float Q may be provided with a grid or
strainer which allows the water to pass but retains any impurities that may have
escaped the action of the other part of the apparatus and prevent any froth from
passing over in case the float Q fails to act properly.
Figures 6 and 9 represent two vertical sections (the section in Figure 9 being taken
in a plane or at right angles to that in Figure 6) illustrating the incdified arrange-
ment of the apparatus with the supplementary tubes t¹ 2 bereinbefore referred to and
the longitudinal sections of the boiler in Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an arrangement
of the water supply tubes which is preferably employed for subjecting the feed water
to a preliminary heating before it enters the decantation apparatus or purifier.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of the boiler also representing these heating
tubes which are arranged in the upper part of the boiler as indicated in the
drawing.
The purifier is illustrated in three sections taken in three different planes or levels
in Figures 11, 12 and 13 illustrating another mode of arranging the superposed cones
or elements.
Figure 14 illustrates drawn on a larger scale the lower part of the purifior nearest
to the boiler.

page_text: oproserie
Figure 14, and
apparavus
Section
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Figure 16 represents a similar section on the line (-D figure 14.
The succeeding figures illustrate in detail the construction of the filter which it is
preferred to employ.
Figure 17 represents the filter in vertical section showing the general arrangement
of the parts.
Figure 18 represents a section on the line A-B figure 17, and Figure 19 represents
a section on the line C-D figure 17.
Figure 20 illustrates the arrangement of the holes in the perforated plates of the
filter.
The arrangement of the parts of the purifier illustrated in these latter figures
comprise the following improvements namely:
The filter is constituted by a double thickness or two layers of filtering material.
The arrows in Figures 6 and 9 show clearly the direction of the circulation of the
water through the apparatus and in this specially constructed filter which is more
particularly intended for locomotive boilers.
The hollow cones in place of being arranged all on one tube as in the arrangement
illustrated in Figures 1; 2 and 3 may be arranged as represented in Figures 14, 15
and 16 in pairs or groups of two attached to short tubes connected by flanges with
internal lugs arranged so that the lugs on the lower flange of each short tube
correspond with the open space between the lugs on the upper flange.
This arrangement enables the connection of the groups of cones to be effected in
the interior of each short tube by the aid of clamps or bolts attached to the internal
lugs on the flanges, nuts or screw caps 4 figure 14 with square heads being screwed
up on to the flanges by means of a long key or spanner.
The central tube through which the water flows to the boiler is put in place last of
all and is secured by means of bolts and nuts on an external flange carried by the
last or uppermost group of cones. This detail is clearly shown in Figures 6 and 9.
The object of this arrangement is to enable the heating cones to be easily removed
and replaced without entering the boiler facility is at the same time afforded for
cleaning and inspecting. The lower group of cones is fixed in the same manner as
the other groups being attached to a piece rivetted or bolted to the shell of the boiler
(see figures 6 and 9).
The apparatus may be advantageously completed by the addition of a feed water
heater but the latter forms no part of the present invention.
The invention is not limited to the particular forms of construction illustrated in
the accompanying drawings as these may evidently be modified as to their details
according to requirements without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The general arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the improve-
ments in apparatus for purifying feed water for steam generators substantially as
bereinbefore described.
2. An apparatus for purifying feed water for steam generators formed by a dome
or chamber in which are arranged hollow or steam heated cones.or equivalent surfaces
about which the feed water is caused to circulate in such a manner as to cause the
salts to be precipitated on to plates or screens whence they are discharged from the
apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In an apparatus for purifying feed water for steam generators as hereinbefore
described and claimed screens or depositing surfaces constituted by hollow cones in
the interior of which steam is allowed to circulate substantially as herein before
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 4. An apparatus for purifying feed water for steam generators in which the feed
water after circulating about a series of superposed cones as herein before set forth
passes through a single or double filter in which it is separated from any remaining
impurities that it may contain or hold in suspension substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. The particular arrangements and constructions of the improved feed water
purifier as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of June 1890.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.