Improvements in Engine Condensers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left. 16th Mar. 1898-Accepted. 16th Apr.. 1898
Improvements in Engine Condensers.
I, DONALD BARNS MORISON, of Hartlepool Engine Works, Hartlepool, in the
County of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows: ―
My invention relates to apparatus for condensing steam and has for objects to
obtain a high efficiency of cooling surface and an apparatus in which the necessary
joints can be readily made and examined and in which the combined arrangement
and construction are such as to render it suitable for use on shipboard as a con-
denser for the steam from the winches and the auxiliary engines. In carrying
out my invention I arrange on a containing vessel a channel or passage for the
inlet condensing water and another channel for the discharge water and on each
of these channels are jointed the cooling pipes. The containing vessel may con-
sist of a shallow cast iron base with an inlet water chamber on the one side and
an outlet water chamber on the other side. To these chambers are attached the
tubes in coils of volute or equivalent form either single or in pairs the object being
to obtain a long circuitous channel for the passage of the water or steam in a con-
venient and compact manner and with a minimum of joints so as to render the
condensing surface highly efficient and reduce the danger of leakage. Over the
coils and jointed to the base is an arched cover either cast or otherwise constructed,
the necessary fittings being mounted thereon. The containing vessel may also be
of a form having the chambers for the inlet and outlet water towards the top the
sides of the chambers being set at an angle for facilities in manufacture: the coils
are jointed and suspended therefrom a cover being arranged so that on its removal.
the joints can be readily examined and tested. In the bottom of the containing
vessel I arrange a longitudinal bracket for supporting the coils this bracket being
covered on its top by lead or other soft and durable metal or material so that the
coils may be supported thereon without injury. The condenser may be worked
with either steam outside the tubes as described or with the steam inside the
tubes in which case the inlet and outlet chambers form respectively the steam
inlet and the outlet for the resulting water of condensation.
The condenser is provided with a steam inlet valve an escape valve and the
usual fittings.
Dated this 16th dow of Tu 1907

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to apparatus for condensing steam and has for objects to
obtain a high efficiency of cooling surface and an apparatus in which the necessary
joints can be readily made and examined, and in which the combined arrangement
and construction are such as to render it suitable for use on shipboard as a con-
denser for the steam from the winches and the auxiliary engines.
In carrying out my invention I arrange on a containing vessel a channel or
passage for the inlet condensing water and another channel for the discharge
water and on each of these channels are jointed the cooling pipes. The contain-
ing vessel may consist of a shallow cast-base with an inlet water chamber on the
one side and an outlet water chamber on the other side. To these chambers are
attached the cooling tubes in coils of volute' or equivalent formi either singly or
in pairs, the object being to obtain a long circuitous channel for the passage of
the water or steam in a convenient & compact manner and with a minimum of
joints so as to render the condensing surface highly efficient and reduce the dangers
of leakage. Over the coils and jointed to the base is an arched cover either cast
or otherwise constructed the necessary fittings being mounted therton. The
containing vessel may also be of a form having the chambers for the inlet. and.
outlet water towards the top, the sides of the chambers being set at an angle for
facilities in manufacture: the coils are jointed and suspended therefrom a cover
being arranged so that on its removal the joints can be readily examined & tested.
The containing vessel may further be arranged with the inlet chamber at the
top and the outlet chamber at the bottom in which case the cover will be in a
vertical position. In the bottom of the containing vessel I arrange a longitudinal
bracket for supporting the coils, this bracket being covered on its top by lead
or other soft and durable metal or material so that the coils may be supported
thereon without injury. The supporting bracket is preferably made hollow in
the form of a channel which serves as the outlet for the water of condensation.
The condenser may be worked with either steam outside the tubes as described
or with the steam inside the tubes in which case the inlet & outlet chambers form
respectively the steam inlet and the outlet for the resulting water of condensation.
The condenser is provided with an escape valve and the usual fittings.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I append three sheets of
explanatory drawings in which the various figures or letters correspond.
Figures I II III (Sheet I) shew in longitudinal section, cross section and end
elevation respectively an apparatus for condensing steam constructed according
to my invention. On one side of the cast base or containing vessel 1 is arranged
a chamber 2 for the inlet condensing water through the branch 2ª, and on the
opposite side a similar chamber 3 for the outlet condensing water through the
branch 3. To these chambers a series of volute coils 4, 4" are attached in pairs
the direction of the portion 4, which is jointed to. the inlet chamber at 5 being
inwards and the direction of the portion 4ª which is jointed to the outlet chamber
at 6 being outwards, the whole forming (with a minimum number of joints) a
continuous circuitous passage for the water within the tubes the direction of flow
being reversed at the centre. Over the coils and jointed to the base 1, is an arched
cover 7 to which the branch piece 8 forming the inlet for the exhaust steam through
the passage 9 is attached. The branch piece 8 is provided with the necessary
exhaust connections 10 10" from the auxiliary engines and an escape valve 11.
In order that the entering steam may, be efficiently distributed over the cooling
surface the inner portion of a series of the coils is removed in such a manner that
the central passage 12 for the steam as it enters the vessel is of conical form as
seen in Figs. I, IV, & VII.
In the bottom of the containing vessel or base 1 is a bracket in the form, of; a
channel 13 which serves as a support for the coils & also as an outlet for, the con-
densed steam. On the top of this bracket is a covering of lead 14ª, or other soft
metal or material on which the coils are supported without injury. The portion

page_text: forming the outlet for the condensed steam is further provided with a projection 13ª
which causes the water within the vessel to rise to a level higher than the dis-
charge 14 thus preventing an escape of uncondensed steam. The cast base 1, is
preferably constructed so that the lower part slopes to the outlet 14.
Figs. IV, V, VI (Sheet 2) show in longitudinal section, cross section and end
elevation respectively another form of condensing apparatus constructed accord-
ing to my invention in which the chambers 2, 3, forming the inlet and outlet for
the condensing water are towards the top of the containing vessel 1 the coils being
suspended therefrom and supported on the bracket 13, as previously described.
The containing vessel in this case is of greater depth and may be either cast or
built with steel or iron plates as shewn in the drawings. In order that the sides
of the chambers 2 & 3 may be machine drilled for the coil connections they are
set at an angle as shown: the joints for the coils can be readily examined and
tested by removing the cover 7, & the whole of the coils can be withdrawn from
the vessel 1, by breaking the joint 1ª.
Figs. VII, VIII, IX, (Sheet 3) which correspond with Figs. I, II, III, (Sheet 1)
and Figs. IV, V, VI, (Sheet 2) shew a modification in which the inlet chamber 2
is at the top & the outlet chamber 3, at the bottom the cover 7 being in a vertical
position.
The apparatus described and illustrated is of such construction that the steam
is condensed on the outside of the tubes, the condensing water being inside. It
is evident that this arrangement may be reversed in which case the chambers 2
& 3 form respectively the inlet for the exhaust steam & the outlet for the result-
ing water of condensation the passage 9 will also form the inlet for the condensing
water and the branch 14 the outlet for the condensing water and the escape valve 11
will be connected to the inlet 2. The apparatus may be arranged horizontally
or vertically and the inlet and outlet pipes with the attached tubes may be fitted in
or form part of any description of containing vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: -
Apparatus for condensing steam arranged constructed and operating substantially
as described and illustrated in Figs. I to IX inclusive.