Improvements in or connected with Filtering the Feed Water of Steam Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Filtering the Feed Water of
Steam Generators.
I, THOMAS DOWNTE, of Caryl Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
-
This invention has reference to filtering the feed water supply to steam
generators, and relates more particularly to cases where this feed water is taken
from the hot well or other vessel, to which the condensed water from a condensing
steam engine is discharged, and is forced by a pump into the steam generator.
And the chief object of the invention has been to simplify, and render less expen-
sive, the apparatus used for filtering this feed water.
According to the invention, this object and effect is attained by the employment
of a simple filtering apparatus containing filtering medium, which is adapted to
be placed in position and removed conveniently, disposed between the hot well or
other chamber and the feed pump, and so arranged, preferably, that the water
passes or flows from such hot well, or chamber into the filtering apparatus, by
gravity. The action is that the water passes from the hot well, or other vessel, or
chamber into the filter, passes through the filtering medium therein, and then is
taken from the discharge side or part of the filter, by the feed pump, and from
which it is forced into the steam generator.
According to one arrangement, as applied to the common arrangements of hot
wells, the filtering apparatus would be disposed directly under, and secured to the
underside of, the hot well; and the filtering apparatus itself may consist of a simple
chamber having an inlet at one end, the unner end, and an outlet at the lower end;
while the filtering medium would be carried within the vessel between this inlet
and outlet. The vessel would be provided with a suitable hinge or removeable
door, by which the filtering medium could be placed in position, and taken out
when desired. This operation, under the present invention, can be performed with-
out stopping the flow of water through the apparatus, or bye-passing, or similar
operations, that have at present to be performed.
The effect of this invention is that the apparatus itself is under no strain, and
consequently it may be made of thin material, so that it will weigh coniparatively
little. Also, the valves or valvular devices which have usually to be employed
in connection with filters operated according to the present methods, are dispensed
with; and, consequently their cost is obviated. And further, the filtering apparatus
is under no strain; and the pump, moreover, has no extra pressure or strain put
upon it, due to the filtering material becoming clogged or dirty.
Dalth 10th day of December 1907

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Filtering the Feed Water of
Steam Generators.
I, THOMAS DOWNIE, of Caryl Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement ;-
-
This invention has reference to filtering the feed water supply to steam
generators, and relates more particularly to cases where this feed water is taken
from the hot well or other vessel, to which the condensed water from a condensing
steam engine is discharged, and is forced by a pump into the steam generator.
And the chief object of the invention has been to simplify, and render less expen-
sive, the apparatus used for filtering this feed water.
According to the invention, this object and effect is attained by the employment
of a simple filtering apparatus containing filtering medium, which is adapted to
be placed in position and removed conveniently, disposed between the hot well o.
other chamber and the feed pump, and so arranged, preferably, that the water
passes or flows from such hot well or chamber into the filtering apparatus, by
gravity. The action is that the water passes from the hot well, or other vessel, or
chamber, into the filter, passes through the filtering medium therein, and then is
taken from the discharge side or part of the filter, by the feed pump, and from
which it is forced into the steam generator.
According to one arrangement, as applied to the common arrangements of hot
wells, the filtering apparatus would be disposed directly under, and secured to the
underside of, the hot well; and the filtering apparatus itself may consist of a simple
chamber having an inlet at one end, the upper end, and an outlet at the lower end;
while the filtering medium would be carried within the vessel. between this inlet
and outlet. The vessel would be provided with a suitable hinged or removable
door, by which the filtering medium could be placed in position, and taken out
when desired. This operation, under the present invention, can be performed with-
out stopping the flow of water through the apparatus, or bye-passing, or similar
operations, that have at present to be performed.
The effect of this invention is that the apparatus itself is under no strain, and
consequently it may be made of thin material, so that it will weigh comparatively
little. Also, the valves or valvular devices which have usually to be employed
in connection with filters operated according to the present methods, are dispensed
with; and, consequently, their cost is obviated. And further, the filtering apparatus
is under no strain; and the pump, moreover, has no extra pressure or strain put
upon it, due to the filtering material becoming clogged or dirty.
A filtering apparatus adapted to operate, and constructed according to this
invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a
sectional elevation, and Figure 2 a plan in section of the filter taken through the
line A, A, Figure 1.
In the drawings, a is the case or body of the filter, and b is a branch on the
side of it, for the inlet of water to be filtered; while c is a pipe which connects the
body a directly with the hot well of the condenser of the engine in connection with
which it works; and, preferably, at such a point that the water will flow by gravity
from the hot well to the filter. d is the outlet branch for filtered water, which is
connected directly with the supply or suction pipe of the feed pumps of the boiler.
e represents the filtering material, which may be of any known suitable kind:
and f is a vessel in the body or case a in which this material is contained. At

page_text: the upper part of the case a there is a detachable cover h, which
forms a roof to the case, and also presses the lower plate f¹ of the container f
onto the bottom of the chamber a, so as to make a joint with it; this pressure of
the cover on to the container being transmitted through the flange h', which bears
on the upper edge of f. The upper part of the container f, namely at f, is per-
forated; and the lower plate at f³, above the opening i in the bottom of the case a,
is also perforated. These upper perforations convey the water which flows from the
hot well of the engine condenser to the annular space around the container f, into
the upper part of the filtering material; and the lower perforations convey the
filtered water away from the container.
In the drawing, below the filter proper, there is shewn another vessel k. Into
this vessel, the filtered water from the filter passes, and in it, it is heated by steam,
which is introduced at a branch in the upper part, and is passed through a coil
of piping 1, and, so much of it as remains uncondensed in passing through 7, is
discharged into the water through the vertically disposed perforated part 1 of the
pipe, the end of which is stopped. So, the whole heat of the steam, and water result-
ing from the condensation of it, pass together from the apparatus through the
branch to the feed pumps. With regard to this heating portion of the apparatus,
however, it forms no part of the present invention or improvements sought to be
patented.
The filtering apparatus shewn illustrates the whole of the parts employed; and,
as will be seen, there are no cocks, by-pass valves, safety or escape valves, or other
more or less costly fittings; and there is no load, moreover, on the pumps on the
delivery side, as stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In the filtering or purifying of feed water for supplying steam generators,
the employment between the hot well of the condenser of the engine, from which
said feed water is drawn, and the feed pumps for forcing the condensed water
to the steam generators, of a filtering or purifying apparatus, adapted to be operated
and arranged, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The filtering apparatus, applied and operating in the manner described in the
filtration of feed water supplied to steam generators, particularly as shewn in and
set forth with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 9th day of August 1898.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.