IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND FEED WATER HEATERS THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simon, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
GENERATORS AND FEED WATER HEATERS THEREFOR." A communication
from abroad by Friedrich Ludwig August Büttner, of the Firm A. Büttner
and Co., of Uerdingen on the Rhine, Germany.
Sealed the 25th July 1879, and dated the 13th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th February 1879.
"
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND FEED WATER HEATERS
THEREFOR." [A communication from abroad by Friedrich Ludwig August Büttner,
of the Firm A. Büttner and Co., of Uerdingen on the Rhine, Germany.]
This Invention relates mainly to that description of steam generators in which
the water is caused to circulate through a number of inclined tubes connected at
their ends and arranged in sections, communicating with a steam chamber at top.
According to one of the present improvements an inclined fire grate is enclosed at
top by a number of tubes placed closely side by side and sloping down at a con-
siderable angle from the fire door towards the bridge, at a certain distance from
which each pipe terminates in a tube section at right angles thereto. These tube
sections fit closely together so as to form one continuous transverse water tube, being
all tied together by a bolt passing through them. The ends of this transverse tube
are connected by pipes sloping downwards to the back main transverse water tube
of the boiler, to which are connected the upright tubes or water chambers connecting
the main inclined water tubes of the boiler, and into which the feed water is intro-
duced. Thus the feed' water is caused to flow upwards from the main transverse
tube through the side connected tubes into the transverse tube over the firegrate
and thence through the inclined tubes over the firegrate branching therefrom.
From the upper ends of these tubes the water is led through bends or connecting
pieces into the lower main tubes of the boiler. By this arrangement an effective
circulation is maintained through the tubes over the firegrate whereby the steam
generated in such tubes by the direct radiation of heat from the fire is rapidly'
Paine 71

page_text: carried upwards into the boiler. The said tubes may be provided at their undersides,
where in contact with the flames, with one or more external longitudinal ribs that
act as increased heat conducting surfaces.
The flames and hot gases from the furnace issue through the space between the
transverse tube and the bridge into-the-flue-or-chamber-containing-the-main_tubes
of-the-boiler, where-baffle-plates-or-partitions are so arranged that after the gases
have passed in a zigzag direction over the surfaces of the water tubes they issue
from such chamber into the upper part of a second chamber at the back of the boiler
containing a feed water heater, through which chamber they travel in a downward
-direction and from the bottom of which the gases are led through a flue to the
chimney. The feed water heater consists of a number of vertical tubes connected
at top and bottom to horizontal tubes, into the lower ones of which the feed water
is-introduced, and whence it-flows upwards through the vertical tubes and thence
through the upper connecting tubes into the boiler. The vertical tubes have external
longitudinal radiating ribs all round them, which offer very extended heat absorbing
surfaces for taking up the heat from the furnace gases and imparting it to the feed
water. Within the tubes are placed a number of longitudinal thin metal plates
secured together at distances apart by transverse bolts, which plates offering a much
greater surface than the inner surface of the tube serve to receive the greater part
of the solid deposits from the water, thus keeping the surfaces of the tubes them-
selves comparatively free therefrom. The said plates may be withdrawn from time
to time from the tubes for removing the deposit.
The steam mixed with water rising from the upper water tubes of the boiler
passes at the front end through a bend or connecting piece into an upper chamber
divided by partitions into three compartments. The lower one receives the mixed
steam and water and communicates at the back end with an upper cylindrical com-
partment into which the steam separated from the greater part of the water enters
from the lower chamber and which constitutes a centrifugal water separator. In
this compartment are formed one or more helical or screwlike passages extending
longitudinally from end to end, and these passages communicate with the third com-
partment by a number of side holes, this last compartment being made to commu-
nicate with the first compartment and with a pipe connecting the said chamber
with the back end of the boiler.
The saturated steam entering the one end of the helical passages of the second
compartment is caused to travel with great rapidity round in the same on its way
to the steam chamber to which the other end of the said compartment is connected,
and the centrifugal action thus produced causes the water to be thrown out of the
steam to the sides of the passage, where it escapes through the side openings into
the side compartment and thence into the lower compartment again, from which it
flows through the pipe leading to the back part of the boiler. It will be evident
that the before described construction of centrifugal water separator may be employed
with advantage in connection with other forms of steam generators.
The water tube of the boiler immediately below the one connecting the separating
chamber with the back-end-of-the-boiler may also be arranged-to conduct-the water.
from the front to the back of the boiler in order to promote circulation. For this
purpose the tube is either surrounded by a protecting casing, so as to prevent as
much as possible the formation of steam therein, or it is provided with an inner tube
so that the generation of steam is confined to an annular space between the tubes
while the water flows backward through the inner tube.
According to another arrangement instead of providing each vertical section of
water tubes with a separating chamber one such chamber of larger dimensions may
be combined with two or more such sections. In this case such chambers are made
in the form of a large tube extending from back to front of the boiler connected at
each end to the tube sections. Into the front end the mixed steam and water rises
from the tube sections, a baffle plate or diaphragm being made to extend from above
the point of entrance some distance back along the chamber in order to prevent or
confine the more violent agitation of the water at that point, such agitation being

page_text: further prevented by a vertical partition extending down from the underside of the
baffle plate to near the bottom of the chamber.
The back part of the baffle plate has perforations through which the entering
steam separated from the water finds its way into the space above the plate, in
which space is situated the centrifugal water separator above described. To the
open end of the helical channel of this apparatus is connected a pipe leading back to
near the end of the separating chamber, and provided with perforations through
which the steam enters, and is conducted thence into the said channels to be there
acted on as before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th August
1879.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND FEED WATER HEATERS
THEREFOR" A communication from abroad Frederick Ludwig August Büttner, of
the Firm A. Büttner and Co., of Uerdingen on the Rhine, Germany.
This Invention relates mainly to that description of steam generators in which
the water is caused to circulate through a number of inclined tubes connected at
their ends and arranged in sections communicating with a steam chamber at top.
According to one of the present improvements an inclined fire grate is enclosed at
top by a number of tubes placed closely side by side and sloping down at a con-
siderable angle from the fire door towards the bridge at a certain distance from
which each pipe terminates in a tube-section at right angles thereto. These tube
sections fit closely together so as to form one continuous transverse water tube,
being all tied together by a bolt passing through them. The ends of this transverse
tube are connected by pipes sloping downwards to the back main transverse water
tube of the boiler to which are connected the upright tubes or water chambers con-
necting the main inclined water tubes of the boiler and into which the feed water is
introduced. Thus the feed water is caused to flow upwards from the main trans-
verse tube through the side connected tubes into the transverse tube over the fire-
grate and thence through the inclined tubes over the firegrate branching therefrom.
From the upper ends of these tubes the water is led through bends or connecting
pieces into the lower main tubes of the boiler. By this arrangement an effective
circulation is maintained through the tubes over the firegrate, whereby the steam
generated in such tubes by the direct radiation of heat from the fire is rapidly
carried upwards into the boiler. The said tubes may be provided at their under-
sides, where in contact with the flames, with one or more external longitudinal ribs
that act as increased heat conducting surfaces.
The flames and hot gases from the furnace issue through the space between the
transverse tube and the bridge into the flue or chamber containing the main tubes.

page_text: of the boiler where baffle plates or partitions are so arranged that after the gases
have passed in a zig-zag direction over the surfaces of the water tubes they issue
from such chamber into the upper part of a second chamber at the back of the
boiler containing a feed water heater, through which chamber they travel in a
downward-direction, and from the bottom of which the gases are led through a flue
to-the-chimney. The feed water heater consists of a number of vertical-tubes-con-
"nected at top-and-bottom-to horizontal tubes, into the lower. ones of which the feed
water is introduced,-and-whence it flows upwards through the vertical tubes and
thence through-the-upper-connecting-tubes into the boiler. The vertical tubes have
external longitudinal radiating ribs all round them which offer very extended heat
absorbing surfaces for taking up-the-heat-from-the-furnace gases and imparting it
to the feed water. Within the tubes are placed a number of longitudinal thin
inetal plates secured together at distances apart by transverse bolts, which plates
offering a much greater surface than the inner surface of the-tube-serve to receive
the greater part of the solid deposits from the water, thus keeping the surfaces of
the tubes themselves comparatively free therefrom. The said plates may be with-
drawn from time to time from the tubes for removing the deposit. The steam
mixed with water rising from the upper water tubes of the boiler passes at the front
end through a bend or connecting picce into an upper chamber divided by partitions
into three compartments. The lower one receives the mixed steam and water and
communicates at the back end with an upper cylindrical compartment into which
the steam separated from the greater part of the water enters from the lower
chamber and which constitutes a centrifugal water separator. In this compartment
are formed one or more helical or screwlike passages extending longitudinally from
end to end, and these passages communicate with the third compartment by a
number of side holes, this last compartment being made to communicate with the
first compartment and with a pipe connecting the said chamber with the back end
of the boiler. The saturated steam entering the one end of the helical passages of
the second compartment is caused to travel with great rapidity round in the saine on
it's way to the steam chamber to which the other end of the said compartment is
connected, and the centrifugal action thus produced causes the water to be thrown
out of the steam to the sides of the passage, where it escapes through the side open-
ings into the side compartment and thence into the lower compartment again, from
which it flows through the pipe leading to the back part of the boiler. It will be
evident that the before described construction of centrifugal water separator may be
employed with advantage in connection with other forms of steam generators. The
water tube of the boiler immediately below the one connecting the separating.
chamber with the back end of the boiler may also be arranged to conduct the water
from the front to the back of the boiler in order to promote circulation. For this
purpose the tube is either surrounded by a protecting casing, so as to prevent as
much as possible the formation of steam therein, or it is provided with an inner tube
so that the generation of steam is confined to an annular space between the tubes
while the water flows backward through the inner, tube.
According to another arrangement instead of providing each vertical section of
water tubes with a separating chamber, one such chamber of larger dimensions may
be combined with two or, more such sections. In this case such chambers are made
in the form of a large tube extending, from back to front of the boiler, connected at
each end to the tube sections. Into the front end the mixed steam and water rises
from the tube sections, a baffle plate or diaphragm being made to extend from above
the point of entrance some distance back along the chamber in order to prevent or
confine the more violent agitation of the water, at that point, such agitation being
further prevented by, a vertical partition extending down from the underside of the
baffle plate to near the bottom of the chamber. The back part of the baffle plate
has perforations through which the entering steam, separated from the water finds
its way into the space above the plate, in which space is situated the centrifugal
water separator above described. To the open end of the helical channel of this
apparatus is connected a pipe leading. back to near the end of the separating

page_text: BCs, au 15
conducted thence into the said channels to be there acted on as before described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a longitudinal section of one arrange-
ment of steam generator constructed according to the before described Invention;
Fig. 2 shews on the right hand an end elevation, and on the left hand a cross section
on line X, X, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shews a sectional plan of the feed water heater; and
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 shew enlarged details. A, A, are water tubes enclosing the space
above the fire grate and communicating at the upper front end by bends A¹ with
the lowest tubes of the steam generator B. At the back end these tubes terminate
in tube sections C, at right angles thereto, which. sections fit closely together so as
to form a continuous transverse water tube, being all tied together by a bolt C¹
passing through them. The ends of this tube are connected by inclined pipes D to
the tube E to which the rising pipes of the steam generator B are connected by
bends E. The feed water being introduced into the tube E from the feed water
heater F by a pipe 12 passes through the pipes D and C. into the pipes A over the
fire-grate and thence into the lower tubes of the generator. B; A² are ribs on the
underside of the tubes A for affording increased heat conducting surface. The flames
and hot gases from the furnace pass through the space between the tube C and the
firebridge up between the tubes of the generator, where baffle plates are provided, as
shewn, to cause the gases to be brought in contact with the whole tube surface of
the generator, as indicated by the arrows, before passing to the chamber G con-
taining the feed water heater F, and thence through the flue H at bottom to the
chimney. The feed water heater F consists of a number of vertical tubes having
external ribs F¹, as shewn more clearly at the enlarged section Fig. 4, and connected
at bottom to the horizontal pipes I through which the feed water enters, while at
the top they are connected to similar pipes I¹ through which the feed water after
ascending through the tubes and becoming heated by the passage of the hot gases
which descend in the contrary direction passes through the pipe I2 to the generator B.
Within the tubes F are a number of vertical thin metal plates F2 secured together
at distances apart by bolts, as shewn, upon which plates the greater part of the solid
matter contained in the water will be deposited as before described, and which can
be withdrawn from time to time for cleansing purposes. The steam, charged more
or less with water, issues from the top tube of the steam generator B through a
bend J into a chamber K, shewn to an enlarged scale in longitudinal and cross.
section respectively at Figs. 5 and 6, in which it first enters the lower compartment k
and passes thence into the open end of the upper compartment k¹. In this com-
partment is formed a helical passage, as shewn, in the sides of which are small
holes communicating with a passage ³ that leads into the lower compartment.
Thus on the steam entering the upper compartment it is caused to pass with con-
siderable velocity round the helical passage, so that the water carried with it is
thrown by centrifugal force through the holes k² into the passage ³, whence it flows
back into the steam generator through the pipe L while the steam issues through
the bend M into the steam chamber N. The tube O of the steam generator may,
to promote circulation, also be made to conduct water from the front to the back
end of the generator either by providing it with a protecting casing so as to limit
the formation of steam, or it may contain an inner tube O', as shewn, through which
the water flows back while steam is formed in the annular space between the tubes.
In the above described arrangement each vertical tube section is provided with its
own steam separating chamber. In the arrangement shewn in longitudinal section
and cross section at Figs. 7 and 8, one larger separating chamber is provided for
several tube sections. In this case the chamber K is of cylindrical form and extends
from the front to the back end of the generator, communicating with it at back by
the pipe L, so that the water circulates from front to back through the lower part l
of the chamber. The compartment k' with the helical passage communicates with

page_text: the upper part of the back end of the chamber by a perforated pipe P so as to take
the steam therefrom as far from the inlet bend J as possible, also in order to pre-
vent the entrance of the mixed steam and water into the chamber from causing too
-much-disturbance of the water therein, and to separate the steam from the water as
_ quickly as possible, a baffle plate Q"having a number of small-openings-at-the-inner
part is provided just over the inlet, as shewn more clearly in the enlarged section
-at-Fig. 9; the deep.rib Qpassing down into the water prevents this from assuming
-rotary-motion.in.the.cylindrical chamber. These chambers while affording a con-
siderable evaporating surface and volume of water do not increase the liability of
the generator to explode,-as-they-are.situated_at_a_ considerable distance from the
furnace.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,―
First. The use in steam generators of a steam separating chamber wherein the
steam is caused to flow round in a helical passage so as to discharge the water
carried with it by certrifugal action, substantially as herein described.
Second. The special construction of separating chambers, shewn in Figs. 1 and 2,
5 and 6 of the Drawing, consisting of three compartments or passages; one for the
entering steam and water, one for the separation of the water by centrifugal action,
and one for conducting such water back into the generator, substantially as
described.
Third. Enclosing the uppermost water tube but one of the steam generator with
a casing, or providing it with an inner tube for promoting circulation of the
water, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures and 2 of the
Fourth. The construction of steam and water separating chamber, described with
reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9 of the Drawings.
Drawings.
Fifth. The use of water tubes enclosing the top of the furnace, such tubes being
placed closely side by side in an inclined position so that the feed water entering a
transverse tube at the fire bridge will flow thence inwards through the said tubes
into the steam generator, substantially as herein described.
Sixth. The use of a feed water heater consisting of a number of vertical tubes
through which the feed water is made to flow in an upward direction, while the
hot gases from the furnace flow over their surfaces in a downward direction, the
said tubes being provided with external ribs for conducting the heat and with
internal removeable plates for collection and removal of deposits, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Simon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine
HENRY SIMON. (L.S.)