Improved Steam Dryer for Boilers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
Improved Steam Dryer for Boilers.
I, JOSEPH BARBE, Engineer, of Orchies (Nord), in the Republic of France, 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 relates to a steam dryer, principally for boilers intended for
supplying motive machines and which as distinguished from similar apparatus
employed hitherto furnishes steam which is thoroughly dry, in other words
deprived of all traces of any water that may have been carried along with it.
Hitherto it has not been possible to eliminate from the steam from boilers,
the particles of water carried along with it, by means of any of the contrivances
proposed for effecting the same, the operation being not only always imperfectly
carried out but often prejudicial and sometimes disastrous to the extent of
bringing about the emptying of the boiler.
This inefficiency which as soon as it is serious becomes a calamity, arises in
the apparatus at present known in consequence of the direction given to the
steam in the eliminator or steam-dryer and which is such that the steam coming
from the boiler, passes too rapidly to the outlet pipe of the dryer, the result
being to bring about an actual carrying along of water and thus to lead to the
emptying of the boiler.
This direction of the steam may be caused in two ways, viz.: a bad arrange-
ment of the drying drum or pocket itself, or again, defective relation between
the inlet and outlet holes for the steam, even with a properly arranged drying
cylinder. Thus if the height of the drying cylinder is insufficient, the carrying
along of water will occur whatever may be the relation between the inlet and
outlet holes as it will also occur in a drying cylinder of sufficient height when
the outlet hole is placed low down in relation to the steam inlet.
In order to make the matter more clearly understood a steam dryer in accord-
ance with this invention is represented diagramatically by way of example only
in the accompanying drawing, in which:
a represents the boiler with or without a dome b from which the tube e ascends
and in running down again enters the drying drum d at the top. The drum d
is a simple cylinder terminating in two spherical end covers. It is mounted on or
supported above the boiler a by any suitable supports e. To the lower end of
the drum is attached the return tube f which runs into the water in the boiler a
and has a return valve g inserted in it. The outlet tube is connected like
the inlet tube c to the top of the drum so that the dry steam may flow away
in an upward direction, and that the said tube may run into the drum nearly
parallel to the inlet tube c the two holes being in the upper calotte itself.
In these conditions assuming the boiler to be under pressure and a vacuum
formed in the drum the steam from the boiler a rising in the tube c will
descend in a vertical direction in the drying drum d under the influence of a
certain active force acquired in circulating which will force it to pass into the
lower parts of the drum and as for the outlet through the tube h the steam is

page_text: forced to ascend in the same, leaving behind firstly all the particles of water
contained in it and finally reaching the outlet hole in an absolutely dry state,
whilst the water thrown off accumulates in the bottom of the drum and returns
to the boiler by the return tube f in forcing open the valve g by its weight.
Complete drying is thus ensured by such arrangement of the conduits through
which the steam is forced to pass downwards into the drying drum and on the
contrary upwards for the purpose of leaving it.
Now it will be easily understood that these two contrary currents could not
be created if, for example the outlet hole were situated in the side of the drum,
since the current would be formed directly from the top towards the bottom of
one orifice or the other so that the steam would pass without being deprived of
water at first and would issue without the desired result being obtained.
This would still be the case if the two tubes c and should extend into the
drum to a certain distance from the bottom or, if the drum were too narrow
to allow of the formation of the two contrary currents so that the conditions
mentioned above are indispensable for effecting the complete drying of the steam
in its passage from the boiler to the place where it is utilised.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A steam dryer for boilers distinguished by the employment of a vertical
drum of suitable dimensions and inlet and outlet tubes each of which runs parallel
to the other, into the top of the drum in order that the admission and discharge
of the steam may be effected in two vertical currents running in opposite directions.
2. The improved steam dryer for boilers substantially as described with refer-
ence to the drawings.
Dated this 15th day of August 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.