Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating and Condensing Water.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating and Condensing
Water.
I, ALPHONSE NORMANDY of Langdon, Streatham Hill, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
--
According to my present invention I construct evaporators for evaporating sea
or other water as follows:-
These evaporators consist of a closed inner chamber, hereinafter called the
evaporating chamber," which is contained in the lower part of an outer closed
chamber, hereinafter called the "evaporator casing."
A regulated supply of sea water is admitted into the evaporator casing so as to
partly or completely surround the evaporating chamber. This supply of sea water
is sufficient to replace the portion thereof which is evaporated and the portion
discharged from the evaporator casing to prevent undue concentration thereof.
Steam at a suitable pressure, hereinafter called "first steam," is admitted into
the evaporating chamber, and is partly condensed therein by the sea water outside
thereof, the water thus formed by the condensation of the first steam escaping
from the evaporating chamber by a suitable steam trap.
The first steam inside evaporating chamber evaporates part of the sea water
outside thereof, thus generating steam, hereinafter called "second steam," which
rises into the upper part of the evaporator casing, and escapes therefrom by passing
through a second steam" regulating apparatus constructed as follows:-
This regulating apparatus consists of a cylinder in which slides a tubular piston,
in such a way that second steam after passing through the tubular piston, escapes
from the cylinder by an annular outlet, and from thence passes to a condenser to be
condensed into fresh water.
This tubular piston is so arranged that the effect of its weight or of a spring
prevents the tubular piston moving upward in the cylinder so long as the quantity
of second steam passing through the tubular piston does not exceed the desired
quantity per hour; while when the How of second steam is in excess of this
quantity, it will cause the tubular piston to slide upward in the cylinder, so as to
more or less close the annular outlet from the cylinder, thus regulating the quantity
of second steam passing through the tubular piston so as to be limited, or nearly
so, to the maximum quantity the tubular piston will allow to pass without sliding
in the cylinder.
By thus regulating the quantity of second steam. passing through the tubular
piston, the quantity of second steam produced is also regulated, as the pressure
thereof in being made to rise by this means will check the evaporation until it
equals the required production.
I also regulate the quantity of second steam passing through the tubular piston
either by advancing a cone or rod more or less into the tubular piston, so as to
more or less contract the area of the tubular passage through it, or else by causing
an adjustable spring or weight to act on the tubular piston, so as to enable the
quantity of second steam which the tubular piston will allow to pass without
moving in the outer cylinder to be increased or reduced.
an
The quantity of second steam produced can thus be regulated so as to be always
about equal to the desired quantity per hour, without being varied to
objectionable extent by fluctuations in the pressure of the first stean, or in the

page_text: pressure in the condenser, or in the extent of surface of the evaporating chamber
covered by sea water.
I sometimes provide the evaporator casing with a blow-off valve, loaded by a
weight or a spring so as to blow off sea water at any desired pressure, and that,
should second steam be generated in the evaporator casing faster than it can
escape by the above named regulating apparatus, the pressure of the second steam
in increasing, will cause the loaded blow-off valve to open, and discharge sea
water from the evaporator casing until the surface of the evaporating chamber
covered by sea water is reduced so as only to generate the desired quantity of
second steam.
I sometimes regulate the supply of first steam to the evaporating chamber by
the pressure of the second steam by a first steam regulator constructed as
follows:
This steain regulator consists of three cylindrical closed chambers preferably
vertical, the middle chamber having an annular lateral opening therein com-
municating with the first steam supply and by a pipe or passage with the
evaporating chamber, and the lower chamber communicating with the space
containing the second steam.
Inside the middle chamber, there is a short tube hereinafter called the slide
valve, and this slide valve is attached to a slide rod sliding freely through both
ends of the middle chamber, and extending into the upper and lower chambers at
each end of the middle chamber.
.
The slide valve, by moving in the middle chamber, more or less closes the
annular lateral opening therefrom leading to the evaporating chamber; hence,
when first steam is admitted into the middle chamber, a portion thereof passes
through the lateral annular opening into the evaporating chamber the quantity
thereof depending on the position of the slide valve.
The slide rod passing into the lower chamber in communication with the second
steam, is attached to a piston sliding freely in this lower chamber, in such a way
that the pressure of the second steam only acts on one side of this piston, thus
forcing it and the slide valve attached thereto to move, and thereby to more or
less close the annular lateral opening in middle chamber through which first steam
passes to the evaporating chamber.
The desired pressure of second steam is obtained by loading this piston by a
weight or spring balancing the desired pressure of the second steam on this piston,
and thus maintaining the passage for first steam open to an extent proportionate to
such pressure.
The pressure of the first steam has no effect on the movement of the slide valve,
as, by the construction thereof, the pressure of the first steam thereon is balanced
in every direction.
Any slight leakage of first steam past the slide rod, and of second steam past
the piston, is led away from the upper and lower chambers by pipes so as to be
condensed into water.
I sometimes regulate the supply of first steam to the evaporating chamber, by
passing it through a first steam regulating apparatus as follows:
This first steam regulating apparatus consists of a cylinder in which slides a
tubular piston, in such a way that the first steam, after passing through the tubular
piston, escapes from the cylinder by an annular outlet, and from thence it passes
into the evaporating chamber.
This tubular piston is so arranged that the effect of weight or of a spring,
prevents it from moving in the cylinder so long as the quantity of first steam
passing through the tubular piston does not exceed the desired quantity per hour,
and so that any first steam in excess of this quantity would cause the tubular
piston to slide in the cylinder, and thereby to more or less close the annular outlet
from this cylinder, thus regulating the quantity of first steam passing through the
tubular piston so as to be nearly, or quite, equal to the maximum quantity the
tubular piston can pass without sliding in the cylinder.

page_text: I also regulate the quantity of first steam passing through the tubular piston.
either by advancing a cone or rod more or less into the tubular piston, so as to
more or less contract the area of the tubular passage through the tubular piston,
or else by causing an adjustable spring or weight to act on the tubular piston, so as to
increase or reduce the quantity of first steam the tubular piston can pass without
moving in the cylinder.
The quantity of first steam passed into the evaporating chamber can, by the
above describel means, be regulated to be always about equal to the desired
quantity per hour, without being varied to an objectionable extent by fluctuations
in the pressure of the first steam, or in the pressure of second steam in the
evaporator casing.
The above described regulation of the quantity of first steam passed into the
evaporising chamber also effects the regulation of the production of second steam,
which will always be produced in about the desired quantity per hour, if the
pressure of first steam, and the surface of evaporating chamber are sufficiently
great.
I sometimes use the second steam of one evaporating apparatus as first steam of
another evaporator, thus generating an additional quantity of steam, called third
steam, which third steam I pass through a regulating apparatus similar to that
described above for the second steam; in this case, the second steam need not be
passed through a regulating apparatus as herein described, as it will be controlled
by the regulating apparatus for the third steam.
My above described invention is also applicable to condensers. For this purpose
I construct a condenser of a chamber of any convenient form contained in another
chamber, through one of which chambers a current of condensing sea or other water
is made to flow, while the steam to be condensed is admitted to the other chamber by
passing it through a condenser steam regulating apparatus similar in construction
to the second above described apparatus with tubular piston for regulating the
supply of first steam to the evaporating chamber.
Dated this 1st day of March 1894.
ABEL & IMKAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating and Condensing
Water.
I, ALPHONSE NORMANDY of Langdon, Streatham Hill, in the County of Surrey,
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 :-
According to my present invention I construct evaporators for evaporating sea
or other water as follows:-
These evaporators consist of a closed inner chamber, hereinafter called the
"evaporating chamber," which is contained in the lower part of an outer closed
chamber, hereinafter called the "evaporator casing."
A regulated supply of sea water is admitted into the evaporator casing so as to
partly or completely surround the evaporating chamber. This supply of sea water
is sufficient to replace the portion hereof which is evaporated and the portion
discharged from the evaporator casing to prevent undue concentration thereof.
Steam at a suitable pressure, hereinafter called "first steam
"
is admitted into
the evaporating chamber, and is partly condensed therein by the sea water outside
thereof, the water thus formed by the condensation of the first steam escaping
from the evaporating chamber by a suitable steam trap.

page_text: The first steam inside evaporating chamber evaporates part of the sea water
outside thereof, thus generating steam, hereinafter called "second steam," which
rises into the upper part of the evaporator casing, and escapes therefrom by
passing through a "second steam" regulating apparatus constructed as follows:-
This regulating apparatus consists of a cylinder in which slides a tubular piston,
in such a way that second steam after passing through the tubular piston, escapes
from the cylinder by an annular outlet, and from thence passes to a condenser to
be condensed into fresh water.
This tubular piston is so arranged that the effect of its weight or of a spring
prevents the tubular piston moving upward in the cylinder so long as the quantity
of second steam passing through the tubular piston does not exceed the desired
quantity per hour; and that any second steam in excess of this quantity, causes
the tubular piston to slide upward in the cylinder, so as to more or less close the
annular outlet from the cylinder, thus regulating the quantity of second steam
passing through the tubular piston so as to be limited or nearly so, to the maximum
quantity the tubular piston will allow to pass without sliding in the cylinder.
By thus regulating the quantity of second steam passing through the tubular
piston, the quantity of second steam produced is also regulated, as the pressure
thereof rises as annular outlet becomes contracted, which rise in pressure checks
the evaporation until it about equals the required production.
I also regulate the quantity of second steam passing through the tubular piston
either by advancing a cone or rod more or less into the tubular piston, so as to
inore or less contract the area of the tubular passage through it, or else by causing
an adjustable spring or weight to act on the tubular piston, so as to enable the
quantity of second steam which the tubular piston will allow to pass without
moving in the outer cylinder to be increased or reduced.
The quantity of second steam produced can thus be regulated so as to be always
about equal to the desired quantity per hour, without being varied to an
objectionable extent by fluctuations in the pressure of the first steam or in the
pressure in the condenser or in the extent of surface of the evaporating chamber
covered by sea water. I sometimes provide the evaporator casing with a blow off valve,
loaded by a weight or a spring so as to blow off sea water at any desired pressure, and
so that, should second steam be generated in the evaporator casing faster than it
can escape by the above named regulating apparatus, the pressure of the second
steam in increasing, will cause the loaded blow off valve to open, and discharge sea
water from the evaporator casing until the surface of the evaporating chamber
covered by sea water is reduced so as only to generate the desired quantity of second
steam. I sometimes regulate the supply of first steam to the evaporating chamber
by the pressure of the second steam, by a first steam regulator constructed as
follows: This steam regulator consists of three cylindrical closed chambers
preferably vertical, the middle chamber communicates with the first steam supply
and has an annular lateral opening therefrom communicating with the evaporating
chamber, and the lower chamber communicates with the space containing the second
steam.
Inside the middle chamber, there is a short tube hereinafter called the slide
valve, and this slide valve is attached to a slide rod sliding freely through both
ends of the middle chamber, and extending into the upper and lower chambers at
each end of the middle chamber.
The slide valve by moving in the middle chamber, more or less closes the
annular lateral opening therefrom leading to the evaporating chamber; hence,
when first steam is admitted into the middle chamber, a portion thereof passes
through the lateral annular opening into the evaporating chamber the quantity
thereof depending on the position of the slide valve.
The slide rod passing into the lower chamber in communication with the second
steam, is attached to a piston sliding freely in this lower chamber, in such a way
that the pressure of the second steam only acts on one side of this piston, thus
forcing it and the slide valve attached thereto to move, and thereby to more or

page_text: less close the annular lateral opening in middle chamber through which first stean
passes to the evaporating chamber.
The desired pressure of second steam is obtained by loading this piston by a
weight or spring balancing the desired pressure of the second steam on this piston,
and thus maintaining the annular passage for first steam open to an extent
proportionate to such pressure.
The pressure of the first steam has no effect on the movement of the slide
valve, as, by the construction thereof, the pressure of the first steam thereon is
balanced in every direction. Any slight leakage of first steam past the slide rod,
and of second steam past the piston, is led away from the upper and lower
chambers by pipes so as to be condensed into water.
I sometimes regulate the supply of first steam to the evaporating chamber, by
passing it through a first steam regulating apparatus as follows:-
The first steam regulating apparatus consists of a cylinder in which slides a
tubular piston, in such a way that the first steam, after passing through the tubular
piston, escape from the cylinder by an annular outlet, and from thence it passes
into the evaporating chamber.
This tubular piston is so arranged that the effect of weight or of a spring,
prevents it from moving in the cylinder so long as the quantity of first steam passing
through the tubular piston does not exceed the desired quantity per hour, and so
that any first steam in excess of this quantity would cause the tubular piston to
slide in the cylinder, and thereby to more or less close the annular outlet from this
cylinder, thus regulating the quantity of first steam passing through the tubular
piston so as to be nearly, or quite, equal to the maximum quantity the tubular
piston can pass without sliding in the cylinder.
I also regulate the quantity of first steam passing through the tubular piston,
either by advancing a cone or rod more or less into the tubular piston, so as to
more or less contract the area of the tubular passage through the tubular piston, or
else by causing an adjustable spring or weight to act on the tubular piston, so as to
increase or reduce the quantity of first steam the tubular piston can pass without
moving in the cylinder.
The quantity of first steam passed into the evaporating chamber can, by the
above described means, be regulated to be always about equal to the desired
quantity per hour, without being varied to an objectionable extent, by fluctuations
in the pressure of the first steam, or in the pressure of second steam in the
evaporator casing.
The above described regulation of the quantity of first steam passed into the
evaporating chamber also effects the regulation of the production of second steam,
which will always be produced in about the desired quantity per hour, if the
pressure of first steam, and the surface of evaporating chamber are sufficiently
great.
6.
I sometimes use the second steam of one evaporating apparatus as first steam
of another evaporator, thus generating an additional quantity of steam, called
third steam," which third steam I pass through a regulating apparatus similar to
that described above for the second steam; in this case, the second steam need not
be passed through a regulating apparatus as herein described, as it will be controlled
ly the regulating apparatus for the third steam.
My above described invention is also applicable to condensers. For this purpose
I construct a condenser of a chamber of any convenient form contained in another
chamber, through one of which chambers a current of condensing sea or other
water is made to flow, while the steam to be condensed is admitted to the other
chamber by passing it through a condenser steam regulating apparatus similar in
construction to the second above described apparatus with tubular piston for
regulating the supply of first steam to the evaporating chamber.
The accompanying drawings shew diagrammatically several arrangements of
apparatus for carrying out my above described invention.
Figures 1 and 2 shew two constructions of the first steam condensing apparatus.

page_text: Figure 3 shews combined first second and third steam condensing apparatus..
Figure 4 shews a steam regulating apparatus applied to a condenser, and
Figure 5 shews a modified construction of the regulating apparatus for first, second
or third steam.
The evaporating chambers 1 and 2 are contained in the evaporating casings 7
and 8 into which sea or other water to be evaporated enters through pipes 10 and 11,
so as to wholly or partly surround the evaporating chambers 1 and 2.
The condensing chamber 3 is contained in condenser casing 9, into which cold
sea or other water passes through pipe 12, so as to surround the condensing
chamber 3, the water being then made to escape through outlet 13 at top.
First steam passes through pipe 18 into evaporating chamber 1 so as to partly
evaporate the water outside thereof into second steam, the first steam being
condensed into first water inside chamber 1, and escaping therefrom by outlet 4.
The second steam generated in 7 passes up through tubular piston 36, annular
chamber 34 and pipe 38 into the condensing chamber and is therein condensed
by the water outside thereof into second water which escapes by pipe 6.
The opening through the tubular piston 36 is so proportioned that the desired
quantity of second steam will pass through it without causing it to be moved by
the difference between the pressures existing above and below the piston when that
amount is passing. Should such difference of pressure increase or decrease
however, the tubular piston 36 will be raised up or fall by gravity and thereby
contract or increase the annular outlet 34 through which the second steam escapes,
until the said difference of pressure is brought back to about the desired amount
and the desired quantity of second steam is again passed.
According to a modification shewn at Figure 1, part of the second steam passing
through the tubular piston 36 can be made to pass through a second tubular
piston 37, annular outlet 35 and pipe 39 to another condensing chamber, not shewn
on the drawings, the quantity of second steam passing through piston 37 being
regulated by the position thereof in the same way as described with reference to
piston 36.
The object of having the two tubular pistons is to enable the supply of second
steam to each condensing chamber to be regulated so as to suit the pressures of
steam existing in these and also to suit the condensing capacity thereof.
The tubular piston 36 can in some cases be proviled with a cone 40 which may
be advanced more or less into its central opening so as to increase or reduce the
sectional area of this opening, and consequently the quantity of second or third
steam it will pass in a given time.
The tubular piston 36 may in some cases be acted upon by an adjustable spring
such as 16 shewn in the modification at Figure 5, so as to regulate the difference of
pressure of the second steam before and alter it has passed through the tubular
piston, and consequently also to regulate the quantity of second steam passing
through it. The weight of the piston 36 can also be supported by a spring such
as 28, as also indicated at Figure 5. In some cases the lower spring 28 is dispensed
with the upper spring 16 operating both by compression and tension.
The springs 16 and 28 also serve to prevent sudden violent movements of the
piston upward or downward, in which case in butting against the top or bottom it
night cause unpleasant noise. Figures 6 and 7 shew other arrangements of butting
springs. In Figure 6, there is provided in addition to the springs 16 and 28 a
third spring 46 surrounding the cross shaped stem of the regulating screw, and
bearing with its lower end upon the piston 36 while the upper end bears against a
sliding collar 47 having its upper edge serrated, so that should the piston be
thrown violently upward the blow will be taken by the collar 47 and spring 46.
In Figure 7 there are provided above and below the piston 36 rings 48, 49, acted
upon by butting springs 50, 51, the rings having pointed pins 52 with which the
piston 36 comes in contact if thrown violently upward or downward, so that the
blow is taken by the butting springs.
The evaporator casings 7 and 8 are provided with blow off cocks 14 or with

page_text: regulating blow off valves 15, 17 for discharging part of the water fed into the
evaporator casings 7 and 8 to prevent undue concentration thereof.
These regulating blow off valves act as follows:-
:-
Should the production of second steam be greater than tubular piston 36 will
pass, the pressure of this second steam will increase, and force part of the water
out of the evaporator casing 7 through the regulating blow off valve 15 or 17 by
lifting the valve therein against the action of spring 45, which keeps the valve in.
place.
By thus forcing water out of evaporator casing 7, or 8, the level of water therein
surrounding the evaporating chamber 1, or 2, is gradually lowered so as to reduce
the extent thereof covered by water, and consequently the production of second or
third steam is reduced, until it equals the quantity the tubular piston 36 can pass,
whereupon the valve 15 or 17 will be closed by its spring.
First steam passing through pipe 18 as before explained, either enters this pipe
direct from a steam generator, or first passes through a first steam regulator for
regulating the quantity of first steam passing through pipe 18.
The drawings shew various forms of such first steam regulators.
In Figure 2 the first steam passes through pipe 25 into middle chamber 30, and
passes therefrom through annular outlet 33 to pipe 18. The area of this annular
outlet 33 is regulated by the position of the tubular slide valve 43 attached to the
rod of piston 22.
Piston 22 is in a lower chamber 31, and pressure of second steam acts on the
lower side of the piston so as to move it up or down against the action of a spring 23
at the upper chamber 29.
-
The position of the tubular slide valve 43 being thus controlled by the pressure
of the second steam in 7, the quantity of first steain passing through pipe 18 is also
regulated by the pressure of the second steam, which pressure depends on the
quantity of second steam passing through the tubular piston 36, and regulated
thereby as before explained.
The pipe 26 is for discharging any steam which may leak to the upper side of.
piston 22, and pipe 27 is for discharging any steam which may leak into the upper
chamber 29.
In the arrangement of the regulating valve shewn at Figures 1 and 3, first steam
passes through the tubular pistons 20 or 21, and aunular outlet 33 into pipe 18, the
area of outlet 33 being regulated by the position of tubular pistons 20 or 21.
The opening through tubular pistons 20 or 21 will pass the desired quantity of
first steam, without these pistons moving when the pressures of first steam above.
and below these pistons do not differ by more than a desired amount, but should
this difference of pressures vary, the tubular pistons 20 or 21 will rise or fall so as
to contract or enlarge the area of annular opening 33 until the difference. of
pressures above and below tubular pistons 20 or 21 is about the desired amount,
when the openings through these tubular pistons will pass about the desired.
amount of first steam.
The area of opening through tubular piston 21 may be regulated by advancing
the cone 32 more or less into this opening.
Piston 20 depends on its weight combined with the action of a spring 24
regulated by a screw to keep it from moving when the opening through this piston
is passing the desired quantity of first steam and sometimes its weight is carried by
spring 46. Piston 21 depends on its weight only to thus keep it from moving.
In some cases as shewn in Figure 3, the second steam is passed through a pipe 44,
into a second evaporating chamber 2, and is condensed therein into second water
by the water outside thereof, which outside water is partly evaporated so as to
produce third steam which passes through tubular piston 36, annular opening 34,
and pipe 38, to condensing chamber 3, and also, if desired, through a second tubular
piston 37, annular opening 35 and pipe 39 to another condensing chamber not shown
in the drawing.
These tubular pistons regulate the quantity of third steain passing through them

page_text: in the same way as the similar tubular pistons regulate the quantity of second
steam passing through them as before described.
Should the above described apparatus for regulating the quantity of third steam
increase the pressure thereof inside the evaporator casing 8, this increased pressure
would reduce the production of third steam, and also the production of second
steam, by increasing its pressure proportionately to the increased pressure of the
third steam.
In some cases first steam is led direct to a condensing chamber provided with an
apparatus for regulating the quantity of first steam passed into this condensing
chamber. Such an apparatus is shewn at Figure 4, in which first steam passes
through pipe 25, tubular piston 41, annular opening 34, and pipe 38 into
condensing chamber 3.
The opening in tubular piston 41 passes the desired quantity of first steam.
without this piston moving. When the pressures of first steam above and below
piston 41 do not differ by more than a desired amount, and should this difference
of pressure vary, piston 41 will move so as to contract or enlarge annular
opening 34 until the pressures above and below piston 41 differ by a desired
amount, when piston 41 will pass the desired quantity of first steam to condensing
chamber 3.
The cone 42 may be moved more or less into the opening through tubular
piston 41 so as to regulate the area of this opening, and consequently the quantity
of first, steam it will pass.
It will be understood I do not confine myself to the exact form of the various
parts as shewn in the drawings, which may be made in various forms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
on and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
1. In apparatus for evaporating and condensing water regulating the steam
passing into the apparatus and from one part thereof to another by means of
one or more tubular pistons or slide valves controlling inlet or outlet passages and
so arranged that their positions are varied by variations in the steam pressure above
and below them the said tubular pistons or slide valves being employed either with
or without conical apparatus for regulating the area of opening through the said
piston and with or without springs for regulating the pressure of the steam before
and after passing through the tubular pistons substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In combination with the tubular pistons referred to in the preceding claim the
use of butting springs for avoiding noise substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for evaporating and condensing water, regulating the supply of
first steam by the pressure of second steam actuating a piston in a chamber, which
piston controls a tubular slide valve in another chamber through which the first
steam passes, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus for evaporating and condensing water, regulating the quantity
of water in the evaporator casing by means of a loaded discharge valve so adjusted
relatively to the steam pressure in the said vessel, that when such pressure exceeds
a certain amount it will force the valve open so as to discharge a portion of the
water until by the consequent reduction of the quantity of steam produced the
pressure is also reduced again substantially as described.
5. Apparatus for evaporating and condensing water, constructing and operating
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 1st day of December 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.