Improvements in Steam-boiler Feed-water Purifying Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam-boiler Feed-water Purifying Apparatus.
I JOHN TURNS Engineer 14 Buddle Street Wallsend on Tyne Northumberland
England do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to replace the loss of steam and water that takes
place from the boilers of compound surface condensing engines; (which loss has
hitherto been replaced by the use of a supply of sea water; or otherwise impure
water :) and is accomplished in the following manner :-A vessel (a) is attached to
the condenser in any convenient place, and in a vertical position; and within this
vessel (a) is fixed another or internal vessel (b); these two vessels (a) and (b)
being flanged, jointed, and made steam tight and also fitted with covers (c) and (d)
and jointed so as to make both vessels steam tight, and separate from each other;
the top cover (e) has an opening connecting the internal vessel (b) with a pipe (E),
the other end of the pipe (E) being fitted to, and open to the condenser: by this
connection, or pipe (E), the internal vessel (b) is freely open to and forms a part
of the condenser; a vacuum being maintained in the internal vessel (b) by the
action of the condenser. These vessels, covers, and pipe being made of some
metallic substance. A coil (f) made of copper or other metallic substance, is
fixed in the space between the outer vessel (a) and the inner vessel (b); one end
of the coil being fitted to the outer vessel (a) and the other end of the coil being.
fitted to the inner vessel (6). At the end of the coil fitted to the outer vessel (a)
the end of a pipe (G) is fitted; the other end of this pipe (G) being fitted to a
stop cock on the circulating discharge pipe. A cock (H) is also fitted to the outer
vessel (a), or to the cover (c) having connection with the outer vessel (a); to
which cock (H) is fixed the end of a pipe (I), this pipe (I) being for the purpose
of supplying a jet of steam from the boilers or engines.
This steam jet is thrown into the space between the outer vessel (a) and the
inner vessel (b), and forms a heating chamber; and a cock (J) is also fixed at the
bottom of this space or heating chamber, and is connected by a pipe to the hotwell
of the air pump, or other suitable place; this cock (J) being a drain cock to keep
the heating chamber free from condensed steam, the internal vessel (b) is also open
at the bottom through an opening in the cover (d), to which is fitted a stop
cock (K); to this cock (K) a pipe is fitted and jointed at one end; the other end
of this pipe being fitted to a pump specially supplied for the purpose, or to one of
the bilge pumps. By taking a supply of sea water or otherwise impure water
already heated by passing through the condenser, from the circulating discharge
pipe, and making it traverse the length of the coil (f) in the heating chamber, or
outer space between (a) and (b), and then letting it flow from the other end of the
coil into the internal vessel (6), the internal vessel (6) being open to the condenser;
the water will evaporate; and form steam of a comparatively low temperature in
a vacuum: the vapour rising and passing through the pipe (E) into the condenser:
is condensed in the usual manner by the condenser tubes; forming a pure supple-
mentary feed water without the addition of undue heat to the condenser; while the
residue of the water and brine is pumped out of the bottom of the internal vessel (b)
through the cock (K) and pipe fitted to the pump.
A strum, or priming plate (L) is also fitted to prevent the brine being carried
through with the steam. The heating chamber can be heated by steam from the
boilers; or engine exhaust; or furnace gases.
Dated this 4th day of July 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam-boiler Feed-water Purifying Apparatus.
1 JOHN TURNS Engineer 14 Buddle Street Wallsend on Tyne Northumberland
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:-
In the class of engines known as "surface condensing engines" the feed water
is pure in theory inasmuch as the steam taken from the boiler, after having done its
work in the engines and after condensation, is returned to the boiler as feed water;
but it is found in practice that there is a certain amount of loss or waste from
various causes, so that the feed water returned to the boiler is not sufficient to
maintain the required water level within the boiler; to make up this loss (at sea)
a supply of sea water or supplementary feed has to be mixed with the feed water
from time to time according to requirements. The object of this invention is to
replace the use of this supply of sea water or supplementary feed, and by the
attachment of a vessel or vessels to the condenser to heat the water and to employ
the vapour of the water at a low temperature to make up the deficiency.
The drawings illustrative of this method are those lodged with my Provisional
Specification:
DESCRIPTION.
A vessel (a) is attached to the condenser in any convenient place and in a vertical
position, and within this vessel (a) is fixed another or internal vessel (b), these two
vessels (a) and (b) being flanged, jointed, and made steam tight and also fitted with
covers (c) and (d). The top cover (c) has an opening connecting the internal
vessel (b) with a pipe (E), the other end of the pipe (E) being fitted to the
condenser. By this connection or pipe (E) the internal vessel (6) freely open to
and forms a part of the condenser; a vacuum being maintained in the internal
vessel (b) by the action of the condenser: These vessels 'covers and pipe being
made of some metallic substance, a coil or pipe (f) made of copper or other
métallic substance is fixed in the space between the outer vessel (a) and the inner
vessel (6), one end of the coil being fitted to the outer vessel (a.) and the other end
of the coil being fitted to the inner vessel (b). At the end of the coil fitted to
the outer vessel (a) the end of a pipe (G) is fitted, the other end of this pipe (G)
being fitted to a stop cock on the circulating discharge or other suitable place.
A cock H is also fitted to the outer vessel (a), or cover (c), and connected by a
pipe (I) to boilers, engines, or other suitable place, to supply steam or other heat
to the outer vessel or heating chamber (a); while a cock (J) is a drain cock
connected to the hotwell or other suitable place to keep the heating chamber free
from condensed steam.
The internal vessel (b) is also open at the bottom end to which is fitted a stop
cock (K) connected by a pipe to a pump specially supplied, or to a bilge pump.
(L) is a rose, strum, or priming plate to prevent particles of water from being
carried into the condenser with the vapour. This is one method of manufacture
and its action is as follows:-A supply of sea water passing through the pipe (G)
into the coil (f) is heated to the evaporation point corresponding to the vacuum
in the condenser by heat supplied to the outer vessel (a) and on flowing from the
coil (f) into the inner vessel (6) the vapour is drawn into the condenser through
the pipe (E) and condensed by the action of the condenser, forming the supple-
mentary feed; while the brine is extracted by a pump connected to the cock (K).
... A second method of manufacture is as follows:-
The drawings illustrative of this method are those lodged with Complete
Specification.
DESCRIPTION.
A wassal attached
L

page_text: vertical position; and within this vessel (a) is fixed another or internal vessel (b)
these two vessels (a) and (b) being flanged jointed and made steam tight and
separate from each other at the bottom, and open to each other at the top: The
outer vessel (a) is also fitted with covers (c) and (d) and jointed so as to make
them steam tight. At the bottom end of the internal vessel (b) a stop cock and
pipe (E) is fitted, the other end of the pipe (E) being fitted to the condenser.
By this connection or pipe (E) the vessels (a) and (b) are freely open to and form
a part of the condenser, a vacuum being maintained in both vessels by the action
of the condenser: these vessels, covers, and pipe being made of some metallic
substance. A coil (f) made of copper or other metallic substance is fixed in the
space between the outer vessel (a) and the inner vessel (b), one end of the coil
being fitted to a cock (H) on the outer vessel (a), and the other end of the coil
being fitted to a cock (J) at the bottom or base; this coil (f) is for the purpose
of supplying steam or other heat to the outer vessel or heating chamber (a); the
cock (H) being for the purpose of supplying heat to the coil (f) and the cock (J)
is a drain cock when steam is used and connected by a pipe to the hotwell or other
suitable place.
Upon the cover (d) is fitted the end of the pipe (G), and in the cover (d) is
fitted a throttle valve (g) to which is attached a float (o) maintained in position
by the stay (m); the pipe (G) is for the purpose of admitting a supply of water
to the outer vessel (a), rising to the level of the float (0), and the valve (9) is to
regulate the further supply according to requirement. Upon the lower part of the
outer vessel (a) is fitted a valve box (K) within which is a ball valve (n), this
valve (n) is made of a weight so that it only comes into action when the water
attains a given density (say 32) when the valve rises from its seat and permits the
brine to be extracted by the pump, which is connected to the valve box (K);
when the density of the water in the outer vessel (a) is sufficiently reduced the
valve (n) falls and ceases to act; the valve (n) being hollow or otherwise graduated
in weight. A pipe (p) is also connected to the outer vessel (a) and to the valve
box (K) beneath the valve (n), this pipe (p) is for the double purpose of cleansing
the surface of the water during evaporation, and to relieve the pump when the
valve (n) is not in action. (L) is a rose, strum, or perforated priming plate.
The parts marked (g), (m), (o), and (n), and the pipe (p), are added for the
purpose of making the apparatus self regulating or automatic when in use.
This is the second method of manufacture and its action is as follows:-A supply
of sea water passing through the pipe (G) into the outer vessel (a) is heated to
evaporation by heat supplied to the coil (f) and the vapour is drawn through the
internal vessel (b) and the cock and pipe (E) into the condenser and condensed as
in the first method, forming the supplementary feed; while the brine is extracted
by a pump, through the valve box (K). The apparatus must be fixed above the
level of the pump, the brine being extracted from a vacuum.
The method of heating the apparatus is by steam from boilers or engines; or
by extracting the heat from the exhaust steam during its passage to the condenser ;
or by intercepting the furnace gases; by a suitable arrangement of the pipes.
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 as novel as applied to the purpose of my invention, is :-
By the addition of a vessel or vessels to the condenser, to evaporate a supply of
sea water at a low temperature in a vacuum; and to employ the vapour of the
water to make up the deficiency of pure feed water.
Dated this 5th day of December 1892.
JOHN TURNS.