IMPROVEMENTS IN REPRIGERATING APPARATUS, AND IN THE MODE OF DRYING AND COOLING COMPRESSED AIR
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Seale Haslam, of Derby, in the County of
Derby, Engineer and Ironfounder, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REPRIGERATING APPARATUS, AND IN THE MODE OF DRYING AND COOLING
COMPRESSED AIR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Seale Haslam at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1880.
ALFRED SEALE HASLAM, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Engineer and
Ironfounder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS, AND IN THE MODE
OF DRYING AND COOLING COMPRESSED AIR."
This Invention relates to an apparatus for collecting and separating aqueous
vapour from compressed air (after it has been partially refrigerated) and converting
the same into ice, which is utilized for reducing the temperature of the compressed
air both in the formation of and in the melting of such ice. Also to the surcharging
of the air compressing pumps with air by means of a fan or fans driven by the
compressing or other engine.
Hitherto in refrigerating apparatus the freezing of the moisture in the compressed
air pipes has been carefully avoided, and the result has been that snow has been
formed and then thrown away. Now by my improved apparatus I am enabled to
cool the compressed air by passing it through tubes in which ice is caused to
deposit by the freezing of the aqueous vapour contained in the compressed air, and
I am enabled to continue this cooling of the air in the act of melting the ice formed
in the said tubes by means to be presently explained.
By employing this improved mode of utilizing the ice which is caused to form in
the tubes for the purpose of continuing the cooling of the compressed air, great
economy and efficiency are attained.
My improved apparatus consists of a "collector and separator of special
construction which may be fixed in a vertical, diagonal, or horizontal position, but
by preference in a diagonal position. This "collector and separator" may be of a
round, square; or rectangular form, but I prefer to employ the rectangular shape.
It is constructed of tubes fixed in tube plates at both ends, such tubes being
in connection with chambers or compartments for receiving the compressed air
before and after parting with its aqueous vapour. The air is received into the
front chamber and delivered into the tubes, which tubes are surrounded by
extreme cold air derived from the expansion cylinder or other convenient source,
TD 031

page_text: The action of this cold air on the tubes is to freeze the aqueous vapour in the
compressed air, and cause it to deposit in the tubes in the form of ice; or the
system may be used in the reverse manner by permitting the ice to form on
the outside of the tubes, the current of cold air being made to pass through the
tubes. This Invention is to be used in conjunction with the refrigerating apparatus
for which I obtained Letters Patent, dated 12th April 1880, No. 1484, and is
especially adapted for dealing with dry compressed air that does not come in
contact with water in the process of cooling, the partial cooling of such air being
effected by the special arrangement of compressing cylinders, and covers, and patent
refrigerator with reservoirs described in the Specification of the above named
Patent, by which process air can be cooled to within a few degrees of the water in
any climate; and by the reducing or cooling of the water the temperature of the
compressed air may be reduced below that of the atmosphere. Now after the
partial refrigeration of the air has been effected, the air will part with a portion of
its aqueous vapour which condenses in the reservoir and is drawn off, but a
considerable quantity of aqueous vapour still remains in the compressed air, and
passes away in the said compressed air to my new "collector and separator" above
described, wherein it is converted into ice, which is deposited on or within the
tubes. My arrangement of apparatus provides for a portion of the air from the
expansion cylinder, which is at a very low temperature impinging on the outer or
inner surfaces of the tubes in the "collector and separator," thereby freezing the
aqueous vapour in the compressed air while passing through or around the tubes.
An arrangement of valves regulates the volume of extreme cold air caused to act
upon the tubes of the "collector and separator," but the return air from a cold
room or freezing room may be rendered available to produce the same result,
always provided that the temperature is low enough to freeze the aqueous vapour
in the compressed air. An arrangement of valves governs the supply of air in this
operation also to produce the effect herein before described. The continual freezing of
such aqueous vapour in passing through the "separator and collector" will produce
a considerable amount of ice by continuous working; and this ice may obstruct the
passage of the compressed air on its way through the "collector and separator" to
the expansion cylinder. Such obstruction will at once be indicated by the lifting
of the safety valve provided for such emergencies, and steps will be necessary to
remove the obstruction.
Now when ice is formed to this extent in the "separator and collector," the
various valves are closed to shut off all cold air from impinging on the tubes of the
apparatus, and thus the refrigerated air, which is at all times above 32° Fahrenheit,
in passing through the tubes dissolves the collected ice and becomes still further
cooled in the act of dissolving the said ice, which, when melted, will be run off in
the form of water by a discharge pipe provided for this purpose.
Now by this novel mode of treatment I utilize the ice (which in other systems
has been wasted) to still further cool the compressed air; a special arrangement in
the back chamber of the "collector and separator" preventing any moisture being
carried away into the expansion cylinder during this operation. As an alternative
arrangement for effecting the same purpose bye pass valves are fixed in connection
with the apparatus.
In order to make it further effective and convenient in
working, and for the further utilization of ice (formed in the manner herein before
described) for producing cold air, a volume of air at a higher temperature may be
taken direct from the compressors, which air will quickly clear the tubes of ice and
allow a greater volume of cold air to be supplied to the expansion cylinder.
My Invention also relates to the application of a fan fixed in such a manner that.
the air compressing cylinder may be surcharged with air for the purpose of
producing better results in working such pumps for compressing air.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Seale Haslam in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st June
1881.
ALFRED SEALE HASLAM, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Engineer_and
Ironfounder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS, AND IN THE MODE
OF DRYING AND COOLING COMPRESSED AIR."
This Invention relates to an apparatus for collecting and separating aqueous vapour
from compressed air (after it has been partially refrigerated) and converting the
same into ice, which is utilized for reducing the temperature of the compressed air
both in the formation of and in the melting of such ice.
Hitherto in refrigerating apparatus, the freezing of the moisture in the compressed
air pipes has been carefully avoided, and the result has been that snow has been
formed in the discharged air and then thrown away.
Now by my improved apparatus I am enabled to cool the compressed air by
passing it through tubes in which ice or snow is caused to deposit by the freezing
of the aqueous vapour contained in the compressed air, and I am enabled to
continue this cooling of the air in the act of melting the ice or snow formed in the
said tubes by the means to be presently explained. By employing this improved
mode of utilizing the ice, which is caused to form in the tubes for the purpose
of continuing the cooling of the compressed air, great economy and efficiency are
attained.
My improved apparatus consists of a specially contrived "collector and
separator" for still further drying and cooling the compressed air immediately
before delivery to the expansion cylinder, and is intended to be used in conjunction
with the refrigerating apparatus for which I obtained Letters Patent, dated Twelfth
April, One thousand eight hundred and eighty, No. 1484, being especially adapted
for dealing with dry compressed air that does not come in contact with water in
the process of cooling, the partial cooling of such air being effected by the special
arrangement of compressing cylinders, and covers, and patent refrigerator with
reservoirs described in the Specification of the above named Patent, by which
process air can be cooled to within a few degrees of the water in any climate, and
by the reducing or cooling of the water the temperature of the compressed air may
be reduced below that of the atmosphere. Now after the partial refrigeration of
the air has been effected, the air will part with a portion of its aqueous vapour
which condenses in the reservoir and is drawn off, but a considerable quantity of
aqueous vapour still remains in the compressed air and passes away in the said
compressed air to my new collector and separator, above described, wherein it is
converted into ice or snow, which is deposited on or within the tubes.
This apparatus is constructed of tubes fixed in tube plates at both ends, such
tubes being in connection with chambers or compartments for respectively receiving
the compressed air before and after parting with its aqueous vapour. The air is
received into the front chamber, and passes through the tubes into the back
chamber.
The "collector and separator" is situated within a closed chamber or case, to
which extremely cold air derived from the expansion cylinder may be admitted by
means of a system of pipes or passages. This cooling chamber or case is also
connected with the room or compartment to be cooled by 'means of a return air
passage and branch pipes. A simple arrangement of valves governs the supply of
cold air to this cooling chamber surrounding the collector and separator. The
great advantage of this arrangement of apparatus is, that in addition to drying and
cooling the compressed air to a very large extent, it enables the ice and snow which

page_text: may be formed within the pipes of the collector and separator to be utilized in
lowering the temperature of the compressed air while the pipes are being cleared by
the compressed air, instead of such ice or snow being wasted as heretofore.
The construction and action of this apparatus will be readily understood on
reference to the accompanying Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagram plan view
shewing the general arrangement of the "collector-and-separator" a, with reference
to the air compressing cylinders b, b, and the expansion cylinders c, c. It will be
understood from what has been previously stated that the surface condenser, which
is described in the Specification of the Patent above referred to, occupies a portion
of the bed upon which the compressing cylinders and expansion cylinders are
mounted. The arrows indicate the course taken by the air through the several
parts of the apparatus.
Figures 2 and 3 shew in plan view and vertical section the "collector-and-
separator" with the several passages and valves for regulating and controlling the
direction and volume of the air to the cooling chamber, in which the said "collector
and separator" is situated.
In these Figures, A² is the pipe through which the compressed air passes from
the surface condenser (described in the Specification of the Patent above referred to)
to the front chamber B of the "collector and separator" B¹. The air passes from this
chamber B through a series of pipes B to the back chamber B³, having deposited
its aqueous particles in the form of ice and snow within the tubes B2 during its
passage through them. From the back chamber B³, which is provided with a
discharge pipe C for running off any water which may collect therein, the com-
pressed air is conveyed by the pipe B' to the expansion cylinders, the construction
and arrangement of which will be more fully described hereafter.
The air having become by expansion extremely cold, is conducted from the
expansion cylinder by means of the lower and upper cold air mains D, D¹, to the
room or chamber which it is desired to cool, such for example as that which may
contain the meat or other perishable articles to be preserved during a long voyage
by sea or on land. The lower and upper cold air mains D, D¹, are connected with
the cooling chamber E which surrounds the collector and separator B' by a simple
arrangement of branch pipes or passages fitted with valves or slides by which the
course and volume of the cold air may be determined at pleasure. One of these
passages is connected with the bottom of the said cooling chamber E by a short
vertical air trunk G leading from the lower horizontal cold air main D. Another
and longer vertical air trunk H connects the lower cold air main D with the upper
cold air main D¹, which is also connected to the top of the cooling chamber E by
the branch pipe or passage I. This passage I may be opened or closed by the
vertical slide valve J, and a horizontal slide valve K is so arranged as to
alternately open or close the vertical air trunks G and H. Thus, when the
trunk G is open, H will be closed, and vice versa. It will now be seen that when
the slide valve K is pushed in and the slide valve J is opened, the extremely
cold air from the expansion cylinder will be diverted from its course, and
will pass from the lower cold air main D up the short trunk and down the
sloping passage F to the bottom of the closed chamber E, within which is
situate the "collector-and-separator," and it will pass off from the top of the
chamber E through the branch passage I. The cold air impinging on the outside
of the pipes B2 through which the compressed air is passing, as already described,
will cause the aqueous particles contained therein to be deposited in the form of
ice or snow within the said tubes, and the compressed air will pass from the
collector-and-separator" to the expansion cylinders in a dry condition, which will
largely diminish the quantity of snow formed during expansion. The expanded air
having thus materially assisted in drying and cooling the compressed air within
the "collector-and-separator," passes onto the room to be cooled through the upper
cold air main D¹. The air from the cool room is led back by the return pipe L,
and may pass direct by the pipe P to the compressing cylinder for recompression;
or it may be caused, before going to the said cylinder, to circulate within the
"

page_text: chamber E and around the pipes B' by means of the branch passages L', L², which
passages may be opened to the chamber E by the slide valves M and N respectively.
Thus, should it be found that the return air from the cool room is sufficiently low
in temperature to refrigerate the compressed air on its passage through the pipes B³,
it will merely be necessary to cut off the extremely cold air supply to the chamber E
by the slides J and K, and to draw out the slide valves M and N, whereupon the
return air will be prevented from passing direct to the pipe P (by reason of the
slide N when drawn out closing the pipe L), and its course will be diverted through
the branch pipe L³ into the bottom of the cooling chamber E, whence it will issue
by the now uncovered opening N' in the branch pipe L2, and pass away by the
pipe P to the compressing cylinder to be recompressed. In the event of the pipes B
becoming clogged from the accumulation therein of ice or snow (which will be in-
dicated by the lifting of the safety valve on the compressing pump), it will merely
be necessary to cut off by the slide valves above referred to all cold air from the
chamber E, and the compressed air (which will be at all times of a temperature
above thirty two degrees Fahrenheit) will speedily clear the tubes of ice or snow,
which in the act of melting will deprive the compressed air of a considerable
amount of heat.
By this arrangement, advantage is taken of the formation of the ice or snow
within the tubes to cause it to assist in the cooling of the compressed air, and the
said ice or snow is thus utilized instead of being wasted and a source of incon-
venience as heretofore.
The water which will result from the clearing of the tubes, as above explained,
will collect within the back chamber B³ of the "collector-and-separator," and may
be run off by the pipe C as required.
Having now set forth the nature of my said Invention of "Improvements in
Refrigerating Apparatus, and in the Mode of Drying and Cooling Compressed Air,"
and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have
it understood that I claim,-
The cooling chamber fitted as above described with a collector-and-separator"
for the passage through it of the compressed air, by the use of which not only is
the compressed air dried and cooled, but the air may be caused to clear away
from time to time any ice or snow that may accumulate within the apparatus,
the removal of what has hitherto been an obstruction to the working of re-
frigerating machines being now utilized as a means for cooling the compressed
air.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Seale Haslam, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
Witness,
JAS. J. ROBINS,
27, North Street,
Derby,
Accountant.
A. SEALE HASLAM. (L.S.)