Improvements in Steam-generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 7th Dec. 1899-Accented 20th Jan
1000
Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 7th Dec.. 1899-Accented, 20th Jan
1000
Improvements in Steam-generators.
I, JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT, F.R.S., of the Firm of John I. Thornycroft & Co.,
of Church Wharf, Chiswick, London, W., Marine Engineers and Shipbuilders,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the separation of water from steam,
especially in steam generators of the kind constructed with upper and lower
vessels connected by down-flow and upflow tubes, by which latter steam and
water are delivered into the upper vessel or vessels, wherein the separation takes
place, and whence the steam flows by the steam main, and the water descends
by the down-flow pipe or pipes to the lower vessels.
According to this invention, there is provided within the upper vessel a pipe
(hereinafter called the inner pipe") and which is or may be closed at one end
"
and at the other end is in communication with the steam main.
Through an upper side portion of the wall of this pipe there are fine slits or
openings.
Around and secured to the inner pipe, there is an outer pipe or casing (here-
inafter called "the outer pipe") the arrangement being such as to form an
annular space between the two pipes.
Through the upper portion of the wall of the outer pipe there are slits or
openings. Within the annular space there is a longitudinal partition, which
connects the inner and outer pipes. The arrangement is such that the slits
or openings in the wall of the outer pipe are just to one side of this longitudinal
partition, those in the wall of the inner pipe just to the other side of the par-
tition.
In the lower part of the outer pipe, there is or are one or more other slits
or openings, and below them there is a longitudinal casing or box, the bottom
of which is inclined downwards towards one end, near which it is provided with
an outlet pipe extending sufficiently downward within the vessel to reach below
the normal water-level, and this outlet pipe is furnished with an automatic non-
return valve arrangement adapted to allow water to escape from the above-men-
tioned casing or box but to prevent water entering it from the upper vessel
through the said outlet pipe. Wet steam from the upper vessel passes by the
slits or openings of the outer pipe into the annular space between the outer and
inner pipes, travels practically entirely around the annular space, so as therein
to part with any water mixed with the steam, and from the annular space the
steam passes by the slits or openings of the inner pipe into that pipe, and thence
to the steam main, the water separated from the steam within the annular space
descending to the before-mentioned box or casing and thence by its outlet pipe
into the upper vessel below water-level.

page_text: I, JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT, F.R.S., of the Firm of John I. Thornycroft & Co.,
of Church Wharf, Chiswick, London, W., Marine Engineers and Shipbuilders,
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 fol-
lowing statement:
The object of this invention is to facilitate the separation of water from steam,
especially in steam generators of the kind constructed with upper and lower
vessels connected by downflow and upflow tubes, by which latter, steam, and
water are delivered into the upper vessel or vessels wherein the separation takes
place, and whence, the steam Hows by the steam main, and the water descends
by the downflow pipe or pipes to the lower vessels.
According to this invention, there is provided within the upper vessel an
improved. device for separating water from the steam as the same flows on its
way to the steam main as I shall now describe by the aid of the accompanying
illustrative drawings wherein Figs. 1 and 2 show respectively in cross section
and side elevation, a steam generator of the kind above referred to, the upper
vessel of which is provided with a water separating device according to this inven
tion. Figs. 3 and 4. show the upper vessel and water separating device to a larger
scale, Fig. 3 showing the said upper vessel and water separating device in cross
section corresponding to the line of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 showing the vessel
in longitudinal section and the water separating device partly in longitudinal
section on the line yy of Fig. 3 and partly in side elevation.
Figs. 1 and 2 are drawn to a smaller scale than Figs. 3 and 4 which are
drawn to different scales.
The steam generator shown comprises an upper steam and water vessel 1 con-
nected by central internal downtake tubes 2 and two inner groups of steam
generating tubes 3 to a lower central water vessel 4, and by external downtake
tubes and two outer groups of steam generating tubes 3 to two lower water
vessels 4ª, 4b, arranged at the outer sides of two fire grates 5 all as more fully
described in the Specification of another Application for Letters Patent filed by
me of even date herewith and numbered 5215.
The water separating device comprises a pipe 6 (hereinafter called the inner
pipe) which is or may be closed at the one end and at the other end is in
communication with the steam main 7. Through the upper side portion of the
wall, of the said inner pipe 6 there are fine slits or openings S. Around and
secured to the said pipe 6 there is an outer pipe or casing 9 (hereinafter called
the outer pipe), the arrangement being such as to form an annular space or outer
chamber 10 between the two pipes, which space or chamber constitutes the
chamber in which water is separated from the steam as the latter flows to the
steam main 7.
Through the upper portion of the wall of the outer pipe 9 there are slits or
openings 11. Within the annular space or chamber 10 there is a longitudinal
partition 12 which connects the inner and outer pipes 6 and 9. The arrange-
ment is such that the slits or openings 11 in the wall of the outer pipe 9 are just
to one side of this longitudinal partition 12, whilst the slits or openings S in the
wall of the inner pipe 6 are just to the other side of the said partition.
In the lower part of the outer tube 9, there is or are one or more other slits
or openings, as at 13, and below it or them there is a longitudinal casing or
box 14 the bottom of which is inclined downwards towards one end, near which

page_text: it is provided with an outlet pipe 15 extending sufficiently downward within the
vessel to reach below the normal water-level 16. This outlet pipe 15 is fur-
nished with an automatic non-return valve arrangement adapted to allow water
to escape from the casing or box 14 through the outlet pipe 15 to the water space
of the upper vessel 1 but to prevent water entering the casing or box from the
said upper vessel through the said outlet pipe. Wet steam from the upper
vessel 1 of the boiler passes by the slits or openings 11 of the outer pipe 9 into
the annular space or outer chamber 10 between the outer and inner tubes 9 and 6,
travels practically entirely around the exterior of the inner pipe so as to part
with any water mixed with the steam whilst the steam is passing through the
outer chamber, and from that chamber the steam passes by the slits or openings $
into the inner pipe and thence to the steam main 7. The water separated from
the steam within the annular space or outer chamber 10 descends to the casing or
box 14 and thence by its outlet pipe 15 into the upper vessel 1 of the boiler
below the water-level therein.
The automatic non-return valve arrangement shown in Fig. 3, comprises a
conical valve 17 that closes against a seat formed at the lower end of the pipe 15;
a fixed cross pin 18, and a coiled spring 19 that connects the valve to the cross
pin and keeps the valve closed except when water accumulates in the pipe 15
so as to be above the water level in the vessel 1 whereupon the valve is opened
by the weight of the water in the said pipe 15 and allows some of that water to
escape into the vessel 1 after which the valve again closes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a steam generator, a separator for separating water from steam com-
prising an inner chamber placed in communication with the steam main and
provided with steam inlets through its upper part, an outer chamber which sur-
rounds the inner chamber entirely or nearly so, and is provided with steam inlets
through its upper part and with a water outlet at its lower portion, and a par-
tition arranged longitudinally between the two chambers and the two sets of
steam inlets therein, the arrangement being such that steam entering the outer
chamber has to pass almost entirely around the outside of the inner chamber
before entering the latter chamber, and that water entering the outer chamber
with the steam will be separated in that chamber before the steam enters the
inner chamber on its way to the steam main, substantially as described.
2. In a steam generator, a separator of the kind referred to in the preceding
claim wherein the water outlet pipe of the outer chamber is arranged to terminate
below the normal water level in the upper vessel of the boiler in which the
separator is used and is provided with an automatic non-return valve arrangement
adapted to allow water to escape from the outer chamber to the vessel but to
prevent water entering the said chamber from the said vessel through the outlet
pipe, substantially as described.
3. For the purpose of separating water from steam in a steam generator, my
improved separator substantially as described.
Dated thin 7 day of Doaamhan 1000
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.