IMPROVE- MENTS IN DISTILLING APPARATUS AND IN THE MODE OF WORKING THE SAME, APPLICABLE ALSO TO PRODUCE AËRATED FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse Louis Normandy, of No. 35, Albert Square,
Clapham Road, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DISTILLING APPARATUS AND IN THE MODE OF WORKING THE SAME,
APPLICABLE ALSO TO PRODUCE AËRATED FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse Louis Normandy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st Decembor 1876.
ALPHONSE LOUIS NORMANDY, of No. 35, Albert Square, Clapham Road, in the
County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLING APPARATUS AND IN THE MODE
OF WORKING THE SAME, APPLICABLE ALSO TO PRODUCE AERATED FRESH WATER
FROM SALT WATER."
According to my present Invention I construct distilling machinery as follows:-
I construct two or inore closed chambers partly filled with liquid to be distilled,
each of which contains another closed chamber immersed in the said liquid. Steam
from a boiler is led into one of these inner chambers, and becoming partly condensed
therein, the condensed liquid together with any uncondensed steam is led into the
inner chamber of the next set, while the vapour or steam generated from the liquid
surrounding the first innor chambor by incans of tho heat absorbed from the
steam is also conducted from the top of the outer chamber into the next inner
chamber. This vapour or steam is again condensed by the absorption of its heat by
the surrounding liquid, and the condensed liquid together with that which flowed
into the chamber from the first one and any uncondensed steam is conducted into
another inner chamber as is also the steam generated from the liquid in the second
outer chamber. This third inner chamber may either belong to another set similar
to those described, and the above process of condensation and evaporation be
repeated as often as may be desired, or the said third inner chamber may be situated
in the upper part of an outer chamber, entirely filled with the liquid to be distilled,
and containing a second inner chamber below the first one. The steam condensed
in the upper chamber by the surrounding liquid flows, together with the liquid that
was conveyed into it from the other chambers, into the lower chamber, where it is
cooled by the surrounding liquid, and is then conducted into another chamber
containing a float suspended from a lever similar to a balance beam. This chamber

page_text: is provided with an outlet at bottom communicating with a receptacle from which
the condensed liquid is withdrawn as fast as it flows in, and is conveyed to a storage
tank. The said outlet is made of such a size that the liquid flowing into the
chamber must stand at a certain height therein in order that it may escape through
the outlet as fast as it flows in.
A portion of the liquid to be distilled, by preference a portion of that which has
become heated in the before-mentioned chamber containing two inner chambers, is
conducted into a closed vessel containing a second float connected to the other end
of the balance beam to which the first-named float is attached. The second float
actuates a cock or valve in the inlet pipe of the vessel, so as to regulate the supply
of liquid thereto.
The two before-mentioned floats are partially immersed in the liquid of their
respective receptacles, and are so adjusted that any difference of level of the liquid in
the two receptacles will cause the second float in rising or falling to admit more or
less liquid into its vessel, and thus bring the liquid in the two receptacles to the
same or nearly the same level again.
The liquid from the last-named receptacle is conducted simultaneously into two
or more separate vessels, from one of which it is conducted into the before-mentioned
boiler, while from the others it is fed respectively into the outer chambers of the
first described sets of inner and outer chambers, so as to make up for the liquid
evaporated therein and blown off or discharged therefrom.
The liquid is drawn off as fast as it flows into the before-mentioned vessels, and if
necessary floats may be provided in these, which in rising and falling with the level
of the liquid actuate a cock or valve on the outlet pipe so as to regulate the
discharge.
It will be seen that as by means of the before described floats connected to the
balance beam about the same level of liquid is maintained in the chamber from
which the distilled liquid is discharged, and in the receptacle supplying the liquid
to the boiler and other distilling chambers, the respective quantities of liquids
supplied to the boiler and tho chambers will always be about in the desired
proportion to the quantity of distilled liquid produced and flowing off' from the said
discharging chamber, however much this may vary.
By the above arrangement the boiler and distilling chambers are always supplied
with the requisite quantities of liquid to compensate for the liquid evaporated, and
also for that blown off therefrom to prevent undue concentration. I provide the
boiler and distilling chambers with gauge glasses, so that the attendant may seo
the levels of liquid therein and blow off the liquid accordingly by means of blow-off
cocks or valves which may either be always partially open, or be opened inter-
mittently, as found most advisable.
In order to render the machinery more self-acting, I sometimes provide floats
inside the boiler and distilling chambers, arranged to actuate such blow-off cocks or
valves, so as to open or close these more or less according as the liquid rises or falls,
thus keeping the liquid in the boiler and chambers at about the desired level, and
at the same time discharging the desired quantity of liquid to prevent undue
concentration.
The liquid is supplied to the boiler and chambers either by gravitation or by
pumping, and when the pumps are actuated by steam I lead the exhaust steam
from the pump into one of the before-mentioned inner chambers, so as to be there
condensed together with the other steam, and its heat utilized in evaporating the
liquid to be distilled. When such steam pumps are supplied with steam from the
same boiler that supplied the first of the inner chambers, and the exhaust steam
from the pumps is led into the same inner chamber, the supply of steam from the
boiler to the chamber is throttled, so that the pressure inside the chamber shall be
less than the pressure of the steam supplied to the pumps.
When it is desired to produce aërated fresh water from salt water by the above
described machine, an air pipe may be led from the before described chamber con-
taining two inner chambers to the last of the distilling chambers, so as to convey

page_text: the air liberated from the water in the former into the latter, where it mixes with
the steam therein, such mixture being then conveyed into and condensed in the
inner chamber of the first-named outer chamber, thus producing aërated fresh water
which mixes with the other condensed water, and which is passed together with
the same through a charcoal filter before being conveyed to the storage tank.
In some cases instead of feeding each of the distilling chambers from a separate
charging vessel as described, the entire quantity required for supplying the boiler
and the several distilling chambers is conveyed from one charging vessel into the
boiler, and the liquid blown off from this is then led into the first distilling chamber,
from which the liquid blown off is led into the second chamber, and so on, thus
affording each chamber its requisite supply.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alphonse Louis Normandy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th June 1877.
ALPHONSE LOUIS NORMANDY, of No. 35, Albert Square, Clapham Road, in tho
County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLING APPARATUS AND IN THE MODE
OF WORKING THE SAME, APPLICABLE ALSO TO PRODUCE AERATED FRESH WATER
FROM SALT WATER."
According to my present Invention I construct distilling machinery as follows:-
I construct two or more closed chambers partly filled with liquid to be distilled,
each of which contains another closed chamber immersed in the said liquid. Steam
from a boiler is led into one of these inner chambers, and becoming partly con-
densed therein the condensed liquid together with any uncondensed steam is led
into the inner chamber of the next set, while the vapour or steam generated from
the liquid surrounding the first inner chamber by means of the heat absorbed from
the steam is also conducted from the top of the outer chamber into the next inner
chamber. This vapour or steam is again condensed by the absorption of its heat
by the surrounding liquid, and the condensed liquid together with that which
flowed into the chamber from the first one and any uncondensed steam is conducted
into another inner chamber, as is also the steam generated from the liquid in the
second outer chamber. This third inner chamber may either belong to another set
similar to those described, and the above process of condensation and evaporation
be repeated as often as may be desired; or the said third inner chamber may be
situated in the upper part of an outer chambor entirely filled with the liquid to bo
distilled and containing a second inner chamber below the first one. The steam
condensed in the upper chamber by the surrounding liquid flows, together with
the liquid that was conveyed into it from the other chambers, into the lower
chamber, where it is cooled by the surrounding liquid and is then conducted into
another chamber containing a float suspended from a lever similar to a balance
beam. This chamber is provided with an outlet at bottom communicating with a
receptacle, from which the condensed liquid is withdrawn as fast as it flows in and
is conveyed to a storage tank. The said outlet is made of such a size that the
liquid flowing into the chamber must stand at a certain height therein in order
that it may escape through the outlet as fast as it flows in.
A portion of the liquid to be distilled, by preference a portion of that which has
become heated in the before-mentioned chamber containing two inner chambers, is
conducted into a closed vessel containing a second float connected to the other end
of the balance beam to which the first-named float is attached. The second float
actuates a cock or valve in the inlet pipe of the vessel, so as to regulate the supply
of liquid thereto.
The two before-mentioned floats are partially immersed in the liquid of their

page_text: respective receptacles, and are so adjusted that any difference of level of the liquid
in the two receptacles will cause the second float in rising or falling to admit more
or less liquid into its vessel, and thus bring the liquid in the two receptacles to the
same or nearly the same level again.
The liquid from the last-named receptacle is conducted simultaneously into two
or more separate vessels, from one of which it is conducted into the before-
mentioned boiler, while from the others it is fed respectively into the outer chambers
of the first-described sets of inner and outer chambers, so as to make up for the
liquid evaporated therein and blown off or discharged therefrom.
The liquid is drawn off as fast as it flows into the before-mentioned vessels, and,
if necessary, floats may be provided in these which in rising and falling with the
level of the liquid actuate a cock or valve on the outlet pipe so as to regulate the
discharge.
It will be seen that, as by means of the before-described floats connected to the
balance beam, about the same level of liquid is maintained in the chamber from
which the distilled liquid is discharged and in the receptacle supplying the liquid
to the boiler and other distilling chambers, the respective quantities of liquid
supplied to the boiler and the chambers will always be about in the desired pro-
portion to the quantity of distilled liquid produced, and flowing off from the said
discharging chainber however much this may vary.
By the above arrangement the boiler and distilling chambers are always supplied
with the requisite quantities of liquid to compensate for the liquid evaporated, and
also for that blown off therefrom to prevent unduo concentration. I provide the
boiler and distilling chambers with gauge glasses so that the attendant may see
the levels of the liquid therein and blow off the liquid accordingly by means of
blow-off cocks or valves, which may either be always partially open, or be opened
intermittently, as found most advisable.
In order to render the machinery more self-acting I sometimes provide floats
inside the boiler and distilling chambers, arranged to actuate such blow-off cocks or
valves so as to open or close these more or less, according as the liquid rises or falls,
thus keeping the liquid in the boiler and chambers at about the desired level, and at
the same time discharging the desired quantity of liquid to prevent undue con-
centration.
The liquid is supplied to the boiler and chambers either by gravitation or by
pumping, and when the pumps are actuated by steam I lead the exhaust steam
from the pump into one of the before-mentioned inner chambers so as to be there
condensed together with the other steam, and its heat utilized in evaporating the
liquid to be distilled. When such steam pumps are supplied with steam from the
same boiler that supplies the first of the inner chambers, and the exhaust steam
from the pumps is led into the same inner chamber, the supply of steam from the
boiler to the chamber is throttled so that the pressure inside the chamber shall be
less than the pressure of the steain supplied to the pumps.
When it is desired to produce aërated fresh water from salt water by the above-
described machine an air pipe may be led from the before-described chamber con-
taining two inner chambers to the last of the distilling chambers, so as to convey
the air liberated from the water in the former into the latter, where it mixes with
the steam therein, such mixture being then conveyed into and condensed in the
inner chamber of the first-named outer chamber, thus producing aërated fresh water
which mixes with the other condensed water, and which is passed together with
the same through a charcoal filter before being conveyed to the storage tank.
In some cases instead of feeding each of the distilling chambers from a separate
charging vessel, as described, the entire quantity required for supplying the boiler
and the several distilling chambers is conveyed from one charging vessel into the
boiler, and the liquid blown off from this is then led into the first distilling chamber,
from which the liquid blown off is led into the second chamber, and so on, thus
affording each chamber its requisite supply.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The accompanying Drawing shews a distilling apparatus for sen water according
to my Invention, spread out so as to bring all parts in view without regard to the
actual form or position of those parts, and without shewing the boiler and steam
pump, which may be of any ordinary construction.
I will describe the operation of the apparatus by referring to its parts in suc-
cession. Sea water from the steam pump enters by the pipe 1 and fills the con-
denser cylinder quite full. This sea water surrounds the cooling tubes 2, and the
condensing tubes 3, and escapes from the condenser in a heated state, by means of
the overflow pipe 4. A portion of the hot sea water passes through pipe 5 into the
supply box 6, rising therein to a certain level, and surrounding the float 7, and the
position of the float 7, by more or less closing the opening through which the sea
water enters; the supply box 6 thus regulates the quantity of sea water entering this
box. The sea water in supply box escapes therefrom by passing through three
holes 8, 9, 10, into the three feed boxes 11, 12, 13, and the sea water risos in those
feed boxes until it lifts the floats 14, 15, 16, thereby making an opening to the three
pipes 17, 18, 19, so that the sea water inay be drawn through these pipes into the
feed pumps 20, 21, and 22, which feed pumps force the sea water through pipes 66,
67, 68, into the first evaporator, the second evaporator, and the boiler (not shown
on the Drawing). The sea water is allowed to rise in the first and second
evaporators and in the boiler until it shows about 3 inches of water in the gauge
glass 23 and 24, and in the boiler gauge glass, and the sea water is kept about this
level; by opening the brine cocks 25 and 26 and the blow-off cock on the boiler so
as to discharge the excess of sea water supplied. Steam from the boiler passes
through the steam cock 27 and lifts the loaded valve 28 and passes through pipe 29
into the first evaporator tubes 30. The steam inside tubes 30 is condensed into
fresh water by the sea water outside of them, and the fresh water condensed inside
tubes 30 falls into chamber 31, and passes therefrom through pipes and
chambers 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, into chamber 39. The fresh water condensed
inside tubes 30, and which passed into chamber 39 as just described, next passes
through cooling tubes 2 to be cooled; it then passes through pipes 40, 41, and 42,
into the filter. This condensed water then passes through the prepared charcoal in
the filter, as shown by the arrows, and escapes from the filter by passing through
pipe 44 into the fresh water supply box 45. The fresh water passing into box 45
rises therein until the level is such that, as fast as it flows into box 45, it escapes
therefrom through hole 46 into box 47, and the fresh water in box 47 is drawn
away through pipe 48 by a feed pump and forced, if necessary, into the store tank
which may be over the coal stores.
The fresh water in box 45 surrounds the float 49, and it will be seen that
floats 49 and 7 are attached to the ends of a double lever or scale beam, hence,
unless the sea water in box 6 stands at the same level as the fresh water in box 45,
the floats 7 and 49 will move up or down, and as the position of the float 7 more
or less closes the opening through which sen water flows from pipe 5 into box 6, it
follows that the level of the sea water in box G will always be maintained at the
saine level as the fresh water in box 45, and therefore by making the holes 8, 9, 10,
and 46 of suitable size, the quantity of sea water supplied to the first and second
evaporators and to the boiler will always be in the correct proportion to the fresh
water produced, thus avoiding waste of coal by blowing off too much sea water,
and the inconvenience and risk of injury to the boiler or evaporators by blowing off'
too little.
The steam from the boiler in being condensed into fresh water inside the first
evaporator tubes 30 gives out heat which causes the sea water outside of them to
boil, thus generating a second quantity of steam which costs nothing for fuel. This
secondary steam rises into the steam room 50 and passes through pipes 51 into

page_text: tubes 52 in the second evaporator. The secondary steam inside tubes 52 is con-
densed into fresh water by the sea water outside of them, and this fresh water falls
into chamber 35, where it mixes with the fresh water from inside first evaporator
tubes 30, and it passes therewith through cooling tubes 2, the filter and the fresh
water supply box 45, as before described, in following the course of the fresh water
from inside first evaporator tubes 30.
The secondary steam in being condensed into fresh water, inside tubes 52, gives
ont heat which causes the sea water outside of them to boil, thus generating a third
quantity of steam which costs nothing for fuel. This tertiary steam rises into the
steam room 53, passes through pipe 54 into condensing tubes 3; the tertiary steam
inside tubes 3 is condensed into fresh water by the sea water outside of them, and
this fresh water falls into chamber 39, where it mixes with the fresh water from
inside tubes 30 and 52, and it passes therewith through the cooling tubes 2, the
filter and the fresh water supply box 45, as before described in following the course
of the fresh water condensed inside tubes 30 and 52. The waste steam discharged
from the steam pump passes through pipe 55 into pipe 29, where it mixes with the
steam coming direct from the boiler, and it is condensed therewith into fresh water
inside tubes 30.
The loaded valve 28 serves to keep the pressure of the steam inside pipe 29
always sufficiently below the pressure in the boiler, so that the steam from the
boiler may be able to work the steam pump, notwithstanding the back pressure the
waste steam therefrom must have before it can force its way into the pipe 29.
Thus the steam pump is really worked by the difference in the pressure of the
steam inside the boiler and inside pipe 29. The air dissolved in the sea water
forced through pipo 1 into the condenser is liberated by the heat of the
tubes 2 and 3, and the air thus liberated passes through pipe 43 into the steam
room 53, where it mixes with the tertiary steam, and this tertiary steam in being
condensed into fresh water inside tubes 3 as before described, absorbs some of the
air mixed with it, so that the fresh water produced by the condensation of the
tertiary steam is äcrated fresh water. The pipe 56 is for the escape of excess of air
mixed with the tertiary steam as before described; it is covered by a perforated
cap 67 to prevent any dirt falling down this pipe 50. The air ball 57 is to prevent
the motion of the steam pump causing sea water to pass over along with the air
through pipe 43 into steam room 53. The pet cocks 58 and 59 are sometimes used
to blow off the air inside tubes 30 and 52, more especially at starting, but they can
generally be kept closed, or very nearly closed when at work. The cocks 60 and 61
are for running off the dirty water at first produced when starting the machine so
that it may not soil the prepared charcoal in the filter. The cock 62 is for
admitting sea water to the supply box 6 at starting, and until fresh water flows
into box 45, so as to actuate the floats 49 and 7, and thus admit the water through
pipe 5 into box 6 as before described. The cock 63 is for emptying sea water out
of the condenser when desired. The hole 64 and pipe 65 are for the escape of the
fresh and sea water from boxes 45 and 6 respectively, should these boxes at any
time become over filled. The floats 14, 15, and 16 are to prevent the feed
pumps 20, 21, and 22, drawing air instead of water, so that air may not be pumped
into the two evaporators and the boiler along with the sea water; it will be seen
that unless there is enough sea water in the boxes to raise the floats they close the
opening to the pipes 17, 18, and 19, so as to prevent air passing. The three brass
caps 66 and 78 are perforated with holes and simply serve to prevent dirt falling
down the pipes which they cover, which pipes serve to admit air to facilitate the
flow of the fresh water. The filter has two plugs 69 at the bottom of it for
emptying it when necessary.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The use of distilling apparatus arranged and operating substantially as
herein described.

page_text: Second. The uso in distilling apparatus of a pair of floats balancing each other for
the purpose of adjusting the supply of fluid to be distilled to the quantity distilled,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alphonse Louis Normandy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
ALPHONSE LOUIS NORMANDY. (LS.)
ALPHONSE LOUIS NORMANDY. (LS.)