Improvements in Galvanic Compounds for Cleaning Bollers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in Galvanic Compounds for Cleaning Bollers.
I, FRANOIS JULIUS CLAMER, Chemist and Metallurgist, of Philadelphia in the County
of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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 :-
"
My invention relates to means for cleaning or removing what is technically known
boiler scale" from steam boilers and generators and for preventing the formation
of such scale therein.
as
I have discovered that a combination of zinc and phosphorus produces effects of
a very satisfactory character; and my present invention consists in a metallic compound
to be placed in the water in a steam boiler, generator, or feed water heater, formed
of zinc and phosphorns. A piece of composite metal placed in water in a boiler,
generator, or feed-water heater will entirely destroy the scale producing elements,
separate the acids from the alkalies, and entirely prevent the formation of scale in a
boiler or generator, and at the same time will soften and break up any such scale
previously formed. I prefer to suspend such composition in the water substantially
in the same manner as is described and shown in my application; but as I believe
the composition herein named to be new in itself for the purpose described, I do not
limit myself to its being suspended, as it is apparent that good results may be obtained
by placing the compound in any position under the water in the boiler, generator or
heater, whether it is suspended or not. Better effects will, however, be produced by
suspending the composition or compound. I also prefer to use a conducting wire or
connection for effecting the suspension-as, for instance and by preference, copper
wire, as this metal assists in the prevention of scale by neutralizing or destroying the
hydrogen gases, but it will be understood that I do not claim nor insist upon the use
of copper wire for forming such connection, as it is apparent that a great variety of
metals afford sufficient conductivity to answer well in this situation.
The composite metal which I use may be formed into any shape, as, for instance, a
plate or mass, which may be perforated, indented, or serrated to increase the exposed
effective surface, or it may be broken into pieces, or in other form suspended in a
basket, bag, or net (which may also be of copper wire) and suspended; or it may
simply be thrown into the boiler in any shape or in any part of the boiler, so as to be
covered by the water therein; or it may be placed in any manner in a feed water
heater.
I would not be understood as limiting myself to the manner of using or applying
this composition, except that it is necessary for it to be submerged in the water of the
boiler generator or feed water heater.

page_text: . The accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider a good means for carrying
my invention into practice.
Figure 1 shows a section of a boiler with the composition suspended and also placed
upon the boiler iron. Figure 2 shows. a feed water heater applied to a boiler with a
piece of the composite metal in it. Figure 3 is an enlarged face view of a plate of
the composite metal formed to increase the exposed area.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is the boiler, generator or feed water heater, and B the pieces of composite
metal, (zinc and phosphorus). This composite metal may be made in the form of a
plate or mass, as shown at the left hand of Figure 1, and in Figure 3, and is preferably
perforated, indented or serrated to increase its exposed or effective area; or it may
be in broken pieces suspended in a bag, net or basket; or it may be deposited on the
boiler iron. When suspended I prefer to use a conducting metallic connection-as,
for instance, copper wire-which will in the perforated plate form, be laced through
the perforations b, and in the basket or net, will preferably form the basket or net or
other receptacle. The benefit of using copper wire has already been referred to.
The wire is marked C.
The plate or mass may be serrated, as shown in figure 3, or indented or otherwise
formed to increase the extent of its exposed surface, as well as perforated. If desired,
however, the mass or plate may be left plain.
It will be understood that for suspension in the basket or net and for simply
throwing into the boiler, generator or heater the form of the materal is entirely
unimportant.
The number of plates or parts B employed in a single boiler will of course be
varied with the size of the boiler. In instances where one plate or part is sufficient
the use of one only will be found more convenient than a larger number. When
more than one are required, the plates, baskets &c., will be placed about equi-distant
from each other by preference.
The composite metal (zinc and phosphorus) suspended in the water of a boiler,
generator or heater creates a galvanic current, which cleanses it from scale producing
elements, separating the acids and alkalies and proventing the formation of scale, and
also loosening and dissolving the already deposited scale, the phosphorus being a
deoxidizing metalloid.
I have found that for ordinary water not impregnated to too great a degree with
acids and alkalies, the zinc and phosphorus can be combined in about the following
proportions; to wit sixteen (16) parts of zinc, and one (1) part of phosphorus; but
it will be understood that these proportions can be varied to any extent required by
the character of the water.
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 is :-
1. A composite metal for preventing the formation of scale in and removing scale
from steam boilers and generators, consisting of zinc and phosphorus, substantially as
set forth.
2. A plate or mass of zinc and phosphorus, perforated, indented or serrated for use
in water in and to be fed into steam boilers and generators, substantially as and for
..
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London,
Associate Agent.