AN IM- PROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING THE WATER USED IN THE BOILERS OF CONdensing Steam ENGINES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isidore Chevrillon, late Major of French Naval Artillery,
now of 36, Cornhill, in the City of London, for the Invention of "AN IM-
PROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING THE WATER USED IN THE
BOILERS OF CONdensing Steam ENGINES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." A
communication from abroad by Frederic Hétet, Professor of Chemistry of the
Naval Medical School, Brest, France.
Sealed the 4th May 1877, and dated the 5th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isidore Chevrillon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th January 1877.
ISIDORE CHEVRILLON, late Major of French Naval Artillery, now of 36, Cornhill,
in the City of London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING
THE WATER USED IN THE BOILERS OF CONDENSING STEAM ENGINES, AND FOR OTHER
LIKE. PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Frederic Hétet, Professor of
Chemistry of the Naval Medical School, Brest, France.
My Invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus for purifying the water
as it comes from the condensers of condensing steam engines, so that this water
may be returned to the boilers free from greasy acids. For this purpose I make use
of the action of lime water which saponifies the greasy matters, and the water as it
returns to the boiler contains no foreign matter except calcareous and insoluble salts
and diluted glycerine which will not injure the boiler plates.
In condensing apparatus fitted with copper or brass tubes which are not tinned
or otherwise coated or covered, the said tubes are attacked by these greasy acids,
and particles of copper or brass are liberated and pass into the boilers, and under
the action of the lime water have a very destructive effect upon the boilers; it is
therefore necessary that the condenser tubes should at the point at which the
chemical action of the lime water ceases, be tinned or otherwise protected on the
surfaces exposed to the action of steam or in contact with the feed water.
It is important that this chemical action should be completed before the delivery
of the feed water into the boilers, otherwise the boilers would be attacked thereby
and the nature of the deposit would be changed.
For the purpose of my Invention I employ the apparatus herein-after described.
The lime water is obtained by the action of a stream of water on slaked lime

page_text: powder. I employ for this purpose the feed water, which after having its greasy
acids neutralized is conducted into the boilers. No other water is required to
maintain the circulation between the boilers and condensers.
The lime water is made in a suitable vessel. A small pump is connected with
this vessel for regulating the distribution of the lime water. To regulate the
quantity of water delivered by the pump, the same is provided with meaus for
adjusting its stroke. Another pump is also provided to draw the lime water from
the said vessel, both pumps being operated by the same lever from an excentric or
crank on or connected with any convenient part of the engine.
The aforesaid vessel is closed at the top, but is in communication with the atmo-
sphere through a central tube which extends nearly to the bottom of the said vessel.
This pipe has at the top a funnel through which the said vessel is charged with the
lime and water, lime powder being introduced at suitable intervals. The air, lime,
and water are delivered through a feed pipe extending from the aforesaid pump
into the said funnel. The air ascends through the liquid and accumulates between
the surface of the same and the crown of the vessel. The orifice of the suction pipe
leading to the second pump is a slight distance below the crown of the said vessel,
this pump draws from the said vessel the air, lime, and water, the water being
saturated with the lime. The said pump has a delivery pipe which connects with
the discharge pipe of the condensers or hot wells, and delivers the air, lime, and
water into the said discharge pipe, where they mingle with the water from the
condensers and are discharged with them into a receiver. In this receiver or vessel
the mouth of the said discharge pipe is turned downward, so that the water from it
is discharged violently against the bottom of the vessel, thus stirring the contents
of the said vessel, and for accelerating the action of the lime upon the greasy
particles, this receiver has at its top a stand pipe from which a pipe extends to a
cistern herein-after described. The said receiver must be large enough to detain
the water passing through it long enough for the chemical action to be completed.
This vessel is provided with a discharge cock for removing any deposit that may be
formed therein. If it is desired to prevent the entrance of the calcareous matter
into the boilers I may provide large cisterns fitted with strainers.
I prefer to introduce the aforesaid cistern between the above described receiver
and the boiler feed pumps to arrest the precipitate or a portion of it. The said
cistern is provided with a plate or diaphragm which partially divides it into two
portions, but does not quite extend to the bottom of the vessel. Holes are drilled
or a passage otherwise made at the top of this plate above the surface of the water
in the said vessel to liberate the air. This vessel also has a discharge cock at the
bottom to permit the removal of deposit or sediment.
A smaller vessel is connected by a pipe with the cistern, into which the water is
discharged from the condensers, and by another pipe with the pump that feeds the
lime water vessel. This small vessel is open at the top, and is fitted with a valve
which is controlled by a float inside the said vessel. The orifice of the pipe
extending from the said receiver is near the top of the latter.
The lime water is drawn from the first-named vessel and conducted into the
condenser discharge pipe, it passes thence with the discharged water into the
receiver, from which it passes either directly or through the cistern containing
the diaphragm to the boiler feed pumps. As the liquid passes under the said
diaphragm a great portion of the calcareous matter is deposited in the bottom of the
cistern. The atmospheric pressure on. the stand pipe of this receiver causes the
water therein above the said orifice to separate into the said small vessel when the
valve therein is open, and this water supplies the lime water yessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Isidore Chevrillon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th July
1877.
ISIDORE CHEVRILLON, late Major of French Naval Artillery, now of 36, Cornhill,
in the City of London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING
THE WATER USED IN THE BOILERS of CONDENSING STEAM ENGINES, AND FOR OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Frederic Hétet, Professor of
Chemistry of the Naval Medical School, Brest, France.
My Invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus for purifying the water
as it comes from the condensers of condensing steam engines, so that this water may
be returned to the boilers free from greasy or fatty acids. For this purpose I make
use of lime water or aqueous solution of lime, which saturates and purifies the greasy
water, and the purified water as it returns to the boiler contains only harmless
matter, such as calcareous and insoluble salts and free diluted glycerine, which will
not injure the boiler plates, and which are readily removed when the engines are
not working. And as the water is alternately used, purified, and returned to the
boilers, the same quantity of water is used continuously for a long time without
the addition of any fresh water.
In condensing apparatus fitted with copper or brass tubes, which are not tinned
or otherwise coated, the said tubes are attacked by these greasy acids, and particles
of copper or brass are liberated and pass into the boilers, and under the action of
the lime water would have a very destructive effect upon the boilers. It is there-
fore necessary that the condenser tubes and some of the parts of my apparatus be
tinned or otherwise protected.
It is important that the chemical action of the lime water on the greasy acids
should be completed before the delivery of the feed water into the boilers, otherwise
the boilers would be attacked by such acids, and there would be an injurious
deposit in the said boilers.
For the purpose of my Invention I employ the apparatus herein-after described,
and which I have shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an apparatus for purifying the
impure water from the surface condensers of either land or marine engines according
to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification of the said Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 shew portions of the said apparatus detached and drawn to an
enlarged scale, Figure 3 being a section on the line x, x, Figure 2; and Figure 4,
a section on the line y, y, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an elevation illustrating further modifications of my Invention.
Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the Figures.
In Figure 1 and 2, A. is the lime water vessel which is closed at the top, but which
is in communication with the atmosphere by the small tube a. B is a cistern or
recipient into which the water from the condensers is discharged by the pipe F
C is a vessel provided with a diaphragm plate C¹ for the purpose herein specified;
D is a vessel fitted with a valve D¹ controlled by a float D²; E is a set of pumps.
The other parts of the said apparatus are herein-after described.
;
The lime water is obtained by the action on slacked lime powder of a stream of
water. For this purpose I use the feed water, which after having been submitted
to the action that neutralized the greasy acids, is thereby purified; and no
additional supply of water will be required in the circulation between the boilers
and condensers, except a very small quantity required to make good the loss by waste.
The quantity of water necessary to produce the required quantity of lime water
depends upon the amount of greasy matter introduced into the various working
parts of the engines,

page_text: し
To regulate the volume of water delivered by the pumps E1, E2, I provide the
adjusting link J connected with an index J*. By adjusting this link, the stroke of
the pumps is varied as may be found necessary, both pumps being worked by
the same lever L, and the motion of the latter being obtained from any convenient
shaft in or connected with the engines, as shewn at K. This lever L gives unequal
strokes to the pumps in the ratio of 2 to 3, which is found to be a suitable pro-
portion. The small central pipe a extends nearly to the bottom of the vessel A, as
shewn. Through this pipe the vessel A is charged with lime and water, the water
being supplied by the pump E¹ through the pipe b to the funnel a¹, the lime in
powder being introduced at regular intervals, and with the air and water being
delivered through the funnel a and tube a into the vessel A.
The necessary quantity of lime should be introduced every quarter of an hour if
practicable. It would also be desirable to lubricate the cylinders and other parts of
the engine frequently and at regular intervals. To facilitate the introduction of the
lime, and to ensure the introduction of the proper quantity, suitable measures should
be provided.
The air and water forced through the central tube a of the vessel A mingle with
the lime, therein producing a rapid dissolution of the lime. The air thus discharged
ascends through the fluid, as indicated by the arrows, and accumulates in the
space between the surface of the water and the crown plate of the vessel. Below
the crown plate of the vessel A is the orifice c of the suction pipe d of the pump E².
By this pump the air and water are taken from the vessel A, the water being
saturated with lime. It is the position of this orifice which regulates the level of
the water in the vessel A. This pump E2 delivers or injects the air and lime water
at G into the discharge pipe F, which brings the water from the hot wells of the
condensers. The mingled air and lime water at this point G mix with the water
from the condensers, and all are discharged into the vessel or recipient B. This
vessel B is formed to facilitate the action of the lime water on the impure water
coming from the condenser, the mouth of the discharge pipe from the condensers
being turned downwards, so that the water is violently discharged therefrom against
the bottom of the vessel B at each stroke of the air pump, the air ascending to the
stand or overflow pipe, as indicated by the arrows, thus agitating or stirring up the
Jiquid with great force, and so facilitating and accelerating the chemical action of
the lime upon the greasy particles. The capacity of the vessel B must be such that
the whole of the feed water in passing through the said vessel will be detained in it
not less than about one minute, in order that the chemical action may be completed:
This vessel is provided with a cleaning out cock at B', by which all useless deposits
are removed. The chemical action commences at the point G, which should be as
near the condensers as possible, and this chemical action is completed at the point H
with the feed suction pipe, which, as shewn in Figure 1, communicates directly with
the feed suction pipe H. But if it should be desired to prevent the entrance of the
uninjurious calcareous soaps into the boilers, large vessels or cisterns fitted with
strainers may be provided, but as these substances are very soft, and composed of
very fine and light particles, it is better to permit them to pass with the feed water
to the feed pumps, and thence to the boilers.
It is easy to arrest a portion of the precipitate, say, one-fifth of the whole, by
introducing the vessel C, as shewn in Figure 2 of the Drawings, between the
vessel B. and the feed pumps. The capacity of this vessel C should be about, two-
thirds of the vessel B. The diaphragm C¹ dividing this vessel into two parts does
not reach to the bottom. Holes are drilled in the upper part of the said diaphragm
plate above the surface of the water in the vessel C to set free the air on the
opposite side to the feed suction pipe C*. A cock C is fitted to the bottom of
this vessel, which should be opened about every six hours for the discharge of the
deposits. But although I have shewn this vessel or recipient C, I do not consider
its use very desirable or advantageous in the practice of my Invention.
It has been above explained that the feed water in the vessel A requisite to make,
the lime water is taken from the vessel B by the pipe I. At the point I¹ the

page_text: chemical action of the lime upon the greasy particles is complete, the water.
therefore taken from the vessel B at the point I¹ is free from greasy particles,;
but contains in suspension a small quantity of lime that will not injure the
pipes and pumps through which it passes to the vessel A.
The atmospheric pressure existing on the surface of the water in the stand or
overflow pipe at the top of the vessel B causes the water to gravitate into the
vessel D, which is open to the atmosphere at the top. It is necessary that the
level of the water in the vessel D should be below the level of that in the vessel B.
The pipe I enters the vessel D at the point D*; at the end of this pipe the valve
or cock D¹ is fitted, the said valve being operated by a lever and float D2 as
shewn. The said float and valve regulate automatically the level of the water, and
a cock is also fitted into the pipe I to exclude the water when necessary for cleaning
out or other purposes.
When the engines are ready for starting, the vessel A must be charged with lime
water previously prepared, and a quantity of slacked lime powder should be intro-
duced into the vessel A, this quantity being extra to that required during the
working of the engines. The boiler and other vessels must also be filled with water;
these precautions being observed the apparatus will commence working simul-
taneously with the engines. After clearing the vessel'B of accumulated deposit by
opening the cock B¹, it is useful to introduce a small additional quantity of lime
into the vessel A.
The quantity of lime necessary for the use of this apparatus amounts only to about
the Toth part of the weight of coals consumed. This small quantity of lime
will be neither expensive nor an incumbrance on board the ship.
The water from the surface condensers of marine or land engines purified by
lime water by the process herein described, by the same apparatus, or by a special
apparatus similar in its action, is rendered perfectly pure and fit for drinking or
culinary purposes after it has passed through a filter.
A very simple apparatus without a pump, actuated by the difference of level of
the water in a suitable vessel is sufficient to render clear and clean for all industrial
purposes water charged with greasy matters, even when holding in solution
calcareous salts, which are precipitated in the state of insoluble calcareous com-
binations, the same being soon separated by allowing the purified water to flow
over them. This apparatus is shewn in Figure 5; A is the lime water vessel; M is
a vessel containing greasy water; N is the vessel in which the greasy water is
subjected to the action of the lime water; N¹ is the pipe through which the purified
water is drawn from the vessel N.
The water purified by this apparatus will be very good for feeding boilers, it may
be used for lixiviation or for cooking vegetables, and after filtration is fit for
drinking.
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that the different parts of the apparatus shewn in
the Drawings may be modified to suit the construction and arrangements of the
engines with which my Invention is to be applied; and I may change or modify.
the construction of the parts of the said apparatus in any manner which will
increase the efficiency or convenience of the same without departing from the spirit
of this Invention, and I claim,-
First. The improved method of purifying greasy or fatty water coming from
condensers and other like vessels or apparatus, by the employment of lime water
prepared separately and admitted regularly and continuously to the impure water,
which being purified is returned to the boilers; a small quantity being used to
maintain the supply of the lime water in the manner above described.
Second. The improved apparatus or machinery for carrying my Invention into
practice consisting of the parts shewn in Figure 1 or in Figures 2 or 5 of the.
accompanying Drawings, arranged in connection with condensers or other vessels in
such a manner as to receive the impure water from the same, and subject such water

page_text: to the purifying action of lime water, and to work automatically or continuously
as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isidore Chevrillon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
1. CHEVRILLON. (L.S.)