Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Production of Superheated Steam.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Production
of Superheated Steam.
I, FRIEDRICH BORMANN-ZIX, of 40, Stadelhoferstrasse, Zurich, in the
Republic of Switzerland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The essential point in the production of my superheated steam is the introduction
of the water in a dispersed state into the steam producer, which part in question
takes the place of an evaporator, in that the steam from the evaporator is super-
heated in a further vessel in the form of spirals. I then so introduce water in a
finely divided state so that there simultaneously results a mixture of superheated
steam with air. In this manner the air which is introduced also acts as a
dispersement-means. The dispersement is carried on by the application of air-
pressure working upon the stream of water and the passage from the evaporator
into the superheated spirals is effected in such a manner that the exit from the
evaporator takes place on the bottom of the latter; that is to say, the exit opening.
is approximately at the lowest part of the evaporator. The compactness of the
apparatus is attained by the circumstance that the compression space is formed as
a sockle, like to a vessel that keeps the water rising by means of enclosed air, for
the peculiar evaporation apparatus.
The accompanying drawing shows a practical form of steam superheating
apparatus, Fig. 1 being a vertical section, Fig. being a vertical section at an
angle of 90° to Fig. 1, but in Fig. 2 only the outer envelope and the lower parts
are in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the evaporator.
The apparatus for the dispersement of the introduced water opens into the
evaporator a. A passage a goes from the bottom of the evaporator into the'
superheater b which is formed as spirals round the superheater, a certain play
being allowed between the evaporator and the inner spiral wall. The superheated
steam, that is to say the superheated mixture of steam, passes off at 6. The'
furnace f is applied under the evaporator and the superheater so that the gases
ascend upwards, passing through the gas chambers and the superheating spirals
till they pass off at fo.
The disperser e is so constructed that the dispersement arises by means of air, by
which means, on the one hand, a very simple dispersement is effected and on the
other hand there is the advantage that the mixture of superheated steam with 'air
takes place. The introduction of water and of air into the disperser may be
effected in any suitable manner. A very simple and compact arrangement is
shown on the drawings, where in a certain manner a reservoir c acts as a sockle or
foot of the apparatus, into this reservoir the water to be used is introduced and, at
the same time also, the necessary air pressure so that a kind of air-boiler is created.
There is a safety valve at g. The pipe h leads from the lower part of the com-
partment to the disperser e as, owing to the water being under air pressure, it is
pressed with ease from above to the disperser. A second pipe i passes from the
upper part of the reservoir c to the disperser and as the air is' compressed ´it is
1

page_text: -
very suitable to act in a dispersing manner on the water which is simultaneously
introduced from h.
The production and introduction of the air pressure (see cº) can be effected in
any suitable manner as also the feed (see c¹) of the reservoir c. The vessel c is
most easily fed by means of an air or water pump. The gas producer can be of
suitable form.
any
In the present case it is, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, provided with ribs a¹ so as to
give a large superficial steam surface with greater capacity of evaporation.
The conditions of pressure between the water introduced into the disperser and
the real air are approximately the same, since both are influenced by the pressure
of the reservoir c, which is somewhat higher than the pressure of the work in the
evaporator a. Between the vessel c and the evaporator there is neither a terminal
or a regulator. The disperser connected with the evaporator has for its object to
disperse, by means of cold or of warm water, the fine streams of water introduced
under pressure in a mixture having the form of a mist or fog.
The water spray, so formed, is heated and evaporated instantaneously in the
steam producer (evaporator) whereupon it is lead through the passage a° into the
coil b, is superheated and can be led away through in any suitable manner.
The feed of the evaporator a is regulated according to the consumption of the
steam and the strength of the fire.
If, for instance, the safety valve be closed and the fire done away with, that is
to say when the gas producer is closed, there will be produced by means of a hand
air pump pressure in the vessel c wherein there is already water, the air will
simultaneously pass to the gas producer a and to the coil b without passage of
water, because the water stands lower than the exit opening in the disperser e, and
the pressure of air is then immediately equalised in both compartments. Con-
sequently no excess of pressure will take place in the compartment c, when the air
is introduced, for some time.
If a fire is now lit under the gas producer the air therein and in the coil will be
heated without, however, any steam being produced because there is no water
present. At the moment, however, that the safety valve is opened the pressure in
the coil and gas producer is lessened and the disperser comes at once into play
whilst, in consequence of the excess of pressure in the feed compartment c, it
leads water spray to the gas producer which spray is immediately changed into
steam.
If, however, on the contrary there is a strong fire and the withdrawal of steam.
is suddenly interrupted then the pressure in the gas producer and the feed chamber
is immediately equalised and the introduction of water spray to the gas producer
ceases until a withdrawal of steam again takes place. If, however, there is a
small fire and a sudden and strong withdrawal of steam takes place the difference
in pressure in the same mass between the feed compartment and the gas producer
will be increased for a short time, whereupon more air will be taken from the feed
compartment than the air pump can supply, consequently the pressure in the feed
compartment sinks. and adopts itself after a short time to the working pressure in
the gas producer, so that also in this case both vessels continue working with a
lower pressure which will correspond to the strength of the fire and the withdrawal
of steam. A continuous and excessive inlet of water spray cannot also occur in
this extreme case.
Notwithstanding this, should however from any other cause as, for instance,
a cessation from working, water collect in the gas producer a the construction is
such that the opening leading to the steam coil b is situated at the lowest point of
the gas producer so that by means of the existing pressure, owing to the heating of
the apparatus, all water is removed not only from the gas producer, but also
from the superheating coil and that, after the further heating of the apparatus,
must necessarily have left it without water.
From these examples it will be evident that this apparatus has a perfectly
reliable and automatic feed, so that for insurance purposes it must be taken into

page_text: consideration, a considerable difference in pressure between the steam producer
and the feed vessel and a collection of water in the steam producer whilst at work,
cannot take place.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Production
of Superheated Steam.
I, FRIEDRICH BORMANN-ZIX of 40 Stadelhoferstrasse, Zurich in the Republic
of Switzerland, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
n what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
scertained in and by the following statement :-
The essential point in the production of superheated steam by my invention is
the introduction of the water in a dispersed state into the steam producer, which
atter takes the place of an evaporator, in that the steam from the evaporator is
I therefore so introduce
superheated in a further vessel in the form of coils.
water in a finely divided state that there simultaneously results a mixture of
superheated steam with air. In this manner the air which is introduced also acts
as a dispersement means. The dispersement is carried on by the application of
air pressure acting upon the stream of water, and the passage from the evaporator
into the superheated coils is effected in such a manner that the exit from the
evaporator takes place at the bottom of the latter; that is to say, the exit opening
is approximately at the lowest part of the evaporator. The compactness of the
apparatus is attained by the circumstance that the compression space is formed as
a socket like an air chamber for the actual evpaoration apparatus.
The drawing accompanying the Provisional Specification shows a practical form
of steam superheating apparatus, Figure 1 being a vertical section, Figure 2 a
vertical section at an angle of 90° to Figure 1, with only the outer envelope and
the lower parts in section, and Figure 3 a horizontal section of the evaporator.
The apparatus for the dispersement of the introduced water opens into the
evaporator a. A passage aº goes from the bottom of the evaporator into the
superheater 6 which is preferably formed as coils round the evaporator, a certain
play being allowed between the evaporator and the inner coil or spiral wall. The
superbeated steam, that is to say the superheated mixture of steam, passes off at 6°.
The furnace fis arranged under the evaporator and the superheater so that the
smoke and gases ascend upwards, passing through the gas chambers and the
superheating spirals until they pass off at fo.
The disperser e is so constructed that the dispersement arises by means of air,
by which means, on the one hand, a very simple dispersement is effected and on the
other hand there is the advantage that the mixture of superheated steam with air
takes place. The introduction of water and of air into the disperser may be
effected in any suitable manner. A very simple and compact arrangement is
shown in the drawings, where in a certain manner a reservoir c acts as a socket or
foot for the apparatus; into this reservoir the water to be used is introduced and,'
at the same time also the necessary air pressure so that a kind of air boiler is
created. There is a safety valve at g. The pipe h leads from the lower part of
the compartment c to the disperser e, as, owing to the water being under air
pressure, it is pressed with ease upwards to the disperser. A second pipe i passes
from the upper part of the reservoir c, to the disperser and as the air is compressed
it is very suitable to act in a dispersing manner on the water which is simul-
taneously introduced from h. :
:

page_text: The production and introduction of the air pressure (see cº) can be effected in
any suitable manner as also the feed (see c¹) of the reservoir c. The vessel c is
most easily fed by means of an air or water pump. The steam producer can be of
any suitable form.
In the present case it is as shown in Figures I and 3, provided with ribs a¹ so as
to give a larger superficial steam surface with greater capacity of evaporation.
The conditions of pressure between the water introduced into the disperser and
the air are approximately the same, since both are influenced by the pressure of
the reservoir c, which is somewhat higher than the pressure of the work in the
evaporator a. Between. the vessel c and the evaporator a there is neither a
terminal nor a regulator. The disperser-combined-with-the evaporator has for its
object to disperse, by means of cold or of warm air, the fine streams of water
constantly introduced under. pressure in a mixture having the form of a mist
or fog.
The water spray, so formed, is heated and evaporated instantaneously in the
steam producer (evaporator) a whereupon it is conducted through the passage a
into the coil b, is superheated and can be drawn off for use through 6º in any
suitable manner. The feed of the evaporator a is regulated according to the
consumption of the steam and the strength of the fire.
If, for instance, the safety valve be closed and the fire done away with, that is to
say when the steam producer is cold, there will be produced (by means of a hand
air pump) pressure in the vessel c wherein there is already water, the air will
simultaneously pass to the steam producer a and to the coil b without passage of
water, because the water stands lower than the exit opening in the disperser e, and
the pressure of air is then immediately equalised in both compartments. Con-
sequently no excess of pressure will take place in the compartment c, when the air
is introduced slowly.
If a fire be now made under the steam producer the air therein and in the coil
will be heated, without, however, any steam being produced because there is no
water present. At the moment however that. the safety valve is opened the
pressure in the coil and steam producer is lessened and the disperser comes at once
into play, as in consequence of the excess of pressure in the feed compartment c,
water spray is conveyed the steam producer, which spray is immediately
converted into steam.
If the withdrawal of steam decreases with a hot fire the pressure in the steam
producer rises, the difference of pressure between the steam producer and the feed
vessel is diminished and consequently also less water spray is supplied to the steam
producer. If on the other hand with. a strong fire the withdrawal of steam also
suddenly ceases, the pressure in. the steam producer and feed vessel is again
immediately equipoised and the supply of spray to the steam producer will cease
until a withdrawal of steam again takes place. If however with a. small fire a
sudden large withdrawal of steam takes place the difference in pressure between
the feed vessel and the steam producer will in a short time be increased in the same
degree, whereupon more air will be withdrawn from the feed compartment than the
air pump can supply, consequently the pressure in the feed compartment sinks and
again adapts itself. after a short time to the working pressure in the steam
producer, so that in this case both vessels continue working with a lower pressure
which will correspond to the strength of the fire, and the withdrawal of steam.
A continuous excessive inflow of water spray, cannot thus occur in this extreme
case. Should however from any other cause, as for instance after cessation of
working,, water collect in the steam. producer a the arrangement is such that the
opening leading to the steam coil b is situated at the lowest point of the steam
producer so that by means of the existing pressure, which is produced by the
heating of the apparatus, all water is removed not only from the steam producer,
but also from the superheating coil, and that consequently the further heating
of the apparatus must absolutely take place when the same is free from water.
From these examples it will be evident that this apparatus is a perfectly reliable

page_text: and automatic feed, so that for insurance purposes it must be taken into con--
sideration, a considerable difference in pressure between the steam producer and
the feed vessel and an accumulation of water in the steam producer whilst at work,
cannot take place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus for the production of superheated steam, characterised by an
arrangement for the supply of sprayed water into the steam producer which is.
connected with the actual superheater, the steam from the producer being removed
at one point of the bottom, that is to say, at a point opposite to the entrance
(above) of the sprayed water, at which latter also the transfer of steam into the
superheater takes place substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for the production of superheated steam, a steam producer a
with internal ridges a¹ and a coiled or spiral superheater b, surrounding the steam
producer, whilst a steam passage a lying along the wall of the steam producer
forms a passage from the steam producer to the superheater, all of which parts.
lie above the furnace, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus for the production of superheated steam, a device for feeding.
the producer or evaporator, which consists of a feed vessel c, like an air boiler,
lying under the furnace, in which feed vessel the water is exposed to the pressure
of air, and from whence air and water may be conveyed by means of separate-
pipes to the sprayer or disintegrator which opens into the producer or evaporator
substantially as described.
1
SA 1806
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.