Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing Incrustation in Steam Boilers and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing Incrustation in Steam
Boilers and the like.
I EMIL POLLACSEK of Podmanilzky-utcza 6 Budapest, Hungary, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Whereas the formation of incrustations in steam boilers and the like can only be
thoroughly avoided by removing all calcareous substances from the water before it
enters the boiler and the apparatus hitherto used for this purpose were either taking
up too much space, requiring vast reservoirs and high tower like cylinders, or else
too complicated to be reliable, the apparatus forming the object of my invention is
extremely simple and in consequence absolutely reliable as to its effects.
Figs. I and II of the accompanying drawings represent the apparatus in two
distinct shapes, the former with open reservoir for stationary installations, the latter
with closed reservoir for marine or other movable boilers. The apparatus for
stationary installations Fig. I consists preferably of one reservoir divided by a
partition into two compartments A. A each of which holds a supply of water
required for a given time, say one hour; Both compartments may be provided
with equal fittings.
In either compartment is a perforated trough or container B destined to hold the
quantity of chemicals which according to the analysis of the feed water is considered
to be necessary for the desired effect. Above this trough is a perforated pipe d
which, provided with stop cock D, sprinkles the water over the chemicals in trough B
and causes the latter to become dissolved and mixed with the water in the compart-
ment A. In either compartment there is a pipe through which steam can be
introduced for heating and agitating the mixture in order to make it thoroughly
homogeneous. Either compartment contains also one or more filters C for absorbing
the rapidly formed rough deposit inasmuch as the same has not yet settled.
Each filter consists of a bell filled with suitable filtering material (generally
sponge).
The water enters this bell from underneath and leaves it purified as soon as tap E
is opened, in consequence of the pumping action of discharge pipe e which leads
downward from the highest point of the bell. This discharge continues until the
water in compartment A reaches the lower edge of the filter bell. Instead of the
water being exhausted from the reservoir by this automatic discharge produced by
the pumping action of the discharge pipe it may also be exhausted through the
filter or filters by a pump.
The discharge cocks G serve for the removal of the
sediment from compartment A. In order to accelerate the purification of
the filters steam can be caused to pass by the discharge pipe e through the filters in
a direction opposite to that in which the filtration takes place, by closing cocks E
and F and opening cock H., after having introduced water in the usual way into
the compartment up to a height above the lower edge of the filter.
The second compartment of the reservoir serves for the purification of an
equal amount of water, while the contents of the first compartment are being
utilized.
The manner of operating is as follows:-
The stoker puts a previously scaled off packet of chemicals into trough B of one
of the compartments A, opens first supply cock D and after a few minutes steam
cock F. As soon as the compartment is filled cock D is closed and as soon as the
water is heated F is closed also. The water remains in the compartment until it is
used.
Meanwhile the other compartment is treated likewise i.e. chemicals are

page_text: introduced into trough, water is made to enter the compartment and heated. Thus
the contents of second compartiment are ready for use. From time to time steam
is forced in an opposite direction through the filter and the sediments are let off.
The whole of the chemicals are again flooded with water as soon as the same
rises above the bottom of the trough, thus insuring the thorough action of the
requisite ingredients.
The heating and strong agitation of the mixture effect a rapid and thorough
execution of the operations.
The purified water is discharged free from all calcareous substances.
For a small supply a single reservoir is sufficient holding the quantity of water
required. In case a very large supply is wanted several single reservoirs may be
used alternatively.
In case steam is not available and the purification of the water has to be effected
without the use of heat, the said apparatus can nevertheless be used only the com-
partment A must be of larger dimensions in order to allow of a longer contact of
water and chemicals and the stirring has to be done mechanically. The cleaning
of filters is in this case effected by a currrent of water introduced in an opposite
direction through the filter.
The apparatus for the purification of the feed water for marine or other movable
boilers represented by Fig. II consists of a closed reservoir a, a vessel B fixed
above and connected with A and provided with stop cock K, the discharge pipe of B
terminating in a rose in reservoir A, a perforated ring like water supply pipe d
with stop cock or valve D, a steam supply pipe f fitted with valve F and a closed
filtering apparatus C which is connected underneath by pipe e with reservoir A
a little above its bottom. The connection can be closed by cock or valve L. The
discharge pipe e conveys the purified water from filtering apparatus to boiler
(above which the apparatus is fixed) and can be closed by valve E.
For cleaning the filter a steam pipe h provided with valve H leads from the
boiler to the filter in order to introduce steam into it from above and in a counter
current through it.
Reservoir A and filter C are provided with mud discharge pipes 9 and g' and the
latter with stop cocks G and G. In order to equalise the pressure in reservoir A
and vessel B the latter are connected by pipe i which leads from the lid of the one
to the lid of the other and is fitted with the stop cock 1.
The operations are almost the same as in the arrangement represented by Fig. I.
The chemicals required for the quantity of water contained in A partially dissolved
previously in the raw feed water are introduced by tap M into the vessel B.
Then the water supply is let on by tap K. The chemicals are constantly being
mixed with the water. When reservoir A is filled up to a mark, steam pipe fand
cock F are opened, cock M closed.
The contents of A are heated and agitated by the steam, sediments settle and
are filtered by filter C when the water is introduced into the boiler.
This is done by opening cock L and valve E as soon as the steam pressure in
compartment A equals that of the boiler. The filter can be cleaned by a steam
counter current by closing the connection of the filter with reservoir A and the
water compartment of steam boiler. The mud is let off by cock G. The filtering
apparatus according to Fig. II is usually put up beside the purifying apparatus
not being easily accessible if placed inside it. With apparatus to Fig. I the
filtering apparatus may also be put up by the side of the purifying apparatus (as in
Fig. II). Apparatus according to Fig. II are generally put up singly as the space
in steam ships is extremely restricted.
But also this type of purifying apparatus affords absolute safety provided
reservoir A holds the water required in an hour; for filling heating and purifying
takes less than half an hour, therefore the boiler can be fed with purified water and
plenty of time remains for the preparation of the next filling.
It is obvious that in open apparatus as well as in closed ones it is necessary to
take a fixed quantity of water, which is to be acted-upon by- an equally fixed

page_text: tity of chemicals. Both kinds of apparatus are filled up to a fixed height with
Thus the apparatus serves also as water gauging tank. Therefore the
ging as well as the purifying are done simultaneously.
er.
Laving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
m is:-
An apparatus for the gauging, softening and purifying of water consisting
ntially of
be
a) one or more open reservoirs A with perforated trough B which may
fixed in the upper portion of each reservoir and serves for containing the
chemicals required for one filling, said chemicals being sprinkled over with
water from a perforated pipe d so as to enter the water in compartment A
in a dissolved state compartment A being filled up to a fixed height: in
combination with one or more filters (C) built inside each reservoir or by
the side of each reservoir, through which filters, the water may enter the
reservoir in consequence of the pumping action of the discharge pipe
attached to the upper part of the filter or in consequence of the suction of a
pump or an injector, the cleaning of said filter being accomplished by a
counter current either of water or steam; or
b) One or more closed reservoirs A with one closed vessel B for each reservoir
to contain the chemicals required for one filling of A which chemicals are
added by means of a rose to the water which is to be purified and which is
supplied through a perforated pipe d until a fixed height is reached, and
with an arrangement for heating and stirring the contents of each reservoir
by steam. In combination with one or more filters (C) beside each reservoir,
through which the water entering below from the said reservoir may be led
by a pipe to boiler as soon as the pressure in the reservoir equals that of the
boiler all substantially as described and shewn in the drawing.
Dated this 11th day of January
BONNE & Co.,
Authorised Patent and Trade Mark Agents,
57 & 58, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.