Improvements in Condensing Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Condensing Apparatus.
I EDUARD THEISEN of Kaiserwilhelmring, N.I, Cologne-on-the-Rhine in the
Empire of Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :—
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient condenser
for steam and other vapour.
With this view, the condensing chamber is constructed with a very extensive
surface in a small space, which is kept constantly wet by means of jets or sprays of
water, preferably warm.-Near the condensing chamber is arranged a fan, blower,
or its equivalent, which delivers a blast of atmospheric air upon the constantly wetted
surface, by which means very rapid evaporation is set up.-The effect of this evapora-
tion is to withdraw the heat from the condensing chamber, and cause the rapid
condensation of the vapour therein.
The form of the condensing chamber is capable of considerablo variation, but may
advantageously consist of a number of annular vessels arranged concentrically one
within the other, and connected together at one end by the vapour admission pipe,
and at the other by the water of condensation delivery pipe. The surface of these
annular vessels is moistened by thin streams of water, and in this way the supply
can be regulated to the rapidity of evaporation, so that waste of water is avoided.-
The air current is driven by the blower between the annular vessels against the wetted
surfaces.
To prevent the steam or other vapour from passing too quickly through the
condenser, the steam is made to follow a tortuous course within the condensing
vessels, by providing the vessels internally with inclined or spiral divisions. Thus,
the steam is subjected to lengthened contact with the cooled surface, and an economy
in space can thereby be effected.
Spiral or screw formed divisions may also be adopted in the air way, when space
is an object, and large blowers cannot therefore be used.-In this manner, the air
is made to take up the moisture from the wet surfaces to the limit of its capacity.
1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Condensing Apparatus.
I EDUARD THEISEN of Kaiserwilhelmring N.I, Cologne on the Rhine in the
Empire of Germany, Engineer, 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 :-
.
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient condenser
for steam and other vapour.
With this view, the condensing chamber is constructed with a very extensive
surface in a small space, which is kept constantly wet by means of jets or sprays of
water. Near the condensing chamber is arranged a fan, blower, or its equivalent,
which delivers a blast of atmospheric air upon the constantly wetted surface, by
which means very rapid evaporation is set up. The effect of this evaporation is to
withdraw the heat from the condensing chamber, and cause the rapid condensation
of the vapour therein.
The form of the condensing chamber is capable of considerable variation.

page_text: in the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a ground plan, partially in section, of a
condensing apparatus, which consists of a number of vertical cylinders a, arranged
concentrically to each other, so as to form a series of condensing chambers b, with
intermediate hollow spaces c, in which chambers the steam or gas to be condensed
enters by an entrance d, common to all; the steam or gas may rush through the
chambers in a direct downward direction, or it may be made to follow a tortuous
course within the condensing chambers or vessels b, so that it leaves these chambers
or vessels by the exit e in a condensed state. The tortuous way in the chambers or
vessels may be formed by strip f.
On the top of the chambers b, gutters g may be arranged with lips, or provided
with holes, so that the water from the gutters g runs over the sides of the walls of
the chambers b, moistening them constantly, and any part of such water which is not
evaporated is received by the gutters at bottom, and conducted away or accumu-
lated for further use. i is a fan situated in the manner illustrated, or in any
convenient manner, so as to blow air through the intermediate spaces c between tho
chambers or vessels 6, which current of air will serve to carry away all the products
of evaporation produced from the moistened surfaces of the chambers or vessels b.
The current of air may either go in a direct way upwardly, or it may be guided
by properly arranged sheets or strips to follow a tortuous way in its ascent, and to
drive away all the products of evaporation. In the central part of the apparatus, a
perforated pipe or rose may be arranged to moisten this central part, or the
surrounding walls of it.
The apparatus described will prove to be very efficient for condensing purposes.
by the combination of the moistened walls of chambers, the current of air, and the
narrow space of the condensing chambers; the effect will improve if there is a short
way for the air current, so as to bring continually fresh air to the walls, and a
longer way for the steam current.
In Figs. 3 (longitudinal section) and 4 (end view), an apparatus of a similar
kind is shown, the condensing chambers or vessels being situated in a horizontal
position. In this instance, it is preferred to surround the walls of said chambers by
holically perforated tubes (, or by horizontal perforated tubes m, within the spaces c
between the chambers b, and to arrange the entrance of steam d and the exit of
products of condensation e in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In the arrange-
ment shown in these Figures it will, if helicoidal ways are arranged in the chambers b,
be necessary to provide for a ready exit of the condensed water in these chambers, the
bottom of which, therefore, is provided with gutters n, from which the condensed
water runs into the exit e, without interfering with the free circulation of the not yet.
condensed steam.
In Figs. 5 (longitudinal section) and 6 (cross section), the apparatus is modified
in this way, that instead of the chambers b being formed by concentrically placed
cylinders, they are formed by concentrically arranged tubes O & O¹, two of such
tubes forming a chamber or vessel for the condensation. Such chambers may be, as
in the arrangements Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs. 3 and 4, surrounded by a cylindrical
envelope s, and may be arranged in any desired numbers. Perforated pipes may be
arranged between the vessel, and such pipes or nozzles may enter into the inner
tubes o¹, so as to moisten the chambers on their entire surfaces, and to act very
intensely on the steam passing the chambers. In the annular space forming such
chambers, spirally arranged strips may be arranged, so as to form a tortuous way in
each chamber, or the outer tubes may be formed with spirally running indents or
grooves t, or the inner tubes may be formed with spirally running ribs, all these
provisions being made to cause the steam to be condensed to follow a spiral or
tortuous way. In all these cases, the outer tubes are formed with a gutter n at the
bottom, to conduct the product of condensation out of the annular chambers, without
interfering with the passage of the steam.
The modification shewn in Figs. 7 and 8 (horizontal and longitudinal section),
refers to the conduit of the air current, the chambers for condensation being formed

page_text: by two concentrically placed tubes, as in the foregoing instance. The apparatus
properly speaking is placed at the crossing of two channels p p¹, the one, p, running
in the longitudinal direction of the tubes, the other, p', running in a cross direction
of said tubes. Both channels communicate with properly arranged ventilators, fans,
or equivalent means for creating air currents, and the one current in channel P is
caused to run through the inner tubes, whereas the other current, in channel p',
traverses the system, thereby striking against the outer tubes, both currents being for
the purpose of taking or leading away the products of evaporation created by the
moisture on the hot surfaces of the chambers.
The modification shewn in Figs. 9 and 10 (longitudinal and cross section), refers
to the chamber being formed by a rotating cylinder a, which is traversed by pipes i
forming the passages for the air, the axle of the rotating cylinder a being hollow at
both ends, so as to conduct the steam through the passage c from the axle b into the
cylinder a, and to conduct the products of condensation from cylinder a, through the
passage d and pipe e, into the hollow end on this side of the axle b.
The cylinder a is mounted in proper bearings, and dips, into a vesself, in which
a certain level of water is kept, so as to moisten the inner surfaces of the pipes i,
the products of evaporation being, during the revolution of the cylinder, carried
away by the currents of air passing through these pipes . The cylinder may be
provided with screw shaped partition walls, so as to lengthen the passage of steam
for condensing purposes.
I sometimes prefer to cover those surfaces of the chambers which are moistened
by water, with wire gauze, or any suitable netting, which may keep the water'in a
very thin film on the surface, for the action of the same against the surface, and
the reaction of the heat of the surface upon the water, the stream of air current
employed in all cases making room for the new products of evaporation, so that a
very energetic process of condensation is created in all the different forms of apparatus
specified above.
The walls of the condensing chambers are shown to be constructed of plain sheet
metal, but it is obvious that these walls may be formed of undulated or corrugated
plates, so as to increase the condensing area; the undulations may run either in
vertical or horizontal direction.
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. In condensing apparatus for steam and gases, the employment of a forced blast
impinging upon the constantly wetted surface of the condensing chamber, substantially
in the manner described.
2. The apparatus for condensing steam and gases arranged and operating substan-
tially as described and shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, and Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the
accompanying drawings.
3. The apparatus for condensing steam and gases arranged and operating substan-
tially as described and shewn in Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
4. Condensing apparatus for gases and steam, such as is described with reference
to Figs. 9 and 10, wherein the forced blast of atmospheric air plays upon the surface
of the condensing chamber, kept constantly wetted by rotation in a water tank,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1889.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.