Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for the Prevention of Corrosion and Formation of Scale in Steam Boilers.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1887.
Complete Left, 13th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th Sept., 1887.
Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for the Prevention of
Corrosion and Formation of Scale in Steam Boilers.
1, MAXYMILIAN KOTYRA, of Castle Street, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of applying electricity to the
prevention of the corrosion of and the deposition of scale in, boilers, and refers
principally to alternating or changing the direction of the currents, thereby causing the
electricity to act in both directions, depositing in the one and taking off in the other,
thus keeping the plates clean and without deposit as well as securing the prevention
of pitting or corrosion.
It is well known that a current of electricity passed into the interior of a boiler has
the effect of preventing the deposition of scale on the plates, as well as of loosening
the scale already deposited.
In carrying the invention into effect I employ in the interior of the boiler a rod or
plate of iron, copper, or other suitable metal, which is partly covered by a coating of
zine or other metal of the same electrical properties. I attach this to the boiler in any
position which may be found most convenient, insulating the rod from the shell of the
boiler. To this rod I attach a wire connected up to an alternating apparatus worked
in any convenient way from the engine to which an electrical current from a battery
or other electrical source is attached. Another wire is attached to the shell of the
boiler and is also affixed to the alternating apparatus.
From the alternating apparatus iwo wires are conducied to the positive and negative
poles of a battery or any other source of electricity.
By the motion of the engine or any other convenient movement, such as the rolling
or pitching of the vessel the alternating apparatus is made to reverse the current

page_text: conveyed to the zinc in the boiler, the effect being that at alternate moments the
current is either from the boiler to the zinc or from the zinc to the boiler. The
elevation of the currents either way may be regulated at will if desired.
It has been found that a current always going in one direction either way has a
deleterious effect upon the boiler. If a current be passed from the zinc to the boiler,
it will have the effect of decomposing the zinc and depositing it on the interior of the
boiler while, on the contrary, if the current passes from the boiler to the zine, the
effect will be that the deposited zinc and scale will be detached from the plates.
Dated this 11th day of March 1887.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for the Prevention of
Corrosion and Formation of Scale in Steam Boilers.
I, MAXYMILIAN KOTYRA, of Castle Street, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan,
Electrical 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved method of using, and apparatus for applying,
electrical currents to the shell of a steam boiler, for the purpose of preventing corrosion
and the deposition of scale; and consists in the combination with the boiler shell, of a
suitable conductor inside the boiler; any suitable source of electricity and an
alternating apparatus by the operation of which the current between the said conductor
and the boiler shall flow first in one direction and then in the other.
This invention is the result of long continued and carefully conducted experiments,
and is based upon the action of the electrical current when applied to a boiler.
I believe that if a current always travels in one direction either way, the boiler is
injured; but that if alternating currents are used, their action is as follows.
When the current is passing from the electrode fixed within the boiler to the shell
of the latter, the water is decomposed, and the hydrogen gas is deposited upon the
inside face of the shell. This deposition has the effect of preventing corrosion and
the deposition of scale, and also of loosening any scale that may have been already
deposited upon the said inside face.
When the current is reversed, the decomposed water is re-formed. Corrosion of
the plates is thereby prevented, and the deposited scale is detached and falls to the
bottom of the boiler in the form of fine mud, so that its expulsion by the well-known
practice of blowing off is rendered easily practicable.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I employ a rod or plate of iron,
copper, or other suitable conductor, supported or suspended at a proper height within
the boiler. This rod or plate is parily covered with a coating of zinc, or other suitable
conductor. The connection of this rod or plate, which acts as an electrode, is of such
a kind that it shall be permanently and effectually insulated from the boiler-shell.
The boiler-shell and the electrode are, respectively, connected to the alternating
apparatus, and this, on its part, is connected to the poles of the battery.
I do not confine myself to any particular type of battery, or generator of electricity:
but may use any of suitable construction, according to the special requirements
of any particular installation to which it is desired to apply the present invention.
The alternating apparatus may be operated from the engine; by the motion of the
vessel (if the invention is fixed to a marino boiler); by clockwork; or by any other
suitable and convenient agency.

page_text: The accompanying figure is a diagrammatic illustration of my invention.
A is the engine; B, dynamo; C, an alternating apparatus driven from the engine,
or by other suitable means; D, the boilers; and E, the electrodes.
Supposing that the current is flowing from the electrode to the boiler, it is then,
according to the action of electricity as explained above, depositing hydrogen gas upon
the internal face thereof; and, consequently, loosening the scale deposited thereupon,
and preventing corrosion.
At a given moment, the current is reversed by the alternating apparatus, and flows
from the boiler to the electrode. The loosened scale is thereupon forced from the shell
in the form of powder, and falls to the bottom of the boiler as mud.
It is evident that the time between the alternations of the current, as well as the
relative durations of the respective currents from boiler to electrode and from electrode
to boiler, can be regulated by suitable adjusting devices incorporated on the alternating
apparatus.
1 insert a galvanometer in the circuit for the purpose of showing at a glance to the
engineer in charge, whether the apparatus is working properly or not.
I do not confine myself to the number of circuits with one boiler.
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. The combination of battery, or other apparatus for generating electricity:
electrode boiler shell; and alternating apparatus; substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described with reference to the accompanying diagram.
2. Passing an alternated current of electricity through a boiler for the purpose of
preventing corrosion and removing scale substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.