Improvements in Apparatus for Condensing Steam.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1898-Accepted, 30th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Condensing Steam.
I, THOMAS ROBERTS MURRAY, of The Crown Iron Works, North Woodside
Road, in the County of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:
-
My said invention has for its object the condensing of steam by means of im-
proved apparatus which is advantageously applicable in many cases, and especially
in cases in which the economising of water is a matter of importance.
In carrying out my invention I provide an external casing of a vertical cylin-
drical or other convenient simple form. Within the casing I arrange a series of
steam spaces, which may, for example be cylindrical and concentric, each steam
space being enclosed by a pair of sheets of thin copper or other thin metal which is
by preference corrugated. The steam inlet pipe is connected to the tops of the
steam spaces; and an outlet is connected to the bottom of them for the water due
to condensation, the outlet being connected to a pump for withdrawing water and
air.
Within the steam spaces bars or blocks are fixed and placed so as to cause the
steam to take a tortuous course. An upward current of air is, by a blower, or
otherwise, made to pass over the outer surfaces of the metal forming the steam
spaces; and at the same time water is made to drip down over the same surfaces,-
such water collecting in the lower part of the casing from which it is pumped up
to an elevated tank.
Dated this Eighth day of Sentember 1807
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Condensing Steam.
I, THOMAS ROBERTS MURRAY, of The Crown Iron Works, North Woodside
Road, in the County of Glasgow, North Britain, 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, that is
to say:-
My said invention has for its object the condensing of steam by means of im-
proved apparatus which is advantageously applicable in many cases and especially
in cases in which the economising of water is a matter of importance.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same

page_text: may be properly understood I hereunto append three sheets of explanatory draw-
ings to be hereinafter referred to showing various modifications of my improve-
ments.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings is a plan and Figure, 2,
is a vertical section of my improvements as made according to one modification.
Figures, 3, and 4, on Sheet, 2, are vertical sections as at right angles to each other
of a second modification, Figures, 5, and 6, being respectively a vertical section,
and a side elevation of details drawn to a larger scale. Figures, 7, and 8, on
Sheet, 3, are views similar to Figures, 3, and 4, of a third modification. In these
drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out my invention according to the first modification as shown in
Figures, 1, and 2, I provide an external casing, A, of a vertical cylindrical form.
Within the casing, A, I arrange a series of steam spaces, B, which are cylindrical,
and concentric, each steam space being enclosed by a pair of sheets, C, of thin
copper or other suitable thin metal which is by preference corrugated. The top
and bottom ends of each pair of sheets, C, enclosing a steam space, B, are closed
also the vertical ends except where inlet and outlet spaces are left, and the series
of sheets are suitably supported on a stool, D, fixed within the casing, A. The
steam inlet pipe, E, is connected to the tops of the steam spaces, B, and an outlet
coil, F, which acts as a further condensing agent, is connected to the bottom of
them for the water due to condensation, the outlet pipe, F, being connected to a
pump (not shown) for withdrawing water and air. Within the steam spaces, B,
any desired number of bars or blocks, G, are fixed and placed so as to cause the
steam to take a tortuous course in its passage through the steam spaces. An up-
ward current of air is by a fan, H, or otherwise made to pass over the outer sur-
faces of the metal sheets, C, forming the steam spaces, B, the back of the casing, A,
near the lower part being curved to make the air current take an upward direction;
a central air deflector, H 1, being also provided for causing the air current to ascend
effectively over the surfaces of the metal sheets. Water is at the same time made
to overflow through slots, J, in tops of overhanging pipes, J 1, and drip down from
bottom edge of guide strips J 4, over the outer surfaces of the metal sheets, C,
such water collecting in the lower part of the casing, A, from which it is pumped
up by a circulating pump, K, through a pipe K 1, to an elevated
tank, L, which communicates, through a depending pipe or box, L 1, with the over-
hanging pipes. To make up for any loss in the cooling water caused by evapora-
tion, a supplementary supply of water from any source may be admitted through a
pipe, M, to the lower part of the casing, A.
In the second modification shown in Figures, 3, and 4, the apparatus is made of
rectangular form, and two series of steam spaces, B, are arranged within the
casing, A. There may be only one of these series of steam spaces, B, or more than
two if desired. The top and bottom of each pair of sheets, C, enclosing a steam
space, B, are closed the ends also being closed by vertical bars, N, N1, except at
parts hereinafter described, and each series is supported on transverse horizontal
girders, D, carried in the casing, A. The steam inlet pipe, E, is connected to a
steam chest, P, extending across at the top of the casing, A, and openings are
formed through the vertical bars, N, opposite the steam chest, to permit the steam
to enter the steam spaces, B, bars or blocks, G, being fixed in the steam spaces as
in the previous modification. Openings in the bottom of the vertical bars, N, of
the upper series of steam spaces, B, communicate through a second chest, R 1,
with similar openings in the top of the vertical bars, N, of the second series of steam
spaces, B, and an outlet pipe, F, is connected to the bottom of this series of steam
spaces for the water due to condensation, the outlet pipe being connected to a pump
(not shown) for withdrawing water and air. The cooling water which may descend
from an elevated tank (L) or may be pumped direct to the inlet pipe, Q, passes
from that pipe to horizontal pipes, Q1, one extending along behind each series of
steam spaces, B, from which pipes it rises through a number of short pipes, Q2,

page_text: fitted with stopcocks to a corresponding number of pipes, J 1, one extending longi-
tudinally over each pair of metal sheets, C, enclosing a steam space, B. The water
passes from each of these pipes, J 1, through an opening, J (Figures, 5, and 6)
extending along its upper surface and drips down over the outer surfaces of the
metal sheets, C, as previously described. These pipes, J 1, are each held in posi-
tion by metal straps, J 2, and bolts, J 3, as shown in Figures, 5, and 6. The supple-
mentary supply pipe, M, may be connected to the horizontal pipe, Q1, extending
behind the lower series of steam spaces, B, or if preferred to the pipe behind the
upper series, or it may be led directly into the water collected in the lower part of
the casing, A, as in the first modification hereinbefore described.
In the third modification shown in Figures, 7, and 8, the apparatus has three
series of steam spaces, B, arranged within the casing, A, the top series being fixed
in the upper part of the casing and the middle and bottom series in the lower part,
and a single bar, G, is fixed within each steam space. In this arrangement the
top and middle series of steam spaces are connected by a pipe, P2, and the middle
and bottom series are connected by casings, P3, and P 4, fixed on the ends of the
steam spaces, an outlet pipe, F, being connected to the bottom of the bottom series
of steam spaces for withdrawing the water due to condensation.
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. In apparatus for condensing steam the combination of one or more series of
steam spaces within an outer casing, each space being formed by a pair of metal.
sheets divided by a number of bars or blocks, pipes having openings along their
upper surfaces and extending along one above each steam space from which pipes
water overflows and drips down over the outer surfaces of the metal sheets, and
means for causing an upward current of air to pass over the descending film of
water on the outer surfaces of the metal sheets, also a supplementary water supply
connection substantially as herein before described with reference to any of the
modifications shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for condensing steam, having steam spaces within an outer
casing, the combination of pipes having openings along their upper surfaces and
extending along one above each steam space from which pipes water overflows and
drips down over the outer surfaces of the metal sheets; and means for causing an
upward current of air to pass over the descending film of water on the outer sur-
faces of the metal sheets also a supplementary water supply connection substan-
tially as herein before described with reference to any of the modifications shown
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Seventh day of June 1898
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.