Improved Method of and Apparatus for Effecting the Condensation and Purification of Steam and other Condensible Vapours.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Effecting the Condensation
and Purification of Steam and other Condensible Vapours.
I, EDUARD THEISEN, of Sinzig on the Rhine, Germany, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has mainly for its object to effect the condensation of steam or
vapour of water in such manner that instead of conveying the water resulting
from the condensation of steam as it comes from the steam engine or other
apparatus where it was used, directly into the boiler or other apparatus in which
it was generated or where it is to be used whereby it is liable to carry a con-
siderable quantity of impurities, such as oil from the engine cylinders, with it into
the boiler, I cause such water of condensation to be re-evaporated in effecting the
surface condensation of steam in conjunction with an air blast, and then to be
recondensed and conveyed into the boiler. By this means I not only obtain a
perfectly pure supply for the boiler, but also, the heat is utilised in the most
economic manner possible; as the water evaporated in the surface condenser
instead of being carried off into the atmosphere, as is usually done, is condensed
and utilised.
For the above purpose, I, in the first case, condense the steam by a construc-
tion of surface condenser, by preference such as was described in the Specification to
my Patent No. 5142 of 1890, in which the steam is made to pass through pipes,
over which water is made to flow, while at the same time a current of air at a
different temperature is brought by a fan into intimate contact with the wet
condensing surfaces, so as to evaporate and take up the moisture, and the air
currents so charged with moisture, I then cause to pass through an apparatus in
which the aqueous vapour is condensed out of the air, and is then pumped back
into the boiler, while as before stated, the water resulting from the direct conden-
sation of the exhaust steam from the engine is made to flow over the pipes of
the first named, surface condenser, to be again evaporated.
By this means it will be seen that not only is a perfectly pure supply of water
to the boiler insured, but the heat of the exhaust steam is effectually utilised, as
the aqueous vapour produced thereby, being condensed, constitutes the. feed water
of the boiler.
The above mentioned second condensing apparatus may be of any suitable con-
struction for condensing the aqueous vapour from the air. Thus it may consist.of
a series of concentric metal cylinders or tubes offering narrow annular spaces through
which the air and aqueous vapour are made to pass; the walls of these cylinders
being in contact with the atmosphere are maintained by conduction at a lower
temperature than the entering air and vapour, the latter will be to a large extent
condensed in contact therewith. The water thus condensed is then fed back into
the boiler by a pump, while the water of condensation withdrawn from the
evaporative surface condenser is supplied by the air pump into a tank, from which it
is made to flow over the condensing pipes as described.
According to one arrangement of such before mentioned concentric cylinders,
they are placed horizontally and carried by a shaft by which a slow rotary motion
is imparted to them. The water condensing from the air passing through flows to
the lowest part of the cylinders where a certain portion is retained by end flanges,
while the remainder overflows into a receptacle, below. Thus, the cylinders in
revolving have their surfaces with which the currents of moist air are brought
in contact," kept wet, whereby the condensation of the watery vapour from the
air is facilitated. Instead of arranging the concentric cylinders with narrow

page_text: annular spaces between them, such spaces may be made wider, and on the outer
and inner surfaces of the cylinders may be formed or fixed longitudinal ribs or
projections for increasing the moistened surfaces with which the moist air is brought
into contact.
According to another arrangement, the concentric cylinders are placed vertically
and are stationary, the moist air entering the annular spaces at the lower end, so
that as it rises up the moisture is condensed upon the cylindrical surfaces, which
may either be plain or corrugated, or provided with ribs, the water flowing down
the surfaces into a receptacle below. Or the annular spaces may be formed into
helical passages by means of helically arranged partitions which may be of
trough shaped section, so that as the moist air flows upward along the helical
passages the moisture is condensed and flows downward in the helical troughs.
According to another arrangement, instead of having concentric cylinders as
described, a single cylindrical casing has a number of transverse perforated or wire
gauze partitions which may either be flat or corrugated, through which the air
with the aqueous vapour is made to flow so that the latter is condensed in coming
in contact with the partitions.
Or the cylindrical casing may be provided with a series of transverse discs
extending to near the inner periphery, and intermediate between these are annular
partitions extending from the periphery of the casing towards the centre; by
this means the air and aqueous vapour entering at one end of the casing are caused
to pass first from the centre outwards along one side of a disc, then through the
space between the disc and the casing to the other side of the former where they
travel back towards the centre in order to pass through the central opening of the
next annular partition, and so on alternately inwards and outwards between all
the partitions.
The spaces between these may be filled with metal plates or ribs or wire gauze
or perforated surfaces, along or through which the air and vapour have to pass,
whereby the vapour will be condensed. For accelerating the flow of the air and
vapour through the said tortuous passages a central shaft may be provided in the
casing carrying helical blades in the several passages so that by the rotation of the
shaft the air will be propelled through the passages.
The apparatus may also consist of tubes or chambers filled with suitable material
offering very extended surfaces for the air and vapour to come in contact with,
such as small pieces of coke and the like, or any other arrangement may be
employed in which extended surfaces cooled by conduction are offered to the air
and vapour.
In all the above arrangements the cooling of the surfaces that effect the con-
densation of the aqueous vapour may be assisted by introducing, either together
with the mixed air and aqueous vapour, or separately therefrom, a supply of cold
dry air blown in by a fan or blower.
It will be readily understood that my said invention is also applicable to other
purposes besides condensing the steam of steam engines.
Thus it may be used for economizing water in various evaporating processes,
such as for condensing and utilizing the aqueous vapour drawn off from vacuum
pans in the manufacture of sugar in localities where water is scarce.
In such cases the steam or aqueous vapour given off would also be condensed in
an evaporative surface condenser as above described, the water of condensation
being made to furnish the water flowing over the condenser pipes, while the water
produced by its secondary evaporation and condensation, is again employed in the
sugar boiling process, thus saving the water that would otherwise be lost in the
vapour carried off by the air blast in the evaporative surface condenser.
Dated this 17th day of June 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
5

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Effecting the Condensation
and Purification of Steam and other Condensible Vapours.
I, EDUARD THEISEN, of Sinzig on the Rhine, 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:-
My invention has mainly for its object to effect the condensation of steam or
vapour of water in such manner that instead of conveying the water resulting from
the condensation of steam as it comes from the steam engine or other apparatus
where it was used directly into the boiler or other apparatus in which it was
generated or where it is to be used, whereby it is liable to carry a considerable
quantity of impurities such as oil from the engine cylinders, with it into the boiler,
cause such water of condensation to be re-evaporated in effecting the surface
condensation of steam in conjunction with an air blast, and then to be recondensed
and conveyed into the boiler. By this means I not only obtain a perfectly pure
supply for the boiler, but also, the heat is utilised in the most economic manner
possible, as the water evaporated in the surface condenser, instead of being carried
off into the atmosphere, as is usually done is condensed and utilised.
For the above purpose I, in the first place, condense the steam by a construction
of surface condenser, by preference such as was described in the Specifications to
my Patent No. 5142 of 1890 and to my application No. 10616 of 1891 in which the
steam is made to pass through pipes, over which water is made to flow, while at the
same time a current of air at a different temperature is brought by a fan into
intimate contact with the wet condensing surface, so as to evaporate and take up
the moisture, and the air currents so charged with moisture I then cause to pass
through an apparatus in which the aqueous vapour is condensed out of the air, and
is then pumped back into the boiler, while as before stated, the water resulting
from the direct condensation of the exhaust steam from the engine is made to flow
over the pipes of the surface condenser, to be again evaporated.
By this means it will be seen that not only is a perfectly pure supply of water to
the boiler insured, but the heat of the exhaust steam is effectually utilized, as the
aqueous vapour produced thereby, being condensed, constitutes the feed water of the
boiler.
The above mentioned second condensing apparatus may be of any suitable con-
struction for condensing the aqueous vapour from the air. Thus it may consist of
a series of concentric metal cylinders or tubes offering narrow annular spaces
through which the air and aqueous vapour are made to pass; the walls of these
cylinders being in contact with the atmosphere, are maintained by conduction at a
lower temperature than the entering air and vapour, the latter will be to a large
extent condensed in contact therewith. The water thus condensed is then fed back
into the boiler by a pump, while the water of condensation withdrawn from the
evaporative surface condenser is supplied by the air pump into a tank, from which
it is made to flow over the condensing pipes as described. Or other arrangements
such as will be hereinafter described may be employed.
It will be readily understood that my said invention is also applicable to other
purposes besides condensing the steam of steam engines. Thus it may be used for
economizing water in various evaporating processes such as for condensing and
utilizing the aqueous vapour drawn off from vacuum pans in the manufacture of
sugar in localities where water is scarce.
In such cases the steam or aqueous vapour given off would also be condensed in
an evaporative surface condenser as above described, the water of condensation
being made to furnish the water flowing over the condenser pipes, while the water
produced by its secondary evaporation and condensation, is again employed in the

page_text: sugar boiling process, thus saving the water that would otherwise be lost in the
vapour carried off by the air blast in the evaporative surface condenser.
The accompanying drawings shew, by way of example, one arrangement of
apparatus for carrying out my above described method of operating, as applied to
the condensation of the exhaust steam of a steam engine.
Fig. 1 shews a plan view of the combined apparatus,
Figure 2 shews a part side elevation.
Figs. 3 to 13 shew various constructions of the apparatus for effecting the
secondary condensation of steam by contact with heat absorbing surfaces.
In Figs. 1, and 2, A. is a steam boiler, supplying steam to the steam engine B.
From the latter the exhaust steam passes through pipe C to the evaporation surface
condenser D, constructed according to my Patent No. 5142% in which is a rotary
fan, driven by toothed gear E for propelling air drawn in through pipe K over
pipes into which the exhaust steam enters from the pipe C, and from which the
water of condensation passes off through pipe F to the air pump G. This air
pump, after drawing off the water of condensation from the condenser, supplies the
same through pipe H to a reservoir I, from which it flows through a pipe Jinto the
condenser D, in order there to be thrown by centrifugal action over the pipes
through which the exhaust steam is passing in order to be evaporated by the com-
bined action of the heat and the air blast. The resulting air current charged with
aqueous vapour is then led from the condenser D through the trunk Linto the
second condensing apparatus M, in which the aqueous vapour is condensed out of
the air currents by contact with extended heat absorbing surfaces.
This apparatus may be variously constructed for effecting this object, as will be
presently described; for aiding in the absorption of heat from the aqueous vapour
a fan N is made to blow cold external air in among the mixed air and aqueous
vapour passing through the trunk to the condenser M thereby absorbing heat both
from the metal surfaces and from the vapours.
The resulting secondary water of condensation is led from the condenser M by a
pipe O to a tank P, whence it is drawn by a suitable pump or injector and supplied
to the boiler A again through pipes Q. The air, freed more or less entirely from
the aqueous vapour, passes off through the trunk pipe R. Fig. 3 shews a longi-
tudinal section and Fig. 4 a cross section of a construction of the condenser M
which is substantially the same as that shewn at Figs. 1 and 2; it consists of an
outer shell a within which are a number of concentric cylindrical shells a² a³ a' a³
arranged so as to leave annular spaces between them for the passage of the air and
vapour and which are all secured together by suitable stays, while the central onė a³
is carried by a shaft b, which is driven by a pulley and belt from the engine so as to
cause them all to rotate slowly together."
The arrangement shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 only differs from this in that the outer
casing is supported with neck bearings at the ends carried by suitable rollers S, and
is rotated by a belt T; the ends of the outer shell are in both arrangements made
to fit with stuffing boxes over the ends of the trunks L and R.
The inner shells a² a³ &c. are formed with flanges c c at their ends so that as the
aqueous vapour passing in contact with their surfaces together with the air as
indicated by the arrows, condenses, it collects to the height of such flanges in each
of the shells as also in the bottom of the outer shell a'; as the shells are rotated by
the shaft b, their surfaces are consequently kept continuously wet by the said water,
and they thus exercise a more favourable condensing action on the aqueous vapour
passing in contact therewith than if they were dry. As the water of condensation
accumulates, it overflows the inner shells into the outer onė a', and from this it is
discharged by a pipe d as this travels over the curved trough e from which it is led
by pipe O to the tank P Figs. 1 and 2. The trunk L has a branch L¹ through
which cold external air is either merely drawn in by the current passing through L,
or it may be forced in by a fan as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the
quantity being regulated by a throttle valvė f.
This cold air supply absorbs heat both from the cylindrical shells and from the

page_text: aqueous vapour and thus assists the condensation of the latter. Figs. 5 and 6 shew
respectively a longitudinal section and a cross section of a modification of the above
described arrangement in which the cylindrical shells a¹ a² a³ are at a greater
distance from each other and have inner and outer longitudinal ribs g for
increasing the heat absorbing surfaces, the water of condensation being discharged
through the pipe d during the time that this passes over the curved trough e as
before.
Figs. 7 and 8 shew respectively a vertical section and a cross section of an
arrangement in which the concentric cylindrical shells a' a² a³ &c. are arranged
vertically, and are stationary, being connected to the supply trunk L at bottom and
to the discharge trunk R at top. The annular spaces between the shells may either
be quite free as shewn at the inner ones a³ a', so that the air and vapour pass
straight up through them as indicated by the arrows, or they may be formed into
helical or zigzag passages by the trough-shaped helical partitions h h, so that the
vapour and air have to pass up in a helical direction through them, the resulting
water of condensation being made to flow down into the trough i at bottom, whence
it is discharged through the pipe j.
The shells may either be plain, cylindrical or corrugated as indicated in Fig. 8.
In the modification shown in vertical section and cross section at Figs. 9 and 10,
the inner shells are dispensed with, and. in lieu thereof are provided a number of
horizontal diaphragms kk of perforated metal or open-mesh wire gauze, which offer
very extended heat absorbing surfaces for the condensation of the vapour as it rises
through them. The diaphragms may either be flat or corrugated or dished, as
shewn; the water of condensation flows down into the trough i as before.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 shew respectively a vertical section, and cross sections on
lines and y y of an arrangement, in which the casing is divided by partitions m n
extending alternately from a revolving shaft t at the centre to near the circum-
ference and from the circumference towards the centre, thus forming zig-zag
passages extending from bottom to top of the casing for the air and vapour to pass
through. In these passages are arranged variously formed metallic surfaces in
contact with which the vapour is made to pass; thus at o o they consist of con-
centric cylinders of perforated metal or wire gauze attached to the partition m
through which the vapour has to pass; at p p they consist of annular plates of metal,
either plain or corrugated, between which the vapour passes; at 99 they consist,
on the left hand side, of perforated or wire gauze cylinders g¹ carried by the disc
shaped partition m and arranged intermediatly between other perforated or wire
gauze cylinders 9 projecting respectively from the upper and lower partitions n
and leaving sufficient space between them for the partition m to revolve in. On
the right hand side, the filling consists of the same parts but of solid metal instead
of perforated or wire gauze, so that in this case the air and vapour have to pass in
the zigzag direction indicated by the arrows.
Atrare shewn the same kind of filling, but with intermediate vanes ss which
in revolving with the partition m have a centrifugal action upon the air and
vapour, accelerating their passage through the casing. Such passage may also be
accelerated by fixing upon the revolving shaft t suitably shaped blades or vanes u u.
L is as before the inlet trunk, L¹ the branch inlet for cold air, and R the discharge
trunk.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of obtaining pure water of condensation from steam or aqueous
vapour discharged from a steam engine or other apparatus, wherein firstly such
steam is condensed in an evaporative surface condenser the outer surface of which
is acted upon by currents of air and by the water of condensation derived from the
said surface condenser, and secondly, such air charged with the resulting aqueous

page_text: '
vapour is passed in contact with heat absorbing surfaces which effect the con-
densation of the aqueous vapour without the use of additional water, substantially
as described.
2. For effecting the double condensation of steam or aqueous vapour, the com-
bination of an evaporative surface condenser, an air pump withdrawing the water
of condensation from such evaporative surface condenser, and delivering the same
into a tank, a pipe connecting such tank with the said evaporative surface con-
denser, for supplying the water to be evaporated therein, a second condensing
apparatus having extended heat absorbing surfaces, and a tube or passage connecting
the said evaporative surface condenser with the said heat absorbing apparatus
through which the air and aqueous vapour given off by the evaporative condenser
is made to pass so as to condense the vapour by contact with the heat absorbing
surfaces of the said apparatus, substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for condensing steam or vapour without the use of additional
refrigerating water consisting of a series of horizontal concentric cylinders having
narrow annular spaces between them through which the steam or vapour is made
to pass, said cylinders being provided with flanges at their ends for retaining a
portion of the water of condensation in their lower parts, and having rotary motion
imparted to them so as to maintain their surfaces in a wet condition, substantially
as described.
4. In apparatus for condensing steam or vapour without the use of additional
refrigerating water, the combination of a number of horizontal revolving concentric
cylinders having narrow annular spaces between them and provided with inward
directed flanges at their ends to retain water therein, inlets at one end for the
vapour to be condensed and for a supply of cold external air, an outlet at the other
end for the discharge of air and uncondensed vapour, one or more outlets in the
outer cylinder for discharging the water of condensation, and a trough for receiving
the discharge from such outlets, substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for condensing steam or vapour such as is referred to in Claims 3
and 4 providing radial ribs between the concentric shells for increasing the heat
absorbing surfaces, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the
drawings.
6. Apparatus for condensing steam or vapour without the use of additional
refrigerating water consisting of stationary vertical concentric shells a¹ a² a³ &c.
connected at bottom to the supply trunk L for the combined air and condensible
vapour, and with a branch L' for cold air supply, while at the upper end they are
connected to the discharge trunk R, the condensed water being collected in an
annular trough j, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 7 and 8 of the
drawings.
7. Apparatus for condensing steam or vapour without the use of additional
refrigerating water consisting of a stationary vertical shell M having a series of
horizontal perforated or wire gauze diaphragms k, and connected at bottom to the
supply trunk L for the combined air and condensible vapour and with a branch L'
for cold air supply, while at the upper end it is connected to the discharge trunk R,
the condensed water being collected in an annular trough j, substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings.
8. Apparatus for condensing steam or vapour without the use of additional
refrigerating water consisting of a stationary vertical casing connected at bottom
to the supply trunk L for the combined air and condensible vapour, and with a
branch L for cold air supply, while at the upper end it is connected to the
discharge trunk R, the interior of the casing being provided with partitions m m
forming zigzag passages in which are perforated or otherwise formed plates offering
very extended heat absorbing surfaces with which the combined air and vapour
passing through the passages brought in contact substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 11, 12 and 13 of the drawings.
9. In combination with the condensing apparatus referred to in the preceding

page_text: claim, the use of a vertical revolving shaft passing centrally through the casing and,
carrying fan blades or equivalent appliances for propelling the air and vapour
through the zigzag passages substantially as described.
Dad 5th Wahman 1802
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.