Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Oil from Steam and other Gaseous Fluids.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, .31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Oil from Steam and
other Gaseous Fluids.
We, JOSEPH SAMUEL LOVERING WHARTON, of York Yoad, Philadelphia,
and WILLIAM. S. HALLOWELL, of Wyncote, Montgomery County, both in the
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturers, 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 invention relates to the separation of oil from steam or other fluids in a gaseous
condition, especially exhaust steam coming from cylinders jacketed with steam at
a higher temperature than the steam in the engine cylinder, and Ihave found that
by introducing a proper amount of water directly into the inlet pipe or conduit, so
that it will come in contact with the inner surface of said pipe, and condense. the
steam directly in contact with said surface, the condensed steam and water so
formed will become commingled with the oil in the steam, destroying, its adhesive
qualities, and giving a tangible body for the baffle plates within. the separator to
act upon, and to this end, the invention consists in providing a steam inlet pipe of
a separator with a suitable trap or compartment, which extends around the interior:
of the inlet pipe, and is adapted to receive water or other cooling, fluid so that
condensation takes place, and the water and oil contained in the incoming steam
will be effectively separated therefrom, the passage to said trap being slightly..
deflected from the path of the incoming steam.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure represents a side elevation partly in section of an attachment for a
steam separator and its adjuncts embodying iny invention..
Figure 2-represents a side elevation partly in section of a modified construction.
Figure 3 represents a section online x, x. Figure 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.
In the drawings, referring first to Figure 1, A designates a separator of any
suitable construction, B the inlet pipe, C the outlet pipe, and D the drip well which
communicates with the separator A through the neck E.
F designates a tank which is in communication with the well. D through the
medium of the pipe G, in which is located the valve H. Jdesignates a pipe leading
from the upper portion of the tank F to the outlet pipe C, said pipe having a
valve K therein.
L designates a pipe leading from said pipe J at a point between the valve K
and the tank F, said pipe 'L being provided with a valve M. 'N designates an
outlet pipe leading from the lower portion of the tank F, and provided with a
valve N.
°
P designates a pipe section which has one end connected with the separator-A,
while the other end has a flange Q which has an extension on the other side thereof,
in which is located the recess R, the same being provided with the walls S and T,
while, the extremity P of said,pipe P, terminates in the path of the, incoming steam,
and is.substantially, conical or of similar shape.
U designates a fitting or pipe section whose construction will be apparent from
Figure 1, the same having an enlarged portion V and the interior channel or
gutter W, which when the parts are assembled, is. adjacent to said.recess R, ia
chamber or trap W' thus being formed, to which access is had from the interior.of.
,

page_text: the steam inlet pipe through the medium of the passage X, it being evident that
the sections P and U are preferably made in one casting.
Y designates a pipe leading from the trap W' to the lower portion of the well D,
said pipe conducting the water and oil thereinto.
Z designates a pipe leading into said chamber W. whereby water or other cooling
fluid may be conducted thereinto.
In Figures 2 and 3, A¹ designates another construction, the same consisting of
the separator B' from the lower portion of which communication is had by the
conduit B' with the tank C', the water, oil, or the like settling in the latter, being
drawn off by any suitable means.
F¹ designates the discharge pipe, and K' designates the inlet pipe of the
separator, which latter may be provided at any suitable point with an enlargement
or swell L', the extent of which will be understood from Figure 2, said pipe K¹
having secured therein adjacent to said enlargement, a hollow partially cylindrical
shell N', whose edge P' is extended so as to be adjacent to or project for a
short distance beyond the shoulder or ledge Q', a slight passage being thereby
formed between the free end P of said shell and the interior of the pipe K'
at said point Q', a chamber R' being formed between the shell N₁ and the
enlargement L'.
R¹ designates an inlet pipe for water or other cooling fluid, which may be
provided with a suitable valve.
The operation is as follows: reference being first had to Figure 1, in which it
will be seen that the incoming steam which contains the oil and other impurities
enters the pipe B, and the oil, which has a tendency to travel along the
interior surface or periphery of the inlet pipe or conduit B, will be intercepted by
the extremity P¹ when the same is reached, and will thus be caused to travel by
means of the passage X into the compartment or trap W', at which point it will be
subjected to the influence of the cooling fluid which enters through the pipe Z, and
a slight condensation will take place, the water, oil, or the like being collected in
the trap W1, and afterwards carried off by the.drain pipe Y into the well D, while
the remaining impurities remain in the steam and will be effectively removed
by the baffle plates or similar devices within the separator.
In the construction seen in Figures 2 and 3, water is introduced by means of the
pipe R into the chamber R, thence into the interior of the conduit K', the water
falling upon the shell N' and dropping therefrom at about the point Q', thereby
condensing to a slight degree the incoming steam at points near the inner periphery
of the conduit K', the oil being taken up by the slight precipitation of water from
the condensed steam, and being effectively separated from the latter in the
separator B¹
The operation of the connections G, J, L, N and their adjuncts is as follows:
When the separator is working, valves H and K are open, and valves M and N'
closed, and the oil and water separated from the steam fall by gravity into the
tank F, air being drawn therefrom by the pipe J into the pipe C. When it is
desired to empty the tank F, the valves H and K are closed, and the valves M
and N opened, whereupon by reason of the atmospheric pressure upon the interior
of said tank, the contents of the latter flow out by gravity to any desired point.
After the tank is emptied the valves M and N are closed, and the valve K
opened, whereupon the current of steam rushing through the pipe C will create a
vacuum in the tank F, and the valve H being opened once more, the contents of the
well D can freely descend into said tank F, since the excess of pressure has been
removed therefrom through the pipe J.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. A steam separator, an inlet pipe therefor, having a chamber or trap located
within the same, and in communication with a current of incoming steam, a

page_text: connection therefrom to the drip well of the separator, and an inlet pipe for
introducing a cooling fluid into said trap, substantially as described.
2nd. The steam separator A, having inlet pipes B, U, and P, a chamber or
trap W', formed between the two latter, said chamber being in communication
with the inlet pipe B by means of the passage X, the inlet pipe Z, and the
outlet pipe Y leading to the drip well of the separator, substantially as
described.
3rd. The steam separator A, inlet and outlet pipes B and C, the drip well D, in
communication with said separator, a tank F in communication with said drip well,
the valved connections G, J, and L, the pipe sections U and P, means for holding
the same in position, the trap W', a passage X in communication therewith, and
with the inlet pipe, a water inlet Z, and a drain pipe Y common to said trap and
drip well, substantially as described.
4th. In a device of the character described, an inlet pipe, a pipe projecting
thereinto, and having its edge in the path of the incoming steam, and a chamber or
trap adjacent to said edge, in combination with a passage leading into the inlet pipe
therefrom and means for introducing a cooling fluid into said chamber, substantially
as described.
5th. In combination with a separator, a steam inlet pipe therefor having secured
to the interior thereof a curved or bent shell, one edge or portion of the latter
being open to the incoming steam, and means for introducing water or other
cooling fluid into said steam pipe adjacent to said shell, substantially as
described.
6th. In combination with a separator, the inlet pipe K¹ having an enlarged
portion L, a shell N₁ secured within said pipe thereby forming a chamber R',
and means for conducting a cooling fluid into said chamber, substantially as
described.
7th. A steam separator, a drip tank, a valved connection intermediate to the
same, a valved outlet for said drip tank, and means for creating a vacuum in the
latter substantially as described.
8th. A steam separator, a drip tank, a valved connection intermediate to the
same, a valved outlet for said drip tank, and means for introducing atmospheric
pressure into the latter, substantially as described.
9th. A steam separator, a drip tank, a valved drip pipe leading from said
separator to said tank, a valved outlet for the latter, means for introducing
atmospheric pressure into said tank, and means for creating a vacuum in the latter,
substantially as described.
10th. A separator, a steam inlet and outlet, and a well therefor, a drip tank
having a valved outlet, a pipe intermediate to said tank and well, a valved pipe
leading from said steam outlet to said tank, and means for admitting atmospheric
pressure into the latter, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st dom of Manal 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.