Improved Apparatus for Evaporating Water or other Liquids by Means of Steam.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1898
Complete Specification-Left, 21st Aug., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Evaporating Water or other Liquids by
Means of Steam.
I, JAMES DAVIE, of 69, Albert Drive, Crosshill, Glasgow, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus, for the evaporation of water,
or other liquids, by means of steam; and has for its object a combination of parts
that will give strength with the least possible weight of material; have no internal
steam or water joints; be easily cleaned; and have large area for ebullition at
water-line.
The heating surface, (when only one coil is used) in this improved apparatus,
consists of a solid-drawn tube coiled in the form of a sphere, radiating from a
point on or about the centre of the casing containing it; and the ends of the tube,
which form the inlet and outlet to the coil, will be brought in line with its
vertical axis, so that when the coil is put in position in the casing it can be
turned round on its vertical axis.
The
In the smaller apparatuses, only one coil is required, and its casing will be a
hollow sphere, made in halves, parted through its vertical axis, or near thereto;
and the halves will be connected together by bolts or other suitable means, one
half will be movable and the other fixed to a wall or other suitable erection.
fixed half will have a trunnion top and bottom to receive the ends of the coil. When
the movable half is taken away one-half of the coil will project beyond the
vertical plane of the fixed half, in which position it can be easily cleaned, when
this is done, it can be turned round, about one half revolution when the other.
half will be exposed in the same manner and can be conveniently cleaned.
In the larger apparatuses two or more coils will be fitted and the casing will be
a hollow ellipsoid made in halves and otherwise similar to that described above.
On the top of the fixed half of casing a steam receiver of any suitable form may be
attached when necessary.
The inlet and outlet ends of the coils are connected to their respective valves or
pipes by couplings so arranged that the coils can be turned round on their vertical
axis without having to disconnect them from these connections.
When more than one coil is fitted in the apparatus, the steam generated in the
apparatus may be passed through one or more of the coils, while steam from any
other source can be passed through the others, by this means the steam
generated in the apparatus can be condensed to give distilled water for drinking
or other purposes.
Dated this 19th day of November 1898.

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Evaporating Water or other Liquids by
Means of Steam.
I, JAMES DAVIE, 45, Hope Street, Glasgow, Engineer, late of 69, Albert Drive,
Crosshill, Glasgow, 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: ―
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the evaporation of water,
or other liquids, by means of steam and has for its object a combination of parts,
that will give strength with the least possible weights of material, have no internal
steam or water joints; be easily cleaned; and have large area for ebullition at
water-line.
The heating surface (when only one coil is used) in this improved apparatus,
consists of a solid drawn tube coiled in the form of a sphere, radiating from a
point on, or about the centre of the casing containing it; and the ends of the tube,
which form the inlet and outlet to the coil, will be brought in line with its
vertical axis, so that when the coil is put in position in the casing it can be
turned round on its vertical axis.
In the smaller apparatus, only one coil is required and its casing will be a
hollow sphere made in halves, parted through its vertical axis or near thereto;
and the halves will be connected together by bolts or other suitable means, one
half will be movable and the other fixed to a wall or other suitable erection. The
fixed half will have a trunnion top and bottom to receive the ends of the coil. When
the movable half, is taken away one-half of the coil will project beyond the
vertical plane of the fixed half in which position it can be easily cleaned, when
this is done, it can be turned round about one half revolution when the other
half will be exposed in the same manner and can be conveniently cleaned. In the
larger apparatuses two or more coils will be fitted; and the casing will be a hollow
ellipsoid made in halves and otherwise similar to that described above. On the
top of the fixed half of casing a steam receiver of any suitable form may be
attached when necessary. The inlet and outlet ends of the coils are connected to
their respective valves or pipes by couplings so arranged that the coils can be
turned round on their vertical axis without having to disconnect them from these
connections.
When more than one coil is fitted in the apparatus, the steam generated in the
apparatus may be passed through one or more of the coils, while steam from any
other source can be passed through the other, by this means the steam
generated in the apparatus can be condensed to give distilled water for drinking
or other purposes.
The invention is disclosed in the following specification of which the accom-
panying drawings form a part in which I will now refer for purposes of illustration
in which on Sheet No. 1:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved evaporating apparatus
the main casing being shewn in central vertical section.
Figure 2, a similar view at right angles to Figure 1, with one side of the main
casing removed.
Figure 3, is a plan view.
On Sheet No. 2,
Figure 4, is a view similar to Figure 2, shewing a modification part of the
construction being shewn in section.
On Sheet No. 3,

page_text: Figure 5, is a view similar to Figure 1, shewing another modification ;
Figures 6 and 7, sectional details of the construction.
On Sheet No. 4,
Figure 8, is a view similar to Figure 1, but not in section.
Figure 9, is a plan view.
Sheet No. 5,
Figure 10, a front view part of the casing being removed, of another modification
of this apparatus.
'
In the drawing forming part of this specification, the separate parts of my
improvement is designated by letters of reference in each of the views and in the
practice of my invention, as shewn in Figures 1 to three inclusive, I provide a
main spherical casing A and A2, and the part A is provided with a side or bottom
bracket a by which it may be secured to a wall or other support; and at the point
where the parts of said casing meet, they are provided each with a flange a², by
which they are bolted together as shewn at a³. The part A is provided at the top
and bottom thereof with tubular collars (or trunnions) a* and a respectively.
Within the main casing composed of the parts A and A2 is placed a steam coil B,
which is also substantially spherical in form and one end of the pipe is provided
with an upwardly directed section and the other with a downwardly directed
section, and these sections may be formed integrally with or separate from,
and be connected with the main coil B.
The end sections and 2 of the coil B are in line with the vertical axis of the
main casing, so that when the coil B is in position in said casing, it may be turned
on its vertical axis.
The coil B is held in position by nuts, c &, and the section 62 of the coil B
is provided with a rigid collar c. and said coil is put in position by removing the
nuts and and unscrewing the nut c' and letting it drop down on the section b
of the coil B after which the said section b is passed upwards through the collar a
until the bottom section 2 can be inserted into the collar c³, when the coil B is let
down until it is supported by the collar and the nuts c³, & care screwed into
position.
A steam supply pipe D is connected with the coil B through the section b,
which is provided by a coupling d and said steam supply D is provided with a
valve, and the lower end of the section is provided with a coupling
which is connected a drainage pipe d provided with a valve d³.
with
The bottom of the main casing composed of the parts A and A2 is provided with
a blow off E and connected with one side of the main casing is a water gauge F,
and connected with the opposite side is a water supply regulating valve G.
Connected with the main casing and preferably mounted on the top thereof is a
steam drum H provided at the front with a gauge h, and said steam drum is placed
in communication with a water gauge F by means of a pipe f and is also provided
with a safety valve h loaded preferably to about twenty pounds per square inch,
of pressure, and at top of said drum is an exhaust valve J.
When this form of apparatus is at work, water is fed unremittingly (by
gravition, a pump, or other suitable means) through the pipe G and valves into
the main casing to make up the water that is being vaporised and constantly
removed from the apparatus. The feed arrangement keeps the casing filled up.
to a fixed water level, which just covers the coil.
Steam is admitted into the coils through the pipe D; and the flow of steam into
it is regulated by the valve this steam flowing constantly into and through the
coil B passes with its heat to the surrounding water, which is being constantly
fed into the casing, to replace the water vaporised by the steam in this coil.
The steam after passing through the coil B and having parted with its heat
to the surrounding water in the casing becomes water, and is drained off by the
pipe d, and conducted to the hot well to commingle with the feed water there, and
pass with it into the main boilers which are used with surface condensing engines
for marine and such like purposes.

page_text: The steam, on entering the coil B. will be at its full pressure and highest
temperature and will thus be surrounded at the water level in the casing by the
hotest water, where complete vaporisation takes place. As the steam flows
through the coil and gradually parts with its heat to the surrounding water, it
will be met by increasingly colder water until it reaches the bottom where it will ho
or, nearly at the temperature of the inlet fed water; which may be about from
60° to 80° Farht.
1
In practice, I find that the steam entering the coil at about 180 lbs. atmospheric
pressure after passing through this length of coil is condensed to water, which
Hows out of coil at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of about 150°
to 200° Farh
'I consider that the sperical form of casing in giving a larger surface area and
capacity, at water level, and a decreasingly smaller area and capacity towards the
bottom at which it is almost mil, makes a more efficient apparatus than any other
form, for this reason that the heated water and ebullient steam have every
freedom of rising to the surface, this not only ensures the efficiency of the
heating surface by allowing free circulation around it, but gives no cause for
priming, which is a most essential feature in an apparatus of this kind; as it is
well known to practical engineers that a steam generator with comparatively
large heating surface confined in a small space has necessary a small surface area
at water level, is very much given to priming, and find this to be the case
particularly in apparatuses intended for evaporating sea water at low pressure
for making up fresh water for feeding boilers at sea, consequently I have adopted
the sphere in my invention; which gives the largest possible surface area at water
level, proportionte to. heating surface with the least capacity of water in the
casing and further it is the strongest form that can be devised to resist either
internal or external pressure, which enables me to make the casing of the
apparatus with the least possible weight of material.
The steam generated collects in the steam drum H and escapes by the valve J
and is conducted by a pipe to the main surface condenser (when applied to engines
of this description) where it is condensed and increases the amount of feed water
for the boilers, or when required by cattle or for portable purposes, it is passed
through a separate condenser and stored in any suitable receptacle. In this form of
construction, steam is admitted to the coil B Fig. 4. at K and the same mode of
operation as described above with the single coil takes place and the water of
condensation passes from the said coil through the pipe and is by preference led
to the hot well of main engines to commingle with the feed water and be returned
to the boiler. But the steam generated in the apparatus, instead of being led to
the main surface condenser is taken from the steam drum H through the steam
pressure valve J into the pipe J from which it passes into the coil ³. The feed
water is admitted into the casing by means similar to that described above with
the single coil B, but by preference it is conducted into the centre of the sphere
formed by the coil B2 so that the coil water first comes in contact with the heating
surface of this coil.
The steam which is generated from the sea water in the casing by the high
pressure steam passing through the coil 133 collects in steam drum H, it is much
lower in pressure (about 5 to 10 lbs. per square inch above the atmosphere) than the
steam in coil B3 which raises it to the pressure to which the valve 12 is loaded;
when raised to the pressure it escapes into the coil B2, and will be at a much
higher temperature than the inlet water, which must first flow over its heating
surface. By this arrangement: the inlet feed water will absorb a great amount
of the heat from the steam passing through the coil 132 and become highly heated
and partly vaporised thereby before it meets the heating surface of the coil 133
through which the high pressure steam is passing which vaporises it to the
pressure required.
By this form of construction, I claim that a large economy in fuel is gained
by the inlet water absorbing heat from the vapor generated in the apparatus as

page_text: described, as otherwise it goes to waste. The drain from this coil B2 passes off
through the pipe and is sufficiently condensed to be led into the ships tanks or
large receptacle (unless required for immediate use) to cool and get aerated for
potable purposes or for use of cattle on board ship; when required for making up
feed water for the boilers it is led direct into the hot well of the engines.
In Figure 5, I have shewn a form of apparatus in which two or more coils are
employed one within another, these coils being designated by the reference
letters B and B³, and these coils are placed one within the other, and connected
with the tube sections band by, T heads, L and L² respectively, otherwise this
construction is the same as that shewn in Figure 1.
This form of apparatus is employed where a large heating surface is desired,
and the steam passes into both of the coils 134 and 15, and the water of condensation
passes off through the pipe the same as in Figure 1.
In Figures 6 and 7, have shewn on an enlarged scale two methods of con-
nections with the pipes and 2, one connection with the section bis shewn in
Figure 6, and with this construction the steam supply pipe D is provided at its
lower end with a conical head 12, which fits in the upper end of the screw threaded
portion of the pipe section b.
The construction shewn in Figure 7, is different from that herein before
described, and consists of a stuffing box and gland, formed as shewn to receive and
connect the steam and drain connections with top and bottom sections band b
of coil B.
In Figures 8, 9 and 10, I have shewn another modification in which the main
casing composed of the parts A and A2 is elongated, and two or more coils
136 and B7 are employed. These coils are placed in communication below the main
casing by a drainage pipe M provided with a valve m, and at the top by a steam
supply pipe m², having a valve m³. In this form, of construction the steam is
admitted to the coils B6 and B7, through the pipe me, and the water of condensation
passes off through the pipe M.
The main casing is also provided with a water supply m having a valve m³ and
with the gauge which is placed in communication with the drum H by the
pipe f, as in Figures 2 and 4.
The operation of this form of the apparatus is substantially the same as that
herein before described. In each of the forms of construction shewn and
described, except that shewn in Figure 4, the water to be condensed passes
through the evaporating coils, in the form of steam, which is condensed by the water
in the main casing, while in the form of construction shewn in Figure 4, the steam
formed from the water in said main casing is passed through one of the coils and is
itself condensed by the water entering main casing. In each of the forms, of
construction the part A² of the main casing is detachable, and in the large sizes
will be removed by handling gear, as shewn on Figure 10, and the coils in the
casing may be turned on their supports the object of this construction being
to facilitate the cleaning of said coils.
It will thus be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention by means of a
device, which is simple in construction and operation, and well adapted to accom-
plish the result for which it is intended, and it will be apparent that changes in,
and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without
departing from the spirit of my invention, or sacrificing its advantages.
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 improved apparatus for evaporating water or other liquids by means of
steam substantially as described and illustrated herein and for the purpose set
forth.
2. In apparatus for evaporating water of the class herein described a coil or coils
axially mounted in spherical casings or chambers containing the water or liquid

page_text: to be evaporated, said coil having preferably a spherical configuration, the sup-
porting ends of which are connected to the steam inlet, and outlet, through the
medium of suitable connections or bearings, said coil being free to rotate when
required in said bearings, said chamber or casing being provided with a removable
portion for the purpose of giving access to the coil which may be rotated the
required distance for purposes of cleaning a steam drum for the purpose of
collecting the steam generated and supplying steam to one of the coils when
required connections for allowing the admission of steam into or emission of
condensed water from the coils, an indicator or indicators for the purpose of
indicating the pressure of the steam in the steam drum, and a gauge for indicating
the level of the water in the chambers or casings all in combination, substantially
as described and illustrated herein and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of August 1899.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.