Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Heating and Purifying Water for Use in Steam-boilers and for other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Heating and
Purifying Water for Use in Steam-boilers and for other Purposes.
1, WARREN WEBSTER, of 491 North Third Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, United
States of America, Machinist 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 feed water heaters and purifiers, and the object of the inven-
tion is to provide an apparatus which utilizes exhaust steam after the said. steam
has passed through heating coils or outlying branch pipes communicating with the
exhaust pipe of an engine or other steam supply for heating and purifying water for
boiler feeding or manufacturing purposes.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will convert the
water into vapour at a low degree of temperature, in a partial vacuum, so that the
foreign matter will be readily separated therefrom, and then condense the vapours
arising from the water by the volume of water entering the purifier to be purified,
thereby saving heat units as the volume of the water applied will be partially heated
by the heated vapours.
To attain this object, the invention consists of a purifying chamber having inclined
trays arranged therein, a sediment well, a water supply pipe, a steam supply pipe, a
delivery pipe, and discharge and overflow pipes.
The invention further consists of a purifying tank, vessel, or chamber provided with
a water supply, steam supply, and delivery communicating with a suitable pump for
maintaining a partial vacuum in the purifier at all times.
The invention further consists of a purifying chamber having a water supply and
discharge, and means for removing the air front the purifying chamber, and for
carrying off the superfluous water.
The invention further consists in an outer shell or casing, containing a purifying.
chamber, a sediment chamber, a condensing chamber, water and steam supply pipes, a
delivery and a discharge nine

page_text: mvention finally consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and adapt
tion of the elements comprising the apparatus, all as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a side elevation partly in section of a feed water heater an
purifier, embodying my invention.
Figure 2 represents a sectional view of a condensing chamber which may be place
in the casing when it is desired to condense the vapours arising from the water.
Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the two figures.
Referring to the drawing
The numeral 1 designates the purifying, and heating chamber, containing the per
forated plates or trays 2 arranged in a zig-zag manner, or alternately inclined and
near the top of the first tray is placed a distributing device 3.
4 designates the sediment well in the purifying chamber having inclined plates
therein, the purpose of which is to prevent agitation or ebullition of the sediment of
said chamber, and 6 designates the discharge pipe leading from the sediment
chamber.
7 designates the cold water supply or feed pipe, which enters the purifying chamber
near the top thereof, and feeds the water to the distributing device 3 from which it
passes to the top tray, over and through said tray to the tray below, and so on until it
falls in the bottom of the chamber.
8 designates the steam supply pipe entering the purifying chamber, and supplying
steam to the chamber to heat the water, and remove the impurities therefrom.
The pipe 8 leads from the exhaust pipe 9 of an engine, and the heating pipes 10
.which also lead from the exhaust pipe 9 are connected with the supply pipe 8.
From this construction it will be observed that I can use the steain direct from the
exhaust pipe by allowing it to pass from the exhaust to the purifying chamber through
supply S, or I can use the steam after it has been passed through the heating coils or
pipes 10.
In the pipes 8 and 10 are valves or cocks 11 and 12 to allow the steam to
enter the purifier through either pipe 8 or 10, as may be desired.
13 designates the delivery pipe leading from the lower portion of the purifying
chamber and communicating with a suitable pump 14 for supplying the pure heated
water.
The delivery pipe is provided with a valve 13* and from said pipe leads a branch
pipe 15 for conveying superfluous water to a storage tank or elsewhere, and said
branch pipe is provided with a check valve 16 operated by the water passing through
said pipe.
17 designates a pipe communicating with the purifying chamber, and leading to
the delivery pipe 13 for removing the air from the purifying chamber, and said
pipe 17 is provided with a cock or valve 18.
19 designates an overflow pipe leading from the purifying chamber to the 4
sediment discharge pipe 6 and is formed with a trap 20 to prevent the return of air
to said chamber.
22 designates a pipe having a valve 23 and communicating with the sediment
chamber at the bottom of the oil deflecting plate 24 therein, and leading to the
sediment discharge pipe, the purpose of said pipe being to remove oil or like sediment 4
which would gather on the surface of the water.
25 designates a liquid guage communicating with the discharge pipe 6 for ascer-
taining the amount of water in the heating and purifying chamber.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
Water and steam are admitted to the purifying chamber, the water passes over 50
the inclined trays and through the perforations therein, the steam serving to heat
the water in its passage, removing all the impurities from the water, said impurities
lescending into the sediment well and the pure water remaining above the sediment,
the action of the pump draws the pure water out through the delivery pipe, removes
he air from the purifying chamber, and maintains a partial vacuum therein.
If a greater quantity of water is being purified than is drawn from the chamber
55

page_text: by the pump, the surplus will pass through the branch pipe through the check valve
to a suitable yessel, or elsewhere.
By this construction I am enabled to regulate the valves in the delivery and air
outlet pipes to draw as much air and water through them as desired, and thus ensure
a partial vacuum in the purifier at all times, and also the proper heating and
purifying of the water.
It will be seen that my apparatus will draw water out of the receiver or chamber,
and at the same utilize a part of the suction of the pump in drawing off the air
which is liberated from the water entering to be heated and purified, in order to
keep the space in the purifier below atmospheric pressure, whereby I am able to
purify the water more thoroughly from the fact that the molecules of water repel each
other more strongly, and consequently precipitate the sediment held in solution,
more quickly than if the space in the purifier was allowed to be in equilibrium with
the atmosphere.
The advantage of my apparatus is that I am able to utilize steum after having first
passed through heating coils or pipes in buildings or the like, in addition to the
fact that I can so adjust the valves in the pipes as to utilize the suction power of
the pump in such a manner as to keep a partial vacuum within the purifier without
being compelled to draw all of the water that is purified away by the pump, and
consequently draw the steam from the source of supply.
The numeral 26 designates a condensing chamber formed in the shell or casing,
and 27 designates the condensing and supply pipes, which are arranged as shown, and
have their outlet above the distributing device of the first tray.
Above the said first tray is a series of plates 28 which form steps and serve to guide
the condensed vapours to the condensing chamber to be delivered.
The operation in this case is as follows
The water passing through the pipes 27 to the distributing device, from there to
the inclined trays, the steam entering the purifying chamber heating the water in its
passage over and through the trays, removes the impurities therefrom. The vapour
rising from the water comes in contact with the pipes 27ois condensed, and falls in
drops or sprays upon the plates 28 and from thence is directed into the condensing
chamber and carried off by the delivery pipe.
The heated vapours which come in contact with the pipes 27 are condensed by the
volume of water passing through said pipes, but said vapours impart their heat to
said water which condenses them and supply the water in a partly heated state so that
very little heat is required to raise the water to the proper temperature for heating
and purifying, and. thereby a great amount of heat units are saved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
First. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination of a tank or receiver, a
water supply pipe leading from the tank or receiver to a pump, and air outlet pipe
leading from the tank or receiver to the delivery pipe, whereby the action of the
pump draws the water and air from the tank or receiver, and draws steam into the
same, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
Second. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination of a purifying and
heating chamber, a steam supply pipe, a delivery pipe, a pump communicating with
the delivery pipe, and an overflow branch pipe communicating with the delivery pipe,
all arranged and operating substantially as described.
Third. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination with a tank or receiver
having means for supplying water thereto, of the steam supply pipe having valves, a
delivery pipe provided with a cock or valve, and a discharge pipe leading from the
tank or receiver, to the delivery pipe, and provided with a valve, and a pump
communicating with the delivery pipe, all arranged and operating substantially as
described,

page_text: Fourth. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination of the tank or receiver
a delivery pipe leading therefrom, and a brauch pipe communicating with the delivery
pipe and having a check valve, substantially as described.
Fifth. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination of the heating and
purifying chambers a delivery pipe leading therefrom provided with a valve, an air
outlet pipe provided with a valve and communicating with the heating and purifying
chamber, and a delivery pipe, and a pump communicating with the heating pipe, all
arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
Sixth. In a feed water heater and purifier the overflow pipe provided with a trap
for preventing air, from returning to the purifier, substantially as described.
Seventh. In a feed water heater and purifier, a chamber provided with water and
steam supply pipes and containing perforated trays which are alternately inclined,
substantially as described.
Eighth. A feed water heater and purifier having a sediment well or mud chamber.
provided with plates for preventing agitation of the mud sediment, substantially as
described.
Ninth. A feed water heater and purifier having a purifying chamber, water and
steam supply pipes, and a purifying chamber, water and steam supply pipes and a
chamber for purified water and sediment, and an oil deflector, substantially as
described.
Tenth. A feed water heater and purifier,, having a perforated tray therein, and
a distributing device between said tray and the water supply pipe, substantially as
described.
Eleventh. A feed water heater and purifier, having a purifying chamber, water
and steam supply pipes, a chamber for purified water and sediment, and a gauge and
supply pipes substantially as described.
Twelfth. A feed water heater and purifier, having a purifying chamber, a water
supply pipe, a steam supply pipe with valve, a chamber for purified water and
sedimentodischarge pipes for the purified water and sediment, and a relief valve in
said sediment discharge, substantially as described.
Thirteenth. A feed water heater and purifier, having a purifying chamber, a water
supply pipe, a steam supply pipe with a valve, a chamber for purified water and
sediment, and discharge pipe, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination with the purifying
chamber of the.steam heating coils for supplying steam to said chamber, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose described.
Fifteenth. In a feed water heater and purifier, an outer shell or casing, containing
a purifying chamber, sediment chamber and condensing chamber, water supply pipes
arranged in the condensing chamber and a steam supply communicating with the
purifying chamber, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
Sixteenth. In a feed water heater and purifier, an outer shell or casing, a purifying
chamber arranged therein, a sediment chamber communicating with the purifying
chamber; a steam supply pipe entering the purifying chamber a condensing chamber,
water supply pipes in said condensing chamber and a chute or trough above the
purifying chamber, and below the supply pipes, for conducting the condensed
vapors to the condensing chamber, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
Seventeenth. The process of purifying water, consisting in first vaporizing the
water at a low temperature, and in a partial vacuum whereby the impurities are
separated therefrom and second in condensing the vapours arising from the purifying
chamber by means of water passing through the condensing and into the purifying
chambers, substantially as described.
Eighteenth. The process of purifying water, consisting in vaporizing the water at
a low degree of temperature and in a partial vacuum by bringing it in contact with
heated metallic plates, second in condensing the vapors arising from said purifying
chamber by bringing the same in contact with the water entering the purifying

page_text: chamber after it has passed through the condensing chamber, substantially in the
manner described.
Nineteenth. The process of purifying water, consisting in heating the same to remove
the impurities therefrom, and condensing the vapours arising from said water, by
the water entering to be purified whereby the vapours are condensed by the supply
water and the water is partially heated by the vapours thereby preventing loss of heat
units and thoroughly purifying the water, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of September 1888
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.