IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND CONDENSING GASES AND NOXIOUS VAPOURS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS RELATE TO A CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILER TO BE USED THEREWITH OR INDE- PENDENTLY
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Barrow at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1876.
THOMAS BARROW, of Rock Ferry, in the County of Chester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES FOR CONSUMING SMOKE AND
CONDENSING GASES AND NOXIOUS VAPOURS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
RELATE TO A CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM BOILER TO BE USED THEREWITH OR INDE-
PENDENTLY."
My Invention relates to certain developments of an Invention for which I
obtained Letters Patent, No. 3139, A.D. 1874. In this last-named Invention I use a
circular-shaped flue in which travels a rotating furnace; and my present Invention
consists in adopting the said flue and furnace to a circular steam boiler, which is
composed of two concentric water spaces connected by cross tubes and bridging,
the flue and furnace joined at the top, and forming a horse-shoe section. The centre
space formed by the concentric boiler is utilized for a spherical, circular, or other
shaped steam chest. As in my former Invention, No. 3139, A.D. 1874, the smoke
and products of combustion have to pass over the incandescent fuel through the
circular flue forming the fire-place, so also in my present Invention the smoke and
products of combustion have to pass through the circular flue formed by the con-
centric water spaces of the boiler, and so over the incandescent fuel in the circular
furnace. The firing door of the circular furnace may either be formed under the
outside water space or by means of a suitable aperture cut through the outside
water space. The exit from the flue is formed by a similar aperture to the firing
door, and placed in proximity thereto, the flue being transversely cut off by a per-
forated fire-brick, slab, and damper. The flue is continued concentrically round
the outside water space and over same, or as may be required, and then led to a
kiln-shaped condenser. This condenser is composed alternately of flues and water
cisterns, the lower flue communicating with the one immediately above by a suitable
passage, and that flue again with the next flue above, and so on. The water cisterns
are placed between the flues, and are constructed with perforated floors. The centre
of the kiln is composed of a vertical shaft communicating with each water cistern,
the supply pipes for feeding the water cisterns being led through the centre shaft.
The upper flue communicates with a small pipe or outlet.
In operation the smoke, if any, and waste gases and noxious vapours from the

page_text: furnace by passing through the flues composing the condenser, and being treated by
the water showering through from the cisterns in the condenser become condensed
and are rendered inocuous and harmless. The water runs through the flues into a
cistern, and carries with it the products obtained by condensation; these can after-
wards be separated and utilized.
My Invention, so far as relates to the herein-before described boiler, may be
used for ordinary steam generating purposes, for driving engines or otherwise, or
it may be used entirely in connection with the herein-before described condenser for
the purpose of supplying steam for driving engines or pumps for keeping up the
circulation of water through the condenser. In such case the condenser can be
made large enough to receive the noxious gases and vapours from any adjacent
chemical or other works, the one condenser being common to all.
The condenser can also be used as a receiver and condenser for sewer gases.
The condenser may be constructed of fire-brick, terra cotta, or other suitable
material.
Although I have described the condenser arranged with the flues and cisterns
over each other it will be evident that the same principle can be carried out by
having the flues and cisterns together arranged side by side instead of one over the
other.