IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING WATER, OR FOR OTHERWISE EXCHANGING HEAT BETWEEN FLUIDS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James MoAllister at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1881.
JAMES MCALLISTER, of Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Coppersmith. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING WATER, OR FOR
OTHERWISE EXCHANGING HEAT BETWEEN FLUIDS."
This Invention has principally for its object by an improved construction or
combination of parts to render apparatus for heating a current of water more
efficient and economical and otherwise better than such apparatus as hitherto
made; and the improved apparatus is also applicable for exchanging heat between
fluids for various purposes.
In carrying out the Invention a number of tubes are employed through which
the water or other fluid to be heated is passed, whilst the heating agent acts
on the outside of them so that the two do not come in contact with each other.
The apparatus or a large part of it is made by preference of copper, although any
other suitable metal may be employed. The tubes which are placed horizontally
or with a little inclination are made of a long narrow section, the broad sides being
placed vertically so that the water passes through them in the form of a thin
vertical film. There are two or more sets or tiers of the tubes placed one over the
other, and the tubes of one tier may be either parallel or at right angles to the
tubes of the next upper or lower tier. When the tubes of different tiers are
parallel, those of one tier are placed opposite to the interstices of the other tier.
The tubes of one tier may be all of the same length, so as to occupy a rectangular
space, or they may be of different lengths, so as to occupy a circular, elliptical, or
other space. The ends of a set of tubes are connected to casings in which partitions
are fitted to lead the water issuing from one tube into the next one, so that the
water traverses each tube of a tier in succession, and it is then led by a pipe or
passage to the next tier, the tubes of which it similarly traverses in succession.
The ends of the tubes may be coupled or connected by means of U-shaped pieces
instead of the casings. The sides or portions of the sides of the structure not
occupied by the end connections or casings of the tubes are made by preference to
consist of casings divided internally by horizontal partitions made with com-
munications alternately at opposite ends, the water passing in a thin film backwards
D •
077

page_text: and forwards through the passages thus formed. The water to be heated is by
preference led first through the lowest tier of tubes and then through each higher
tier in succession, it may however if prefered be led in opposite directions.
The heat employed may be obtained from combustible gas or vapor or from oil
or solid fuel; or in some cases waste or other steam may be used as the heating
agent. When gas is used, it may be applied by means of any suitable known
arrangement of Bunsen or other burners placed beneath the lowest tier of
tubes, the combustion gases passing upwards amongst the tubes; or the burners
may be placed above the top tier of tubes, and the combustion gases be made to
pass downwards amongst the tubes by arranging an outlet for the gases from the
bottom with a sufficient draught thereinto.
A simplified modification of the apparatus may be formed by employing a single
horizontal series of tubes of the form hereinbefore described.