Improvements in Apparatus for Heating and Feeding Boiler Feed Water.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
Improvements in Apparatus for Heating and Feeding Boiler Feed
Water.
I, WILLIAM WHITELEY, of William Whiteley and Sons, Limited, of Prospect Iron
Works, Lockwood, Huddersfield, in the County of York, Machine Makers do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention (which invention has been communicated to me
by Edgar P. Holly, of 28 High Street, Hartford, in the County of Hartford, and
State of Connecticut, U.S.A., Steam Engineer) 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 an apparatus constructed for automatically feeding water
for a boiler to a heater in which the water is heated by direct exposure to the action
of steam at the boiler pressure and temperature and from which the heated water
flows by gravity into the boiler.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus of this
nature which will feed just the necessary quantity of water to supply the amount
evaporated in the boiler, which will heat the water that is fed very economically and
raise it to a temperature equal to the temperature due to the boiler pressure, and
which will, collect, return, and utilize all water of condensation from the various
exhaust, return and drip pipes of the plant or system at substantially condensing.
temperature without the aid of pumps, traps or moving mechanisms.
This invention can without change of character or operation be embodied in an
apparatus applicable for employment in connection with the feeding of water to the
boilers of the steam plants of electric railway, electric light, power and pumping
stations, or for steamboat or steamship plants, or for heating systems designed for
large buildings or groups of buildings.
In the accompanying drawings the invention is shewn in connection with a marine
plant, and Fig. 1 illustrates a triple expansion vertical engine and boiler with the
steain connections. Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged sectional view of the upper part of
the feeding and heating apparatus shewn in connection with this plant, and Fig. 3 is
a similar view of the lower part of the same.
Steam generated in the boiler 1 of this plant is led from the steam dome 2 through
the main steain pipe 3 to the high pressure cylinder valve 4. After passing through
the valves and various cylinders and actuating the several pistons the steam passes
through the exhaust pipe to the condenser 6 which is provided with any common
form of water circulating pump 7 and air pump 8 that discharges the water of
condensation into the hot well 9. The feed water for the boiler is drawn from the
hot well through the pipe 10 by a feed pump 11 and forced through the pipe 12 to
the heater 12. This heater 13 has a comparatively long tubular shell 14 located
substantially vertical with the greater part of its length above the level of the water
line in the boiler.
The feed water pipe 12, which is illustrated as connected with a feed pump but
which, of course, might be connected with some other source of water supply, passes
through a cap 15 secured to the upper end of the shell and terminates in the interior
in a sprayer or other device that will diseminate the water as it enters the heater. In'

page_text: the form shewn this sprayer has a tapering shell 16 with a perforated curved nozzle
plate 17, but any common form of device for breaking the. water from a solid body
into sheets or drops may be used.
Supported in the upper part of the shell above the water line by a central
tube 18 are a number of baffle plates or discs 19. These discs are preferably dished
and are alternately placed with the dishing up and down. The discs which are
placed with the hollow up are provided with perforations or openings near the centre
for the passage of water, while the discs that are placed with the hollow down are
slightly smaller in diameter than the others. With the discs arranged in this manner
the feed water that is sprayed into the top of the shell drops down from one disc to
the other, flowing first toward the centre and then toward the walls of the shell, and
this ensures that the water travels a long distance in passing through the heater and
and prevents the flow in the upper part of the heater of a solid body of water.
At the lower end of the shell is a base 20 and opening through this is a pipe 21
that is connected with pipes that lead to the boiler or boilers to allow a flow of water
thereto from the lower part of the heater. The boiler pipes are provided with suitable
stop cocks and the lower end of the heater is usually provided with a blow-out
cock.
A gate 22 is located in the water pipe 12 for shutting off the water supply when
necessary and, in this pipe, between the gate and the heater shell, is a valve 23 which
is automatically opened and closed according to the level of the water in the heater
or a chamber 24 which is open to the heater.
The valve 23 is preferably a balanced valve having any common form of body 25
with two ordinary discs 26 and a spindle 27. The ends of the water pipes are
connected by ordinary means with the body which is attached to the end of the
tubular extension 28 of the casing of the chamber 24 by the plug 29 that carries the
spindle. Supported by an arm 30 projecting from the plug is a lever 31 that is
connected at one end with the spindle and at the other end with a float 32. The
bottom of the chamber is connected by a pipe 33 and the top of the chamber is
connected by a pipe 34 with the interior of the heater.
This, float, chamber is located at the desired water line of the heater in such position
that the water standing in the heater and in the chamber at the normal level will
raise the float and hold the valve closed, cutting off further supply of water through
the feed pipe to the heater, but when the level of the water is lowered the float will
drop and open the valve, permitting the flow of sufficient water to restore the level
and to again raise the float to cut off the supply.
By this mechanism just sufficient water will flow into the heater to occupy the
place of that which flows into the boiler and thus keep the water level constant.
A blow-off cock may be connected with the bottom of the chamber 24 for cleaning
purposes, and a water glass is attached to permit the observation of the water
level.
A pipe 35 may be led from the water pipe 12 to the hot well 9 and in this pipe can
be placed a relief valve 36. With this, if the pump should supply more water than
is permitted to pass the automatic valve and than is necessary to supply the heater,
a portion may be allowed to flow back to the hot well through this pipe and relief
valve so that great pressure will not be generated in the water pipe.
One
The tube 18 in the shell of the heater may be supported by the base 20 and
connected with this is a steam pipe 38 which is joined with the steam main 3.
or more sections of the tube 18 above the water line in the heater may be provided
with perforations 39 and when the throttle valve 40 is opened steam can flow from
the main pipe 3 through the pipe 38 to the tube 18 and thence through the perfora-
tions into the heater shell. Of course, with these connections steam will flow into
the heater shell under boiler pressure and will consequently be at the temperature
due to the pressure in the heater where it will commingle with the feed water being
sprayed into the heater and dropping from disc to disc.
Located in the steam pipe 38 is a suction tee 41. This tee has an injector shaped
nozzle 42 and connected with a branch of the tee is a return pipe 43. Leading to

page_text: his return pipe may be the drips for collecting the water of condensation from the
various parts of the system. In the views there is shewn a drip pipe 44 from a
steam separator 45 in the steam main and a drip pipe 46 from the jacket of the high
pressure cylinder valve, and of ourse drip pipes from the other parts will be connected
in the common manner.
Steam passing through the nozzle of the suction tee draws all of the water of
condensation from the several localities and carries it into the heater without lowering
its temperature.
Connected with the top of the heater shell is a pipe 47 that leads to the condenser,
and in this pipe is located a reducing valve 48. By means of this should any air
collect in the upper part of the heater it may escape through the reducing valve so
that the action of the steam in the heater will not be impeded by collected air.
As stated, of course this feeding and heating system can be connected with
any steam plant. The feed water pipe may, instead of being connected with a
pump, be connected with a water main, with an ejector or any other source of
water supply. Connected with the return pipe may be drips from steam separators,
from cylinder jackets, from steam mains of a power plant, or from radiators of a
heating plant, and all the water of condensation from these various drips will be
carried back into the feed water heater by the flow of the heating steam without
the use of pumps and without reducing the temperature of the water of condensation,
that is, taking it back at the temperature at which it is condensed, which
temperature, of course, depends upon the pressure in the system.
By means of this apparatus the feed water designed for any heating system or
power plant can be heated quickly and economically and thoroughly by the steam at
initial pressure, and this feed water is automatically allowed to feed into the heater
until the weight of the water column in the heater above the boiler water line added
to the pressure in the heater is greater than the pressure on the water in the boiler,
then the water will flow from the heater by gravity into the boiler.
The apparatus is simple in construction and has no moving parts to wear and get
out of order.
By its employment feed water can be thoroughly and economically heated and all
drip and water of condensation of a plant can be returned and utilized without
waste.
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 :-
Firstly. A water feeding, heating and return apparatus consisting of a heating
chamber, a water main connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be
connected with a water supply, a feed pipe connected with the heating chamber and
adapted to be connected with a boiler, a steam pipe connected with the heating
chamber and adapted to be connected with a boiler, and a return pipe connected with
the steam pipe and adapted to be connected with the various drips of the plant,
substantially as specified.
Secondly. A water feeding, heating and return apparatus consisting of a heating
5 chamber, a water main connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be
connected with a water supply, a float operated by the level of the water in the
heating chamber, a valve in the water main connected with the float, a feed pipe
connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be connected with a boiler, a
steam pipe connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be connected with a
O boiler, and a return pipe connected with the steam pipe and adapted to be connected
with the various drips of the plant, substantially as specified.
Thirdly. A water feeding, heating and return apparatus consisting of a heating
chamber, a water main connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be
connected with a water supply, a relief valve connected with the water main, a float
5 operated by the level of the water in the heating chamber, a valve in the water main
connected with the float, a feed pipe connected with the heating chamber and adapted

page_text: to be connected with a boiler, a steam pipe connected with the heating chamber and
adapted to be connected with a boiler, and a return pipe connected with the steam
pipe and adapted to be connected with the various drips of the plant, substantially as
specified.
Fourthly. A water feeding, heating and return apparatus consisting of a heating
chamber, a water main connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be
connected with a water supply, a féed pipe connected with the heating chamber
and adapted to be connected with a boiler, a steam pipe connected with the
heating chamber and adapted to be connected with a boiler, a suction tee located
in the steam pipe, and a return pipe connected with a branch of the suction
tee and adapted to be connected with the various drips of the plant, substantially
as specified.
Fifthly. A water feeding, heating and return apparatus consisting of a heating
chamber, a water main connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be
connected with a water supply, a feed pipe connected with the heating chamber and
adapted to be connected with a boiler, a steam pipe connected with the heating
chamber and adapted to be connected with a boiler, a return pipe connected with the
steam pipe and adapted to be connected with the various drips of the plant, an escape
pipe connected with the heating chamber, and a reducing valve located in the escape
pipe, substantially as specified.
Sixthly. A water feeding, heating and return apparatus consisting of a heating
chamber, a water main connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be
connected with a water supply, a chamber connected by pipes with the heating
chamber at about the water level of the heating chamber, a float operated by the
level of the water in the heating chamber, a valve in the water main connected with
the float, a feed pipe connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be connected
with the boiler, a steam pipe connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be
connected with a boiler, and a return pipe connected with the steam pipe and adapted
to be connected with the various drips of the plant, substantially as specified.
Seventhly. A water feeding, heating and return apparatus consisting of a heating
chamber, a water main connected with the heating chamber and adapted to be
connected with a water supply, a chamber connected by pipes with the heating
chamber at about the water level of the heating chamber, a float located in the
exterior chamber, a lever connected with the float, a valve in the water main, said
valve being connected with the exterior chamber by means of a plug, a spindle
joining the valve discs and the float lever, a feed pipe connected with the heating
chamber and adapted to be connected with a boiler, a steam pipe connected with the
heating chamber and adapted to be connected with a boiler, and a return pipe con-
nected with the steam pipe and adapted to be connected with the various drips of
the plant substantially as specified.
4
Eighthly. A water feeding, heating and return apparatus consisting of a heating
chamber, a tubular supporting post within the heating chamber, dished baffle
plates supported by the tubular post in the heating chamber, the baffle plates being
alternately arranged with the hollows up and down, a spraying device located in the
upper part of the heating chamber, a water main connected with the spraying device 4
and adapted to be connected with a water supply, a feed pipe connected with the
heating chamber and adapted to be connected with a boiler, a steam pipe connected
with the tubular support within the heating chamber and adapted to be connected
with a boiler, and a return pipe connected with the steam pipe and adapted to be
connected with the various drips of the plant, substantially as specified.
Dated this 17th day of July 1897.
5
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Patent Agents.