Improved Means and Apparatus for Condensing Steam.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Condensing Steam.
We DRUITT HALPIN of Victoria Chambers Westminster in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer and PETER WILLIAM WILLANS of Thames Ditton, Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
Our invention has for its object to effect the condensation of the exhaust steam
from engines or apparatus giving off steam in an effectual manner without the use of
water or of air surface condensers. For this purpose we bring the steam into
intimate contact with a current of air and at the same time cause au intimate
admixture of the two whereby the steam will rapidly condensed, the water of con-
densation being collected while the air is allowed to escape.
Various arrangements may be employed for causing the intimate admixture of the
steam with the air, but by preference we employ the following. We cause the
exhaust steam to escape through a nozzle that is presented to the air inlet orifice of a
rotary fan, so that both the exhaust steam and a current of air are drawn into the
centre of the fan and this combined current of air and steam, in being caught up by
the rapidly revolving blades is thereby intimately mixed up as it passes to the outer
periphery of the fan, so that by the tiine it arrives at that point the steam will have
become condensed, and the resulting water of condensation will be thrown by the
blades against the sides of the fan easing where it is collected and led away, while the
air blast produced is allowed to escape, or it may be utilised for any purpose.
We prefer to provide at the periphery of the fan casing a lining of wire gauze
or other suirable material which will at once catch up and retain the water thrown
against it by the fan blades and prevent it from splashing about as it might do
if thrown against the solid surface of the fan casing, and so be caught up by the
air again.
The form of fan and mode of introducing the steam and air into the same and of
discharging the condensed water and air therefrom may be variously modified. Thus
the discharged air and any uncondensed steam mixed therewith may be made to pass
through a pipe or pipes into the inlet of a second fan situated in the axial line of the
first one, so that the remaining steam, if any, will, in being passed through the
second fan, be effectually condensed. The casing of the fan may also be made of an
elongated conical shape, the fan shaft being provided with a number of helical fan
blades, revolving between fixed blades on the casing, so that as the steam and air jets
enter the larger end of the casing they will become effectually mixed and the
condensation of the steam effected, by the rapidly revolving blades and will at the
same time be propelled towards the smaller end of the casing, through which
the resulting water and air would escape. In using the fan of ordinary form, the air
and water may issue from the discharge orifice into a tank in which the water is
collected while the air escapes through an annular aperture surrounding the discharge
orifice of the fan. Or again, the mixture of air, water-spray, and uncondensed
portion of the steam may be made to pass from the discharge orifice of the fan into a
chamber containing a group of tubes, so arranged that the mixed current is first made
to pass transversely against the outer surfaces of the tubes, on which that portion of
the water already condensed would be collected, and How downwards into a receptacle,
while the air and any uncondensed steam is made to flow through the tubes, so
as to condense the remainder of the steam held in suspension, before issuing into tho
receptacle.
Dated this 19th day of March 18eu
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Condensing Steam.
We, DRUITT HALPIN of 9 Victoria Chambers, Westminster in the County of
London Engineer, and PETER WILLIAM WILLANS of Thames Ditton Surrey, Engineer,
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:—
Our invention has for its object to effect the condensation of the exhaust steam
from engines or apparatus giving off steam in an effectual manner without the use of
water or of air surface condensers. For this purpose we bring the steam into intimate
contact with a current of air and at the same time cause an intimate admixture of the
two, whereby the steam will be rapidly condensed, the water of condensation being
collected while the air is allowed to escape.
Various arrangements may be employed for causing the intimate admixture of the
steam with the air, but by preference we employ the following. We cause the
exhaust. steam to escape through a nozzle that is presented to the air inlet orifice
of a rotary fan so that both the exhaust steam and a current of air are drawn 1
into the centre of the fan and this combined current of air and steam, in being
caught up by the rapidly revolving blades is thereby intimately mixed up as it
passes to the outer periphery of the fan, so that by the time it arrives at that
point the steam will have become condensed, and the resulting water of condensation
will be thrown by the blades against the sides of the fan casing where it is collected
and led away, while the air blast produced is allowed to escape, or it may be utilised
for any purpose.
We prefer to provide at the periphery of the fan cusing a lining of wire gauze or
other suitable material which will at once catch up and retain the water thrown
against it by the fan blades and prevent it from splashing about as it might do if
thrown against the solid surface of the fan casing and so be caught up by the air
again.
The form of fan and mode of introducing the steam and air into the same and of
discharging the condensed water and air therefrom may be variously modified. Thus
the discharged air and any uncondensed steam mixed therewith may be made to pass
through a pipe or pipes into the inlet of a second fan situated in the axial line of the
first one, so that the remaining steam, if any, will in being passed through the second
fan, be effectually condensed. The casing of the fan may also be made of an
elongated conical shape, the fan shaft being provided with a number of helical fan
blades, revolving between fixed blades on the casing, so that as the steam and air jets
enter the larger end of the casing they will become effectually mixed and the con-
densation of the steam effected, by the rapidly revolving blades, and will at the same
time be propelled towards the smaller end of the casing, through which the resulting
water and air would escape. In using the fan of ordinary form the air and water
may issue from the discharge orifice into a tank in which the water is collected while
the air escapes through an annular aperture surrounding the discharge orifice of the
fun. Or again, the mixture of air water spray, and uncondensed portion of the steam
may be made to pass from the discharge orifice of the fan into a chamber containing
a group of tubes, so arranged that the mixed current is first made to pass transversely
against the outer surfaces of the tubes, on which that portion of the water already
condensed would be collected, and flow downwards into a receptacle while the air
and any uncondensed steam is made to flow through the tubes so as to condense
the remainder of the steam held in suspension before issuing into the receptacle.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section of one form of
apparatus according to our invention for thoroughly mixing a stream of exhaust steam
and air. It consists of a conical casing A having mounted centrally in it a revolving
shaft B. carrying sets of inclined blades C.

page_text: In the spaces between the sets of blades C, inclined blades D are fixed to the
casing.
The air and steam entering at the one end of the casing are thoroughly mixed by
the action of the blades in their course towards the opposite end of the casing whence
the mixture issues. Fig. 2 shews an ordinary fan F in combination with a receptacle R
for the water of condensation. The air and steam entering the fan by its central
openings are mixed by the revolving blades and the mixture is driven into the
receptacle R where the water of condensation is deposited while the air escapes by a
pipe P.
As shown in Fig. 3 the fan F discharges into a chamber containing a number of
tubes T. The steam and air after passing between and around the tubes T ascend a
passage U and then descend the tubes to the trough or receptacle R where the water
of condensation is deposited while the air is free to escape. A small passage W
allows escape of such water of condensation as may be deposited in the tube chamber
or passage U.
A fan F such as is shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, may be used alone for effecting the
mixture of the steam and air. When such a fan is used either alone or in combination
with other appliances as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 we prefer to line the fan with wire
gauze or like material presenting meshes to engage such particles of water as may be
dashed against the periphery of the fan instead of allowing them to rebound and to
become broken up into spray.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
The herein described method of condensing exhaust or waste steam by intimately
mixing its current with an air current from which the water of condensation after-
wards separates.
2. For effecting admixture of steam and air currents for the purpose above
referred to, a propelling apparatus or fan, arranged and operating substantially as
described.
Dated this 10th day of December 1889
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.