Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Evaporating and Condensing.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1898
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Evaporating and
Condensing.
I, AROHIBALD THOMSON, of 108 Fenchurch Streat, in the City of London,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention has reference to improvements in or relating to apparatus for
heating and evaporating liquids, for example sea water, by means of steam, and to
apparatus for condensing the steam or vapour thus or otherwise produced;
For the purpose of providing a large heating surface in a comparatively small
space and to admit of ready withdrawal of such heating surfaces for cleaning or
other purpose, I construct the evaporating apparatus with groups of steam heating
pipes carried by separate tube plates that are detachably secured to the sides of
the casing of the evaporator, the arrangement being such that the tubes in one
group are located between the tubes in the other group or groups, and that either
or any one tube plate and its attached group of tubes can be removed without
interfering with the remaining group or groups of tubes.
In an arrangement of this kind there are two groups of U shaped tubes disposed
horizontally, each group being carried by a tube plate having on its outer side
steam obambers that connect the bent pipes in such a way that all the pipes in a
horizontal row, or it may be in a vertical row, are in series with each other. The
steam chambers may be formed by recesses cast in the outer side of each tube
plate and covered by a detachable plate that can be used to close the opening in
the side of the casing when the corresponding group of tubes and tube plate have
been removed.
จ
To enable each tube plate with attached tubes to be readily withdrawo in a right
line so that the tubes whilst being withdrawn shall not foul the remaining one, and
so that each tube plate with attached tubes shall be effectually supported whilst
being so withdrawn, there is provided horizontal bars or supports mounted to slide.
endwaya between guiding and supporting rollers and adapted at its ends to be
secured at will to either of two tube plates so as to carry and guide the same and
attached tubes whilst being removed.
J
To provide for the antomatic supply of liquid to be evaporated, I provide within
a chamber in communication with the water and vapour space of the evaporator, a':
double piston valve that is connected to a lever provided with a float and is
arranged to slide vertically in a cusing that is in communication at a point between
the double pistons with the liquid supply pipe and is provided at a lower point
with one or more discharge holes controlled by the said valve.
A similar device is or may be fitted at the exhaust side of the steam tubes to
regulate the discharge of water due to condensation within the tubes, the arrange-
ment however being such that the valve opens when the said water rises to a
predetermined height in a vessel in which it collects.
1
For quickly and effectively condensing steam passing from the evaporator or
other steam generator, there is provided a condenser comprising an annular group
of tubes arranged within an annular casing that is divided by transverse divisions
traversed by the tubes into two or more annular compartments. These compart-
menta are arranged end to end and are connected one to another by one or more!
inclined passages formed in a junction box attached to the annular casing and with

page_text: the interior of which it communicates by suitably arranged openinge, each annular
compartment being provided at a point between its inlet and outlet openings with
a longitudinal division, so that the cooling liquid employed is caused to flow through
and around the several annular compartments in succession, and in a direction at
right angles to the condenser tubes, which are straight. The cooling liquid
employed in the condenser or a portion of it, may be subsequently fed to the
evaporator or other steam generator, in order that the heat it has taken up in the
condenser may be utilized.
As will be obvious one or some of my improvements may be used without the
others, or two or all of them may be embodied in one apparatus.
In an arrangement of the latter kind, the condenser is arranged outside of and
concentrically with the steam or vapour space of the evaporator with which it is
adapted to be placed in communication by one or more pipes connecting the top of
the evaporator to the top of the condenser. Cooling water is conducted to the
lower part of the condenser and after flowing around the several annular compart-
ments therein, of which there may conveniently be three, is lod off by a pipe, a
branch from which leads a portion of the now heated cooling liquid to tho automatic
feed valve of the evaporator.
Dated this 18th day of October 1895.
ARCHIBALD THOMSON.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Londou, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Evaporating and
Condensing.
1, ARCHIBALD THOMSON, of 108 Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
Consulting 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 :—
This invention has reference to improvements in or relating to apparatus_for
heating and evaporating liquids, for example sea water, by means of steam, and to
apparatus for condensing the steam or vapour thus or otherwise produced.
For the purpose of providing a large heating surface in a comparatively small
space and to adinit of ready withdrawal of snch heating surfaces for leaning or
other ригрозе, I construct the evaporating apparatus with groups of steam heating
pipes carried by separate tube plates that are dotachably secured to the sides of
the casing of the evaporator, the arrangement being such that the tubes in que
group are located between the tubes in the other group or groups, and that either
or any one tube plate and its attached group of tubes can be removed without
interfering with the remaining group or groups of tubes.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to one another and each partly in
vertical section, showing evaporating and condensing apparatus according to this
invention.
Fig. 3 shows such apparatus partly in plan and partly in horizontal section taken
in different planes.
•
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the lower part of the evaporating apparatus
containing the heating coils.
The evaporating portion of the apparatus comprises a lower water chamber or
casing 1 of approximately rectangular form in plan, containing the steam heating..
pipes 2, 2 and surmounted by an upper steam vessel 3 of cylindrical form with a..
dome shaped top, the two parts being suitably connected together as by the dange

page_text: joint at 3. In the arrangement shown there are two groups of U-shaped steam
heating pipes viz. 2 and 2 disposed horizontally, each group being carried by ↳
tube plate 4 or 4 having on its outer side steam chambers 5 that connect the bent
pipos in such a way that all the pipes in a horizontal row, are in series with each
othor as will be readily seen from the right hand side of Fig. 4. The steam
chambers 5 may conveniently be formed by recosses cast in the outer side of each
tubo plate 4, 4 and covered by a detachable plate 6 that can also he usol to close
the opening in the side of the casing when the corresponding group of tubes and
tubo plate have been removed. There is a steam inlet branch 7 to one of the end
chambers, viz. 6, of each set of chambers 5 in a tube plate, and a corresponding
exit branch 8 from the other end chambor, viz. 5, of the set. As will be obvious
the heating tubes 2, 2* instead of being arranged in horizontal rows may he arranged
in vertical rows the steam chambers or recesses 5 in the corresponding tube plate
being arranged to correspond.
To enable each tube plate with attached tubes to be readily withdrawn in a right
line so that the tubes whilst being withdrawn shall not foul the remaining one, and
so that each tube plate with attached tubes shall be effectually supported whilst
being so withdrawn, thoro are provided horizontal bars or supports 9, one at each
side, mounted to slide endways between guiding and supporting rollers 9" and
adapted at its ends, which are enlarged, to be secured, as by sot screws 9º, to either
of the two tubo plates 4, 4° so as to carry and guide the same and attached tubes
whilst being removed or replaced in an endways direction.
To provide for the automatio supply of liquid to be evaporated, I arrange
within a chamber 10 that is in communication with the water space and vapour
space of the evaporator by a passage 11 and pipe 12 respectively a double piston
valvo 13. This valve is connected to a lever 14 provided with a float 16 and is
arranged to slide vertically in a valve case 10 that is in communication, at a point
between the double pistons, with the liquid supply pipe 17 and is provided at a
lower point with one or more discharge holes 18, (two aro shown) controlled by
the said valve.
With this arrangement, when the level of the water in the avaporating chambor 1,
and consequently in the chamber 10 falls, the valve 13 will descend and allow
water to flow from the pipe 17 through the holes 18 into the said chambers until
the float 15 rises and causes the valve to cut off the supply.
A similar device may be fitted in connection with the exhaust brauchos 8 for
the purpose of regulating the discharge therefrom of water due to condensation
within the tubes 2, 24, the arrangement however being auch that the double piston
valve opens when the said wator risos to a predetermined height in a vessel in
which it collects.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing such an arrangement. The valve casing 16°
is arranged at the lower part of the chamber 10" and the discharge holes 18 are
arranged to be controlled by the upper of the two pistons so that when the float
rises by accumulation of water of condensation in the chamber the valve rises and
permits such water to flow through the discharge holes 18ª to a discharge pipò ¨17ª
leading say to a hot well.
For quickly and effectually condensing steam passing from the evaporator or
other steam generator, there is provided a condenser comprising an annular group
of tubes 19 arranged within an annular casing 19 that is divided by transverse
metal plates or divisions 20, traversed by the tubes 19, into annular compartments 21.
These compartments are arranged end to end, or one above the other, as shown,
and are connected one to another by one or more inclined passages 22, two are
shewn, (ace Figs. 1 and 3) formed in a junction box 23 attached to the said annular
casing and with the interior of which it communicates by suitably arranged
openings 24 24" each annular compartment being provided at a point between its
inlet and outlet openings 24, 24* respectively with a longitudinal- division 25, 80
that the cooling liquid employed is caused to flow through and around the several
angular compartments 21 in succession, and in a direction at right angles to the

page_text: condenser tubes 19, which are straight. The cooling liquid employed in the
condenser, or a portion of it, may be subsequently fod to the evaporator or other
steam generator, in order that the heat it has taken up in the condeuser may be
utilized.
As will be obvious one or some of my improvements may he used without the
others; or two or all of them may be embodied in one apparatus, as in the.example
shewn in the accompanying drawings where the condensor is arranged outside of
and concentrically with the steam or vapour vessel 3 of the evaporator with which
it is adapted to be placed in communication by one or more pipes 26 (two are
shewn) connecting the top of the evaporator with an annular steam chamber 27
fixed to the top of the condenser casing 19" and with which the upper open ends of
the pipes 19 communicate, the lower open ends of the said tubos being in com-
munication with another anuular chamber 28 fixed to the bottom of the casing 19³
and provided with an exit passage 29 for water of condensation. 28 is an nir pipa
in connection with the chamber 28 at one end and with the atmosphere at the other
for the purpose of preventing the pressure within the evaporator and condenser
rising above or falling below that of the external atmosphere. Cooling water is
conducted to the lower part of the condenser by an inlet pipe 30 and after flowing
around the several annular compartments 21 therein, of which there may
conveniently be three, as shown, is led off by a pipe 31 from which the supply
pipe 17 branches for the purpose of leading a portion of the now heated cooling
liquid to the automatic feed valve 13 of the evaporator. The exit of water from
the pipe 31 may be controlled by a loaded or compression valve 31.
The top of the evaporator may be provided with an additional steam ontlet
branch 32 with stop valve 33 for leading away steam to any desired place other
than the condenser, and with a branch 34 provided with a safety valve 35.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declaro that what I
claim is :-
1. An evaporating apparatus constructed with groups of steam heating pipes
carried by separate tube plates detachably secured to the casing of the evaporator,
the arrangement being such that the tubes in one group are located between the
tubes in the other group or groups and that either or any one of the tube plates
with its attached group of tubos can be removed without interfering with the
remaining group or groups of tubes, substantially as described and shown.
2. My improved evaporating apparatus constructed arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shewn in the drawings
annexed, whether or not horizontal bars or supports 9 mounted to slido endways
between guiding and supporting rollora 9 be provided for carrying and guiding
either tube plate with its attached tubes whilst being moved end ways to or from
the evaporator casing.
3. In ovaporating apparatus, a feed water rogulating device comprising a
chamber in communication with the steam and water spaces of the evaporator and
a double piston valve connected to a lever provided with a float and arranged to
slide in a valve case that is in communication at a point between the double piston
with the liquid supply pipe and at a lower point with one or more exit holes
controlled by tho said valve, substantially as described and shown.
4. In evaporating apparatus, the combination with the discharge pipe or pipes
for water of condensation passing from the steam lieating tubes of such apparatus,
of an automatio regulating device constructed and operating as hereinbefore
described with reference to and shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings annexed.
5. Apparatus for condensing steam comprising an annular group of tubos
arranged within an annular casing that is divided by transverse divisions, traversed
by the tubes, into two or more annular compartments that are connected one to
another by one or more passages formed in a junction box carried by the annular
casing and communicating with the interior thereof by suitably arranged openings

page_text: each of the said annular compartments being provided at a point between its inlet
and outlot openings with a longitudinal division so that the cooling liquid employed
is caused to flow through and around the several annular compartments in
succession and in a direction at right angles to the condenser tubes, substantially
&B described.
6. My improved condensing apparatus constructed substantially as shown iu and
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
7. My improved combined evaporating and condensing apparatus constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
and shown in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 20th day of July 1896.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent. Agent.