A Combined Water Heater and Steam Condenser for Boilers and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1091
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1898-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1898
Date of Application, foin sept., ro9/
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1898-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Water Heater and Steam Condenser for Boilers
and the like.
We, DAVID MEIN NESBIT, Engineer, and WALTER CLOWES, Working Engineer,
both of 12, Great James Street, Bedford Row, London, W.C., do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of apparatus in which the heat from the
exhaust or waste steam is utilised to heat water required for boilers or like pur-
poses; the water in the first instance being used as a medium to effect the con-
densation of the steam.
This invention consists in the provision of a specially arranged condenser and
receiver in combination with suitable valves and apparatus which automatically
regulate the supply of condensation and feed water while also ejecting the air from
the receiver to assist condensation and prevent back pressure in the exhaust or
waste steam pipe.
In carrying this invention into effect according to one modification, a two
chambered vessel is provided, consisting of an upper and a lower cylinder. Placed
within the upper cylinder are a series of return brass (or other suitable metal
tubes) so arranged that the ends on one side communicate by a chamber and suit-
able pipe with the exhaust or waste steam main: while the other ends communi-
cate directly with the lower cylinder. Thus the upper cylinder forms a jacket
around the return brass tubes and water is circulated through this upper cylinder,
which therefore acts as a surface condenser and a water heater. The lower cylin-
der receives condensed water from the upper cylinder and has arranged within it
an automatic device acting upon two distributing valves on the exterior of the said
lower cylinder, the whole constructed and operated as follows,-A copper or metal
ball float is carried by two suitable arms, which terminate and pivot on a spindle
and the extremities of the spindle after passing through stuffing boxes on either
side, are coupled respectively to a cold water distribution valve and to a steami
distribution valve. This steam distribution valve is preferably arranged of an
equilibrium type and its operation governs the admission of steam through two
distinct passages to an air ejector in one instance and to the boiler feed pump in
the second instance. Immediately underneath the ends of the return brass pipes
leading to the lower cylinder a series of sparge or spray pipes are placed and these
pipes are connected up to the water distributing valve; while connected to the
top of the lower cylinder or receiver is an air ejector; this air ejector being
operated by steam from the steam distribution valve herein before referred to,
though any other method such as pumps and the like can be used to withdraw the
air.
The operation of the herein before described mechanism is as follows. The
exhaust or waste steam circulates from the waste steam main through the return
brass pipes into the lower cylinder or receiver, and as a water circulation is kept
up in the upper cylinder the steam in passing through the pipes is partially or

page_text: wholly condensed; any steam which may pass the receiver ends of the return
pipes is met by a water spray from the sparge pipes and thus completely con-
densed, while back pressure in the exhaust main is prevented and rapid condensa-
tion in the return pipes and at their exits is assisted by the vacuum maintained
by the steam driven air ejector and sparge pipes.
The position of the ball float in the receiver is so arranged that as the level of the
condensed water falls, the steam distribution valve increases the action of the
ejector to facilitate further condensation, at the same time as the water distribu-
tion valve increases the action of the spray or sparge pipes for the same purpose;
but when the water level rises the actions of these valves are reversed so that the
steam is admitted to the feed pump to reduce the water level in the receiver while
the ejector and spraying devices are nearly or wholly stopped.
The water distribution valve may also be so arranged that hot or cold water can
be sent into the sprayer and for this purpose it is coupled by a suitable pipe line
and valves with the cold water supply from the main and the hot water supply from
the upper cylinder.
It is to be clearly understood that the connections between the water distributing
valves, the spraying pipes, the cold water supply, and the hot water supply in the
upper cylinder, may be suitably varied without departing from the subject matter
of this invention.
The two arms which carry the ball float may be made hollow and connected
through the spindle upon which they pivot with the atmosphere, so that any water
which condenses upon the inner surface (technically known as sweating) may be
carried off and replaced by air and thus keep the ball float constant in weight.
.
Dated this 12th of Santambian 1807
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Water Heater and Steam Condenser for Boilers
and the like.
I, DAVID MEIN 'NESBIT,' and WALTER CLOWES, both of 12, Great James Street,
Bedford Row, London, W.C., Engineers, 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 relates to that class of apparatus in which the heat from the
exhaust or waste steam is utilised to heat water required for boilers or like purposes,
the water in the first instance being used as a medium to effect condensation of
the steam.
The invention consists in the provision of a specially arranged condenser and
receiver in combination with suitable valves and apparatus which automatically
regulate the supply and condensation of feed water, while also ejecting the air
from the receiver to assist condensation, and to prevent back pressure in the
exhaust and waste steam pipe.
The metliod of carrying the invention into effect is illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings as follows:-
.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the improved heater and
condenser.
Figure 2 is a horizontal irregular section on the line ab Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the lined Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan partly in section on the line erf Figure 1.

page_text: In. carrying this invention into effect as illustrated in the drawings a two
chambered vessel is provided consisting of an upper cylinder A and a lower
cylinder B. Placed within the upper cylinder A are a series of return brass (or
other metal) tubes C C, so arranged that the ends g on one side communicate
through a chamber D with the exhaust or waste steam main, while the other
ends communicate as shown, directly with the lower cylinder B. The upper
cylinder A forms a jacket round the return brass tubes C C, and water is circulated
through this upper cylinder entering cold at the inlet E and being withdrawn hot
by the pipe F which projects within the cylinder and nearly to the top thereof.
This upper cylinder, therefore, acts as a surface condenser and a water heater,
either for boiler feed or other purposes...
The lower cylinder B receives the condensed water from the return pipes at the
ends thereof and this cylinder has arranged within it automatic devices acting
upon two distributing valves G, G', placed on the exterior of the said lower cylinder
and clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The devices are constructed and
operate as follows:-
The
The valves G and G₁ are respectively operated by spindles H and H' passing
through suitable stuffing boxes on either side, and coupled at their inner ends by
the double arms I and I¹ to ball floats (preferably of copper) J and J.
valve G is a cold water distributing valve and the valve G¹ is a steam distributing
valve and both are preferably made double or equilibrium. The steam distribut-
ing valve G¹ in its operation governs the admission of live steam from the boiler
to a steam driven boiler feed pump operating it at certain positions of the water
level and pumping from the chamber B by the pipe N as hereinafter described.
The water distribution valve G on the other hand, controls the distribution of
water to sparge or spray pipes K (see Figure 1 and 3) arranged immediately
underneath the ends of the return tubes C and a pipe line leads from the valve G.
in the inlet K¹ to effect this. The steam air ejector or exhauster M¹ is operated by an
independent steam supply from the boilers.
The operation of the hereinbefore described mechanism is as follows. The
exhaust or waste steam circulates from the waste steam main by the chamber ])
up through the ends g of the return pipes C C down out through the ends h into
the lower cylinder or receiver B. A water circulation is kept up in the
upper cylinder by the end at E and outlet F and the steam in passing through the
pipes CC is partially or wholly condensed. Any steam which may pass the ends h
of the pipes C is met by a water spray from the sparge pipes K and thus completely
condensed, while back pressure in the exhaust main is prevented and rapid con-
densation in the pipes Ċ facilitated by the vacuum maintained by a steam driven
air ejector M attached to the port L, the said air ejector being driven by live steam
from the boiler and controlled by hand. To filter the condensed water a grid M
is arranged at the bottom of the receiver B and the main outlet by which the water
is drawn from the receiver is at N. Suitable man holes for cleaning are arranged
round the bottom of the said receiver.
The condensed water collects at the foot of the receiver B and the relative
position of the two ball floats J and J¹ to certain levels of the condensed water is
so arranged that the following steam and water distribution ensues. When the
condensed water falls below the level y the steam distribution valve G₁ gradually
shuts and stops the feed pump with-drawing water from the receiver B by way of
the outlet N and at the same time the water distribution valve G increases the
action of the sprayer or sparge pipes K by allowing cold water to pass from G
through a pipe to K and K increasing condensation and acting as an auxiliary
water supply to the cylinder or receiver B, but when the water level rises to v w
the action of the valves is reversed so that steam is admitted to the feed pump to
reduce the water level in the receiver B by pumping from it through outlet N
while the spraying devices at K are nearly or wholly stopped.
The water distribution valve G may also be so arranged so that hot or cold water
can be sent into the sparge pipes K, and when this method is employed the dis-

page_text: tribution valve is coupled by a suitable pipe line and valve with the water supply
from the upper cylinder A so that a hand valve can be opened and allow a pro-
portion of hot water to pass into the valve G.
It is to be clearly understood that the connections between the water distribu-
tion valve, the spraying pipes, the cold water supply and hot water supply in the
upper cylinder may be suitably varied without departing from the subject of this
invention.
The two arms which carry the ball floats may be made hollow and connected
through the spindle upon which they pivot with the atmosphere so that any water
that condenses on the inner surface (technically known as sweating) may be
carried off and replaced by air and thus keep the ball float constant in weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a combined water heater and steam condenser for boilers and the like in
combination, a surface condenser with return exhaust steam tubes, a receiver
adjacent to the condenser in communication with the exhaust tubes, spray or
sparge pipes and a steam air ejector fitted to the receiver, and ball floats at the
bottom of the receiver operated upon by the water level and controlling through
suitable exterior valves the sparge pipes, and the boiler feed pump, and all
substantially as herein before described.
2. The combined water heater and steam condenser for boilers and the like
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.