Improvements in Multiple Effect and other Vessels for Evaporating Liquids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 8th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiple Effect and other Vessels for Evaporating
Liquids.
I, GEORGE FLETCHER, of Masson and Atlas Works, Litchurch, in the County
of Derby, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in multiple effect apparatus used in the
manufacture of sugar, and other vessels for evaporating liquids, the object of the
invention being to obtain an improved and accelerated circulation of syrups or
other liquids in the pan whereby an increased efficiency of the heating surface is
secured and the said heating surface kept free from scale or other material
becoming deposited upon it.
In carrying out my invention the bottom of the apparatus is curved inwards
from the sides towards the centre, inducing a continuous and uniform flow of
liquid and distributing it equally to the underside of the circulating tubes, and
so upwards, ensuring a continuous circulation until the required density is
obtained.
The vapour for producing the heat in the internal drum is conveyed by a
vertical pipe from the source of supply.
A baffle plate or screen (which may be perforated) is so placed in the direct
line of flow of the vapour through the exit as to intercept the spray or foam held
in suspension and return it back into the chamber.
The liquid to be evaporated passes from the inlet through a distributer.
A branch is provided to relieve the internal heating drum of the condensed
water collected in the well, the cover of which is removable to allow of inspecting
the drum through a manway.
The heating drum may be placed eccentrically in the chamber, the bottom
being also eccentric; the heating drum is placed nearest to that side of the
chamber through which the inlet pipe conveys the hot vapour leaving the widest
space on the coolest side of the drum for the downward current of the circulating
liquid, the bottom being tapered round gradually towards the inlet side to
accommodate the diminishing volume of liquid required to be distributed to the
underside of the tubes.
The drum is suspended on adjustable hanging stay-rods to give full liberty for
expansion.
Through the inlet for the supply of liquid to be evaporated passes a drain pipe
from the drum sealed by a gland for drawing off condensed water.
The heating drums may be centrally placed and the drain pipe for condensed
water be placed at the side instead of passing through the inlet for the liquid to be
evaporated. The bottom of the chamber may also be largest in voluine at the
sides all round diminishing uniformly towards the centre of the drum and
suspension rods are advantageously attached to the drum to allow of expansion.
Dated this 18th day of July 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Multiple Effect and other Vessels for Evaporating
Liquids.
I, GEORGE FLETCHER, of Masson and Atlas Works Litchurch, in the County
of Derby, 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 relates to improvements in multiple effect apparatus used in the
manufacture of sugar, and other open or closed vessels for evaporating liquids, the
object of the invention being to obtain an improved and accelerated circulation of
syrups or other liquids in the pan whereby an increased efficiency of the heating
surface is secured and the said heating surface kept free from scale or other
material becoming deposited upon it.
In carrying out my invention the bottom of the apparatus is curved inwards
from the sides towards the centre, inducing a continuous and uniform flow of liquid
and distributing it equally to the underside of the heating tubes, and so upwards,
ensuring a continuous circulation until the required density is obtained.
The vapour for producing the heat in the internal drum is conveyed by a vertical
pipe from the source of supply.
A baffle plate or screen (which may be perforated) is so placed in the direct line
of flow of the vapour through the exit as to intercept the spray or foam held in
suspension and return it back into the chamber.
The liquid to be evaporated passes from the inlet through a distributer.
A branch is provided to relieve the internal heating drum of the condensed
water collected in the well, the cover of which is removable to allow of inspecting
the drum through a manway.
The heating drum may be placed eccentrically in the chamber, the bottom being
also eccentric; the heating drum is placed nearest to that side of the chamber
through which the inlet pipe conveys the hot vapour leaving the widest space on the
coolest side of the drum for the downward current of the circulating liquid, the
bottom being tapered round gradually towards the inlet side to accommodate
the diminishing volume of liquid required to be distributed to the underside of the
tubes.
The drum is suspended on adjustable hanging stay-rods to give full liberty for
expansion.
Through the inlet for the supply of liquid to be evaporated passes a drain pipe
from the drum sealed by a gland for drawing off condensed water.
The heating drums may be centrally placed and the drain pipe for condensed
water be placed at the side instead of passing through the inlet for the liquid to be
evaporated. The bottom of the chamber may also be largest in volume at the
sides all round diminishing uniformly towards the centre of the drum and
suspension rods are advantageously attached to the drum to allow of expansión..
For drawing off the water condensed in the drum I advantageously employ a
trap consisting of a. closed vessel with inlet for the steam and water and a
discharge valve for the outlet of the same. The discharge. valve is of the kind
known as the equilibrium and it is controlled, by a float preferably of stone or like
substance the weight of the float being partially counterbalanced by suitable
counterpoises.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a multiple effect chamber constructed according
to my invention :
1

page_text: Figure 2 is a vertical section of a group of such chambers arranged as a multiple
effect:
"
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a modified form of my improved chamber:
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a group of chambers arranged as a multiple
effect:
Figure 5 is a vertical section of another form of my improved apparatus provided
with the trap for drawing off condensed water:
Figure 6 is a sectional plan of the same:
Figure 7 is a vertical section of the condensed water trap; and,
Figure 8 is a plan of the same with the cover removed.
Similar letters of reference refer to the same or corresponding parts in the
figures.
a is the body of the vessel and 6 the bottom of the same which as shewn in Figure 1
is curved inwards towards the centre from the sides. The bottom 6 is provided'
with the inlete for the liquid to be evaporated and with an annular well d covered
by a perforated plate or distributer e through which the liquid to be evaporated
passes. is the outlet in the bottom b for the liquid after the operation is finished.
g is the well in the bottom b, provided with the branch h for relieving the internal
heating drum i of condensed water. j is the removable cover of the well g.
is the vertical pipe for conveying vapour to the drum i the said pipe passing
laterally through the dome 1 of the vessel. m is the exit or outlet for the liquid
evaporated arranged in the dome / and n is the baffle plate or screen fixed to the
dome in front of the outlet m in the line of flow of the vapour coming from the
vessel.
In the form of vessel shewn in Figure 3 the heating drum i is placed
eccentrically in the vessel or chamber the bottom b being also arranged
eccentrically. The inlet pipe k in this case does not pass through the dome ! but
directly into the drum i through the side of the vessel a on that side of the drum
nearest to the chamber and the bottom b is made shallower on this side, that is to
say, it is tapered round gradually towards the inlet for the heating vapour.
this arrangement the drum i is suspended on adjustable hanging stay rods o, o
instead of being bolted directly to the bottom bas in Figure 1 and a drain pipe p
for drawing off condensed water passes from the drum through the inlet c and a
gland g. The baffle plate has the form of a cover over the end of the outlet r
from the chamber into the dome 1.
C
In
Instead of being tapered as above described the bottom can be formed so that
it curves upwards from the sides where it is deepest towards the centre and the
drum i can be arranged centrally in the chamber whilst the drain pipe p can pass
laterally through the chamber as shewn in Figure 4.
In Figures 5 and 6 the body a of the chamber or vessel instead of having its
sides formed parallel is somewhat larger in diameter at its upper than at its lower
part in which the drum i is placed. The object of this arrangement is to provide an
increased surface for the disengagement of the steam or vapour from the boiling.
liquids without increasing the bulk of the latter and without affecting the
circulation of the same. The vessel in Figures 5 and 6 is shewn in combination
with the trap for drawing off the water condensed in the drum i, the said trap
being shewn to a larger scale in Figures 7 and 8. I do not here claim the trap
which is to form the subject of a separate application.
:
a is the body or casing of the trap, a cover bolted or secured in any other
suitable manner to the body a', c is the inlet for the steam and water. d' is the
discharge or outlet valve attached to the spindle e' which passes through and
carries the float. y', g' are the counterpoises shewn three in number which
partially counterbalance the weight of the float. These counterpoises consist
of weights fixed to the ends of levers h¹, h' which bear against a collar on the
spindle e carrying the float f' and which are pivotted on supports j', j'.
A thoroughfare spindle passes through the trap and is provided externally
'
"
I
1.

page_text: with a hand lever by means of which the valve d' may be raised and lowered if
it should become stuck in its seat.
It is obvious that so long as there is a certain quantity of water in the trap, the
float will be raised and the valve opened for discharging but that when the water
falls below a certain level in the box the float drops and the valve closes and
prevents the escape of any steam.
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 :-
1. In multiple effect and other vessels for evaporating liquids curving the
bottoms of the chambers or vessels inwards from the sides towards the centre
either concentrically or eccentrically with the said vessels, substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described.
2. The combination with multiple effect and other vessels for evaporating or
otherwise treating liquids of the kind described in Claim 1 of the condensed
water trap hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the
drawings.
3. The improved multiple effect apparatus herein before described and illustrated
in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.
Dated the 18th day of April 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.