Condensers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
Condensers.
We, JAMES JONES MELDRUM and THOMAS FREDERICK MELDRUM, both of
Atlantic Works, City Road, Manchester, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The kind of condensers to which this invention has reference, are steam condensers
usually called "evaporative condensers," or "dry air condensers," that is to say,
to condensers of the type wherein the steam to be condensed is passed through tubes
and water in relatively small quantities is distributed over the surfaces of the said
tubes, and is evaporated thereby; or to condensers having similar pipes in which
ordinary atmospheric air is passed over the same.
In a condenser according to this invention there is employed a nest or stack of
relatively small and thin metal tubes (as wrought iron or steel boiler tube) say
horizontally disposed, and tube plates in which the ends of said tubes are secured
and having a casing also at the sides thereof, enclosing them; whilst outside the
tube plates the chambers are provided enclosing the ends of the tubes, by which
the steam to be condensed is conducted through said tubes forwards and backwards,
or as desired, the condensed water leaving by a suitable outlet; and above this
portion of the apparatus, there are provided spraying nozzles by which water is
distributed over the surface in small quantities, and evenly. In conjunction with
this there is provided means of introducing air into and through the apparatus (say
at the lower part thereof) the current passing over the water flowing over the tubes.
This assists in the evaporation of the water, and so in the condensation of steam in
the pipes, and the air and vapour are suitably conducted from the apparatus by
suitable conduit. In some cases a fan or rotary air-motor may be used to introduce
the air; whilst in another we may use in conjunction therewith a chimney or shaft
of sufficient height and size to assist the introduction and passage of air through it
which chimney or shaft would serve at the same time to carry off the air and vapour
from the apparatus. Or again, in some cases, such chimney or shaft may be of
sufficient size and height to alone introduce into and cause to pass through the
apparatus, the air and carry it away therefrom. An air pump is also used in
connection with the apparatus.
The tubes are preferably arranged in zigzag rows so that all the water sprayed
from above and falling down will meet the surface of some of the tubes.
a
The apparatus above described, it will be seen, consists substantially of a closed
apparatus wherein comparatively small condensing tubes are used to receive
and have passed through them, the steam to be condensed, and water is dis-
tributed over them in a sprayed or broken condition by spraying devices or
nozzles; air also being caused to flow over the water flowing over the tubes by
means as specified, whilst an air pump is employed to carry off the air from the
condenser.
In some cases, the enclosing sides of the apparatus or parts thereof, may be
adapted to open in such a manner as to admit air, and utilize the natural current of
air when the wind is blowing to pass through the apparatus; for example, these
parts may be made as louvre-boards, and when in the case of a fan being used as a
propeller they are open, such fan could be stopped.
In one arrangement, we employ as a means for removing the air from the
condenser, a water jet pump. This pump may be supplied with water from an

page_text: overhead tank at a suitable height above, the water falling into a tank below, and
a pump or motor being used to lift the water therefrom back again into the tank
above. The water of condensation may be withdrawn and mix with that of
the jet.
In lieu of the above form of air removing apparatus, we may use in com-
bination with the above apparatus, other types of pumps, such as piston pumps,
and the like.
As to the spraying nozzles, for convenience, we prefer to use centrifugally
This effect may
acting nozzles by which the water is given a rotary effect.
be produced by providing suitable guiding or directing parts within it.
In the case of the application of the invention as a dry air condenser, the
parts above described without the condensing water supply and spray portions
are employed.
Dated this 30th day of January 1894.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.
We, JAMES JONES MELDRUM and THOMAS FREDERICK MELDRUM, both of
Atlantic Works. City Road, Manchester, 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 :-
The of kind condensers to which this invention has reference, are steam condensers
usually called "evaporative condensers," or "dry air condensers," that is to say,
to condensers of the type wherein the steam to be condensed is passed through tubes,
and water in relatively small quantities is distributed over the surfaces of the said
tubes, and is evaporated thereby; or to condensers having similar pipes in which
ordinary atmospheric air is passed over the same.
In a condenser according to this invention there is employed a nest or stack of
relatively small and thin metal tubes (as wrought iron, steel, or brass boiler tube)
say horizontally disposed, and tube plates in which the ends of said tubes are
secured and having a casing also at the sides thereof, enclosing them, whilst outside
the tube plates the chambers are provided enclosing the ends of the tubes, by which
the steam to be condensed is conducted through said tubes forwards and backwards,
or as desired, the condensed water leaving by a suitable outlet; and above this
portion of the apparatus, there are provided spraying nozzles by which water is
distributed over the surface in small quantities, and evenly. In conjunction with
this there is provided means of introducing air into and through the apparatus (say
at the lower part thereof) the current passing over the water flowing over the tubes.
This assists in the evaporation of the water and so in the condensation of steam in
the pipes, and the air and vapour are suitably conducted from the apparatus by a
suitable conduit. In some cases a fan or rotary air motor may be used to introduce
the air; whilst in another we may use in conjunction therewith a chimney or shaft
of sufficient height and size to assist the introduction and passage of air through it
which chimney or shaft would serve at the same time to carry off the air and vapour
from the apparatus. Or again, in some cases, such chimney or shaft may be of
sufficient size and height to alone introduce into and cause to pass through the
apparatus, the air and carry it away therefrom. An air pump is also used in
connection with the apparatus.
The tubes are preferably arranged in zigzag rows so that all the water sprayed
from above and falling down will meet the surface of some of the tubes.

page_text: The apparatus above described, it will be seen, consists substantially of a closed
apparatus wherein comparatively small condensing tubes are used to receive
and have passed through them, the steam to be condensed, and water is dis-
tributed over them in a sprayed or broken condition by spraying devices or
nozzles; air also being caused to pass over the water flowing over the tubes by
means as specified, whilst an air pump is employed to carry off the air from the
condenser.
In some cases, the enclosing sides of the apparatus or parts thereof, may be
adapted to open in such a manner as to admit air, and utilize the natural current of
air when the wind is blowing to pass through the apparatus; for example, these
parts may be made as louvre-boards, and when in the case of a fan being used as a
propeller they are open, such fan could be stopped.
In one arrangement, we employ as a means for removing the air from the
condenser, a water jet pump. This pump may be supplied with water from an
overhead tank at a suitable height above, the water falling into a tank below, and
a pump or motor being used to lift the water therefrom back again into the
tank above. The water of condensation may be withdrawn and mix with that of
the jet.
In lieu of the above form of air removing apparatus, we may use in com-
bination with the above apparatus, other types of pumps, such as piston pumps, and
the like.
As to the spraying nozzles, for convenience, we prefer to use centrifugally acting
nozzles by which the water is given a rotary effect. This effect may be produced
by providing suitable guiding or directing parts within it.
In the case of the application of the invention as a dry air condenser, the
parts above described without the condensing water, supply and spray portions
are employed.
In the drawings illustrating this invention we shew three modifications involving
improvements thereunder.
In the first modification there is shewn in Figure 1 a side elevation of the
apparatus, and in Figure 2 an end view of same in section, taken at the line A A
Figure 1.
The second modification is shewn in outside elevation in Figure 3 and part sectional
end view in Figure 4.
The third modification shews our improvements as applied to open air condenser.
Figure 5 being a side elevation, and Figure 6 an end view.
The same letters and figures of reference are used to denote the same or equivalent
parts throughout wherever they occur in the drawings.
Referring in the first instance to Figures 1 and 2, a is the casing or box in which
the condensing tubes are contained, the tubes being designated b. These tubes b
are relatively small, and of thin metal, such as ordinary wrought iron or steel
boiler-tubes, and they are arranged in zigzag form, vertically, and fastened at their
ends by expanding them into tube plates b', or by other suitable known tube and
fastenings. care chests or chambers at either end of the apparatus, enclosing the
ends of the tube, by which the steam to be condensed, and the resultant water, is
passed, and led through the tubes; such chests being provided with diaphragms c
to lead the steam forwards and backwards along or through different batches or
nests of such tubes. d is a pipe through which water is conveyed to the condensing
water delivery orifices or sprayers, and d¹ are nozzles or sprayers such as herein-
above referred to, on d, by which the water in a number of jets is sprayed outwards
e is a fan connected
and distributed over the upper layers or rows of the tubes b.
with the lower chamber a¹ of the casing or chest a, by which air is driven into such
chamber. fis the steam pipe by which steam is conveyed from the engine or other
source, to the chambers c, its upper end, at f¹, being connected to the uppermost
chamber c, from which the steam passes to the upper nest or batch of tubes. h is a
pipe connected with the lowermost and outlet chamber c, by which the condensed
water and air are carried away from the apparatus. iis au air pump to which the

page_text: pipe is connected, and by which air and the condensed water, is taken off from
the apparatus. j is a pump, and a pipe thereon, by which water is forced into the
pipe d and distributed. I is a catch-pot connected with the pipe fiuto which, water
that may condense therein, will fall; and m is a pipe, having a regulating cock m¹
thereon connecting said catch-pot with the air pump i, and through which the
condensed water is withdrawn from the catch-pot: the least possible quantity of
vapour being driven with it by the tap being suitably regulated. n is a hot well,
and o is a pipe connecting it with the chamber a² of the condenser chest a through
this pipe surplus and unevaporated water falling from the pipes 6 is carried from the
said chest into the hot well.
In action, steam-as exhaust steam from an engine-is conveyed by the pipe ƒ to
the upper inlet chest c, and water sprayed over and onto the upper pipes 6 by the
nozzles d¹ and at the same time air is blown into the chamber a' by the fan e and
passed in the contrary direction through the case a and up and over the tubes b.
The air being thus forced up and over the water flowing over the tube surfaces,
vapour is absorbed and carried off by the air and discharged from the open upper
part of the case a. The pipes & being set diagonally or zigzag, vertically, as shewn
and described, in falling or that portion of the water sprayed into them which falls
through the spaces between the tubes of the uppermost row falls onto the pipes
directly below said spaces of the second and other rows, and thus no water can pass
or fall down, without coming in contact with the pipes, and so become fully
utilized. Whatever surplus of water, that is water not evaporated, reaches and
passes from the lower tubes, falls into the bottom chamber a¹, and is conveyed by
the pipe o into the hot well n.
The steam to be condensed passes through the upper batch or nest of tubes b,
then through the nest or batch next below it, and then through the last batch; and
the condensed water together with the air is carried off from the apparatus by the
air pump through the pipe h.
As hereinabove specified, in lieu of an air pump being used for drawing off air
and condensed water, other suitable known means, as steam or water jet exhausting
apparatus may be used for that purpose. Also, instead of the fan e, a shaft or
chimney may be used in connection with the apparatus shewn in Figures 1 and 2
for effecting the flow of air through the case a: in which case the upper part of the
casing a would be closed and connected with the chimney or shaft.
In the modification shewn in Figures 3 and 4, there are provided in the sides
of the case a louvre boards a², which can be utilized, that is opened, when sufficient
wind is blowing, and so utilizing the force of the wind as a means of moving air up
through the chest a. Under such conditions the fan may be stopped.
In the modification shewn in Figures 5 and 6, improvements under this invention
are shewn applied in the case where there is no enclosing case or chest, or air motor,
the apparatus being an open air condenser. In this case a duplex arrangement of
tubes is shewn; that is to say, the apparatus is a duplex one, the steam is supplied
from the pipe ƒ by separate branches f' to each set of pipes and chests c; and
over each of these sets of apparatus, a water distributing pipe & with sprayers or
nozzles is provided. In other respects, the apparatus is substantially similar to that
set forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2; the condensed water and the air being
drawn off by an air pump or exhauster.
In the case of apparatus set forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2 being used,
as a dry air condenser, the water supply pipe and parts connected with it are
dispensed with, the air moved by the fan e alone being used as a cooling fluid.
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 :-
:-
1. An evaporative condensing apparatus, comprising tubes arranged zigzag as
described; spraying nozzles or devices by which water is distributed onto the said
tubes ; a chamber or casing enclosing said tubes; means for supplying and moving

page_text: air through said chamber or casing and over the pipes or tubes therein; and an air
pump or exhauster by which air and condensed water are removed from said
apparatus; substantially as herein described.
2. In an evaporative condensing apparatus, in which tubes, as described, are
employed, and contained within a chamber or casing, the combination in connection
with said chamber or casing of louvre boards or the like, by which the force
of the wind is adapted to be utilized therein; substantially as set forth.
3. A condensing apparatus, comprising tubes arranged as described; a chamber
or casing enclosing said tubes; means for moving or propelling air through said
casing and over said tubes; and an air pump or exhauster; said parts constituting
a dry air condenser, substantially as herein described, and as shown in the
drawings.
4. In an evaporative condenser, the combination of tubes arranged zigzag as
described; a spraying nozzle or nozzles by which water is distributed over said
pipes; and an air pump or exhauster by which air and condensed water are drawn
off from the apparatus; substantially as herein set forth.
5. In a condenser comprising the parts specified or referred to in the pre-
ceding claiming clauses, a vessel or chamber in connection with the steam pipe
conveying steam thereto, and connected with the air pump; as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
6. The condensers having parts arranged, combined, and adapted to operate,
particularly as set forth with reference to and shewn in Figures 1 and 2 ; Figures 3
and 4; and Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, respectively.
Dated this 29th day of November 1894.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.