IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER HEATERS AND PURIFIERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER C.E. of 96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the county
of Lanark, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER HEATERS AND PURIFIERS," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement; (the said invention having been
communicated to ine from abroad by George H. Babcock and Leighton Pine, and
the Babcock and Wilcox Company, of New York in the United States of America,
Steam Boiler Manufacturers) :-
-
The object of my invention is to more effectually remove the impurities from
feed water before it enters a boiler or is used for any purpose which requires clean
and pure water; and it relates to that class of feed-water heaters and purifiers in .
which the water is caused to come in contact, either as fine spray or a thin sheet,
with steam at a high temperature, which will, as is well-known, by raising the
temperature of such water cause it to release and deposit impurities commonly
contained in the water of springs, wells, rivers &c; said water thereafter being
first permitted to settle and then passed to the boiler or other receptacle either
directly or through a filter. An important object in constructing heaters of this
class, is to secure the most perfect and thorough contact between the steam which
imparts and the water which receives heat, and to maintain such contact as long as
practicable so that the water may be raised nearly or quite to the temperature of
the steam.
According to one modification of my invention the water is caused to spread
itself in a very thin film over the interior surface of an inverted cone while it
comes in contact with steam and a steam heated surface as hereinafter set forth,
a settling chamber formed preferably in the lower part of a steam chamber
containing said cone, a filter, means for conveying the water after deposit of its
grosser impurities through said filter to the final receptacle, means for cleaning
automatically both said settling chamber and said filter, and means for securing
an independent and automatic delivery of feed water to the said receptacle in case
the usual passage through said settling chamber and filter should be clogged or
stopped.

page_text: In a second modification the water to be purified is caused to fall in a finely
divided condition through an atmosphere of steam, whence it is carried to the
lower portion of a settling chamber wherein the impurities are permitted to settle
and thence gradually rising through a filtering medium is delivered purified from
the greater portion of all the salts or impurities which it contains.
In the drawings Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a vertical section and partial elevation of
my improved feed-water heater and purifier under the first modification above
referred to; Figure 2 shows three enlarged views (face, plan, and section) of the
inlet pipe showing especially the means preferred for delivering the water to be
purified, obliquely against the upper interior surface of the inverted cone B;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of Figure 1 (with filtering material removed)
showing the connecting pipe; and Figure 4 is a plan of the base and saddle for
holding same showing the arrangement of the blow-off pipes.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, is a partial elevation and partial vertical section of my
improved feed water heater and purifier under the second modification above
-X in Figure 5;
referred to; Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the line X -
Figure 7 shows the spray box enlarged; and Figure 8 is a partial vertical section
showing a slight modification in details of construction.
In the modification shown on Sheet 1, A is a shell, preferably of boiler iron, of
sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of steam to be used within it and
made long enough to constitute both a steam and a settling chamber. Within
this shell A is an inverted cone B somewhat smaller at its largest circumference, as
shown, than the interior of said shell to which, at its upper end, the cone is
attached by rivets or other convenient means to hold it practically concentric with
the said shell. From the lower end of the cone B a pipe C extends downwards to
a point near the lower end of the shell A and concentric therewith. The feed
water (inlet) pipe D, receiving water from pumps or by any other method which
will give adequate pressure, delivers water through the upper head of the shell A
into an annular pipe E, having openings arranged to cause the water to issue
tangentially to a circle (which may be smaller in diameter than the ring). A pipe e
supplies steam to the steam chamber formed by the upper part of said shell A,
preferably taking such steam direct from the steam space of a boiler, at a
pressure above that of the atmosphere. This steam, filling the steam chamber,
entirely envelopes the inverted cone B externally and internally at the same
pressure. The water delivered as described through the pipe E strikes obliquely
upon the upper interior of the inverted cone B, flows spirally in a thin film down said
interior, and thence down the pipe C to the lower end of the shell A. The contact
of the steam with the film so formed in the interior of the cone, and also
with the outer surface of the cone itself, will heat the water detained in direct
contact with the steam on one side and the steam heated surface of the cone on the
other by its spiral descent, nearly if not quite to the temperature of such steam,
and it will deposit such impurities as can thus be separated in the lower portion of
the shell A which I have termed the "settling chamber." The water being thus
delivered in the shell A will rise therein until it finds a means of escape. This is
provided under ordinary circumstances by the pipe P extending up as shown
within the shell A to a point determined upon as the proper water level, and
leading thence to a filter chamber H and entering at the lower portion thereof.
This filter chamber H is partially filled with coke, charcoal, sand, or other suitable
filtering material supported on a grate in such a manner that the water in rising
to the upper end of the filter chamber is compelled to pass through said material.
From the upper end of said chamber H-such end being clear and above the
filtering material as shown-an outlet pipe I leads to the boiler or other receptacle
wherein the purified water is to be used or stored. A check valve i in this pipe
prevents the water flowing back from the final receptacle, and a valve g in the
pipe G between the filter and the main heater A, is provided to shut off the con
nection between them. K and K are blow-off pipes fitted with suitable valves
and connected respectively to the bottoms of the filter and the settling chamber.

page_text: A pipe L connects the steam chamber at a point somewhat above the normal
water level with the top (or clear upper part) of the filter. This pipe has a double
office. Its duty is not only to clean the filter when required,-which can be done
by simply closing the valve g and opening the blow-off pipe K when the direct
pressure of the steam on the top of the water in the filter will do that work while
the self-acting valve in the outlet pipe 1 prevents any backflow, but also to act as
a safety pipe in case the passage through the filter becomes interrupted by the
collection of sediment or from any other cause, such for instance as the accidental
closing of the valve g. In any such case of stoppage or obstruction of the regular
channels, it is clear that the water will continue to rise within the shell A and
above the top of the pipe P until it reaches a point whence it will flow through
the pipe L, through the clear top of the filter (or practically direct and without
obstacle) to the outlet pipe I and to the final receptacle.
Suitable manholes M, M, are provided for access to the interior of the different
parts of the heater both for cleaning and for removing and renewing the filtering
material when the same becomes ineffective.
One advantage due to this modification of my invention is that by the arrange-
ment of the inverted cone, the oblique delivery of the water against its upper
interior surface, and the consequent spiral descent of such water in a thin film in
intimate contact with the steam and with a steam heated surface, I secure not only
a more perfect heating of the water, but also by compelling it to travel a longer
distance in its heated condition without enlarging the device, I of course gain time
for the more complete separation of such impurities as can be precipitated by heat.
Again the filter may be blown off and cleaned without discharging the water from
the main heater and settling chamber, and thereby losing the heated water it may
contain and wasting the fuel which has been expended in heating it. And finally
a great advantage of my heater is that absolute security is thereby provided
against not only accidental or natural clogging of the filter and regular passages
for the water, but also against carelessness or neglect on the part of the attendant,
for in any case of such stoppages, the water must find its way through the pipe L
clear and unobstructed to the boiler or other final receptacle.
In the modification of my improved water-heater and purifier shown in Sheet 2,
the shell A is divided horizontally by a tight partition B¹ into two compartments,
an upper one A¹ wherein the inlet water in the form of spray mingles with steam
(the inverted cone B being dispensed with) and a lower one H which takes the
place of the separate filtering chamber of the first modification. At a distance
from the bottom of the compartment H¹ is carried a grate h¹. A pipe G¹ external
to the shell A connects the bottom of the pump compartment H¹ with the
bottom, or a point near the bottom of the compartment A¹. This pipe G¹ is
provided at its upper end with a beveled flange g', which when removed permits
of access to both the vertical portion and the upper elbow for cleaning.
A cover is also provided at the bottom of the pipe G¹, for access in cleaning the
lower elbow. A tube C is fixed in the partition B' extending some distance
upward into the compartment A¹, and is provided at its top with a hood c¹
which prevents the water as it falls from the spray box gaining access to the
interior of the pipe, but permits of the free passage of the steam in the com-
partment A to the top of the compartment H', so that an equal pressure must
exist in both. A steam pipe e¹ brings steam from any suitable vessel to the interior
of the compartment A¹. A feed pipe D¹ connected with pumps, or other suitable
means of supplying water, enters the upper head of the compartiment A', to the
end of which pipe is attached a spray box E¹. This spray box is shown on a larger
scale in Figure 7, and consists of a casting, preferably circular, screwed to the end
of the pipe D¹. The bottom of the box E is formed by a dished plate of thin metal
perforated with a large number of small holes, and is bolted up to the casting by a
central bolt as shown. When so bolted the edges of the casting and the flexible
plate come in contact, making the box E tight with the exception of the
perforations in the bottom. In practice it is found that any apparatus spraying

page_text: water into a steam compartment, quickly becomes fouled by deposit and the
perforations therein become stopped, requiring frequent cleaning. The construction
of the spray box admits of easy cleaning by the removal of the bottom plate, when
all of the interior is readily accessible, but by the construction of this box E' with
the flexible plate, should the perforations therein become stopped so as to prevent
the flowing of the water, the pressure of the water will spring the flexible plate and
open the joint between it and the upper casting, causing the water. to be delivered
in a thin sheet all around the edge of the box, in a manner very nearly as effective
'as if delivered through the perforations in the bottom. By this construction the
'continuous proper action of the spray box is secured for a greater length of time
than is found possible with the constructions hitherto known.
I is the pipe communicating with the upper end of the chamber H¹ for the
delivery of the water after it has been heated and purified. The space above the
grating in the compartment H' is partly filled with coke, charcoal, or other
proper material for filtering the water on its upward passage to the delivery pipe I¹.
In order that the clogging of this filter may not prevent the continuous action of
the heater and purifier, I provide a pipe L' extending from below the grate h¹
through the filter, to a point above the delivery pipe I. In the Drawing this
is shown extending up into the pipe C¹ by which means I am enabled to save room
in the height of the chamber H. The distance which the pipe L¹ extends above
the delivery pipe I determines the pressure allowed for the resistance of the filter,
and when that pressure is exceeded the water will flow through the pipe L' directly,
without passing through the filter. K' is a blow off pipe, which may be fitted with
a valve in the ordinary manner, for blowing off the sediment which collects in the
bottom of the compartment H. Man-holes M1, M³, permit access to the different
portions of the interior for the purposes of cleaning as well as for removing and
replacing the filtering material.
The operation of this beater and purifier is as follows:
Steam being admitted through the pipe e¹ to the interior of the compartment A¹,
flows through the hooded pipe C₁ into the compartment H¹ until the same steam
pressure obtains in both. Water is then forced through the pipe D¹ into the spray
box E and falling in fine spray through the steam in the compartment A¹, is
thereby heated to the full temperature of such steam, and then flows through the
external pipe G' into the lower portion of the compartment H', which is of such
capacity that the impurities contained in the water are allowed to settle to the
bottom, while the water flows gradually upward to and through the filter, which
removes such impurities as do not settle; and thence outward through the discharge
pipe I, to the boiler or wheresoever it is to be used. The impurities in the water
are liable to deposit very early after it is heated by the steam in the spay chamber
or compartment A', and the bottom of such spray chamber and the pipe G' are
liable very soon to become coated and require cleaning. This is readily accomplished
by means of the covers without necessitating entering the compartment A¹ through
the man-hole M. The sediment which enters the bottom of the settling chamber
or compartment H' may be blown out through the blow-off pipe K¹, or if too solid
to be thus readily removed, it can be taken out through the man-hole M.
In course of time the impurities in the water will be liable to clog the interstices
in the filter, in which case the pressure required to force the water through the
filter will be gradually increased, causing the water to accumulate in the compart-
ment A'. When this pressure increases to such an extent that the water in the
compartment A¹ rises to the top of the pipe L¹, the water will then flow upward
through the pipe L¹ from below the grate to the delivery pipe I', and thus water
which has had time to settle its main impurities in the compartment H¹ without
going through the filter will be delivered without interfering with the working of
the heater. As the hooded pipe C extends higher into the compartment A³ than
the top of the pipe L, it will be seen that the freshly heated water coming into the
compartment A' can never reach the delivery pipe I¹ except through the external
pipe and the compartment H', until the pipe G becomes closed by sediment, in

page_text: which case the water will rise in the compartment A¹ until it flows down the
equalising pipe C¹ and thence to the boiler.
A modification of this pipe L' is shown at L' in Figure 8, wherein it is external
to the shell A, returning upon itself at the highest point and re-entering the
compartment H₁ at the upper end thereof. The effect of this pipe is similar to the
pipe L in Figure 5. When the pressure below the filter is greater than the
pressure above the filter the water will rise, and if the pressure be sufficient it will
rise to the bend and overflow. This arrangement will moreover have the advantage
that immediately after the current is started, the water in the short leg of this
external pipe L' will counterbalance the saine length in the longer leg, and the
water will flow over until all the accumulation in the compartment A' will
disappear. In other words, the pipe L2, after the water has started to flow through
it, becomes a partial syphon and is in effect, only equal in length to the distance
between its ends; and it will require no more pressure to pass the water through
this pipe after it has once started than it would if it were that much shorter.
An important advantage of this arrangement is in the security that the feed to
the boiler, when the apparatus is used for that purpose, will not be interrupted
from neglect of the proper attention to the heater, as is the case in all heaters and
purifiers heretofore made. Should the spray box become filled it opens and acts as
a spray valve or overflow pan; should the filter become stopped by sediment the
water will flow around it by the self-acting pipe L' or L³, and should the pipe GL
become stopped, or the filter and the pipe Li both, then the water will rise in the
spray chamber until it overflows the hooded pipe C and so flows direct to the
boiler.
By placing gauge cocks, or guage glasses, at various points in the shell, the
condition of the heater can be ascertained without stopping its action by
ascertaining the position of the water level.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a feed-water heater and purifier the combination of a steam chamber, an
inverted cone therein, and a feed pipe delivering water obliquely against the upper
inside surface of said cone.
2. In a feed-water heater and purifier the combination of a steam chamber, an
inverted cone, and a pipe adapted to deliver water obliquely against the upper
inside surface of said cone with a settling chainber wherein the impurities of the
water may be deposited substantially as described.
3. In a feed-water heater and purifier the combination with a steam chamber,
an inverted cone therein and a pipe adapted to deliver water obliquely against the
upper inside surface of the said cone and a settling chamber wherein the grosser
impurities of the heated water may be precipitated, of a filter for completing the
purification substantially as described.
4. In a feed-water heater and purifier having a chamber in which the water is
brought into direct contact with steam, a settling chamber wherein the grosser
impurities may be precipitated and a filter for completing the purification, a pipe
connecting the steam chamber directly with the delivery pipe leading to the boiler
or other receptacle substantially as described.
5. In a feed-water heater and purifier comprising a steam chamber, a settling
chamber, and a filter, a pipe connecting the steam chamber with the delivery end
of the filter substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In a feed-water beater and purifier having a steam chamber and a depositing
chamber, a filter connected with the stean chamber and also connected with the
depositing chamber by a pipe provided with a stop valve, said filter being also
provided with a blow-off valve substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a feed-water heater and purifier having a steam chamber directly connected
with a settling chamber, and a filter directly connected with said steam chamber,
and connected with said settling chamber by a connection which can be closed at will,

page_text: the combination of blow-off valves in both said settling chamber and said filter
with a check valve in the delivery pipe, leading from said filter substantially as
described..
8. In a feed-water heater and purifier an independent safety pipe leading
without impediment from the steam chamber to the final delivery pipe, and adapted
to act in case the usual course through the purifier is clogged or cut off substantially
as described.
9. In a feed-water heater and purifier, a pipe adapted to perform the double
office of a safety or overflow water pipe and to supply steam for blowing out and
cleaning the filter substantially as described.
10. In a feed-water heater and purifier, a spray chamber, and a settling chamber,
connected by an external pipe accessible for cleaning, substantially as specified.
11. In a feed-water heater and purifier, having a spray chamber and a settling
chamber, a hooded equalising pipe, connecting the same, substantially as specified.
12. In a feed water heater and purifier, having a spray chamber and a settling
chamber, an external pipe accessible for cleaning, and an equalising pipe connecting
the said chambers, substantially as specified.
13. In a feed-water heater and purifier, the combination of a settling chamber
and a filter, with a pass over pipe around or through the filter, substantially as
specified.
14. In a feed-water heater and purifier, a perforated elastic spray box, sub-
stantially as specified.
15. In a feed water heater and purifier having a filter and settling chamber a
syphon pass-over pipe, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
:
Dated thin 10th day of Mouch 100%