Improvements in Shower Condensers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shower Condensers.
ROBERT HOWIE SMART 37 Newark Street, Greenock Renfrewshire, Engineer
lo 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 that class of condensers in which the spray or
shower is effected by means of a perforated plate or tray, and has for its object the
more uniform and effective distribution of injection water than hitherto.
It has been found in the various forms of condensers with flat perforated trays,
that a satisfactory condensation as compared with the quantity of water used, is
only attainable when the perforated trays are fully covered with injection water.
The corresponding ratio of efficiency not being maintained when the quantity of
injection water is in any degree reduced; because then on account of the unequal
distribution and localization of the shower, much vapour may pass through such a
condenser without having been at all intercepted in its passage.
My invention which I shall now proceed to describe in detail, procures always
a truly proportionate condensation under varying conditions of injection water
supply.
provide for an equal distribution of shower laterally in the case of a box shaped
condenser and circumferentially in the case of a circular one, by the introduction
of one or more perforated plates or trays of a divisional or inclined section, so as to
allow of the partitions or inclines of such plates or trays being flooded consecutively
or progressively with injection water.
With reference to the sheet of drawings annexed.
Figures 1 and 2 show the application of this invention to two well known forms
of condensers.
Figures 3 to 7 show the perforated tray in some of the simpler forms, variations
of which may be introduced.
Figure 1 is the longitudinal section of a box shaped condenser.
A. is the vapour inlet.
B. the connection to air pump.
C. the torricellian pipe connection.
D. the injection water inlet.
E. a perforated tray of such an inclined or terraced lesign as I have already
referred to and supplied with an overflow lip F. The path followed by vapour is
indicated by arrows.
Injection water is here preferably introduced at lowest part of perforated tray E,
and owing to the divisional and inclined form of said tray, is distributed laterally
in an equal and uniform shower during all conditions of injection water supply.
Figure 2 is the transverse section of a circular or vertical condenser.
A is the vapour inlet and B₁ the connection to air pump or vice versa.
C. the torricellian pipe connection.
D'. the injection water inlet.
E perforated trays of such a form as has been already described and supplied
with an overflow lip F. The perforated trays E' may be placed in condenser
separately or some or all of them may form part of the main body of condenser.
The path followed by vapour is indicated by arrows. The circular trays being of a
divisional and inclined section, ensure an equal and uniform shower of water circum-
ferentially and as before during all conditions of injection water supply.
Figures 3 and 4 show trays E" of a plain inclined section. The perforations
of which may be either bored or punched, preferably punched, as by this means I

page_text: find that the excretion left on the lower or under side tends to isolate and prevent
drops running into one another. Those trays may have a lip or projection F" to
ensure that an overflow, in the event of some of the perforations getting clogged
up with sand etc. may take a separate cataract form and not alter the character of
the descending shower. The injection water should be introduced at the lowest
part of said trays.
Figure 5 shows the tray E" of a terraced inclined section. The injection
water preferably introduced as before.
Figures 6 and 7 show trays E" of a divisional and corrugated section. The
injection water may be introduced at any desirable part or parts of such trays, the
different divisions or inclines being flooded successively.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a shower condenser the introduction and use of one or more perforated
plates or trays, inclined, partitioned or terraced, in such a manner as to ensure that
a. well defined shower of a uniform density may be distributed laterally or annularly,
and varying in area, according to amount of injection water supply. All sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose described, with reference to the
annexed drawings.
2. In combination with perforated plates or trays as described, an overflow
projection or lip, that in the event of perforations getting clogged up with sand
etc., the condenser may still effect its purpose on the cataract principle. Substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1892.
ROBERT HOWIE SMART.