An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Generating Steam, also Applicable for Evaporating Various Liquids.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Generating Steam, also
Applicable for Evaporating Various Liquids.
We, HUGH MCPHAIL, of 51 and 52 Capel Street, Dublin, Engineer, EDWARD
SIMPSON and CHARLES HENRY SIMPSON, of Calder Soap Works, Wakefield, in the
County of York, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:--
Our invention relates to a method of and apparatus for generating steam and
evaporating liquids of various kinds.
By our invention we provide a novel method of generating steam consisting
essentially in utilizing steam which has been superheated or surcharged to a high
degree in a chamber provided around the furnace or combustion chamber or in any
other convenient part of the steam boiler or generator, for assisting in, or facilitating
the evaporization of the liquid in the said boiler, the said superheated steam being passed
into a coil or into pipes, casings or the like situated in the water space or partly in
the water and partly in the steam space.
Our said invention comprises moreover, improved apparatus the nature of which is
hereinafter described, that is to say, in applying our said invention to a single flue or
Cornish boiler we provide a suitable jacketing or casing round the furnace end thereof
preferably extending to a slight distance beyond the bridge. In the chamber thus
formed we provide spiral or helical convolutions of angle iron, T-iron, or of other
suitable form in transverse section. These angle irons are rivetted to the said jacketing
or casing but not to that part of the flue round which the said jacketing or casing is
provided. By this means the said convolutions of angle or other iron do not interfere
with the expansion or contraction of the flue, and act so as to keep up a circulation
of steam passing through the said chamber for the purpose hereinafter described. To
the upper part of the said chamber and at the extremity thereof furthest from the face
or front tube plate of the boiler is connected a pipe leading into the steam space of the
said boiler and having a longitudinal slot or slit, or suitable apertures for the admission
of steam from the said steam space. To the other extremity of the said chamber, or
that nearest the face or front tube plate of the boiler is connected one extremity of
a coil, the convolutions whereof surround the central flue of the boiler at a convenient
distance therefrom, and are situated in the water space or partly in the said water
space and partly in the steam space of the said boiler. The other extremity of this
coil extends through the shell of the boiler at the rear or smoke box end thereof and
is connected to the supply pipe for carrying the steam generated by the said boiler
to the engine or other means for utilizing the said steam. Or the said pipe may return
along the steam space of the boiler and extend through any other convenient part of
the shell of the latter. Or it may be passed through the flue or any portion of the flue
for the purpose of again drying or superheating or surcharging the said steam to any
desired degree. That portion of the flue of the boiler not surrounded by the above
mentioned jacketing or casing is preferably provided with Galloway or other cross
tubes.
The operation of our improved boiler is as follows, that is to say: -The said boiler
having been Glled with water to the proper level in the nsual manner, the fire is lighted
in the furnace or combustion chamber and is kept rather low at first. As soon as
steam is generated it passes through the internal supply pipe hereinbefore mentioned
into the hereinbefore inentioned chamber round the furnace or combustion chamber
end of the flue. The said steam is caused by the spiral or helical convolutions of
angle or other iron situated in the said chamber, to travel or circulate round the said
flue to the other extremity of the said chamber, and from thence into the coil through

page_text: which it passes to the other extremity of the boiler. The said steam whilst in the
above mentioned chamber round the furnace or combustion chamber is highly super-
heated or surcharged, and when passing through the coil it communicates a portion
of its latent beat by radiation to the water in the boiler and converts it into steam.
After passing through the said coil the steam is removed as hereinbefore described,
and utilized in any desired manner. The feed water employed in the boiler is
preferably of a high temperature.
It is obvious that a boiler constructed as above described will be highly economical
in use, as a comparatively small amount of fire in the furnace or combustion chamber
is sufficient to superheat or surcharge the steam circulating through the chamber
round the flue to a high degree of temperature and the latter passing through the
above mentioned coil communicates this extra heat to the water, a very large heating
surface is thus provided. Moreover the degree to which the steam is superheated or
surcharged when leaving the said steam boiler or generator can be regulated as
desired, and owing to the said jacketing or casing around the furnace or combustion-
chamber end of the flue, explosions from shortness of water are prevented.
It is obvious that our improvements are also applicable to two flued or Lancashire
boilers, multi-tubular or locomotive boilers, or to any other description of horizontal
or vertical boilers and that our improved apparatus can be advantageously employed
for evaporating purposes in chemical works, soap works, or the like.
lu some instances, we employ a set or battery of boilers the water and steam
spaces of which are connected. One of the said boilers only is provided with a furnace
or combustion chamber and the flue therefrom passes through the other boilers so
as to thoroughly utilize the waste products of combustion. The superheated or
surcharged steam from the chamber provided round this furnace or combustion
chamber is carried through the water spaces or partly through the said water spaces
and partly through the steam spaces of the said boilers in coils, pipes, casings or
other suitable manner as hereinbefore described.
Another important feature of our apparatus consists in the provision of means
for drying or slightly superheating the steam in the interior of the boiler. For this
purpose, we increase the capacity of the said boiler, and form a partition or diaphragın
above the usual steam space thus forming a chamber in the interior of the said boiler
adapted to dry or slightly superheat the said steam.
This part of our said invention is advantageously applied to a vertical or upright
boiler with vertical or cross tubes in the following manner, that is to say:-We form
the said boiler considerably higher than is usual for a boiler of the same capacity,
and provide in the latter at a height somewhat greater than that usually occupied
by the top plate, a partition or diaphragm preferably formed of thinner plate or
plates, than the shell of the said boiler. To this partition or diaphragm, is attached a
casing which extends upwards for a considerable distance around the uptake, and
between the latter and which casing a suitable steam space is provided. The steam
generated in the boiler passes to the usual steam space provided above the water level
and beneath the above described partition, or diaphragm, and from thence through
the said space hetween the casing and the uptake to the extra steam space provided
above the said partition or diaphragm. Whilst passing through this space the said
steam is advantageously dried by contact with the hot plates of the uptake, without
however being superheated or surcharged to an injurious extent. This arrangement
moreover effectually prevents any priming of the boiler and is also applicable by
obvious modifications to other descriptions of boilers.
Although we have herein before described a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying our said invention into practice, it is obvious that we can somewhat modify
the construction of our improved boiler without however departing in any way from
the nature of our said invention. For instance, instead of the jacketing or casing
herein before described being placed over that portion of the flue forming the furnace
or combustion chamber, it may be placed over any other portion of the said flue, or
throughout the entire length thereof. In the latter case the cross tubes or Galloway
tubes are arranged so as to pass through the flue and the said jacketing or casing.

page_text: Instead of the longitudinal coil we may employ tubes of any suitable form in
transverse section, running longitudinally or otherwise through either the water or
steam space, or through both. Or we may provide a jacketing or casing around the
shell of the boiler, or round any portion thereof into which the superheated or
surcharged steam from the chamber round the furnace or combustion chamber, or
other portion of the flue, may be passed before being led away for use by the steam
pipe from the boiler.
In some instances, we divide the chamber formed round the furnace or combustion
chamber or other portion of the flue into two parts and employ one part thereof for
superheating or surcharging the steam intended for evaporating purposes, and the
other part thereof for again superheating or surcharging the said steam after it has
been so employed before it is removed for the purpose of being utilized in any desired
manner.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Generating Steam, also
Applicable for Evaporating Various Liquids.
We, HUGH MCPHAIL of 51 and 52 Capel Street, Dublin, Engineer, and EDWARD
SIMPSON and CHARLES HENRY SIMPSON of Calder Soap Works, Wakefield in the
County of York, Manufacturers, 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 :—
Our invention relates to a method of and apparatus for generating steam or
evaporating liquids.
The chief feature of our said invention is the utilization of steam superheated or
surcharged to a high degree for evaporating or for assisting in, or facilitating the
evaporation of liquid in a steam-boiler or generator to produce steam under pressure
therein.
Our said invention however comprises various improvements which are partly
applicable to apparatus for evaporating liquids for other purposes.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 is a front elevation showing an ordinary single flue or Cornish boiler with
our improvements applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line x, x Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line y, y Figures 1 and 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal central section drawn to an enlarged scale, illus-
trating a slight modification of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4.
Figure 6 is a vertical central section.
Figure 7 a horizontal section on the line z z Figure 6 and
Figure 8 a horizontal section on the line 21, 21, Figure 6, showing a vertical boiler
with our improvements applied thereto.
Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in vertical central section, showing another form
or modification of our said invention which we prefer to employ when the steam is
only required to be slightly superheated or dried.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the shell of the boiler, B is the central or main flue thereof, C is the furnace,
Dis the bridge, E, E are the furnace doors, F is the pipe for supplying feed-water to
the boiler, G is the pipe whereby the steam generated in the said boiler is conducted
therefrom, II is the blow-off pipe.

page_text: a is a jacket or casing which surrounds the flue B so as to form an annular space or
chamber a, and which, in the boiler shown in Figure 1 to 4, extends the entire length
of the said flue. b is a pipe situated in the ordinary steam space of the boiler and
having longitudinal slots or slits b'; or other suitably shaped apertures for the admis-
sion of steam from the said steam-space. This pipe b is connected by means of a
branch or connecting pipe be, with the upper part of the annular spice or chamber a¹
at the end thereof furthest from the face or front of the boiler. c, c¹ are chambers
extending nearly but not quite around the casing at a suitable distance therefrom,
and supported upon angle-irons provided in the bottom of the boiler, or in any other
convenient manner. The chamber c is in free communication through a pipe d with
the annular space or chamber a', and the chamber c¹ is connected to the steam-pipe G.
The annular space or chamber a¹ and the steam-pipe G are preferably connected to
the chambers c, c¹ at opposite extremities of the said chambers, that is to say, the end
of the chamber c on one side of the centre of the boiler is connected with the pipe d
and the end of the chamber c¹ on the other side of the centre of the boiler is connected
with the steam-pipe G. The said chambers c, c¹, moreover, communicate with each
other through tubes e of steel or other suitable material situated partly in the water-
space and partly in the steam space, of the boiler. f is a perforated annular plate or
diaphragm for supporting the tubes e mid-way between their ends.
The
The furnace C is provided with an arch y formed of fire-bricks, fire-clay or other
suitable material and extending a short distance beyond the fire or beyond the bridge
or check D). The said arch y is so constructed as to leave a narrow space or clearance
between its upper surface and the interior surface of the flue B. Suitable apertures g¹
are provided for admitting air from the exterior of the boiler into this space.
air passing through the said space between the arch and the interior surface of the
flue B is first warmed and is then delivered into the flue at the rear of the fire. In
some instances we do not use the bridge or check D at rear of the fire but we place a
platform or plate D' in line with the fire and extending back about three feet or other
convenient distance under the arch g, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3 and in
full lines in Figure 5. This platform may be constructed of fire-clay, cast-iron or
other suitable material and serves the purpose of maintaining the heat during the
cleaning of the furnace and of facilitating that operation, by enabling the stoker or
fire-man to push back upon the said platform a portion of the fire, previous to cleaning
the furnace. By providing the arch moreover, we obviate the liability to overheating
of the crown of the flue in the combustion chamber. h is an adjustable plate or shutter
for regulating the admission of air through the apertures g' by opening or closing the
said apertures more or less as required.
i, are safety valves connected by means of pipes with the annular space or
chamber a². 2 is a safety valve connected with the chamber c¹ through the steam-
pipe G. j is a man-hole provided with a suitable door or cover ¹. The necessary
water-gauges, steam pressure gauges, stop cocks or valves, and other usual boiler-
fittings are, moreover, provided.
In working our improved boiler or steam generator, we prefer to employ pyrometers
for ascertaining the degree of heat attained by the steam in the annular space or
chamber a¹ and the temperature in the combustion chamber C. We arrange the said
pyrometers in the chamber a or in the combustion chamber C or in both of these
chambers in such a manner that the indicating portions of the pyrometers can be
readily observed.
The operation of the improved boiler or steam generator is as follows, that is to
sayThe said boiler having been filled with water to the proper level in the usual
manner, the fire is lighted in the furnace or combustion chamber C and is at first
kept rather low. This is more especially necessary if the feed-water is introduced at
a low temperature; if however the feed water is at a high temperature and passes off
vapor, the fire can be allowed to burn freely and greater heat be generated in the
furnace. If the space or chamber a¹ is filled or partially filled with water at the
beginning of the operation or if a small jet of water is turned upon the top of the flue

page_text: in the chamber a while the flue plates are at a moderate temperature, this water will
pass into steam and assist in the rapid elevation of temperature throughout the boiler.
As soon as steam is generated in the boiler, it passes through the apertures b¹ into the
pipe and through the connecting pipe into the space or chamber a¹ around the
flue B wherein it becomes highly superheated or surcharged. This superheated or
surcharged steam then passes through the piped into the annular chamber c and from
the latter through the tubes e to the chamber c¹ whence it may be conducted through
the steam pipe G for use in a steam-engine or for other purposes. The highly super-
heated or surcharged steam, whilst contained in or passing through the space or
chamber a¹ the chambers c, c and tubes e communicates a portion of its heat by
radiation to the water in the boiler and assists in converting the water into steam
and also slightly superheats or dries the steam contained in the ordinary steam-space
of the boiler. The feed-water is preferably introduced into the boiler at a high
temperature.
Should the degree of heat attained by the steam in the space or chamber a¹ or in
the combustion chamber C become excessive, the attendant can ascertain this fact by
observing the pyrometers and the temperature may be reduced by checking the
admission of air to the combustion chamber or furnace and by means of the dampers
and thus lowering the fire therein.
In the modification of our invention shown in Figure 5, the jacket or casing ( is
omitted from that portion of the flue around the combustion chamber or furnace,
thereby permitting the water to surround this portion of the flue. This arrangement
is advantageously applicable to boilers having the ordinary arrangement of combustion
chamber or furnace.
In
Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate our said invention applied to a vertical boiler.
this boiler the products of combustion, after passing up the main flue B return by
means of a second flue B', and again pass upwards through an annular space between
the shell A of the boiler and an external casing k provided around the said shell, to
the uptake or chimney which is carried by the said casing; or another internal flue
may be provided as an uptake to the chimney. The furnace C is provided with an
internal tube or casing C₁ which serves to protect the plates of the flue B from the
action of the heat, and which may be lined with fire-brick or fire-clay.
A jacket or casing « and an annular space or chamber a' surround the combustion
or furnace flue. The said space or chamber communicates at its upper end with the
ordinary steam space of the boiler, and at its lower end with the chamber c.
a² is an
annular space surrounding the flue B₁ and communicating with the chambers c, c¹.
Tubes e are also provided for connecting the chambers c and c¹, and the steam intended
for use is conducted from the boiler by means of a suitable steam-pipe connected with
any convenient part of the upper chamber c¹ and having connected therewith a
suitable safety valve. is a man-hole provided in the casing to permit access to
the man-hole j of the boiler. The upper portion or crown of the said casing k and
that of the boiler-shell A are preferably so constructed as to be readily removable or
are provided with convenient manholes to facilitate the cleaning or repair of the
said boiler.
In some instances, the jacket or casing a is omitted from that portion of the com-
bustion or furnace flue surrounding the fire, and the steam is carried down to the
chamber c as described with reference to Figure 5.
When it is only required to dry or slightly superheat the steam in the boiler, we
increase the capacity of the said boiler and form a partition or diaghragm above the
usual steam-space. This partition divides the entire steam-space, and thus forms a
chamber in the interior of the said boiler in which the steam will be dried or
slightly superheated.
In Figure 9 we have shown how an arrangement of this kind may be advan-
tageously applied to a vertical or upright boiler, with vertical or cross tubes. The
shell of the boiler is formed considerably higher than is usual for a boiler of the same
capacity. m is a partition or diaphragm preferably formed of thinner plate than the
shell of the boiler and secured in the latter at about the same height as that usually

page_text: occupied by the top plate. To the partition or diaphragmn m is attached a casing n
which extends upwards for a suitable distance around the uptake thus forming a
steam space between the said uptake and casing. The steam generated in the boiler
passes to the usual steam-space above the water-level and beneath the partition or
diaphragm m, and thence through the said space between the casing and uptake k
to the extra steam-space provided above the said partition or diaphragm. Whilst
passing through this space, the said steam is advantageously dried by contact with the
hot plates of the uptake and is slightly superheated or surcharged. This arrangement,
moreover, effectually prevents priming. The said arrangement may by obvious
modifications be adapted to other descriptions of boilers.
The improved steam boiler or generator herein before described will be highly
economical in use as a comparatively small amount of fire in the furnace or combustion
chamber is sufficient to highly superheat or surcharge the steam circulating through
the chamber around the flue, and to raise the said steam to a high degree of
temperature, and the said steam passing through the above mentioned tubes and
chambers communicates this extra heat to the water, a very large heating surface
being thus provided. Moreover the degree to which the steam is superheated or
surcharged when leaving the said steam-boiler or generator can be regulated as
desired, and by the intervention of the said jacket or casing around the flue explosions
from shortness of water are prevented.
In some instances we provide in the annular space or chamber around the flue,
spiral or helical convolutions of angle-iron, T-iron or metal bars of other suitable
form in transverse section. These angle-irons or bars are riveted to the said jacket
or casing but not to the flue, they therefore do not interfere with the expansion or
contraction of the said flue, whilst they act to cause the steam passing through the
said annular space or chamber to circulate around the said flue.
We sometimes provide a jacket or casing around the exterior of the shell of the
boiler, or around a portion thereof, into which casing the superheated or surcharged
steam from the annular space or chamber around the flue, may be passed before being
conducted away from the boiler through the steam pipe.
We find it advantageous in some cases to divide the said annular space or chamber
into two parts and employ one part thereof for superheating or surcharging the steam
intended for evaporating purposes and the other part thereof for again superheating
or surcharging the said steam after it has been so employed before it is removed for
the purpose of being utilized in any other desired manner.
In some instances we employ a set or battery of boilers, the water and steam
spaces of which are connected in any convenient manner. One of the said boilers
only is provided with a furnace or combustion chamber (or the said furnace may be
independent of any of them) and the flue therefrom passes through the other boilers
so as to thoroughly utilize the waste products of combustion. The superheated or
surcharged steam from the chamber provided around this furnace or combustion
chamber is carried through the water spaces or partly through the water-spaces and
partly through the steam-spaces of the said boilers in pipes, coils or casings or in any
other suitable manner for the purpose hereinbefore described.
The steam which we use for evaporating liquid in a boiler or generator to produce
steam under pressure therein can if desired be superheated in a furnace or flue separate
from the said boiler.
It is obvious that our improvements are also applicable to two flued or Lancashire
boilers, multitubular or locomotive boilers, and to other descriptions of horizontal and
vertical boilers.
It is evident moreover, that we can somewhat further modify the construction of
our apparatus without departing from the nature of our said invention. For instance
the jacket or casing, instead of extending throughout the entire length of the flue or
being omitted over that portion of the flue forming the combustion chamber or furnace
as herein before described may extend over or be omitted from any other portion
thereof; or the furnace may be placed under the boiler and the combustion gases
passed through the jacketed or cased flue or flues and side and top flues,

page_text: Instead of the longitudinal tubes hereinbefore described we sometimes employ a
coil, one extremity of which is connected to the annular space or chamber around the
central or main flue or to the chamber connected therewith, and the convolutions
whereof surround the said flue at a convenient distance therefrom and are situated in
the water space or partly in the water space and partly in the steam-space of the
boiler. The other extremity of this coil extends through the shell of the boiler at the
rear end thereof and is connected to the supply pipe for conducting the steam generated
by the said boiler to the engine or elsewhere.
Or the said pipe may return along the steam-space of the boiler and extend through
any other convenient part of the shell of the latter. Or it may be passed through the
flue, or any portion of the flue for the purpose of again drying or superheating or
surcharging the said steam to any desired degree. When the jacket or casing does
not extend through the entire length of the flue, that portion of the said flue not
surrounded by the said jacket or casing is preferably provided with Galloway or other
cross tubes.
Our improved apparatus can if desired be used for evaporating liquids for purposes
other than the production of steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
First The herein described method of utilizing superheated steam for the purpose
of heating liquid in a steam boiler or generator to produce steam under pressure
therein.
Second The herein described method of utilizing steam superheated or surcharged
in a boiler or generator or in a flue or flues connected therewith for imparting heat
to the liquid in the said boiler or generator, or in one or more boilers or generators
connected therewith, for the purposes above specified.
Third The combination of two or more boilers or generators communicating with
each other, one of which boilers is provided with means for generating and super-
heating or surcharging steam, and the remaining boiler or boilers with means
whereby the liquid therein will be evaporated by the said superheated or surcharged
steam, substantially as herein before described.
Fourth The combination, with the flue or flue tube, of a boiler or generator, of a
steam jacket or casing around the said flue or flue tube and extending throughout
the whole or a portion of its length within the boiler or generator for the purpose
above specified.
Fifth The combination, with a flue or flue-tube of a boiler or generator and a
steam jacket or casing around the flue or flue-tube within the said boiler or generator of
chambers connected with each other by suitable tubes and communicating one with
the said jacket or casing and the other with the steam pipe, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Sixth-The improved means comprising the arch (with or without the platform or
plate in rear of the fire) the perforated plate and the adjustable shutter substantially
as described, for admitting and regulating the admission of air to the rear of the
furnace or combustion chamber.
Seventh The combination, with the annular space or chamber for superheating or
surcharging the steam, of the safety valves, substantially as described.
Eighth The combination with our improved apparatus, of a pyrometer arranged
substantially as described, in the annular space or chamber for the superheating or
surcharging of the steam and in the combustion chamber or in either of them, for
indicating the temperature of the superheated steam, or of the said combustion
chamber for the purpose above specified.
Ninth The modification of our invention wherein we provide for slightly super-
heating or drying the steam and for preventing priming by dividing the steam space
of the boiler, and connecting one part of the said steam-space with the other part

page_text: thereof by a jacket or casing surrounding the uptake for the purposes above
specified.
Tenth-The improved steam boiler or generator constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, or to Figure 5 or to Figures 6, 7 and 8 of
the accompanying drawings and operating in the manner hereinbefore specified.
Dated this 19th day of December 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.