Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Heating, Cooling, and Vaporizing Liquids.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Heating, Cooling,
and Vaporizing Liquids.
1, VICTOR CLÉMENT JOSEPH ORTMANS, of 3 Boulevard du Jardin Botanique,
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, 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 :-
The object of the invention is to obtain the greatest heating surface possible and
also the largest and most economic evaporation in the smallest possible space.
That is to say in proportion to the tubular elements or clusters in use for heating,
evaporating or cooling liquids or fluids, to double and even treble the useful effect
of the same as for example in an apparatus for evaporating in a vacuum.
The nature of the invention consists in the arrangement of two concentric tubes
forming only a single body providing an annular section for the liquid column,
characterized by the admission into the interior tube of the heating medium
coming simultaneously in contact with the outer periphery of the exterior tube, so
that the annular column of liquid, while being exposed to almost double the
surface, is moreover influenced upon its two faces by the heat which thus produces
actions of convergent radiations upon the annular column circulating between the
two tubes, hence necessarily also twice as great a rapidity of evaporation with all
its advantageous consequences, such as a more energetic circulation leaving much
less adhering deposit or incrustation, a saving of fuel and especially a much more
considerable production. The invention also consists in the arrangement of a
cylindrical tube forming three surfaces, the two outer ones of which serve for the
liquid to be evaporated, and the central one for the passage of the vapour, so that
all the surfaces of the outer peripheries are acted upon by the heating medium.
For this tube the effects of the heat are the same as those hereinbefore mentioned.
But all the interior parts of the same are more accessible for the cleaning.
The subject of the invention as hereinafter described consists of a tubular
cluster formed of elements of a construction which is new, this construction having
been devised and realized in order to achieve the object which I propose to obtain.
I am aware of the existence of elements with a heating surface consisting of
concentric tubes or of tubes with several interior walls, but all that has heretofore
been done in this respect is either of little practical use or offers serious
inconveniences as regards the cleaning of the said elements.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown by way of example the application
of my combined tubes or vaporizing elements to an evaporating apparatus used in
the manufacture of sugar.
Figure I is a general view of the apparatus showing the arrangement of the
elements.
Figure 11 is a plan showing a haif section on the line a-b of Figure I.
Figures 111, 111A, IV and IVA are vertical and transverse sections or plans
showing two specimens of my combined tubes.
The element or tube which I designate by the name of "vaporizing element" is
formed, as shown in Figure III, of a tube A provided in the interior with a second
tube B which is concentric to it, but the lateral orifices C of this second tube open
upon the side of the wall of the outer tube A, forming at each of its extremities
an elongated curve of a larger section than that of its body. This special arrange-
ment, while affording the advantage of a very extensive heating surface, is of very

page_text: simple construction and consequently the cost of manufacture of the same is
comparatively low.
Tubes or elements thus constructed are arranged in a cluster as shown at
Figures I and II.
The heating surfaces thus obtained offer a maximum surface, because they are
in contact with a hot medium circulating in a normal fashion by reason of the easy
access which the special construction of the tubes or elements afford to the same.
It is evident that the liquid material submitted to the heating by means of this
cluster of elements cannot come in communication with the heating agent, as a
simple inspection of the drawing will show.
My tubes or elements are tightly fixed at their two extremities to a top plate F
and to a bottom plate G and the material enters and leaves by passing freely
through each element.
The type of vaporizing tube or element shown in Figure IV consists of a tube D
the sides of which form a retreat with an opening E extending over a portion of its
length in such a manner that its transverse section presents the form shown in
Figure IV; the heating medium traverses the passage thus formed.
I may construct my vaporizing elements as shown at A, Figures I and II either
with two or more lateral communicating orifices, or as shown at H, with a single
lateral orifice extending almost over the entire length of the tube or element.
The advantages obtained by the use of the improved tube or element are:-A
considerable increase in surface and evaporation by reason of the convergent
radiations of heat upon comparatively thin strata of liquid easy to penetrate.
A considerable saving of fuel. A notable diminution in the dimensions of the
new apparatus. A doubling of the generating power of the old apparatus. The
cost of manufacture of the apparatus is much lower per square metre of surface as
compared with that of the tubes now in use.
A direct passage of the liquid to be heated without obstruction.
My invention consists substantially in the arrangement of the interior tube
characterized by two or more lateral communicating orifices in the side of the
exterior tube, and the aforesaid tube having a single lateral orifice extending over
nearly the whole of its length. Also in the arrangement of a tube formed of two
parts, the whole of which, when these two parts are connected, forms a cylindrical
tube presenting three active surfaces marked X Y and Z in Figure 4, the exterior.
surfaces being in immediate contact with the heating medium and the interior
surfaces in contact with the liquid to be vaporized.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In a tubular apparatus for heating and vaporizing liquids the construction
and combination of tubular elements, consisting of tubes with multiple and concentric
sides constructed in such a manner that the heating medium may circulate around
these multiple sides, inasmuch as a passage for the said medium is formed at the
side of each element, the orifice constituting the extremities of the interior sides
extending nearly over the entire length of each element, as and for the purpose
herein before described and shown in the drawing.
Second. In combination with a heating apparatus the type of tubular element
shown in Figure 1, consisting of a tube in contact with the heating medium and
furnished interiorly and concentrically to it with a second tube the extremities of
which terminate on its side immediately in the heating medium so as to produce a
very extensive heating surface for the liquids which circulate in the said element,
as and for the purpose herein before described and shown in the drawing.
Third. In combination with a heating apparatus the type of tubular vaporizing
elements with a side forming a retreat in the periphery of the said element affording
a jassage for the heating medium, as shown.
Fourth. In combination with a heating apparatus the type of tubular element

page_text: shown in Figure I, consisting of a tube in contact with the heating medium and
furnished interiorly and concentrically to it with a second tube forming a channel
which has a single lateral orifice prolonged over nearly the whole of its length, as
shown in the drawing and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. A tube constructed substantially as herein before described and shown in.
the drawing.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.