Improvements in Water Tube Steam Generators.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1898
L
4000
Accented 10th Feb
1800
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Tube Steam Generators.
I, HORATIO FREDERICK PHILLIPS, of East View, Wealdstone, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to expose nearly the whole of the heating
surface of a water tube steam generator to the radiant heat from the burning
fuel and to arrange such heating surface in close proximity to the fuel so as to
thereby increase the efficiency of the generator.
the
For this purpose my improved steam generator comprises an upper cylindrical
steam and water drum arranged horizontally, and from the underside of which
depend, in radial or nearly radial directions, a number of water tubes of the
"Field" type.
These water tubes are arranged in longitudinal rows,
inner rows extending to or through the fire-grate, so as to divide the width of
the fire-grate into several compartments which are made as narrow as is con-
sistent with efficient stoking. The fire-grate may be horizontal in a transverse
direction, as usual, but I prefer to curve it to an arc of a circle struck from.
the centre of the steam and water drum or nearly so. By this construction
the whole of the fire-bars and the whole, or nearly the whole of the water tubes,
may be exactly alike and therefore interchangeable. Tubular feed water heaters
are or may be provided to abstract heat from the escaping hot gases and products
of combustion before they enter the chimney or uptake.
My invention is specially applicable for large steam generators for marine
purposes.
[Improvements in water Tube Steam Generators.
I, HORATIO FREDERICK PHILLIPS, of East View, Wealdstone, in the County of
Middlesex, 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:-

page_text: surface of a water tube steam generator to the radiant heat from the burning
fuel and to arrange such heating surface in close proximity to the burning fuel
so as to thereby increase the efficiency of the generator.
For this purpose my improved steam generator comprises an upper cylindrical
steam and water drum arranged horizontally and from the underside of which
depend, in radial or nearly radial directions, a number of water tubes of the
"Field" type. These water tubes are arranged in longitudinally extending rows,
the inner rows extending to or through the fire-grate so as to divide the width of
the fire-grate into several compartments which are made as narrow as is con-
sistent with efficient stoking and accessibility for examination and repairs. The
fire-grate may be horizontal in a transverse direction, as usual, but I prefer to
curve it to an arc of a circle struck from the centre of the steam and water
drum, or nearly sc, as by this construction the whole of the fire bars and the
whole, or nearly the whole of the water tubes, may be exactly alike and there-
fore interchangeable.
My invention is specially applicable to large steam generators for marine
purposes.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying illustrative drawings show partly in an end eleva-
tion, and partly in cross section on the line a of Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 in longitudinal
section on the line yy of Fig. 1. a steam generator constructed according to this
invention. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line zz of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5
show in vertical section and plan respectively, one of the "Field" tubes slown
in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
55
1 is the upper cylindrical steam and water drum (hereinafter called for brevity
the steam drum) from the under side of which depend water tubes of the "Field"
type, each of which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. comprises an cuter tube 2 fixed
at its upper end to the steam drum and closed at its lower end, and an inner
tube 2 that is open at the top, rests upon the bottom of the outer tube, and
is formed with holes 2b through which water can pass to the outer tube, the top
end of such inner tube being held centrally in place by laterally projecting
parts 2°. The water tubes are arranged in rows forming longitudinal walls, the
inner walls being formed each of a double row of "Field" tubes and the outer
side walls of three rows of such tubes. The lower ends of the inner rows extend
towards and preferably between the bars of the firegrate 3, the width of the
fire-space between the outer rows being thus divided into several combustion
chambers 4, each of which is provided with a fire-door 5. A. convenient width
for the bottom of each compartment is about 15 inches though this may be
considerably varied.
The water tubes forming each wall are placed close together at their lower
ends, as shown in the upper half of Fig. 3, and are so pitched in the steam
and water drum 1 that their upper ends are some distance apart, spaces gradually
increasing in width towards the top of the tubes being thus formed for the
passage of the products of combustion which are thereby compelled to move
upwards in the combustion chambers 4 before they can pass out therefrom. As
shown in Fig. 1, the firegrate forms an arc of a circle described from the centre
of the steam drum 1.
By the construction described any one of the water tubes, which are pre-
ferably made of thicker material at the bottom than at the top, can be readily
removed and replaced without interfering with the other tubes, and, except as
regards those in two of the rows in the outer walls, are directly accessible from
the combustion chambers formed by and between the walls of tubes. Also to
facilitate removal, inspection and renewal of the inner tubes 2ª, each of them
may be made in parts fitted tightly one in the other (Fig. 4) and each of less
length than the diameter of the steam drum, so that they can be removed through
such drum.
To further utilize the heat of the escaping products of combustion, tubular
feed water heaters 6 may be arranged in the flue 7 leading to the uptake 8.

page_text: each heater consisting of a bundle of tubes arranged horizontally and connected
at the ends to hollow boxes or casings 6ª communicating respectively with inlet
and outlet pipes.
Or, instead of using such feed water heaters, there may be arranged at the
outer side of each outer longitudinal group of steam generating tubes 2, so as to
be in the path of hot gases passing to the flue 7, and as indicated in dotted
lines at the right-hand side of Fig. 1, a longitudinal group of water-heating
tubes S, which are also of the "Field" type. The upper ends of these tubes
are secured to the steam drum like the tubes 2 and terminate below a longitudinal
feed-water pipe 9 which is perforated at its under side, the arrangement being
such that the issuing feed water can flow along the bottom of the steam-drum, 1
and into the tubes 8, descending the inner tube of each pair of tubes 8 and
rising in the corresponding outer tube wherein it is heated.
As will be obvious, tubes arranged as described may be used in steam genera-
tors in which gaseous or liquid fuel is burned instead of solid fuel, the furnace
hearth being suitably modified for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The herein described improved water-tube steam generator comprising au
upper steam and water drum, and water tubes of the "Field" type depending
from the under side of such drum and arranged apart in longitudinal rows the
inner of which extend to or through the fire-grate so as to divide the space
above the fire-grate into several narrow longitudinal compartments from which
the tubes in such rows are readily accessible and which communicate the one
with the other through the spaces between the upper parts of the tubes com-
posing the inner rows of tubes, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
2. The improved water tube steam generator with curved fire-grate shown in
and described with reference to the drawings annexed.
.19 . ' .יט
day of Tonuery 1800