Improvements in Drying and Purifying Apparatus for Steam and Feed Water.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drying and Purifying Apparatus for Steam and
Feed Water.
I, BENJAMIN WILCOX of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (which has been
communicated to me from Abroad by Lucien Belleville of St. Denis (Seine) in
the Republic of France Engineer and Officer of the Legion of Honour) and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for receiving and purifying steam and feed
water in connection with steam generators.
The nature of the invention and the manner of carrying out the same in practice
will bo readily understood by means of the following description with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which-
Figure 1 illustrates the collecting and purifying apparatus in section the
section being taken on the line X X X X X X Figure 2.
Figure 2 represents the apparatus in transverse section taken on the line y y
Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a section on the line Z Z Z Figure 2.
The apparatus is constructed with a cylindrical body or case A provided with
tubes or pipes a supplying the apparatus with steam mixed with water. The ends
of the cylindrical case A are closed by plates or covers at one of which is connected
to a tube communicating with a bent tube or elbow B through which the water
is discharged from the apparatus. The case A is divided internally into several
compartments. The first compartment for drying the steam is open at its
extremities facing the ends of the case. The steam is caused to pass through a
partitioned passage D from the compartment C to a second compartment E open at
its extremities. This partitioned passage is closed at its two extremities except
at a small portion of the lower part. is a third compartment for drying the
steam. This compartment is closed at its extremities; it communicates with
the other compartments solely through an orifice G of triangular form provided
with a lip or ledge of angle iron. Being formed in the upper part of the
partition it connects the third compartment F with the second drying compart-
ment. The triangular form of the orifice G regulates the flow of steam from the
compartment E and the lip or ledge moulds or forms the jet of steam entering the
compartment F. B' Figure 2 is a small pipe for the return of a certain small
quantity of water and L is a passage partitioned off in the third compartment F
at the centre of which the connection with the steam pipe is made by means of a
flange or ring L'. K Figure 1 and 3 is an injector for the feed water. The par-
tition herein before referred to is provided with an extension which prevents
the feed water from entering the compartment. E. mmm are hand holes closed
with tight fitting plugs or covers for cleaning out the interior of the apparatus.
The action of this apparatus for purifying steam and feed water for steam
generators is as follows:-
In order to dry the steam the steam mixed with water being supplied by the
pipes is projected against the curved partition of the compartment C and is
thereby deflected and spread out. At the gutters d' the first separation of water
from the steam takes place, the water flows along the sides or surfaces e and i
037

page_text: and down the gutters which direct it to the bottom of the apparatus. The
steam passes through the notches or recessed part of the gutters and ascends in
the partitioned passage D.
In this partitioned passage D the steam follows the inclined partition c, the water
is collected by the gutters el el, flows away over the partition & and returns to the
lower part of the purifier. The steam passes through the notches or recesses
which separate the gutters etc and ascends in the interior of the partitioned pas-
sage 1). A screen 1 Figure 2 deflects the steam away from the lower part of the
partition f along which the particles of water are able to flow away without being
carried on by the steam which afterwards passes into the upper part of the pas-
sage D and suddenly changing its course euters the second drying compartment E.
In travelling through the passage D the direction of the steam changes several
times the steami is also subjected to centrifugal action the particles of water
which it holds are separated and flowing along the partitions return to the lower
part of the apparatus.
As it enters the second compartment E the steam follows in the first place the
curves of the partition and then changes its direction to the extent of about
180 degrees so as to flow in the direction of the orifice G. Whilst the steam is
thus caused to change its direction the particles of water continue their move-
ment in a straight line and are projected against the partition for even against
the partition down which they flow. The screen 2 at the edge of the orifice G
prevents the particles of water from being shaken up into the current of steam.
As it enters the compartment F the compact jet of steam delivered from the
orifice is broken up against the inclined surface of the partition forming one
side of the passage Land the particles of water retained by their adherence to this
surface fall down to the bottom of the compartment F. The current of steam
afterwards changes its direction to the extent of 90 degrees on each side and
then to the extent of IS0 degrees so as to enter into the passage L and the last
particles of water still remaining in the steam are projected against the ends h
of the compartment F and trickle down these ends. The baffles 3 and 4 prevent
any carrying over of the particles adhering to the surfaces. The water separated
in the last compartment F is conducted to the settling chamber by the small pipe B'.
The purification of the feed water is effected as follows. The fresh feed water
is projected obliquely in the angle formed by the side of the purifier and the
end of the compartment F. The extension of the plate d prevents the water
from splashing over into the compartment E. The water falls back into the
lower part of the purifier and travels from one end of the latter to the other in
order to reach the discharge orifice b.
The continuous current of steam mixed with water which escapes through the
pipes a raises and carries on the feed water flowing in the lower part of the
purifier. This water is thrown against the partitions and d which it follows
and overflows at the side of the purifier. At the same time the current of steam
forcibly agitates the water which passes in succession over each pipe a being
repeatedly lifted and agitated by the currents proceeding therefroin until it
reaches the further end of the apparatus.
The heating of the fresh feed water is thus effectually performed the water
acquiring the same temperature as the steam whereby the precipitation of the
calcareous salts is brought about provided of course that the steam is of the
proper temperature or not less than about 160 degrees Centigrade. By these
means the formation of adhesive deposits in the evaporating tubes is avoided.
The direct injection of a portion of the feed water is obtained as next herein-
after described.
O, Figure 1, is an arrangement for direct feed attached to the flange of the
hand hole of the elbow B. P is a return pipe connecting the elbow B with the
settling chamber for the calcareous deposits. is the nozzle for direct feed
delivering a jet of water in the direction of the axis of the return pipe P. 7 is

page_text: a pipe for supplying the feed water directly; being a branch from the general
collector of the feed and being provided with a suitable stop cock.
When working with combustion forced by the aid of an artificial draught con-
trolled by a valve or other regulator the direct feed injector 0 is opened which
has the effect of introducing into the return pipe, under a pressure considerably
greater than that of the steam and consequently with great speed, a supplemen-
tary quantity of feed water. The automatic feed water apparatus attached to
each boiler acts without intermission and continues to regulate the height or level
of the feed water.
The clean or compact jet of water delivered by the direct feed O forces its way
into the body of water in the return pipe P and transmits a portion of its impetus
to this water. Hence results a thrust which augments the rapidity with which
the return water flows into the feed collector and into the tubes or elements of
the boiler (in the case of a Belleville generator for example). The circulation
of the water in these elements is consequently accelerated and the surfaces
exposed to the direct action of the furnace are preserved from burning. Moreover
the evaporating capacity of the generator is increased by this same acceleration
of the combustion.
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 construction of apparatus for receiving and purifying steam and feed
water in connection with steam generators substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The arrangement of the partitioned passages through which the steam is
caused to pass so as to be dried before entering the steam pipe substantially as.
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The arrangement of the admission of feed water ensuring its agitation by
the action of the steam substantially as herein before described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
4. The arrangement of parts constituting the improved drying and purifying
apparatus for steam and feed water herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of September 1880