Iм- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONDENSERS OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Poole Pirsson, of the City of New York,
United States of America, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONDENSERS OF STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 19th October 1858, and dated the 23rd April 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Poole Pirsson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd April 1858.
I, JOSEPH POOLE PIRSSON, of the City of New York, United States of
America, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONDENSERS OF STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the supplying of boilers with pure water
(for the generation of steam) by the method known as surface condensation.
The novel features consist in so arranging and constructing condensers in
steam engines, that the two systems known as "jet" and as "surface. con-
densers" may be worked in combination, so that in the event of the failure of
the surface condenser, the jet condenser will continue the operation, and thus
secure under all circumstances the efficiency of the engine, this being a
matter of the greatest importance, especially in the case of ocean steamers.
Figure 1 represents a marine steam engine, shewing a side elevation of the
condenser; Figure 2 is a top view or plan of the same; Figure 3 is a longi-
tudinal vertical section of the condenser alone; Figure 4 is a similar view of

page_text: another condenser, showing some variations of construction; and Figure 5
is a transverse vertical section of the last-named Figure.
The part shown by the letter A is a case or air-tight vessel made upon the
principles of the usual jet condenser; it has a plate perforated with holes at
b near the top, upon which the condensing water is received or injected; and
in order to insure that that water be evenly distributed over the whole surface
it is introduced by means of two or more cross jets by means of pipes c, c,.
perforated with small holes, the quantity of water being governed by a stop-
cock, as usual in ordinary jet condensers. At the bottom there is a channel
way d leading to the air pump e, as shown; this latter is worked in any of the
known methods, and discharges its water overboard as usual; near the front
and back ends there are two upright division plates fand f'; these plates are
perforated full of small holes, arranged, however, for system, in a regular series
of rows; these holes are of such size as to take in the condenser tubes, and
can be varied according to the design intended by the construction to fill any
particular space; it is, however, preferred that the tubes should be quite
small, say not to exceed one inch in diameter. These plates have their holes
so as to coincide generally; but the plate f¹ may be secured to the case A, so
that its holes will be at a little lower level than those in f, consequently the
tubes when put into them will incline a little. The tubes are put in as
follows: The two head plates i, i, being taken off the tubes will be pushed
through so as to enter the holes in each of the perforated plates; one end
must now be fastened by rivetting to one of the plates, leaving the other end
loose or free to play a little. In the Drawings, the fastened ends are in
the plate f, and the loose ones are shown as projecting through a little in
the other plate. The object of leaving one end free is to permit play for
expansion and contraction. By this arrangement the case A becomes
divided into three compartments, one at h, which is the steam exhaust
compartment, the second at g, which is the condensing water compart-
ment, and the third at h¹, which is the reception compartment for the water
resulting from the condensation of the steam. From this latter compartment
there is a channel way at k which leads to an air pump l, but of smaller
The air
capacity than the one heretofore named and shown by the letter e.
1 is to be worked by the engine in any proper manner. At o is a valve
covering a passage from the compartment h' to that of g, and there is likewise
a communicating passage between the two channels d and k, which may
be opened or closed by a valve or cock, as seen in the dotted lines k.
Attached to the air pump there is a reservoir
charge. From this reservoir a pipe r leads to the feed
pump
to receive its dis-
pump or pumps, of

page_text: common construction, as seen in Figure 1. The operation is as follows:-
The exhaust steam flows from the cylinder by the pipe p, and is received
into the compartment h of the condenser; cold water is then injected by the
rose or perforated pipes c, and flows over the whole of the plate b, from which
it falls in a shower upon the tubes of the surface condenser. The steam
flowing through the said tubes is therein condensed by the cold surface, and
the water resulting therefrom flows out at their opposite ends, and falls into
the channel k, whence it is pumped out by the air pump 2. The water which
flows in by the injection falls into the channel d, and thence is pumped out by
the
greater air pump e. The action of these two pumps causes the pumping
out not only of the water, but also of the air or other gases, and produces a
vacuum more or less perfect, the pump 6 producing a vacuum in the space h
in the tubes and in h', and the pump e a vacuum in the compartment g. It
will be seen as a consequence of this action that there can be no atmospheric
pressure upon the surface condenser, as there is a like vacuum maintained on
opposite sides, the whole of the atmospheric pressure being sustained by the
case or jet condenser A; thus in the event of any accident to the surface
portion, the jet part remains intact and in complete working condition.
Neither is it important that the joints of the surface condenser should be
absolutely air or water-tight, because as the whole of the interior of A is
exhausted of its air, leakings on the surface condenser are of no consequence,
for there is nothing present to impair the vacuum. The absence of all
pressure also allows of a thin metal being used in the surface condenser. As
the steam is received in a succession of puffs, which are condensed in like
succession, there is of necessity a constant series of expansions and contractions
taking place; these are provided for by leaving one end of the tube loose and
free to play, as already described, although if it is preferred to make both
ends fast, then the tube plate itself must be allowed to have slight play for-the
same purpose. It will now be seen that the water from the condensation of
the steam is kept entirely separate from that which is used to condense it;
consequently any kind of impure water may be employed for the purpose
without risk of deteriorating the pure water of the steam, which is accordingly.
saved for again feeding into the boilers.
The valve o is used for the purpose of insuring the equalization of the
vacuum in case there should at any time be more steam in the tubes than
could be condensed by them; the valve then being opened; allows the excess to
escape into the jet condenser, and to be condensed by direct contact with the
injection water. It is also of service, in connection with the cock k¹, to use
the jet portion alone, when in case of any accident to the air pump / such

page_text: ¹
would be desirable. The opening of will let the fresh water flow into
the channel of the great air pump, while any uncondensed steam will flow into
the jet portion through o.
In Figures 4 and 5 are views of the same condenser somewhat modified; it
provides for a return section of tubes, as seen at m, the equalizing aperture
being placed in the chamber at the end of the return, as at n. The object of
this is to cause any steam which might have passed through the lower section
uncondensed to return again through the upper section, the pipes of which are
kept coldest, and thus ensure the complete condensation. In this plan also
both ends of the tubes are made fast to their tube sheets, but one tube sheet
however is made fast to the case A, the other having the whole of the com-
partment h¹ attached to it, and that sheet is thus left free to play. Another
object for this is to allow of all the tubes being removed in a body, which is
done by taking off the head plate and drawing them out in a mass, or when
there is not room in that direction, the top of A may be made to come off, and
thus the tubes be lifted out. In order that but one tube plate be made fast,
the channel to the fresh water air pump is placed also in front, and a row
of large tubes s return the water from the compartment h¹, as shewn in
Figure 4. In this plan the connecting passage between the two channels k
and d is dispensed with, an equivalent being formed in the valve t, while t¹
or n are equivalents for o, described in the former Figure. Whenever it is
required to use these valves, for the fresh water will then be lost, the water
for the feed may be taken from the hot well of the large air pump as usual.
13
Other modifications may be made, which will be evident to any engineer,
without changing the character of my Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph, Poole Pirsson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd October 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
POOLE PIRSSON, of the City of New York, United States of America, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Poole Pirsson, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph

page_text: Poole Pirsson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Joseph Poole Pirsson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONDENSERS OF STEAM ENGINES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Poole Pirsson, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Poole Pirsson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention has for its object the supplying of boilers with pure water
(for the generation of steam) by the method known as surface condensation.
The novel features consist in so constructing steam engines that the two
systems known as "jet" and as "surface condensers" may be worked in
combination, so that in the event of the failure of the surface condenser, the
jet condenser will continue the operation, and thus secure, under all circum-
stances, the efficiency of the engine, this being a matter of the greatest
importance especially in the case of ocean steamers.
Figure I. represents a marine steam engine shewing a side elevation of the
condenser; Figure II. is a longitudinal vertical section of the condenser
alone; Figure III. is a similar view of another condenser, shewing some
variations of construction; Figure IV. is a transverse vertical section of the
last-named Figure. The part shewn by the letter A is a case or air-tight
vessel made upon the principles of the usual jet condenser. It has a plate
perforated with holes at (b) near the top, upon which the condensing water is
received or injected, and in order to insure that that water be evenly dis-
tributed over the whole surface it is introduced by means of two or more
cross jets by means of pipes (c, c,) perforated with small holes, the quantity
of water being governed by a stop-cock as usual in ordinary jet condensers.
At the bottom there is a channel way (d) leading to the air pump (e) as shown.
This latter is worked in any of the known methods, and discharges its water

page_text: overboard as usual. Near the front and back ends there are two upright
division plates (f) and (f¹); these plates are perforated full of small holes,
arranged, however, for system in a regular series of rows. These holes are
of such size as to take in the condenser tubes, and can be varied according
to the design intended by the constructor to fill any particular space; it is,
however, preferred that the tubes should be quite small, say, not to exceed
one inch in diameter. These plates have their holes so as to coincide
generally, but the plate (f) may be secured to the case A, so that its holes
will be at a little lower level than those in (f), consequently the tubes when
put into them will incline a little. The tubes are put in as follows:-The
two head plates (i,,) being taken off, the tubes may be pushed through so
as to enter the holes in each of the perforated plates. One end must now be
fastened by riveting to one of the plates, leaving the other end loose or free
to play a little. In the Drawings the fastened ends are in the plate (f), and
the loose ones are shown projecting through a little in the other plate. The
object of leaving one end free is to permit play for expansion and contraction.
By this arrangement the case A becomes divided into three compartments,
one at (h), which is the steam exhaust compartment, the second at (g), which
is the condensing water compartment, and the third at (¹), which is the
reception compartment for the water resulting from the condensation of the
stean. From this latter compartment there is a channel way at (k), which
leads to an air pump (7), but of smaller capacity than the one heretofore
named and shown by the letter (e); said air pump (1) is to be worked
the engine in any proper manner. At (o) is a valve covering a passage from
the compartment (h¹) to that of (g), and there is likewise a communicating
passage between the two channels (d) and (k), which may be opened or closed
by a valve or cock, as seen in the dotted lines (¹). Attached to the air
pump () there is a reservoir (1) to receive its discharge. From this reservoir
a pipe (r) leads to the feed pump or pumps of common construction, as seen
in Fig. I. The operation is as follows:-The exhaust steam flows from the
cylinder by the pipe (p), and is received into the compartment (h) of the
condenser; cold water is then injected by the rose or perforated pipes (c), and
flows over the whole of the plate (6), from which it falls in a shower upon
the tubes of the surface condenser. The steam flowing through said tubes is
therein condensed by the cold surface, and the water resulting therefrom flows
out at their opposite ends, and falls into the channel (k), whence it is pumped
out by the air pump (1). The water which flows in by injection falls into the
channel (d), and thence is pumped out by the greater air pump (e). The
action of these two pumps causes the pumping out not only of the water but

page_text: also of the air or other gases, and produces a vacuum more or less perfect,
the pump (1) producing a vacuum in the space (h) in the tubes and in (h'),
and the pump (e) a vacuum in the compartment (9). It will be seen as a
consequence of this action that there can be no atmospheric pressure upon
the surface condenser, since there is a like vacuum maintained on opposite
sides, the whole of the atmospheric pressure being sustained by the case or
jet condenser A. Thus, in the event of any accident to the surface portion,
the jet part remains intact and in complete working condition. Neither is it
important that the joints of the surface condenser should be absolutely air or
water-tight, because as the whole of the interior of A is exhausted of its air,
leakings in the surface condenser are of no consequence, for there is nothing
present to impair the vacuum. The absence of all pressure also allows of a
thin metal being used in the surface condenser. As the steam is received in
a succession of puffs, which are condensed in like succession, there is of
necessity a constant series of expansions and contractions taking place; these
are provided for by leaving one end of the tube loose and free to play, as
already described, although if it is preferred to make both ends fast, then the
tube plate itself must be allowed to have slight play for the same purpose.
It will now be seen that the water from the condensation of the steam is kept
entirely separate from that which is used to condense it; consequently any
kind of impure water may be employed for the purpose without risk of
deteriorating the pure water of the steam, which is accordingly saved for
again feeding into the boilers. The valve (o) is used for the purpose of
insuring the equalization of the vacuum in case there should at any time be
more steam in the tubes than could be condensed by them; the valve being
then opened allows the excess to escape into the jet condenser, and to be
condensed by direct contact with the injection water. It is also of service in
connection with the cock (k), when the jet portion is to be used alone, if
in case of any accident to the air pump (1) such would be desirable. The
opening of (k) will let the fresh water flow into the channel of the great air
pump, while any uncondensed steam will flow into the jet portion through (0).
In Figures III. and IV. are views of the same condenser somewhat modified.
It provides for a return section of tubes, as seen at (m), the equalizing
aperture being placed in the chamber at the end of the return, as at (n).
The object of this is to cause any steam which might have passed through
the lower section uncondensed to return again through the upper section, the
pipes of which are kept coldest, and thus ensure the complete condensation.
In this plan also both ends of the tubes are made fast to the case A, the
other having the whole of the compartment (¹) attached to it, and that

page_text: sheet is thus left free to play. Another object for this is to allow of all the
tubes being removed in a body, which is done by taking off the head plate (i)
and drawing them out in a mass; or, when there is not room in that direction,
the top of A may be made to come off, and thus the tubes be lifted out. In
order that but one tube plate be made fast, the channel to the fresh water
air pump is placed also in front, and a row of large tubes (s) return the
water from the compartment (h), as shown in Figure III. In this plan the
connecting passage between the two channels (k and d) is dispensed with, an
equivalent being found in the valve (t), while (t') or (n) are equivalents for
(o), described in the former Figure. Whenever it is required to use these
valves, the water for the feed may be taken from the hot well of the large
air pump as usual, since the fresh water will then be lost. Other modi-
fications may be made, which will be evident to any engineer, without
changing the character of my Invention.
I claim the arrangement of the surface and jet condensers so that the
feature of an alternative in case of derangement of the surface condenser is
obtained.
I claim also the method of providing for expansion and contraction in
the metal of the surface condenser, substantially as described; and I claim
generally the mode of construction whereby a jet and surface condenser may.
be kept in joint action, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Poole Pirsson, have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Tenth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
In presence of
SAMUEL H. MAYNARD.
JOSEPH POOLE PIRSSON. (L.S.)