Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling Sea or. other Water.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling Sea or. other Water.
We, JOHN NEWTON of 79 Mark Lane in the city of London in the county of
Middlesex, Merchant, and DANIEL ARTHUR QUIGGIN of 28 Chapel Street Liverpool
in the county of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to that class of apparatus in which pure water is produced by
the distillation of sea or other water, the source of heat being the heat in steam which
may be impure and which is therefore not allowed to mix with the pure water pro-
duced in the apparatus. The primary steam which may be exhaust steam from a
steam engine or may be taken direct from a boiler is used to evaporate the sea or
other water in a suitable evaporator, being itself thereby condensed and forming
primary distilled water. The pure steam so generated from the sea or other water,
which will be called secondary steam, is either simply condensed or else used to
operate a second evaporator similar in construction and action to the first, and so
producing pure tertiary steam, which again in its turn may either be simply con-
densed or used to operate a third evaporator, and so on, as far as may be desired.
In our present invention the steam from the last evaporator of the series, on its
way to the condenser, is passed through a feed-heater for the purpose of heating
the feed water which is supplied to the several evaporators, a portion of the heat in
the said steam being thus utilised.
According to our present invention we construct improved apparatus for distilling
sea or other water as follows:-
We will assume that there are two evaporators and that therefore the tertiary
steam passes through the feed-heater on its way to the condenser.
Each evaporator consists of an upper vessel and a base.
The upper vessel is a vertical cylinder of wrought iron, steel or other suitable
material, having dished ends and capable of withstanding considerable pressure.
This upper vessel is supported by and attached to the base,, which is made, pre-
ferably of cast iron, in the form of a cylindrical vessel having a closed bottom
and an open top provided with a flange somewhat less in diameter than the dished
end of the upper vessel. This flange is so shaped that when the upper vessel is
in position on the base, it may be bolted steam-tight thereto, thus forming a steam-
tight base chamber which is separated from the interior of the upper vessel by the
dished end thereof, which forms a diaphragm. Into the upper portion of the upper
vessel and along a diameter thereof we lead a steam inlet pipe, which is closed at
its inner end, and to this pipe we attach by suitable branches and unions a number
of tubular heating surfaces, preferably helical coils whose axes are parallel to, and
symmetrically disposed with reference to, the axis of the vessel.
The lower ends of these helical coils pass steam-tight through the lower dished end
or diaphragm and open into the base chamber.
We prefer to make these helical coils as, and according to the method, described by
us in a provisional specification lodged with an application for a patent No. 15229
of 1888, that is to say, the section of the tube forining each coil is of a crescent shape
and the cross-sectional area within the tube gradually diminishes from the inlet end
to the lower end which opens into the base chamber.
The second evaporator is similar in general construction to the first and its steam
inlet pipe is in communication with the upper portion of the upper vessel of the first
evaporator by means of a pipe and stop valve.
The feed-heater is an upright cylindrical closed vessel divided into three chambers
by two diaphragms situated near opposite ends. The diaphragms are kept in position

page_text: by making the feed-heater in three parts, a centre part open and flanged at each end
and two end parts each closed at one end and open and flanged at the other, so that
when the three parts are bolted together with a diaphragm between each pair of
flanges, a vessel having three steam-tight chambers is formed. Communication is
made between the two end chambers by means of tubular heating surfaces which
may be helical coils smaller than, but similar to, those of the evaporators.
The upper portion of the upper vessel of the second evaporator communicates with
the upper portion of the middle chamber of the feed heater by means of a pipe and
stop cock and an outlet branch is provided in the lower portion of the said middle
chamber. The feed water for supplying both evaporators is led under sufficient pres-
sure into the lower chamber of the feed-heater, rises through the tubular heating
surfaces into the upper chamber of the feed-heater and is delivered into the upper
vessel of each evaporator through a pipe and feed cock. The feed cock for each
evaporator is placed inside the upper vessel and is arranged so as to be controlled by
the water level in the said upper vessel. The controlling arrangement may consist of
a float, which actuates the cock, and which moves freely in a cylindrical casing which
has an open top above the water level and a closed bottom in which a small hole is
bored. The object of the cylindrical casing is to prevent the float from being affected
by accidental changes in the water level caused by the motion of the ship on which
the apparatus is placed.
The outlet from the base chamber of the first evaporator is fitted with an internal
cock or valve controlled by a float or otherwise, so that water only can escape by the
said outlet. The base chamber of the second evaporator is provided with an outlet
branch and a cock or cocks as required.
A gauge glass, safety valve, surface and bottom blow-off cocks and a pressure
gange are fitted to the upper vessel of each evaporator. Man-holes and hand-holes are
provided where required. The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The uppor vessels being filled to the proper level with the water to be evaporated,
primary steam is admitted to the steam inlet pipe of the first evaporator and passing
through the heating surfaces is condensed and forms water in the base chamber. This
water will be automatically discharged by the cock herein before described, and being
contaminated with grease etc., it is not potable and may be returned to the hotwell,
main condenser or otherwise disposed of. The secondary steam produced in the first
evaporator passes to the steam inlet pipe in the second evaporator, is wholly or partially
condensed therein and forms pure water in the base chamber thereof, which may be
delivered to the hotwell or main condenser as feed make-up, or to a fresh water con-
denser or cooler to make it potable.
The tertiary steam from the second evaporator passes to the middle chamber of the
feed-heater, gives up part of its heat to the feed-water, is partially condensed and may
then be delivered direct to the fresh water condenser, or through the base chamber of
the second evaporator, or otherwise disposed of. Instead of forming the heating
surfaces of the evaporators as hereinbefore described, the steam inlet pipe, closed at
its inner end as before, may be led into the upper vessel near its bottom and by
suitable branches and unions, a number of vertical tubes may be attached thereto,
their upper ends being closed and reaching nearly to the water level, and one or more
drain pipes being led from the steam inlet pipe through the diaphragm by steam-tight
connections into the base chamber.
•
Dated this 10th day of January 1889.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
26, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling Sea or other Water.
We, JOHN NEWTON, of 79 Mark Lane, in the city of London, in the county of
Middlesex, Merchant, and DANIEL ARTHUR QUIGGIN, of 28 Chapel Street Liverpool,
in the county of Lancaster, 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:-
Our invention relates to that class of apparatus in which pure water is produced by
the distillation of sea or other water, the source of heat being the heat in steam which
may be impure and which is therefore not allowed to mix with the pure water
produced in the apparatus.
The primary steam, which may be exhaust steam from a steam engine or may be
taken direct from a boiler, is used to evaporate the sea or other water in a suitable
evaporator being itself thereby condensed and forming primary distilled water. The
pure steam so generated from the sea or other water, which will be called secondary
steam is either simply condensed or else used to operate a second evaporator similar
in construction and action to the first, and so producing pure tertiary steam, which
again in its turn may either be simply condensed or used to operate a third evaporator,
and so on, as far as may be desired..
In our present invention the steam from the last evaporator of the series, on its
way to the condenser, is passed through a feed-heater for the purpose of heating the
feed water which is supplied to the several evaporators, a portion of the heat in the
said steam being thus utilised.
According to our present invention, we construct improved apparatus for distilling
sea or other water as follows:-
We will assume that there are two evaporators and that therefor the tertiary steam
passes through the feed-heater on its way to the condenser.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. I shows the apparatus in elevation, the first evaporator and the feed-heater
being in section.
Fig. II is a plan, the first evaporator being in section on the line A A of
Fig. 1.
Each evaporator consists of an upper vessel 1 and a base 2.
The upper vessel is a vertical cylinder of wrought iron, steel or other suitable
material, having dished ends 3 and capable of withstanding considerable pressure.
This upper vessel is supported by and attached to the base 2, which is made preferably
of cast iron, in the form of a cylindrical vessel having a closed bottom and an open
top provided with a flange 4 somewhat less in diameter than the dished end of the
upper vessel. This flange is so shaped that when the upper vessel is in position on
the base, it may he bolted steam-tight thereto thus forming a steam-tight base
chamber which is separated from the interior of the upper vessel by the dished end
thereof, which forms a diaphragm.
Into the upper portion of each upper vessel we lead a steam inlet pipe 5 which is
closed at its inner end 6, and to this pipe we attach by suitable branches and unions a
number of tubular heating surfaces 7, preferably helical coils whose axes are parallel
to and symmetrically disposed with reference to the axis of the vessel.
The lower ends of these helical coils pass steam-tight through the lower dished ends
or diaphragms 3 and open into the base chambers. We prefer to make these helical
coils as, and according to the method described by us in the Complete Specification of
the Patent granted to us and numbered 15229 of 1888, that is to say, the section of
the tube forming each coil is of a crescent shape and the cross-sectional area
within the tube gradually diminishes from the inlet end to the lower end which opens
into the base chamber.
The second evaporator is similar in general construction to the first and its steam
inlet pipe is in communication with the upper portion of the upper vessel 1 of the first
evaporator by means of a pipe 8 and stop valve 9.

page_text: The feed-heater, is an upright cylindrical closed vessel divided into three
chambers, 10, 11, and 12 by two diaphragms situated near opposite ends. Communi-
cation is made between the two end chambers 10, and 12 by means of tubular heating
surfaces 13 which may be helical coils smaller than, but similar to those of the
evaporators.
The upper portion of the upper vessel 1 of the second evaporator communicates
with the upper portion of the middle chamber 11 of the feed heater by means of a
pipe 14 and stop cock 15; and an outlet branch 16 is provided in the lower portion of
the said middle chamber 11. The feed water for supplying both evaporators is led
under sufficient pressure through the pipe 31 into the lower chamber 12 of the feed-
heater.rises through the tubular heating surfaces 13 into the upper chamber 10 of the
feed-heater and is delivered into the upper vessel of each evaporator through the
pipes 17 and feed valves 18. The feed valve 18 for each evaporator is placed inside
the upper vessel and the feed water is led to the lower part of the vessel 1 by the
internal pipe 22. The valve 18 is controlled by the water level in the said upper
vessel. The controlling arrangement consists of a float 19 which actuates the valve 18
and which moves freely in a cylindrical casing 20 which has an open top above the
water level and a closed bottom in which a small hole 21 is bored. The object of the
cylindrical casing is to prevent the float from being affected by accidental changes in
the water level caused by the motion of the ship on which the apparatus is
placed.
The float 19 is attached to the arm 23 of a two-armed lever 23, 24 carried from the
bracket 27, the arm 24 being attached to the valve 18 by the link 25 so as to form a
toggle joint, as shown.
The toggle joint is prevented from passing beyond the dead centre by the
stop 26.
The outlet from the base chamber of the first evaporator is fitted with an internal
valve 29 controlled by a float 30, so that water only can escape by the said outlet.
The base chamber of the second evaporator is provided with an outlet branch 32 which
is fitted with a cock or cocks as required.
A gauge glass, safety valve 33, a blow-off cock 34 and a pressure gauge are fitted
to the upper vessel of each evaporator; the gauge glasses and pressure gauges not
being shown in the drawings. Manholes 35 and hand-holes are provided where
required.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The upper vessels i being filled to the proper level with the water to be evaporated,
primary steam is admitted to the steam inlet pipe of the first evaporator through the
stop valve 36 and passing through the heating surfaces 7 is condensed and forms water
in the base chamber. This water will be automatically discharged by the valve 29
and being contaminated with grease etc., it is not potable and may be returned to the
hotwell, main condenser or otherwise disposed of.
The secondary steam produced in the first evaporator passes through the stop--valve 9
and pipe 8 to the steam inlet pipe in the second evaporator, is wholly or partially con-
densed therein and forms pure water in the base chamber thereof which may be
delivered through the outlet 32 to the hotwell or main condenser as feed make-up, or
to a fresh water condenser or cooler to make it potable.
The tertiary steam from the second evaporator passes through the pipe 14 to the
middle chamber 11 of the feed heater, gives up part of its heat to the feed water, is
partially condensed and may then be delivered through the pipe 16 direct to the fresh
water condenser or through the base chamber of the second evaporator or otherwise
disposed of..
Instead of forming the heating surfaces of the evaporator as hereinbefore described,
the steam inlet pipe, closed at its inner end as before, may be led into each upper
vessel near its bottom, and by suitable branches and unions a number of vertical tubes
may be attached thereto, their upper ends being closed and reaching nearly to the
water level and one or more drain pipes being led from the steam inlet pipe through
the diaphragms by steam-tight connections into the.base chamber.

page_text: We are aware that prior to our invention the supply of feed-water to evaporators
of the class herein described has been controlled by a float, and to the use of such,
broadly, we make no claim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved apparatus for
distilling sea or other water, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
2. In apparatus for distilling sea or other water, the use of a float placed inside a
cylinder having a perforated bottom, and operating the feed inlet valve by means of a
lever and toggle joint, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
3. In apparatus for distilling sea or other water, an evaporater substantially as
herein described and shown in section in Figs. I and II of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 10th day of October 1889.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
26, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.