Improvements in Evaporative Surface Condensers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
Improvements in Evaporative Surface Condensers.
We, JOHN GEORGE CHAMBERLAIN of Neptune Works, Tipton in the County of
Stafford, of the Firm of Joseph Wright & Co. Engineer and JOHN WEDDELL also of
Tipton, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention is applicable to the same class of Condensers as our previous
invention for which application was made for grant of Letters Patent such application
being numbered 16196 and dated July 22nd 1896, but in the present case the special
object of our invention is to provide a large cooling surface in a small space and the
apparatus is designed with a view to the use of brass tubes in place of the cast-iron
pipes of our former invention.
In this invention also the surfaces of the tubes are wetted and the evaporation of
the moisture caused either by mere exposure to the outer atmosphere or by air
propelled by a fau in which case the apparatus is encased.
We conduct the exhaust steam from an Engine to an upper central horizontal main
as before on one or both sides of which are a series of branches. To each branch we
attach a horizontal steam box of considerable length and of sufficient width to receive
two or more vertical tubes preferably of brass whose upper ends are firmly expanded
into the floor of the said steam box. The said tubes are of considerable length and
at their lower ends are firmly expanded into a suitable tube plate forming the cover
of the condensed water collecting box from which a suitable outlet pipe extracts the
condensed water which is led to a condensed water main which we prefer to place
centrally under the steam main and to which the air pump suction is attached. The
upper side of each of the before described steam boxes is closed by a cover which has
formed upon its upper side an open box or trough. This cover has in it holes bored
truly concentric with the hereinbefore-described tubes expanded into the floor of the
steam box and we insert inner tubes of smaller diameter into the before-described
vertical steam tubes such sinaller tubes passing through the steam box cover and project-
ing upwards to a suitable height in the trough. These inner tubes are also firmly
expanded into the cover. At their lower ends the inner tubes project beyond the
outer tubes and through the floor of the before-described condensed water collecting
box into which they are not expanded but the joint is made good by a recessed gland
plate between which and a recess in the underside of the box a rubber or other
packing ring embrucing the tube is gripped by a screw and nut securing the gland
plate. We prefer to make each plate secure two or more tube ends.
In a suitable position which may conveniently. be centrally over the exhaust steam
main we place a cold water supply main from which branches controlled by valves lead
to the open top water trough before described as being formed on the covers of the
steam boxes. Surrounding the outer vertical steain tubes and at a short distance
below the stenun boxes we fix water distributors in the form of small open bottom
collar tundishes as described in the specification attached to our previous application
hereinbefore referred to. These distributors are made in two halves bolted together
and preferably embrace two or more tubes each. Narrow portions of their lower part

page_text: are cut away to form outlet apertures through which water can trickle down the tubes.
From the cold water main before described other brauches also controlled by valves are
led to these water distributors.
Suitable drain pipes from the exhaust main are provided and they may be connected
into the lower condensed water main before described.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The exhaust from a steam Engine is conducted by the exhaust main into the steam
boxes whence it descends by the annular spaces between the inner and outer tubes,
into the bottom boxes before described as coudensed water boxes. The outer surfaces
of the steam tubes are wetted by water supplied from the water main and conducted
into the distributors whence it flows down the tubes such of the water as remains
unevaporated on reaching the condensed water box covers flows over them and falls
into a receiving tank over which the whole apparatus is erected and from which the
before-described water main is or can be supplied by pumping. The inner surfaces
of the inner tubes are also supplied with moisture from the upper open water trough
which is supplied with water from the main as described and in order to control the
flow of this water we formn suitable slits in the projecting upper ends of these tubes.
In order to increase the condensing efficiency of the outer tubes we in some cases
enclose the apparatus in a casing and force air among the tubes by means of a fan or
propeller and in order similarly to increase the condensing efficiency of the inner
tubes we fix a series of air nozzles or blast pipes, each one being centrally under and
partially inserted into the lower end of the inner tubes and we supply such nozzles
with air under a slight pressure from any suitable source either specially provided or
otherwise. As is well understood the action of the air carries away the vapour of
the evaporated moisture and accelerates the evaporation thereby extracting heat inore
rapidly from the steam.
The Condenser herein-described is specially designed with a view to facility of
internal cleaning of the external tubes and external cleaning of the inner tubes as it is
obvious that by releasing the lower packings of the inner tubes and the cover of the
steam box each row or set of inner tubes can be lifted entirely out of the outer tubes
when the whole can be cleaned and replaced.
A further object of the construction of the apparatus is that provision may be made
for further extension or multiplication of the apparatus by merely attaching additional
lengths to the service pipe and attaching the steam and water boxes with tubes to its
branches or by extending the service pipe in the first instance and closing its branchos
with blanks until it is desired to increase the Condensing Surface.
The batteries of tubes are stayed together at their outer ends by suitable diagonal
or other ties so as to brace the whole structure together. The steam service pipes
and water pipe and water boxes are carried on a suitable framework over the before-
described tank.
Dated this 16th day of November 180A
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicants.
Improvements in Evaporative Surface Condensers.
We, JOHN GEORGE CHAMBERLAIN of Neptune Works, Tipton in the County of
Stafford, of the Firm of Joseph Wright and Company, Engineer, and JOHN WEDDELL
also of Tipton, 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 present invention is applicable to the same class of condensers as our previous

page_text: nvention for which application was made for grant of eu
cing numbered 16196 and dated July 22nd, 1896, bat in the present case the
pecial object of our invention is to provide a large cooling surface in a small space
nd the apparatus is designed with a view to the use of brass tabes in place of the
ast-iron pipes of our former invention.
In this invention also the surfaces of the tubes are wetted and the evaporation of
he moisture caused either by mero exposure to the outer atmosphere or by air
ropelled by a fau in which case the apparatus is encased.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the general arrangement of our invention,
Fig. 2 is an end elevation part in section,
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view shewing details of construction partly in section,
Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section of one group of pipes,
Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan of the top of the apparatus,
Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan of the lower part of the apparatus,
Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross section shewing the water distributors, and
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the water distributors.
In all views the same letters of reference refer to the same parts.
A is the upper central horizontal steam main into which the exhaust steam from
an engine is conducted. It is provided with branches a on one or both sides. To
each of these branches we attach a horizontal steam-box B. The upper side of the
steain-box B is closed in each case by n cover b which has an open box or trough b¹
formed on its upper side. The vertical tubes C of solid drawn brass or other suitable
material are firmly expanded into the floor of the steam box B. At their lower ends
they are also firuly expanded into a suitable tube plate d forming the cover of the
condensed water collecting box D from which asuitableoutlet pipe Econveys the condensed
water to the central condensed water main F which we prefer to place centrally under
the steam main A, and to which the air pump suction is attached. The cover & of
the steain box B has holes bored in it truly concentric with the tubes C and the floor
of the condensed water-box D has corresponding concentric holes also bored in it. Into.
these holes and passing through the tubes C we insert. inner tubes G of smaller
diameter. These tubes pass through the steam-box cover b and project upwards into
the trough bl. They are firmly expanded into the cover b. These projecting upper
onds are partially cut away by means of narrow slits as shewu at g in order to allow
water from the trough bi to trickle down their inner surfaces. At their lower ends
the tubes G project. beyond the outer tubes and through the floor of the condensed
water box D into which they are not expanded but the joint is made good by a
recessed gland plate H between which and a recess in the underside of the box D a
rubbor or other packing & is inserted. The glands H are tightened up by a screw
and nut h. We prefer to make one gland plate secure two tube ends as shewn in
Fig. 4.
I is the cooling water supply main from which branches i controlled ench by a
valve lead to the open top troughs b' over the steam box B. K are water
distributors fixed around the upper portion of the outer tubes as shewn and they are
supplied with water from the water main I by means of the pipe i controlled by a
valve not shewn in the drawings and discharging into the distributors K by the
nozzles . Figs. 7 and 8 shew these distributors in detail. They are made in two
halves bolted together by the bolts & and they may be constructed to embrace one or
two or more of the tubes. Narrow portions of their lower part are cut away to form
outlet apertures & through which water can trickle down the tubes.
Suitable drain pipes L are connected to the exhaust main and they may be led
into the lower condensed water main F and are preferably controlled by a valve.
The action is as follows:-
The exhaust steam from an engine is conducted by the steam main A into the
steam boxes B whence it descends by the annular spaces inside the tubes C and
outside the inner tubes G into the bottom boxes D. The external surfaces of the

page_text: tubes C and the internal surfaces of the tubes G are wetted by water supplied a
follows:-
The water pipe I is supplied by water by a pump or from other suitable source
aud from it the water flows by the branches i controlled by the valves to the
troughs 6 whence it enters the inside of the tubes G by menus of the slits g. Water
is also supplied by the pipe it from the main I to the distributors K as shewn in
Figs. 3 and 4 wheuce it escapes by the spaces kahewn in Figs. 7 and 8 and flow
down the outer surfaces of the tubes C. Such of the water as remains unovaporated
at the lower end of the tubes falls into the catch tank M, shown in Fig. 1. Thence
it can be led to a suitable pump and delivered for re-use to the water inain I, the
deficiency having been made up by fresh water introduced and coutrolled by a ball-
tap or by any other suitable means.
We wish it to be understood that we use the internal tubes G for two separate
functious. Firstly, as displacers to compel the steam from the box B to traverse the
inuer surfaces of the tubes C in a thin film and that for this purpose it is not
requisite to supply water to the interiors of the said tubes G and that in one form
of our invention we use these tubes for that purpose only, constructing them of
cheap material and supplying them with no water. Their second function is to act
as efficient cooling surface and for this purpose they are left open at top and
bottom and are supplied with water as herein before described. Their second
function operates in conjunction with the first.
In order to increase the condensing efficiency of the outer tubes C we in somie
cases enclose the apparatus in a casing and force air among the tubes by means of
a fan or propellor and in onler similarly to increase the coudensing efficiency of
the inner tubes we fix a series of air nozzles or blast pipes N as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4
each being centrally under and partially inserted into the lower ends of the tubes G.
These nozzles are supplied with air under pressure by means of the bmnch pipes n
and the air main n' drawing its supply froin any suitable source. As is well under-
stood the action of the air carries away the vapour of the evaporated moisture and
accelemtes the evaporation thereby extracting heat more rapidly from the steam.
The batteries of tubes are stayed together at their outer ends by suitable diagonal
or other ties so as to brace the whole structure together. The steam pipes A, water
pipes F, and water boxes D are carried on a suitable frame-work P over the tank M.
The Condenser herein-described is specially designed with a view to facility of
interual cleaning of the external tubes and external cleaning of the inner tubes as it
is obvious that by releasing the lower packings of the inner tubes and the cover of
the steam box each row or set of inner tubes can be lifted entirely out of the outer
tubes when the whole can be cleaned and replaced.
A further object of the construction of the apparatus is that provision may be
made for farther extension or multipliention of the apparatus by inerely attaching
additional lengths to the servico pipe and attaching the steam and water boxes with
tubes to its branches or by extending the service pipe in the first instance and closing
its branches with blanks until it is desired to increase the condensing surface.
Having now particnlarly 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 of the internal and external evaporative surface condenser
tubes enclosing an annular steain space, substantially as and for the purposes hereiu-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The internal tube within an evaporative surface condenser tube and acting as
steam displacer only substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The internal and external tubes in combination with an upper steam box and
water trough to convey water to the inner tubes substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5
4. The slits or openings in the upper ends of the internal tubes, substantially as

page_text: and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
5. Internal and external tubes in combination with a condensed water box through
whose floor the internal tubes pass, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In evaporative surface condensers the gland plate with packing and screw and
nut making good the joint between the tubes and tube plate substantially as and for
the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. Internal and external evaporative condenser tubes in combination with an air jet
impelling or assisting the air current through the internal tubes substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. Evaporative surface condensers with internal and external tubes so constructed
that by releasing the glands the internal tubes can be withdrawn substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of July 1897.
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicants.