IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND PURIFYING THE FEED WATER FOR STEAM BOILERS WHICH APPARATUS CAN ALSO BE USED FOR CONDENSING STEAM
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Baragwanath, of Chicago, Illinois, United States
of America for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING
AND PURIFYING THE FEED WATER FOR STEAM BOILERS WHICH APPARATUS CAN
ALSO BE USED FOR CONDENSING STEAM
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Baragwanath at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1883:
WILLIAM BARAGWANATH of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND PURIFYING THE FEED WATER
FOR STEAM-BOILERS WHICH APPARATUS CAN ALSO BE USED FOR CONDENSING
STEAM
כן
My invention relates to foed water heaters and purifiers and steam condensers
and comprises the novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby the water
for feeding a boiler is more effectually heated and purified than has heretofore been
possible; it also comprises the combination of two heaters in such a manner that a
vacuum is formed, whereby an ordinary high pressure engine may be used as a low
pressure engine, all as hereinafter described.
In feed water heaters as ordinarily heretofore constructed a large amount of the
effective heat of the steam has been lost through radiation. According to my
present invention I avoid this loss, and also greatly increase the area of heating
surface, whereby the heat of the water is much greater than it has been before
possible to attain.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide an outer shell preferably
of iron of cylindrical or other suitable shape, within which I fix a second or inner
shell of such a size that a space is left between the said outer and inner shells to
form a jacket. This inner shell forms a chamber which is entirely separated from
the steam space, and has passing through it one or more tubes of suitable
dimensions. At one end of these tubes is a space with which the steam inlet pipe
communicates and at the other end is a space which communicates with the
jacket

page_text: The water which is to be heated is conducted through suitable pipes to the inner
chamber which it entirely fills, surrounding the said tube or tubes, and is then led
to the boiler. In the operation of the improved heater, the exhaust steam enters
the space in communication with the inlet, it then passes through the tubes in the
inner chamber and then into the jacket from whence it is suitably led away. It
will thus be seen that the heater proper is surrounded by steam on all sides and
that consequently no portion thereof is exposed to the air. Pipes or cocks are
provided for drawing off the condensed water when required.
I sometimes arrange below the heater hereinbefore described a chamber (which is
in communication with the steam jacket and into which the water of condensation
passes), for the purpose of partially heating the water before it enters the heater
proper-and-for-extracting-impurities-therefrom. The-top-of-the-said-chamber-is-
preferably made concave, and is heated by the steam which in this case enters the
heater at the top, passing through the said tubes and striking the convex side of
the said concave plate before it passes into the jacket.
The feed water as it enters this lower chamber is caused to strike against the
said concave surface whereby the water is partially heated; the heavy impurities
also drop to the bottom of the said lower chamber which is formed with inclined sides
and provided with a blow off cock wheby [sic] the said impurities may be removed
from time to time. A pipe is arranged in the side of the said lower chamber so
that the water shall never rise above the proper height, and in it is placed a
U-shaped bend to prevent the entrance of air and escape of steam in case the water
falls below the level of the said pipes
*
:
From this lower chamber the water is drawn by a pump or other suitable means
and forced into the heater propor, where it is further heated in the manner
herein before described.
As the steam in passing through the heater is partly condensed, back pressure
upon the piston of the engine is considerably lessened if not entirely avoided.
Above the top of the heater is arranged what I term a "scum-chamber." This
scum-chamber is connected to the inner chamber at the highest point, so that as the
water is heated in the latter and the impurities rise, they will enter the said
scum-chamber wherein the heavier portion of the said impurities will settle-upou:
the bottom from whence they can be drawn off by suitable means, while the lighter
portion of the said impurities will rise to the top of the said scum chamber from
whence they also can be suitably drawn off. When the steam inlet is at the top of
the heater the scum chamber is arranged upon one side thereof and connected to it
by an inclined.pipe.
Upon the top of the scum-chamber I may, if desired, place a safety valve '
I sometimes use the improved apparatus as a condenser for which purpose a
stream of cool water is caused to run constantly through the inner chamber, so
that as the steam enters as before described and comes into contact with the cool
surfaces thereof it is condensed whereby a vacuum is formed which can be used to
assist in driving the engine.
When the apparatus is used in this manner I prefer to arrange it in combination
with the heater first hereinbefore described in which case the inlet of the apparatus
which is to serve as the condenser is connected to the outlet of the licater so that
after the steam has been utilized for heating the feed water it may still further be
used for forming a vacuum.
"
со
ij

page_text: condensation which enter the chamber C¹ to pass out at the openings r. These
openings or holes are made around the said cylinder and are of sufficient number
and size to permit a free outflow of the steam into the annular chamber C.
The chamber J is formed by extending the outer cylinder or jacket A bolow the
water cylinder B. This chamber is provided with an inlet pipe which is connected
with a pump or other suitable source of water supply and through which water is
forced. This water is thrown in the form of spray, by the rose g, against the
underside of the diaphragm I, whence it falls into the chamber J. The said
chamber will remain filled with water to the height of the dotted line in Figure 3,
the outlet pipe e being curved upward and so arranged that it will not affect the
level of the water in the said chamber. When the water rises above this line, the
excess will pass out of the siphon or overflow pipe h. This pipe-is-so-arranged-at-
its delivery end as not to permit a free outflow of steam in case any slight excess
of pressure should exist in the chamber J.
Water is forced into the cylinder B through the pipe c and flows out at the upper
end through the pipo d. In order to utilize the water from the chamber J, which
water is partly heated and the impurities in which are allowed to settle, I usually
connect the pipe e with the pump which forces the water through the pipe c into
the chamber B. I thus obtain the benefit of whatever heating may take place in
the chamber J, while the mud, sand or other impurities are settling. When the
apparatus is used solely for heating water, the amount of water passing in through
the pipe ƒ may be so regulated as not to have any injurious effect as a condenser.
The pipes are provided, where necessary, with regulating or cut-off valves at
such points as may be convenient for their proper manipulation. The pipes K, c, d
are provided with suitable stuffing boxes o to prevent leakage where they pass
through the jacket cylinder. The pipe K passes through the heads G and E and
projects up within the scum-chamber L as shown, thereby preventing the flow of
any accumulation in the scum chamber back into the water-chamber. The scun-
chamber is provided with two overflow or blow-off pipes l, m, the upper one l
being designed to carry off light or frothy matters and the lower one m for
carrying off heavier or sedimentary matters. The cut-off or regulating valves for
these pipes are shown at n.
The hand-holes k, q and p are made in the usual manner. The supports M may
be in the form of legs as shown, or they may be of any ordinary masonry, as may
be most convenient for their location.
The apparatus may be provided with a safety-valve arranged to prevent the
bursting or collapsing of the same. The pipe K may be inserted, or it may be
bent, so that the scum-chamber can be located at the side of the water-chamber, in
which case the pipes and m will not require all the bends shown. When the
apparatus is to be used simply as a condenser, this scum-chamber may be dispensed
with.
By placing the scum-chamber at the side, or by dispensing therewith when the
apparatus is to be used as a condenser, the height of the said apparatus can be
reduced, which in some locations is a material consideration. In order to reduce
the height, in the case of a double apparatus, the upper set of cylinders may be
placed horizontally or nearly so. The upper cylinder in the double apparatus
does not require the chamber J nor its pipes fand h, the water of condensation
passing out of the pipe s¹ to the pump or to any suitable place where it may be
discharged. The pipos c may both be connected with the pump, or the upper
pipe c may be connected with the lower pipe d. Otherwise the construction of
the upper and lower cylinders and their jackets and connections is substantially
the same, with the exception of the inlet and discharge ports or pipes for the steam.
These pipes in the upper set of cylinders are arranged in reference to each other, as
shown, but they may be otherwise arranged as may be found most convenient for
the place where they are designed to be used.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say:-Steam is admitted
by the port or pipe a' and passes through the pipes a into the steam space C¹

page_text: whence it passes through the. holes r into the annular steam space C, and, in
the single apparatus, also into the chamber J. The steam passes out of the
apparatus by the port or pipe. b. The water of condensation from the pipes a, in
the single apparatus, passes into the chamber C and down into the chamber J.
When the apparatus is used as a feed heater, the water should be kept in the
cylinder B a sufficient length of time to obtain the best results, as it will be
readily understood that the longer it remains, the hotter it will become, until the
highest degree of heat obtainable is reached. When the apparatus is used as a
condenser, the water should be constantly circulated so as to keep the apparatus
full of cold water; moreover the pipe f with its perforated head.or rose g may also
be kept in operation. By the use of two of these apparatuses as shown in Figures 4
and 5 a practically complete condenser can be obtained.
I have shown and described the plates G and H as being concave which is their
best form; but it is evident that either may be made plane and the other concave
with good results.
'
I sometimes combine two apparatuses as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the upper
one is used as a heater and the steam passing in at the pipe or port a¹ thereof will
pass into the chamber C and thence through the pipes a into the annular steam
space C and out through the pipe or port b. The upper apparatus thus acts as a
heater and any water of condensation which may be formed therein can be drawn
off at the pipe 8 which may also be used as a blow-off pipo. The steam which
passes out through the port or pipe b, enters the port or pipe a¹ of the second or
lower apparatus (which in this case operates only as a condenser), where it is
completely condensed as it passes through the pipes a into the chamber C¹ and
through the holes r into the chambers C and J.
By maintaining a circulation of water through the cylinder B by the pipes c, d
and causing the water delivered into the chainber J to be formed into spray or
fine divisions by the rose g and the diaphragm, or either, the steam will be
condensed so as to fall into the chamber J, which chamber will be filled to the
proper height with distilled water and with the water passing in through the
pipe. Any sedimentary matter which may pass through this pipe can be drawn
off through the pipe s at the lower part of tho plate F. When the lower apparatus
is used in this form or only as a condenser, the scum-chamber L with its connecting
pipes K, L, and m may be dispensed with.
The use of the lower apparatus as a condenser will to a certain extent warm the
water contained in the chamber J. This water, can, if desired, be taken by the
pump from the pipe e and forced into the pipe c of the lower apparatus and then
be taken from the pipe d of the latter and forced into the pipe c of the first or
upper apparatus, instead of providing each apparatus with a separate water
supply.
It will be readily understood that the operation of the lower apparatus when
used as a heater may be reversed; and that when two apparatuses are used they
may be reversed with slight modifications which will not materially change their
character.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that, although I have described the apparatus as
cylindrical and consider this its best form, it may be made angular, square or of
other suitable shape without affecting its operation, and I further wish it under-
stood that I claim, in an apparatus for heating and purifying the feed-water for
steam-boilers, which apparatus can also be used for condensing steam :—
First. The combination, with the cylinder or casing B and pipes a, of the
concave end plate or plates substantially as described whereby the injurious effect
of the contraction or expansion of the said pipes is prevented.
Second. The combination of the lower water-chamber head or end plate H and
the extended cylinder B, with the diaphragm I, for forming the steam-chamber or
space C³, substantially as specified.
Third. The combination, with the chamber J, of the pipe f (with or without the

page_text: perforated head or rose g) and the diaphragm or plate I, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth
"
:
Fourth, The combination of the steam pipes and passages a¹, a, b, and steam
spaces C, C, with the water cylinder B and pipes c, d, e, f and h, substantially as,
and for the purpose, set forth.
bi
Fifth. The combination of the cylinder B with the extended cylinder
constructed as described, whereby the purifying chamber J is formed, substantially
as specified.
Sixth. The combination of the two cylinders and their adjuncts constructed and
arranged substantially as described whereby water may be heated and steam
condensed by their joint action as above specified.
In Witness whereof I the said William Baragwanath have hereunto set .my
hand and seal this Twentieth day of June in the year of Our Lord One thousand
|_ eight hundred and eighty_three..
.
IDE
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