Improvements in the Setting and Working of Steam Boilers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Setting and Working of Steam Boilers.
WILLIAM GEIPEL, 49, Kidbrook Park Road, London, S.E. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the use of Lancashire or other cylindrical boilers
for generating steam when the load on the engines is intermittent, as in the case
of electricity supply stations, where there are considerable variations in the daily
load and it is customary to shut down one or more of the boilers during times of
light loads. This gives rise to two more or less serious sources of expense, one
being the increased wear and tear of the boiler due to the alternate expansion and
contraction thereof, the other being the waste of fuel due to the raising of steam to
the working pressure after the boilers have been standing and before bringing them
into use again.
The object of this invention is to improve upon the existing methods of arranging
such boilers in order that the above mentioned defects may be minimised. To
accomplish this, I so arrange the brickwork setting that the hot gases of whatever
boilers are in use at any moment pass first over a portion of the heating surface,
then into a main flue from which they are led preferably through an economiser,
and lastly the gases are led conjointly through a common return flue which passes
under or around the whole of the boilers to the chimney. In some cases, however,
I may dispense with the economiser. I may place pipes in the return flue between
any of the boilers for heating the feed or other water, and I may in some cases
place a portion of the steam pipes or other steam receiver in the main or return
flue for super-heating the steam on its way to the engines or other utilisers.
The greater part of the heat is taken from the gases for steam making before
they reach the main flue, while part of the remaining heat is employed in keeping
hot those of the boilers which are not actually in use. By making the return flue
large I reduce the velocity of the gases so that they are as long in contact with the
boilers as practicable; this reducing of the velocity also allows of more time for
the depositing of unconsumed combustible, thus minimising the smoke emitted by
the chimney. Another advantage of the large return flue is that the inspection
or repair of the boilers is facilitated and the flues are more easily cleaned.
I arrange a bye-pass flue from the main flue direct to the chimney for occasional
use when it is necessary to cool any of the boilers, and dampers are provided for
diverting the gases accordingly.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Setting and Working of Steam Boilers.
WILLIAM GEIPEL, 49, Kidbrook Park Road, Blackheath, Kent, Electrical
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 :-
This invention has reference to the use of Lancashire or other cylindrical boilers
for generating steam when the load on the engine is intermittent, as in the case of

page_text: electricity supply stations where there are considerable variations in the daily load
and it is customary to shut down one or more of the boilers during times of light
loads, this gives rise to two more or less serious sources of expense, one being
the increased wear and tear of the boiler due to the alternate expansion and
contraction thereof, the other being the waste of fuel due to the raising of steam to
the working pressure after the boilers have been standing and before bringing them
into use again.
The object of this invention is to improve upon the existing methods of arranging
such boilers in order that the above mentioned defects may be minimised. To
accomplish this, I so arrange the brickwork setting that the hot gases of whatever
boilers are in use at any moment pass first over a portion of the heating surface,
then into a main flue from which they are led preferably through an economiser
and lastly the gases are led conjointly through a common return flue which passes
under or around the whole of the boilers to the chimney.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1. is a plan shewing the setting, the boilers being removed.
Fig. 2. is a sectional elevation through A, B.
Fig. 3. is a sectional elevation through C, D, and
Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation through E, F.
a, is the main flue into which the gases enter after having passed through the
internal flues and underneath the boiler; b, b, are the dampers for closing the main
flue, a, from any of the boilers. c, is the common return flue through which the
gases pass from the main flue, a, by the economiser or feed heater if there be either,
along the sides of each boiler to the chimney, d. The arrows with tails shew the
course of the hot gases before they enter the main flue, and those without tails the
course in the return flue.
When adding an additional boiler it is necessary to change the baffle plates, h,
from the positions shewn in the plan in full lines to those shewn in dotted lines;
the gases in the return flue would then pass in the opposite direction along the
sides of the boilers to that shewn by the arrows; though in the main flue, a, and
economiser the direction would remain the same.
In some cases, however, I may dispense with the economiser or I may fix it
near the chimney. I may place pipes in the return flue, c, between any of the
boilers for heating the feed or other water, and I may in some cases place a portion
of the steam pipes or other steam receiver in the main or return flue for super-
heating the steam on its way to the engines or other utilisers.
The greater part of the heat is taken from the gases for steam making before
they reach the main flue, a, while part of the remaining heat is employed in
keeping hot those of the boilers which are not actually in use. As above explained
the boilers not in use are closed from the main flue, a, by the dampers, b, while
the gases from those boilers in use pass along the return flue, c, past the sides of
those not in use.
By making the return flue, c, large I reduce the velocity of the
gases so that they are as long in contact with the boilers as practicable; this
reducing of the velocity also allows of more time for the depositing of unconsumed
combustible, thus minimising the smoke emitted by the chimney. Another
advantage of the large return flue is that the inspection or repair of the boiler is
facilitated, and the flues are more easily cleaned; for example, the flue, c, at the
sides of the boilers may readily be made of sufficient height to admit a man to walk
upright along it.
I arrange a by-pass flue, e, from the main flue, a, direct to the chimney for
occasional use when it is necessary to cool any of the boilers, and dampers, f, and, g,
are provided for diverting the gases accordingly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. The improved method of setting and working two or more boilers, in which

page_text: the gases from the furnaces unite in a main flue and thence pass together round the
sides of the whole battery of boilers, so that part of the heat of the gases from those
which are in use is utilised to heat the boiler or boilers which may not be in use
substantially as described and set forth.
2. The herein described method of arranging the flues and dampers for a battery
of boilers and of operating the same substantially as shewn.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1894.