Improvements in Apparatus for Condensing Steam and other Condensible Vapours or Gases.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Condensing Steam and other
Condensible Vapours or Gases.
I, EDUARD THEISEN, of Sinzig on the Rhine, Germany, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of evaporative surface con-
densers whereby I obtain such an efficient condensing action as to produce a more
or less perfect condensation.
My invention consists mainly in combining with a network of tubes through
which the steam or other vapour is made to pass, a revolving fan for producing
air currents, and a supply of water, so arranged that while the water is supplied in
a shower over the network of tubes, so as to maintain the outer surfaces thereof in
a perfectly wet condition, the fan causes currents of cold air to pass rapidly over
the wet surfaces of the tubes, so as to produce a very effective evaporation of the
water, resulting in a correspondingly effective absorption of heat and condensation
of steam.
The apparatus for carrying out the above described mode of operating can be
constructed in a variety of ways, of which I will describe some by way of
example.
According to one arrangement, I place within a casing two or more groups of
tubes that may conveniently be arranged in form of a triangle, square, or polygon
round a central space, and that communicate at diametrically opposite points
respectively with the supply pipe for the steam to be condensed and with the exhaust
pipe for the water of condensation.
Centrally in the space surrounded by the tubes is a horizontal centrifugal blowing
fan mounted on a vertical shaft driven in any suitable manner, the fan having by
preference a central air inlet on its lower side and a discharge opening all round its
circumference; the internal space being by preference provided with radial or
other vanes for propelling the air passing through.
In the lower part of the surrounding casing are formed openings for the admission
of air from the atmosphere, and this air in being drawn in by the action of the fan
is made to pass closely in contact with the lower group of pipes before entering
the inlet of the fan, while it is propelled by the centrifugal action of the latter
through the upper group of the pipes, there being a partition between the two
groups whereby the air is forced to take this course. After passing through the
upper group of pipes, the air escapes through a central opening or shaft at the top
of the casing.
In some cases I provide two fans arranged one above the other, the lower one
receiving its air supply from below as described, while the upper one receives its
air supply from the upper part of the casing.
Or a single fan may be used having an air supply from below and also one from
above, the last named supply being led down through a central tube in the uptake
through which the moist air is discharged.
For providing the requisite shower of water over the steam tubes, various
arrangements may be adopted. Accoding to one arrangement I fix upon the shaft
of the fan one or more flat circular receptacles, into which water is conveyed by
pipes and from which it is thrown by centrifugal force over the groups of steam.
tubes, there being by preference one such distributing pan for each group of tubes.
That portion of such water that is not evaporated by the combined heat and air
blast, flows to the bottom of the casing and is conducted away for re-use.
According to another arrangement the requisite quantity of water to make good

page_text: that which is carried off by evaporation is supplied to an annular trough in the
bottom of the casing, and into this trough dips a conical or otherwise shaped shell
attached by arms to the fan shaft, to the upper part of which shell are fixed a
number of rising tubes with branch nozzles at different heights thereon.
On the rotation of the fan, the centrifugal action of the shell causes the water
to rise up on its inner surface, which is provided with ribs or vanes, and into the
rising tubes, from the nozzles of which it is thrown in small streams over the groups
of steam tubes. The water which is not evaporated flows back again into the
trough. Or the revolving shell may itself be made to constitute the trough for
receiving the water.
According to another modification the water is raised from a supply pipe at the
bottom of the casing to a distributing pan or turbine situated either above the fan
or between two or more fans, when such are used, by an Archimidian screw, the
blade of which is fixed on the fan spindle, and is surrounded by a cylindrical
casing.
According to another construction I combine with the above described arrange-
ment for condensing by the joint action of air blast and surface evaporation, an
arrangement similar to that for ordinary surface condensation.
For this purpose I provide below the casing of the above described apparatus an
annular or other shaped chamber in which are arranged a number of vertical
passages situated closely side by side, and which alternately constitute passages for
water and passages for steam. The water flowing down to the bottom of the upper
condensing apparatus is made to pass down the said water passages into the
chamber enclosing them, while the steam to be. condensed enters the lower ends of
the steam passages and is thus made to pass up in the contrary direction to the
descending water. At the upper end of the passages the uncondensed steam passee
into an upper compartment of the chamber from which it is led by one or more
pipes into steam tubes of the upper evaporative surface condenser. The water
flowing down into the lower chamber is led thence to a central elevating apparatus
of either of the above described arrangements, which raises it to the distributing
pan or turbine of the upper apparatus.. It will be evident that the steam tubes of
the evaporative surface condenser may be arranged in a great variety of ways
besides that first described; thus they may form a number of separate groups of
parallel or converging pipes arranged round the air fan, each group having their
outer ends connected to a supply pipe or chamber common to all, and their inner
ends connected to a similar discharge pipe or chamber for the water of condensation,
and the pipes may be inclined towards the discharge end, or the steam tubes may
be made of a U shape, the bends. projecting inwards towards the fan, while the
ends are connected respectively to supply and discharge chambers at the circum-
ference of the casing, the U pipes being arranged with their limbs either horizontally
or vertically, and there may be two or more tiers of such groups arranged one
above the other, divided from each other by horizontal or inclined partitions in the
casing, so that the air is caused either to pass first from the outside through the
lower tier to the fan which propels it through the upper tier or tiers, or the air
may enter the fan below the lowest tier,-and-be-propelled thereby through all the
-tiers. The fan may for this purpose either be of the kind operating with centri-
fugal action, in which case its several discharge channels may be differently shaped,
so as partly to discharge the air horizontally, partly in an upward inclined direction
and partly in a downward inclined direction. Or the fan may be of the kind with
olique cr helical vanes, that propel the air in the direction of its axis.
The air saturated with vapour of water discharged from the apparatus may be
led through one or more condensing chambers where the vapour is condensed, thus
forming a supply of distilled water.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Condensing Steam and other
Condensible Vapours or Gases.
I, EDUARD THEISEN of Sinzig on the Rhine, Germany, 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 :—
My invention relates to an improved construction of evaporative surface con-
densers whereby I obtain such an efficient condensing action as to obtain a more or
less perfect condensation.
My invention consists mainly in combining with a network of tubes through
which the steam or other vapour is made to pass, a revolving fan situated centrally
within the said network for producing air currents, and a supply of water so
arranged that while the water is supplied in a shower over the network of tubes, so
as to maintain the outer surfaces thereof in a perfectly wet condition, the fan causes
currents of cold air to pass rapidly over the wet surfaces of the tubes so as to
produce a very effective evaporation of the water, resulting in a correspondingly
effective absorption of heat and condensation of the steam.
The apparatus for carrying out the above described mode of operating can be
constructed in a variety of ways, of which I will proceed to describe some by way
of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shews a vertical section and Figure 2 a sectional plan of one arrange-
ment. Within a casing A are arranged two groups of tubes B B'. These groups
are here shewn arranged in squares, the corners of which are formed by boxes CC¹
into the sides of which the ends of the tubes are fixed, so that the tubes of the
group B all communicate with the boxes C while those of the group B₁ all com-
municate with the boxes C¹. The steam or other vapour to be condensed is
simultaneously introduced into both groups through the branched pipe D which
communicates with one of the boxes C and one of those C, while the exhaust is
connected by a branch pipe D¹ with the two opposite boxes C and C³ of each
group, so that the steam has to pass right round each square.
In the central space enclosed by these groups is a centrifugal blowing fan E
mounted on a vertical shaft F, which fan is here shewn to draw in air at the
underside, so that the outer air drawn into the casing from the outside through
openings in the casing, is first made to pass through between the lower condensing
tubes before entering the fan, and it is then propelled by the latter through the
upper portion of the tubes. In order to effect an equal distribution of the air
throughout the tubes, it is preferred to make the consecutive compartments into
which the fan is divided, of the several forms shewn in the sections at Figure 3, so
that one compartment directs the air horizontally while another directs it upwards
and a third directs it downwards. For insuring the proper circulation of the air in
the above described manner, partition plates A are by preference provided between
the upper and lower portion of the tubes, extending from the casing to the fan.
Upon the shaft of the latter are fixed two disc-shaped receptacles G G¹ which are
filled with water through pipes H H', and from which the water is thrown by
centrifugal action over the upper and lower sets of tubes at the same time that these
are subject to the currents of air as above described.
The supply of water being so regulated as to be just sufficient to keep the steam
tubes wet, a most efficient condensation by surface evaporation is obtained; so that
practically the whole of the steam will be condensed and only water and uncon-
densible gases will be withdrawn through the exhaust pipe D¹.
The air blast laden with watery vapor resulting from the evaporation, escapes
through the flue A³, and if desired the distilled water thus produced can be condensed
in any suitable manner for use.
The partition plates A¹ are, by preference, made to turn on hinges and are held
in position by suitable catches, as shewn at Figure 2, so that when required they

page_text: can be opened in order to give access to the groups of pipes for clearing them of
any deposit.
Instead of providing separate water supplies for the two receptacles G G¹, only
the lower one need be so supplied and upon the upper side of this may be fixed
tubes sloping slightly outwards as indicated at G, Figure 1, communicating with
the upper vessel, so that the centrifugal action will cause the requisite supply of
water to be forced up into the upper receptacle through the tubes G. Or the
upper receptacle may in this case be entirely dispensed with, and the water be
thrown direct from the tubes G³ over the upper set of condensing tubes.
The excess of water flowing down from the condensing tubes is collected in the
bottom of the casing A, and is led back to the supply tank if necessary.
Or the surplus water may be collected in a circular trough A, from which it may
be scooped up by tubes G G passing down respectively from the receptacles G.G¹,
the water being made to rise through these tubes by centrifugal action, and thus all
raising by means of pumps or screw blades be avoided.
The boxes C C of the two groups of tubes are provided on the outsides with
removeable covers C2, for gaining access to the interior of the tubes BB¹.
Figure 4 shews a vertical section of an arrangement similar to the foregoing, the
main difference being that in place of using the water. vessels G, the water to be
supplied to the condensing tubes is fed into an annular trough K at the bottom of
the casing as shewn on the left hand side, from which it is drawn by a conical shell L
provided with internal ribs, carried by arms from the fan shaft F, and having a
number of tubes L' inclined slightly outwards and also in a helical direction, which
tubes have their discharge orifices at different heights, so that by the rapid rotation
of the shell L the centrifugal force drives the water up its sides and through the
tubes on to the condensing tubes. Or instead of the shell L may be used an
annular trough as at L' on the right hand side, into which the water is supplied
from the bottom of the casing, as also by a spout from the partition A.
Instead of arranging the fan so as only to take in air at the lower side as described,
it may be formed with an inlet opening also on the upper side, to which air would
be supplied by a pipe passing centrally down the discharge flue A³.
There may also be provided two or more fans for supplying the necessary air
blast, as shewn in the vertical section at Figure 5. In this arrangement there is a
double fan E taking its supply from below, through a central opening A* of the
casing, and propelling the same through the lower portion of the condensing tubes B,
(not shewn in this figure) while an upper fan E' receives its air supply from above
and propels it through the upper portion of the tubes. For the supply of water to
the tubes, a turbine-shaped vessel G with discharge openings G₁ shewn in plan at
Figure 6 is supplied with water by an Archimedian screw I fixed on the fan shaft,
and revolving. in cylindrical casing J, the bottom of which receives the water
through hollow arms A' from the part A of the casing, so that the excess of water
falling down from the condensing tubes is conveyed up to the vessel G again by the
screw I together with the further quantity required to make good the loss by
evaporation, this being introduced into the bottom of the casing.
The part A of the casing, the hollow arms A, and the cylindrical casing J,
which_are_shewn in plan.at-Figure-7,-are-conveniently all formed in two castings
bolted together. The vessel G, fixed to the shaft F serves as attachment to the
fans E and E. A' is the pipe for supplying the air to the upper fan Ę.
Figures 8 and 9 shew a vertical section and sectional plan of an arrangement
similar to the foregoing, but in which there is combined with the evaporative
surface condenser an ordinary surface condenser through which the steam is first
passed before entering the evaporative surface condenser. For this purpose there
is formed below the casing A an annular vessel M divided by a vertical partition
into two chambers and by horizontal partitions into three compartments. The
middle compartment communicates with the bottom of the casing A by tubes or
passages N, so that the water flows from the casing A through such tubes or
passages into the middle compartment whence it is supplied through the branches M¹

page_text: to the casing J of the screw 1.
The upper and lower compartments of M are con-
nected by tubes or passages N¹ in close proximity to the passages N, the bottom
compartment being connected on the right hand side to the supply of steam to be
condensed and on the left hand side with the exhaust. The top compartment
communicates on the right hand side by a pipe O with the box C to which the
condensing tubes B are connected and on the left hand side by a pipe O¹ with
the box with which the condensing tubes communicate on the opposite side.
Thus with this arrangement, the steam to be condensed enters the right hand
bottom compartment, rises through the tubes N¹ into the upper compartment, being
cooled by the water descending through the tubes or passages N, and is then led
by the pipe O into the evaporative surface condenser; any steam remaining
uncondensed, together with the water of condensation, flows off from the box C² on
the opposite side, through pipe O' into the upper compartment of M, thence through
the tubes N¹ into the bottom compartiment, being further subjected to the con-
densing and cooling action of the water flowing through the pipes N, and is finally
drawn off to the exhaust.
The fans and water supply to the evaporative surface condenser are similar in
arrangement to the previously described construction. A' is the tube in the
discharge flue for supplying the top fan E¹ with air.
The tubes or passages N N¹ may be arranged in a variety of ways for providing
alternate water and steam passages side by side; thus they may be concentric
passages of zigzag or other form, as indicated on the right hand side of Fig. 9, or
they may be separate tubular passages, formed by fixing angular or otherwise
corrugated sheet metal together as shewn on the left hand side of Fig. 9; or they
may be separate concentric tubes, as in ordinary surface condensers.
Fig. 10 shews a part vertical section, and Fig. 11 a part plan of a modification
in which the condensing tubes B are differently arranged, being formed into separate
groups communicating at C with a box for the inlet of steam and at C' with a box
for the discharge. The air is drawn in through the lower groups by the fan E, as
in the first arrangement, and is propelled through the upper group to the discharge
flue A. The water is supplied by vessels Gas before. In the modification shewn
in part vertical section and part plan at Figs. 12 and 13, the condensing tubes B
are made of a Ushape, the ends being connected respectively to the supply boxes C
and the exhaust boxes C. In this case the fan E draws the air from below the
lower tier of tubes, and propels it through both tiers to the central discharge
flue A'.
Figs. 14 and 15 shew respectively a part vertical section and part plan of a
modification in which the U shaped tubes B are arranged with their limbs placed
vertically, and in which, in place of a fan with centrifugal action, a fan E with
helical blades is employed, for propelling the air in the axial line, the periphery of.
the fan being enclosed by a ring fixed to the partition A'.
It will be readily understood that the above described arrangements might be
modified by causing the, steam or vapour to be condensed to flow in contact with
the outer surfaces of the pipes while the water and air blast are made to flow in
contact with the interior surfaces thereof. Fig. 16 shews a diagram plan of such
an arrangement, in which A A A A are closed chambers connected at B with the
steam supply branches C, and having tubes D passing through them, while at E
they communicate with the exhaust.
The centrifugal apparatus for distributing the water and air being situated at F,
the water and air are propelled through the tubes D, while the steam to be con-
densed circulates through the casing A in contact with the outer surfaces of the
tubes, suitable baffle plates G being provided to insure equal distribution.
The chambers are preferably placed so that the tubes are in an inclined position,
so that the water will flow down them, and there may be two sets of chambers
arranged as shewn at Fig. 17, the upper set A being inclined towards the fans and
water supply, and receiving the water from troughs H supplied by the centrifugal

page_text: jets L while the lower ones A' are inclined away from the fans, and receive their
supply directly from the jets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for condensing vapours, the combination of a fan for producing'
air blast, sets of pipes arranged round such fun, and a supply of liquid made to flow
with the air blast in contact with the one surface of such pipes while the steam or
vapour to be condensed is made to flov in contact with the other surface thereof,
substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for simultaneously condensing vapours and evaporating liquids,
the combination of a set or sets of pipes through which the vapour to be condensed.
is made to flow, a vertical revolving shaft carrying a fan or fans situated centrally
within the set or sets of tubes for propelling currents of air in contact with the
pipes and a vessel or vessels carried by the said shaft which is or are supplied with
water or other liquid to be evaporated and from which the water is propelled on'
to the said tubes by centrifugal force substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for condensing vapours the combination of a set or sets of pipes"
through which the vapour to be condensed is made to flow, a vertical revolving shaft
carrying a fan or fans situated centrally within the set or sets of tubes for pro-
pelling currents of air in contact with the pipes, a vessel or vessels carried by the
said shaft which is or are charged with water or other liquid to be evaporated,
and which carries a number of rising pipes through which the water is propelled by
centrifugal force, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus for simultaneously condensing vapours and evaporating liquids;
the combination of a set or sets of pipes through which the vapour to be condensed
is made to flow, a revolving shaft carrying a fan or fans centrally within the set or
sets of pipes for propelling air in contact with the pipes, means for distributing
water over the outer surfaces of the pipes, and a surface condenser situated below
the said apparatus through which the steam is made to pass before entering the
before mentioned pipes, such surface condenser being supplied with water from the
upper condensing apparatus, substantially as herein described.
5. In apparatus for condensing steam and other vapours the combination of groups
of pipes B B connected to boxes C_C₁ for the supply of steam and for the exhaust,
a fan or fans E on a vertical shaft F, vessels G G on shaft F supplied with water
by suitable conduits and serving to distribute the water over the pipes B B
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 of the drawings.
6. In apparatus for condensing steam and other vapour such as is referred to in
the preceding claim, the use of pipes such as G* G* G* Fig. 1 or such as L L'
Fig. 4, revolving with the fan shaft F and effecting the raising of the water_from
vessels A³ Fig. 1 or L, L'; Fig. 4 and the supply thereof to the tubes B B' by'
centrifugal action, substantially as described.
7. The construction of evaporative surface condenser and of tubular surface.
condenser, combined and operating as herein described with reference to Figs..8
and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The several modified constructions of the evaporative surface condensers
referred to in the preceding claims such as are hercin described with reference to
Figs. 10 to 17 of the drawings.
Dated this 20th Aave of December 1800
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.