Improvements in Instantaneous Steam Generators.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instantaneous Steam Generators.
I LOUIS EDMOND SOLIGNAC, Director of La Compagnie de la Chaudière
Mixte, of 22 Rue Richer, Paris, France, Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in instantaneous steam generators, by
which is meant a generator in which the water is injected in small quantities at a
time proportionally to the consumption of steam so that the heating surface is
never covered with water and evaporation goes on to dryness so as to superheat
the steam.
To obtain this result it is necessary to separate the vaporizing vessel from the
bulk of the water, either by means of a length of tubing as in ordinary super-
heaters or by automatic check valves isolating the vaporizer during the superheating
and only admitting the water in successive fractional quantities.
It has been found from experience that the first plan was open to the objection
that when the supply of steam to the engine is shut off, the superheater is exposed
to the full beat of the fire without any circulation of steam, since as soon as the
steam valve is closed the steam confined in the superheating vaporizer rising in
temperature and expanding closes the admission valve, the continually increasing
pressure leading to the bursting of the vessel, especially as it soon becomes red hot
in consequence of not being cooled by fresh supplies of water and steam.
The object of the present invention is to obviate the above objection which
exists in all superheaters even when they are not regulating injection valves, by
modifying the apparatus in the manner hereinafter described.
As the water injected should be proportionate to the work to be done by the
boiler, it is indispensable to vary the quantity injected, and for this purpose
I provide upon the pipe by which the steain is conveyed from the dome an injector
connected with the water space of the boiler whereby to afford means of regulating
the hygrometric condition of this steam. The water thus injected should not
however exceed the weight of the water to be evaporated in order that the steam
issuing from the vaporizer may always be dry and not a mixture of water and
steam, this being an indispensable condition for directly utilizing the steam in
ordinary engines even when superheated more or less according to requirements.
To obtain these results I construct what I term a mixed boiler illustrated in
vertical section in the accompanying drawing which has the following distinctive
characteristics. A is a tube or series of tubes forming an instantaneous generator
exposed to the direct heat of the furnace. B is the supply space which may be
arranged as a second heating surface or even be placed outside the furnace at a
higher level than the point at which the steam is introduced into the instantaneous
generator. C is a chamber on the steam pipe D connected by a branch pipe E
with the water space of the boiler vessel B, for introducing water therefrom
for the purpose of moistening the steam. It does not however act as an injector
but as an atomizer of the water passing through E which passes to the generator A
merely by its own gravity. The pipe E is provided with a cock for regulating
the admission of water either by hand or by means of an automatic apparatus
whose action is dependent on the temperature of the steam issuing from the
vaporizer A according to the degree to which the steam is to be superheated. F is

page_text: a valve which cuts off the supply to the generator A when the pressure in the
latter becomes higher than that in the reservoir B. G is another valve acting in
the reverse direction, which on a rise of pressure in generator A allows the steam
to pass therefrom into reservoir B. N is the steam cock controlling the passage of
steam to the engine or other machine. The boiler B is supplied by means of an
injector, pump or other means ordinarily employed.
The action of my improved generator is as follows:-
:-
At starting the boiler B is filled with water to above the level of the branch
pipe E, the valve F being open under the action of gravity and valves G and N
being closed and the water filling the generator A and chamber C by its natural
flow. The fire M being then lighted the water in the passages F, C, E, expands
freely under the action of heat, the boiler B serving, simply as an expansion vessel.
On the pressure rising steam is produced in generator. A which closes valve F,
opens valve G and condenses in boiler B, the pressure in which rises until the
whole of the water contained in generator A is evaporated, the latter thus
becoming an instantaneous steam producer. The discharge of the steam into
reservoir B continues until equilibrium of pressure in B and A is established,
whereupon valve F opens by gravity and under the pressure of the column of
water E, F and admits into generator A a small quantity of water which is
instantaneously vaporized producing a fresh quantity of steam which opens valve G
aud closes valve F, the admission of water being repeated when equilibrium is again
established between the two reservoirs and so on.
The cycle being thus established, the steam valve N can be opened. The
periodical opening and closing of valve F then becomes more frequent, since the
consumption of steam by the engine tends to continually destroy the equilibrium
between the two vessels A and B.
If, in consequence of a sudden stoppage of the engine, or a temporary fall in
the amount of steam consumed, the pressure in A exceeds that in B the excess
pressure passes through valve G into said reservoir B wherein a rise of temperature
and consequently of pressure takes place, the latter being indicated by the pressure
gauge and escaping at the safety valves gives notice that the fire should be
moderated. The flow through cock E is reduced either by hand 'or otherwise,
and the action is the same as that of an ordinary steam generator, but no
change takes place in the equilibrium between the two valves F, G, the one
continuing to regulate the supply and the other the super-production of steam.
.
Instead of clack valves, I may use cocks controlled by pistons whose opposite
faces are open to the pressure of the generator A. and feed reservoir B
respectively, the arrangement being such that the cock which replaces valve F opens
when there is equilibrium of pressure while the cock which takes the place of
valve G.opens when..the pressure in B'is below that in the generator A: Under
these conditions, at the moment the water is introduced the pressure in B is always
higher than that in generator A. at this same moment while the pressure in
generator A. should be greater than that in generator B a few moments before the
introduction of the water through valve F, in order to enable the steam to enter
the reservoir B.
'
It will thus be seen that the production of steam in generator A may be
represented by a wavy curve which approaches the nearer to a straight line the
less the difference between the faces of the valve F and the quicker it beats, with
the result that without having a continuous production of steam we have a steam
generator suited for all kinds of industrial applications.
Dated this 26th day of June 1894

page_text: Improvements in Instantaneous Steam Generators.
I, LOUIS EDMOND SOLIGNAC, Director of La Compagnie de la Chaudière
Mixte, of 22, Rue Richer, Paris, France, 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 relates to improvements in instantaneous steam generators, by
which is meant a flasher into which the water is injected in small quantities at a
time proportionally to the consumption of steam, the water so injected being flashed
at once into steam so that the heating surface of the flasher is never covered with
water and evaporation goes on to dryness so as to superheat the steam.
To obtain this result it is necessary to separate the vapourizing vessel or flasher
from the bulk of the water, either by means of a length of tubing, as in ordinary
superheaters, or by automatic check valves isolating the vapourizer during the
superheating and only admitting the water in successive fractional quantities.
It has been found, from experience, that the first plan was open to the objection
that when the supply of steam to the engine is shut off, the superheater is exposed
to the full heat of the furnace without any circulation of steam, since, as soon
as the steam valve. is closed, the steam confined in the superheating vapourizer
rising in temperature and expanding, closes the admission valve, the continually
increasing pressure leading to the bursting of the vessel, especially as it soon becomes
red hot in consequence of not being cooled by fresh supplies of water and steam.
The object of the present invention is to obviate the above objection which
exists in all superheaters, even when they are not provided with regulating
injection valves, by modifying the apparatus in the manner hereinafter described.
As the water injected should be proportionate to the work to be done, it is
indispensable to vary the quantity injected, and for this purpose I provide upon
the pipe by which the steam is conveyed from the dome an injector connected
with the water space of the feed boiler whereby to afford means of regulating
the hygrometric condition of this steam. The water thus injected should not,
however, exceed the weight of the water to be evaporated in order that the steam
issuing from the vapourizer may always be dry and not a mixture of water and
steam, this being an indispensable condition for directly utilizing the steam in
ordinary engines, even when superheated more or less, according to requirements.
To obtain these results, I construct what I term a mixed boiler, illustrated in
vertical section in the drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification, which
has the following distinctive characteristics. A is a tube, or series of tubes,
forming an instantaneous generator or flasher exposed to the direct heat of the
furnace. B is the supply boiler, which may be arranged as a second heating
surface or even be placed outside the furnace and at a higher level than the
point at which the steam is introduced into the instantaneous generator or flasher.
C is a chamber on the steam pipe D connected by a branch pipe E with the water
space of the feed boiler B, for introducing water therefrom, for the purpose of
moistening the steam. The chamber does not, however, act as an injector but
as an atomizer of the water flowing through E and thence to the generator A
merely by its own gravity. The pipe E is provided with a cock for regulating the
admission of water either by hand or by means of an automatic apparatus whose
action is dependent on the temperature of the steam issuing from the vapourizer A,
according to the degree to which the steam is to be superheated. F is a valve
which cuts off the supply to the generator A when the pressure in the latter
becomes higher than that in the reservoir B. G is another valve acting in the
reverse direction, which on a rise of pressure in generator A allows the steam to
bass therefrom into reservoir B. N is the steam cock controlling the passage of

page_text: steam to the engine or other machine. The feed boiler B is supplied by means of
an injector, pump, or other means ordinarily employed.
The action of my improved generator is as follows:-At starting, the feed
boiler B is filled with water to above the level of the branch pipe E, the valve F
being open under the action of gravity, and valves G and N being closed, and
the water filling the generator A and chamber C by its natural flow. The fire M
being then lighted, the water in the passages F, C, E, expands freely under the
action of heat, the feed boiler B serving simply as an expansion vessel. On the
pressure rising, steam is produced in generator A which closes valve F, opens
valve G, and condenses in boiler B, the pressure in which rises until the whole of
the water contained in generator A is evaporated, the latter then becoming an
instantaneous steam producer or flasher. The discharge of the steam into
reservoir B continues until equilibrium of pressure in B and A is established,
whereupon valve F opens by gravity and under the pressure of the column of
water E, F, and admits into the flasher or generator A, a small quantity of water
which is instantaneously vapourized, producing a fresh quantity of steam which
opens valve G and closes valve F, the admission of water being repeated when
equilibrium is again established between the two reservoirs, and so on.
The cycle being thus established, the steam valve N can be opened. The
periodical opening and closing of valve F then becomes more frequent, since the
consumption of steam by the engine tends to continually destroy the equilibrium
between the two vessels A and B.
If, in consequence of a sudden stoppage of the engine, or a temporary reduction
in the amount of steam consumed, the pressure in A exceeds that in B, the excess
pressure passes through valve G into said reservoir B wherein a rise of temperature,
and consequently of pressure, takes place, the latter being indicated by the
pressure gauge, and escaping at the safety valves gives notice that the fire should
be moderated. The flow through cock E is reduced either by hand or otherwise,
and the action is the same as that of an ordinary steam generator, but no change
takes place in the equilibrium between the two valves F, G, the one continuing to
regulate the supply and the other the super-production of steam.
Instead of clack valves, I may use cocks controlled by pistons whose opposite
faces are open to the pressure of the generator A and feed reservoir B respectively,
the arrangement being such that the cock which replaces valve F opens when there
is equilibrium of pressure, while the cock which takes the place of valve G opens
when the pressure in B is below that in the generator A.
The cock to replace valve F is illustrated in the additional drawing, filed with
this Specification, in which a is a cylinder communicating at its upper part with
reservoir B and at its lower part with the flasher A, and containing a piston b
connected by a link with a lever arm fixed on the plug of a cock c which performs
exactly the same functions as the valve F.
The cock to be substituted for valve G would be similarly operated.
Under these conditions, at the moment the water is introduced, the pressure in B
is always higher than that in generator A at this same moment, while the pressure
in generator A should be greater than that in reservoir B a few moments before
the introduction of the water through valve F, in order to enable the steam to enter
the reservoir B.
It will thus be seen that the production of steam in generator A may be represented
by a wavy curve which approaches the nearer to a straight line the less the
difference between the faces of the valve F and the quicker it beats, with the
result that without having a continuous production of steam, we have a steam
generator suited for all kinds of industrial applications.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion, and in what manuer the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
1. In an instantaneous steam generator, the combination of a flasher producing a

page_text: series of steam emissions in quick succession, a feed boiler placed at a higher level
than the flasher and supplying the same with fluid, in combination with a steam
atomizer so regulated as to introduce into the flasher in the form of spray, a
quantity of water and steam for each admission, substantially as described.
2. An instantaneous steam generator, adapted to atomize water and inject it by
the steam used to atomize it into a flasher in quantities regulated automatically by
the demand, combined with means for supplying water and steam thereto from a
supply boiler, the overflow of steam from the outlet of the generator being
adapted to maintain the equilibrium of pressure and to heat the supply boiler,
and means for automatically opening and closing the steam and overflow valves,
substantially as described.
3. In a steam generator, the combination of a liquid reservoir, a flasher, automatic
means of supplying the flasher with liquid from the reservoir, the same consisting
of a pressure operated valve, an atomizing chamber and steam and water supply
pipes leading thereto and an automatic valve for passing excess of steam from the
flasher to the reservoir, substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of March 1895
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.