AN IMPROVED SURFACE CONDENSER AND REFRIGERATOR
Year: 1859

page_text: Sealed the 8th November 1859, and dated the 13th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Scott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th May 1859.
I, THOMAS SCOTT, of Rouen, in the Empire of France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SURFACE CONDENSER
AND REFRIGERATOR," to be as follows:-
This condenser or refrigerator consists of a cistern or case divided into com-
partments or sheet spaces by partitions: the condensing water enters the
cistern by the inlet or supply pipe at the bottons, and passes through all the
spaces existing between the partitions.. and escapes by a suitable passage at
the top or opposite side of the cistern or case, or by any opening in such a
position as shall ensure the best effective circulation. The steam or vapour
is introduced through a.continuation of the exhaust pipe by a suitable opening
in an upper chamber, and passes into and down the sheet spaces, and through
and amongst the gratings or heat interceptors placed in the partitions for the
purpose of aiding in abstracting the heat from the. vapour, which, becoming
Price Sd.1

page_text: condensed, falls into the lower chamber, and being collected, is then pumped
out, or escapes by a suitable opening.
The gratings or heat abstracters just referred to inay be composed of tubes
or rods, which may be secured together at suitable distances apart, or held
parallel, or otherwise arranged by means of metallic wires, and these are
inserted to prevent the collapsing or closing of the sheet spaces at the time
when the vacuum is formed.
These partitions or sheet spaces are intended to be formed of sheets of metal
curved, bevilled, or bent over at the ends, and then joined together, so as to
form sheet spaces, extending from the top to the bottom of the cistern or case,
through which the steam, &c., passes; the top and bottom extremities of these
sheet spaces formed by the sheets of metal are maintained in the cistern by
two diaphragms forming ordinary joints between the cistern or condenser case
and the top and bottom chambers, so as to effectually prevent communication
between the condensing water and the vapour to be condensed. The metal
sheets forming the spaces are attached to the diaphragms in the following
manner: The diaphragms are cast or otherwise formed with long slots, taper
and suitably bevilled for the purpose, extending from side to side, or from end
to end, and the metal plates forming the spaces are then soldered to a metallic
plate, also perforated to accord with the greatest width of the slots, and resting
on the diaphragms, the use of these being to support the metallic plates and
maintain the shape of the sheet spaces.
The metallic plates for the sheet spaces or partitions should be of the least
possible thickness, but as they are then so feeble that on the formation of a
vacuum the two sides of the sheet spaces forming the partitions would collapse
and obstruct the passage. to obviate which inconvenience, I have added the
series of tubular or wire rod gratings, which, being moveable or unfixed (being
increly slid in their places), can be taken out at pleasure for the purpose of
cleaning them and the interior surfaces of the sheet spaces. With this dis-
position obtain a condenser offering an immense cooling surface, and the
greatest facilities for cleaning or repairing, and at the same time it is of so
simple a construction as to be made at a small cost. One of the chief ad-
vantages which I obtain by the use of this apparatus as a steam condenser, is in
avoiding the loss of the water from the condensed steam, so that it can be used
again to supply the boiler; the boiler being thus fed with distilled or purified
water, it follows that the frequent purging or blowing off (which is always
necessary when the boiler is fed with water containing salt or calcarious
matter) is unnecessary, and I thus avoid the considerable loss of time and heat
which these frequent purgings or blowing off occasion; it also enables me very

page_text: materially to diminish the dimensions of the air pump, and, consequently, the
surface exposed to the pressure of the atmosphere, which gives a greatly
increased economy both of power required and of the fuel consumed.
My condenser, although designed more particularly for marine engines, is
applicable to land engines.
As a refrigerator, it is of use in distilleries, breweries, and chemical works.
for the condensation of vapours and for the refrigeration of liquids, and is much
superior to the usual spiral refrigerators now in use.
The cistern, as well as the partitions and other parts, can be made of iron,
brass, copper, or any other metal, or in silver or platina when intended for the
condensation of various vapours and chemical products.
The metallic wire described as employed for securing or framing together
the tubes or rods may be covered with varnish or other protecting composition.
Any suitable form of grating or interceptors may be adopted, or metallic tubes
or rods may be used alone, their utility being to prevent the two sides of the
partition or sheet spaces collapsing, whilst they add additional heat abstracting
surface, and also facilitate the cleansing of the interior of the sheet vapour
spaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SCOTT, of Rouen, in the Empire of France, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me; the said Thomas Scott, Her special licence that 1, the said Thomas
Scott, my executors, administrators. and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Scott, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, nse,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SUR.
FACE CONDENSER AND REFRIGERATOR," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Thomas Scott, by an instrument in writing under my hand and

page_text: seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that. I, the said Thomas Scott, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing:-
The economical and ready condensation of steam and other vapours being
governed by very much the same laws as those which govern the economic
and rapid generation of steam, or the vapourization of fluids in close vessels by
the application of heat, the end and aim to be attained in all mechanical
structures or contrivances intended to be employed for either purpose, is the
division or separation into thin layers or bodies, so as to expose a large extent
of surface in proportion to the bulk, that it may be more readily acted upon,
either in the case of the liquid to be vapourized, or the vapour to be condensed
or refrigerated and brought back into its fluid condition by the abstraction of
the heat therefrom. The form or mechanical structure given to such appa-
ratus is mainly determined by convenience in the manufacture, and the
attainment of a combination of simplicity of form, fewness of parts, and
strength or ability to perform the work or duty for which the apparatus is
designed or intended to be employed.
In the generation of steam rapidly. the division of the water spaces and the
introduction of heat through amongst the water, is usually by means of tubes
or thin sheet spaces, and by other similar means adopted with the same object;
these forms and constructions are well known, and multitubular boilers, as
employed in the locomotive engine, are now generally recognized as the most
economical form of boiler for generating steam rapidly at the higher pressures
from fresh water; and in the construction of marine boilers, the tubular and
sheet water space forms have been employed with success. But wherever
long thin sheet water spaces, or heat spaces or flues are employed, the neces-
sity for staying or supporting, by means of sinds or their equivalents has been
resorted to.
In the construction of surface condensers or refrigerators for condensing
steam, preference has generally been given to the employment of numerous
tubes of metal contained within a tight casing or close vessel, because of the
great proportionate strength of such a form to resist internal or external pres-
sure; although experiment has determined that the highest economic results
have been obtained from the exhaustion of steam into and through a surface

page_text: condenser composed of the greatest number of thin layers of steam formed by
alternate spaces, separating by thin metal plates the steam or vapour from the
condensing water, which is caused to circulate through amongst the thin
metallic divisions forming the steam or vapour spaces. But as the removal of
the atmospheric pressure, or the production of a vacuum within the steam or
vapour spaces, renders a certain amount of strength requisite to insure the
permanent character of such an apparatus. this quality is usually obtained
either by the employment of metallic tubes, as before stated, or where cellular
spaces are formed by sheet or plate metal, either extra thickness, or the use of
permanent stays, is resorted to.
.
Now, the object which I have sought to attain, and which, by the present.
Invention. I have attained, is the use of the thinnest slicets of metal
of the highest heat-conducting power in the simplest mechanical form, so
combined as to form a series of thin sheet spaces or passages for the
bringing into contact the steam or vapour to be condensed, or the fluid or
gaseous matter to be refrigerated with the condensing water or other refrige-
rating or cooling body through the medium of thin metallic sheets or plates
forming the cells or sheet spaces. And for the purpose of giving the requisite
support to the extended surfaces of the two thin sheet or plate sides of such
cells or sheet spaces, without the use of permanent or fixed stays, studs. or
ferules. I introduce a novel contrivance consisting of a framework, trellis-
work, or network composed of small tubes or rods interlaced with or com-
bined together with or by means of metallic wires. These frames being easily
removed and replaced, in addition to serving the purpose of keeping the plates
distended, and maintaining the steam or vapour spaces or cells apart and in
proper shape whilst the surface condenser is in action, also enables the interior
surfaces of the steam or vapour spaces, or as they may be designated the heat
surfaces. to be kept clean, or admit of their being readily examined and
cleansed by the withdrawal of the framework, network, or trellis-work, when
the surface condenser or refrigerator is not in use. These gratings, as they
are constructed in the form of framework, network or trellis-work. act also
as heat abstractors, and aid in the object or purpose for which the surface con-
denser or refrigerator is employed.
The novelty and simplicity in the mechanical construction and combination
of parts of surface condensers and refrigerators which by my Invention I have
effected, has enabled me successfully to attain the nearest approach to the
theoretic limits of perfection in the rapid cooling and bringing back into a
liquid form large volumes of steam or vapour by contact with metallic
surfaces kept cold by the circulation of water, or by the system known as

page_text: "surface condensation." in contradistinction to the ordinary system employed
in connection with the condensing steam engine, and known as "injection
condensation."
I now proceed to describe my Invention of an improved surface condenser
and refrigerator, it being premised, that although I have heretofore more par-
ticularly referred to condensers suited for working in connection with the
steam engine, and more particularly for the rapid and economical production
of fresh feed water for marine engine boilers, as being the most important
desideratum in connection with marine steam engineering. yet I wish it to be
understood that I have only so described my Invention in part for the purpose
of avoiding unnecessarily lengthy details which would be involved in describing
the modifications in form which might be necessary to adapt it to each
purpose, whilst the peculiar principle of construction and combination of the
parts, as herein-before in part described, are alike applicable to the conden
sation of other vapours than steam, or the vapour of water, and for the
refrigeration of gaseons as well as liquid or acriform matter. I therefore
now proceed to describe, and shall afterwards refer to a Sheet of Drawings
attached hereunto, of a surface condenser suited for the condensation of the
exhaust steam from a steam engine.
My condenser or refrigerator consists of a cistern or case divided into com-
pariments or sheet spaces by partitions; the condensing water enters the
cistern by the inlet or supply pipe at the bottom, and passes through all the
spaces existing between the partitions, and escapes by a suitable passage at
the top or opposite side of the cistern or case, or by any opening in such a
position as shall ensure the best effective circulation. The steam or vapour
is introduced through a continuation of the exhaust pipe by a suitable opening
in an upper chamber, and passes into and down the sheet spaces, and through
and amongst the gratings or heal interceptors placed in the partitions for the
purpose of aiding in abstracting the heat from the vapour, which becoming
condensed falls into the lower chamber, and being collected is then pumped
out, or escapes by a suitable opening.
The gratings or heat abstractors just referred to, may be composed of
tubes or rods, which may be secured together at suitable distances apart, or
be held parallel or otherwise arranged by means of metallic wires; and these
are inserted to prevent the collapsing or closing of the sheet spaces at the
time when the vacuum is formed. These partitions or sheet spaces are
intended to be formed of sheets of metal, curved, bevilled, or bent over at the
ends, and then joined together so as to form sheet spaces extending from the
top to the bottom of the cistern or case through which the steam, &c., passes;

page_text: the top and bottom extremities of these sheet spaces. formed by the sheets of
metal, are maintained in the cistern by two diaphragms, forming ordinary
joints between the cistern or condenser case and the top and bottom chambers,
so as to effectually prevent communication between the condensing water and
the vapour to be condensed. The metal sheets forming the spaces are
attached to the diaphragms in the following manner:-The diaphragms are
cast or otherwise formed with long slots, tapered and suitably bevilled.
extending from side to side, or from end to end, and the metal plates forming
the spaces are then soldered to a metallic plate. also perforated to accord with
the greatest width of the slots, and resting on the diaphragms: the use of
these being to support the metallic plates, and maintain the shape of the sheet
spaces.
The metallic plates for the sheet spaces or partitions should be of the
least possible thickness; but as they are then so feeble that on the formation
of a vacuum, the two sides of the sheet spaces forming the partitions would
collapse and obstruct the passage: to obviate which inconvenience have
added the series of tubular or wire rod gratings, which being moveable or
unfixed (being merely slid in their places) can be taken out at pleasure for the
purpose of cleaning them and the interior surfaces of the sheet spaces. With
this disposition | obtain a condenser offering an immense cooling surface, and
the greatest facilities for cleaning or repairing, and at the same time it is of
so simple a construction as to be made at a small cost.
One of the chief advantages which obtain by the use of this apparatus
as a steam condenser, is in avoiding the loss of the water from the condensed
steam, so that it can be used again to supply the boiler. The boiler being
thus fed with distilled water, it follows that the frequent purging or blowing
off (which is always necessary when the boiler is fed with water containing
salt or calcareous matter) is unnecessary; and I thus avoid the considerable
loss of time and heat which these frequent purgings or blowing off occasion;
it also enables me very materially to diminish the dimensions of the air pump,
and consequently the surface exposed to the pressure of the atmosphere,
which gives a greatly increased economy both of power required and of the
fuel consumed.
My condenser, although designed more particularly for marine engines,
is applicable to land engines. As a refrigerator, it is of use in distilleries,
breweries, and chemical works for the condensation of vapours, and for the
refrigeration of liquids, and is much superior to the usual spiral refrigerators
now in use.
The cistern, as well as the partitions and other parts, can be made, of iron,

page_text: brass, copper, or any other metal, as in silver or platina, when intended for
the condensation of various acid or other vapours and chemical products.
The metallic wire described as employed for securing or framing together the
tubes or rods may, if thought desirable, be covered with varnish or other
protecting composition. Any suitable form of grating may be adopted, or
metallic tubes or rods may be used alone, their utility being to prevent the
two sides of the partitions or sheet spaces collapsing, whilst they add
additional heat abstracting surface, and also facilitate the cleansing of the
interior of the sheet vapour spaces.
In the accompanying Drawing, I have shown three views of a condenser,
constructed according to my Invention, as intended to be employed for the
condensation of steam after it has done duty in the cylinder or cylinders of a
marine or other steam engine, and have also shown detached parts thereof for
more clearly exhibiting its construction.
Fig. is a side elevation in section; Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of
Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of Fig. 1, taken on the lines Y, Y,
and X, X, the better to show the inlet and discharge openings for the con-
densing water which surrounds the sheet steam spaces; Fig. 4 is a detached
portion of the upper ends of the thin sheet spaces, and shows the moveable
gratings in their places; whilst Fig. 5 is a plan view, showing an arrange-
ment of grating, net or trelliswork formed by a combination of rods and fine
wires; Fig. 6 shows a detached piece or portion of a grating or network
similar to that shown in Figs. 4 & 5. But I should here again observe, that
although solid rods and wires are shown in these several views, I employ
gratings, network, or trelliswork, composed of thin metallic tubes fastened or
bound together by wire, or otherwise attached or framed together irrespective
of the shape or form of the mesh, which may be varied to suit the particular
purpose for which the condenser is designed.
In each of the several Figures the same letters of reference are employed
to distinguish like or corresponding parts. A is the inlet opening for the
admission of steam; B, the case or cistern, which contains the condensing
water, and which also holds or contains the series of thin metallic cells or
steam spaces; C is the opening into which the cold condensing water enters
the cistern, and surrounds the steam spaces; D is the discharge or escape
opening, by which the condensing water, after it has abstracted the heat from
the steam, escapes or passes away; E, E, &c., are the sheet water spaces
between the metallic division plates of the condenser; F, F, &c., are the thin
metallic plates by which the steam or vapour to be condensed is separated
from the water by which it is condensed; G, G, &c., being the steam spaces

page_text: formed as described; H, H, being the rods or tubes; and I, the binding or
connecting wires by which the gratings are formed, the upper ends of the rods
or tubes H, H. of each frame being attached to a horisontal tube or rod G¹.
Kis the top. and L the bottom diaphragm, or metal plates. formed with
long thin slots, over which the thin metallic plates, forming the flat or long
oval tubes or thin sheet spaces are bent and secured in their places. as before
described and on reference to Figs. 1 & 3. it will be seen that the condenser
thus formed may, upon the removal of the top or cover. be withdrawn from
out of the cistern for examination or repair. M is the opening or discharge
way from the bottom or reservoir, in which the condensed steam or fresh
water is collected. and from which it may be pumped out or otherwise
removed.
Having now described my Invention, and illustrated its application to the
condensation of steam from a steam engine by the several views of such an
apparatus in the accompanying Drawing. I wish it to be understood that what
I claim is, the novel mode of constructing surface condensers and refrigerators
with thin sheets of metal in manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Scott, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.
THOMAS SCOTT. (L.S.)