Improvements in Condensers for Marine and other Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Condensers for Marine and other Engines.
I, JOHN HENRY SMILES, of Piper Street, Corner White Street, Leichhardt,
Sydney, New South Wales, Engineer, and now of 51, Approach Road, Victoria
Park, London, E., 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:-
The object of the invention is to keep the feed water pure, by preventing salt
circulating water from mixing with it, through leaky tubes or joints.
To attain this the condenser is so constructed that a vacuum can be formed on
the outside and inside of the tubes. The purest possible vacuum-say fifteen
pounds is formed on the circulating or salt water side of the tubes, while twelve
pounds is carried on the steam or vapour side.
The circulating water is so carried in the condenser, as to reduce the pressure of
the column of water in the tubes to the smallest desired amount-three or four
ounces--thus causing the difference of pressure on the opposite sides of the tubes to
be about two and three quarter pounds, the result being that in the case of leaky
tubes, the vapour in the condenser would leak into the circulating water, and the
The amount
loss be very slight, because of the high specific volume of steam.
of leakage could be regulated at will, by decreasing the back pressure as a vapour
pressure, or as an atmospheric pressure. As a vapour pressure it could be regu-
lated by a more or less injection, and as an atmospheric pressure it would be con-
trolled by an adjustable graduated spring valve, which would open and admit
air to the condenser when the vacuum exceeded that which the valve was set to.
Refering to the drawings merely by way of illustration. The condenser is con-
structed with the tubes K passing in horizontal layers through a tube plate J,
at each end of a cylinder or chest Q, these layers are formed into sections or
groups, by horizontal and vertical partitions S, forming chambers D and A¹ one
above the other, each section having a separate injection, and separate and free
escape, thus forming a group of shallow condensers in one chest. The par-
titions S are formed in the ends or doors A and R of the chest Q.
These section chambers D on the injection end are each connected by a vertical
main injection passage C, communicating with each section by means of gradu-
ated ports, or an adjustable injection valve E for each section. When running
the top valve will be full open, except when the whole power of the injection is
required to wash out any section of the tubes K. These valves E are to regulate
the ports in accordance with the pressure of the column of water, in order to
equalize the supply to each section K.
The section chambers A' in the opposite or return end door R of the condenser
are provided with a central vertical return partition C¹, open at one side and
closed at the other, this is to ensure the 'tubes being full of water when the vessel
is rolling.
The circulating water flows out of the tubes to one side of the condenser, round
the end of the partition C, back to the opposite side and thence along inclined
return passages or pipes L-carried above each other on the side of the con-

page_text: denser and into an empty down passage P, formed down the side of the
condenser end or door A, or in the centre when the condenser is duplicated in
one chest. The bottom of the pipes L connected with the empty down passage P
is a little above the top of the section of tubes K with which they are respectively
connected, in order that each section may be always full. The object of these
pipes L is to retain the water in the tubes K when the vessel is pitching, and at
the same time allow a free flow into the empty down passage P, and balance the
fluid in the condenser any way it may be canted.
Instead of the return pipes L being inclined they may be modified as
follows:-
First By being fitted horizontally, the bottoms of the pipes being parallel
and level with the top of the top row of tubes of the sections they are respectively
connected with, the passages in the condenser end door R being inclined upwards
to suit.
SecondFig. 7. The return may be a group of tubes parallel with the
sections with which they are connected, and discharge into and over a sill, which
is formed in a chamber of the condenser end or door A, for the purpose of keep-
ing the sections full, the sill E being as high as the top row of tubes in the
section L.
Third-Or it may be one single tube discharging into and over a sill in a
similar manner.
In order to maintain a good vacuum the vapour arising from the circulating
water in the empty down passage P, will be condensed by the cold surface of
the injection uptake B, by means of a port O connecting the uptake with the
highest part of the empty down passage P. This surface may consist of a single
pipe, or a multiply of vertical pipes or tubes-carried within a chamber fornied
on the outside of the condenser end or door A-through which the injection
water passes before it enters the injection valve box C or passage to pass into
the condenser. This condensation may be drawn off by a separate vapour pump
for fresh water requirements. Fig. 8, the exhaust steam may enter the con-
denser at the top or the bottom, at N, and caused to circulate first among the
return pipes or tubes L by a central U shaped partition chamber 1) extending
the length of the condenser, closed at the top and open at the bottom or vice
versa. If closed at the bottom drain holes will be formed therein. The exhaust
steam will enter at the closed end of the chamber D at N. When the condenser
is large it will be constructed in duplicate form, but in one chest, the return
pipes or tubes L being carried along the centre of the chest and discharging into
a single central empty down passage P, the injection motor being duplicated to
suit. In order to test the heat of each section, closed ended tubes T are fitted
through the condenser door R, to contain water, which will receive the heat of
the circulating water, into which a thermometer may be inserted'.
Sheet 2 Fig. 10. In the before described arrangement cach section takes a
separate portion of the injection water, in order to reduce the circulating friction,
but the principles of the invention can be carried out by causing the whole of
the circulating water to flow through the same tubes, by means of a number of
return layers L and K and intervening sills E, each layer taking the fluid
pressure equal to the height of its sill, thus producing in effect a long inclined
stream dammed to a number of different levels of uniform depth. In this modi-
fication the water flows in at one end of the top layer, through ports E and out
over a sill into a chamber connecting to the next layer below it, it then
returns and flows over a sill at the end of the second layer, and into the chamber
of the third, and so on for any number of layers, the last layer flowing into the
empty down passage P. The height of the sills is equal to the height of the
layers of tubes. The chambers and sills are formed in and on the condenser
end or door A and R.
The layers are divided by vertical partitions S into a number of sections, the
chambers A' and sills E' being formed between each partition S. These partitions

page_text: provide for the equal distribution of the circulating water, and prevent too great
à head of water being formed on the lowest side of each layer of tubes through
the rolling of the ship.
The injection uptake B is connected by a suitable port O, to the empty down
passage as before described.
In this modification the exhaust steam may enter at the bottom of the con-
denser at N. Water gauges may be fitted to the bottom of the empty down
passage P.
In order to quickly form a vacuum when starting the condenser, it may be
suitably connected to the main air pump, and fitted with a non-return valve,
or the fresh water vapour pump may be of sufficient capacity for that purpose.
The empty down passage P is connected to an ejection pump V, which is com-
bined with a water pressure motor Y, it may be a combination of a rotary drum
pump and a rotary water motor, forming one machine, separated by a cross
division-the area of the pump being the largest and each having separate
connections. The pump is to eject the circulating water out of the condenser
and form a vacuum, and the water motor is to measure or regulate the water into
the condenser and balance the pressure against the ejection pump, thus balancing
the two heads and counterbalancing the pressure on the pump bearings.
The before mentioned injection valves E on the condenser would be regulated
so as to cause the least possible back pressure against the motor Y.
The motive power is supplied by an engine or its equivalent.
The pump has a larger capacity than the motor in order to keep the down
passage empty, the proportions being in accordance with the amount of leakage
allowed for.
The motor is connected to the sea on the inlet X, and on the outlet to the
before mentioned injection uptake, B, through the valve chamber C, and thence
to the chamber connecting the sections of tubes K.
The ejection pump V is connected on the suction side to the before mentioned
empty down passage P, and on the ejection side to the discharge valve.
Fig. 16 to 20. Although I have described the condenser as connected with a
rotary pump, the same results can be attained by reciprocating pumps, which
may be direct double-acting duplex, or single acting pumps.
In the case of a
double acting duplex a motor or balancing cylinder Y will be connected to each
pump V.
The balancing cylinder fluid valve may be a piston valve. The pump valves
are the usual lift valves, or may be worked by a similar valve to that of the
balancing piston, and operated by the same motion as the steam cylinder valves.
In a single acting pump with one piston, the end of the cylinder which the
piston rod passes through would form the injection or balancing cylinder, the
opposite end the pump or ejection end which has a larger area than the injection
end, the difference being determined by the size of the rod. In this pump each
end of the piston is simultaneously connected either to a vacuum or to the atmos-
phere.
In the double acting pump and balancing cylinder, the outer end of each
piston is open to the atmosphere, the inner end of each is connected to the
vacuum, and rice versa, in this way the pistons balance each other, being attached
to the same rod. The area of the pump piston is larger than that of the balanc-
ing piston, the proportions being sufficient to prevent the fluid passing through
the balancing cylinder Y, exceeding the delivery of the pump V, in order to keep
the down passage empty. When the pump is worked by the main engine the fluid
valve of the injection end would be controlled by an eccentric or other suitable
motion. In this modification the injection end Y should be fitted with an
enclosed pressure release valve connecting with the supply. When this form of
pump and motor is applied to jet condensers, the injection will take the form
of a falling shower, instead of a jet, so avoiding back pressure on the motor. For

page_text: economy in space the jointing faces of the partitions on the condenser door could
be made zig-zag to follow the path of the spaces of the tubes.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1. Figure 1, end elevation of injection and discharge end of duplicated
condenser, showing part of door A removed. Figure 2 inside view of injection
and discharge end door A, combined with the uptake or vapour condenser, B,
showing jointing face of partitions S. Figure 3 side sectional elevation of con-
denser with rotary pump V, and motor Y attached. Figure 4 elevation of return
end of condenser, showing half door R section. Figure inside view of return
end door R. Figure 6 top plan and half section of condenser. Figure 7 modi-
fication showing the return pipes L as a group of tubes flowing into and over a
sill E. Figure 8 plan of exhaust steam circulation.
Sheet 2. Modification showing all the circulating water flowing through the
same tubes. Figure 9 end elevation of injection and discharge end of condenser,
showing part of door A removed and connected to a rotary pump V which is
between and combined with a duplicated rotary injection motor Y. Figure 10
side sectional elevation of condenser with end elevation of motor Y and part
section of pump V. Figure 11 inside view of return end door R. Figure 12 top
plan of condenser shown with half of the uptake B cover G off. Figure 13 inside
view of injection and discharge end door A combined with the uptake or vapour
condenser B, showing jointing face of partitions S. Figure 14 section through
return end door R, modified, and showing combination of converging chambers
and sills E, to ensure a uniform circulation through the sections of tubes.
Figure 15 inside face view of modified return end door R, showing central out-
flow. Figure 16 sectional elevation of double acting motor Y and ejection
pump V. Figure 17 sectional elevation of single acting motor Y and ejection
pumps in one cylinder V. Figure 18 end elevation and half cross section of
pump and motor, which may illustrate either double or single acting. Figure 19
external view of Figure 16 showing connections. Figure 20 external view of
Figure 17 showing connections. A the door which embodies B the uptake,
C injection passage, D injection chambers, E injection port or valve orifice;
Finjection valve spindles, G cover connecting uptake B with injection passage C,
H injection end connecting cover to uptake B, and I connection to vapour pump.
J tube plate. K layers of tubes. L return pipes. Mejection passage. N exhaust
steam induction passage to condenser Q. O circulating water vapour port to
uptake B. P down passage. R return end door. S central partition. T tubes
for inserting thermometer. U air pump connection. V pump. V pump inlet.
W pump discharge. X motor supply. Y motor. Z injection to condenser from
motor. A return chamber. B' inclined partitions. C vertical partitions.
central shaped partition chamber. E outflow sill. The feathered arrows
denote vapour.
J)₁
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. So carrying and circulating the water in the tubes or cooling surface of
surface condensers, that there shall be less pressure on the circulating side than
on the condensing side, in order that when a leak occurs, the vapour or condensed
steam will flow into the circulating water, substantially and for the purpose
herein described and shown in the drawings.
2. Surface condensers having an empty passage or chamber-that is a passage
or chamber voided of atmospheric pressure-which constitutes a vacant space,
and provides for two essentials, a free flow of water out of, the tubes, and the
liberation of the vapours, which are condensed as they arise from it, in order to
maintain the necessary vacuum, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described and shown in the drawings.

page_text: 3. So constructing condensers with a free flow into an empty space or vacuum,
as to retain the water in the main portion of the tubes or cooling surface of the
condenser when the vessel is pitching or rolling, substantially as and for the
purpose herein described and shown in the drawings.
4. A combination of water motor and pump, for the purpose of injecting and
ejecting water into and out of surface or jet condensers in which a vacuum is
formed, the motor is to regulate the injection, and utilize the injection head and
atmospheric pressure, in such a way, as to counteract the head and atmospheric
pressure against the ejection pump, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described and shown in the drawings.
D
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