IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR ARRESTING AND UTILIZING THE WASTE HEAT THEREOF
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, GEORGE FLINT ORANGE of Trevarrick in the Parish of Saint Austell in the.
County of Cornwall Mineral Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR ARRESTING AND UTILIZING THE WASTE HEAT
THEREOF, to be as follows :—
This Invention has for its object improved Apparatus for arresting and
economiseing the heat produced by the combustion of fuel in Furnaces.
The arrangement that I adopt as hereafter described is applicable to furnaces of
various kinds. For heating purposes generally as distinguished from the application
of heat to boilers for generating steam, to which this Invention is also applicable
I prefer furnaces of a circular form, but do not restrict myself to any particular
shape.
I build a furnace of any required size having a fire-place fire bars and ashpit
provided with suitable ventilators for the admission of air.
The enclosing walls of the fire-place are of the required height to contain the
fuel placed upon the bars, and at suitable distances apart I carry up these walls so
as to form piers or pillars adequate to support a superincumbent weight.
Between these piers are open spaces through which the flame and heated gases
arising from the combustion of the fuel may freely pass into the flue. Upon
the piers and connecting the same over the fire I lay a metallic plate or construct
an arch of fire brick to receive the impact of the flame upward. Upon such plate
or arch I place an air cylinder or other receptacle of largo capacity of metal or
other material adapted to absorb and transmit heat. At one end of such cylinder
or other vessel an opening is provided for an inlet pipe to admit air, and at the
other end a corresponding opening for an outlet pipe or service of pipes to act as
an inner flue to convey the air when heated and also to exclude smoke, and the
whole of these including the cylinder are enclosed within the main flue leading
from the furnace to the stack.
For drying and evaporating purposes generally I attach to this service of pipes
and cylinder a blast fan or other air-injector driven by power to force a current of
air through them direct to a drying or evaporating chamber. At the entrance to
this chamber, or other convenient point, I bring the pipes or inner flue out of the
main flue thereby leaving the mouth of the inner flue open in order that the blast
of air that has been heated in its passage through the pipes and cylinder may be
conducted to the place where the heat is to be utilized,

page_text: For the better retention and use of the heat generated by the combustion of the
fuel I cause that part of the circular or other main flue adjacent to the furnace to
be constructed of dimensions considerably larger than would be required merely for
carrying off the gaseous products of the furnace and creating draught. I expand
this flue if required to the dimensions of a chamber.
This enlarged area of flue or chamber I use by placing within the same an
adequate number of fire-blocks or slabs which may be of any convenient size or
shape. These I build hollow so as to obtain a large extent of absorbing and
radiating surface and dispose in such manner as to avoid obstructing the general
current or draught of flame and heated air coming from the fire and to allow free
course for such flame and heated air to play through and amongst such fire slabs or
blocks by which means they become intensely heated.
In order to render such blocks or slabs more effective as absorbers and trans-
mitters of hent I employ in their construction a combination of metallic and earthy
substances such as metallic ores refuse iron or other metal and other like com-
ponents of convenient form and size and mix with such metallic substances in such
proportions as to secure cohesion when dried other mineral and earthy material as
fire-clay mica asbestos and other fire-resisting mineral so as to impart to the blocks
or slabs greater absorbing transmitting and enduring power when acted upon by
the flame and heated gases coming from the fuel.
By causing such flame and heated gases to pass over the extended surfaces and
through and amongst the collective body of these terro-metallic blocks and slabs
when so compounded and disposed within the flue or chamber of the furnace the
usual excessive and wasteful velocity of draught is checked and regulated and they
become stores or reservoirs of heat. By the continued action of the fire and their
semi-metallic character, the blocks or slabs progressively accumulate heat which they
rapidly transmit to the cylinder and its connections thereby greatly increasing the
temperature of the blast of hot air that is driven through them.
When this Invention is applied to the production of steam, special adaptations of
the blocks or slabs are made according to the various kinds of steam boilers. in use.
The object of the application is by a particular arrangement of vertical or other
flues and of material employed in their construction largely to increase the area of
the heat absorbing and radiating surfaces of the flues and the transmission of the
heat to the plates within the available limits of the boiler.
Whether this arrangement of apparatus be employed for drying or for raising
steam after the Furnace, has been worked for a limited time upon the principle
herein described and the stores of heat contained in the blocks or slabs have
accumulated and increased in temperature the quantity of fuel supplied to the
furnace may be considerably diminished and the drying evaporating or heating
process be still continued in full efficiency thereby greatly reducing the quantity
and cost of the fuel required as compared with furnaces of the ordinary
construction.
Dated this tenth dex of Inne TORA

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I GEORGE FLINT ORANGE of Trevarrick in the parish of Saint Austell in the
County of Cornwall Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR ARRESTING AND UTILIZING THE WASTE HEAT
THEREOF 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 for its object improved Apparatus for arresting and
economising the heat produced by the combustion of fuel in Furnaces.
The arrangement that I adopt as hereafter described is applicable to furnaces
of various kinds. For heating purposes generally as distinguished from the appli-
cation of heat to boilers for producing steam, to which this Invention is also
adapted, I prefer furnaces of a circular form, but do not restrict myself to any
particular shape. I build a Furnace of any required size having a fire-place, fire-
bars, and ash-pit, with suitable ventilators for the admission of air. The enclosing
walls of the fire-place are of the required height to contain the fuel. placed upon
the bars, and at suitable distances apart I carry up these walls so as to form piers
or pillars adequate to support a superincumbent weight. Between these piers are
open spaces through which the flame and heated gases arising from the combustion
of the fuel may freely pass into the flue. Upon the piers and connecting the same
over the fire I lay a metallic plate, or construct an arch of fire brick, to receive
the impact of the flame upward. Upon such plate or arch I place an air cylinder
or other receptacle of large capacity, of metal or other material, adapted to absorb
and transmit heat. At one end of such cylinder or other vessel an opening is
provided for an inlet pipe to admit air, and at the other end a corresponding
opening for an outlet pipe, or service of pipes, to act as an inner flue to convey the
air when heated, and also to exclude smoke; and the whole of these, including the
Cylinder or other vessel, are enclosed within the main flue leading from the furnace
to the Stack.
When the furnace is to be used for drying, heating, or evaporating purposes,
I attach to this service of pipes and cylinder, or other vessel, a blast fan or other
air injector driven by power to force a current of air through them into a drying or
evaporating chamber. At the entrance to this chamber, or other convenient point,
I bring the pipes or inner flue out of the main flue, thereby leaving the mouth
of the inner flue open, in order that the blast of air that has been heated in its
passage through the pipes and cylinder may be conducted to the place where the
heat is to be utilized-the main flue being led to the stack.
For the better retention and use of the heat generated by the combustion of the
fuel, I cause that part of the circular or other main fue adjacent to the furnace to
be constructed of dimensions considerably larger than would be required merely
for carrying off the gaseous products of the furnace and creating draught-
I expand this flue if required to the dimensions of a chamber.
This enlarged area of flue or chamber I utilize by placing within the same an
adequate number of fire-blocks or slabs, which may be of any convenient size or

page_text: shape. These I build hollow so as to obtain a large extent of absorbing and
radiating surface, and dispose in such manner as to avoid obstructing the general
current or draught of flame and heated air coming from the fire, and to allow free
course for such flame and heated air to play through and amongst such fire-slabs
or blocks; by which means they become intensely heated.
In order to render such blocks or slabs more effective as absorbers and conveyors
of heat, I employ in their construction a combination of metallic and earthy sub-
stances such as metallic ores, refuse-iron, copper, or other metal, and other like
components of convenient form and size, and mix with such metallic substances in
such proportions as to secure cohesion and endurance when dried, other mineral and
earthy materials as fire clay; mica; asbestos, and other fire-resisting minerals, so as
to impart to the blocks or slabs great absorbing, transmitting, and enduring power
when acted upon by the flame and heated gases coming from the fuel.
The amount of heat given out during the process of combustion of coal or other
fuel in furnaces of the ordinary construction beyond the proportion that it is
possible to utilize,--in consequence of the great and uncontrolled velocity with
which the beat-giving products escape through the flues into the stack,-is very
considerable; involving the loss of a large proportion of the fuel employed.
The object of this Invention is to obviate such loss.
By causing the flame and heated gases to pass over the extensive surfaces, and
through and amongst the collective body of these terro-metallic blocks or slabs
when so compounded and disposed within the flue or chamber of the furnace, such
excessive and wasteful velocity of draught is checked and regulated; and as
a consequence of their absorbent character, they become stores or reservoirs of
heat.
Their special function is that of governors or controllers of the heat supply;
absorbing and storeing it when at its highest temperature; that is when the fuel
is in most active combustion, and giving it out again when the temperature of the
furnace declines, thereby maintaining a great uniformity of heat throughout the
whole period of working. The escaping gases are also by this arrangement divested
of their surplus heat which is arrested by and stored in the blocks or slabs, and
may be thus reduced to the lowest point of temperature compatible with effective
draught.
By the continued action of the fire the blocks or slabs steadily accumulate heat,
which they rapidly transmit to the Cylinder and its connections, thereby raising
to a very high and uniform temperature the blast of hot air that is driven through
them.
When this Invention is applied to the production of steam, supporting walls,
suited to the size and shape of the boiler to be employed, are built in connection
with the furnace and are carried up to such height as may be determined, and upon
these the boiler rests in the usual way. But in lieu of the ordinary longitudinal
flues, those I employ are built directly under and transversely to the boiler, and
within the sustaining walls, which they connect. Doors are provided at suitable
distances in these walls to give access to the flues when required. The vertical
transverse walls of these flues are constructed of the semi-metallic blocks,
and are placed at distances as near to each other as is compatible with the
maintenance of draught and other practical requirements. This series of walls
are built with semi-circular spaces or arches through them at top and bottom
alternately in order to provide adequate passage for the draught, one wall
being built to fit close up to, and to correspond with the curve of the boiler,
'and forming a stop wall above, with an arch through it at the foot; and the next
wall having a concave space between it and the boiler bottom, concentric with the
curve of the boiler, forming an inverted arch above and a stop wall below;-the
spaces between wall and wall forming a continuous series of vertical flues, and
finally leading into the stack.
These flues extend throughout the entire length of the boiler, and being placed
vertically to the boiler, and acting upon its whole lower semi-circumference; they

page_text: give an aggregate effective heating surface greatly exceeding that of the longitudinal
Hlues in ordinary use.
In any case where it may be found requisite, a languid draught through these
flues may be accelerated, as described in the drying process, by useing a fan either
5 to force or exhaust the draught, or, if too active, may be retarded by a damper in
the usual way.
In consequence of the controlling and regulating power exercised by the blocks
of which these walls are composed, they give out to the boiler plates above them
an uniformity of heat highly favorable to the production of steam of unvarying
pressure.
When through prolonged use the blocks become unfit for further service they
may be renewed at a cost but slightly in advance of ordinary fire slabs.
Whether this arrangement of apparatus be employed for Drying, or for producing
steam; after the Furnace has been worked for a limited time upon the principle
3 herein described, and the amount of heat stored in the blocks or slabs has
accumulated and increased in temperature;-the quantity of fuel supplied to the
Furnace may, for a period, be considerably diminished, and the drying, evaporating,
or steam producing process be still continued in full efficiency; thereby greatly
reducing the quantity and cost of the fuel required as compared with Furnaces of
> the ordinary construction.
The figures in the accompanying Drawings will illustrate the foregoing
description.
Fig. 1. is a ground plan of a circular furnace for general heating purposes
containing an air cylinder and pipes for heating a current of air propelled through
them and also a number of the fire-blocks or slabs for absorbing and economising
the heat.
a. a. represent the bounding walls of fire-place ;-b. b. b. the fire bars and dead-
plate; c. c. c. the piers to carry cylinder ;-d. d. open spaces communicating with
Alue-E plate or arch connecting the piers, and position of air cylinder; f inlet
pipeg, outlet pipe;-h. h. part of enlarged flue or chamber; i. i. i fire-blocks or
slabs within the flue;-k. k. k. outer wall of furnaco; l. upper edge of fire-door ;—
m. downcast flue carrying inner flue and connecting with stack.
Fig 2-Elevation of Furnace. In this figure a. a. represent the inlet pipe;
6 the cylinder; c. c. c the outlet pipe from cylinder traversing the downcast, all
the portions of the apparatus internal to the furnace being shewn by dotted lines;
d. d. enlarged flue or chamber;-e. c. c. the downcast portion of the flue carrying
the extension of outlet pipe c. c. from cylinder, such pipe constituting part of
the inner flue; f. f. outer wall of fire-place;-g. plate under cylinder resting upon
piers; h. external fire-door; i ashpit;-.j. outer wall of furnace.
Fig 3. shews Ground Plan of a circular furnace of the same general construction
as Fig 1. but without the inner flue. This may be of a rectangular form if desired.
Here a. a. represent the walls of the fire-place; b. b. b. the fire-bars and dead-plate ;-
c. c. enlarged flue or chamber d. d. d fire-blocks or slabs placed within the same
and corresponding in shape; e upper edge of fire-door; f. f. f. outer wall of furnace ;
g downcast connecting flue or chamber with the first of the series of transverse
flues under boiler for generating steam.
Fig 4. Is an adaptation of the Apparatus for generating steam and shews a
Sectional Elevation of Steam boiler and vertical flues.
Here a. a. represent portions of one of the side walls supporting boiler;-
B longitudinal view of the boiler in position ;-c. c. c. c. c. transverse vertical flues
under boiler; d. d. d. d. d. d. transverse walls under boiler composed of the terro-
metallic slabs with alternate openings in same above and below communicating
with transverse flues; e. e. e. e. e. e. shaded portions of transverse walls representing
position of the alternate openings;-f. f. continuation of last flue connecting with
stack. S.
Fig 5. shews Fig 4 in section. (A) is a section of the boiler; a. a. being the
supporting walls; b face of one of the transverse walls connecting them, and

page_text: composed of the terro-metallic blocks or slabs; c flue, opening in same above to
convey the heated gases from furnace to the adjacent vertical transverse flue o.
Fig. 6 also Fig 4 in section-(B.) This corresponds generally, with Fig 5 and
shewing the alternate opening d at foot of transverse wall for conveying the
heated products into the next adjacent flue c.
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 the combination of apparatus herein described, and the application of the
same to the purposes named ;-That is to say
1.- Furnaces having large and extended flue spaces or heat chambers connected
with them, such flues or chambers containing numerous blocks or slabs compounded
partly of metallic and partly of fire-resisting mineral matter through which the
products of combustion are caused to pass, and by means of which and of the
apparatus herein described, a current of air may be very highly and economically
heated and rendered available and effective for drying, heating, or other purposes.
2. And also, for producing steam in boilers, Furnaces of like construction and
internal arrangement connected with vertical flues built under and transversely to
such boilers, the walls of which flues are composed of fire-blocks or slabs whether
compounded of metallic and mineral substances in combination, or of either substance
separately; having openings through them at top and bottom alternately, and
generally constructed and placed as herein described.
3. Also the application to such last named Furnaces of the apparatus before
named, or any parts or part of the same, and modified as required, for controlling
the draught by forcing or exhausting the air contained in any of the flue spaces, so
that either natural or artificial draught may be employed for the purpose of
conveying the heated gases from the furnace to the boiler plates for generating
steam in boilers, or for any other purpose, substantially in the manner herein
described.