Improvements in the Method of and Means for Utilizing the Steam from High Pressure Steam Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Utilizing the Steam
from High Pressure Steam Engines.
I EDWARD JAMES DUFF, of Glengariff, Cressington Park, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, 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:-
It is well known that higher economy of fuel can be obtained by using higher
pressure steam together with higher grades of expansion, and also that still further
economy can be obtained by condensation of the exhaust steam to produce a vacuum
on the exhaust side of the piston or pistons of an engine.
In engines which have to be frequently reversed and which have to exert their
maximum pressure at starting, as in metal rolling reversing engines (for example)
which have to maintain a fairly constant pressure throughout the stroke, high
expansion, compounding, and condensation have been found impracticable, excluding
the use of economical compound and triple expansion condensing or noncondensing
engines. Also in some large works where there are many engines, both large and
small, which are being frequently started and stopped against a load, it has been
found impracticable to use the compound, or the compound condensing system, to
each separate engine, thus excluding the possibility of obtaining the economical
advantage which otherwise could be obtained by the use of higher pressures of
steam with increased ratios of expansion.
My invention has for its object mainly the application of the steam to the various
engines in such a way that compound or triple expansion effects can be obtained
from the steam without the necessity of making each engine in itself a compound
or a triple expansion engine.
For the purposes of my invention 1 propose to raise all, or nearly all, the steam
for the supply of the various engines and processes (if any) in high pressure
boilers; to apply this steam to one or more of the engines at its full pressure, and
to expand it in the cylinders of these engines to a lower pressure and exhaust the
same at probably about half, or less than half, of its original pressure; then to pass
the steam thus reduced in pressure into the steam mains or boilers which supply
another set of engines wherein this already partly used steam will be further
expanded and so on to a third set of engines if required.
The steam exhaust main from the high pressure engines may be connected to the
steam mains leading to the lower pressure boilers and engines, in order that if at
any time there is an insufficiency of low pressure and exhaust steam from the high
pressure engines, this deficiency can be made up by firing the low pressure boilers,
or otherwise, by allowing some or all of the steam from the high pressure boilers to
pass direct into the low pressure steam mains without first passing it through the
high pressure engines.
It will be obvious to any competent engineer that the exact method of carrying
my improved system into practical effect will vary with circumstances, dependent
upon the particular relative location of the separate high and low pressure engines
and their respective boilers in the works to which it is desired to apply my improved
system, but for the sake of illustration I have annexed hereunto a diagram showing
one special application thereof.
A represents the position of the high pressure boiler or boilers and B the high
pressure engine or engines, C the mains supplying steam direct from A to B.

page_text: Dare the mains for supplying steam exhausted from the high pressure engine or
engines B either into the low-pressure boiler or boilers E, and thence to the low-
pressure ergines F, or into a receiver whence it can be utilized (still under pressure)
instead of live steam or fuel for other purposes such as boiling or heating liquids,
working injectors, ejectors, blowers, water lifters or for the like.
G is a bye-pass valve connecting the high pressure-exhaust main C, with the
low pressure steam mains to allow the steam to pass direct to the low pressure
engines F when the high pressure engines B are not working.
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 [
claim is :-
1. The method of using high pressure steam in an engine and exhausting this
steam under a reduced pressure for use in another separate engine, or engines, or
for supplying such steam to a lower pressure system.
2. The method of using high pressure steam in an engine and exhausting this
steam under pressure into a receiver, or into a steam main, or into other boilers
containing steam at about an equal pressure to that of the high-pressure engine
exhaust, or at any lower pressure.
3. The method of using the lower pressure steam, which has already passed
through an engine, for use in another engine or engines or for any other purpose
for which steam under pressure can be used instead of live steam direct from boilers,
such as for boiling and heating liquids, working injectors, ejectors, blowers, water
lifters, or for other purposes.
4. The improved system substantially as herein before described of working a
high pressure boiler and engine system in combination with a low pressure boiler,
or boiler and engine system in such manner that the exhaust pressure from the high
pressure system shall be higher than, or equal to, the pressure required for working
the low pressure system, so that the steam from the high pressure system can pass
to the low pressure system and thus be again utilized.
5. The method of so arranging and combining or connecting separate high and
low pressure engines and boilers that compound and triple expansion effects can be
obtained from the steam without the necessity of making each engine in itself a
compound or a triple expansion engine substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 30th day of July 1896.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.