An Improved Steam Generator.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Steam Generator.
I FOUNTAIN LIVET, 67 Finsbury Pavement London E.C. in the County of
Middlesex, England Civil 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:-
My invention consists of various improvements in the construction and disposition
of the different parts of a special steam generator in combination with a new
"feed
water heater" and special internal and external flue arrangements of the said
generator, its furnaces and brickwork setting, for generating steam with greater
efficiency and economy than hitherto.
Having explained the nature and object of my invention I will now describe its
mechanical combinations successively to make it more clearly understood.
In the first instance I use three metal cylinders of dimensions determined and
disposed in relative positions to each other according to the steaming capacity required
from the generator, to carry out in operation the principle of a continuous flue of
successive expanding sections from the furnace bridge up to the chimney stack or
collecting flue in combination with two intermediate expansion chambers that is
to say
The two lower cylinders A Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6 called heaters are each fitted with
an internal flue or furnace tube B. which are placed in the cylinders nearer one side
of their shells than the other so as to give room within the said cylinders for cleaning
and inspecting them from time to time, these heaters are placed on the same horizontal
plan and separated from each other in their setting by a longitudinal brick wall C,
Figs. 2 & 4; they stand on special cast iron stools D Figs. 2, 3, 4 & 6 affording
sufficient support for the said generator, and they are kept in their central position by
connecting metal stays at front and back end of their shells so as to prevent undue
strain to the connections uniting them to the upper cylinder.
The upper cylinder E Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 6 (part of which above the water line is the
steam chest F Fig. 2) is placed above the aforesaid heaters and in the centre of the
longitudinal wall C separating them; the heaters A. and upper cylinder E are
connected together by means of two separate series of large conical metal pipes G
Figs. 2, 3, &5 for circulation of water from the heaters A to the upper cylinder E.
The brickwork setting for making the continuation of the two separate furnace
flues B. Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 6 from the exit tubes of the heaters up to the chimney or
collecting flue is of a special construction and the two separate flues of five successive
courses for each furnace are both similar, of continuous and independent horizontal
action viz. At first the internal flue B through each heater exits into a separate
expansion or pit chamber H Figs. 3 & 4 which is placed at the back end of each
heater, they then pass through the first return flues I Figs. 2, 4 & 6 of each heater,
which run parallel along their respective shells towards the front wall of the said
heaters, one turning to the left side, the other to the right they then pass underneath
their respective shells below their furnaces where they enter into their second and
respective expansion chamber J Figs. 2, 3 & 4 from which they emerge separately
into their respective second return flues K Figs. 2 & 4 running close together on each
side of the longitudinal wall separating the said two heaters, then through their
separate uptake flues L Figs. 4 & 5 near the back end of the heaters to enter separately
into the upper flues M Figs. 2 & 5 which run under the upper cylinder towards the
front of the said generator.
The continuation of the flues M having passed under the upper cylinder of the
generator are separately carried from the front to the back, and they run parallel
towards their respective dampers and chimney stack or collecting flue; these two
fourth courses of upper return flues N Figs. 2 & 5 are separated from the third

page_text: return flue by special fire-clay tile partitions
Figs. 2 & 5, supported by angle iron
stays, so as to isolate them, while tho two third return flues are separated below the
upper cylinder of the generator by angle irons O' Figs. 2 & 3 riveted to the shell of
the upper cylinder, and two other angle irons riveted to the lower cylinder of the
heater so as to overlap each other.
The lower parts of the flues of the heaters in brickwork are inverted arches of semi-
cylindrical shape and the division of each side return flue terminates by brick
coping under the centre of each heater, so as to isolate each alternate course of
flue, the tops of these flues close against the shells of the said heaters. The tops of
the third and fourth return flues close similarly but against the shell of the upper
cylinder of the generator.
The arches over the shell of the heaters A at the expansion chambers, at the
back end of the said heaters are especially constructed for allowing the heaters to
expand and contract without disturbing their brickwork setting; the said arches P
Figs. 3 & 6 are made over each heater springing from side walls of each and
they project as shewn at P Fig. 3, beyond the ends of the heaters over the
expansion chambers, from one side and on the other side overlapping the heaters
beyond the seams of rivets which connect their ends to their shells; the brick
arches Fig. 3 of the expansion chambers butt against the arches P over the
heaters.
The bottom of the expansion chambers H & J should be below the inverted arches
of the flues I & K so as to form a receptacle for the grit and dust carried by the
draught from the furnaces; the dampers R Figs. 3 & 5 placed at the exit of the fifth
flue from each furnace regulate the draught as required.
The feed water heater I use in combination consists of three metal cylinders S, S¹
& S Figs. 1, 2 & 5 arranged and disposed in parallel lines in the upper flues of the
setting of the said generator in such a manner as to present their heating surface
effectually to the currents of heat passing from the furnaces through the flues to the
chimney stack viz. The lower cylinder S. stands on metal brackets resting on the
top of the longitudinal wall C dividing the before named heater A. and has a brick
coping touching its shell as before described for isolating one flue from the other.
The other two cylinders S¹ of this feed water economiser are placed also parallel to
the upper cylinder of the generator E and on each side of it, but in the two fourth
return flues N; the three cylinders S, S¹ & S¹ are connected together by means of
internal and external pipes through which the feed water is forced and the last external
pipe T Fig. 1 from the lower cylinder S. of the water heater connects same to the
upper cylinder E of the generator, for feeding same, so that the feed waters enters at
first in the two cylinders S' of the heater, at their front from the main supply pipe T
Figs. 1 & 5 and it is carried simultaneously through the two cylinders S', by one
internal pipe T, Fig. 5 in each of them and finishing near their back ends, then at the
back end of these two cylinders is an external cross branch pipe U Figs. 5 & 6 uniting
them together and to the lower cylinder, and this pipe has in each cylinder S¹, an
internal prolongation leading towards their front ends, this back cross pipe U has an
internal prolongation like the former ones leading towards the front of the cylinder S,
then from the front of the lower cylinder S, the last internal pipe commencing near its
back end is connected to the front of the upper cylinder of the generator by means of
the external pipe T2 before mentioned, where the feed water enters the generator.
By this arrangement the feed water has a large range of circulation in passing to
and fro before entering the generator, during which it becomes heated to a temperature
almost equal to that of the water in the generator. Meanwhile, the impurities contained
in the feed water have time to precipitate in the cylinders S, S' & S¹ from which it
may be easily removed, each of the cylinders having a manhole V Fig. 1 in front thus
feeding the generator with hot and pure water.
The furnaces W Fig. 3. are of a special construction and they are combined for
obtaining a better combustion of the gases, and are much more durable than hitherto,
owing to the natural and properly directed current of atmospheric air which passes
through them.

page_text: These fire grates are slightly inclined towards the bridge and they are made of
duplex, deep wedge shaped fire bars which are supported at both ends by cross bearing
bars fixed on brackets fitted on each side of the furnace tubes.
At the end of the last course of fire bars and across the back part of the furnaces is
established two small auxiliary grate bridges X Fig. 3, placed at an angle of about 45°
to the main grates, these auxiliary grates are fitted upon a special metal box the top
of which is surmounted with fire bricks to form the furnace bridge W', the whole of
these metal boxes and the duplicate fire grates rest on the lower part of the furnace
tubes B.
These auxiliary grates take their supply of atmospheric air in the lower part of the
opening of their frames in the ashpit of the main furnaces W, the crowns of the
furnace tubes over the bridges are gradually raised about eight inches and the tops of
the bridges are in a parallel line with them as shewn at Y Fig. 3.
Meanwhile the small auxiliary grate bridges direct their current of oxygen through
ignited fuel, against the current of gases of the former one so that the velocity of
gases from the furnaces W, are retarded and thereby allowed a longer time for the
oxygen and carbon to combine more fully in the furnaces than hitherto, thereby
producing a greater percentage of carbonic acid gas than with an ordinary furnace.
The duplex fire bars being deep and wedge shaped from the top to lower edge, are
made to meet the different ratio of expansion of the top and bottom parts, they are
provided with a mortice and tenon at each end to keep them in a vertical position
over each other, by this combination the atmospheric air enters the furnace between
the fire bars which present a large iron surface heated by the radiation from the
furnaces, it gradually heats the air as it passes through in entering the furnace, at the
same time cooling the fire bars, thus preventing adherence of clinker and prolonging
very considerably the durability of the furnace.-
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 I
claim is:
1. The special arrangement of the Steam Generator proper, with a double series of
conical communication tubes uniting the heaters to the upper cylinder, in combination
with a feed water heater consisting of three cylinders fitted with internal pipes,
through which the feed water is forced into the upper cylinder of the steam
generator.
2. The combination of the two separate and continuous flues partly in the brickwork
setting, commencing from each furnace bridge proceeding forward through the first
expansion chambers, returning around the shell of the heaters and emerging into the
upper parts of the flues under the upper cylinder of the generator, from which they
enter into the last portion of these flues around the upper cylinders of the feed heater,
to exit in the collecting flue or chimney stack.
3. The combination of the two partitions suspended by rods cemented in brickwork
setting and placed between the upper cylinder of the generator and the two higher
cylinders of the feed water heater, which insulates the two last parts of flues from
each other.
4. The special construction of the brick arches over the back ends of the heaters
of the steam generator, which spring above the said heaters, and the vaults of the
expansion chambers abutting against the said arches.
5. The furnaces with duplex deep fire bars, in combination with duplicate fire
grates, also the raising of furnace bridges in an inclined line towards the furnace
fronts and in a parallel line with the incline of the furnace tubes over them.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1890
FOUNTAIN LIVET.