Improvements in Feed Water Heaters and Purifiers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed Water Heaters and Purifiers.
CESTER
We, EDWARD SUTTON TITUS, Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM WERNER,
Manufacturer, both of Hempstead, New York, United States of America, 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 :-
This invention comprises a feed water apparatus in which the water is purified
from impurities which are injurious to steam boilers previous to the passage of the
feed water into the evaporation or steam generating portion of the boiler, by which
means the danger and inconvenience resulting from the use of water containing
mineral substances in solution is avoided. The purifier performs a double function.
The carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, sulphate of lime, mud and all the
foreign matter, mineral or otherwise, which is dissolved or held in solution in the
feed water heavy enough to sink in the gentle currents which are always maintained
in the separator when the boiler is over fire are precipitated on the bottom of the
separating tank of our purifier, where it can be drawn off at convenience. All
the scum or light particles of matter, as oil, etc. which naturally float on the surface
of water, will rise into the top of the separating tank or chamber, there to be
drawn off at will.
It is a law of physics well known and understood, that the most dangerous and
troublesome ingredients contained in feed water can only be precipitated or
eliminated from the water at very high temperature. One of the most important
functions of our purifiers is the heating of the feed water to the highest attainable
point before entering the separating chamber of the purifier. This degree of heat
is approximately equal to the normal temperature of water in the boiler, that is, to
In short, an equilibrium
the temperature due to the pressure carried in the boiler.
of temperature in the boiler and separating chamber of the purifier making slight
allowance for loss of heat from contact with the water of the circulating pipes and
connecting chambers.
In locomotive practice the boiler pressure ranges from one hundred and twenty
to one hundred and eighty pounds. The water temperature at such a pressure is
three hundred and fifty to three hundred and eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Our aim
is to heat the water in the purifier before it reaches the separating chamber to or
very near this temperature, thus compelling the precipitation of all mineral or
solid matter to the bottom of the separating tank or separator, where it can be
conveniently drawn off; this precipitation being fully accomplished before the feed
water enters the boiler.
Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view representing our said invention
and
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of an air outlet valve at the top of the
circulation pipe E.
This invention is more especially designed for use in locomotive boilers but
may also be employed in stationary boilers of any suitable type or construction.
A, is the shell of the boiler, a, a, indicating the tubes. This boiler may be of
any suitable construction as for example, a flue boiler may be used instead of one
with tubes. Placed below the shell A of the boiler is a tank B, which connects
by passage b, with the interior of the shell A, in other words, with the boiler in
connection with which the apparatus is employed. Extending downward from the
passage b, is a tube c. The lower end of the tube c, projects down into the tank
as shown in the drawing for a purpose hereinafter described. The tank or
separating chamber B, being thus in connection with the boiler, forms, so to speak,
.

page_text: a part of the latter with the qualification, that the water within the boiler is that
which is subjected to evaporation for the production of steam while that in the
tank or chamber B, is undergoing the elimination of its mineral impurities.
so
Placed at the top of the boiler is a chamber C. Extending upward from the
boiler through the chamber and nearly to the top thereof is a tube which provides
a passage e. Extending downward from the top of the chamber C, at a suitable
distance from the outer circumference of the tube which forms the passage e, is a
flange It will be noticed that the tube which provides the passage e does not
extend quite to the top of the chamber C, and that there is a space between the
outer circumference of said tube and the inner circumference of the flange,
that steam from the boiler may pass through a passage, e, and thence through the
space within the flange into the chamber C. From the bottom of the chamber C,
to the top of the separating chamber B, extends a pipe D. From the interior of
the boiler A up through the passage e, thence out through the top of the chamber
or side of the chamber C, thence downward to the top of the separating tank B, is
a pipe E. The diameter of the pipe E is less than the internal diameter of the
passage e, so that a passage is afforded around the pipe, E, for the steam into the
chamber C, as aforesaid. To the lower ends of the pipes D and E respectively, are
fitted pipes or tubes d, d' which extend down into the chamber B, to about the
same distance as the tube c. The chamber C is provided with one or more feed
water inlets, g, and the admission of the feed water may be derived from any usual
or suitable source and is supplied into the chamber in the same manner that the feed
water is usually supplied to locomotives.
and
The feed water thus passed into the chamber C, is subjected to the contact of the
live steam from the boiler which passes into the said chamber through the
passage e, etc., as above set forth. The feed water being thus heated by steam in
the chamber C, passes down through the pipe, D, into the tank B, or separating
chamber where its impurities are deposited, and thence up through the tube
the passage, into the boiler where it mingles with the volume of water previously
in said boiler. Meanwhile the water from the boiler at or near the temperature of
steam produced in the latter circulates upward and then downward through the
pipe E into the separating chamber B and thence up through the tube and
passage, again into the boiler. This circulation of water through the boiler and
through the separating chamber B being simultaneous with the introduction of the
feed water as hereinbefore explained. The water thus circulated by means of
the pipe E has substantially the same temperature as that which is in the boiler
and mingling with the feed water introduced into the tank B or separating chamber,
heats the latter to a temperature at which, by the operation of well understood
laws, the carbonate of line, etc. is precipitated and deposited in the tank B, leaving
the water in the purified condition to pass up into the boiler as hereinbefore
explained.
The circulation of the water by means of the pipe E also serves a simultaneous
adjunctive purpose in this, that scum or mineral impurities which otherwise would
remain upon the surface of the water in the boiler are carried by the circulating
current into the separating tank B, and are there deposited in connection with the
calcareous or mineral deposits in the feed water so that by the means described the
water in the boiler is kept in a continuously purified and clear condition favorable
to the production of steam, and practically avoiding the deposition of calcareous or
mineral matter upon the inner surface of the boilers.
The
The downward projection into the separating chamber B, of the pipes or
tubes c, d, d', as described, prevents the scum, oil and other floating impurities
from being returned to the boiler by the described circulation of the water.
tank or chamber B may be provided at or near its upper part with an outlet m,
through which the scum, oil and other impurities floating upon the surface of the
water therein may be withdrawn ; and at its lower part with an outlet ", through
which the mud, sediment, etc. precipitated on the bottom of the separating chamber
may be withdrawn.

page_text: It will be observed that the inner portion of the pipe E, being passed up through
the passage e, the steam which passes through the latter to the chamber C serves
to heat said portion of said pipe and thereby promote the circulation hereinbefore
described, of the water through said pipe from the boiler to the tank B.
For convenience in connecting the apparatus together, a flange casting a¹ may be
riveted as shown at all, to the top of the tank B with its face b', bolted to the
corresponding face of a like casting eco-incidentally bolted or riveted to the
bottom of the boiler. With a like object the part of the tube which provides
the passage e, may be composed of a casting e', having a flange which is bolted
or riveted to the top of the boiler as indicated at . By these devices the tank B,
and chamber C, respectively, are firmly secured in place and position and in due
relation with the boiler.
V is a pocket provided in the bottom of the tank B, and designed to receive the
accumulating material separated from the water as hereinbefore explained; said
separated material being by this means prevented from diminishing by its accumu
lation, the working capacity of the tank. A suitable outlet, e, may be provided for
the removal when necessary or desired, of the said material from said pocket, said
outlet being of course closed during the working of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First. The combination with a steam boiler, of a chamber B, placed below the
same and communicating therewith by a passage b, the chamber C, placed above
said boiler, the pipe D, extending from the bottom of the chamber C and com-
municating with the tank B, the pipe E, extending from the interior of the boiler
through the chamber C, and thence to the tank B, and a tube which provides
passage e, from the boiler to the chamber C, concentric with the inner portion of
the pipe E, the whole arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
Second. The combination with a steam boiler, of the chamber B placed below
the same and communicating therewith by a passage b, the chamber C, placed
above said boiler, the pipe D, extending from the bottom of the chamber C, and
communicating with the chamber B, the pipe d, extending downward from the top
of the tank into the interior thereof, the pipe E, extending from the interior of
the boiler through the chamber C, and thence to the chamber B, and a tube which
provides a passage e, from the boiler to the chamber C, concentric with the inner
portion of the pipe E, the whole arranged substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
Third. The combination of the pocket V with the tank or chamber B, a suitable
steam boiler, chamber C, pipes d and E and a pipe or tube providing a passage e,.
the whole arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 24th day of February 1891
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicants.