IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING EXHAUST STEAM, AND HEATING AIR BY THE HEAT ABSTRACTED IN EFFECTING THE CONDENSATION OF SUCH STEAM
Year: 1865

page_text: 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex. Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the. Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING
EXHAUST STEAM, AND HEATING AIR BY THE HEAT ABSTRACTED IN EFFECTING
THE CONDENSATION OF SUCH STEAM." -A communication from abroad by
Addison Calvin Fletcher, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL -SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st November 1865.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CONDENSING EXHAUST STEAM AND HEATING AIR BY THE HEAT ABSTRACTED IN
EFFECTING THE CONDENSATION OF SUCH STEAM," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus in which the abstraction of the heat
from the exhaust steam of a steam engine or other steam apparatus is effected
wholly or in part by means of air, which is thereby heated for the supply of
oxygen to the boiler furnace, or for any other purpose, while such steam is
The
condensed for the return of its water to the boiler or for any other use.

page_text: steam is received through one or more suitable inlet pipes into a number of
upright chambers composed of sheet metal and forming radiators of heat.
These radiators are arranged within a box or casing, through which and between
the said radiators air is drawn or forced by a rotary fan or other equivalent
means of producing a forced circulation. The air passing rapidly over the
exterior surfaces of the radiators takes up the heat from and condenses the
steam, and the resultant water is collected in a hot well or other receptacle
for being returned to the boiler or for any other use, while the heated air is
driven by the fan or its equivalent into the ash-pit or fire chamber of the
boiler furnace, or to any other place where it is required. The arrangement
of the radiators within their enclosing box or casing, and of the fan or its
equivalent, and the inlet and outlet air pipes or passages in connection with
the fan and casing, and of the inlet and outlet steam and water passages in
connection with the radiators, admit of variation to suit various applications
of the condensing "apparatus.
In general the radiators will be narrow chambers, set vertically and parallel
to each other in the box or casing, through which a current of air is drawn by
an exhaust fan. At or near their upper ends these radiators are connected to
a steam box, into which the exhaust steam is passed, and at or near their
lower ends, and at the opposite extremity the radiators are connected to a
water box, which is provided with a pipe for taking off the condensed water
to a hot well or elsewhere. The air enters the enclosing box or casing at or
near its bottom, and after passing between the radiators (where it absorbs the
heat given off by the exhaust steam) it escapes at or near the top of the box
directly (or through a coupling pipe) into the centre of the case of the exhaust
fan, by which it may be propelled whenever required to be used. Instead of
arranging the radiators parallel to each other, they may be arranged radially
and connected together at top and bottom by annular steam and condensed
water boxes. In this instance the air may be admitted through the periphery
of the case or through the bottom, and drawn out through the top of the case.
In some cases, as, for instance, when the steam to be condensed has been
exhausted at a comparatively high temperature, or under other circumstances
when it may not be practicable or desirable to effect the condensation of the
whole of the steam by means of air as above described, such portion of the
steam as may be allowed to escape uncondensed from the above-mentioned
radiators may be condensed by the agency of cold water brought in contact
with the exterior surfaces of an escape pipe, by which it leaves the hot well
employed in connection with the above-mentioned apparatus. The steam
escape pipe is surrounded by a jacket, at the botton of which is a pipe for

page_text: discharging the cooling or condensing water discharged on to the escape pipe.
This cooling water is discharged on to the steam escape pipe from annular
pierced tubes, whence it runs down in streams over the exterior surface of the
steam escape pipe, and by cooling that pipe the steam ascending from the hot
well will be condensed and fall back into the well. This arrangement
may be applied directly to the escape pipe of a high-pressure engine,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st May 1866.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman; send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton. Her special licence that I, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, adminis-
irators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING EXHAUST
STEAM, HEATING AIR BY THE HEAT ABSTRACTED IN EFFECTING. THE CONDENSATION
OF SUCH STEAM," being a communication from abroad, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within'
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say);-
This Invention relates to apparatus in which the abstraction of the heat
from the exhaust steam of a steam engine or other steam apparatus is effected
wholly or in part by means of air, which is thereby heated for the supply of
oxygen to the boiler furnace, or for any other purpose, while such steam is
condensed for the return of its water to the boiler or for any other use. The
steam is received through one or more suitable inlet pipes in a number of
upright sheet metal radiators arranged within a box or casing, through which
and between the said radiators air is drawn or forced by a rotary fan or other
equivalent means of producing a forced circulation. The air passing rapidly
over the exterior surfaces of the radiators takes up the heat from and con-
denses the steam, and the resultant water is collected in a hot well or other
receptacle for being returned to the boiler or for any other use, while the
heated air is driven by the fan or its equivalent into the ash-pit or fire chamber
of the boiler furnace, or to any other place where it is to be utilized. The
Invention consists in certain novel arrangements of the radiators within their
inclosing box or casing, and of the fan or its equivalent, and the inlet and
outlet air pipes or passages in connection with the fan and casing, and of the
inlet and outlet steam and water passages in connection with the radiators,
whereby such apparatus is rendered very effective in its operation. In some.
cases, as, for instance, when the steam to be condensed has been exhausted at
a comparatively high temperature, or under other circumstances when it may
not be practicable or desirable to effect the condensation of the whole of the
steam by means of air as above described, such portion of the steam as may
be allowed to escape uncondensed from the above-mentioned radiators may be
condensed by the agency of cold water brought in contact with the exterior
surfaces of an escape pipe, by which it leaves the hot well employed in con-
nection with the above-mentioned apparatus; and the Invention further con-
sists in a certain arrangement of water jet pipes in relation to such escape
pipe, the same arrangement being applicable directly to the exhaust pipe of a
high-pressure or non-condensing engine.
The nature of the Invention having been specified, its description with
reference to the accompanying Drawings, forming part of this Specification
will be proceeded with.
Figures and 2 are vertical sections, at right angles to each other, of an
apparatus illustrating one of the arrangements of parts embraced by the
Invention; similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in these
Figures.

page_text: A, A, Figures (1 and 2) are flat vertical radiators of sheet or cast iron, and.
of which any suitable number are arranged side by side within the casing B,
which is of parallelopipedal form, the said radiators being severally connected.
at one end near the top with the horizontal steam box C; with which the
exhaust steam pipe D is connected, and at the other end, near the bottom,
with the horizontal water box E. from which a pipe F leads to the hot well.
for the escape of the water of condensation, which may be returned to the
boiler by the feed pump at a temperature as near the boiling point as possible,
or used in any other way. The boxes C and E may be both within the
casing B as represented, or outside. This casing may be of iron and covered
with wood or other non-conducting material, or entirely of wood. or of brick-
work. The inlet openings a. Fig. 1. provided in one end of the box or
casing B for the entrance of air. may be upright and narrow to admit the air
directly between the radiators, and may extend nearly from the bottom to the
top of the casing: the outlet opening b is near the top of the opposite end,
and connected by a pipe G with the rotary exhausting fan H, the spout H' of
which leads to or has connected with it a pipe leading to the furnace or other
place where it is intended to make use of the air which has been heated by-
its passage between and in contact with the surfaces of the radiators, such air
being by the action of the fan drawn into the casing B through the openings a
and through the spaces between and around the radiators A, A, and out
through the pipe G, and being discharged from the fan through the spout H¹.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 4 an end view of an
apparatus illustrating another of the arrangements of parts embraced by the
Invention; similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in these.
Figures.
In these Figures the radiators A, made of flat form, are represented arranged
vertically side by side and very near together within the oblong box or,
chamber B, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and
severally connected at one end near the top, as shown in Fig. 3, with the
horizontal steam box C, with which the exhaust steam pipe D of an engine is
connected, and at the other end, near the bottom, with the horizontal water
box E, from which a pipe F leads to a hot well for the collection of the water.
of condensation, which may be returned to the boiler by the feed pump at a
temperature as near the boiling point as is practicable, or used in any
other way. The inlet openings a, a, provided in the box or chamber B, for.
the ingress of cold air, are arranged in one end of the box or chamber opposite
the intervening spaces between the radiators, with which they may correspond
in number, and extend from the bottom about or more than half the way up;

page_text: to the top of the box or chamber to admit the air to circulate between and
over the surfaces of the radiators. At the opposite end of the casing, a little
above the centre thereof, is the outlet opening b, Fig. 3, of circular form, for
the egress of the air after it has abstracted the heat from the steam in the
radiators. H is the casing of the rotary fan, arranged close to and across that
end of the box or chamber B in which the outlet opening b is situated, so that this
opening constitutes the inlet for the air into the fan case, the opening being
concentric with the shaft H of the fan. The air is thus drawn from between
the radiators without the intervention of any pipes or passages, whereby a very
free and copious circulation of air is ensured between and around the radiators,
besides the whole apparatus being brought into a very compact form. The
steam enters at the pipe D, and circulates through the box C and the
radiators A, A, in which it is condensed, and the water of condensation is
collected in the box E, and carried off by the pipe F.. The air enters at a, a;
and circulates through and is heated in the spaces between and around the
radiators, and passing through the opening b to the fan is driven off through
the outlet H' of the fan to the furnace or other place where its heat is
utilized.
Figure 5 represents a vertical section of an apparatus, which in the
arrangement of the radiators A, steam box C, water box E, exhaust steam
pipe D, and the pipe F leading to the hot well, resembles those shown in
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, but the air inlet openings a are in the bottom of the
box or casing B, and the outlet pipe G and rotary fan H are at the top of the
casing. In this apparatus the air is drawn upward between and in contact
with the surfaces of the radiators A, and the natural tendency to upward cir-
culation to which the air is subject as it becomes heated is taken advantage
of, and made to accelerate its upward transit through the box, thereby
producing a very rapid condensation of the steam.
Fig. 6 represents in vertical section an apparatus, which differs from that
shown in Fig. 5 only in having the box or casing B higher in proportion to
its length and width, and in having the steam box C and exhaust steam
pipe D connected on the top of the radiators A, and the water box E and
pipe F leading to the hot well connected at the bottom of the radiators. By
this construction and arrangement the air has a greater distance to circulate
upward, and a greater advantage is taken of the acceleration of the upward'
circulation by the natural tendency of the heated air to ascend, and a more
perfect condensation of the steam in the radiators is effected.
Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of an apparatus of which the casing B
is of upright cylindrical form, and the radiators A, A, are arranged radially to

page_text: .the vertical axis of the said casing; Figure 8 is a horizontal section of the same.
The radiators are all connected at the top with an annular steam box C, and
at the bottom with an annular water box E, as shown in Fig. 7. The
exhaust steam pipe D is connected with the steam box C at two or more
points by branch pipes D', D', and the water pipe F, by which the water of
condensation is conducted from the water box E to the hot well is connected
with the said box by two or more branch pipes E', F¹. The inlet air openings
a, a, are in the bottom of the casing B, and the outlet air passage b, with
which the rotary exhaust fan H is connected by the pipe G, is at the top of
the said casing. The operation of this apparatus is substantially the same as
that of the apparatus represented in Fig. 6, and herein-before described.
.
The apparatus represented in Fig. 9 only differs from that represented in
Figures 7 and 8 in having the bottom of the casing B closed, and the air inlet
openings a, a, in the lower part of the side of the casing. The corresponding
parts in this Figure are indicated by the same letters of reference as those of
Figures 7 and 8.
In Fig. 7 there is represented in vertical section in connection with the
water escape pipe F a hot well I, such as it is proposed to use in connection
with the corresponding pipe of any or all of the various forms of apparatus
herein-before described, such hot well having applied in connection with it a
system of pipes employed for effecting the condensation by means of cold water
of any steam that might escape in an uncondensed state along with the water
of condensation through the escape pipe F. A horizontal section of this
system of pipes is represented by Fig. 10. The hot well I consists of a closely
covered vessel of any suitable form, through the top of which there is inserted
an upright pipe J open at the top to the atmosphere. This pipe is surrounded
by a jacket K, which is open at the top, but closed at the bottom, and within
it are arranged two annular perforated pipes d, d, connected by branch
pipes d', d', with a pipe L, to which cold water is supplied by a pump or from
an elevated reservoir. At the bottom of the jacket K is an escape pipe e.
The water issuing in jets from the perforations of the annular pipes d, d, is
thrown against the exterior surface of the pipe J, and trickling down that pipe
cools it to such a degree as to condense the steam which ascends within it
from the hot well, and to cause the water resulting from such condensation to
flow down the said pipe into the hot well. The condensing water trickling
down the exterior of the pipe J, after having done its work and become heated,
escapes from the bottom of the jacket K through the pipe c. The water of
condensation is drawn off from the hot well through a pipe M at the bottom,
to be returned by the feed pump to the boiler, or to be used in any other way.

page_text: The same system or arrangement of hot well I, pipe J, jacket K, and per-
forated pipes d, d, may be applied directly in connection with the exhaust
pipe of a high-pressure engine to effect the condensation of a portion of the
exhaust steam, the water heated in effecting such condensation and the water
of condensation being both used for the supply of the boiler.
By means of any of the herein above-described arrangements of apparatus
for the simultaneous heating of air and condensation of steam air may be
heated to such a degree that when introduced into the ash-pit or above the
grate, or into both those parts of the furnace, its oxygen will combine very
rapidly with the carbon of the fuel and with the carbonic oxide generated, and
produce a very perfect combustion, while at the same time the exhaust steam
from a steam engine is very effectively condensed, and its water of condensa-
tion may be collected at a very high temperature for its return to the boiler.
Among the many purposes to which the air thus heated may be applied besides
that of supplying boiler furnaces may be mentioned the drying or desiccation
of animal, mineral, or vegetable substances, the drying of fibrous or textile
fabrics, the warming of buildings or apartments, the seasoning of timber, and
the evaporation of liquids or solutions. Fig. 1 illustrates the application
of such an apparatus as is represented in Figures 1 and 2 in connection with
a boiler furnace. The outlet spout H' of the fan H has connected with it a
pipe H, which enters the closed ash-pit N of a boiler furnace. On each side
of the grate P of this furnace there is an open-bottomed air chamber Q which
extends upward above the grate, and the inner wall of which is perforated.
A portion of the heated air from the ash-pit ascends between the grate bars
and through the fuel, while the remainder issues in jets through the perfora-
tions of the air chambers Q and mingles with and inflames the gaseous and
fuliginous products eliminated therefrom, thereby effecting a very perfect
combustion.
Fig. 12 exhibits the application of an apparatus, such as is represented
in Fig. 5, applied in connection with a low-pressure or condensing steam
engine. The exhaust steam pipe D connects the steam box C with the
exhaust port or ports of the cylinder R of the engine. The water box E, with
which the hot well I is connected by a pipe S for the collection of the water
of condensation from the radiators, is also connected at its upper part by a
pipe F with an ordinary jet condenser T, from which the water is drawn by the
air pump U in the usual manner. 'The hot well I is distinct from the ordinary
hot well into which the air pump discharges and which is not represented.
To the lower part of the hot well I is connected a pipe M, through which the
water of condensation collected therein may be drawn by the feed pump to

page_text: be supplied to the boiler. The upper part of the well I is connected with a
pipe V, which leads to the jet condenser T, and conducts thereinto any steam
that may escape through the pipe S into the hot well I. In the application
of such condensing apparatus to a condensing engine the radiators A, A, will
require to be strong enough or so braced or stayed as to be capable of resisting
the external pressure of the atmosphere.
Fig. 13 illustrates the application of an apparatus, such as is shewn in
Figures 3 and 4, in connection with the exhaust pipe of the horizontal cylinder R
of a high-pressure or non-condensing steam engine, and with a hot well, such as
is represented in Fig. 7, in connection with the apparatus. This Figure needs
no particular explanation, as a comparison of the letters upon its parts with
those of Figures 3 and 7 will enable it to be easily understood.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in Apparatus for Condensing Exhaust Steam, Heating Air by the Heat
abstracted in Effecting the Condensation of such Steam," as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it to be understood that under the
above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,
First, the arrangements above described for extracting the heat from the
exhaust steam by means of currents of air for the purpose above set forth.
And, secondly, the arrangement above described in connection with the hot
well for condensing steam.
In witness whereof, I, the Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)