Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Liquid Fuel into Furnaces.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Liquid Fuel into Furnaces.
We, ERNEST ARMAND VÉTILLARD, of 7, Rue Leneveux, Engineer to the Western
of France Railway, and EUGÈNE SCHERDING, Junior, of 22, Rue du Bouloi, Mer-
chant, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a fuel-feeding apparatus more especially applicable
to steam generator furnaces. The apparatus may however be applied to any
existing furnace and particularly where a supply of steam is available either
directly in the case of boiler furnaces or indirectly in other cases.
Although the idea chiefly in view is the application of the apparatus to loco-
motive and marine boiler furnaces it may be equally well applied to stationary
furnaces.
It is possible to apply it to furnaces which consume solid fuel whether these
be of special construction or already in use.
The apparatus which belongs to those by means of which a stream of liquid fuel
is injected into a furnace burning solid fuel is distinguished from already exist-
ing apparatus of the same kind by the fact that it injects into the furnace not
cr less mixed with air or steam
simply a stream of liquid fuel more
forming the priming fluid but a mixture of fuel air and steam accurately
proportioned thoroughly stirred and mixed preliminarily heated and so to speak
gasified, indispensable conditions for effective working. The apparatus moreover
comprises all that is necessary for properly starting it; regulating its working
according to requirements, stopping it without inconvenience, effecting the pre-
liminary heating and filtering of the liquid fuel and the cleaning generally.
In order that the apparatus may be precisely understood we append to the
present specification drawings in which we have shewn it as applied to the
furnace of a locomotive.
Figure 1, is a front view of the arrangement.
Figure 2, is a plan view with injector in section.
Figure 3, is a detail of the filter in section.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a sectional plan and front view of the injector;
and
Figure 6, is a detail.
By means of a suitable arrangement of pipes and cocks the steam is conveyed
from a steam-intake cock (V) to the various points at which it is made use of.
A steam pipe (r) runs, in the form of a coil (¹), into the reservoir (A) contain-
ing the liquid fuel which we will assume to be coal-tar and which may in this
The steam passing
manner be preliminarily heated and rendered more fluid.
through the coil escapes at (3).
Drawn up by one or more "jet" apparatus taking in a suitable quantity, the
liquid fuel flows from the reservoir (A), through the pipe (a), into the filtering
cylinder (B) where it is forced before passing out therefrom to flow through a
filtering bed such as the perforated plate or sieve (B¹). From thence the liquid
C Th

page_text: under suction passes through the pipe (6) and, through as many branches (5, 6)
as there are apparatus with "jets," into the latter, where it mixes with the
steam and combustive air and whence this mixture accurately proportioned
stirred and heated and so to speak gasified is injected into the combustion
chamber.
6i
The jet" apparatus has been designed with the object of securing this result
As shewn in Figures 4 and 5 it comprises substantially a first injector (C) the
axis of which is placed in a plane parallel to the side of the fire-box. This
injector receives in an annular space (c) the steam coming from the boiler
through the pipe (t). The steam in passing through the reduced area of (c) pro-
duces a vacuum in the central tube (¹) having the same diameter as the pipe (65)
which conveys the liquid fuel from the reservoir (A).
A second injector (2) placed at a certain distance from the first and having its
axis perpendicular to the axis of the first is arranged so that the mixture of steam
and liquid fuel passes into the annular space (2) of suitable section and takes up
a certain quantity of external air through the central tube (c³).
A third injector (C3) placed immediately after the second and in the same axis
is composed of the extremity (c) of the second injector and of a circular body (F)
having an annular surface around the central tube (") through which a certain
quantity of supplementary combustive air is drawn up which meets the mixture
at the opening of the central tube.
As will be easily understood by the foregoing the stream of mixed liquid and
steam issuing from the injector (C) is transformed in the two last injectors into
a circular stream surrounded internally and externally by layers of combustive
air. Owing to the friction due to the different rates of speed of these various
jets there issues through the last pipe or attachment of the apparatus a thoroughly
blended mixture of air liquid and steam possessing moreover the qualities pre-
viously indicated.
On the piece (C³) is a projecting collar (d) furnished with a screw thread and
recessed to form a certain number of openings such as (d) arranged as shewn in
Figure 6. The body (F) terminates in front in a strong circular flange (f) into
which the collar (d) is screwed.
The air is drawn up from outside into the space (c) through the openings (d')
between the flange (f) and collar (d).
The body (F) which, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, is fixed to the side of the
fire-box by means of a certain number of screws and is further furnished with
two cylindrical bearings (f), (f) which fit tightly into a pipe (G) of sufficient
thickness mounted like an ordinary smoke pipe. The object of this tube or pipe
is to secure as fully as possible the body (F) and the parts of the mixing injector
enclosed thereby. The replacing of this tube after the dismounting of the
body (1) is effected without any difficulty.
On leaving the "jet" apparatus the combustible mixture is projected into the
furnace through one or more openings, the form and dimensions of which are
suitable to each particular installation. These openings are in the form of trun-
cated cones placed in such a manner that each following port or passage has a 4
larger transverse sectional area than the preceding passage and arranged so as
to secure as equal a distribution as possible of the liquid fuel when it reaches
the furnace.
The apparatus is placed at the side or below the furnace door. It is fixed by
means of a piece (M) to the front of the generator. This piece moreover enables 5
the apparatus to be adjusted properly in its place.
The accessory parts of the arrangement are as follows:-
A small column (4) carries the steam distributing cocks. The cock (2) is a
three-way cock being intended firstly for the admission of the steam, secondly
for the pipe (62) serving to convey the steam used for cleansing the pipes, and 5
thirdly for the pipe (r) which conveys the heating steam to the reservoir. To
the steam admission pipe is also connected the cock (3) which, in addition to the

page_text: admission pipe has as many branches as there are "jet" apparatus comprised in
the installation, in the drawings two are shewn, and from these the steam is con-
veyed to the injectors by a pipe (t) or (¹). (b) is a liquid starting cock inserted
in the pipe (a) before the sieve (B). (6) is a three-way cock communicating
with firstly the admission pipe (a) between the cock and the sieve; secondly the
pipe (2) conveying the steam for cleansing the filtering cylinder and the dis-
tributing pipes; thirdly the pipe (63) for conveying the external air employed for
cleansing purposes. The cock (66) at the entrance of each injecting apparatus
serves for regulating the quantity of fuel taken. The small columns (6) carry
the handles (6) which control the regulating cocks (66). These regulating cocks
may be coupled together by a tube-arm (68) or any other suitable means of con-
nection.
The alterations to be effected in the accessory arrangements described above
for two injectors when the number of injectors varies can be easily understood.
The working of the arrangement also is easy to be understood from the fore-
going and does not need to be described fully in detail. It is only necessary to
mention a few important points.
Before priming the injectors it is necessary that the liquid contained in the
reservoir should be preliminarily heated. In the case of coal-tar which thickens
when the temperature is low a prolonged heating is indispensable. For this pur-
pose it is sufficient to put the steam admission pipe (v) in communication with
the pipe () suitably surrounding the cock (2).
When the temperature is exceedingly low or in case the preliminary heating
has been forgotten the filtering cylinder (B) and the circulating pipes (64) (65)
may be heated before opening the cock (b) for the admission of the fuel by open-
ing the steam cleansing cocks (2) and (61) for a few moments.
In the case of a locomotive or other similar generator being in question and a
long course is to be made and liquid fuel used, it is necessary to prepare a good
fire on the fire bars and which preferentially should be made with compressed
coal or coke. When the fire is well alight the injectors are set going.
The injectors being started the flaps or doors of the ash-pit may be almost
entirely closed in many cases and without inconvenience.
During stoppages and when proceeding with the regulator closed it is neces-
sary to open the blower.
It is not necessary to stop the injectors for the purpose of opening the furnace
door in order to examine the fire and stop the gaps which have been possibly
produced in the fire with a few shovels of coal taken at random or broken small
as may be preferred.
If, for any reason whatever, it is desired to proceed with a single injector it
is only necessary to remove the shaft of the regulating rod (68) and to open the
suction cock (66) on the side of the injector which it is desired to set going.
It may be remarked that for stopping the injectors it is necessary after closing
the admission cock (4) to allow the suction cock (66) to act so as to empty the
sieve and the conduits. For facilitating this operation it is desirable to open the
cock ().
It is well from time to time to thoroughly clean the sieve (B) and the fuel
circulating pipes (64) (65) with steam. For this operation it is only necessary to
open the regulating cocks (6) and the steam cleansing cock (61).
In case any impurities should be deposited in front of the cock (b) and the
fuel-intake pipe they may be driven back into the reservoir by opening the steam
cleansing cock (61) for a moment. It is obvious that at the same time the
regulating cock (66) must be closed.
The steam cleansing cock (6) has the disadvantage of producing a good deal of
smoke and the fuel is driven out without being duly utilised. In order to obviate
this disadvantage we have fitted on to the cock (1) a pipe which communicates
with the outer air. By opening this cock the air is blown through by means of
the steam; the fuel thus utilised without the production of dense smoke.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:
"
"
:
-
Firstly An apparatus in which the liquid fuel preliminarily heated in its
reservoir by steam is drawn up by the action of an indeterminate number of
jet" apparatus actuated by steam at first through a sieve then through the
jet" apparatus themselves where it mixes with the steam and the suitable quan-
tity of combustive air being thence injected into the furnace in the form of
diverging streams or jets perfectly stirred duly proportioned heated and in an
almost gaseous condition.
Secondly. In an apparatus according to the preceding claim a "jet" apparatus
acting as a mixer, the first injector of which draws up the fuel mixes it with
steam and ejects it in the form of a cylindrical stream or jet and the other two
injectors which are con-axial transform this cylindrical stream or jet into an
annular one held between two layers of air the one interior and the other exterior
whereby the fuel the steam and the air are thoroughly mixed together.
Thirdly In an apparatus according to Claim 1 the arrangement in combina-
tion with the liquid reservoir the sieve and the " jet" apparatus, of the system
of pipes and cocks substantially in the manner indicated and for the purposes
specified.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.