IMPROVED MEANS OF REMOVING INCRUSTATION IN BOILERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Etienne Constantin Luques, of Paris, in the Republic
of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OF
REMOVING INCRUSTATION IN BOILERS."
PREVENTING AND
Sealed the 8th March 1878, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 25th August 1877.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Etienne Constantin
Luques at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th August
1877.
JEAN ETIENNE CONSTANTIN LUQUES, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
IMPROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING AND REMOVING INCRUSTATION IN BOILERS."
This Invention relates to the use of a material derived from coal tar, resin,
asphalte, bitumen, petroleum, shale oil, and kindred oils, for the prevention
of incrustation of steam boilers, and for the disintegration of the same when
formed.
In carrying out this object I take the coal tar, bitumen; or other hydrocarbon,
and subject the same to distillation to remove therefrom the light oils. When these
have been carried over and collected, I continue the distillation, and thereby obtain
a substance which I term cresyloleum, and which consists of a mixture of heavy carbon
oils not well defined. This distillate I subject to the purifying action of steam at a
high pressure, in order to remove therefrom the mephitic odour which it possesses.
The purified liquid thus obtained I supply to boilers in variable proportions,
according to the quality of water employed. When supplied to the boiler it will
fall to the bottom; but as the boiler is heated it diffuses itself through the mass of
water, and combines mechanically with the earthy matters suspended therein, and

page_text: prevents their depositing in the form of a hard incrustation. The result of this
combination is a muddy precipitate, which can be discharged from the boiler from
time to time through a blow-off cock.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jean Etienne Constantin Luques in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th March 1878.
JEAN. ETIENNE CONSTANTIN LUQUES, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING AND REMOVING INCRUSTATION IN BOILERS."
"IM-
This Invention of "An Improved Means of Preventing and Removing Incrustation
in Boilers" relates to the use of a substance or liquid derived from coal tar, resin,
asphalte, bitumen, petroleum, and shale oil, or other kindred oils, and which sub-
stance when introduced into a steam boiler will prevent incrustation in the steam
boilers, and will also disintegrate or remove any hard incrustation when formed.
The
In carrying out this object, I take any liquid hydrocarbon, or the coal tar,
bitumen, or other hydrocarbon from which such liquids are usually obtained, and
I subject the same to distillation to remove therefrom the naphthaline and other
light oils.
When these have been carried over and collected I continue the distilla-
tion at a high temperature, and thereby obtain a substance which I term crésyloleum,
and which consists of a mixture of heavy hydrocarbon oils, the particular characters
of which are however not well defined. This distillate, which is in fact an alka-
loid, I subject to the purifying action of steam at a high pressure in order to
remove therefrom the mephitic and empyreumatic odours which it possesses.
purified liquid thus obtained when freed from the aniline and lighter elements has a
density which is a little above the weight of sea water, and will not volatilize at
atmospheric pressure under a temperature of two hundred degrees centigrade. This
liquid is supplied to boilers in variable proportions, according to the quality of the
water employed. It is when in this state of purity, density, and fluidity that the
alkaloid will best effect the intended object without giving rise to the inconvenience
which would be occasioned by the useless and noxious principles which it is
advisable, if not absolutely necessary, to remove from the ordinary liquid hydro-
carbons. When the purified cresol is supplied to the boiler it will fall to the bottom,
as it is heavier than ordinary fresh water; but as the boiler becomes heated the
crésyloleum diffuses itself through the mass of water, and combines with the earthy
matters suspended therein, and prevents them from being deposited in the form of a
hard incrustation on the metal surface of the boiler. The result of this combination
of the crésyloleum with the earthy matters is a muddy precipitate, which can be
discharged from the boiler from time to time through a blow-off cock.
The concentration of the liquid to the necessary degree is obtained by its vaporiza-
tion or redistillation in an open or close vessel until the boiling of the liquid stops
at the temperature above mentioned. Disinfection, or the removal of the smell, is
effected at the same time by causing a current of steam to carry in with it and
through the body of liquid or volume of hot air as finely divided as possible. In

page_text: addition to the air some chemically deodorizing gas may be used, provided care be:
taken that the heat be always kept up to a point high enough to render it im-
possible that any condensation, liquefaction, or absorption of the acid shall take
place.
The clarification of the liquid intended to be used in the boilers and its separation
from any impurities may be effected by simple decantation after the mass has been.
left for some time at rest. It will then become just dense enough to admit of the
least agitation (as in boiling), causing it to mingle with the mass of water, and it
will tend rather to sink to the bottom than to float at the top of the water, and
thereby form bubbles which would be carried over with the steam into the cylinders.
Moreover, in consequence of its high boiling temperature it will not be liable to
volatilize at the same pressure as water.
When once the liquid has been injected into the boiler it will continue to act
upon the water (which is constantly being renewed in the boiler) until the dose has
become exhausted by combining with its equivalent weight of the metallo-calcareous
deposit (whatever it may be) and which will thereby be neutralized, saponified, and
kept in a soft or soluble state, and prevented from being precipitated and becoming
hard, but will remain in such a state that it may be easily washed out of the boiler.
Not only will the metallo-calcareous deposits be prevented from being formed and
allowed to adhere to the sides of the boiler, but deposits or hard incrustations that
have been already formed in the boiler will be energetically acted upon and dissolved
so that the hard matters will fall off and become softened within a time, inore or less
short, according to the strength of the dose of dissolving liquid. These doses may
vary in practice, as follows:-In ordinary water moderately charged with carbonate
rather than sulphate, about one pound by weight of liquid to every horse power
per month of twenty-five days, of twelve hours work, or (what is equivalent thereto)
one pound of liquid for every ton of coal consumed.
When analysis shows that there are the sulphates of lime and soda, or magnesia,
mixed with silica, alumina, iron, &c., in proportions requiring a more energetic
action, the proportion of liquid to the unit of power may be doubled, and sometimes
even trebled, if these salts are too abundantly in solution. Moreover, in some rare
and exceptional cases, such as in some kinds of sea water, the quantity necessary
may be as much as four pounds per ton of coal burned, or ten thousand litres of water
evaporated.
Whatever may be the proportion or quantity of liquid used its liquid form admits
of it being introduced when required into the boilers (after cleansing them) either
by pouring at once through the man-hole the whole quantity that is required for a
given time, or it may be added intermittently and fin small quantities, either with
the water that is to supply the boiler, or through a pipe and cock provided for the
purpose, like those used for lubricating the piston and cylinders.
In all boilers in which the internal parts cannot be got at with picks or other
tools, for the purpose of detaching the hard incrustation which adheres to the sides
or envelopes the tubes, the first doses of the liquid may be in excess, as has been
explained. A few weeks of boiling will be sufficient to effectually clear all the
internal parts of the scale or incrustation, and will prevent any fresh incrustation
froin forming. It will also preserve the cleaned parts from corrosion by the free
oxygen, which is disengaged by the re-actions which take place. I prefer to use the
crésyloleum prepared from the liquid or other hydrocarbons, as it possesses all the
properties required for my purpose, and does not contain any substances which are
particularly offensive or objectionable, but it will be evident that in some cases, such
as where boilers are in exposed situations and in the open air, when an offensive
empyreumatic odour is not of any great consequence, then some of the ordinary
unprepared' liquid hydrocarbons may be used with a certain advantage, but I always
prefer to use the specially prepared crésyloleum.
Having now described my Invention of "An Improved Means of Preventing and
Removing Incrustation in Boilers," and having explained the manner of carrying the

page_text: same into effect, I claim, as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as afore-
said, preventing the formation of solid incrustation of earthy matters in steam
boilers, or the removal of the same when formed by the introduction of a liquid
hydrocarbon into the boiler, as herein set forth, so as to commingle among the water.
and prevent the earthy matters from adhering together, and forming a hard and solid
mass, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Etienne Constantin Luques, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.