IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONDENSERS AND CONDENSING APPARATUS OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONDENSERS AND CONDENSING
APPARATUS OF STEAM ENGINES."-A communication from abroad by Francis
Bowes Stevens, of Weehawken, New Jersey, in the United States of
America.
Sealed the 4th March 1862, and dated the 15th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th October 1861.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONDENSERS AND CONDENSING
APPARATUS OF STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in the condensers and condensing apparatus.
of steam engines relates to those steam engines where the water that has been
> condensed is returned again in the same state to the boiler without mixing
with other water more impure than itself.
The present improvements are applicable to the well-known surface con-
densers, where the steam is condensed by contact with a metallic surface kept

page_text: cool on the reverse side by the application of cold water, and where the water
after its condensation from steam is returned to the boiler without mixing with
the water that cools it.
The Invention is also applicable to the cooler or cooling apparatus patented
by William Symington in England, A.D. 1835, (Nov 7th, No. 6,925,)
where the water that remains to be delivered from the hot well, after a
sufficient quantity has been taken for feeding the boiler, is cooled by contact
with a metallic surface, kept cool by the application of cold water on the
reverse side, and which after being thus cooled is re-injected into the
condenser.
The present Invention consists, firstly, in forming the condenser or cooler
in a series of parallel rectangular passages by means of plates of metal, the
water to be cooled or the steam to be condensed being made to pass through
certain of the passages, while the cooling water is made to pass through the
others in a current at right angles to the current of the water to be cooled, or
of the steam to be condensed, and on the reverse side of the surface. As these
passages have throughout an uniform section, the velocity of the water against
the surface must be uniform at all points, so that no portion of the surface will
be rendered less efficacious by the water or steam remaining wholly or partially
stagnant against it, and these passages can be so proportioned by increasing or
by diminishing their width, that a given quantity of water may be made to
pass through them at any required velocity. It has been found that the same
quantity of surface is more efficacious when the motion of the water is uniform
against all its portions, and also that the surface is more efficacious when the
velocity of the water against the surface is increased. This velocity should be
made as great as can be obtained without inconvenience, say, not less than
150 feet a minute, and if not inconvenient, 650 feet and upwards a minute.
When the cooling water and water to be cooled has a velocity of from 150 to
650 feet and upwards a minute, copper, brass, wrought iron, lead, or cast iron
surfaces all produce the same cooling effect, or very nearly the same cooling
effect for a given amount of surface, and the thickness of the metal within
reasonable limits, say, up to the limit of three or four times as thick, makes
little or no difference to the effect produced by a given amount of surface.
Now, as cast iron and lead are durable materials, and as the same feed water
passing and re-passing over the same surface of cast iron or of lead is not
injurious to the boiler, cast iron or lead are preferable to other metals to form
the condenser. In using lead it should be stiffened by a little antimony.
The Invention consists, secondly, in reversing the current of the water to be
cooled, and making it pass successively through two or more of the rectangular

page_text: passages. Supposing the quantity of cooling water to be used is eight times
that to be cooled, and the velocity of the water is to be kept the same in each
case, then the cooling water is allowed to enter and flow through eight
passages simultaneously, while the water to be cooled enters and flows through
but one, and then is made to flow successively through the other seven.
The Invention consists, thirdly, in placing guide plates in the pipes that
convey water to the rectangular passages, so that the water may be conducted
into each passage in equal quantity, or in nearly equal quantity.
The Invention consists, fourthly, in forming a wedge or bow piece between'
every two apertures, for the purpose of deflecting the water into the apertures,
and of preventing the water from being impeded by striking against a flat
surface between the two apertures. The condenser or cooler when applied to
a steam ship has been supplied with cooling water without the intervention of
a pump by means of a pipe leading from the outside of the vessel to the con-
denser or cooler, and again from the condenser or cooler to the outside of the
vessel. The water thus moves in a closed circuit, the motion through the
circuit being generated by the motion of the vessel.
Now, as a great quantity of cooling water is used, the Invention consists,
fifthly, in making the water enter the vessel by means of two or more apertures
arranged in a series one under the other, but at such distance, the one behind
the other that the strength of the vessel or ship shall not be unduly impaired.
The water leaves the vessel by the same number of apertures arranged in a
similar manner, and the side or part of the ship or vessel directly in front of
these apertures is sloped gradually, the surface sinking until it meets the
apertures, so that the water from the outside may be more readily deflected
into these apertures, and into the pipe or pipes leading to the condenser or
cooler.
The Invention consists, sixthly, in turning the pipe that conducts the
cooling water from the outside of the vessel to the condenser or cooler, and
again from the condenser or cooler to the outside of the vessel upwards, both
as it enters and leaves the vessel, so that a portion of it may be above the
water line on both sides of the condenser. or cooler, and thus the condenser or
cooler, although placed below the water line, may be at all times accessible
without the interposition of a valve or cock to shut off the water from the
outside of the vessel. When the velocity of the water through the pipe is not
sufficient to overcome the head caused by these bends, and to establish the
circuit (although if the circuit is once established it will continue to flow),
a small pipe with a cock in it connects the pipe at its highest elevation with the
interior of the condenser to start the current of the cooling water. Another

page_text: small cock is also placed by the side of the first, and communicates with the
atmosphere, for the purpose of preventing the flow of water into the vessel,
while the joint between the condenser or cooler and the main pipe is broken.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the principal features of the
Invention are, First, a condenser or cooler for steam engines formed by a
series of parallel rectangular passages, through which the steam to be con-
densed or water to be cooled passes, whilst the current of the cooling water is
made to pass through the passages on the reverse side of the surface, and in a
current at right angles to the current of the steam to be condensed, or water
to be cooled. These passages are formed by means of rectangular metallic
plates cast separately, and bolted together, or cast together. Two or more of
these condensers may be combined into one by being attached to each other.
Second, reversing the current of the water to be cooled by means of the cap
pieces, so that it may be made to flow successively through two or more of the
rectangular passages.
Third, the use of guiding plates for the purpose of guiding the water into
the rectangular apertures so that it may be equally distributed.
Fourth, the use of bow pieces, for the purpose of deflecting the cooling
water into the rectangular apertures.
Fifth, making two or more apertures through the side of the vessel or ship,
for the purpose of conducting the water from the outside of the vessel to the
condenser or cooler, combined with two or more similar apertures for con-
ducting the water from the cooler or condenser back again in a closed circuit
to the outside of the vessel, and arranged in a series, the one aperture under
the other, but at such distance the one behind the other that the strength of
the vessel shall not be unduly impaired. The recesses by which the water. is
conducted from the outside of the vessel are sloped to these apertures, and to
the pipe or pipes leading to the cooler or condenser, for the purpose of easily
deflecting the water into the pipe.
Sixth, turning the pipe that conducts the cooling water from the outside of
the vessel to the condenser or cooler, and again from the condenser or cooler
to the outside of the vessel, both as it enters and leaves the vessel upwards, so
that a portion of this pipe may be above the water line on both sides of the
condenser or cooler, that the condenser or cooler may be at all times accessible
without the intervention of a valve or cock to shut off the water from the
outside of the vessel. Also the use of a small pipe and cock connecting the
pipe at or near the summit of the turn with the interior of the condenser, to
start the current of the cooling water.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, 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 THE CONDENSERS AND CONDENSING APPARATUS OF STEAM
ENGINES," a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 William Edward 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 following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of improvements in the condensers and condensing apparatus
of steam engines, relates to those steam engines, where the water that has
been condensed is returned again to the boiler, without mixing with other
water more impure than itself.
The present improvements are appliable to the well-known surface con-
densers, where the steam is condensed by contact with a metallic surface kept
cool on the reverse side, by the application of cold water, and where the water
after its condensation from steam is returned to the boiler without mixing with
the water that cools it.

page_text: The Invention is also applicable to the cooler or cooling apparatus patented
by William Symington, in England, A.D. 1835, where the water that remains
to be delivered from the hot well, after a sufficient quantity has been taken for
feeding the boiler, is cooled by contact with a metallic surface kept cool by
the application of cold water on the reverse side, and which after being thus
cooled is re-injected into the condenser.
The present Invention consists, firstly, in forming the condenser or cooler
with a series of parallel rectangular passages by means of plates of metal,
the water to be cooled or the steam to be condensed, being made to pass
through certain of the passages, while the cooling water is made to pass
through the others in a current at right angles to the current of the water
to be cooled, or of the steam to be condensed, and on the reverse side of the
surface. As these passages have throughout an uniform section, the velocity
of the water against the surface must be uniform at all points, so that no
portion of the surface will be rendered less efficacious by the water or steam
remaining wholly or partially stagnant against it, and these passages can be
so proportioned by increasing or by diminishing their width that a given
quantity of water may be made to pass through-them at any required velocity.
It has been found that the same quantity of surface is more efficacious when
the motion of the water is uniform against all its portions, and also that
the surface is more efficacious when the velocity of the water against the
surface is increas. This velocity should be made as great as can be obtained
without inconvenience, say not less than 150 feet a minute, and if not incon-
venient 650 feet and upwards a minute. When the cooling water, and water
to be cooled has a velocity of from 150 to 650 feet and upwards a minute,
copper, brass, wrought iron, lead, or cast iron surfaces all produce the same
cooling effect, or very nearly the same cooling effect, for a given amount of
surface, and the thickness of the metal within reasonable limits, say up to
the limit of three or four times as thick, makes little or no difference to
the effect produced by a given amount of surface. Now as cast iron and
lead are durable materials, and as the same feed water passing and repas-
sing over the same surface of cast iron or of lead is not injurious to the
boiler, cast iron or lead are preferable to other metals to form the condenser.
If using lead it should be stiffened by a little antimony.
The Invention consists, secondly, in reversing the current of the water to
be cooled, and making it pass successively through two or more of the rectan-
gular passages, as the quantity of cooling water used should be much greater
than the quantity to be cooled. Supposing the quantity of cooling water
to be used is eight times that to be cooled, and the velocity of the water is to

page_text: be kept the same in each case, then the cooling water is allowed to enter
and flow through eight passages simultaneously, while the water to be cooled
enters and flows through but one, and then is made to flow successively
through the other seven.
The third improvement consists in placing guide plates in the pipes
that convey water to the rectangular passages, so that the water may be con-
ducted into each passage in equal quantity or in nearly equal quantity.
The Invention consists, fourthly, in forming a wedge or bow piece between
every two apertures for the purpose of deflecting the water into the aper-
tures, and of preventing the water from being impeded by striking against
a flat surface between the two apertures. The condenser or cooler when
applied to a steam ship has been supplied with cooling water without the
intervention of a pump by means of a pipe leading from the outside of the
vessel to the condenser or cooler, and again from the condenser or cooler to
the outside of the vessel. The water thus moves in a closed circuit, the
motion through the circuit being generated by the motion of the vessel.
As a great quantity of cooling water is used, the fifth improvement consists
in making the water enter the vessel by means of two or more apertures
arranged in a series one under the other, but at such distance the one behind
the other that the strength of the vessel or ship shall not be unduly impaired.
The water leaves the vessel by the same number of apertures arranged in a
similar manner, and the side or part of the ship or vessel directly in front of
these apertures is sloped gradually, the surface sinking until it meets the
apertures, so that the water from the outside may be more readily deflected
into these apertures, and into the pipe or pipes leading to the condenser or
cooler.
The Invention consists, sixthly, in turning the pipe that conducts the cooling
water from the outside of the vessel to the condenser or cooler, and again from
the condenser or cooler to the outside of the vessel upwards, both as it enters
and leaves the vessel, so that a portion of it may be above the water line on
both sides of the condenser or cooler, and thus the condenser or cooler, although
placed below the water line, may be at all times accessible without the inter-
position of a valve or cock to shut off the water from the outside of the vessel.
When the velocity of the water through the pipe is not sufficient to overcome
the head caused by these bends and to establish the circuit (although if the
circuit is once established it will continue to flow), a small pipe with a cock in
it connects the pipe at its highest elevation with the interior of the condenser
to start the current of the cooling water. Another small cock is also placed

page_text: by the side of the first, and communicates with the atmosphere, for the purpose
of preventing the flow of water into the vessel while the joint between the
condenser or cooler and the main pipe is broken.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet I., represents a side elevation
of a condenser or cooler formed by separate plates of cast iron bolted together;
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a horizontal or plan view;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the improved condenser.
In Figs. 1 and 4, a, a, a, are the apertures of the rectangular passages for
the cooling water; b, b, b, are the apertures of the rectangular passages for the
passage of the steam to be condensed or the water to be cooled; c, c, c, are
the cast-iron plates forming the surface; d, d, d, are pieces placed between
the plates c, c, to keep them the requisite distance apart; e, e, e, Fig. 4, are
bolts for securing the plates c, c, together; f,f, f, are thimbles placed between
the plates c, c, and through which the bolts e, e, e, pass; g, g, g, are holes for
the purpose of attaching one or more similar condensers to this one, or for the
purpose of attaching the pipes that convey the water or steam to it.
Fig. 5, Sheet II., is a side elevation of the same form of condenser as that
shown at Fig. 1, but constructed by being cast together in one piece; Fig. 6
is a front elevation of the condenser shown at Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan or
horizontal view of the same; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the condenser
shown at Fig. 5; h, h, h, are wedge or bow pieces for the purpose of deflecting
the water into the passages. The other letters of reference are the same as
those in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet I., excepting that the letters d, e, and f,
are omitted.
Fig. 9, Sheet III., is a side elevation of six of the cast-iron condensers
shown at Fig. 5, Sheet II., combined and attached together and placed between
the side pipes and the ordinary condenser of a steam engine, and forming an
external condenser for it; Fig. 10 is a front elevation of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is
a plan or horizontal view of Fig. 9; six of the castings shown at Fig. 5 are
seen at A, A, A, attached together and forming one external condenser; a, a, a,
Fig. 9, are the apertures of the rectangular passages for the cooling water;
b, b, b, are the apertures of the rectangular passages for the steam to be con-
densed. In Fig. 9, i is a pipe leading from the side pipes to the external con-
denser; and k is a pipe leading from the external condenser to the ordinary
condenser 7; m and n are the two nozzles that are attached to the external
condenser by screw bolts for the purpose of leading the cooling water to and
from the condenser. In Fig. 11, h, k, k¹, are dotted lines showing the guide
plates for conducting the water in equal quantities to the passages; screw

page_text: bolts connect together the six castings A, A, forming the external con-
denser, and also attach the nozzles m and n to this condenser; I, I, are the
side pipes of the steam engine.
Fig. 12, Sheet IV., is a side elevation shewing the mode of applying six of
the castings shown at Fig. 5, Sheet II., in combination and attached together
and placed between the hot well and the ordinary condenser of a steam engine;
some of the parts are shewn in section in Fig. 12, and this arrangement forms
a cooler for the purpose of cooling the water from the hot well, so that it may
be injected into the ordinary condenser to condense the steam; Fig. 13 is a
front élevation of Fig. 12, some of the outer parts being removed in order to
shew the internal construction; Fig. 14 is a plan or horizontal view of Figs. 12
and 13; B, B, B, are six of the castings shown at Fig. 5, attached together
and forming the cooler; a, a, a, are the apertures of the rectangular passages
for the cooling water; 61, 62, 63, 6, 6, 6, 67, are the apertures of the rectangular
passages for the water to be cooled. In Fig, 12, p is a pipe and nozzle for
connecting the apparatus with the pipe that leads from the hot well to the
cooler; is a pipe and nozzle for connecting the cooler with the ordinary
condenser. In Figs. 13 and 14, m and n are two nozzles attached to the
cooler by screw bolts for the purpose of leading the cooling water to and from
the cooler; 0, 0, are screw bolts that attach the six castings forming the cooler
together, and also attach the nozzles m and n to this cooler; I, I, are the side
pipes of the steam engine. The cooling water enters the cooler by the nozzle m,
and passes through the rectangular passages shown at a, a, a, and leaves the
cooler by the nozzle n, while the water from the hot well (to be cooled) enters
the cooler by the nozzle p, and by the aperture 6' of the horizontal passage
shown on the front elevation, Fig. 13; this aperture is also shown by dotted
lines in the side elevation, Fig. 12; and after passing through this rectangular
passage b' in a current at right angles to the current of the cooling water, is
reversed by the cap piece r, Fig. 13, and is turned into the aperture of the
passage 62, and after passing through this passage 62 is turned by the cap
piece S at the other end into the aperture 6³, and from 63 is turned by the
cap piece r to b', and so on, at each end of the cooler until it reaches the aper-
ture 6', from which it is led by the pipe and nozzle q to the ordinary condenser.
The front elevation, Fig. 13, shows the cap piece S removed, so that the
apertures of the passages b', 62, &c., may be visible; and the side elevation,
Fig. 12, shows the nozzle m removed, so that the apertures a, a, a, may be
visible. The water to be cooled thus enters and passes through one horizontal
passage, and then in succession through the others, while the cooling water

page_text: enters and passes through the eight apertures a, a, a, at once, so that if the
velocity is the same in both cases, the cooling water will be eight times the
quantity of the water to be cooled.
Fig. 15, Sheet V, is a side elevation on the outside of a ship, shewing the
arrangement of the apertures made through the side of the ship for conducting
the cooling water from the outside of the vessel to the condenser, and also
shewing the pipes leading from the apertures to the condenser or cooler;
Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the same, as seen from the inside of the
ship; Fig. 17 is a plan or horizontal view and section of Figs. 15 and
16; t, t, are six apertures (for the admission of the cooling water) arranged
in a series, each one under the other and cach one behind the other; 2, Us
are the six sloping recesses that facilitate the passage of the water into the
apertures t, t, each of these sloping recesses being placed in front of the
corresponding aperture; v, v, are six pipes connecting with the main pipe H,
which leads the water to the condenser or cooler, and is deflected above the
water line W; Y is the small cock and pipe leading to the condenser for the
purpose of starting the current of water through the pipe H; Z is a small
cock communicating with the atmosphere for preventing the flow of water
into the ship when the connection between the pipe H and the condenser or
cooler is broken.
An arrangement precisely similar to that shown at Figs. 15, 16, and 17, is used
to convey the water from the condenser or cooler back again to the outside
of the vessel, with the exception that the six sloping recesses u,-u, u, are sloped
in the opposite direction, that is to say, that each of the sloping recesses is
placed astern of its corresponding aperture, so that the water may readily
flow out of the pipes v, v, v.
As a great quantity of cooling water will be used, this cooling water is
to be forced through the cooler or condenser by means of a centrifugal or rotary
pump, and in ships having a screw propeller, this pump may be actuated by
means of belting or cog wheels connected with the shaft that carries the screw
propeller.
As it has been found that mud, sand, and other extraneous matters carried
in by the cooling water settle in those portions of the condenser or cooler
that are below the outlet of the cooling water, it has been found desirable
on ships running in muddy water to make the outlet of the cooling water
below any portion of the acting surface of the cooler or condenser. Thus in
Figs. 10, 11, 13, and 14, it will be seen that the bottom of the outlet pipe n
of the cooling water is lower than any of the passages through which

page_text: this water passes, and it is kept lower until it passes through the side of the
ship.
Having now described this Invention of improvements in the condensers
and condensing apparatus of steam engines, and having explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
First, constructing condensers or coolers for steam engines of a series of
parallel rectangular passages, through which the steam to be condensed or
water to be cooled passes, whilst the current of the cooling water is made to
pass through the passages on the reverse side of the surface, and in a current
at right angles to the current of the steam to be condensed or water to be
cooled. And I claim forming these passages by means of rectangular metallic
plates cast separately and bolted together or cast together.
I also claim, combining two or more of these condensers into one apparatus
by attaching or connecting them together, as herein set forth.
Second, I claim reversing the current of the water to be cooled by means
of the cap pieces and s, so that it may be made to flow successively through
two or more of the rectangular passages.
Third, I claim the use of guiding plates for the purpose of guiding
the water into the rectangular apertures so that it may be equally distri-
buted.
Fourth, I claim the use of bow pieces for the purpose of deflecting the
cooling water into the rectangular apertures.
Fifth, I claim making two or more apertures through the side of the vessel
or ship for the purpose of conducting the water from the outside of the vessel
to the condenser or cooler in combination with two or more similar apertures
for conducting the water from the cooler or condenser back again in a closed
circuit to the outside of the vessel, and arranged as herein set forth, so that
the strength of the vessel shall not be unduly impaired. I also claim sloping
the recesses by which the water is conducted from the outside of the vessel
to these apertures and to the pipe or pipes leading to the cooler or con-
denser for the purpose of easily deflecting the water into the pipe.
Sixth, I claim turning upwards the pipe that conducts the cooling water
from the outside of the vessel to the condenser or cooler, and again from
the condenser or cooler to the outside of the vessel, both as it enters and
leaves the vessel, so that a portion of this pipe may be above the water line
on both sides of the condenser or cooler, so that the condenser or cooler may
be at all times accessible without the intervention of a valve or cock to shut

page_text: off the water from the outside of the vessel. I also claim the use of the
small pipe and cock connecting the pipe at or near the summit of the turn
with the interior of the condenser to start the current of the cooling water.
I further claim the use of a 'centrifugal or rotary pump geared to the shaft
of a screw propeller in combination with a surface condenser or with a
cooler, and also forming the outlet for the cooling water below any of the
acting portions of the surface of a surface condenser or of a cooler.!
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)