Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
of
We, ADOLPH GOTTFRIED PETERSEN and CARL EDUARD MÖLLER, both
60, Billwarder, Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, 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 :-
The object of the present invention is an apparatus for the production of fresh
water from sea water and which is specially intended for obtaining drinking water
on board ship.
The sea water is converted into steam in a cylindrical or boiler shape vessel
which consists of several stories; the steam produced traverses the vessel passing
from one story to the other through hoods or caps with downward bent pipes,
thereby the particles of sea water carried along with the steam are precipitated
and the steam freed of impurities. The steam then passes through a layer of
filtering material is cooled gradually in the upper story, and finally, completely
condensed in a condenser. In consequence of this arrangement there is an extra
pressure in the lower part of the apparatus beneath the filter and a vacuum in
the upper part.
It
In the accompanying drawing the apparatus is shewn in vertical section.
should however be observed that the drawing only illustrates one form in which
the invention is carried out deviations from which may be made in actual
construction without going beyond the scope of the invention.
(a) is the evaporation chamber which is partially filled with sea water from the
feed-reservoir (B) and is heated by means of steam or hot air passing through the
heating coils (6) such steam or hot air entering at (61) and passing out at (62). (c) is a
cleansing aperture closed by a cover, (c¹) a manometer and (c2) a water gauge glass.
Instead of heating coils a double bottom, a steam jacket or other apparatus may
be employed. The generated steam mixed with water ascends through the cap or
hood (d) into the second chamber (¹). The cap or hood is furnished with two
pipes (d) which are bent downwards. The object of these is to direct the current
of damp steam in a downward direction. The particles of water and salt and the
impurities are separated and descend through pipes (e) into the lower part of the
vessel (a). From time to time the particles of salt and impurities are removed by
opening the outlet pipe (f). Above the precipitation chamber (¹) other
precipitation chambers (a²), (a³), (a) can be arranged in communication one with
the other by means of hoods or caps (g) with bent pipes (g¹). The lower openings
of the caps or hoods are suitably covered by means of perforated lids (h) the size
of the perforations being such as can be adapted to the particular conditions. The
precipitation water is carried off through the pipe (¹) connected with the
discharge pipe (i). Coil pipes () may be arranged in the precipitation chambers
and by means of these the temperature of the chamber can be regulated according
to requirements. In the drawing it is assumed that cool water is present in the
coil pipes (k) this water flows through the pipe (4) and out through the pipe (12).
A safety valve (m) is fitted in a suitable manner to the uppermost chamber (a).
In the upper part of the chamber (a³) is a layer of filtering material (n) seated

page_text: between two perforated walls and which still further eliminates sea salt and
impurities from the steam.
Above the filtering layer a-further precipitation chamber (5) can be placed the
arrangement thereof corresponding with that of the chambers below. From thence
the steam is conveyed through a. pipe (o) (the mouth of which is covered by a
perforated valve (o¹) to a condenser of any kind as preferred. In the drawing a
tubular condenser (C) with counter current action is shewn. The steam ascends
and the purified water flows away downwards. The condensation is effected by
means of cold sea water which runs in through the pipe (g), passes through the
condensing pipes and runs out through the pipe (r). The pipe (7) can be carried
through the supply reservoir (B) and be provided with a valve operated by means
of a float (S). The valve regulates the flow of cool water according to the level of
the water supply in the reservoir (B). A part of the cool water that is being let
off can be conveyed into the supply reservoir (B).
The number of precipitation chambers can be varied at will and any desired
portion thereof be arranged above and the other portion below the filtering
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declaro that what
we claim is:-
Firstly. An apparatus for obtaining fresh water from sea water consisting of au
evaporating chamber in which the sea water is heated and of one or more precipi-
tation chambers in communication one with another by means of hoods or caps
with downward bent pipes for the purpose of separating the particles of water and
salt and the impurities from the steam and carrying them downwards.
Secondly. The arrangement of the perforated lid for closing the inlet openings
of the hoods or caps.
.
Thirdly. The insertion of a layer of filtering material of any kind as preferred at
any desired spot between the precipitation chambers for the purpose of purifying
and filtering the steam.
Dated the 17th day of June 1808
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, Loudon, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.