Improvements in or connected with Distilling Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Distilling Apparatus.
I, ALBERT WEBSTER, of 16, Cook Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in or connected with distilling
apparatus or evaporators, and has for its object to effect the complete distil-
lation or production of fresh water from salt water in and by a single and com-
plete vessel or apparatus.
According to my invention, I provide a vessel say a cylinder, in the lower part
of which is a steam coil or coils, or nests, or other heating pipes or devices,
round the outside of which the water to be evaporated is supplied, and the level
of which can be ascertained by a gauge glass fitted in the usual manner; while
above the level of the water, or in the upper part of the apparatus, there is a
second vessel or chamber, supported in the main vessel, to which free access for
the passage of steam made in the lower part of the evaporator to the upper por-
tion is provided; and in this vessel or part of the apparatus, there is a coil or
like tubular surface, through which a cooling fluid is passed, and, by which the
steam, as it is evaporated and arrives in the upper part, is condensed.
The water of condensation falls into the second chamber; and in order to regu-
late the speed of condensation, a gauge glass is provided to the condensing cham-
ber, so that the depth of condensed water in same can be ascertained.
A delivery pipe, provided with a non-return valve, is fitted to conduct the con-
densed water to the hot well of an engine, or to any other receptacle where it may
be required.
In operation, water is supplied from any source to the apparatus, to the
required height, through a check valve, which can be regulated to maintain
same, according to the speed of evaporation. Heat is then supplied to the coils
in the usual way, and the steam evaporated from the water passes to the con-
densing chamber (either by way of an annular space between the condensing
chamber and the sides of the main casing, or by any other means of communi-
cation), enters same at the top, and is condensed by coming in contact with the
cool coils, or like cooling device, through which cold water is circulated by any
suitable means; the condensed steam falling to the bottom of the chamber
away to any desired point, through a pipe provided with a non-return valve to
prevent any back flow of water to the condenser.
By the arrangement above specified, a large quantity of steam may be con-
densed as quickly as it is evaporated, and in the same apparatus, and inconveni-
ence and expense avoided; and, moreover, in the case of the apparatus being used

page_text: in connection with a steam generator, by regulating the supply of steam and
water as required, a constant feed to the generator may be maintained.
Dated this 28th day of February, 1898.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
Improvements in or connected with Distilling Apparatus.
I, ALBERT WEBSTER, of 16, Cook Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, 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: -
-
This invention has reference to improvements in or connected with distilling
apparatus or evaporators; and has for its object to effect the complete distillation
or production of fresh or pure water from salt or impure water in and by a single
and complete vessel or apparatus.
According to my invention, I provide a vessel, say a cylinder, in the lower part
of which is a steam coil or coils, or nests, or other heating pipes or devices,
round the outside of which the water to be evaporated is supplied, and the level
of which can be ascertained by a gauge glass fitted in the usual manner; while
above the level of the water, or in the upper part of the apparatus, there is a
second vessel or chamber, supported in the main vessel, to which free access for
the passage of steam made in the lower part of the evaporator to the upper por-
tion is provided; and in this vessel or part of the apparatus, there is a coil or
like tubular surface, through which a cooling fluid is passed, and by which the
steam, as it is evaporated and arrives in the upper part, is condensed."
The water of condensation falls into the second chamber; and in order to regu-
late the speed of condensation, a gauge glass is provided to the condensing cham-
ber, so that the depth of condensed water in same can be ascertained.
A delivery pipe, provided with a non-return valve, is fitted to conduct the con-
densed water to the hot well of an engine, or to any other receptacle where it may
be, required.
In operation, water is supplied from any source to the apparatus, to the
required height, through a check valve, which can be regulated to maintain
same, according to the speed of evaporation. Heat is then supplied to the coils
in the usual way, and the steam evaporated from the water passes to the con-
densing chamber (either by way of an annular space between the condensing
chamber and the sides of the main casing, or by any other means of communi-
cation), enters same at the top, and is condensed by coming in contact with the
cool coils, or like cooling device, through which cold water is circulated by any
suitable means; the condensed steam falling to the bottom of the chamber,
passing away to any desired point, through a pipe provided with a non-return
valve to prevent any back flow of water to the condenser.
By the arrangement above specified, a large quantity of steam may be con-
densed as quickly as it is evaporated, and in the same apparatus, and inconveni-
ence and expense avoided; and, moreover, in the case of the apparatus being used
in connection with a steam generator, by regulating the supply of steam and
water as required, a constant feed to the generator may be maintained.

page_text: An apparatus according to this invention is illustrated in the sectional side and
front elevation, in Figures 1 and 2; and in Figure 3 in sectional plan taken
at A A Figure 1. Figures 4 and 5, Figure 6, and Figures 7 and 8 are sectional
views shewing modifications.
Referring to these drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 3, a is the
vessel in which the evaporative parts, and the condensing parts or means, are
comprised; and in the lower part of which water to be evaporated is contained.
6 represents coils of heating tubes through which steam is passed, these coils
being mounted on a hinged door b in the lower part of the vessel a, and sub.
merged, or mainly submerged, in the water in the bottom of the vessel.
c is a
vessel, open at the top, within the upper part of the main casing a; and d are
coils of tubing within and over this vessel, through which, cooling fluid is passed
or circulated. This coil and vessel constitute the condensing parts or means of
the apparatus. The apparatus thus comprises, a main containing vessel, having
within it, an evaporating part, and a condensing part; and in the case of a ver-
tical arrangement or type of apparatus, the evaporating part is at the lower por-
tion of the containing vessel, and the condensing part is in the upper position.
The vessel c has a conical bottom as shewn in the drawings, which is, preferably,
lined with a bad conductor of heat, e, to prevent heating of the condensed water;
and the end of the cone communicates with the exterior of a by the pipe f
through which the water of condensation is carried away, and with a water
gauge h by the pipe g, the gauge h being for the purpose of indicating the height
of water in c. These pipes and 9 serve to support the vessel c in the upper part
of the vessel a.
C
2,
The condenser coil d, has inlet and outlet branches and cocks i¹, for conveying
the cooling or condensing water to and from it, and regulating it.
In operation, salt or impure water to be evaporated is supplied from any source
to the bottom of the vessel a to the height required, say through a check valve
of any known kind by which the level of water in the vessel can be regulated
and maintained at a constant point, as required; and heat is supplied to the tube
coils in the usual way, by steam passed to and through them. The steam
thereby produced from the water in the vessel a passes by the annular space
between the walls of a and c to the upper part of the vessel a, where it comes
under the cool influence of the cooler condensing coils d; and on and around these
coils d it is condensed, and falls as water into the bottom of c. From the end
of the coned bottom of c, the water of condensation passes away by the pipe f to
any desired point; and this pipe has preferably a non-return valve f¹ on it, to
prevent any back flow of water to the apparatus.
Of course the heating surface of the evaporating part, and the cooling surface
of the condensing part, are suitably proportioned; and the rate and amount of
steam and water supplied to these parts, respectively, must be so controlled or
regulated that the condensing part shall always be capable of condensing all the
steam or vapour practically as fast as it is produced and supplied to it.
The invention is not limited or restricted to the form of the evaporative parts,
or type of heating coils or tubes, shewn in the drawings; nor, is it restricted to
the type of cooling surface or condensing parts generally shewn in the drawings.
And again, according to a modification shewn in Figures 5 and 6, the apparatus
may be of a horizontal type or arrangement; in which case the evaporating
parts (6) would be at one end, and the condensing parts (dc) at the other end,
as shewn. Also, in lieu of a surface condenser being used, in some cases, where
suitable or convenient, the steam given off from the evaporating water, instead
of being condensed by a surface condenser, may be condensed by a jet or spray
of fresh water, which has already been condensed and cooled, both condensing
water and the water condensed by it, falling into the vessel c, when they are con-
veyed away as described.
In lieu of the annular space between c and a forming the means of communi-

page_text: i
cation between the space below, and the cooling surface of the cooling part, com-
munication may be by a pipe j passing through the centre of the vessel c, as
shewn in Figure 4, while the vessel's bottom is extended out up to the case a.
On the upper end of the tube or passage j, there is a valve k, normally pressed
downwards by a spring ¹, but which is lifted and opened by the pressure of
steam generated by the evaporating portion. This arrangement is more particu-
larly suitable when it is desired to evaporate under a plus-pressure; while the
former arrangement is suitable when it is desired to evaporate under a vacuum
or minus-pressure.
In the modification shewn in end and side sectional elevation, in Figures 7
and 8, the cooling surface of the condenser part consists of straight tubes d,
arranged and acting as an ordinary surface condenser, being fixed by their ends
in tube plates d; the cooling water being admitted through the branch e, passed
through the upper set of tubes, then the lower, and then discharged through the
branch, in the usual way of a surface condenser. The vessel c for catching and
collecting the fresh water of condensation is partly cylindrical as shewn in
Figure 7; and the steam passes up from the evaporating portion below, to the
condenser parts, round the edges of the vessel c at each side. A branch o is
shewn at the top of the casing through which waste exhaust steam, as from
auxiliary engines, winches, etcetera, of a ship, can be introduced, and condensed
along with the other steam evaporated below. Of course, this extra steam to be
condensed can be introduced in any suitable part of the apparatus.
With regard to the apparatus herein described, generally, it will be seen that
by its main constructive characteristics, the space occupied, as in a ships engine
room, or other place, where it is located, will be much less than that occupied
by the apparatus now usually employed for evaporating and condensing, for the
production of fresh water from salt water; and the cost of the apparatus, both as
regards the main general parts, and also of the fittings required, is also much less.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A distilling apparatus for obtaining fresh or pure water from salt or impure
water, consisting of a vessel or body comprising within it, at one part, coils or
means for evaporating the salt or impure water contained within said part, and
at another part, condensing or cooling means, directly in communication with
the evaporating part, wherein the steam evaporated in the other part is directly
condensed and collected, and conveyed away; substantially as set forth.
2. A distilling apparatus for obtaining fresh or pure water from salt or impure
water, consisting of a body or vessel a; heating tube coils or surfaces d in one
part of the said vessel for evaporating the water; and cold water circulating con-
duits or pipes, as k, contained within a vessel c, in another part of the apparatus,
whereby the steam generated or made is condensed and collected in the vessel c;
substantially as set forth and shewn,
3. The distilling apparatus consisting of parts combined, arranged, and
adapted to operate, as shewn in and set forth with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1898.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.