Improvements in Surface Condensers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Surface Condensers.
I, WILLIAM BRUCE THOMPSON, of Thornbank, Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
Scotland, Engineer and Shipbuilder, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in surface condensers, the object being
to condense the exhaust steam with the least possible loss of heat.
Hitherto surface condensers have been constructed in such a manner that the
exhaust steam does not come thoroughly in contact with all the circulating con-
densing pipes and the steam after condensation comes in contact with too many
pipes and for too long a time and consequently the average temperature of the
condensed steam is too low and the average temperature of the condensing water
too high, that is to say too much work is done on such condensing water, and the
range of temperature in the condenser is too great.
In carrying out my invention I divide the condenser into two or more parts,
and so lessen the range of temperature in each part, just as steam engines are
compounded, tripled or quadrupled.
Taking as an example a compound condenser, I group the circulating condens-
These groups
ing pipes into two sections, enclosing each section in its own case.
of pipes are in communication, at each end, with casings so arranged that the
cooling water may pass into one casing at the bottom, flow through the lower
group of pipes, rise through the other casing, pass back again through the upper
group of pipes into the other and upper casing and then away.
The two condensers are in communication with each other, say near one end,
and near their other ends are the inlet and outlet pipes respectively. The steam
passes into the top condenser at its top, where it meets the hottest condensing
pipes, passes along and down through the connecting pipe at the other end into
the lower condenser and then passes along to its other end from whence it flows
into the outlet pipe and away to the air pump. The condensed steam (hot water)
of the first condenser is carried away by a pipe past the second condenser and into
the pipe which conveys the condensed steam of the second condenser to the air
pump. From the foregoing it will be seen that some of the steam in the first
condenser is cooled sufficiently to convert it into water of the highest possible
temperature, and that such water then flows to the air pump without having to
pass through the second condenser, the consequence being that such water is not
further cooled nor the condensing circulating water unnecessarily heated.
Dated this 9th day of December 1898.
A

page_text: tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in surface condensers, the object being
to condense the exhaust steam with the least possible loss of heat.
Hitherto surface condensers have been constructed in such a manner that the
exhaust steam does not come thoroughly in contact with all the circulating con-
densing pipes and the steam after condensation comes in contact with too many
pipes and for too long a time and consequently the average temperature of the
condensed steam is too low and the average temperature of the condensing water
too high, that is to say too much work is done on such condensing water, and the
range of temperature in the condenser is too great.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters
and numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts.
In carrying out my invention I divide the condenser into two or more parts,
and so lessen the range of temperature in each part, just as steam engines are
compounded, tripled or quadrupled.
Taking as an example the compound condenser shown on the drawing, I group
the circulating condensing pipes 1, into two sections, enclosing each section in
its own case 2 and 3. These groups of pipes are in communication at each end
with casings 4, so arranged that the cooling water may pass into one casing at the
bottom at 5, flow through the lower group of pipes, rise through the other
casing, pass back again through the upper group of pipes into the other and
upper casing and thence away through the outlet 6. The course of such cooling
water is indicated by the arrows marked water."
The two condensers 2, and 3, are in communication with each other, say near
one end, as at 7, and near their other ends are the inlet and outlet pipes 8, and 9,
respectively. The steam passes into the top condenser at its top at S, where it
meets the hottest condensing pipes, passes along and down through the connect-
ing pipe 7, at the other end into the lower condenser and then passes along to
its other end from whence it flows into the outlet pipe 9, and away to the air
pump. The condensed steam (hot water) of the first condenser is carried away by
a pipe 10, past the second condenser and into the pipe which conveys the con-
densed steam of the second condenser to the air pump.
The steam on entering the condenser is distributed along the tubes by coming
in contact with the baffle plate 11, and being thus distributed the injection water
required is much less than it otherwise would be. The lower chamber 3, can be
utilized in marine work as a winch and donkey condenser when the vessel is in
port by shutting the sluice valve 12.
The following will show the temperatures taken from a condenser working and
constructed in accordance with my specification and drawings, the temperatures
being taken at the outside of the metal at the various places indicated.

page_text: the second condenser, the consequence being that such water is not further cooled
nor the condensing circulating water unnecessarily heated. The condensed
steam in the upper chamber having only half the tubes to pass round, and that
where the injection water is hottest, the feed water will be considerably higher
in temperature, and although it combines with the colder feed water at E, the
resulting temperature will still be high.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) In surface condensers, the combination and arrangement of parts for divid-
ing the condenser into two or more sections, substantially as described and for
the purposes set forth.
(2) In surface condensers, the combination of two or more cases 2, and 3, and
their appurtenances, with communication pipes 7, and 10, substantially as illus-
trated and described.
(3) In surface condensers, the combination of the casings 4, with communi-
cation pipes 5, 6, 8, 9, 7, and 10; and the cases 2, and 3, and their appurtenances,
substantially as illustrated and described.
(4) In surface condensers, the use of baffle plates 11, substantially as described.
(5) In surface condensers, the use of sluice valves 12, as described and for the
purposes set forth.
(6) The construction, arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as
described and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated thie 0th day of September 1899.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.