An Improved Mode of and Apparatus for Generating Steam by the Aid of Molten Slag from Smelting and other Furnaces.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by EDGAR ARTHUR ASHCROFT, Electrical Engineer,
and JOHN HOWELL, Mining Manager, both of Broke Hill, in the Colony of
New South Wales.]
An Improved Mode of and Apparatus for Generating Steam by the
Aid of Molten Slag from Smelting and other Furnaces.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, 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 been specially designed with a view to utilise the waste heat
that is lost with the molten slag from smelting and other furnaces, such molten
slag, together with the heat that is contained therein, having been hitherto treated
as being of no value.
In carrying the improved process into effect, the molten slag is tapped at the
furnace mouth, and received into circular pots that are preferably constructed of
cast iron in the usual manner. The pot is then transferred in any convenient and
suitable manner to the interior of a closed chamber, that is hermetically sealed from
the outer atmosphere. Water is then forced into the closed chamber, where it will
come into contact with the surface of the molten slag in the pot, and be converted
into steam. Indeed, the closed chamber, with the contained pot of molten slag,
constitutes a flashing boiler. The steam that is generated by the water coming in
contact with the surface of the molten slag, should then be conveyed to a receiver.
from whence it may be distributed for any purpose for which it may be required.
The apparatus by means of which the above described process is carried into
effect, comprises a hydraulic ram, the head of which is formed as a table upon which
the pot containing the molten slag may be placed. The ram is provided with a
high pressure and a low pressure water supply, and with the necessary valves for
regulating the same. The head of the ram is placed vertically below a bottomless
chamber, which should be of such dimensions as to freely admit the slag pot. The
bottom edges of the sides of the chamber, and the peripheral edges of the head of
the ram, should be so formed as that when the ram head is raised, the corresponding
parts of the ram head, and the bottom edges of the sides of the chamber, should
form a joint so close that leakage of steam from the chamber should be minimised.
The closed chamber is provided with suitable valves whereby the steam, as it is
developed in the chamber, may escape into a receiver dome, or other receptacle,
from whence it may be conveyed by suitable connections to a central receiver,
distributing or condensing apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings:
:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 1-2 of Figs. 1 and 2ª.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan, the dome being removed for the purpose of shewing
the disposition of the valves leading from the closed generating chamber.
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan of the mode in which it is proposed to arrange the
apparatus on the ground in connection with the furnaces from which the slag is
drawn, and the proposed relative positions of the furnaces, generators, central
receiver or distributor, condensers, and the engines and dynamos, or other apparatus,
whereby the motive power of steam may be utilised.
B is the hydraulic
A, A are the foundations upon which the apparatus rests.
cylinder. C is the ram, the head D of which is formed as a table to receive the
slag pot E. The closed chamber is shewn at F. This chamber is closed on every
side except the bottom. When the ram head is raised with the slag pot upon it,

page_text: as shewn in Fig. 2, the head D of the ram will close the opening. To this end, the
edges of the head of the ram are bevelled at d, and the bottoms of the sides of the
chamber F are correspondingly bevelled at f; thus, when the ram head is raised to
elevate the slag pot into the chamber F, the corresponding bevelled edges will be
brought into close contact, and will form a close joint. The roof, or ceiling, of the
closed chamber F, is provided with any suitable number of outlet valves G, whereby
the steam, as it is generated in the closed chamber F, shall be allowed to escape, or
shall force its way past the valves into a steam dome or interim receiver H, that is
placed (preferably) above the closed chamber. From the dome H, the steam is
conducted to the central receiver, that is placed in any suitable position upon the
ground, or to the condensers, or is disposed of in any way that is found suitable or
expedient.
The dome H is provided with a safety valve h. The apparatus is connected with
a high pressure main I, and with a low pressure main J. The low pressure main J
is connected with a hydraulic cylinder B, by the valve j, the details of which are so
arranged that the supply and exhaust are governed by the lever K. The supply of
water from the high pressure main I is governed by the supplementary valve i,
which is operated by the lever k. The closed chamber F is provided with a ring e,
or other suitable form of pipe, to which water is admitted from the high pressure
main I through the valve ¹. The ring is for the purpose of spraying the high
pressure water upon the surface of the molten slag, and to this end is perforated.
The mode of operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the pot E, that contains the molten slag has been duly deposited upon the
ram head D, as shewn in Fig. 2, water from the low pressure main J, is admitted to
the ram cylinder D, through the valve j, and the ram head will be raised until the
pot E enters the chamber F, and the joint d-f closed. The supplementary valve i,
is then opened, and water at high pressure admitted to the ram cylinder. The
joint dfwill then be hermetically sealed against the escape of steam from the
chamber F. Feed water is then admitted to the ring e in the closed chamber F
from the high pressure main I, and sprayed upon the surface of the molten metal in
the pot E, when it will be immediately converted into steam, which will pass-through
the valves G, into the receiver or dome H, from whence it will pass along the steam
pipe H¹ to the general receiver and distributing apparatus shewn on the diagranı
Fig. 3, where the pressure should be maintained at, say, 150 lb. to the square inch,
and be utilised for driving engines, dynamos, pumps, &c., or for doing other useful
work. Instead of the steam being conveyed to a central distributing apparatus, it
may be conveyed to a suitable condensing apparatus, where it may be condensed
into water for drinking or domestic purposes, in places where there is a difficulty
in obtaining that useful element in a pure state.
7N
The feed water enters the chamber or generator F, from the high pressure system
of supply pipes, and the rate of generation of steam is regulated by the quantity
admitted. The apparatus should be provided with suitable gauges, which will
afford an indication of the rate at which the generation of steam is taking place.
As soon as the slag has parted with its heat, the steam in the chamber or
generator F that remains after the valves G have ceased to rise, may be blown off
by opening a cock or valve, and the ram lowered by opening the exhaust valves.
The spent slag is run out on to a small tramway shewn in the diagram, and dumped
or otherwise disposed of, and a pot fresh from the furnace may be introduced into
the chamber F, and the operation repeated. The high pressure system from which
the feed water is drawn for the generator, is provided with a pump and accumulator,
and may be supplied with water at about 140° Fah. from the furnace jackets, and
the clean cold water formerly used for the boilers, will be available for the furnace
jackets. The low pressure water supply may be obtained from the furnace supply
tanks, which are usually placed at a sufficient height to give the required head.
It will be seen, by referring to the diagram Fig. 3, that one chamber F is used
for each furnace L, the whole being connected by a common system of hydraulic
pipes I J, and a single accumulator M and pump P with a central receiver O, or to

page_text: a condensing apparatus, or to engines placed in various situations. A is the light
tramway that is used for taking away the spent slag and conveying it to the slag dump.
Having now particularly, described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, (as communicated to
me from abroad), I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved mode or process of generating steam by the aid of molten slag
from smelting and other furnaces, the same consisting essentially in subjecting the
molten slag to a spray of water in a closed chamber, as specified.
2. The improved mode or process of generating steam by the aid of molten slag
from smelting and other furnaces, the same consisting essentially in transferring the
molten slag, in a pot, from the furnace to a hermetically sealed chamber, and there
subjecting the slag to a spray of water, which, as it comes in contact with the
molten slag, will be converted into steam,-the latter being then conveyed from the
closed chamber to a central reservoir, to condensers, to engines, or to other apparatus
or appliances, where the motive power of steam may be advantageously employed,
as herein set forth.
3. In apparatus for the generation of steam by the aid of the molten slag from
smelting and other furnaces, the bottomless chamber into which a pot of molten slag
is introduced, the bottomless chamber being closed and sealed by the head of a ram,
or the table upon which the slag pot is placed, the table being actuated by hydraulic
or other suitable motive power, as herein specified.
4. In apparatus for the generation of steam by the aid of molten slag from
smelting and other furnaces, the combination of a hermetically closed chamber or
steam generator into which a pot of molten slag may be introduced with a spray
of water that is introduced into the closed chamber, whereby the water that is
introduced into the closed chamber shall, on coming into cortact with the molten
slag, be immediately converted into steam, as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
5. In apparatus for the generation of steam by the aid of molten slag from
smelting and other furnaces the bottomless chamber that may be closed by a rising
and falling bottom, and that is provided with an internal spray of water, in com-
bination with a steam dome or receiver into which the steam that is generated in
the closed chamber may be admitted through suitable valves, the steam being
conducted from the steam dome in any convenient manner to the work it is
required to perform, as herein set forth.
6. The combination with a smelting or other metallurgicall furnace, of a closed
chamber into which the molten slag from the furnace may be introduced in any
convenient manner, and subjected to a spray of water for the purpose of 'generating
steam, as described, the steam thus generated being conveyed away from the
closed chamber, and utilised either by condensing the same or drinking or other
purposes, or for driving machinery, as herein specified.
7. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts in the
improved apparatus for the generation of steam by the aid of molten slag from
smelting furnaces, as herein described, as illustrated in the drawings, and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 22nd June 1892.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for Applicant..