IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKE AND FUME CONDENSERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of N° 11 Wellington Street, Strand, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKE AND FUME CONDENSERS," and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a new and useful apparatus, or means for condensing
the smoke and fumes arising from furnaces, etc; the objects of which are to avoid
the nuisances arising from escaping products of combustion, and in the con-
densation of fumes from ore furnaces, and smelters, to save much precious material
which is ordinarily carried off through the stack and is lost.
My invention consists in the introduction of water in the form of a fine spray
among the fumes, smoke, etc, at intervals transversely, within a. pipe, horizontal or
approximately so, connected with the smoke stack of a furnace.
In the present instance I show my invention as applied to an ordinary ore
furnace, or smelter, though it may be applied to any smoke stack.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings
The figure represents a side elevation of an ore furnace with my device shown
in vertical longitudinal section.
A is a furnace or smelter for working ores, and B is its stack, C is a foundation
having a pillar c.
Into the end of stack B, is let a pipe D, which rests upon the pillar c, and is
inclined slightly below a horizontal.
At one end it has a discharge d, for the condensed products, and a continuation d¹
vertically to serve as the exit for uncondensed products.
Supported above pipe d, is a water distributing pipe E, supplied with water
under pressure or head, as the elevated hopper, or tank, e herein shown, sufficiently
indicates.
Let into the pipe D, at suitable intervals, are small pipes F, having an elbow
shape, their horizontal arms which occupy a position about the centre of the
circumference of pipe D, being finely perforated at f, the end of the arm is
plugged.
The upper ends of pipes F, are connected with couplings g, on the distributing
pipe E, by means of hose G, whereby they may be removed readily when repairing,
or cleaning is necessary.

page_text: Stop cocks or valves g¹ regulate the supply of water. The water under pressure
is forced out through the finely perforated ends of pipes F in minute streams,
almost spray of themselves, and coming in contact with much force with the sides
of the pipe D, the water breaks into spray.
Through this spray the smoke, fumes, and vapors from the furnace have to pass,
None can get by without becoming thoroughly saturated with moisture, and
condensed.
The spray being applied only at intervals, clear space is left between each
pipe F, and the spray which is carried forward by the current, has time to be
thoroughly absorbed by the smoke, or fumes, before they pass through the next
spray.
The pipe D, being practically horizontal, there is no necessity for various
retarding and obstructing devices, as are used in certain kinds of smoke condensers
where the pipe is vertical and showers of water are allowed to fall therein.
I am thus enabled to keep the pipe D, free for the draught to advance the
smoke, and fumes from one spray cloud to another, leaving clear space, and time
to effect complete absorption and condensation.
The pipe D, being slightly inclined below a horizontal, causes the condensation
to go down to the discharge d, where they may be saved if valuable, or cast aside
if worthless.
All dangerous fumes and disagreeable products of combustion are thus prevented
from escaping, and nuisances consequently abated.
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. A smoke, or fume conveying passage for a furnace, having a declining or
approximately horizontal direction as it leaves the furnace, in combination with
one or more sprays of water thrown transversely across said pipe or passage and
means for the discharge of the condensed products.
2nd. The introduction of water in fine showers of spray at intervals within an
approximately horizontal pipe, connected with the smoke stack of a furnace, by
means of suitable water pipes, adapted to convey water under head or pressure
and discharge it as spray through their finely perforated ends among the smoke,
fumes, etc, passing through the pipe connected with the stack.
Dated this first day of January 1884.