An Improved Method of Utilizing the Energy of Steam,
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Sept., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Utilizing the Energy of Steam,
I, FRANS ANDERHEGGEN, Jur., of 308, Heerengracht, Amsterdam, Holland,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is the utilization of steam in a superheated state
without the necessity of resorting to a steam superheater.
In a steam engine, with an airangement extremely easy to construct for the
process in question, and with the dead spaces calculated specially from theory;
One proceeds as follows-
The piston draws in an (heated indirectly by the exhaust of the engine or by
steam from the boiler), this air 18 then compressed (as much as possible adia-
batically) in such manner that at the end of the stroke the dead space is filled
with air heated to a high temperature and at the pressure of the steam of admis-
sion Then a quantity of steam is admitted (in the same manner as with
ordinary steam engines) and the mixture of steam and air is expanded. After the
expansion the mixture is evacuated and the aspiration of heated air recommenced.
The object of this procedure is to obtain.-
(1) The thermo-dynamical advantages of using steam superheated (without the
necessity for resorting to a superheater) as compared with saturated steam.
(2) The thermo-dynamical advantages obtained by the use of steam at a greater
range of temperatures accompanied by a more useful effect The temperature of
the steam can descend below 100° without causing condensation at the pressure
of one atmosphere absolute
Dated this 24th day of December 1898
H D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
An Improved Method of Utilizing the Energy of Steam
I, FRANS ANDERHEGGEN, Jui, of 308, Heerengracht, Amsterdam, Holland,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manne
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My present invention relates to an improved method of utilizing steam in a
most rational manner for motive power, which method consists in leading steam
and adiabatically compressed air into a space and then expanding the mixture.
I am aware that trials have been made to utilize a mixture of air and steam, but
in these methods air has been prevented from being heated by means of separato
devices, or isothermically compressed in a special apparatus, but in no method
air has been employed for the same purpose in an adiabatically compressed state.
11

page_text: By the present improved method the dead spaces in engine cylinders are con-
verted in compression spaces
The improved method toiming the subject of this invention, may be carried into
practice in any apparatus or engine but in order that the invention may be
readily understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a sectional view
of portion of an engine cylinder, in which the method is carried into effect
In said cylinder the former dead space D is converted in a compression space
(enlarged), and the cylinder is provided with an inlet-valve B, an outlet-valve G,
and an air-inlet valve A, the valve mechanism operating as in ordinary engines
01 motors
The machine works as a four cycle engine as follows In the first stroke air
in is sucked into the cylinder (hot or cold au in accordance with each special
case), in the next stroke said an is compressed adiabatically up to boiler pressure;
in the third stroke steam is admitted into the compressed air and then the mixture
expanded, and in the fourth stroke the expanded mixture is forced out form the
cylinder, whereupon the same cycle will be repeated.
It will be seen from the foregoing explanation that fiesh steam in expanded
within the compression space and that the pressure of such steam will therefore
be lowered to a certain extent, in relation with the pressure of the mixture of air
and steam produced, so that great economy will probably not be obtainable with
the usual boiler pressures, but if experience contims the theory approximately,
it will be possible to attain, with saturated steam of usual pressure without con-
densation and complicated mechanism, the economical results produced in com-
pound condensation engines.
The presence of an raised to high heat within the compression space pievents
condensation of fresh steam which on the contrary is heated far beyond its satur-
ation point by the hot compressed air When during the expansion the tem-
perature becomes less than 100° Celsius, it does not yet cause a sudden condensa-
tion of steam as the saturation heat or temperature with a mixture pressure of
absolute two atmosphere is still lower even for a mixture of two parts of an and
one part of steam (weights). However when the saturation temperature is attained,
condensation on the much hotter cylinder walls will be avoided and the latent
heat of the part of the steam converted in water becoming free prevents the
pressure and temperature from being lowered too far This constitutes a strong
reason to suppose that there is no water in the cylinder at the beginning of the
next air compression period
In this cycle steam behaves, in punciple, as a permanent gas, so that a theo-
retical estimate of steam consumption seems to be admissible Such a calculation
for a steam pressure of 105 pounds gives a steam consumption of about 19 pounds
per HP. with a 10% admission; for a pressure of 165 pounds, I find a steam
consumption of about 135 pounds with an admission of 68% In these calcula-
tions the power wanted for the suction and exhaust 18 neglected, however the
mixture could be expanded still farther as the final pressure (at the exhaust) is
still considerable.
The theory indicates that the obtainable economy is in duect proportion with
the steam pressure, so that a considerable economy may be readily attained The
new method does not require special constructions, as admission and exhaust tem-
peratures are very low.
I wish it to be understood that I do not lay claim to any special arrangement,
construction, or organization for carrying the improved method into effect or
practice.
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.-The improved method of utilizing the energy of steam, which consists in

page_text: leading steam into a cylinder or suitable receptacle containing compressed air,
aud then expanding the mixture produced, substantially as set forth.
2-The improved method of utilizing the energy of steam, which consists in
leading air or similar gas into the enlarged spaces of engine cylinders, com-
pressing said an or gas adiabatically, admitting steam into said compressed air
or gas, and then expanding the mixture produced substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 15th day of September 1899
HD FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.