Improvements in Surface Condensers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surface Condensers.
We, EDGAR CONISTON MILLS of No. 40 Victoria Buildings, Manchester,
Consulting Engineer and JOHN GEORGE CHAMBERLAIN of Messrs. Joseph
Wright & Co., Neptune Works, Tipton Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists in the adaption of the principle of construction of the
well-known "Berryman feed water heater to the purposes of a surface
condenser.
"
"
The tubes are of the usual "U" form as used in the heater referred to and are
expanded or otherwise suitably secured into one common tube plate.
""
Either the steam to be condensed or the cooling water can be passed through the
tubes, which are within the usual casing. The condenser can be constructed for
use in either a vertical or horizontal position.
The main features of our invention consists of means for ensuring the thorough
and complete distribution of the steam or water among the tubes. When the con-
denser is vertical and when the steam is admitted to the casing, coming in contact
with the exterior of the tubes we insert a plate or midfeather in the space between
the "ascending" and "descending" legs of the tubes. This midfeather extends
from side to side of the casing laterally and vertically from the crown of the arch
formed by the tubes to the bottom of the casing but at the foot a passage is formed
by which the lower part of the tube space on both sides of the midfeather can
communicate with the condensed water outlet to the air-pump. The steam is
admitted at one or both sides of the casing at or about at right angles to the said
midfeather the opening or openings of admission being extended laterally as a belt
to allow the steam to spread around the tubes. Above and below the belt we
insert baffle shelves which prevent the steain from travelling vertically along the
annular spaces between the tubes and the casing or the central space thus compelling
it to strike in among the tubes.
In another form of our invention we admit the steam by one or more inlets at a
point or points opposite to the arch or central space between the tubes so as to
inject the steam into that space. In this case the steam is prevented from descend-
ing by that space to the bottom of the condenser by means of a baffle or deflector
In the case
plate extending across the said space a short distance below the inlet.
of a single inlet this plate is preferably inclined upwards from the inlet so as to
compel the steam to ascend among the arched tubes. A similar annular deflecting
shelf is placed around the tubes at about the same level as the commencement of
the central baffle. In both these forms we make the top cover of the condenser to
fit as nearly as possible to the tubes.
In the case of a horizontal condenser which is more suitable for applying the
cooling water to the exterior of the tubes and the steam to their interior we so
bend the tubes that the distance apart of the open ends of the "U" is somewhat
greater than twice the radius of the "bend." We place the tubes with the plane
of the "U" vertical so that by this means we obtain a "drop" or drain in both
legs of all the tubes in the direction of travel of the steam.
In this horizontal form when the cooling water is outside the tubes we also
insert the midfeather within the central space and cause the water preferably to
flow in the opposite direction along the tubes to the course of the steam within'

page_text: them. The midfeather may also he made use of to support the tubes near the
bend.
In horizontal condensers we may when preferred cause the cooling water to flow
within the tubes and the steam outside and in this case it is not necessary to obtain
the incline in the tubes but the condenser body itself is inclined in the usual way
to drain off the condensed water to the outlet. In either case we apply the annular
baffles referred to in the above description of our vertical condenser as baffle
shelves.
Dated this 9th day of March 1895.
We, EDGAR CONISTON MILLS of No. 40 Victoria Buildings, Manchester,
Consulting Engineer, and JOHN GEORGE CHAMBERLAIN of Messrs. Joseph
Wright and Company, Neptune Works, Tipton, 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 :-
Our invention consists in the adaptation of the principle of construction of the
well-known "Berryman'
" feed water heater to the
purposes of a surface
condenser.
*
The tubes are of the usual "U" form as used in the heater referred to and are
expanded or otherwise suitably secured into one common tube plate.
"
Either the steam to be condensed or the cooling water can be passed through
the tubes which are within the usual casing. The condenser can be constructed for
use in either a vertical or horizontal position.
The main feature of our invention consists of means for ensuring the thorough
and complete distribution of the steam or water among the tubes.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 we illustrate our invention in
vertical form, and Fig. 5 in horizontal form. Like reference letters refer to the
same or similar parts.
A is the exterior casing, B the tubes, D a central midfeather.
When the steam is admitted to the casing A it comes into contact with the
exterior of the tubes B. The midfeather D is inserted between the ascending and
descending legs of the tubes. It extends from side to side of the casing A
laterally and vertically from the crown of the arch formed by the tubes to the
bottom of the casing but at that point a passage is formed by which the lower part
of the tube space on both sides of the midfeather can communicate with the
condensed water outlet to the air pump as shewn at c, Fig. 2. The steam is
admitted at one or both sides of the casing A at or about at right angles to the
midfeather D the opening or openings of admission being extended laterally as a
belt to allow the steam to spread around the tubes as shewn at d. Above the belt
we insert baffle shelves C which prevent the steam from travelling vertically along
the annular spaces between the tubes and the casing or the central space thus
compelling it to strike in among the tubes.
In another form of our invention we admit the steam by one or more inlets at a
point or points opposite to the arch or central space between the tubes so as to
eject the steam into that space. In this case the steam is prevented from descend-
ing by that space to the bottom of the condenser by means of a baffle or deflector
plate extending across the said space a short distance below the inlet. In the case
of a single inlet this plate is preferably inclined upwards from the inlet so as to
compel the steam to ascend among the arched tubes. A similar annular deflecting

page_text: shelf is placed around the tubes at about the same level as the commencement of
the central baffle. In both these forms we make the top cover a of the condenser
to fit as nearly as possible to the tubes.
In Figs. 1 and 2 E and E' are the steam inlets of which one or both may be
used. Fis the outlet for condensed steam water and vapour leading to the air
pump. G is the inlet and H the outlet for the cooling water. When the steam is
passed through the tubes H or G or both of them become the steam inlets, and E
the cooling water inlet and E' its outlet. In this case an outlet for the water and
vapour of condensation is provided at the lowest point as shewn dotted at J com-
municating with both chambers g and h, and F is dispensed with.
In the case of a horizontal condenser (see Fig. 5) we so bend the tubes that the
distance apart of the open ends of the "U" is somewhat greater than twice the
radius of the "bend." We place the tubes with the plane of the "U" vertical so
that by this means we obtain a "drop or drain in both legs of all the tubes in the
direction of travel of the steam.
"
In this form we also insert the midfeather D which may also be made use of to
support the tubes near the bend.
holes d¹ d¹ to drain the
E is the steam inlet,
Or the direction of the
When the steam is external to the tubes we provide
condensed water through the midfeather to the outlet F.
Gas before the cooling water inlet and H its outlet.
current may if desired be reversed.
When the cooling water is external to the tubes, E becomes the water inlet, and
F the outlet or vice versa. G is in this case the steam inlet and the inclination of
the tubes causes the condensed water to drain to the outlet shewn dotted at F', and
H is dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A surface condenser having tubes bent into the form of a "U" and both
ends of the tube securely expanded into the same tube plate substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. The midfeather in combination with the "U" tubes substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. The deflector plates or shelves in combination with the "U" tubes and the
midfeather substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In horizontal surface condensers the "U" shaped tubes having the legs
spread to obtain a fall substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
5. In horizontal condensers the "U" shaped tubes in combination with the
midfeather and deflector plates substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of January 1896.
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS.
JOHN GEORGE CHAMBERLAIN.