AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING WATER BY THE EXHAUST STEAM OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I HERMANN HOWALDT of Dietrichsdorf near Kiel in the Kingdom of Prussia,
German Empire, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING WATER BY THE EXHAUST STEAM OF
STEAM ENGINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:...
The invention has for its object an apparatus which, being interposed between
a steam engine and its condenser of any effective construction, utilizes a portion of
the heat of the exhaust steam by generating steam which when condensed, may
serve as feed water for the steam boiler, or mixed with air and filtered may be
used as drinkable water.
The size and form of the apparatus is of no importance for the invention and
may be adapted to circumstances by any engineer: The invention can also be
used for any steam engine provided with condensation apparatus without regard
to the construction of the latter, which may be of the surface, injection or of any
other type. The accompanying drawing is given only in order that the invention
may be better understood; it is therefore more in the character of a diagram than
an elaborately finished drawing and represents a mere example of the distilling
apparatus in two modifications not differing from each other in principle.
Figure 1 is a vertical cross section.
Figure 2 is a side view partially in section.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of a distilling apparatus in which the exhaust
steam surrounds pipes carrying water.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are similar sections and views of a distilling apparatus in
which the exhaust steam passes pipes surrounded by water..
1
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. a is
a vessel of suitable shape containing water of any obtainable quality.
Enclosed in the vessel a is a second vessel b, into which the exhaust steam of
the engine enters at a suitable place 6' and which it leaves at 6' for the condenser
which is furnished with an air pump, both of which being well known apparatus
are not shown in the drawing.
For the purpose of enlarging as much as possible the heating surface, the
steam containing vessel b is crossed by a number of pipes containing water_in
communication with that which surrounds the vessel b (Figures 1, 2 and 3 ;) or a

page_text: .
portion of the vessel b is constructed as pipes, which are surrounded by water and
through which the steam passes (Figures 4, 5 and 6.)
A communication is established between the vessel a and the condenser by the
pipe c which is furnished with a suitable shut off device. The vessel a is also
provided with cleaning openings, float f regulating the flow of the water into the
vessel a, and other safety fixtures not shown, according to circumstances.
The exhaust steam of the engine passing the vessel b heats the water contained
in the vessel a.
As soon as the space above the water in a is connected with the condenser, and
with the air pump by opening the passage through pipe c, a rarefaction of the air
above the water will take place according to the low pressure produced by the
condenser or the air pump.
In consequence thereof the heated water in a
evaporates or boils. The steam produced in this way is condensed in the condenser
and used together with the water, condensed from the exhaust steam, as feed
water for the steam boiler, or mixed with atmospheric air and filtered as drinkable
water. For the latter purpose it is recommended to collect the water condensed
from the steam in a in a vessel, separated from the condenser for the exhaust
steam.
-
By these means the cleaning and the separation of the water from the impurities,
fatty and other substances which are carried along by the exhaust steam is
avoided.
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
First An apparatus which is interposed between a steam engine and the
condenser, and which consists substantially of a water vessel a connected by a
passage c which may be shut off or connected as required with the condenser, and
of a steam vessel b connected with the engine and the condenser and carrying the
exhaust steam for the purpose of evaporating the water contained in the vessel a
by the heat of the exhaust steam and of condensing the steam produced to be used
as feed water for the boiler or as drinkable water constructed substantially as
herein shown and described and for the purposes set forth.
Second: The process of distilling or evaporating water by the exhaust steam of
a, steam engine by means of the distilling apparatus a, b, interposed between the
engine and the condenser and the air pump, the space in a above the water being
connected with the condenser or with a, fresh water, apparatus.
T
ᎨᏐᏂ
T
HERMANN HOWALDT,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.