Improvements in Steam and Vapour Condensers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb.,
4004
2001
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
Date of Application
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam and Vapour Condensers.
PETER DUNLOP 10 Thurlow Terrace Larkhall Rise Clapham London S.W.
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object the application to steam engines, surface
condensers, vacuum pans or other machines and apparati in which steam or other
vapour is to be condensed, an improved form of condensing apparatus, and
dispensing with air-pumps and water pumps generally used for the purpose of
condensation, and saving the power required to work such pumps.
For ordinary jet condensation the condenser may be of any of the forms
commonly in use, that is, a chamber with a branch for the steam or vapour to be
condensed, to enter, and a branch for the water of condensation.
In the case of surface condensers the injectiou water is not brought in contact
with the steam or other vapour to be condensed, the steam or vapour circulating
inside the tubes or condensing surface and the condensing water outside such
surface.
The condenser whether for jet or surface condensation is divided by a diaphragm
into unequal divisions which may be called the upper and under chambers. These
chambers communicate by means of a valve or valves on the diaphragm which open
automatically as described further on. In jet condensers the upper chamber is
always open to the exhaust and injection pipes, and the lower chamber or chambers
to the air through a flap or other valve, and to the "pulsometer" as described later.
There is nothing novel in dividing jet injection condensers into an upper and lower
chamber, blow through and other forms of condensers having been so constructed
in the past.
In surface condensers the upper chamber contains the tubes or other condensing
surface, and into this chamber open the injection pipe or pipes, the lower chamber
being constructed as already described.
"
77 66
The present invention consists in the application, to such condensers, as already
described of a pistonless steam pump or pumps commonly known to practical men
as "The Pulsometer,' Pulsator,' Aquapult," "Aquathruster," or other designa-
tions in use for this class of pump. To avoid repetition and for simplicity of
description I shall use the generic term "pulsometer," to include, and to describe
the various forms under which this pump is used and whether constructed of one or
more barrels.
. !
The first modification consists in the application of a "pulsometer" with one
barrel to the lower chamber of the condenser for the purpose of forming a vacuum
therein and also for the purpose of discharging the water or water and vapour of
condensation from the upper and under chambers of the condenser.
The lower chamber is in communication, by means of any known form of non-
return valve, with the "pulsometer" between its suction and discharge valves, and
also with the "pulsometer" above its discharge valve. The usual suction connection
of the "pulsometer "may communicate with any convenient supply, but preferably
with the hotwell or discharge of the condenser. To actuate the "pulsometer
steam of a pressure a few pounds above that of the atmosphere is used: The
steam may be taken from a boiler direct and passed through a reducing valve, or

page_text: 66
"
from the valve chest or receiver in the case of compound engines, or any other
source of supply where the necessary excess pressure can be obtained. The action
of the condenser is as follows: the " pulsometer" being filled with water and
steam being admitted, the water is forced out through its discharge valve into the
lower chamber and also the water present in this chamber through the flap or foot
valve into the hotwell or other receptacle. When the steam in the "pulsometer
arrives at the bottom of the barrel or passage leading to its discharge an
instantaneous condensation takes place and a vacuum is formed in the manner well
known in "pulsometers," the non-return valve between the lower chamber and the
pulsometer" now opens and admits the air or air and vapour from the lower
chamber to the "pulsometer" and forming a vacuum therein as in the barrel of
the "pulsometer." On the vacuum being formed in the lower chamber the valve
or valves in the diaphragm between the lower and upper chambers opens, and
allows the products of condensation from the upper chamber to pass into the lower
chamber. At the same time as these actions are taking place the suction valve of
the "pulsometer" has opened and filled the barrel with water, against which the
non-return valve closes and prevents the water from entering the lower chamber
from the "pulsometer.' The water with its contained vapour or air is now forced
out of the "pulsometer" through its discharge valve into the lower chamber as
already described, and so on continuously. A pipe may be connected from the top
of the upper chamber to the lower one for the purpose of drawing off the air that
collects therein and which may fail to pass out with the products of condensation,
the air pipe being fitted with a non-return valve.
In surface condensers the air pipe is connected with the space into which the
condensed products are led, for drawing off the air as in an ordinary air pump, in
the case of steam or similar vapour, and a feed or other pump drawing the
condensed liquid and forcing it to a boiler or for any other purpose.
On starting the condenser the air is exhausted by means of the "pulsometer" as
already described, the condensing water flows in from any source, as if drawn by
an ordinary pump, the exhaust steam or vapour being condensed on entering and
so on continuously.
"6
The second modification consists in dividing the lower chamber into two parts
and also the upper chamber as far as its discharge valves, and applying a two barrel
pulsometer," one barrel being connected to each division of the lower chamber as
already described under the first modification. The practical effect of this
arrangement is to ensure a continuous discharge from the upper chamber or
condenser proper into one or other of the lower chambers. This arrangement
being particularly suited to quick running engines or where a number of vessels
have to be exhausted into one condenser.
The third modification is in forming a supplementary suction to the "pulsometer"
in addition to that from the hotwell or discharge, from the same source as the
injection or other place, to keep up the supply of water to the "pulsometer" when
applied to condensers for slow going engines or from vessels where the exhaust
is intermittent. This additional suction, may be used on any of the already
described modifications to form, or add to, the injection or discharge or both at will
by means of suitable connections.
The fourth modification consists in the application of a float or similar device to
the upper or to the lower chambers, with connected mechanism, to regulate the
admission of steam to the "pulsometer."
It will be observed from the foregoing. descriptions that any required. practical
temperature of discharge from the condenser may be obtained by adding to the
quantity of steam supplied to the "pulsometer."
Dated this 27th day of February 1804

page_text: I, PETER DUNLOP Mechanical Engineer 10 Thurlow Terrace Larkhall Rise
Clapham S.W. 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 for its object the application to steam engines, vacuum pans,
surface condensers, or other machines or apparati in which steam or other vapour
is to be condensed an improved form of condensing apparatus and dispensing with
air and water pumps generally used for the purpose of condensation, and saving the
power required to work such pumps, and consists in the application of a steam
pump known to practical men as "The Pulsometer" "Pulsator" "Aquathruster" or
other designations in use for this class of pump. The term "pulsometer" is used
in the following descriptions for the sake of simplicity.
In the drawings hereto annexed Figure 1. Sheet 1 is the first modification of my
invention representing the apparatus in vertical section.
A is the upper chamber, B the under chamber. C is the hotwell or discharge
open to the air, and D the pulsometer. E is the inlet pipe for the water of
condensation. F the injection valve. G handwheel for regulating the admission of
injection. H is the inlet branch of which there may be more than one for the
steam or vapour to be condensed, I is a perforated shell for subdividing the
inlet vapour. At the bottom of chamber A is a valve J on grating J₁ which
allows communication, when opened, between chamber A and chamber B. K is
a door for access to valve J. L is an air pipe with non-return valve L' from
chamber A to chamber B. At the bottom of chamber B is the foot or discharge
valve M on grating M¹ opening into the hotwell. The pulsometer D is shown of
the one barrel type with suction valve N, and discharge valve O, and non-return
air valve P between pulsometer and chamber B for the admission of the contained.
air in the chamber B to the "pulsometer." Q is a suction to "pulsometer" from
chamber C or it may be taken from some other source. Chamber B is also in
communication with the "pulsometer" by an opening or passage R leading from
above the "pulsometer" discharge valve 0, to eject the contents of chamber B.
S is the steam inlet to the "pulsometer." T the outlet or waste from hotwell
or discharge chamber C.
The action of the condenser is as follows:-The "pulso eter" D being filled
or charged with water from the hotwell C or other source; and steam admitted.
by pipe S the water is forced out of the "pulsometer" through the discharge
valve and passage R into chamber B and also any water and vapour contained
therein out through the foot or flap valve M into the chamber from which
the condensed water may be taken to feed boilers or for other purposes.
When
the steam in the "pulsometer" D enters the opening or passage U an instan-
taneous condensation takes place, in the manner well known in " 'pulsometers,'
forming a vacuum in the "pulsometer" D, the non-return valve P opens and
allows a vacuum to be formed in the chamber B, the foot valve M is kept closed
by the atmospheric pressure in chamber C, the valve J between the upper
chamber A and under chamber B opens and allows the contents of chamber A
to pass through into the chamber B, the non-return valve L' on pipe L will
also open if there is any contained vapour in the upper part of chamber A
which has failed to pass out by valve J. At the same time as these actions
are taking place the suction valve N of the "pulsometer" has opened and filled
the barrel of the "pulsometer" D with water against which the non-return
valve P closes and prevents the water entering into chamber B whilst the

page_text: "pulsometer
is making its suction stroke-the "pulsometer " D being filled
with water and air the steam is again admitted the water and air is now forced
out of the "pulsometer" through its discharge valve O and opening R into the
lower chamber B, closing valve J and valve L', opening the foot valve M and
discharging the contents of chamber B into the hotwell or other place.
The chambers A and B are exhausted by the pulsometer D on starting and so
causing the water of condensation to enter by valve F and pipe E as if drawn by
an ordinary pump, the exhaust steam or vapour being condensed on entering
through branch H, and so on continuously.
The steam for actuating the "pulsometer" is a few pounds pressure above that
of the atmosphere so as to enable the "pulsometer " D to eject the contents of
chamber B into the air.
If the steam supply to the pulsometer is taken from a boiler or similar source a
reducing valve is used on the " pulsometer" steam pipe to get the required pressure
for working the apparatus. Or the supply can be taken from the steam chest of an
engine or from the receiver in the case of a compound engines.
It is to be understood that the "pulsometer" part of the apparatus only acts to
eject the contents, and to create the vacuum, in chamber B once in about every
ten strokes of an engine, and to the amount of condensation water required will be
added about ten per cent. of the total quantity.
Figure 2 Sheet 2. represents the improved condensing apparatus as applied to
surface condensers. A vertical section is shewn of an ordinary tubular condenser
but other forms of condensing surface can be used.
The same letters of reference are used as in Figure 1. and with additional letters
where the surface condenser differs from a jet condenser.
The condensing water entering by pipe E. passes through the perforated plate V
and is spread over the tube surface of the condenser. The steam or vapour to be
condensed enters by branch H. and passes through the tubes W. in which it is
condensed by the water outside the tubes. The products of condensation flows out
of the tubes into chamber X. where they can be drawn off at branch Y, by a feed
or other pump, the air passing by pipe L and non-return valve L' to chamber B.
The "pulsometer" part of the apparatus is in the position shown for the sake of
clearness, but it may occupy any other relative position found convenient to the
particular case. The action of the apparatus is the same as that described under
Figure 1. Sheet 1.
The second modification is represented by Figures 3 and 4. Sheet 3. which are
vertical sections of the condenser. The same letters of reference apply as in Figure 1.
Sheet 1. but the lower chamber B is divided by a diaphragm Z. into two parts,
each division having its own valves as in a single chamber. In this modification a
double barrel pulsometer D is used, the pulsometer is actuated by one steam valve
between the two barrels as is the common practice, the valve opening alternately to
the barrels, the resulting action is that the one or the other chamber B is being
acted on by the pulsometer D. and so ensuring a more continuous discharge from
chamber A and thus increasing the efficiency of the condenser, particularly where
a number of vessels have to be exhausted or when applied to quick running
engines.
The third and fourth modifications are shewn by Figure 5 Sheet 4. the same
letters of reference apply as in Figure 1. Sheet 1. with the additional connections
under the third and fourth head. A' is the additional suction to the pulsometer D.
fitted with a non-return shut down valve B¹. The float C¹ and connections shew
the fourth modification, when the chamber A is filled the float C₁ rises and acts
upon the tappet D' on rod E' and by means of levers F¹ and G' and rod H and
lever the steam valve J" on the pulsometer steam pipe is opened and the steam
admitted to the pulsometer, the reverse action taking place when the float C
descends. The third and fourth modifications are applicable to slow going engines,
and when condensation is only required at intervals of time.
It is to be understood that the discharge from chamber B may be raised to a

page_text: higher level than the condenser if desired, and that the temperature of the discharge
can be varied by the quantity of steam admitted to the pulsometer.
The division of a condenser into an upper and under or second chamber is
not new.
The application of a pulsometer to draw off the contents of a condenser directly
is not novel.
But according to this invention it will have been observed from the descriptions
and drawings that the pulsometer is applied indirectly, that is, to a second chamber,
and that the contents of said chamber do not pass through, but are ejected by, the
pulsometer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
The mode of working steam and vapour condensers by means of "pulsometers,"
the pulsometer being in communication with a second chamber or chambers for the
purpose of forming a vacuum therein, and also for the purpose of ejecting the
contents of said second chambers in the manner described and shewn by the figures
in the several sheets of drawings hereto appended, or any mere modification
thereof.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1894.
PETER DUNLOP.