US1599334A - Steam-condensing and feed-water system - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 7,1926. 1,599,334

c. R. LANG. I STEAM GONDENSING AND FEED 6mm: SYSTEM Filed Sept. 10, 1925 To BOILER FEED Pum FIG m/rm Ta/P. C/LarZe-s 27% mar:

Patented Sept. 7, 1926 UNITED STATES CHARLES RUSSELL Lane, or GLASGO sco'rLAnn, ASsreNoR T0 e. a J. WEIR,

LIMITED, or GLASGOW; SCOTLAND.

rEAMpoNnEnsING Ann FEED-"WATER YSTEM.

Application filed September 10, 1923, Serial No. 661,945, and in Great Britain October 12, 1922.

This invention relates tosteam condensing and feed water systems of the type, at present in operation, which are characterized as follows 1 The water of condensation is withdrawn from the main condenser by a water-extrad takes place through an. automatic overflow grammatlc,

or relief valve. I

Provision is also made, for discharging water when necessary from the said feed tank through a return conduit to the main condenser, or to the Suction of the water extraction pump. This discharge of water takes place through an automatic return flow valve on the said return conduit. This return-flow valve is'sometimes controlled by a float situated in a well in thebottom of the condenser or in a tank in communication with the condenser.

In such systems there is, under certain conditions, a flow of water out of the main feed conduit through the said overflow or relief valve into the feed tank and at the same time a return or counter-flow of water from the ,feed tank through the said returnflow valve into the main feed conduit by way of the water-extraction pump. This simultaneous flow and counter-flow is a max imum when the plant is operating at low powers: it is a minimum when the plant is operating at full power: it absorbs energy without giving any useful efiect except that it promotes stability'of operation of the plant. I

A further disadvantage of thisfiow and counter-flow is that the feed water, which which has been freed of nearly all its air inthe condenser, is allowed to absorb air in the feed tank which is open to the atmosphere. This is an objection as itiis always desirable to keep the feed water as ,free of air as possible.

The object of thepresent invention is to eliminate this simultaneous flow and coun-V ter-flow and reduce the efilux and influx of feed water from and to the feed tank.

- The present invention-which will be de': fined in the annexed; claimsfinvolves the r operation o'fthe overflow or relief valve, as

water level.

well as the return-flow valve', by a float (an independent float .for'each valve) situated in a well in'the bottom'of the condenser or in a tank which is connected to the condenser and in' whichthe waterle'vel is maintained the Same as in the condenser and in the placing of the said two floats at different levels for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. I

The accompanying drawings illustrate the carrying of the present invention into effect in one convenient manner.- v -F1g. 1 1s a general arrangement-dia- Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the 'overflow or relief valve. 1 i

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the vice for controlling this'valve.

w is the main condenser, c the mainteed conduit, wthe water-extraction pump. 01 is the automatic valveon the return conduit 4! z is a'tank in connection with the bottomof the condenser,-'which tank contains a float which, through a relay, operates the valve (1. This relay device and its employment for this purpose are not new. The

device need not be described in detail. It w1ll suflice to say that thearrangement is such that the valve d closes with rise of water level in the tank, and opens'with fall of The water level inthe tank is the same as that in thebottom of the condenser due to the pipeconnections t, s, 1 p.

a istheoverfiow or relief valve. connected-to a piston Z) which works in a cylinder '0. 7 is a compression spring which tends to close the valve. The'cylinder 0- is hydraulically connected to the main feed conduit on the discharge Side of the water extraction pumpby means of a small pipe Situated on this pipe 6 is a relay valve 9 e. Which is controlled'bya float h' pla'ced-in a tank Q. 'The float operates the valve 9 through a lever 'VVhen the float falls, it opens the valve g and allows escape'of water from the pipe e, thus causing a fall of It is pressure in'this pipe; The chamberm of the valved is normally kept under pressure by means of the pipe 6. lVhen the pressure in this pipe falls, the pressure consequently falls in the chamber m. The pressure on the piston bis'thus relieved, and the spring f acts to close the valve'a. The consequence is that fall inthe water level in thetank Q causes the valve a to close, and rise in the waterl-evel causes the valve. to open. When the valve is open, water passes from the feed conduit through the pipe 0 to a feed tank. The water level in the tank 9 is maintained the same as that in the condenser by means of the pipe connections .32, r, n.

The float it is set at a higher level than the float in the tank a which controls the valve ZZ. Six inches is a good working diliterence in waterlevel in the generality of cases. The two water levels are indicated by the chain lines 2, and 3. The normal working water level in the condenser is at the lower float level: in this position the overflow valve is shut so that no flow out of the main feed conduit can take place. v Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is r 1-; In a steam condensing and feed water system, in combination, a condenser, a boilerfeed pump, a main teed conduit which extends from the said condenser to the said boiler teed pump, a water-extraction pump which withdraws the water from the said condenser and delivers it into and along the said main feed conduit, a feed tank, an automatic overflow valve whereby feed water may be discharged from the said main teed conduit into the said teed tank, a tank connected. to the said condenser so that the waterlevel in the tank and in the condenser are the same, a float in the said tank, ii'ieans whereby the said float operates to open the saidoverflow valve with a rise of water, level and' to close the said valve with fall in water level, a return conduit extending from the said feed tank to the suction ofthe said water extraction pump, an automatic return-flow valve on the said return conduit, a second -tank connected to the said condenser so,-that the water level in the tank and in the "condenser are the same, float in this tank located at a'lower level than the first-mentioned float, and means whereby the second-mentioned float operates to close the said return-flow valve with rise of, water level and to open the said return-flow valve with fall of water level.

2. In a steanrcondensing and feed water system, in combination, a'condenser, a boiler teed pump, a main teed conduit. which extends from the said condenserto the said boiler feed pump, a water-extraction pump which withdraws the water from the said condenser and delivers it into and along the said main teed conduit, a feed tank, an automatic overflow valve whereby feed water may be discharged from the said main feed conduit into the said teed tank,

a heat controlled by rise and an of water level in the said condenser, means whereby the said fioatoperates to open the saidoverflow valve with rise of Water leveland to close the said valve with {all water level, a return conduit extending from the said feed tank to the suction of the said watereXtracti-on pump, an autoinaticreturn-flow valve on the said return conduit, a second float controlled by rise and fall of water level in the said condenser and located at a lower level than the first-mentionedfioat, and means whereby the second-mentioned float operates to close the said return-flow valve with rise o'f water level and to open,

may be discharged from thesaid in'ain teed conduit into the said (feed tank, a tank connected to the said Condenser so that the water level in the tank and in the condenser are the same,.a floati n the said tank, a relay valve opera'tively connected to the said float, and means whereby the said relay valve functions to open the saidoverflow valve with rise of water level and to close the :said valve with fall in water level, a return conduit extending from the said iteed tank to the suction of the said water-extraction; pump, an automatic, -re turn-flow valve on the said return conduit, a second tank connected to the said condenser so that thewate'r level in the tank and in the condenser are the same, a float in this tank located at a lower level than the first-mentioned float, and means where- :the second-mentioned float operates to close the said return-flow valve. with rise or water level and to open the said return-flow valve with fall of water level.

4. In a steam condensing and feed water system, in combinatiom a condenser, a boiler feed punp, afmain ,feed'eonduit which extends from the said condenser to the said boiler feed vpump, awater-extraction pump which withclrawsth'e water from the said condenser and delivers'it into and alon'g the said main feed conduit, a "feed tank, an automatic overflow valve whereby feed water may be discharged from "the said inain feed conduit intovthe said ifeed'tank, 'a float c ntrolled by rise and lall'ol water level in the said condenser, a relay valve 'operatively connected to the said float, and means whereby the said relay valve functions to open the. said overflow valve with rise of water level and to close the said valvewith fall'in water leveha return conduitextend; ing from thesaid feed tank to the'su'ction or the said water-extraction pump, an autosaid return-flow valve with rise of Water matic return-flow valve on the said return conduit, a second float controlled by rise and fall of water level in the said condenser and located at a lower level than the first- Inentioned float, and means -whereby the second-mentioned float operates to close the level and to open the said return-flow valve with fall of water level. V e

5. In a steam condensing and feed water system, in combination, a condenser, a boiler feed pump, a main feed conduit which extends from the said condenser to the said boiler feed pump, a water-extraction pump which withdraws the water from the said condenser and delivers it into and along the said main feed conduit, a feed tank, an automatic overflow valve whereby feed water may be discharged from the said main feed conduit into the said feed tank, atank connected to the said condenser so that the water level in the tank and in the condenser are the same, a floatin the said tank, a piston connected to said overflow valve, a 7 cylinder In which the said piston works, a;

float operates to close the said return-flow valve with rise of water level and to open the said return-flow valve with fall of water level.

' 6. In a steam condensing and feed Water system, in combination, a condenser, a boiler :teed pump, a main feed conduitwhich extends from the said condenser to the said i boiler feed pump, a water-extraction pump which Withdraws the water from the said condenser and delivers it into and along the said main feed conduit, a feed tank, an automatic overflow valve whereby feed water may be discharged from the said main feed conduit into the saidieed tank, a float con trolledby rise and fall of water level in the said condenser, a piston connected to said 7 overflow valve, a cylinder in which the'said piston works,a pipe supplying said cylinder withwater under pressure, a relay valve operatively connected to the said float and controlling the escape of water from'the said pipe, a return conduit extending from the said feed tank to the suction of the said water-extraction pump, an automatic returnflow valve on the said return conduit, a second float controlled by rise and fall of water level in the said condenser and located at a lower level than the first-mentioned.

float, and means whereby the secondmentioned float operates to close the said returnflow valve with rise of water level and to open the said return-flow valve with fall or water level. I v

I hereby sign my name to this specification.

CHARLES BUS-SELL LANG.

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