US601486A - thompson - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 7 3 S heets-rSheet'L D. M. THOMPSON.

STEAM GENERATOR. No. 601,486. Patented Mar. 29,1898.

Fig- 1 WITNEEEIE.

INVENTUH.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. M. THOMPSON; STEAM GENERATOR.

No. 601,486. Patented Mar. 29; 1898. Fig". 2-

WITNIEEES. INYZNZ'UH:

(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet 3.

D. M. THOMPSON.

I STEAM GENERATOR.

No. 601,486 Patented ManZQ, 1898.

UNITED STATES DAVID M. THOMPSON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

STEAM-G EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 601,486, dated March 29, 1898. Application filed June 2, 1897- Serial No. 639,095. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. THOMPSON, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Generators; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in steam-boilers and furnaces connected therewith. y

In the economic generation of power the steam-generator performs the most important function, because the most perfect steam-engine can utilize only a portion of the heat stored up-in the steam-generator. To secure the best and most economic results, the fuel must be burned under the most favorable conditions possible for the perfect combustion of the carbon in the fuel and of the volatile gaseous products disengaged by the heat and the disintegration of the fuel on the grate. Not only mustthe proper quantity of air be supplied to the fuel and the gases, but the gases must have ample room to expand, time for each atom to combine with the oxygen of the air, and, above all, the gaseous products must be maintained at a high temperature until every atom of carbon is consumed and converted into heat.

The heat produced by the combustion of fuel may be divided into the heat of the products of combustion, which in passing through the fines or tubes of the steam-generator is absorbed by the water and stored up for useful work, and radiated heat, which can be refiected and deflected, but always acts locally on the surfaces surrounding the incandescent fuel or flame.

One object of this invention is to construct the furnace of a steam-generator so that the gaseous products of combustion may expand and,while the atomic mixture is facilitated,be maintained at a high temperature to facilitate the perfect combustion of the same.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the furnace that the expanded mixed and highly-heated products of combustion from one grate will pass over the incandescent fuel of another grate and then enter a combustion-chamber before they enter the tubes of the steam-generator.

Another object of the invention is to utilize the radiated heat of a furnace of the abovementioned construction by conducting the same into the feed-Water supplied to the generator.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the deposit of soot in the tubes of a steam-generator and the discharge of black smoke; and another object of the invention is to more completely separate the impurities held in suspension in the feed-water before the water enters the main body of the steamgenerator.

To these ends the invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of the furnaces and the combination of the parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

I have elected to illustrate in the" drawings the furnaces as applied to a vertical tubular boiler, showing the preferred form of construction, but do not wish to confine myself to the use of the furnaces in connection with this particular form or construction of the boiler.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view showing the furnaces in connection with a vertical tubular steam-boiler and auxiliary watertube steam-generators. Fi g. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the furnaces, showing the water-jacket inclosing the furnaces and the generating-tubes extending through the furnaces. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line X X of Fig. 1, showing the flame-chamberconnecting the two furnaces.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A indicates the furnace to which fuel is being supplied or has last been supplied, and A the furnace in which the fuel is in the incandescent state after the more volatile carbon has passed off. The two furnaces are separated by the partition-wall A which extends from the front to or nearly to the end of the grates A A They are in closed by the side Walls A A and covered by the arches A A preferably of fire-brick, restin g on the side Walls and the partition-wall A The two furnaces A and A are connected at the rear by the large preferably semicircular flame-chamber A and at the front by the opening A in which the swinging gate A is placed. This gate A controls the exit from the furnaces to the combustion-chamber A, and by swinging the gate from one side to the other either one of the furnaces may be connected with the combustion-chamber A Under the grates are the ash-pits A A and on the rear ends of the grates are the bridge-walls A A An opening connects the rear of the ash-pits with the Vault A in which the car A forms a convenient receptacle for the removal of the ashes.

The jacket A extends over the side walls of the furnaces around, the wall of the flamechamber, and over the arch of the combustion-chamber. The jacket is made up of sections containing each two or more compartments A separated by partitions having the openings A to form connections between all the chambers or cells in each section. The sections are connected by the pipes A with the water-supply and with the pipes A by which the heated water is delivered directly to the boiler or to a settling-chamber connected with the boiler, as is shown in Fig. 1, or to a pump, by which it is delivered to the boiler.

The furnaces are provided with any suitable fire and ash-pit doors and devices forcontrolling the draft and air-supply.

I will now describe the operations of the furnaces in their normal condition when the fires have been burning for a sufficient time to heat the fire-brick sides and arches and with the gate A in the position shown in Fig. 2, using bituminous or other coal liable to pro- 1 duce the objectionable black smoke.

The coal supplied in the usual manner to the fire in the furnace A is, owing to the fire and the great heat of the fire-brick or other refractory material of the sides and arch of the furnace, quickly heated, so as to rapidly disengage the volatile gases rich in carbon. These gases and the air drawn into the furnace expand and pass in nearly straight currents over the bridge-wall and enter the semicircular arched space of the flame-chamber, where by the change in the direction of the currents, the shape of the arched roof, the increased area of the chamber, and the heat of the walls the gases and air mix and burst into flame. The complete combustion of all the carbon in the gases and the prevention of smoke is so much a matter of atomic mixture, time, and heat that to secure the desired result I pass the gases from the flame-chamber through the furnace A, over the incandescent fuel on the grate of this furnace, and through the draft-opening A into the arched combustion-chamber A, where the now thoroughly mixed and heated gases can again expand and, under the influence of the heat of this chamber, form a final and complete union of the oxygen of the air with any atoms of carbon still remaining in the products of com bustion.

Two arched openings A A lower than the arch of the combustion-chamber A connect the combustion-chamber with the chamber A under the vertical tubular boiler B and permit the heated products of combus tion to pass through the tubes of the boiler to the chimney. The heated products of combustion may be conveyed from the combustion-chamber A to any other form or construction of boiler.

The combustion of the fuel in this furnace is so complete that, as no carbon can pass through the boiler, the smoke is of a light color, nearly invisible, because it contains no coloring-matter. No soot collects in the tubes or on any other part of the'boiler, and fine ashes are collected in the flame-chamber, the combustion-chamber, and the chamber A because by the increased area of these chambers the velocity of the flow of the gases is reduced and ashes or incombustible matter is precipitated in these chambers.

The boiler B, preferably used in connection with the furnaces, as shown in Fig. 1, is a vertical tubular boiler having the central open space E, surrounded by the tubes B The central space B connects with the central water-column B extending from the lower tube-sheet of the boiler downward to the muddrum B The circulating-tube B preferably provided with a funnel-shaped upper end, is placed into the water-column B and divides the same into a central descending and an annular ascending space.

The mud-drum 13 connects with the transverse chamber B, provided on the two opposite sides with the mud-drums B B The i blow-off pipes B B connect with the muddrums B B and the blow-off pipe 13 connects with the mud-drum B. These blow-off pipes are provided with proper gate valves, as shown in Fig. 1, and the impurities collected in these mud drums may be discharged through these blow-pipes from the bottom of the mud-drums as often as the nature of the water used requires.

The series of water-tubes B are connected with the transverse chamber B above the two mud-drums B B and extend upward through the flame chamber on an easy curve and extend in an upward-inclined direction through the furnaces A and A and have their other ends secured in one of the chambers B B located at the front of the boiler, which front is provided with suitable doors by which access is had to the chambers 13. Another series of water-tubes B extend in an inclined direction from each of the chambers B, through the combustion-chamber A and the chamber A to the fitting 13 which is connected with the steam-generator by the pipe 13. A pipe B extends from each of the fittings B downward and connects the same with one of the mud-drums B By this construction the two water-tube sections, one from each furnace, are in all respects independent of each other and free to expand and contract.

with the pipe A The steam generated in each is delivered by the pipe B to the boiler, and perfect circulation of the water in each section is secured by the pipe B which forms a direct connection between the upper ends of the water-tubes of each section with the lower water connection of the tubes. The rapid circulation of the water in these tubes B and B and their exposure to the direct action of therays of heat from the fire and the flame in the furnaces inclosed by the refractory material secures an evaporative efficiency of the highest value.

The feed-water, as has been hereinbefore described, is heated in the cellular jacket A, the several sections of which are connected The pipe B may connect the pipe A with the feed-pipe B", as is shown in Fig. 1; but I prefer to connect the pipe A with a steam or feed pump and connect the pump with the feed-pipe B", so as to relieve the cellular jacket from the pressure of the steam and the static pressure of the water in the boiler-and subject the jacket only to the pressure incident to the weight of the water in the jacket. The feed pipe terminates, preferably, in a rose B and the feed-water is delivered into the mud-drum B preferably at a point below the ash-pit.

I will now more fully describe the effect of the arrangement described on the water used in the generation of steam. As before described, the feed-water is supplied first to the cellular jacket A and its temperature is raised by the absorption of the heat conducted through the fire-brick or similar lining of the furnaces. The feed-water is preferably supplied to the lowest part of the jacket from a tank, the water-levelin which is maintained but little above the highest part of the jacket.

The water heated in the cellular jacket is preferably delivered by the pipe or pipes A connected with the upper part of each section of the jacket, to a tank, from which it is forced into the boiler by means of a feed-pump connected with the feed-pipe B". The pipe A may be connected directly to the feed-pump,

or,if the cell ular j acket A were strong enough to withstand the pressure, the feed water might be forced by the feed-waterpump' into the lower part of the jacket and the upper part of the jacket might be connected directly 'by the pipe- 13 with the feed-pipe R".

either arrangement the feed-water is heated.

to or nearly to the boiling-point in the cellular jacket, and its temperature is materially increased in its passage through the feed-pipe from the upper end of the boiler to the muddrum, where'it is preferably delivered in a divided state or spray.

\Vhen water is heated, the capacity to hold matter in suspension is diminished. The feed-water discharged from the feed-pipe in to the muddrum precipitates the impurities contained in it. A large part of the feedwater enters into the transverse chamber B more concentrated water deposits the impurities held in suspension, and the purified water reenters the water-tubes 13 and some of it the mud-drum B while a portion of the water required mixes with the water descending through the circulatingtube B and as-' cending through the annular space between the circulating-tube B and the column B This continuous circulation of the water in the boiler, by which the water, made denser by the partial conversion into steam, descends to the mud-drums and reascends in contact with the heating-surface, so facilitates the separation of the impurities and their precipitation in the mud-drums, where they are not affected by heat and may be readily blown off, that in practice after an extended use with inferior water not the slightest precipitationof impurities .or scale is found on the tube-surfaces or tube-sheet of the boiler. Efficiency and durability are secured by this arrangement.

In practice the furnaces are alternately fired. The firing and ash-pit doors of the furnace that is being fired are open and the draft-opening A controlled by the gate A is closed, while the firing and ash-pit doors of the otherfurnace are closed and the draftopening A of this other furnace is open. Then the other furnace is fired, the gate A is reversed. The gate A may be connected by suitable mechanism with the furnacedoors, so that by opening the firing-door of a furnace the gate is swung over to close the outlet of this furnace and compel the gases to pass through the flame-chamber and, the furnace not being fired, through the. draftopening A to the combustion-chamber.

, Having thus described my invention,. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In combination with a steam-boiler, a furnace divided by a partition into two separate firing-chambers, a flame-chamber in the rear her in the rear of and connecting the two firing-chambers, and a draft-opening in the front end of the firing-chambers controlled by a gate, whereby the products of combustion from one firing-chamber are made to pass through the flame-chamber and through the other firing chamber before entering the tubes of the boiler, as described.

3. In a steam-generator, the combination with the steam-boiler, of a furnace having two separate firing-chambers, a flame-chamber in the rear of and connecting the two firingchambers, a draft-opening controlled by a gate, and a combustion-chamber; the whole inclosed by fire-brick, whereby the products of combustion from one firing-chamber are made to pass through the flame-chamber, through and over the fire in the other firingchamber and through the combustion-chamber before they enter the tubes of the steamboiler, as described.

4. In combination, a steam-boiler, a furnace divided by a partition into two separate firing-chambers, a flame-chamber connecting the rear of the two'firing-chalnbers, a draftopening at the front end of the firing-chambers, a combustion-chamber, and a cellular water-jacket inclosing the furnace, whereby the more perfect combustion of the fuel is secured before the products of combustion enter the tubes of the boiler and radiated heat is transmitted by the brick lining to the water in the jacket, as described.

5. In combination, a steam-boiler, a brickinclosed furnace divided by a partition into two firing-chambers connected at the rear by a flame-chamber and at the front by a draftopening with a combustion-chamber, of a series of water-tubes, extending through the furnace, connected with the mud-drum of the boiler and with the boiler, whereby the more perfect combustion of the fuel is secured before the products of combustion enter the flues of theboiler and the radiated heat is 10- cally utilized by the water-tubes, as described.

6. In combination with a steam-boiler and a furnace divided by a partition into two separate firing-chambers adapted to be alternately fired, of two separate sections of watertubes, one section for each firing-chamber, each section connected with the mud-drum below the furnace and with the boiler above the furnace, whereby the sections may adjust themselves to variations in temperature, as described.

7. In a steam-generator, the combination with a vertical tubular boiler having a central water-column connected with a muddrum at its lower end, of the transverse chamber B provided with the mud-drums 13 B a series of water-tubes 13 and B connections between the water-tubes, the chamber 13 and the boiler, and a furnace located on one side of the central watercolumn of the boiler, whereby the heat of the fire is exerted on the water-tubes before the products of combustion enter the fiues of the boiler and the efficiency of the boiler increased, as described.

8. In a steam-generator, the combination with the vertical tubular boiler 13, the watercolumn B the circulating-tube B and the mud-drum B of the feed-water pipe B and the rose B connected with the feed-water pipe below the ash-pit, whereby the feed-water is sprayed into the mud-drum and the precipitation of impurities facilitated, as described.

9. In combination, avertical tubular steamgenerator, a central water-column extending from the lower tube-sheet downward, a circulating-tube within the central water-column, a mud-drum at the bottom of the central water-column, a feed-water pipe extending from the top of the boiler downward and terminating in the mud-drum, a transverse chamber connected with the mud-drum and provided with auxiliary mud-drums, a series of water-tubes connected with the transverse chamber, with the boiler and with the muddrums of the transverse chamber, and a furnace divided by a partition into two firingchambers and adapted to be alternately fired, as described.

10. In a steam-generator, the combination of the following instrumentalities, a furnace divided by a partition into two arched firingchambers, a semicircular arched flame-chamber connecting the rear of the two firingchambers, an arched combustion chamber above and extending across the width of the firing-chambers, a draft-opening, controlled by a gate, connecting the firing-chambers with the combustion-chamber, a cellular waterjacket inclosing the furnace structure, and a steam-boiler connected with the combustionchamber, whereby the fuel is consumed within spaces surrounded by fire-brick and the products of combustion passed through the tubes of the steam-boiler, as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

D. M. THOMPSON. WVitnesses:

JosEPH A. MILLER, 13. M. SIMMS.

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