US1662630A - Liquid-treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

H. BERQUIST LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS March 13, 1928.

Original Filed March 2 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 13, 1928. 1,662,630

H. BERQUIST LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 29, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 l 1 J2 J56 0 8 Z 290 25 v oggigfz g 0 0 i 0 o J3 March 13, 1928.

' H. BERQUIST LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Ori in l Filed March 29, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 AWN Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES HUGO BERQUIST, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'I'O WILLIAM OF 'PITTSBURGH,

PATENT OFFICE.

S. ELLIOTT, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID-TREATING nrrnnarus.

Application filed March 29, 1922, Serial No. 547,868. Renewed December 29, 1988.

The present invention relates broadly to liquid treating apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of this character adapted to degasify or deaerate water for use in heating systems, boiler installations, econo mizers, and the like to decrease the incrustation producing or corrosive properties of the water. i

it has heretofore been customary in apparatus of this general character, as illustrated for example in the patent to V. S. Elliott No. 1,321,999 of November 18, 1918, to provide a series of separate organized pieces of apparatus to carry out the various functions. Such separate pieces are assembled inany desired relationship, one exterior to the other, by the use of suitable piping or connections. Such a construction not only involves a great deal of expense, but also entails a certain loss of pressure due to the resistance to vapor --tlow through the connecting piping or passages. This is partic ularlytrue of the flow between the evaporate ing chamber and the condenser. The result is necessarily a loss or decrease of efficiency. By the present invention these objectionable features are obviated, and advantageous results are produced.

I have also found that where vapor enters a condenser through a relatively restricted inlet there is apt to result a flow through the nests of tubes localized at the point where the vapor is introduced. This operation results from the use of separate units or pieces of apparatus assembled as referred to. By an organization in accordance with the present invention ll am able to produce a uniform flow through the condenser, and also to maintain therein the desired vapor velocity. V

ltn the accompanying drawings there is shown for pur oses of illustration only one embodiment o? the present invention. It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction and operation of the apparatus disclosed and described herein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or scope of my broader claims. As the invention becomes better understood by reference to these drawings and the accompanying specification, the foregoing and other desirable objects and advantages will become apparent.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view, partly broken away,

line

liquid to be treated is first heated and then I enters a chamber wherein there is maintained a pressure such that a portion of the liquid evaporates. This evaporation is due to an instantaneousboiling orexploding of the liquid resulting from the liberation of heat supplied by the liquid itself. This reill) sults in the release of the entrained air and gases, the condensable portionof which is condensed. This condensing is preferably effected in such manner that the heat released by the vapors and gases is utilized.

in carrying out the present invention there may be provided a container 2 preferably of generally cylindrical shape having removable heads 3 and 4. This container, in accordance with the present invention, may constitute a casing within which are arranged all or part oi? the diflerent units utilized in effecting the desired treating operation of the liquid. With this form of my invention the liquid to be treated may be supplied to the apparatus through a suitable inlet connection 5 communicating with a chamber 6 on the head 1. This chamber is in turn adapted to deliver the liquid to a portion of the tubes 7 of a two pass condenser located within the container 2. The opposite ends of the tubes 7 discharge the liquid into a header 8 carried by the head 3. This header delivers the liquid to the other tubes 7 of the two pass condenser, which tubes are effective for returning the liquid to the header 6 provided with an outlet connection 11 which ma lead to any desired form of feed water any desired point with respect to the container 2. In, some instances I have found it desirable to position the feed water. heater entirely within the container 2.

After leaving the feed water heater in which it is raised to any desired temperature, the liquid is adapted to be delivered to a master controlling valve 12, the flow through which may be controlled by a suitably arranged float operated mechanism 13 actuated by the level of the liquid within till eater located at the container 2 in any desired manner. After leaving the master controlling valve 12, the liquid is adapted to be delivered through a suitable connection 14 to one or moresecondary valves 15. These valves 15 are preferably of the construction shown and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 536,371, filed February 13, 1922. In accordance with this form of my invention the secondary valve comprises a. chamber 16 preferably vertically disposed and of such-depth as to permitthe accumulation of any desired head of water above the valve 15. Extending upwardly from each of the valves, and secured thereto in any desired manner, is a valve stem 17 which passes through a suitable bushing or packing 18 in the casing 19. The upper end of each of the valve stems is preferably screw threaded to receive an adjustable follower head 20 by means of which the compression of the spring 21 may be varied as desired. The upper end of the valve stem, and also the compresion spring, may be enclosed in any desired manner as by a removable v'here a secondary valve of this construction is utilized, it will be apparent that the compression spring may be adjusted to any desired extent to thereby determine the static head of water Within the chamber 16 necessary to open each of the valves. For example, if the spring is so set that the static head necessary to overcome the tension thereof is equivalent to two feet of water, as soon as the water rises in the chamber to a distance of two feet above the outlet of the valve it will immediately begin to open. As the head of water increases, the extent to which the valve opens likewise increases. This insures a uniform velocity of discharge by means of which the rate of distribution and manner of distribution can be accurately controlled.

For effecting a further breaking up and distribution of the liquid, the secondary spray valve is adapted to deliver the liquid to suitably arranged distributers 23 in the chamber 24 within the container 2. The spring of the secondary spray valve naturally restrains the opening of the valve, whereby the liquid will issue into the chamber 24 with considerable velocity. This, in combination with the distributers, efl'ectivcly breaks up the liquid into fine particles or thin sheets, enabling the entrained gases and vapors to immediately free themselves from the liquid.

Within the chamber 24 I maintain a pressure having such a value that the heated.

liquid sprayed thereinto will be instantly boiled or exploded, due to the release of a portion of its contained heat, resulting in the partial evaporation of the liquid and the instantaneous release of the entrained air and gases. For example, if I maintain within the chamber 24 a pressure of five pounds per square inch absolute, water would boil in this chamber at a temperature of approximately 162 F. If the temperature of the water immediately before it passes the valve 15 is in excess of 162 F., a portion of it will be evaporated.

The vapor released during this evapora tion, together with the released gases, will enter the condenser and pass around the tubes 7. Due to the location of the condenser within the container 2, there may be an opening 25 therein extending the entire length, or a major portion of the length, of one side of the condenser. This permits a uniform flow through the nests of tubes within the condenser of a character which can not be produced when the vapor and gases are locally supplied to. the condenser through a restricted inlet. Furthermore, with a condenser of the construction illustrated, it will be apparent that the area available for the flow of the vapor and gases therethrough decreases toward the outlet 26 of the condenser. This arrangement permits a proper proportioning of the flow areas for the vapor and gases therethrough. It is desirable to have the available flow area diminished as the vapor penetrates into the condenser. This is true for the reason that the vapor is condensed by the first tubes against which it impinges, so that the volume of flow decreases as the penetration into the condenser increases. In order to maintain a constant velocity, or a velocity of such nature that the tubes are swept clear of any accumulation of gas or vapor, it is desirable that the flow area should decrease as set forth.

During the passage of the vapor and gases through this condenser, it will be apparent that the heat thereof is absorbed by the incoming liquid passing through the tubes 7. In this manner the heat of the vapor and gases is utilized in effecting a partial preheating of this liquid. The primary condenser also serves the purpose of establishing and maintaining a definite pressure in the chamber 24. whereby the results hereinbefore set forth may be produced.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that when the apparatus is operating under a vacuum, non-condensable gases may he removed therefrom in any desired manner, as, for example, by the use of suitable air exhausting mechanism such as an ejector.

In some cases, it may be desirable to maintain within the chamber 24 a temperature. for example at atmospheric pressure. In such a case the use of an ejector is not required, as the non-condensahlc gases may escape directly to the atmosphere. In the drawings, there is illustrated a form of apparatus adapted to operate at atmospheric pressure, but it will be understood that the utility of the invention is not limited in this respect. With this form of my invention, the secondary condenser, provided where'an ejector is utilized, may. obviously be eliminated. Such an ejector and secondary condenser is disclosed and claimed in my divisional application Serial No. 198,912 filed June 15, 1927. In the form shown, the non-condensable gases escape directly to the atmosphere through the outlet 26. With this construction, the raw liquid bee fore it goes to the heater will pass through the tubes of the primary condenser, and after leaving the heater will pass through the master control valve and the secondary valve into the chamber'24. The temperature of the liquid in the heater will preferably be raised to a temperature in excess of that corresponding to atmospheric pressure.

In some cases it may be desirable or necessary to reduce the temperature of the liquid after it hasbeen treated in the chamber 24 and the air and gases removed therefrom. In such cases I may provide a heat exchanger 30 placed in the bottom of the chamber 24, through which the raw liquid to be treated may pass on its way to the primary condenser. Within ,the heat exchanger there may be provided a series of chambers 31 having communicating openings 32 between adjacent chambers, the openings being located ad acent dlfi'erent ends of the exchanger .whe'reby a tortuous path of travel therethrough is provided. The treated liquid flows from the chamber 24 into the exchanger through the' inlet 33 and is adapted to leave the exchanger through'the opening 34. The outlet opening communicates with a chamber 35 with which the outlet connection 36 forwithdrawing the treated liquidcommunicates.

Located within the chambers'31 of the heat exchanger are tubes 37 communicating.

inlet 5 of the primary condenser. With this construction a considerable heating surface is provided whereby the treated liquid leaves the apparatus at a temperature considerably lower than 212 F., or the temperature maintained within the chamber 24.

By the present invention there is provided an apparatus which utilizes advantageously the spaces within the chamber of the container, thereby reducing the cost of independent condensers and heat exchangers necessary for the practice of this system of liquid treatment. The apparatus is compact, accessible and may be inexpensively installed. Itthus possesses many advantages over apparatus as heretofore provided for this general purpose.

I claim:

1. In a liquid treating apparatus, a container having an evaporating chamber there in, means for spraying liquid into said chamber to permit the release of air and gases from the liquid, means within said chamber for reducing the temperature of the liquid after the escape of the air and gases therefrom, and means within said chamber for condensing the condensable portion of the air and gases released from the liquid, said two last mentioned means being connected in series.

2. In a liquid treating apparatus, a container having a liquid space and a vapor space, a heat exchange unit located in said liquid space, a heat exchange unit located in said vapor space, both of said units comprising a series of tubes, and means for passing the liquid to be treated in series into and throu h the tubes of said units.v

3. a liquid treating apparatus, a container having a liquid space and a vapor space, a plurality of heat exchange units in said vapor space, a heat exchange unit in said liquid space, allof said units compris ing a series of tubes, and means for passing the liquid to be treated successively into and through the tubes of said units.

4. In a liquid-treating apparatus, a container having a liquid space and a vapor space, a heat exchange unit located in said liquid space, a heat exchange unit located in said vapor space, and means for passing the liquid to be treated first through said first mentioned unit and then through said second mentioned unit in series.

5. In illiquid-treating apparatus, a con tainer having a liquid space and a vapor space, a heat exchange unit in said liquid space, a plurality of heat exchange units in said vapor space, and means for passing the liquid to be treated successively into and through all of said units with the liquid in said liquid spac 6. In a liquid treating apparatus, a container having a liquid space and a vapor space, a heat exchange unit located in each ofsaid spaces, each of said units comprising a series of tubes, and means for passing the liquid to be treated through the tubes of said units in series.

In testunony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' HUGO BERQUIST.

passing first through the heat exchange unit

Images