US1012625A - Steam system. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. GAMBLE. STEAM SYSTEM. APPLICATION PILED 1111 1 24, 1910.

1,012,625.. 1 Patent ed Dec.26,191 1.

I Systems, of which ably utilized in'a steam turbinepecially UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSE??? W. GAMBLE, OF P HILADELPHIlIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HARRISON SAFETY BOILER \VORKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANHL A COIARTNERSHIP.

STEAM SYSTEM.

T0 allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Joserif GA-unnn. a citizen of the [*nit ed States. residing in the city and county of Philadelphia .and State-of Pennsylvania; have invented certain new and useful Improvements infiteam the ,following is a specificatio'n.

This invention relates to steam systems in which areemployed apparatus for utilizing exhaust-steam from any suitable source, as forinstanee from one or more reciprocating engines. Heretofore exhaust steam from air engine has been-carried to and utilized in a p'rime mover, such as a low-pressure steam tu'rbine-z also, lti-dS'COll'thlOfl to employ-=such exhaust steam in a feedwater heater for heating'avater which is afterward fed to the boilers supplying steam to the engine. "The present invention is directed to the'p'rovisionof a' system in which the exhaust-steam from one or more engines is' enip'loy'ed in part in a. lowpressure prime mover and in part in a feed-water heater or other heating or drying: system. both of these devices being supplied with steam from the same source. 'VVhen 'a steam en zine of the reciprocating type is" operated without employing a condenser'in the exhaust line; the steam exhausted from the cylinder is at a pressure considerably above atmospheric pressure. This steam passing from the engine, in ad dition to being'substantially above atmospherio-pressure. is supplied practically constantly during the operation of the engine .in an amount dependent; upon the worlt he'- ing done by the enginealt therefore repres'ents a veriiconsiderable amount of power and this power may he developed by "nu/'- ing the steam iii ile'i ir-esspeeially adapted for use with loiwpre und steam. Tn such a system, afeed-water heater may be employed to adi'an age utilising exhaust steam for heat ing water to he returned to the boilers, hut in manyjjc'ases only a portion of the exhaust steam would be required for this purpose' The remainder of the steam is therefore available; for other uses and may. he profit designed to operate on low'-pressure steam ln"accordanee with the invention, a lowpressure] turbine and a feed-water heater or other heating or drying device are connect-ed to the exhaust of a steam system. as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

Application filed May 24, 1910. Serial No. 563,079.

the exhaust pipes leading fromone or more reciprocating engines, and in combination with these devices, means are employed'for insuring proper operation thereof. The pressure of the steam m the exhaust line changes considerably from time to time due to various causes but it is important thatthe supply of steam to the heater be maintained at all times and under all conditions. To this end. a source of supply of live steam is connected to'the heater and provided with automatic controlling devices. whereby the steamsupply is opened whenever the ex- Brs'r AVAILABLE COPY haust steam supplied to the heater'is insufli cient; \Vhen live steam is supplied to the heater in this manner, it should not be allowed topass through the connections for carrying exhaust steam to the heater and thus be utilized in the low-pressure turbine,

as it would be undesirable to-operate that turbine with live steam. Means are therefore provided which operate automaticallyto close. the connections for carrying exhaust steam to the heater under predetermined conditions. such closure of the exhaust steam passage occurring at a pressure slightly higher than that at which the conne tion for cating live steam to the heater opens.

The preferred embodimentof the invcm 'tion is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows the'several devices in elevation together with the piping connectin: them.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a steam engine whose cylinders exhaust into the exhaust. line 2. The engine here shown is illustrative only as it may be of any suitable construction, and usually a number of engines will be connected to the s ameexhaust line 2. This exhaust pipe 2 is connected by a pipe 3 to a low-pressure steam turbine 4 so that a portion of the exhaust steam is carried to thelurhine 4 to operate the latter, the turbine delivering power in any suitable manner, as by means of a gear 5 on the. shaft thereof. An oil separator 6 is connected in the, pipe leading to the turbine so as to clear the steam of water, cylinder oil and other foreign substances. A

' branch'p'ipe7 leading from the exhaust pipe 2 also carries steam to a feed-water heater 8. This heater may be of any suitable construction and of either the open or closed type so that the steam is mingled with or carried adiacent to the incomimv water and ''nnsncl to impart'its heat thereto. I'have shown a heater of large size. to contain a substantial quantity of heated' water; it is provided with an oil separator 9 through which. the steam passes to the heater and a trap 10 for carryingoff to waste oil andexcess water. When the oil separator 6 is located as shown, the separator 9 may be omitted and when the separator 9 is provided as shown attached to the wall of the heater, the separator 6 maybe placed in the pipe 3 between pipe 7 and the turbine 4. The heater 8 is provided with an exhaust pipe 18 in which I is a relief valve 11, and also with either a thermostatic or a manually-operated vent 12 for permitting the escape of air. from the heater& In the pipe 7 leading to the heater 8 is a-pre ssure-reducing valve 13 set to re- {duce the pressure of the steam flowing through it to a predetermined point so that this steam may be safely utilized in the heater 8 and will give the desired heating of the. water therein.- Furthermore, this pressure-reducing valve 13 is'so constructed that it-will close when the pressure in pipe 7 falls below a predetermined point. If desired, however, thesetwo functions of reducing the pressure of the steam and closing the passage 7 need not both be placed upon the valve 13; instead, that valve may be used as a pressure-reducing valve solely and a separate check-valve 19 may be provided in pipe 7 for closing that passage when the pressureof the steam flowing therein falls below that desired for the steam-to be admitted to'the heater 8. Furthermore, if the heater 8 be of sufficient strength and the relief-valve 11 thereof be properly adjusted, the pressure-reducing valve 13 maybe dispensed with and the cheek-valve 19 only employed, the latter being arranged to close pipe 7 when the. pressure therein drops to a predetermined point. A pipe 14 leads from a source of supply of live steam to the pipe 7 at a point in the latter between the heater 8 and valve 13 and in this pipe14 is a pressure-reducing valve 15 which reduces .water in the heater may lie-employed.

Such a system as that above described may be operated with the engine exhausting steam at a. pressure of ten pounds per square inch and this steam will pass through the, pipes 253 =and 7 to {the turbine 4 and -lreater 8. The valve lfl' may be set to reduce the pressure of the steam passingtherethrough and through pipe 7 to heater 8 to three pounds so that however the pressure the steam entering the heater 8 through pipe 7 will never be above three pounds pressure.

in the construction of the heater 8 since. the latter will not be subjected to fan excessive pressure. heater, the relief valve 11 in the exhaust outlet 18 may be set to open on a. pressure ofiour pounds within the heater, in which of five pounds with entire safety.

.pipe 7 falls below that desired for the steam to be used in the heater 8, the pipe T will be automatically closed by the check-valve), Thus, this valve may be so set that it will pound. The closure of pipe in this way in cuts off the heater from the exhaust line.

The adjustments of these valves should be such that valve 15 Wlll open immediately sure in the exhaust. line rises at any time, the -valve 13 will be automatically opened and the exhaust steam will pass into the heater, raising the pressure therein, and this inclose it so that the supply of live steam will not be drawn on for a longer time than is necessary. Itwill thus'be'seen that in the such extent as is required for that purpose amount is utilized in the'turbine 4 to the velop power; that if ever the supply of exhaust steam falls below that necessary for heating purposes in heater 8, live steam will be automatically supplied "to the heater to maintain the temperature of the watertherein; that the supply of-live-stemn wilt-be out steam again becomes capable of properly heating the water in the heater; andthat of air therein from the heater through the steam connection between them by the provision of either or both the valve which closes that connection whenthe pressure therein falls hel'ow a pi'cdctcrtpined-point,

pressuirs mentioned above at which the sysof the exhaust steam in pipe 2 may vary,

' Ii this be done, an economy will be. ossible As a further protection for the case the heater may be constructed with a view to'withstanding a maximum pressure close when the pressure in pipe 7 falls to one response to a fall of the pressure therein The supply of steam to the heater 8 will,' however, be maintained at all times for I when the cheek-valve 19 closes, live steam" will be admitted to the heater through the 4 ,pipe 14 due to the opening of valve 15 when i the pressure on the side thereof toward 'the' heater drops below a predetermined point.

the turbine is protected against the entrance When the pressure of the steam flowing in i after valve \19 has closed. Whenth'e prescrease of pressure-acting on valve 15 will 10a system described, the exhaust steam is utilized in heating the feed-water in heater 8 toand that the surplus of steam above that its off automatically as soon as the exhaust and the means Tonniaiutuiuiug the sppply of stoamto the. heater materalt-sandstone: it will of course he understood that the tcm is operated and at which-the valves open live steam is;bcing supplied to the heater through pipe 14. In this case, it may be necessary to construct the heater so that it is capable of withstanding agreater pres sure, that is, the maximum pressure that would be carried in the exhaust main 2' under normal operation of the system. If the pressure in the heater ever exceeded this, it would be relieved by the valve 11 and it the pressure inpipe 7 tell to or below atmospheric pressure, the check-valve 19 would close- It will be seen that the supply of steam to the heater is maintained at all times, this steam being exhauststeam when such stealnat the proper pressure is available and-live-steam at other times. In this way, not only is proper operation of the heater at all times insured, but furthermore during such operation in the manner described, air cannot gather in the heater, which air might be .drawn through pipes T and 3 and into the low-pressureturbine and cause inefficient. operation of the turbine.

These and other departures from the construction and operation of the system as above described may be made while still retaining the invention and such modifications I aim to include Within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low pressure primemover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, a. livesteam connection to the he.at'cr,a.' valve therein opening automatically when the pressure in the heater falls to a predeg termined point, and a valve in the connection for carrying the exhaust steam to the heater, which valve closes automatically when the pressure within said connection is slightly higherthan that at which the valve in the livcsteam connection opens, substantially as set forth.

2. In a steam systenn'the combination of apparatus employing steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, a live-steam connection to the heat r, a valve therein operated autoumtically under predetermined conditions, and a valve in the Stejim passageway lmtwern the heater andeaid prime-mover operated automatically under predetermined conditions, sub

stantially as set forth.

3. 111a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover-and a heater connected to the exhaust 'line, a live-steam connection't'o the heater,

means for automatically closing and opening said connection, and means ,for closing the exhaust-steam connection to the heater when the said live-steam connection open, substantially as set forth. 4

4. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure .prime 30 mover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, a live-steam connection to the heater, means for automatically closing and open-- ing said connection, and means forclosing the exhaust-steam connection to the heater 35 when the said live-steam connection .is open,

said last-mauled iiieans being automatically r opened when the pressure in the exhaust line rises to a predeterminedpoint, substantially as'set'forth. i t

5. In a steam system, thecombinatiomof apparatus employing steann'an exhaust line; leading therefrom, a loiv-pressure prime mover and a heater. connected to the exhaust valve therein and a valve infthe pipe carry i11 exhaust steam to the heater, said'valve operating automatically under predetermined conditions, substantially as set forth.

' line, a live-steam conn'ectionto the heater, 1,

6. In a steanrsystcm, the combination of apparatus employingsteam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, and a valve in the connection for carrying exhaust steam to the heater operated automatically under predetermined conditions to close said connection, substantially as set forth.

7. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, a pressure-rethIcing valve in the connection for carryingexhaust steam to the heater and means for closing said connection under predetermined conditions, substantially as set forth.

8. in a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heater eminected'to the exhaust line, a valve in the connection for carrying exhaust steam to the heateroperated automatically under n'edetei'mincd conditions,

a live-steam connection to the heater and a press!ire-reducing valve in said live-steam onnection, substantially as set forth.

9. in a steam system, the con'ibination of apparatus employing steam. an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, a pressure-reducing valve in the connection for carrying exhaust steam to the heater, means for closing said connection when the pressure therein falls to a predeterlnined point, a live-stea1n connection to the heater, and a pressure-reducing valve in the live-steam connection arranged to open the connection automatically when said firstnamed valve is closed; substantially as set forth.

10. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, so that the exhaust steam flows from said apparatus to both the prime mover and the heater, and means for closing the connection to the heater when the pressure therein drops to a predetermined amount,

- substantially as set forth.

11. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing'steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, so that the exhaust steam flows from said apparatus .to both the prime mover and the heater, means for closing the connection to the heater when the pressure therein drops to a predetermined amount, and automatically-operated means for supplying live-steam to the heater when theconnectior for carrying exhaust steam thereto is closed substantially as set forth. v

12. In a steam system, the combination oi apparatus employing steam, an exhaust'line leading therefrom, a; low ressure rime mover and a heater connecte to the e aust line, means for closing the connection of the exhaust line to the heater, a live steam connection to the heater, and means for opens ing the said live steamconnection when the connection of the exhaust line to the heater is closed to maintain the supply of steam to the heater under all conditions, substantially as set forth. v

13. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, an exhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heater connected to the exhaust line, and means for preventing the formation of a vacuum in the passage for carry ing exhaust steam to the heater, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this'l9th day of May, 1910.

' JOSEPH W. GAMBLE.

Witnesses:

ROBERT ,G. CLIFTON, W. A'rwoonMnnAnG.

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