US1276871A - Vacuum water-purification system. - Google Patents

Description

0 M. CAMPBELL.

VACUUM WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM. APPLICATION HLED JA.N.27. 1916.

Patented Aug. 27,, 1918.

OLIVER M. CAMPBELL, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

vacuum warna-runrrrcn'rron srs'rniu.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

Application filed January 27, 1916. Serial No. 74,603.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, OLIVER M. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States," residing at Kansas City,,-in the county of Wyandotte, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful 1m rovements in Vacuum Water- Purification ystems, of which the following is a fulland exact specification.

The present invention relates to water purification systems, and more particularly to water purifying apparatus for use in ice plants deriving their water supply from sources necessitating distilling or otherwise purifying the water to render it fit for ice manufacture; and the general object in view is todevise a novel and improved construction and arrangement of apparatus for eilectively and economically purifymg water from sources of this character.

. In carrying out the invention, means is rovided for vaporizing the water in the oiler from which the steam is conducted to a condenser; this condenser is profurthermore, the vacuum column is arranged vided with suitable vacuum connections for the purpose both of removing impure vapors and of carrying the steam vapor on through additionalcondensing means into. a reservoir. The vacuum connections are suchas to exert this double influence on the steam vapor throughout its course; and,

those features and combinations deemedto befnovel will be specified in the appendedclaims.

.In the drawing,- the figure shown represents a view in side elevation,- and partly in section, of-fiav watergpurificationus stem constructedi'andlarranged"in -accor ance with "the .presntiinventioniof; a" systemhaving provision for utilizing This "'drawing illustrates; the arrangement the exhaust heatfof an internal combustion bo ler. Water is conducted from asuitable e for vaporizingfthe water in the source of sup'ply into a feed water tank 2,.

, havingv he overflowfi, and; a gage deviceii.

connected with the float 5. This tank 2 communicates through a pipe 6 with a heater 7 of approved type, the coil 8 of which feeds into a boiler 9 through the pipe 10 provided with a valve 11 having-the counter-weighted operating arm 12. The plpe 6 leads directly into the base of the boiler where it is fitted with a valve 13, and

said pipe 6 may also be provided with a branch pipe connection 14 with the water jacket of the internal combustion engine 15.

The heater 7 is connected with the exhaust 16 of theengine, and the outlet 17 of the heater is led into the fire box 18 of the boiler so that the exhaust gases of the engine are utilized first in the heater 7 and thereafter in the boiler to derive the full heating effect from said engine exhaust.

The boiler is equipped with the usual water gage 19. i

From the boiler, the steam vapor is conducted by way of a pipe 20 to a condenser 21 of the atmospheric type (i. 6., depending uponthe evaporative action of the atmosphere) arranged beneath a drip pi e 22. or further heating purposes a branc pipe 23 may be led through the, stack 24 ofthe boiler, said pipe being fitted with a valve 25, and the plpe 20 being also provided with35 a valve 26. The top of the condenser 21 comprises a shallow open basin for receiving the water dripping from the pipe 22 and I provided with the lateral openings 70 for permitting-the Water to trickle out over the opposite sides ofthe condenser, the Waste water being collected by a drip pan 72 supported beneath the condenser and provided with the. drain valve 74. The interior of the 'condenser 21 is provided with bafiie partitions 27 for forming a zigza%passa e amber. e

through'the condenser 0 ar t e base of the condenser is connected an outlet pipe 28 having the valve 29 and trap bend portion 30. This outlet pipe leads into a double-pipe condenser comprising an exterior casing 31 and cold water pipe 32' communicating with any convenient source of water supply. The exterior casing of this second condenser is in turn connected by a pipe 33'with a reservoir 34 which is fitted with asight gage 35, a pressure gage 36 and an outlet pipe 37, controlled by a valve 38, through which the water is drawn 011' for filling the ice cans. f e p Lead'ng into the top of the condenser 21 is a pipe 39 commumcatmg with a acu m loo casing 40 which is connected by a pipe 41 with a vacuum pump 42, a pressure gage 43 being mounted in connection with the pipe 41. The vacuum casing 40 is also provided with pipe connections 44 and 45 to the opposite ends of the exterior casing 31 of the double-pipe condenser. A pipe 46 establishes connection between the intake end of said condenser casing 31 and the condenser 21 just below the top battle partition of the I latter. A pipe 47 also connects the casing 40 and the reservoir 34, and said pipes 44,

45 and 47 are provided, respectively, with the valves 48, 49 and 50. The lower end of the casing 40 is connected by a pipe 51 with the base of the boiler 9, and a branch pipe 52 connects pipe 51 with a float chamber 53 having the overflow pipe 54 and valve 55, as

well as drain outlet valve 56. Near its upper end this float chamber 53 communicates with the vacuum casing 40 through the tubular connection 57 and is provided with a float 58 having a stem portion 59 operating through a stufiing box 60 at the upper chamber 53, the outer end of said stem portion being connected by a flexible cord 61 (passing over pulleys 62 and 63) with the valve arm 12 of the valve 11,

whereby the latter is controlled in accordance with the level of the water in chamber 53, and which, obviously, is the same as the boiler level by virtue of the connection through the pipe 51. The pipes 51 and 52 are equipped with the valves 64 and 65 respeotively.

A partial vacuum is maintained in the casing 40 and its immediate connections by means of the pump 42. If the pressure in these connections is kept at approximately 6# gage pressure, the water will boil at approximately 170 degrees Fahr. Of course the pressure is the same at the water surface in the boiler as in the float chamber 53 and at the base of the vacuum casing 40 because of the arrangement of pipe connections as described, whereby a reduction in the pressure is effected at both sides of the condensing apparatus. The water may be initially heated to bring it to approximate boiling temperature by closing the valves 25, 26 and 64 and opening the valve 13, thereby causing the water to circulate through merely the boiler and heater; after which the valve 13 is closed and the other valves opened. In operationit will. be un derstood that the valves in the various vacuum connections are also opened. The reduced pressure through the condenser acts to draw the vapor from the boiler into the condenser, and a part of the vapor is of course immediately condensed in the lower half of the condenser 21 and passes off through pipe 28. A portion of the vapor. will be drawn off through the steam suction line 46, while a smaller fraction, together with some of the impure gases generated in the condensation process, will escape through pipe 39 into the vacuum chamber.

Further condensation takes place in the double-pipe condenser, which feeds into the reservoir by way of the pipe 33, during which process still further removal of the gaseous impurities is effected by the vacuum connections 44 and 45, and a final passage for the escape of such ases is provided by means of the pipe 47'. '%hus from the boiler, where the first purification takes place and most of the impurities left behind, the-influence of the vacuum action is maintained through all the course of the vapor throughout the condensation process, and at every possible stage the gaseous impurities are withdrawn until the crystal pure product finally arrives and is stored in the reservoir ready for. withdrawal through the pipe 37. A constant water level is maintained in the boiler by the automatic action of the float 58, which opens or closes the valve 11 as may be required for this purpose. Hence, by connecting the vacuum side of the system with the boiler by means of a water connection on the one hand and a vacuum communication on the other hand, a perfectly balanced system is obtained in which the water suppl is automatically maintained constant and the steam vapor is produced with a lower heat consumption by virtue of the reduced boiler'pressure, and the same vacuum action serves to remove any impure vapors generated throughout the course of the condensation process.

It will thus be apparent that an effective and comparatively simple apparatus has been devised for carrying out the proposed objects of the invention, and while the foregoing represents what is now deemed to constitute the preferred form of embodiment of the invention, the right is reserved to such formal changes and modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the ap pended claims.

Claims:

1. The process of purifying water which consists in distilling the water and removing the gaseous impurities from the vapor dur- .1ng condensation by subjecting said vapor water, condensation apparatus arranged in communication with said boiling means, and

vacuum producing means provided with connections with said apparatus at various points corresponding to successive condensation stages throughout the course of said condensation.

4. A water purification system comprising, incombination, a boiler, condensation apparatus arranged in communication with said boiler, and vacuum producing means having connect-ions providing communication both with said boiler and with different points of said condensation 'apparatus.

5QA water purification system comprising, in combination, a boiler, condensation apparatusarranged in communication with said boiler, and vacuum producing means having connections providing communication with said condensation apparatus and also with saidpboiler at points both above and belowthe normal water level therein.

6. A water purification system comprising. in combination, a boiler, condensation apparatus arranged in communication with said boller, vacuum producing means having connections providing communication with said apparatus at various points cor- I responding to successive condensation stages, and means'acting automatically to maintain a constant water level inthe boiler.

7. A water purification system comprising, in combination, a boiler, provided with a Water admission valve, a float chamber and a condensation apparatus arranged in communication with said boiler, saidfloat chamber being operatively connected with said Valve, and vacuum producing means having connections providing communication with said float chamber and condensation apparatus. i

8.. A water purification system comprising, in combination, a boiler, condensation apparatus arranged in communication with said boiler and provided with a storage;

chamber, and vacuum producing means hav-- ing connections providing. communication both with said storage chamber and with difierent points of said condensation apparatus. I I

OLIVER M. CAMPBELL.

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