US1694080A - Heating system - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1928. 1,694,080

M. R. PLUNKETT HEATING SYSTEM Filed March 19, 1927 Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

lUNITED STATES 1,694,080 PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL R. PLUNKETT, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ,ONE-HALF TO J. MAURICE KELLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HEATING SYSTEM.

Application filed March -19,1927. Serial No. 176,617.

This invention relates to improvements in heating systems and more particularly to anv arrangement wherein the water of condensa-y tion which is returned from the radiators ot l the system is preheated prior to its entry into the boiler.

In the steam heating systems as ordinarily employed it has been the usual practice to return the water of condensation from the steam radiators directly into the boiler with the result that water of relatively low temperature is ed into the water chamber of the boiler.

This cooled water must then be heated to a temperature suflicient to generate steam with a resultant loss in eciency of operation of the boiler as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. It', however, the water of condensation is preheated before its reentry in the water space oi' the boiler, less sa heat will be required to raise it to the temperature at which steam is generated and as a consequence thereof less fuel will be consumed while at the same time the system will be operated at a much higher rate of eiiiciency.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to utilize to great extent that heat which has heretofore been permitted to pass directly out of the boiler stack or iiue in the form oi wasted energy in such manner that the water of condensation returning from the radiators is preheated prior to its entry into the main water chamber of the boiler.

While the above is a primary object of the invention, there are yet other objects `relating to details of economy, operation and construction, among which is the provision of a plurality of separate compartments through which the condensate successively passes during its return from the radiators.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement ot staggered passageways for insurino' the continuous passage of the gases of combustion through and between these compartments as the gases pass from the combustion chamber to the boiler flue.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of pressure equalizing means interposed between tlie main return pipe for the condensate or other convenient point in the system and the conduit leading into the water chamber of the' boiler and operative to maintain an equal or balanced pressure between certain points in the system.

A still further object is the provision of means for eiiectually precluding any possibility of the condensate passing directly into `the boiler before it has passed through all of the preheating compartments in succession, the arrangement being such that the returning condensate iirst passes into the compartment which is farthest removed from the com-- bustion chamber and which accordingly is subjected tc an effective heat of lowest temperature; thence successively through the iiitermediate compartment or compartments and finally into and through that compartment which is closest to the combustion chamber and which is accordingly subjected to the heating influence ot the gases of highest temperature.

Other obj ects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

To enable those skilled in the art to comprehend and practice the invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will now proceed to describe certain embodi-A ments of the invention as exempliiied in steam heating systems suitable for heating dwelling houses and the like, desiring it to be understood, however, that the invention is equally adapted for other uses as hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the saiddrawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a steam generating boiler embodying the principles of the invention, the preheating unit and associated parts being shown as mounted directly upon the boiler;

Fig. 2 shows on a reduced scale a modiied form of the invention wherein the preheating uni1t is supported independently of the boiler; an

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the equalizer connection between the main return for the condensate and the conduit leading to the boiler.

Referring more particularlyto the drawing, the boiler proper, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is of substantially the usual construction and is provided with the combustion chamber 11 surrounded at its sides and top with themain water heating chamber 12. An opening 13 in the crown sheet 13 at the top oi the combustion chamber is provided for the passage therethrough of the gases of combustion, which gases are finally delivered lto the flue 14 in the manner to be hereinafter explained. As is well understood, the main water chamber 12 is closed i at all points the water initially entering the chamber adjacent the bottom thereof, as at 15, and passing therefrom in the form of steam through a pipe 16 communicating with the steam space or dome 17.

In the present instance, the boiler is provided with a plurality of water compartments 18, 19 and 20 arranged one above the other and all being suitably mounted as a unit upon the upper end of the boiler 10. Each of these compartments is of substantially similar construction and each is provided with annular projections 21 on their lower surfaces arranged to be received Within complementally formed seats 22 formed respectively on the upper surfaces of the boiler and the compartments 18 and 19, these annular projections 21 and their seats 22 serving to effectively prevent lateral displacement ofthe several compartments relative to one another. It is to be understood, however, that any other means may be employed for this purpose. A smoke drum 23 of substantially elliptical cross section is disposed upon the upper end of the compartment 2() and forms part of the preheating unit, thissmoke drum being retained against lateral displacement in a manner similar to that just described in connection with the compartments 18, 19 and 20.

The compartments 18 and 2O are each provided with a plurality of vertically extending passages 24 and the compartment 19 is provided with a similar centrally disposed passage 25, all of which passages are inveommunication with each other and with the passage 13 leading from the combustion chamber of the boiler to provide a more or less stagered or tortuous path for the gases of comustion as they pass from the combustion chamber to the smoke drum 23 and thence through the opening 26 to the flue 14. It will thus be seen that the rising gases will be caused to pass through and around the several water compartments 18, 19 and 20 with the result that the water contained therein will be heated to considerable extent.

The water compartments are interconnected solely'by the inclined pipes 27 and 28, these pipes being so arranged that their upper ends are res eetively connected to the upper portions of t e compartments 19 and 20 while their lower ends are respectively connected to the bottom portions of the compartments 18 and 19. The main return line 29 from the radiators (not shown) of the system is connected, as at 30, to the bottom of the upper compartment 20 opposite to the point of connection of the upper end of the pipe 28. The return to the water chamber 12 of the boiler is completed by the pipe 31 which is con nected at one end, as at 32, to the top of the lower compartment 18 and at its opposite end, as at 33, to a conduit or stand pipe 34y leading to the bottom of the water chamber 12 which surrounds the combustion chamber.

Water may be initially supplied to the boiler through the supply line 35, this water coursing continuously and in order through the compartments 20, 19 and 18-to the water chamber 12 in which, during operation, the water level W is maintained somewhat above the crown sheet 13. During the operation of the system the water of condensation returning from the radiators flows through the main return 29 into and through the upper compartment 20 where it is subjected to the4 heat of the gases just prior to their entry into the smoke drum, thence by way of the pipe 28 into and through the compartment 19 where it is subjected to the gases of somewhat higher temperature, and thence by way of the pipe 27 into and through the compartment 18 where the condensate is subjected to the gases of highest temperature, this heated condensate finally passing by way of pipes 31 and 34 into the water chamber of the boiler.

In order to prevent any tendency of the water in either of the compartments 19 or 2() from backing u into the return line 29, an equalizer in the orm of a U-shaped pipe 3G is provided, one leg of which may be connected as at 37 to the main return or other suitable point in the system and the other as at 38, to a vertical extension 39 of the standpipe or conduit 34. Still further, the upper ends of the inclined pipes 27 and 28 are respectively connected, as at 40 and 41, to this standpipe extension 39 by the vertically inclined pipes 42 and 43, the points of connection 40 and 41 being preferably both at an elevation above the upper surface level of the water compartment 20. This equalizer provides a balancing pressure between the return line 29 for the water of condensation, the standpipe 34 and the interior of the water jacket, such that there is no tendency for the water in the preheating compartments to siphon directly into the water chamber of the boiler before it has passed through all of the compartments in succession and so been subjected to the full heating influence of the escaping gases, and. insures a free gravity flow from the upper to the lower compartments and thence to the water heating chamber 12 at all times.

Fig. 2 illustrates a slightly modified arrangement wherein the preheating unit is shown as being disposed separately from the boiler proper. In this case the unit is supported independently of the boiler in any suitable way and is connected to the boiler flue by an intermediate smoke pipe 45. In al] other respects the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are essentially similar. j

While I have herein described and illustrated certain embodiments of my invention with considerable particularity, I do not thereby desire or intend to limit or confine myself specifically thereto nor to restrict the use of the invention to heating systems primarily intended for heating houses or the Uitl like, kas suitable modifications may, if desired, be made in the design, construction and arrangement of the various parts'and the invention utilized for purposes other than that to which I have referred without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims'.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a heating system, in combination, a

boiler including a Combustion chamber and a Water jacket surrounding said chamber, a plurality of superimposed water compartments arranged adjacent said boiler, a return line for the water of condensation connected to the lower part of the upper of said compartments, a line connecting the top of said upper compartment with the bottom of an intermediate compartment,a line connecting the top of said intermediate compartment with the bottom of the next lower compartment, a standpipe interconnecting the top of said latter compartment with said water jacket, and means connected/between said Water'condensate return and said standpipe for equalizing the pressure in the system and effectually preventing a siphoning action between said Water compartments and said jacket.

2. In a heating system, in combination, a boiler including a combustion chamber and a water jacket surrounding said chamber, a plurality of superimposed water compartments 'arranged adjacent said'boiler, a return line for the water of condensation connected to the lower part of t-he upper of said compartments, a line connecting the top of said upper compartment with the bottom of an intermediate compartment, a line connecting the top of said intermediate compartment with the bottom of the next lower compartment, a standpipe interconnecting the top of said latter compartment with said water jacket, a U-shaped pipe forming an air trap connected between said Water condensate return and said-standpipe, and means interconnecting the upper portions of said upper and intermediate water compartments with said standpipe at elevations above the upper surface level of the uppermostwater compartment.4

3. In a heating system, in combination, a. boiler including a combustion chamber and an. evaporation chamber surrounding said combustion chamber, a preheating unit for the water of condensation disposed in a plane above the boiler and having an inlet connected with the water return line of the system and an outlet at a higher level than said inlet connected with said evaporation chamber, and an equalizer unit-establishing communication between said outlet and said return line for eifectually preventing a Siphoning action from said preheating unit.

4. In a heating system, in combination, a' boiler including a combustion chamber and an evaporation chamber surrounding said combustion chamber, a preheating unit for the water of condensation disposed in a plane above the boiler and having an inlet connected with the return side of the system and an outlet at a higher level than the inlet connected with the evaporation chamber, and an equalizer unit establishing communication between the return side of the system and the evaporation chamber operative to effectuallyprevent a siphoning action from the preheating unit to the evaporation chamber.

5. In a heating system, in combination, a boiler including a combustion chamber and an evaporation chamber surrounding said combustion chamber, a preheating unit for the water of condensation disposed in a plane l above the boiler and having an inlet connected with the return side of thesystem and an outlet at a higher level than the inlet connected with the evaporation chamber, and an equalizer unit establishing connection' between the return side of the system and the evaporation chamber and comprising a, U- shaped pipe vforming an air trap, said unit being operative to eectually prevent a siphpning action from the preheating unit to the evaporation chamber.

6. In a heating system, in combination, a boiler including a combustion chamber and an evaporation chamber, a preheating unit for the water of condensation disposed in a plane above the boiler and having an inlet connected with the return side of the system and an outlet at a higher level than the inlet connected with the evaporation chamber, and an equalizer unit establishing communication between said outlet and the return side of the system for efectually preventing a, siphoning action from the preheating unit to the evap-4 oration chamber and comprising an air trap connected between the return sideof the sys"- te-m and the outlet of the preheater.

7. In a heating system, in combination, a boiler including a combustion chamber and a water chamber surrounding said chamber, a preheating unit for the water of condensa- 'tion returned from the system disposed in a plane above the boiler, an outlet connection rom the lower part of the preheater to the boiler, a condensate return line connected to the preheater at a level-higher than the outlet connection, and an equalizer unit cornprising an air trap connected between said return line and said outlet connection operative to reffectuallyy prevent a siphoning ction from said unit into said water cham- In witness whereof,I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March, 1927 MICHAEL R. rnurunrr'r.l

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