US1715457A - Multistage open heater - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1929- R. c. JONES KULTISTAGE OPEN HEATER Original Filed July 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 2a ATTORNEYS June 4, 1929. R, c, 1155 1,715,457

MULTISTAGE OPEN HEATER Original Filed July 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY SMA/JIQMQVM 2% ATTORNEYS Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nussELL c. JONES, or nnonxvinnn,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRIsCOM- RUSSELL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MULTISTAGE OPEN HEATER.

priginal application filed July The present invention relates to a steam generating system and has to do particularly with the preliminary heating of feed water on its Way to the boilers.

The auxiliary apparatus and other steam utilizing devices of a power generating plant invariably furnish a considerable quantity of relatively low pressure steam which must be utilized in the system in order to avoid heat losses. This quantity of steam is usually accommodated by passing it into heat transferring relation with the boiler feed water, thus imparting to the feed water before it enters the boiler heat which would be lost if the heating fluid were discharged to waste.

Modern steam power plant practice tends toward the use in the heating of boiler feed water of both exhaust steam from the various apparatus of the plant and steam withdrawn or bled at different pressures from various stagesot' the'plant turbine. According to the common prevailing practice, each of the different sources of steam is passed independently into heat exchanging relation with the boiler feed water. The boiler feed water is passed into heat transferring relation with the respective sources of heating steam in the order of their ascending pressures and temperatures, that is, the feed water first receives heat 'from the source of steam at the lowest pressure and is successively treated by the other sources of steam at successively higher pressures. Each operation of transferrin heat between the heating steam and the boiler feed water is conducted as an independent operation in a separate surface type heat exchanger provided for the purpose.

It is an object of this invention to provide a heater for .preheating the boiler feed water which is adapted to receive steam from the plant turbine, or other sources, at diflerent pressures and utilize to advantage the available heat ofsuch steam, yet which involves but a single unitary apparatus possessing thedistinct advantages of moderate initial cost,

' minimum space requirements,notable operatingefliciency and convenience of operation. In steam generating systems of the: type referred to the supply of boiler feed water 28, 1924, Serial No. 728,654. Divided and this application filed larch 17,

1927. Serial No. 176,068.

fluids and thus effecting the heat trans r by direct contact of the fluids. The invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of compartments in the open heater. The heating fluids from the several sources are admitted to the respective compartments at their respective pressures and suitable provision is made for passing the boiler feed water through the respective compartments in 'series relation. The fluid which is pumped from each compartment to the next succeeding compartment consists of the fluid which .Was initially admitted to the compartment and in addition the condensate produced by the heating steam which was admitted to that compartment and which was condensed by reason of its contact with the cold feed water.

It is an object of the invention to arrange the various chambers or compartments in whiehthe heat transfer takesplace in such fashion that the apparatus has a marked flexibility of design, thus adapting it for incorporation into whatever space is available, and in such fashion that transfer of fluid from one chamber to the next may be conveniently and eflectively accomplished. In carrying out'this idea, the compartments are mounted in vertical super-position, so that the number of compartments is varied by varying the height of the apparatus It is a still further object of the invention to provide a multistage open heater of the class referred to of such construction that danger of water from the heater backing up into the turbine or other apparatus where it would cause damage is effectively avoided. To this end the liquid in each of the heat transferring chambers introduced at substantially the pressure of the incoming heating steam. As a further precaution, one em bodiment of the invention contemplates an overflow control adapted to discharge water from each chamber into the next lower chamher in case an excessive amount of liquid accumulates.

I have, by way of example, illustrated in the accompanying drawings an apparatus embodying my invention. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the improved heating apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a further modification; and

F is. 3 is a fragmentary View of portions of two adjoining compartments illustrating a modified arrangement.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the accompany-- ing drawings, the apparatus here shown consists of three compartments C, D and E, Low pressure steam is admitted through the inlet 5 to the compartment E while feed water is supplied. to that com artment through the line 6 havingin it a oat controlled valve 7 operating to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in compartment E. A perforated distributing plate 8, having side walls-9 which-extend upwardly to the top of compartment E, so as to enclose a space above the plate whichis' separated from the rest of the compartment, is provided to receive the liquid entering through the pipe 6 and distributed. it within the shell. The water passing through the perforations of plate 8 falls in a continuous shower into the body of liquid at the bottom of the shell, and in this way ample contact is afforded between the liquid and the incoming steam.

- creases the pressure on the water A vent pipe 10 opens just beneath the bottom of the perforated plate 8 in the center of the cylindrical showerfor the purpose of effecting the discharge of uncondensible gases. It will be noted that in this type of structure deaeration of the feed water may readily be accomplished without heat loss and without providing any special deareating apparatus. The temperature to which the water is raised in the boiler feed heater serves to effectively expel the injurious gases contained in the water, and'the boilerfeed as it leaves the heater is fit for use directly in the I tive 1n order to prevent fluid from blowing boilers without further deaeration.

The compartments G andD are provided with steam inlets, feed water inlets and air vents in the same fashionas is compartment A pump 11 is (provided for withdrawing the'partially heate water from the bottom of compartment E and transferrin it through line 12 into compartment D. T e pump into substantially the pressure of the heating steam which is supplied to chamber D. A second pump 13 jacent,, compartments.

transfer of the liquid by this method, the

withdraws water from chamber D and passes it through line 14 into chamber C. The pumps 11 and 13 are preferably mounted at the base of the heater and are operated by a small turbine or motor 15 provided for that purpose. \Vith this arrangement, the pump 13 which delivers water to the highest pressure compartment C also has a higher head at its suction side than does pump 11 which delivers to the intermediate chamber D. It is of advantage to have the relative arrangement of pumps and compartments such that the head at the suction side of each pump is the greater for those pumps where the temperature of the water handled is greater.

In the modified form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2 the transfer of liquid from one coinpartinent to the other is accomplished by manometer or U-tube connections between ad- To facilitate the highest pressure compartment C is at the bottom instead of being at the top, hence the highest pressure steam is introduced at the bottom compartment of the apparatus through line 5, and the lowest pressure steam is admitted to the uppermost compartment E. The coldest feed water which is to be heated entersthe uppermost compartment through the line 6 where it is brought first into contact with the lowest pressuresteam. The liq uidflows from each compartment to the next lower compartment under the influence of gravity through the U-tubes 16 and 17. It will be understood that the water is heated progressively by contact first with the coolest steam, then with higher pressure steam, and subsequently with still higher pressure steam just as was the case with the apparatus of Fig. 1. The heated feed water is discharged from the lowermost compartment C. The U-tubes 16 and 17 are of such length that the difference in pressure between the two ends of the U-tube (for instance the diflerence in pressure between the compartments E and D for the U-tube 16) will not cause the waterin the U-tube to blowthrough the tubeI This'arrangement has its principal value in cases where a relatively small pressure difference exists between the respective compartments. In cases where a considerable pressure difierence between compartments exists, the U-tube might have to be of such'a length as to be practically prohibithese compartments. This arrangement con trap 18 occurs. I

water in chamber F to such depth that it over flows the partition partment, means for passing boiler feed water A partition 19 July 28,1924.

spective compartments,

stitutes an overflow device which serves to discharge liquid from one compartment into the next lower compartment in case an excess of water accumulates in the upper compartment. is provided in the chamber F and as long as the water level remains below the top of the partition, no dischargethrough Upon accumulation of the 19, a discharge through the trap into the compartment G takes place. This arrangement prevents accumulation of excess water in any compartment. The trap on the lowest pressure charges to atmosphere, The device substantially eliminates danger ofwater backing up in any compartment until it fills up the steam; connections leading to the compartment with the steam issues.

While preferred embodiments, paratus have been illustrated and described above, certain structural changes may be made and certain variationsin the steam ge'n crating system may beetiected. For instance, the heater of the presentapplication accomplishes'a. considerable amount of deaeration of'the boiler feed water, butthe heater may of the different typeset deaerators at present in use. While the heating steam employe is ordinarily free from impuritieasuitable provision may be made for- -se from the steam or water from ow pressure steam before admission to the heater if de-f sired. Other changes may be made within the" scope of theappended claims. i

This application. iscaidivision of my copending application, Serial N0.

I claim: g: @c;;;;; L Inasteam enerating system", aheater for heating uri'fied' boiler feedwater comprising a plum ity of compartments arranggd one above the other,'means for supplying e steam at difierent pressures to the said rethe steam at the lowest pressure being admitted to the lowest com y through said compartments, the

successivel I feed water in each com artmentmixlng with U-tubes 16 can be readily madev of steam between partmen't's,

compartment dis-' steam progressively r said respective compartments, means; for passresulting danger to the apparatus from which v Jseries-flow external of inyap-f on the boiler feed water to'sub stantially of the higher pressure o readily be employed in combination with any j arating oil boiler feed water successively throu the feed water in eac "cone progressively higher pressures,

atmg-- the heating steam admitted to said eompart-v ment, said means comprising a plurality of pumps arranged at the each transferring liquid from one" compartment to the next higher compartment whereby the pumps handling the highest temperature water have the highestheads at'the'suction sides of the pumps.

base of the heater,

2. In a steam generating system, a heater 7' for heating urified boiler feed water comprisin a, p urality of compartments arran e one above the'other, means for supplying eating steam at different pressures to the said respective compartments, the steam at the lowest pressure being admitted to the lowest compartment, means for passing boiler feed water successively through said the feed water in each compartment mixing withthe heatingjsteam admltted to said compartment, said-means comprising 1fa plurality of pumps,eachtransierringhquid from one compartment to'the next higher compartment whereby the pumps highest temperaturewater havethe highest handling the comheads at the stic-tion sides oi the pump;

3. In astearn generating system,a heater Y c m a plurality 'of' compartments arranged one above the other, means for supplying heating higher "pressures to for heatingboiler feed" water,

lin boiler feed water successively through said, means comprising saidcompartments, I p v p ipes" arran edbetween the adjacent compartments 'whic .fa're at progressively higher pressures, saidpipes including means therein for increasing'thepressure compartment. 4. In a steam for heating puri ed boiler feed" water; coin prisineaplurality of compartments arranged 'ierys r yws" i d heating steam at progressively higher [pres- "if eing admitted or Pa s n one a oivethe other,' means steam at the lowestpressure to thej'lowestcompartment; meansi sures tofsaid respective pomp'art ments thei h'sard compartments, partment" mixing with theheatmg steam"admitted to said compartment, said means com;

tween adjacent therein for increasing the pressure on the i i that fi th higher pressure of the next adjacent compart-J- boiler feed water to substantially Ifia steam for heating urified prising a p uralit ran ed one'abo've t plying heating steam the said respective compartments, the steam at thelowest pressure being admittedto the boiler feed water comthat f the next ad ao'ent I generating system, a "heater? geperating system, aiheater of compartments are other, means for supl'; V at difierent pressures to rising series-flow external pipes arranged he compartments which are at and means I lowestcompartrnent, means for passinghoiler progressively higher pressures, and means feed Water successively through said comparttherein for increasing the pressure on the ments, the feed water in each compartment boiler feed'water to substantially that of the 1 mixing with the heating steam admitted to higher pressure of the next adjacent com- 5 said compartment, said means comprising a pertinent.

series-flow external pipe arranged between In testimony whereof I-atfixmy signature.

two'adjacent compartments which are at RUSSELLCFJONES.

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