US1948356A - Vapor generator - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1934. A J NERAD VAPOR GENERATOR Filed Oct. 16, 1929 u e ELM N o t. t J Lu eu A w 46 Tm H n A U b,

usual manner, I connect them to what may be Patented F eb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES VAPOR GENERATOR Anthony J. Nerad,

New York Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company,

a corporation of Application October 16, 1929. Serial No. 400,141

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to vapor generators for vaporizing a liquid such as mercury, which because of its relatively high cost must be used in as limited quantities as possible.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of vapor generator especially adapted for use on ship board, an application which, due to the rolling and pitching of the ship, oifers especial difficulties, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view, partly in section, of a vapor generator embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view, partly broken away, of one of the liquid drums.

According to my invention, I provide a boiler of the depending tube type, but instead of connecting the tubes directly to a vapor drum in the termed a liquid drum or liquid feeder drum, the primary function of which is to supply liquid to the boiler tubes, and I then provide above the liquid drum, a vapor drum which receives the vapor generated in the boiler tubes and which supplies liquid to the liquid drum. One or more liquid drums may be provided, as found desirable, and these may be connected in parallel to a single vapor drum. The vapor drum is located above the level of the liquid drum or drums by an amount such that the head of liquid in the conduits supplying liquid from the vapor drum to the liquid drum or drums will be great enough that, even with the maximum pitch or roll of the ship, the liquid space or spaces of the liquid drum or drums will be maintained full and liquid will be supplied continuously to it or them and from it or them to all the boiler tubes under a positive pressure.

In the drawing, I have shown two liquid drums l and 2 connected in parallel to a common vapor drum 3. Each liquid drum comprises an outer shell 4 and an inner shell 5 spaced apart to form an annular boiler chamber. The drum is closed at its ends by suitable heads (not shown). The central space 6 may be filled with air. The boiler chamber is divided by suitable walls into a liquid space 7 and a vapor space 8, the liquid space being connected to the boiler tubes for feeding liquid to them and the vapor space being connected to the vapor drum 3. The liquid space 7 is curved or arc shaped and is defined by curved walls 9 and 10 which are concentric with shells 4 and 5, the two walls 10 defining the upper limits of the space.

The vapor space 8 is defined by wall 9 and the adjacent surface of outer shell 4, and is connected by a conduit 11 to vapor drum 3. Wall 9 may with advantage be formed in two or more sections connected by a flexible wall 12 to permit of expansion of the wall.

The boiler tubes are indicated at 13. Each boiler tube comprises an outer tube 14 which is closed at its lower end and is connected at its upper end to shell 4 so that it communicates with vapor space 8, and an inner tube 15 which terminates just short of the lower end of tube 14 and is connected at its upper end to wall 9 so that it communicates with liquid space 7. The inner tube 15 forms a displacer in that its walls displace a certain amount of liquid. Liquid flows down through inner tube 15 and up through the annular space between the inner and outer tubes. It is heated and vaporized as it flows upward, the vapor and. such liquid particles as are carried along therewith being discharged to the vapor space 8 from whence it fiows through conduit 11 to vapor drum 3. The tube structure is shown only diagrammatically. In actual practice I may utilize a tube structure such as that disclosed in my application Serial No. 306,467, filed September 17, 1928. A wall of the furnace for the boiler is indicated at 16. In the present instance each liquid drum is shown as being provided with its own furnace so that each may be fired separately.

This permits of the drums being operated independently of each other.

I may with advantage provide in vapor space 8, a means for separating liquid particles from the vapor, the liquid particles being returned to 9D liquid space 7. For this purpose I have shown a number of separators 17 arranged side by side in the upper portion of vapor space 8 on each side of the drum. Each separator comprises a curved plate having a spiral shaped passage 18 in it into which the vapor and liquid particles flow, the direction of flow being changed by the curved wall 19 which directs the vapor and liquid particles into the circular chamber 20. From circular chamber 20 the vapor flows through a passage 21 in wall 9 and a slot 22 in wall 10 to conduit 11 and the liquid which is separated out in the chamber due to the change in direction of flow, flows through a passage 23 in wall 9 and a passage 26 in wall 10 to liquid space 7.

The liquid spaces of drums 1 and 2 are connected in multiple to vapor drum 3 by conduits 24 which connect with the lower end of drum 3. These conduits serve to supply liquid from drum 3 to liquid spaces 7. In conduits 11 and 24 are suitable valves 25 by means of which either liquid drum may be shut off from vapor drum 3. 28 indicates a conduit through which vapor is discharged from drum 3, and 27 indicates a conduit through which liquid is supplied to it. 29 are stand pipes which form pressure safety devices for the liquid drums. They may be connected at their upper ends with the condenser in case the vapor generator is used to supply vapor to a condensing engine such as an elastic fluid turbine. In drum 3 are baflies 30 which serve to prevent violent agitation of the liquid.

By my invention, it will be seen that I provide a vapor generator wherein the tubes will be supplied always with liquid even though the generator stands at a considerable angle to the vertical since the conduits 24 will always keep liquid spaces '7 filled with liquid. At the same time, the system can be designed for a minimum amount of liquid since the liquid chambers '7 need not be large.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a vapor generator, a liquid drum comprising walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to form an annular chamber, walls in said chamber dividing said chamber into a liquid space and a vapor space, boiler tubes connected to said drum, a vapor drum located above said liquid drum, and conduits connecting the vapor drum to said liquid space and said vapor space.

2. In a vapor generator, a liquid drum comprising spaced walls which surround each other to form an annular chamber, walls in said chamber dividing said chamber into vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes connected to said drum, a vapor drum located above the liquid drum, a conduit connecting the lower side of the vapor drum to said liquid space, a conduit connecting the vapor drum to said vapor space, and means in said vapor space for separating liquid particles from vapor.

3. In a vapor generator, a liquid drum comprising walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to form an annular chamber, walls in said chamber dividing said chamber into concentric vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes comprising outer tubes connected to said vapor space and inner tubes connected to said liquid space, a vapor drum located above the liquid drum, a conduit connecting the lower end of said vapor drum to said liquid space, and a conduit connecting the vapor drum to said vapor space.

4. In a vapor generator, a liquid drum comprising walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to form an annular chamber, walls in said chamber dividing said chamber into a liquid space and avapor space, boiler tubes connected to said drum, a vapor drum located above said liquid drum, conduits connecting the vapor drum to said liquidspace and said vapor space, and means in said vapor space for separating liquid particles from'vapor.

5. A boiler drum comprising two cylindrical walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to define an annular chamber, walls in said chamber which divide it into concentric vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes each of which is connected to both said spaces, and separating means located in said vapor space for separating liquid particles from vapor.

6. A boiler drum comprising two cylindrical walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to define an annular chamber, walls in said chamber which divide it into concentric vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes each of which is connected to both said spaces, separating means located in said vapor space for separating liquid particles from vapor, and means providing a passage for conveying the particles separated out back to the liquid space.

'7. In a vapor generator, a plurality of liquid drums each comprising walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to form an annular chamber, walls in said chamber dividing said chamber into concentric vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes connected to each one of said drums, a vapor drum located above the liquid drums, conduits connecting the lower side of the vapor drum to said liquid spaces and conduits connecting the vapor drum to said vapor spaces.

8. In a vapor generator, 2. liquid drum comprising two cylindrical walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to form an annular chamber, walls in said chamber which divide it into concentric vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes connected to said spaces, a vapor drum located above said liquid drum, conduits connecting the vapor drum to said liquid and vapor spaces, and separating means provided in said vapor space for separating liquid particles from vapor.

9. In a vapor generator, a liquid drum comprising two cylindrical walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to form an annular chamber, walls in said chamber which divide it into concentric vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes each comprising an outer tube, which is closed at its lower end and connected at its upper end to said vapor space, and an inner tube terminating short of the lower end of said outer tube and connected at its upper end to said liquid space, a vapor drum located above said liquid drum, conduits connecting the vapor drum to said liquid and vapor spaces, and separating means provided in said vapor space for separating liquid particles from vapor.

10. In a vapor generator, a liquid drum comprising walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to form an annular chamber, walls in said chamber, dividing said chamber into vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes connected to said drum,avapor drum located above the liquid drum,

a conduit connecting the lower side of the vapor drum to said liquid space, a conduit connecting the vapor drum to said vapor space, means in said vapor space for separating liquid particles from vapor, and means providing a passage for conveying the separated liquid particles back to the liquid space.

11. In a vapor generator, a plurality of liquid drums each comprising walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to form an annular r3.

chamber, walls in said chamber dividing said chamber into concentric vapor and liquid spaces, boiler tubes connected to each one of said drums, a vapor drum located symmetrically above the liquid drums, conduits connecting the lower side or the vapor drum to said liquid spaces and conduits connecting the vapor drum to said vapor spaces.

12. A boiler drum comprising two cylindrical walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to define an annular chamber, a wall in said chamber which divides it into a vapor space and a liquid space, and boiler tubes each of which is connected to both said spaces.

13. A boiler drum comprising two cylindrical walls which surround each other and are spaced apart to define an annular chamber, a wall in said chamber which divides it into concentric vapor and liquid spaces, and boiler tubes each of which is connected to both said spaces.

14. A boiler drum comprising two continuous cylndrical walls spaced apart to define a chamber therebetween extending completely around the interior of the drum, a wall in said chamber which divides it into a vapor space and a liquid space, and boiler tubes each of which is connected to both of said spaces.

15. A vapor generator including a drum, a tubular member within the drum and having its wall extending completely around the interior of the drum to define a chamber between the drum and said member, a wall within said chamber dividing the same into a vapor space and a liquid space, and boiler tubes each of which is connected to both of said spaces.

16. In a mercury boiler, a horizontal cylindrical drum, a displacer in said drum and spaced therefrom, and a perforated cylindrical separator between said drum and displacer spaced from each one of them.

17. In a mercury boiler, a horizontally disposed cylindrical drum, an inner cylinder spaced from said drum, tubes connected to the lower portion of said drum, displacers in said tubes and a separator in said drum being spaced from said drum and cylinder.

ANTHONY J. NERAD.

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