US1968171A - Steam circulating system - Google Patents

Description

July 31, 1934. A REISS ET AL 1,968,171

STEAM CfRCULATING SYSTEM Filed Sept 30, 193 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 as. 1 M .56 a I I i 10 3/ M I 71 i I f Gus/ m G7WYWWS July 31, 1934. A, REES Er AL 1,968,171

STEAM CIRCULATING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -1Z'.5. 545/ 89 r 51 f 111 1 1 :I: 'P" I II 15 IE E I 1, (11 1.; 3111 '76 ?P ns Patented July 31, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE Joseph Peter. Christ, Niederrad, Germany Frankfort-on-the-Main- Application September 30, 1932, Serial No. 635,684 In Germany December 3, 1931 7 Claims.

Steam circulating systems are known in which the steam .consuming apparatus is connected in parallel with the main steam conduit and at the same time each .steam consuming apparatus 6 is provided with a steam separator, the steam separators being connected by a common conduit for the condensate as well as by a common conduit for the steam. The steam obtained in the steam separators is passed by way of a throttle 10 arrangement to a common conduit which discharges in the steam space of a common device for tapping off the water of condensation. In this way it is possible to attain only an incomplete utilization of the heat of the steam and in particular that heat present in the water in the last common steam separator is not utilized because this water is under pressure and thus contains large quantities of heat.

The subject matter of the present invention is a steam circulating system in which this disadvantage is avoided in that the steam consuming apparatus is divided into three groups, one of which is supplied directly with heating steam, the second group is supplied with mixed steam which is composed of the heating steam and the waste steam from the water separators of the first and second groups. The third group receives steam solely from the water separator of the mixed steam group, the actual exhaust steam of this suction steam group being again supplied to the corresponding steam consumers.

In this way the heat of the steam is utilized to a considerable extent and it is attained that in the last steam separator in which the entire condensed water collects there is a reduced pressure which results in a subsequent release of steam from the water so that here also a large part of the heat is again introduced into the cycle.

At the same time care is taken that the suction pressure of the requisite apparatus for circulating the steam remains the same. This is attained in that the control of quantity is not effected by regulating this apparatus effecting the circulation of the steam but by regulating an additional jet which is provided in the conduit beyond the diffuser of the said apparatus. This additional jet also exerts a suction action on the apparatus so that the performance of the 5 latter is in this way still further increased.

As the suction action in the steam separators of the mixed steam group and of the suction group is comparatively small, the non-return valves provided .over these separators operate only unreliably and they also frequently constitute a resistance which influences the suction action. For this reason this check valve is according to the invention automatically controlled by the pressure difference between the pressure in the conduit and the pressure in the suction conduit. The control of the non-return valve may be effected by a membrane or a piston, the housing or cylinder of which is connected on one side with the pressure conduit and on the other side with the suction conduit.

The individual steam consumers of the different groups can also be subdivided into sub-groups connected in parallel. At the same time these sub-groups of the mixed steam group for example can be subjected to a further subdivision in that certain of these groups are combined and interconnected in parallel. The remaining arrangement is not affected thereby.

Two embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a system in which only one steam consumer is present in each group. I

Fig. 2 shows on a larger scale the corresponding steam circulating apparatus with an auxiliary jet positioned in front thereof and with. control non-return valve for the steam separator.

Fig. 3 shows a system with multiple group subdivision.

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically a further embodiment of the invention in which the heating step and the suction step are each subdivided into two subordinate groups.

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically a further subdivision, as adapted for usein heating the cylinders of a paper machine[ Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 isthe steam consumer of the heating steam group and may be-a radiator, a cylinder of a steam-heated papermachine, a cooking evaporating or drying apparatus or the like; This steam consumer is supplied with heating steam through the conduit 2 either directly with live steam or with intermediate steam or exhaust steam from a steam engine, turbine or the like. The lower end of the steam consumer is connected with the steam separator 3 the water of condensation from which is passed at 4 to a common conduit 5 which discharges into the last steam separator 6 of the entire system. p

The mixed steam group comprises the steam consumer 7 which at its lower end at 8 is connected with the steam separator 9 which in turn passes the condensed water into the common conduit 5 at 9a and thus into the water space of the steam separator 6. The steam consumer 7 is connected to the steam circulating apparatus 10 the suction conduit 11 of which is connected with the steam space of the steam separator 9. Live steam is fed into the circulating apparatus at 12 from the live steam conduit 2 for example.

A conduit 13 which leads from the steam space of the steam separator 3 of the heating steam group also discharges into the steam space of the steam separator 9 01 the mixed steam group. A throttle may be provided in this conduit at 14.

The steam circulating apparatus 10 is constructed as shown in Fig. 2. Beyond the jet 14 in the subsequent diffuser 15 is a second jet 16 which is connected by means of the conduit 17 with the pipe 12 branching from the heating steam conduit. The regulating device 18 of the steam circulating apparatus 10 is set once and for all to a minimum consumption. The actual re lation of the quantity which is requisite at any time is eiiected by means of the valve 19 which is provided in the conduit 17 leading to the auxiliary jet 16. In this way the suction action in the conduit 11 is not detrimentally affected by the regulation of the quantity.

The third group, Fig. 1, is the suction steam group, the steam consumer of which is indicated by 20. It is connected to a steam circulating apparatus 21 which is also provided with an auxiliary jet at 22. Pressure is applied to this steam circulating apparatus through the conduit 23 which is connected at 24 to the exhaust steam conduit of the steam separator 9 of the mixed steam group. Thus the steam circulating apparatus 21 is operated solely by the waste steam of the two other groups. The steam consumer 20 is connected by means of the pipe 25 to the steam separator 6 the steam space of which is connected with the steam circulating apparatus 21 by the conduit 26. The entire water of condensation is removed from the steam separator 6 at 27.

The steam separator 9 as well as the steam separator 6 are each provided in known manner with a non-return valve as shown in Fig. 2 at 28; the stem 29 of this valve is connected with a membrane 30. The membrane 30 is enclosed in a housing 31 which above the membraneis connected by means of the conduit 32 with the suction space of the corresponding steam circulating apparatus 10 whereas the space beneath the membrane 30 is connected by way of the conduit 33 with the pressure conduit which leads to the corresponding steam consumer. In this way in consequence of the pressure difl'erence on the two sides of the membrane the valve is maintained open in the presence of a pressure difference whereas it closes again immediately it this pressure difierence ceases or if it falls below a definite magnitude.

The steam separator 6 also has a similar positively controlled non-return valve the housing of which is indicated at 34 in Fig. 1.

Now the mode of operation of the arrangement is as follows:

The live steam or heating steam is supplied through the conduit 2 to the steam consumer 1 and then passes into the steam separator 3 so that the water which is precipitated passes by way of 4 into the common return conduit 5 to the water space of the steam separator 6; The separated steam passes through the pipe 13 into the steam space of the steam separator 9 of the second mixed steam group, the steam consumer 7 of which is connected to the steam circulating apapparatus 21 of the suction group and here is fed to the steam consumer 20, the waste steam and waste water from which pass to the steam separator 6; the apparatus 21 then draws of! steam from the separator pipe through the pipe 26 and produces a certain reduced pressure in the space 6 which causes a subsequent evaporation of the condensate which is contained therein and which was collected from all the steam separators.

In this way the entire heat of the steam is almost completely utilized.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 3 individual steam consumers 1 are provided in-the heating steam group 1 and are connected in parallel with each other to the heating steam conduit 2 and at the other end are also conected in parallel to a common return conduit 35 which leads to the steam' separator 3 which is connected with the water return-fiow conduit 5.

The mixed steam group of this arrangement consists of two-sub-groups, the steam consumers of which are indicated by 36 and 37. The mixed steam is supplied through the conduit 38 to both sub-groups from the steam circulating apparatus 10 which corresponds to the equivalent apparatus 10 in the system of Fig. 1. The one-sub-group 36 of this mixed steam group is moreover connected to the common conduit 39 which leads to the steam separator 40 whereas the other subgroup 37 is connected to the steam separator 42 by the conduit 41. The steam space of the separator 40 is connected with the larger steam separator 42 by means of the conduit 43. Suction steam both from the steam separator 3 and also from the steam separator 40 is fed to the steam separator 42 and then pass through the tube 11 to the steam circulating apparatus 10. As in the system of Fig. 1 a pipe 23 branches from the steam separator 42 and leads to the steam circulating apparatus of the suction steam group which is represented by the steam consumers 46 and 47. By means of the pipe 48 the consumers 46 and 47 are connected in parallel to the pressure side of the steam circulating apparatus 21. The return flow occurs through the conduit 49 to the steam separator 50 in which the common water return 'flow conduit 5 also discharges.

The mode of operation of this system is precisely the same as that of the system of Fig. 1.

The additional jets and the controlled nonreturn valves are also provided in the system according to Fig. 3.-

The present invention relates further to an improvement or development of the steam circulating system. In particular according to the present invention the subdivision of the individual groups and stages in the sub-groups is carried out to a greater extent and, in such manner that the waste steam of each sub-group is added to the heating steam stage of the steam circulating apparatus of the subsequent stages as working steam or suction steam. Thus for example the heating steam stage is divided into two subgroups to which steam is supplied separately from the heating steam pipe and from which the condensate is tapped ofi separately. For each sub-group a steam separator is provided andthe separated steam oi the group is fed to the steam circulating apparatusoi the third stage, i. e., the

suction steam stage as working steam, whereas the separated steam of the second sub-group is drawn in by means of the steam circulating apparatus of the second stage (mixed steam group).

The suction steam stage is also divided into two sub-groups of which one is attached to the steam circulating apparatus which draws in the steam from the steam separator oi the mixed steam stage whereas the waste steam of this first group of the suction steam stage is fed to the steam circulating apparatus for the second subgroup of this stage as working steam. I

Also the arrangement can further be so modifled that in addition to its own steam separator each sub-group is also furnished with its own steam circulating apparatus (injector or any pump member).

By this arrangement the circulation of the steam and thus the eiliciency of the entire apparatus is further improved. In particular this extensive sub-division is appropriate ifit is a case of heating a large number or heating members step by step one after the other with increasing yield of heat as is the case for example in the cylinders of a paper machine.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the heating bodies of the heating steam stage are divided into two sub-groups 51 and 52 which are connected to the heating steam pipe 55 by the pipes 53 and 54. A steam separator 56 or 57 is provided for each subgroup and is connected by the common condensate return pipe 58 to a condensate collecting vessel 59 which is common to all separators of the arrangement.

' The wastesteam oi the steam separator 56 of the first sub-group 51 is fed through the pipe 60 to the steam circulating apparatus 61 of the suction'steam stage as working steamwhereas the waste steam oi the second sub-group 52 of the heating steam stage is drawn in by means 01' the steam circulating apparatus 63 and is fed to the mixed steam group 64. This mixed steam stage 64 has in turn the steam separator 65 which is connected with the steam circulating apparatus 61 by means of the pipe 66.

The suction steam stage is divided into two sub-groups which are indicated by 6'? and 68. The sub-group 67 receives its steam through the pipe 69 from the steam circulating apparatus 61 and its waste steam is fed into the steam separa-.

'- tor 70. The waste steam from this separator passes through the pipe '71 as working steam into the steam circulating apparatus '72 to which the second sub-group of the suction steam stage is attached. Thus sub-group 68 delivers its waste water through the pipe '13 into the common condensate collecting vessel 59 from which the vapour is drawn off through the pipe '74 into the steam circulating apparatus '72.

The mode of operation is that-the heating steam passing through the pipe 55 and the branch pipes 53 and 54 into the two sub-groups 51 and 52, heats the heating bodies of these sub-groups whereupon the waste steam of the two groups passes into the separators 56 and 57 and here deposits its water which is drawn off through the pipe 58 to the common condensate collecting vessel 59. Then the waste steam from separator 56 passes through pipe 60 to steam circulating apparatus 61 where it is used as working steam, and the exhaust steam from separator 5'1 passes to steam circulating apparatus-63 as suction steam. The subsequent stages are provided with steam separators for each sub-group.

- In the embodiment according to Fig. 5 which represents the arrangement in apaper machine the individual cylinders of the paper machine which are to be heated are indicated in order with the reference numerals 51', 52', 53', 54' and so on up to The heating steam stage comprises the cylinders 68'80' the mixing steam stage the cylinders 58-67' and the suction steam stage thecylinder 51-57. Separate branch pipes pass from the steam pipe '75 to each cylinder 68'80' which are to be heated, whereas three steam separators 76, '77 and "78 are provided by which the heating steam stage is divided into three sub-groups. These three steam separators are connected to the common condensed water discharge pipe '79 which leads to the condensate collecting vessel 80.

The waste steam from the separators '76 and 'l'l is fed through the pipe 81 to the steam circulating apparatus 82 and 83 of the two groups of the suction steam stage as working steam, whereas the waste steam from the seperator '18 is drawn in by the steam circulating apparatus 84 of the mixed steam stage. r

This mixed steam stage is again divided into two groups with which the steam separators 85 and 86 are associated. The steam separated by 85 is drawn in through the pipe 87 by the steam circulating apparatus 82 ot the suction steam stage whereas the waste steam from'the separator 86 passes through the pipe 88 to the steam circulating apparatus 89 of the second group of the mixed steam stage;

The suction steam stage is also divided in two sub-groups of which one is connected to the sep-. arator 90 and-the other to the separator 91. The waste steam from 90 is fed through the pipe 92 to the steam circulating apparatus 83 whereas the waste steam from 91 is fed through the pipe 93 to the steam circulating apparatus 94 to which the cylinder 51' isconnected. These steam separators 86, 85, 90 and 91 are laso connected to the common collecting vessel 80 from which the vapour is drawn 011 through the pipe 95 by the injector 94. v

In this way it is possible to obtain a very good subdivision and grading of the heat so that a complete utilization of the steam is attained with most economical consumption and with good and uniform step by step drying of the paper.

Instead of providing two subgroups in each stage it is of course possible to provide a plural- 13o ity of sub-groups. Each sub-group would then be connected with its own steam separator and it-desired also with its own steam circulating apparatus (injector'or another steam circulating pump).

What we claim is:

1. In a steam circulating system, a plurality of steam consumers arranged in three groups, a steam supply conduit, connections with said conduit for supplying one group with heating steam only, connections for supplying the second group with mixed steam consisting of heating steam and part of the exhaust steam from the first group, the exhaust steam from the firstgroup being sucked into the second group by a steam circulating apparatus, connections for supplying the third group with exhaust steam from a previous group and with exhaust steam from. the third group, and vapors from a condensate collecting chamber connected with all three groups, the exhaust steam oi the third group and the said vapors being sucked into the third group by the exhaust steam of the previous group by means of a circulating apparatus, each group being provided with a steam separator connected together by a common conduit.

2. A steam circulating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the steam space of the steam separator of the first group is connected with the steam space of the second group and the latter is connected with the suction space of the steam circulating apparatus of the second group and with the pressure space of the steam circulating apparatus of the third group.

3. A steam circulating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the steam space of the steam separator of the first group is connected with the steam space of the second group and the latter is connected with the suction space of the steam circulating apparatus of the second group and with the pressure space of the steam circulating apparatus of the third group, the water space of the steam separator of the third group receiving condensate from the other separators through said common conduit, the steam space of the separator of the third group being connected by a suction conduit with the suction space ofthe steam circulating apparatus of the third group.

4. A steam circulating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the steam space of the steam separator of the first group is connected with the steam space of the second group and the latter is connected with the suction space of the steam circulating apparatus 01 the second group and with the pressure space of the steam circulating apparatus of the third group, each of said steam circulating apparatuses being provided with a diffuser and an additional jet beyond the diffuser, the connections supplying driving steam to the said apparatuses being connected to the additional jets to control the quantity.

5. A steam circulating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the steam space 01 the steam separator-oi the first group is connected with the steam space of the second group and the latter is connected with the suction spaceof the steam circulating apparatus of the second group and with the pressure space of the steam circulating apparatus of the third group, each group being divided into a plurality 0! subgroups connected in parallel, each subgroup being connected to an individual steam separator.

6. A steam circulating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the steam space of the steam separator 01 the first group is connected with the steam space 01' the second group and the latter is connected with the suction space of the steam circulating apparatus of the second group and with the pressure space of the steam circulating apparatus of the third group, each group being divided into a plurality of subgroups connected in parallel, each subgroup being connected to an individual steam separator, the steam spaces of the steam separators of the first and second groups being separately connected to a larger steam separator, and a connection between the steam space of said larger separator and the steam circulating apparatus of the third group through which exhaust steam is drawn to said circulating apparatus.

'7. A steam circulating apparatus according to claim 1 and a connection between the first group of steam consumers and the circulating apparatus of the third group by which exhaust steam of the first group is supplied to the circulating apparatus of the third group.

AUGUST REISS. JOSEEH PETER CHRIST.

Images