US1988382A - Condensate handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 15, 1935. W` c, GREENEA 1,988,382

ONDENSATE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 30, 1951 INVETOR ML TER C GRISE/v5 ATTORNEYS ;handling the liquid condensate.

;vention. y

Referring to the drawing, 1 represent .afsuitf-v Patented Jan. I5, 1935 UNITEDsTATEs .1,988,382 v HANDLING APPARATUS coNnENsATE NT OFFICE Aj i Walter C. Greene, Cleveland lileiglits,A Ohio f Applicationpecemher so, i9s1, seria1Ne. 58s,s97 izclaims.y (c1. zar-sry This invention relates to heating apparatus of the type utilizing both high and low steam pressure, with an'air pump for; producing a suction or, vacuum effect anda Water pump for One object of the invention is to provide a cross connection between the high and low pressure parts of the system, together with control means therefor, arranged in suchmanner that `in starting the system the vacuumv effect ap;

plied to the low vpressure return line is also made eiective inthe high pressure return line,y

to quickly remove air or Vapor and expeditethe distribution of heating steam, b ut which` is rendered ineffective there in\ when the high-pressure return line comes upto operating temperature.

A further object lof the-invention is to p rovide 'an improved arrangement in which priming liquid for the air pump is constantly sup- .plied to it at relatively low temperature from a low temperature part of the high pressure` reservoir, to constantly maintain condensate y the pump effective in operation.

A further object of the invention is to pro- .vide apparatus of this kindin which a full supply' of water is maintained and constantlyI cooled in the high pressure condensate reservoir, by direct delivery from the water pump, for the purpose of always insuring suiiicient cool priming liquid for the airpuznp.

A further object of the invention is to pro' vide an arrangement in which the water pump discharges condensate directly to the boiler, but

not hot condensate, due to constant mixture of the condensates from both high and. l0.w.;pres.

sure return lines and theventing to atmosphere of the high pressure condensate reservoir with accompanying drop in condensate temperature therein, and wherein, furthermore, all air ory ,vapor in the water pump supply 4is taken off by the air pump in advanceof delivery of such water supplied to the water pump..

'I'he foregoing andother features of the in' vention will be brought out in the following deing system or plant with the condensate handling apparatus applied theretofand inl an en larged arrangement to clearly illustrate@ the 'inl'- to a low pressure steam line 6 linvturn connected'A toa plurality-of heat radiatingdevices, such as radiators, for `heating purposes. lTherey is an inlet. connection and supply valve assembly .7 n for eachy radiator and av thermostatic lreturny trap 8, the thermostatic. traps being.. connected to the lowpressure return line 9.

Beyond the connection 4 the otherhigh pressurevsteam branch or arm 10 leads to such heat radiating `.devices as' a cooker, .generally indi# 'cated at 11, and a Yblast coil, generally indicated 101.

at 12.y All of these' devices. are .provided with:

their own traps 13 andvall traps are connected.

to the high pressure return line 14. 1

Mounted at any suitable point, preferably be| low the water level in the. boiler, is apump cas'-y 15v l ing containing both air andwater pump units or f members on a pump `shaft 16 adapted to be driven by a motor 17.y This .shaft carries anair rotor 18 of any preferred type. adapted' to pro' duce a vacuum or suction effect by drawing.'r airV 2u'lv ascribed` to-air `rotor.18,` other advantages are 301i.

realizedonly if a certainf type .of air pumpuisl. used. 'The pump illustrated in the drawingcom`iiI prises a-.rotor `in hydraulic balancerevolving` freely in an .elliptical casing 4containing water.

The water turns with .the rotor and' follows the'. 35.:

casing impelledwby centrifugal force'. Asi the' i water alternately recedes from 'and .is `forced back into 'the rotor, it draws in air through suit" ably located-inlet ports and discharges itgagain through other y outlet ports. charges smallamounts of water whichy shouldA be returnedto the system or the'loss .becomesy considerable over an extended period. Also, such a pump should be continuously primed with relatively cool Water. for the duty outlined herein.

`Mounted-above the. pump'casing is a tank 24 forming a .high pressure condensate reservoirv havinga main compartment and an auxiliaryi high pressure returnfcompartment 26,1 the" two beingrforrned by a verticalzwall oripartition 27 50,

extending up from the bottom of the tank to a point .near the top, thereby leavingan opening abovek thepaitition. This .tank is connected" by a `manifold structurewith therair pump. The

. manifold structure inclu-des a conduites leading 5151- and-to discharge. 25..

Such a pump dis-i 40 to the pump inlet port 19 and another conduit 29 communicating with the top of the water chamber of the water pump, as at 30. These .two conduits 28 and 29 'extend upwardly side by side and are cross connected at the top where they Vcommunicated with a pipe 31 leading to the low pressure condensate reservoir to be described.

In addition to the conduits already described, the manifold referred to includes a conduit 33 which leads from the air exhaust'port 240 o f the air or ,vacuum pump `and communicatesfby a connection 34 with the vapor space in the top of the tank 24. A check valve 34' is provided `in the connection 34 to preventreturn flow from the tank to the air pump.

The tank 24 is preferablyiprovided with an air relief or vent 35 placedwabove the highjrpressure return compartment- `26 and'iwhchvents any airv and steam which may accumulate inthe top of .the tank. This open vent alsopromptly` reduces the*` temperature of anylcondensate which; reaches the tank attemperaturesabove boiling. ".:The vapor portion of the tank is connected toa suitable strainer 36 jinthe high pres- `risesranddischarges some of the water therein.l

' intoithe low` pressure reservoir..

Connected tothe .water supply pipe 22 for the sure.. return .-pipe. Spaced` above the bottom ofy water pump,` is a casing 41 containing a checky .valve 42-'closing toward thelow` pressurecondensate 'reservoir 43. This check 'valve 41 Yis connected .to the side ofthe .low pressure condensate reservoir and communicatesl therewith through a strainer 45 in chamber 44. The .upper 40.,portion of reservoir 43 .is connected `to Ythepipe 31.1and` its `chamber Acommunicates. with a ldrain `pipe .146. coming from. the .bottom of the high pressure condensate vcompartment 26 lin reserv Voir 25below the floatvalve 39.1The1ow pres- 451. sure condensate reservoir 431 also-communicates with a'pipe :47 leading down-:to a connection 48 at the lower fend of `the low.: pressurel return line 9. i:InY the Vlow pressure. condensate Y, reservoir is aoat 49. pivoted at 50.' and arranged-toactuate I an larm 160.on the outsideof the casing and con-f nectedk to a switchfmot'shown) in fthe operating electricalicircuit to themotor 17, so thatstarting and stoppingof -the motor is. automatically convtrolled/inaccordance with the level of liquid Vin rstheilowlpressure condensate reservoir 43. With asuflicient accumulationof` condensate in reservoir 43 the motor starts automatically and the two pump elements areoperatedand the condensate is'pumped back to the boiler.. At the same time, the airk pump produces a vacuum eiect which is applied` by conduit `29 tothe chamber within the .water pump casing and by pipe 31 toi thevapor space in the. low pressure condensate reservoir. as well as to thelow pressure return line; i

When a system of this` kind'v is started, or when it is cold and thefnecessity'arises to bring it up to full-operating condition, ,there is Irequentlyavery material lag in the sweep of the vhigh pressure steam to all parts of the high presi-sure portion ofthe system. -The action may-beg expedited `by applying a vacuum effect Vto the high pressure retur'nlinel. For this purpose-I supply a cross connectionbetween the low pressure and high pressure return.` lines, consisting of a pipe 62 connected-atene endtd thelow pressure return line, as to the pipe 47, and which at its other end communicates with a thermostatic trap 63, the latter in turn connected by a pipe` 64 to the high pressure return line 14. A check valve 64' is preferably also located in the return line 14 between the cross connection .and reserlvoir 25, so that the Vacuum effect is not transmit- With this arrangement, in

ted to reservoir 25. starting or when the system is cold and is being brought up to operatingcondition', the thermostatic trap is open andthe vacuum effect produced in reservoir 43 is communicated to the r.return end of the high pressure part of the system, evacuating air therefrom and when the steam'or returned'condensate reaches the therfmostatic `trap and heats it to the proper temperature, saidtrap closes and cuts off the vacuum effect, so'thatthe high pressure part of the system thereafter operates `with high pressure steam. e

VIn thearrangement described/when the condensate'from'the vhigh pressure return line`14 reaches reservoir `24 itsv temperature is immedi-.'

ately reduced tofboling by evacuation .through the open vent 35 -t'oatmosphere of: excess steam or vaporwhch would normallyv interfere with operation of the air-pump.' As condensate ac-f cumulates in tank `24 it fills the largercom-A`4 partment Vv25 and when a suihcient'accumulation occurs in compartment 26 the'float valve rises anda portion of 'theli'quiddrains by gravity to the low pressure-condensate reservoir 43 from which itis eventually pumped( back tothe boiler.

The larger/'compartment 25 maintained full ofA priming liquid so that efficient andsatis'actory operation of the air ypump is assured at all times and lossof priming liquid immaterial.`

Furthermore', thefhot condensate in reservoir 26,

lelven though 'at boilingvtemperature, ismxed withv4 C OQler Lcondensate in reservoir 43before goingftothe.boiler.V Thecooler condensate has aftemperature of approximately le'fand the mixture therefore goes tcfthe boiler at a temperature materiallyrbelow boilingand -with no liability of flashing and interfering with operartionofv the airjpumpz4 Means` fis also provided times a full-supply of liquidl in process of being cooled in` the large chamber 251 of the high presf sure condensate reservoir, to which the cooler liquid handled 'by thef water `pump is' directly` delivered by way of a pipe'f65including a' coolingV coil 66 and an adjustable valve 67 "by which the quantity'flowing may `be 'varied as desired; This valve ,may be partially opened so as to permit a constant now at alltimes `when the water pump 'is operatingy randV the quantity may 4be just suiilcientto kkeepqthe chamber 25 full or,

if desired, valve67 may be opened wider and the excess water delivered to compartment 25 and cooled by its passagethroughthe cooling coil 66 will over-flow into compartment 26, mix with the hot-liquid therein and ultimately beV returned to reservoir 43. 'l

Having described my 1. Heating apparatus; comprising a boiler, a plurality of steamlines connected thereto, means for..y insuring .at all invention,IclaiIn:

for ,establishing relatively...` high: i and :low pressures. in` 'said lines, heatyutilizing I devices'r communicating with said lineshi gh andlowpressure return. lines connectedrespectively there-z with, a; separate condensa-tec reservoir v.for :each of said return linesyfliquid pump-means for returningv the condensate .to vthe-,fboiler,'air fpump means Aemploying priming liquidv rfor v.creating vacuum-in the low pressure yreturn line, means for dissipating steam-or .vapor..from. the high; pressure condensate reservoir, rneansk for delivering excess condensate from thef-high pressure. condensatereservoir =to ".the low pressure condensate reservoir while preventing air passage between the reservoirs, and a liquid priming connection from one of said condensate reservoirs to the air pump chamber.

2. Heating apparatus, comprising a boiler, a plurality of steam lines connected thereto, means for establishing relatively high and low pressures in said lines, heat utilizing devices communicating with said lines, high and low pressure return lines connected respectively with the high and low pressure heat utilizing devices, a separate condensate reservoir for each of said return lines, pump means connected to the low pressure condensate reservoir for returning the condensate therefrom to the boiler and for at the same time creating a Vacuum in the low pressure return lines, a steam and air vent for the steam and air space of the high pressure return reservoir, and means for delivering the condensate from said high pressure condensate reservoir to the low pressure condensate reservoir While preventing air passage between the reservoirs.

3. Heating apparatus, comprising a boiler, high and low pressure steam and return lines communicating therewith, heat utilizing devices connected between said steam and return lines, a condensate reservoir communicating with the high pressure return line, a condensate reservoir communicating with the low pressure return line, vacuum producing and liquid pump means connected to the low pressure condensate reservoir and arranged to deliver condensate therefrom to a boiler and at the same time to create a vacuum effect in the low pressure condensate reservoir and return line, means for venting pressure from the high pressure condensate reservoir, and means for periodically delivering the accumulating condensate in the high pressure condensate reservoir to the low pressure condensate reservoir.

4. Heating apparatus of the character described in claim 3, including a vacuum producing pump means employing priming liquid, and a priming liquid supply line for conducting a cooled liquid from a 10W temperature point in the high pressure condensate reservoir to the vacuum producing portion of said pump means.

5. Heating apparatus, comprising a boiler, a plurality of steam lines connected thereto, means for establishing relatively high and low pressures in said lines, heat utilizing devices `communicating With said lines, high and low pressure return lines connected respectively with the high and low pressure heat utilizing "devices, a separate condensate reservoir for each of said return lines, vacuum producing `and liquid pump means connected to the low pressure condensate reservoir for returning the condensate therefrom to the boiler and for creating a vacuum eiectin the low pressure return line, a steam and air vent for the steam and air space of the high pressure., condensate .zreservoirg a-f-drainage connection. :from` thefy vhigh --pressure condensate reservoir to .the Alow .pressure condensate'` reserJ-L voir arranged toxprevent thepassage of -airzbetween` reservoirs; and*` meansy vfor rendering: thev vacuum: effect-.which is normally .eiective .in the low f pressure return line;;.effective linxzthe rhighv pressurey return line during-starting of` therapparatus.n i" f 6'. Apparatusot` thecharacter described".:in`

.turn lines connected with the high and. low

pressureheat utilizing devices, condensate collecting means for the low pressure return line,

liquid and air pump means for simultaneously returning thecondensate to the boiler and for creating a vacuum effect in the low pressure return line, and a reservoir communicating with the high pressure return line and open to atmosphere and having its lvapor space communicating with the discharge side of the air pump means and with the low pressure return line and arranged to deliver its excess water accumulation into said collecting means while preventing the delivery of air thereto.

8. Heating apparatus ofthe character described in claim 7, including means for delivering water from the liquid pump means directly to said reservoir.

9. Heating apparatus of the character described in claim 7, including air pump means employing a primingr liquid, means for delivering Water from the liquid pump means directly to said reservoir, and a drainage connection from a low temperature point in said reservoir to the chamber of the air pump means for conducting priming liquid thereto.

10. Heating apparatus, comprising a boiler, a plurality of steam lines communicating therewith, means for establishing relatively high and low pressures in said lines, heatl utilizing devices connected to said high and` low pressure steam lines, high and low pressure return jlines connected respectively with the high and low pressure heat utilizing devices, condensate collecting means for the low pressure return line, a condensate reservoir for the high pressure return line, a drainage connection therefrom to the low pressure condensate'reservoir arranged to prevent the passage of air between reservoirs, liquid and air pump means for simultaneously returning condensate to the boiler and for creating a vacuum effect in the low pressure condensate reservoir and return line, means for conducting vcooled liquid from said. liquid pump means to the high pressure condensate reser- Voir, andi avent to atmosphere for said high pressure condensate reservoir.

11. Apparatus lof the character described claim 10, including a cross connection between the high and low pressure return lines for rendering the vacuum effect in the latter effective in thek former, Vand thermostatic means sensi- Y 4 n tive .to :the temperature ,Y off Lsaidv high pressure return-line for `op'enngfsaid. connection when thehgh pressure return line is cold. .1

12.-. Heating apparatus,l comprising `aiboiler, a

plurality of steam lines connected thereto, meansv Vfor'-y establishing relativelyy high `and flow pressures insaid lines, heatutilizng devices communcating with saidlines, hghiand `low pres- .inattesa sate :reservoir tothe boiler, a-dranag'e connec-i' tion fromv the highk pressureV condensate reser' voir to the low Apressure condensate reservoir arrangedftoprevent 4the passage of airv between reservoirs, andan airfpump communicating on itsy suctioniside `with thej'low pressure `conden-v sate reservoirand return line and with the upper portion of thechamber of the liquid pump means and on its discharge side-With the vapor space ofthe high pressure condensate reservoini and a vent to atmosphere from the .vapor space'of` the high pressure condensate reservoir.

Y WALTER f c. GREErm` i

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