US2250872A - Oil separating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 1941- R. G.MAKELY OIL SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1939 m H K \N M R n mN m 3 H 1 Mex wkwkww QB F l M J 4 NM, Y J. m IIIY B MN mm ww MN 8 Q Q r v jr Patented July 29, 1941 OIL SEPARATING APPARATUS Ralph G. Makely, West New Brighton, N. Y., as-

- signer to The Superheater Company, New York, 1

Application December 15, 1939,.Serial No. 309,409

3 Claims.

A My invention relates to improvements in separators and particularly those employed to separate oil from steam exhausted from engines, such -as locomotive engines.

At least part of the steam exhausted from the engines of a locomotive is commonly utilized in exhaust steam injectors or feed water heaters of either the open or closed type. The lubrication of the locomotive enginesresults in entrainment of oil and grease by the exhaust steam and it is desirable to remove the oil, particularly where it may be carried to the locomotive boiler with the feed water as a result of being utilized in injectors or feed water heaters. Practically all exhaust steam from locomotive engines is superheated and it has been found that the separation of oil or grease in the presence of superheated steam is diflicult. The present invention contemplates a partial desuperheating of the exhaust steam or more particularly the spraying of moisture into the steam in order to facilitate the separation of oil and grease therefrom.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational View of a locomotive equipped with a feed water heating system and an oil separating system embodying one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken-away view of an enlarged scale of an oil separating system with some parts shown in section, a second and preferred form of the invention being illustrated in this figure Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of a locomotive feed water system embodying another modified arrangement.

Feed water taken from the locomotive tender through a suction line H) is forced by an injector H to the locomotive boiler |2 through a delivery line l3. The injector is of the type which operates on exhaust steam when available in sufficient amount during operation of the locomotive and a conduit l4 connects the exhaust of engine it to the injector. Conduit M has an oil separator of any suitable type located therein, the separator being designated by the numeral l3. Whenever the injector H is operating, the water valve 2!] (Fig. 2) is open admitting water to the chamber 2| to be forced into the boiler either by live steam or exhaust steam from the locomotive engine. With the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 the chamber 2| is connected by piping 22, 23, 24 to the exhaust steam conduit I3 at a point between the engine I5 and the oil separator I6. A suitable nozzle or the like 25 is employed so that cool water taken from the injector chamber 2| and supplied through this piping is sprayed into the exhaust steam passing from the engines to the oil separator It. Between the sections 23 and 24 of the piping is an injector 23 for drawing water from chamber 2| and forcing it into conduit Hi, this injector, receiving water from the section 23 and steam from the locomotive engines through apipe 27. Interposed between the sections 22, 23 of the piping is a valve casing 33 containing a valve member 3|. The valve is normally held closed by a' spring 32 acting in opposition to steam pressure applied to a piston 33 through a conduit 33. This conduit is in communication with vthe cylinder 36* that is provided for the piston that opens the exhauststeam valve 31 of the injector. Whenever sufficient exhaust steam is available to operate the injector, the usual changeover mechanism such as that disclosed in Hard Patent Re. 19,229 dated July 3, 1934, causes steam to be admitted to cylinder 36 toysubject the piston therein to steam pressure for opening the exhaust steam valve 31. Coincidentally, steam flows through conduit 34 to act on piston 33.

Whenever the injector H is operating, Water valve 23 is open and accordingly cool water from the tender may be taken from chamber 2| and sprayed into the exhaust steam conduit l4 through the piping 22, 23, 24 provided the valve 3| is open. When suificient exhaust steam is available for operating the injector the change. over mechanism causes steam to be admitted to the cylinder for piston 36, resulting in opening of the exhaust steam valve 31 of the injector. Inasmuch as the piping 34 is in communication with the chamber 36 this pressure also acts on piston 33 overcoming the force of spring 32 to open the valve 3| to permit water to pass from the injector through the piping 22, 23, 24 to be sprayed into the steam flowing from the engine I5 to the oil separator IS on its way to the injector.

Instead of taking water from the chamber 2| of the injector the pipe 22 may be connected to the water delivery line |3 through which the injector forces water to the locomotive boiler, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and an injector is not required in piping 23, 2A.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the water that is sprayed into the exhaust steam is taken by means of piping from a steam and Water separator or so-called tangential drier 4|.

My theory is that the water sprayed into the 2 tion in separator Hi. In addition to aiding in the separation of oil from the exhaust steam, the addition of moisture to the steam by spraying water into it increases the fuel saving attained by the injector. Although the B. t. u. content of steam per pound is decreased, the specific volume is reduced to such an extent that more steam is condensed by the injector and the total B. t. u. value of exhaust steam entering the injector is increased, thereby increasing the fuel saving of the injector. Better performance may be obtained from the injector due to the possible increase in efficiency which results from an increased density of the injector jet.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with the feed Water system utilizing the exhaust steam injector, it will be apparent that it is also applicable to systems Where the feed water is heated by exhaust steam in a heater of either the open or closed type because in all cases it is desirable to'remove oil and-grease from exhaust steam where there is a possibility that otherwise it may enter the boiler.

v What I claim is:

1. In combination with an injector for forcing feed water into a boiler, a conduit connecting said injector to the exhaust of a steam engine, and an oil separator interposed in said conduit between said engine and said injector; a source T of water connected to said injector; piping connecting the suction water side of said injector to said exhaust steam conduit at a point between said engine and said separator; and means for T circulating water through said piping and spraying it into the exhaust steam flowing therethrough before it enters said separator.

2. In combination'with a boiler feed water injector supplied with exhaust steam through a conduit connecting it to a steam engine, a valve controlling admission of exhaust steam to said injector from said conduit; means for opening said valve when exhaust steam is available; and an oil separator interposed in said conduit between said engine and said injector; a source of water; piping connecting said water source to said exhaust steam conduit at a point between said engine and said separator for spraying water into the exhaust steam before it enters said separator; a normally closed valve in said piping; and means operative, when said exhaust steam valve is opened, to open said last-mentioned and an oil separator interposed in said conduit etween said engine and said injector; a source of water; piping connecting the water delivery side of said injector to said exhaust steam conduit at a point between said engine and said separator for spraying water into the exhaust steam "before it enters said separator; a normally closed valve in'said piping; and means operative, when said exhaust steam valve is opened, to open said last-mentioned valve.

RALPH G. MAKELY.

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