US2292354A

US2292354A - Vapor generator

Info

Publication number: US2292354A
Application number: US277811A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicholas C Artsay
Original assignee: Foster Wheeler Inc
Current assignee: Foster Wheeler Inc
Priority date: 1939-06-07
Filing date: 1939-06-07
Publication date: 1942-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1959-08-11

Description

Aug. 11, 1942.l N. c. Amm 2,292,354

VAPOR GENERATOR Filed June '7. 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN-roR 22 fwn/0015EA 0 BY l l 57 ATTORNEY s sheets-sheet 2 N. C. AR'rsAY VAPOR GENERATOR Filed Jane 7, 19:59

Aug. 11, 1942.

Aug. 11, 1942. `N. c. Anr'sAY VAPOR GENERATOR Filed June '7, lss

6 Sheets-'Sheet 3 INVENTOR Nu/001.5 me? x ATTORNEY Aug. l1, 1942. Mc. ARrsAY 2,292,354

VAPOR GENERATOR Filled June 7. 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR /V/r//oz/qs C ARJ/nf AN8- 11, 1942- N. c. ARTSAY 2,292,354

VAPOR GENERATOR Patented Aug. 11, 1942 VAPOR GENERATOR Nicholas C. Artsay. Valhalla, N. Y., assignor to Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation o! New Yori:

Application June 7, 1939, Serial No. 277,811

16 Claims.

This invention relates to vapor generators and more particularly pertains to relatively large steam generators having furnaces of the basket bottom" type, the refractory walls of which arev of relatively great height and are lined with vertically disposed water wall tubes, while the furnace iioor'or bottom is lined with similar, horizontally disposed tubes.

The invention provides novel supporting means for steam generators of this typo, which permits expansion and contraction of portions of the heating surface and ,vertical movement of the furnace oor as a unit, as well as permitting the longitudinal expansion of the horizontal tubes on the furnace oor under varying thermal conditions, but which prevents at the same time, any undesirable relative movement between the wall and oor tubes, or between these tubes and the refractory structure of the furnace walls and the furnace bottom. A slag tight furnace construction is thus assured, 'and the possibility of distortion and damage to the steam generating unit, resulting from ash or slag working into open spaces between the tubes andthe refractory furnace walls or oor is entirely eliminated, so that regardless of temperature changes, the normal relative positions of the component parts of the heating surface on the furnace walls and floor as well as the refractory portions of the furnace wall and fioor structure will remain constant. f

The invention will be understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view with parts in section of the upper portion of a steam generator embodying the invention, the section being taken on line I i of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of the steam generator shown in Fig. l, the section beingtaken on line 2 2 of Fig. d;

' Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the steam generator, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. i is a Ivertical sectional view of the lower portion of the steam generator, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the lower portion of the steam generator furnace, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a. vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of portions of the furnace bottom and walls, taken on lines 6 6 of Figs. 4 and 5, and

Fig. 'I is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, illustrating a detail of an upper wall portion of the furnace.

Like characters of reference refer to the same parts througthout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the steam generator illustrated is substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelopiped, with a setting having vertical, refractory front and rear walls Il and i2, and similar side walls I3 and il. A combustion chamber or furnace i5,.in the lower part of the setting, is fired by a plurality of burners 22, to a lower drum 23.

I6 which extend through the front wall Ii. A basket type. continuous slagging furnace bottom is provided by a horizontal refractory floor il in which there is a centrally disposed slag discharge opening i8 that extends across the furnace floor at right angles to the walls i3 and it. The furnace bottom and the supports therefor will be described fully hereinafter.

An upper steam drum I9 is connected by groups or banks of steam generating tubes 2li, 2i and The upper drum, the lower drum, and the connecting'tube groups, are suspended from the steel framework for the setting, through hanger straps or bolts 2li, one adjacent each end of the upper drum, which are 4 attached to horizontal steel beams 26 and 2l, these beams being supported at their ends by steel columns some of which also serve to frame and support the front setting wall. Beam 26 is supported at its front end by a column i8 and at its rear end by a. similar column, not shown, while beam 21 is supported at its front end by a column 30 and at its rear end by a column 3i. Column 3l and the corresponding column not shown, are spaced a substantial distance to the rear of the rear setting wall and form part of the supporting structure for auxiliary heat recovery devices, such as an economiser 32 partially shown in Fig. 3. As indicated, the columns extend upwardly' above the setting, and form part of the supporting structure for the building or housing which encloses the steam generator. 'Ihe rear setting wall I2 is framed and supported by stub columns 33 and 34, which extend upwardly adjacent the rear corner portions of the setting only as far as horizontal beam 35, which supports in part, the economizer 32. These stub columns together with the main columns previouslydescribed, rest on concrete foundations 36, and carry the entire weight of the steam generating unit.

As shown, the innersurface of each of the` four walls of the furnace I5 and the setting is entirely lined by groups of closely spaced vertical water wall tubes. Certain of these tube groups extend horizontally over the surface of the furnace floor l I1. Circulating water from the upper drum I9. is supplied to these wall and floor tubes .by a circulatory system including downcomer tubes 31 which extend from the bottom of the drum along v the greater part of its length, through the' side walls of the setting and connect with large

vertical manifold headers

38 and 39 that extend downwardly outside the side walls of the setting respectively/to horizontal distributing headers 40 and 4I respectively, from which the circulating water is fed to the lower ends of the various tube groupslining the four setting walls and the furnace floor through a plurality of

external connections

42, 43, 44 and 45, pairs of intermediate headers 46, 41, and

single headers

48 and 49. For example, the

headers

48 and 49 respectively, supply tubes 50 and 5I which line respectively the front and rear walls I I and I2, adjacent portions of the furnace floor and the throat of the slag discharge opening I8, while the headers 46 and 41 respectively supply

water wall tubes

52 and 53 .which line the side walls I3 and I4 respectively. At the top of the setting,`the tubes 50 extend inwardly in a horizontally inclined direction to the drum I 9, directly beneath the roof 54 of the set'- ting. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4,\the tubes 50 are divided into three sections, i. e., a lowerwall and floor section, an intermediate or upper wall section, and a roof section. The upper ends of the tubes in the lower section and the'lower ends of the tubes in the intermediate section are alternately connected to headers 55 and 56 which 35 extend vhorizontally across front wall II, while theupper ends of the tubes in the intermediate section and thelower ends of the tubes in the roof section are connected to horizontal headers 51 and' 58. 'I'he headers of each of the

header pairs

55, 56 and 51, 58 are held together rigidly by suitable tie plates 59. The

headers

51 and 58 are suspended rigidly by a plurality of rigid hangers 60 secured at their upper ends to a plate 6| which rests lupon steel cross bearns 62 .'which lare framed into the vertical supporting

columns

28 and 30. The headers 55 and 56 on the other hand are suspended resiliently by a plurality of resilient supports from steel members 65 which are part of the wall supporting structure. vEach resilient support comprises a coil spring which is secured to link 1I, the lower end of -which is attached to header 56, and a link 12, the upper end of which is attached to a member 65. Link 1| is connected to, or bears upon, the upper end of spring 10, while link 12 is connected to the lower end of the spring. With this arrangement, downward movement of the headers will compress the spring.

The water w'all tubes 5I consist of a lower wall and floor section, the tubes of which are alternately connected at their upper endsto'headers 56 and 61, and an upper inclined section, the tubes of which are connected at their upper ends`to the lower portion of the drum 23. 'I'he headers 66 and 61 are similar to the headers 55 and 56, being held together rigidly by tie plates 68, and flexibly suspended by resilient supports from the xed steel framework of the rear setting wall. Since the tubes 53 and 5I are rigidly supported at their upper ends, these tubes will normally ex` pand downwardly under furnace operating conditions, and such expansion will be absorbed by the resilient header supports described.

The side wall tubes 53 extend upwardlyover 75 opposite ends to the supporting columns y width of thesetting between the vfour vertical supporting columns, but they are not secured the inner surface of the wall I4 in three parallel, adjacent groups, each group terminating in separate pairs of headers which are positioned at different levels in the wall. The tubes ofthe group adjacent the front wall I I are alternately connected at their upperends to

headers

13 and 14,' whichare held in fixed relationship to each other by tie'plates 15, and `are rigidly suspended by hangers 16 from steel wall members 11. The tubes of the intermediate group are alternately connected at their upper ends to headers 18 and 19 which are m-aintained in fixed relationship to each other by tie plates (Fig. l), and are resiliently suspended by spring supports 8|, sim-` ilar to the spring supports previously described, from wall members 82. Groups of tubes 83v and 84- respectively connect the

headers

13, 14, and 18, 19 with the drum I9. 'I'he tubes 53 of the third group are adjacent the rear wall, and the upper ends of these tubes are connected to a floating header 85 which is positioned at a level slightly below that of the lower drum 23. From this header external riser tubes 89 extend uprwardly to the upper portion of the drum I9, and are suspended near their upper ends by a plurality of exible hangers 81 which are secured to the beam 26.

` It will be understood that, although not fully illustrated, the arrangement of the water wall tubes 52, which line the inner surface of the 'wall I3, similar. to that of the tubes 53, exceptthat the riser tubes, not shown, which correspond to the riser tu-bes 86, are suspended by hangers secured to beam -21 instead of beam 26. A convection ty-pe superheater 88, having inlet, intermediate and outlet headers 89,' 90 -and 9| respectively, is suspended within the -upper portion of the setting between vertical baiiies 98, and 99 .by a plurality of

hanger rods

92, 93 and 94,

from horizontal steel supporting members 95,'

which are supported by

steel beams

96 and 91 that are framed into the main cross :beams 26 and 21. A 'I'he refractory portion of the four setting walls is enclosed in a steel casing |00, which -includes a steel framework of horizontal tie members I0| and'vertical steel -buckstays |02. The lower ends of the buckstays rest on horizontal beams |03, which Iare rigidly joined at their opposite ends to the main supporting

columns

28, 30, 33 and 34, and thus form a fixed rectangular supporting frame surrounding the furnace adjacent the bottom thereof. The arrangement is such that although the casing rests on a stationary foundation, the inner refractory portions of the four walls are permitted to move vertically inside the casing for the reason that the steel supporting structure for the furnace bottom includes means for a compensating vertical movement of the furnace floor in response to expansion and contraction of the water wall tubes, and the refractory lining of the furnace walls.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 6, a fixed v rectangular supporting frame consisting of four horizontal beams |04 are rigidly secured at their 28, 30, 33 and 34 at a sufficient distance above the lower ends of the supporting columns to allow for the proper disposal of slag discharged from the furnace. On the top of each of the beams |04 are a plurality of spaced resilient supporting members |05 upon which rest four horizontal beams which also extend for the full length and aaeaee'e to the columns and hence are free to move vertically. The beams |06 thus form a floating frame which is sti'ened at an intermediate portion by cross beams |01 which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slag discharge slot on both sides thereof. Additional stiifening members extend at right angles to the cross beams and between the latter and the ends of the frame. 'I'he arrangement of the beams |05 and the stiffening members |01 and |08 is such that any pressure exerted on the frame from above is evenly distributed and transmitted to the resilient supporting members below, which rest upon the stationary beams |04. The supporting members |05 comprise a coil spring, the lower end of which is disposed in a cylindrical casing, and a plate on the top of the spring the movement of which away from the casing is limited by a plurality of bolts to thereby limit the expansion of the coil spring. The spring may be compressed until the plate rests upon the top of the casing.

'I'he refractory portion -of the furnace floor rests directly on steel plates |09 supported by a plurality of parallel, relatively closely spaced steel beams ||0 which extend at right angles to the slag discharge slot. The inner ends of the beams ||0 rest on the cross beams |01, while their outer ends are supported by the beam |06. Each group of members ||0 is reinforced and stiifened by a plurality of transverse beams This rigid grid-like furnaceA bottom structure transmits pressure evenly from the walls and floor ab0,ve to the floating frame below.

As shown particularly in Fig. 7, means are provided to maintain the individual water wall tubes of the several groups previously described, in vertical alignment with the walls of the setting. As shown, such means includes a lug ||5 welded to each tube which Vis suitably connected by studs, not shown, to the opposed face of a horizontally disposed angle bracket IIB, which may be of any desired length, preferably of sufficient length to span a plurality of tubes. These angle brackets are each provided with apertures which receive upright guide pins ||8 that are attached at their lower ends to angle members fixed to a portion of the stationary steel casing which includes a horizontal fixed steel channel |2| and one of the supporting steel tie members I0 The arrangement is such, that the pins will prevent any tendency of the tubes to move away from the walls, but will permit ver' tical movement of the tubes with respect to the walls. It will be understood that the wall refractory material will be so disposed with respect to the lugs H5 and the brackets ||6 as not to interfere with the normal downward expansionV of the tubes. Moreover, although the pins and members |20 will remain stationary, the adjacent refractory material will be arranged to allow for the free downward expansion of that portion of the furnace wall.

Fig. 6 illustrates the construction employed at the foot of each of the walls adjacent the floor of the furnace chamber, whereby any relative movement between the tubes and the refractory portions of the four walls is absorbed and equalized, as well as the means f or preventing outward expansion or spreading of the walls at this point. The

tubes

52 and 53 which line the side walls I3 and I4 respectively. have lugs or abutment members |4| which exert pressure, directly or indirectly, on the floor tubes 50 upon downward expansion of the

tubes

52 and 53.

Upon contraction of the wall tubes, the floor tubes will exert pressure on the wall tubes 50 and 5-3 through the members' |4|, acting under the influence of the resilient supports for` the oor, whereby relative movement of the wall and floor tubes will be prevented. The lower edge of the casing |00 has an outwardly extending ilanged portion |22 which is secured by studs |23 to the upper flange of a channel member |25. This channel member extends horizontally for the width of the setting and has secured to its upper portion an angle |25 which is also xecl to the top flange of one of the fixed beams |03. The channel member |24 thus becomes avxed extension of the stationary casing, and is supported by brackets |21 which are disposed between the beam |03 and the lower portion of the channel. Adjacent the bottom of the setting and the oor of the furnace chamber, the refractory walls are enclosed in a supplementary steel casing |20, the upper edge of which overlaps vbut is not secured to, the inner portionof the channel.` An expansion joint is thus formed between the stationary casing and the supplementary casing which permits an independent downward movement of the furnace bottom in response to downward expansion of the tubes and the walls. Obviously, the coeicient of expansion of steel water wall tubes is greater than that of refractory material. Any uneven expansion therefore between the tubes and portions of the refractory which might otherwise result in open spaces in the wall and leakage of air through the expansion joint is provided for by a sealing plate |20 which, together with a ller piece |30, is rmly secured to the upper portion of the inner wall of channel |24 and to the angle bracket |25. To further insure a leak-proof construction, asbestos packing material |32 is placed between the lower edge o1 the sealingA plate |20 and the supplementary casing, and is held securely in place by a retaining piece |33. Lugsfor tie back members |24 on the tubes secure the lower ends of the straight sections of the tubes to the supplementary casing by means of fixed angle brackets |35 and |36. Also the downward expansion of the refractory walls is trans#- mitted to, and is absorbed by, the supplementary casing, the downward movement of which, together with the corresponding movement of the bottom structure of the furnace is transmitted directly and evenly by the floating beams |05 and their supporting framework to the cushlon" supporting members |05, which are distributedv under all four walls of the setting, and are supported on a solid foundation 'provided by the beams |04.

Spreading of the walls adjacent the furnace floor is prevented by horizontal beams or abutment members |31 which are secured to the beams |03 by welding. A bearing surface between the beams |31 and the supplementary casing is provided by a convex portion on the inner side of the beams which is in contact with a rubbing plate |40. With this arrangement, any expansion of the horizontal portions of the

tubes

50 and 5| will be inward and this will be absorbed adequately by the bends in these tubes between the walls and I2 and the

headers

40 and 49 which arer supported by the tubes to which they are connected. Hence there will be no damaging gaps or slag pockets formed betweenl the oor tubes and the furnace floor.

From the foregoing, it will be perceived that the invention provides supporting means for the component parts of steam generators of the type described, whereby the normal relative positions of the heating surface on the furnace walls and iioor, and that of the refractory portions of the wall and oor will. remain constant regardless of temperature changes, thus insuring a slag tight construction throughout and preventing the possibility of distortion or damage to the unit resulting from ash or slag working into open spaces between the tubes and any portion of the refractory furnace lining.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the parts of the apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the principles of the invention, and that the invention ris not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vapor generator having a furnace dened in part by walls and a iioor, the door having an posite ends, fluid cooling tubes for the walls and the floor of the furnace, means for suspending the furnace walls to permit downward expansion of the` furnace wall tubes, means for supl ward movement of the furnace walls with reopening intermediate opposite ends and extending from side to side thereof, fluid conducting tubes on the inner surfaces of the walls and floor, means for resiliently suspending the walls from supporting means, movable means for supporting the iioor independently of the will suspending means, a fixed support for the floor, resilient means between the fixed ,and movable supports for the door, and a casing for the generator having a stationary section and a section movable with the iioor, and an expansion joint between the stationary and movable sections of the cas- 2. A vapor generator comprising an upper and llower drum,' a bank of vapor generating tubes connecting said drums, a furnace defined in part by walls and a floor, the floor having an opening intermediate opposite ends and extending from side to side thereof, fluid conducting tubes on -the inner surfaces of the walls and the floor,

means for suspending the upper drum, the tube bank and the lower drum from supporting means, means for resiliently suspending the walls and the Mwall tubes from said supporting means, means for resiliently supportingv the door and floor tubes independently of the first mentioned supporting means, a casing for\ the generator having a stationary section and a section movable with the floor, an expansion joint between the stationary and movable sections of the casing, and means for preventing outward movement of oppositely disposed walls of the furnace upon expansion of the fluid conducting tubes.

3. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and a furnace therefor, the furnace vhaving walls and a substantially horizontal' oor provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, fiuid cooling tubes for the walls and the floor of the furnace, means for supporting the vapor generating section and the furnace walls to permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, means forindependently supporting the furnace flooruso as to permit vertical movement of the' floor upon expansion and contraction of the furnace wall tubes and to prevent relative movement of the oor with respect to the wall tubes, a fixed frame surrounding the furnace walls, and means associated with said fixed frame to prevent lateral outward movement of the furnace walls with respect to the floor.

4. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and'a furnace therefor, the furnace having walls and a substantially horizontal 001' provided with an opening intermediate opspect to the oor.

5. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and afurnace therefor, the furnace having walls and a substantially horizontal floor provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, fluid cooling tubes for the walls and the fioor of the furnace, means for suspending the furnace walls to, permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, a stationary support for the door, resilient means between the support and the iioor to permit vertical movement of the iioor upon Aexpansion and contraction of the furnace wall tubes and to preventv posite ends, uid cooling tubes for the walls and' the oor of the furnace, means for suspending the furnace walls to permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, means for securing the wall tubes to the furnace walls, a stationary support for the iioor, resilient means between the support and the floor to permit vertical movement of the oor upon expansion and contraction of the furnace wall tubes and to prevent relative movement of the floor with respect to the wall tubes, a fixed frame surrounding the furnace walls, and means associated with said fixed frame to prevent lateral outward movement of the furnace walls with respect to the floor.

7.. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and a furnace therefor, the furnace having walls and a substantially horizontal iioor provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, iiuid cooling tubes for the walls and the floor of the furnace, means for supporting the vapor generating section and the furnace walls to permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, means for independently supporting the furnace floor so as to permit vertical movement of the floor upon expansion and contraction of the furnace wall tubes and to prevent relative movement of the floor with respect aacaesa wall tubes, means to prevent lateral outward movement of the furnace walls with respect to the oor, a casing for the generator having a stationary section and a section movable with the oor, and an expansion joint between the stationary and movable sections of the casing, and means for preventing passage of fluid through the expansion joint.

9. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and a furnace therefor, the furnace having walls and a substantially horizontal oor provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, fluid cooling tubes for the walls and the floor of the furnace, the tubes of opposite walls of the furnace extending continuously over the floor thereof, means for supporting the vapor generating section and the furnace walls to permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, means for independently supporting the furnace floor so as to permit vertical movement of the oor upon expansion and contraction of the furnace wall tubes and to prevent relative movement of the floor with respect to the wall tubes, and means to prevent lateral outward movement of the furnace walls with respect to the oor.

10. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and a furnace therefor, the furnace having walls and a substantially horizontal floor provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, uid cooling tubes for the walls and the floor of the furnace, the tubes of a pair of opposite walls of` the furnace extending continuously over the floor thereof to said opening, the tubes of other walls of the furnace extending downwardly below the floorv tubes, means for supporting the vapor generating section and the furnace walls to permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, means for 'independently supporting the furnace oor so as to permit-vertical movement of the floor upon expansion and contraction of the furnace wall tubes and to prevent relative movement of the iioor with respect to the wall tubes, means causing the downward expansion of the tubes of the other walls to exert a pressure upon tubes on the floor, and means to prevent lateral outward movement of the furnace walls with respect to the floor. l

11. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and a furnace therefor, the furnace having walls and a substantially horizontal floor provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, fluid cooling tubes for the walls and the oor of the furnace, means for supporting the vapor generating section'and the furnace walls to permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, means for independently and resiliently supporting the furnace floor, the arrangement of the wall and floor tubesl being such that downward expansion of the wall tubes will cause vdownward movement of the floor and contraction of the wall tubes will result in upward movement of the' floor whereby relative movement ofthe walls and floor is prevented, a fixed frame surrounding the furnace walls, and abutment means associated with said fixed frame to prevent lateral outward movement of the furnace walls with respect to the door.

12. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and a furnace therefor, the furnace having walls and a substantially horizontal floor provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, fluid cooling tubes for the walls and the floor of the furnace, means fbi" supporting the vapor generating section and the furnace walls to permit ydownward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, means for independently and resiliently supporting the furnace oor, the

arrangement of the wall and oor tubes being` such that downward expansion of the wall tubes will cause downward movement of theiloor and contraction of the wall tubes will result in upward movement of the floor whereby relative movement of the walls and floor is prevented, a casing for the generator having a stationary section and a section movable with the oor, and an expansion joint between the stationary and movable sections of the casing.`

13. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and a furnace therefor, the furnace having walls and a substantially horizontal door provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, uid cooling tubes for th walls and o the floor of the furnace, means for supporting the vapor generating section and the furnace walls to permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, means for independently and resiliently supporting the furnace floor, the arrangement of the wall and floor tubes being such that downward expansion of the wall tubes will cause downward movementyof the iioor and contraction of the wall tubes will result in upward movement of the floor whereby relative movement of the walls and floor is prevented, a casing for the generator having a stationary section and a section movable with the floor, an expansion joint between the stationary and movable sections of the casing, and means engaging the movable section of the casing to prevent lateral outward movement of the furnace walls with respect to the floor.

14. A vapor generator comprising a vapor generating section and a furnace therefor, the furnace having Walls and a substantially horizontal fioor provided with an opening intermediate opposite ends, fluid cooling tubes for the walls and the oor of the furnace, means for supporting the vapor generating section and the furnace walls to permit downward expansinl of the furnace wall tubes. means for independently supporting the furnace floor so as to permit vertical movement of the floor upon expansion and contraction of the furnace wall tubes and to prevent relative movement of the floor with respect to the wall tubes, a xed frame surrounding ythe furnace walls adjacent the floor thereof, and abutment means associated with said-fixed frame to prevent lateral outward movement of the furnace walls with respect to the floor.

l5. A vapor generator having a furnace defined n in part by walls and a floor, the floor having an opening intermediate opposite ends and extending from side to side thereof, fluid conducting tubes on the inner surfaces of the walls and flopr,v

means for supporting the furnace walls topermit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes, movable means vfor supporting the floor independently of the wall suspending means, a fixed tion and a section movable with the floor, and an expansion joint between the stationary and movable sections of the casing. r

16. A vapor generator having a furnace dened in part by walls and a oor, the oor having an opening intermediate opposite ends and extending from side to side thereof, uid conducting tubes on the inner surfaces of the walls and iloor, means for supporting the furnace Walls to permit downward expansion of the furnace wall tubes., movable means for supporting the floor indei@ contraction of the fluid conducting tubes.

NICHOLAS C. ARTSAY.