US2600743A

US2600743A - Gas-washing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2600743A
Application number: US167297A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred J Ebner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-06-10
Filing date: 1950-06-10
Publication date: 1952-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1969-06-17

Description

June 17, 1952 A. J. EBNER ,6

GAS-WASHING APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1950 2 SX lEETS-SHEET 1 3nnentor Aljf'ed .1 E brzer J1me 1952 A. J. EBNER GAS-WASHING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 10, 1950 3m entor A/jred J E b72127 (Ittornegs Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED s harem F I CE GAS-WASHING APPARATUS .Alfred J.v Ebner, Pittsburgh Pa.

' Application J une'lfl, 1950, Serial'No. 167,297

8 Claims.

which an inlet opens-for the gases to be washed.

A liquid. suchas water, or light'oil, or ammonia, or hot tar; or the like-is delivered into the housingby means ofpipes or'nozzles; and, by the action of the rapidly driven inner impeller, the injected liquid is converted into a fine, spray. The

dirty or raw gas which is forced'or'drawn through the inlet into the impeller chamber is subjected to the-scrubbing action ofthe impeller blades or 'vanes, and. is brought intointimate contactwith the finely divided droplets of the washing liquid,

which pick up-and-retain the particles of dust and condensed vapors or fumesin-the raw gases. The impellers expel under-centrifugal force the liquid particles andtheir inclusions against the walls of the impeller housing, whence they drain to thebottom of the housingior removal to a a suitable receptacle for disposal or further processing. Theclean gases are delivered'irom the housing by way of an outlet passage opening tangentially-from'the involute chamber therein.

Dueto the high temperature of the gases, the erosive dust and the corrosivefumes that areineluded withthegases entering the apparatusthe problem has been to provide bearingsfor the-impellers which will endure -the 'heat and the abrasive effects of the inclusions in the gases. My present invention consists in a particularly effective; bearing: structure that affords a solution of-the problem.

The invention will be understood. uponreference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is aview inside elevation of a gas-washing apparatus thatembodies the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of-the apparatus-partly in vertical medial section,.and partly .in. elevation, as seen from the left of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary sectional view, illustrating a modification inthe structure in which the invention is centered.

Referring to the'drawings, the reference -numeral 1- indicates -a housing including a central involute'chamber 2. The opposite side walls of the housing carry bearingst, 3 for the shaft 4 of an-impelleror van'ed rotor i. The impeller 5,

rigidly fixed to the shaft 4,. is u centered with respect to the involute 'chamberl, asappears in Fig. 2. Encompassing the impeller 55, and a mounted concentrically with respect thereto, is an outer rotor or impeller 6. The inner impeller- 5= is-driven "bymeans of an electricmotor or otherprime mover (not shown) connected to the shaft 4, while the: outer impeller t 1 isfree to I rotate under :the reaction of the fluids-propelled by the-innerimpelleri 5.

The. bearingsfor the-shaft: 4 comprises two hearing elements, in this-case in the formoftw0 blocks l 0 which-are severallysecured in the tubu- -lar-housingsll of thebearings--3, -3. Thecasings 1 I I i of the bearings are mounted in fluidtight. assembly on theSi-de walls of the housing -I, and at the outer end of each bearing casing a. packing gland 12 ,is arranged to seal the :shaft.

While. the inner impelleri is positively driven,

. as described above. the outerimpeller 6 ismount- .edfor independent orfree. rotation, the mounting for: ithe outer impeller comprising bearing elements in thefor-m ofihubs or bushings] 3,-formed of hard rubberor other suitable bearing material, .secured in casing portions l l'a that extend inwardlyirom the sidewalls ofthe housing I. Spacer rings 14 aremounted on the shaftfi", between thehub of the inner rotor'SQand'thdhubs of the spiders 8 of the outer rotor; thus insuring proper axial-centering of the inner andouter impellers.

1 The impeller fi comprises a-pair of spiders, each havinga hubpor-tionl, fromwhichspokest radiate in spacedrelation. To-the outer ends ofthe "arms or spokes il of each spider an annular plate 9 is secured. At uniformly spaced-apart points in the circumference of the

annular plates

9, 9 two rowsof-rods 15 and lfi-spanthe interval betweensuch plates. 'On'theserods three sets of annular plates l1 and [9 are mounted. The an- .nular plates 9, Hand [9 appearindotted lines in "Fig. 1, while the showing of such-plates in Fig. 2

.is conventionalized for clarityof illustration. I The .inner set of plates H is centeredor aligned with the vanes or blades l 8 :of the inner impeller 5,

which in turniscenteredwith the involute chamber 2,-while the other two-sets of annular plates I9, are arranged on opposite sides of the central -set -17. The plates! 1-andl'9 are'secu'red in their I5 and I6 extending through the outside

annular members

9, 9. It will be perceived that inner set of plates I! are more closely spaced than the two outer sets of plates I9; that the inner set of plates is of greater radial extent than the outer sets; and that additional rods reinforce the assembly of the inner set of plates. Between the plates I! of the inner set arcuate vanes 20 are mounted at intervals uniformly spaced circumferentially of the rotor assembly, as appears in entering the apparatus through inlets 2| are drawn to the center of the rotating inner impeller 5, whence they are propelled by centrifugal force into the spaces between the plates II. Through inlets 23 provided in the opposite side walls of the housing I, a gas-washing liquid is jetted upon the rapidly rotoring blades of the impeller 5, and by the impact of such blades the liquid is con verted into a spray. The gas being propelled through the apparatus is subjected to a violent scrubbing action by the impeller blades, and is brought into intimate contact with the liquid in finely divided form. The liquid droplets pick up the dust or other particles to be removed from the gases, and the gases with the liquid droplets are propelled into the passages between the plates I1, and against the surfaces of the vanes 20 between such plates. Under the reaction of the gases and water globules impelled against the vanes 20, the impeller 6 is rotated. Clean gas escapes from the outer edges of the plates II into the involute chamber 2, whence it escapes through the outlet 22. The droplets of washing liquid with the inclusions removed from the gases drain to the bottom of housing I, whence the accumulated liquid is removed through outlets 24.

Velocity and energy are imparted to the liquid and gases by the rotating blades of the impeller. The vanes 20 between the plates [1 are impinged upon by the gases and liquid delivered by impeller 5 across the breadth of the set of plates IT, and the impact of the gases and liquid against such vanes supplements the scrubbing accomplished by the impeller 5. The two outer or lateral sets of blades I9 are effective to maintain the gases entering the apparatus distributed laterally of the spaces in the housing I on opposite sides of the impeller 5, and to provide for a distributed flow of the entering gases on the opposite sides of such impeller, whereby a distributed and uniform supply of the gases is drawn into the impeller.

In accordance with the invention the

bearings

3,3 are designed to exclude the gases in the impeller housing I from contact with the relatively moving wearing surfaces of the bearing elements, whereby freedom is obtained from any abrasive or corrosive action of the dust particles or vapors entrained in the gases. More particularly, a fluid under pressure-a gas-washing liquid in this case-is forced between the bearing surfaces inwardly into the housing I, with the effect that not only is the desired exclusion of gases obtained, but the bearings are efliciently cleansed, cooled and lubricated.

Into each bearing casing II an inlet opens on the outer side of the bearing element I0, and through such inlet a suitable liquid such as light oil, or an emulsion of oil and water, or other suitable liquid, is delivered under a pressure exceeding that of the gases within the housing I. This liquid flows inwardly between the contacting surfaces of the bearing element I0 and the rotating shaft 4, and through passages 28 formed in the body of bearing l0 into an annular space 21. The passages 25 conveniently consist in a plurality of axially extending circumferentially spaced slots, which insure a distributed movement of liquid within and around the entire body of the bearing element. From the space 21 the liquid is forced inwardly between the relatively moving contact surfaces of the brushing I3 and hub I of the rotor 6. Upon reaching the inner end of the bearing casing II the liquid escapes from between the relatively rotating surfaces of the said bushing and hub, where it is entrained with the gases rapidly moving under the propulsion of the impeller 5. From the space 2'! there is also a flow of the liquid inwardly between the surface of the shaft 4 and the bore in the hub I and upon emerging from the bore of the hub the liquid works its way between the spacer rings I4 and the shaft 4. Under the effect of the rapidly rotating shaft the rings I4, rotating under the frictional drag of the shaft, operate as slingers; that is, the liquid, seeping between the adjacent lateral surfaces of the rings I4, as it does, is thrown centrifugally into the gases moving rapidly into the orbit of the blades of impeller 5. The blades beat the liquid into a spray, and such spray operates with the liquid introduced through openings 23 in the cleansing or washing of the gases in the manner already described. Indeed, in some cases the injection of liquid through the

bearings

3,3 may be increased to the extent that all liquid required for washing the gases will be obtained through the

bearings

3,3 without introducing any liquid through the inlets 23.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modification in the structure of the

bearings

3,3 wherein the bearing element or bushing 30, the bushing I30 and the hub 10 are arranged concentrically one within another.

Each of the two hubs I0 of the outer rotor or impeller 6 provides in the modified structure a bearing for the shaft 4, and each hub carries an external bushing or journal I30 for rotation in the associate bearing casing II, the bearing element 30 providing a liner or inner bushing in the hub, with which the rotating shaft 4 makes immediate bearing contact. A circumferentially spaced series of passages or grooves 260 is formed within the shaft-engaging surface of the bearing element 30, and through these grooves the liquid fed into the bearing under pressure flows along the shaft, providing bearing lubrication and excluding the infiltration of gases and dust from within the housing I. Upon emerging from the grooves 260 the liquid flows into the spaces I40 formed in the bodies of the spacer rings I4I, whence it seeps between the laterally abutting surfaces of the rings and is thrown outward into the streaming gases on their way into the zone of action of the impeller 5.

The bushing I30 may be provided with a circumferential series of grooves I3 I, through which the liquid flows to the inner end of the bearing casing II, whence it works its way between the surface ll of the rotating hub and the inner end (l la)v of the said casing, and emerges into the turbulent gases within the housing I.

The structure of the invention solves the problem alluded to in the introduction to this specification, and affords many advantages which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. And it will be understood that many variations in the form and arrangement of the structure described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Gas-washing apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet for the gas to be cleaned, inner and outer impellers mounted concentrically of each other in said housing, a horizontal shaft rotatably supporting the inner impeller, with the outer impeller mounted for floating rotation about the shaft, each of said impellers having a hub portion, the hub portions of the two impellers being spaced apart axially of the shaft, a plurality of spacer rings mounted on the shaft between said hub portions for maintaining the impellers in alignment longitudinally I of the shaft, a bearing for said shaft comprising a bearing casing sealed to the wall of said housing, a bearing element in said casing for said shaft, a passage in said bearing structure communicating at one end with the surface area of the shaft encompassed by said spacer rings, and means for admitting liquid to said passage at a higher pressure than that of the gas prevailing in said housing, whereby liquid delivered inwardly through said passage is thrown centrifugally into the gas in said housing by the action of said spacer rings rotating with said shaft.

2. Gas-washing apparatus comprising a housing having opposite side walls and including an inlet and an outlet for the gas to be cleaned, inner and outer impellers mounted concentrically of each other in said housing, a horizontal shaft rotatably supporting the inner impeller, said outer impeller being supported by spiders including hubs mounted on said shaft on opposite sides of said inner impeller, said inner impeller having a hub portion on said shaft, bearings for said shaft on opposite sides of impeller assembly, each bearing comprising a bearing casing sealed to the side walls of said housing, said hubs of the outer impeller comprising bearing elements arranged in said bearing casings, a bearing element in each of said casings for said shaft. passages in each bearing assembly communicating with the surface areas of the shaft encompassed by said spacer rings on opposite sides of the inner impeller hub, and means for admitting liquid to said passages at a higher pressure than that of the gas prevailing in said housing, whereby liquid delivered inwardly through said passages is, by the action of said spacer rings rotating with the shaft, thrown centrifugally into said housing for movement into gas-scrubbing cooperation with said impellers.

3. Apparatus for propelling a gas that includes an abrasive or corrosive material comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet for the gas to be propelled, two impellers mounted concentrically one within the other in said housing, a horizontal drive shaft, spider means supporting one impeller, the other impeller being secured to said shaft, a bearing assembly for said shaft comprising a casing sealed to the wall of said housing, two bearing portions arranged one within the other to said casing, one bearing portion for said shaft and the other for said spider means, each bearing portion having passages communicating with the interior of said housing,

and means foradmitting bearing-cleansing fluid under pressure to said passages, whereby such fluid is caused to cool and lubricate said bearing portions and to escape into the gas propelled through said housing.

4. Apparatus for propelling a gas that includes an abrasive or corrosive material comprising a housing having opposite side walls and including an inlet and outlet for the gas to be propelled, two impellers mounted concentrically one within the other in said housing. a horizontal drive shaft, spider means supporting one impeller, the other impeller being secured to said shaft, two bearing assemblies for said shaft comprising two casings sealed one to each of the opposite side walls of said housing, two bearing portions arranged one within the other in each casing, one of said two bearing portions in each casing providing a bearing for said shaft and the other for said spider means, each of said bearing portions having passages communicating with the interior of said housing, and means for admitting bearing-cleansing fluid under pressure to said passages, whereby such fluid is caused to cool and lubricate said bearing assemblies and to escape from said assemblies toward the opposite sides of said concentric impellers that propel said gas through said housing.

5. The structure of claim 4, said impellers being located between said bearing assemblies, and a plurality of spacer rings mounted on the shaft between the impellers and bearing assemblies, said passages being arranged to deliver said liquid to said spacer rings, whereby liquid delivered inwardly through said passages is thrown centrifugally by said rings into the gas propelled through said housing.

6. Apparatus for propelling a gas that includes an abrasive or corrosive material comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet for the gas to be propelled, two impellers mounted concentrically one within the other in said housing, a horizontal drive shaft, spider means supporting one impeller, the other impeller being secured to said shaft, a bearing assembly for said shaft comprising a casing sealed to the wall of said housing, a hub portion extending from said spider means into said casing concentrically of the shaft, a bushing secured within said hub portion to provide a bearing for said shaft, with the shaft-engaging surface of the bushing formed with passages communicating with the interior of said housing, a bushing secured externally upon said hub to provide in conjunction with said casing a bearing for said spider means, with passages formed in the bushing at the bearing surface between such bushing and said casing, and means for admitting bearing-cleansing fluid under pressure to said passages, whereby such fluid is caused to cool and lubricate the bearing assembly and to escape from said passages into the gases propelled through said housing.

7. Apparatus for propelling a gas that includes an abrasive or corrosive material comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet for the gas to be propelled, two impellers mounted concentrically one within the other in said housing, a horizontal drive shaft, spider means supporting one impeller, the other impeller being secured to said shaft, two bearing assemblies for said shaft comprising two casings sealed to each of the opposite side walls of said housing, a hub portion extending from said spider means into each casing concentrically of said shaft, a bushing secured within said hub portion to provide a bearing 'for said shaft, with the shafteengaging surfaces of the bushings formed withpassages communicating with the interior of said housing. a bushing secured externally upon each hub to provide in conjunction with said casing a. .bearing for said spider means, with passages iormed in each bushing at the bearing surface between such bushing and said casing, and means for admitting bearing-cleansing fluid under pressure to said passages, whereby such fluid is caused to cool and lubricate the bearing assemblies and to escape from said bearing assemblies toward the opposite sides of said concentric impellers that propel the gas through said housing.

8. The structure of claim '7', said impellers being located between said bearing assemblies, and a plurality of spacer rings mounted on, the shaft between the impeller and bearingassemblies, said passages being arranged to deliver said liquid to said spacer rings, whereby liguid delivered inwardly through said passages is thrown centrifugally by said ring into the gas propelled by said housing.

ALFRED J. EBNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 17.0;475 Hopper NOV. 30. 1875 2,163,141 Ebner June 20, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 402.58,? France Sept. 1, 1909