US2654353A - Header integral with and sealed into boiler casing - Google Patents

Description

E. W. LUDT Oct. 6, 1953 HEADER INTEGRAL WITH AND SEALED INTO BOILER CASING 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 INVENTOR Edward W. Ludt Qa Ai'TbR Y HEADER INTEGRAL WITH AND SEALED INTO BOILER CASING Oct. 6, 1953 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 INVENTOR Edward W. Ludt BY Q AHQR Y Fig. 2'.

Oct. 6, 1953 E. w. LUDT 4 3 I HEADER INTEGRAL WITH AND SEALED INTO BOILER CASING Filed Feb. 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Edward W. l udt.

BY Z??? 'ATTOR Y Patented Oct. 6, 1953 HEADER INTEGRAL WITH AND SEALED INTO'BOILER CASING Edward W. Ludt, Verona, N. J assignor to Combustion Engineering, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application February 28, 1952, Serial No. 273,984

7 Claims.

My invention relates to steam generators which have casings that enclose both the heat absorbing elements of the generator and the associated furnace, the casings having inner and outer walls which are spaced from each other and which form gastight chambers therebetween.

Insuch steam generators the combustion of the fuel within the furnace may desirably take place under a pressure greater than atmospheric; the air for combustion may desirably be circulated through the casing chambers, prior to its delivery via the burners into the furnace, under a pressure greater than that inside of the furnace; and the various pipes which distribute boiler water to the several heat absorbing elements of the generator may desirably be located within the chamber space between inner and outer casing walls.

The invention particularly relates to the mounting of a header that serves to distribute the boiler water to the aforesaid various pipes which in turn convey the water to the several heat absorbing elements.

' Broadly stated, the object of my invention is to provide improved means for mounting such a distribution header within an outer casing wall.

A more specific object is to accomplish the foregoing by mounting the distribution header within a removable panel of the casing wall and providing improved means for accommodating movement due to expansion.

' Another object is to so mount the header in the casing wall that it serves to convey boiler water from outside the casing wall to the distribution pipes inside the casing wall without resort to the usual packing against air leakage out of the casing.

Other objects and advantages will be best understood from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a steam generator wherein one form of the invention is shown as being embodied.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2--2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale, showing the lower end of the left outside casing wall having a distribution header mounted thereinin accordance with this invention.

In the illustrative form here shown, my invention has been incorporated into a marine type of steam generator designed for mounting on a ship and utilizing the double casing and support structure disclosed and claimed by copending application Serial No. 274,001, filed February 28, 1952,- in the name of David M. Schoenfeld for Steam Generator Support and Casing Structure of Box-Column Construction; but as the de-' scription proceeds it will become apparent that boiler furnaces of other types and designs also may. be benefited by the new header and casing organization which is disclosed herein.

The steam generator herein illustrated will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 to utilize a furnace F communicating with a furnace ofitake O thereabove, in which offtake the heat absorbing elements I, 2, 3 and 4 are located. Eachrof these elements comprises a bank of horizontally disposed parallelly spaced apart tubes 5 interconnected by return bends 6 for serial flow of fluid therethrough from an inlet to an outletheader. Portions of tubular elements 4 line the furnace wall 7 (Fig. 3) and rows of tubular elements 8 line the furnace Walls 9, l0 and the bottom ll (Fig. 2). The ele-= ments are enclosed on four sides by the inner casing walls 1, l2, 9 and I0 and on th bottom by the furnace floor l I. At the top is the breeching opening l3 out of which the furnace-leaving gases flow. I

Spaced. from the aforesaid inner casing walls are outer casing walls I4, l5, l6 and Il forming chambers therebetween. In the arrangement shown the inner and outer walls extend throughout the height of the furnace F plus oiftake O and are connected to top and bottom plates I8, I 9, 20, 2| and 22, 23; 24, 25 respectively which seal the chambers at the top and bottom.

The represented furnace F is operated under a positive internal pressure which extends into the oiftake O; and to prevent the products of combustion within the furnace and the offtake from leaking into the boiler room, the air for combustion is circulated through the chambers between the inner and outer casing walls under a pressure (such as up to 175. inches of water) which is higher than the pressure within the furnace so that any leakage will occur from the chambers into the furnace. To this end an air inlet 26 (Fig. 1) is provided in the outer casing and. a blower (not shown) with a conduit connected thereto and to the air inlet serves to supply the air to the chambers under pressure. Said air for combustion flowing through the casin chambers leaves the chambers through the openings 21 in the inner wall l2 (Fig. 3) and thence flow into 3 the furnace F. The fuel is delivered into the furnace F by burners 28.

The banks of tubular heat absorbing elements I, 2, 4 and 8 (Figs. 3 and 2) receive boiler water to be evaporated from supply headers 29, 30, 3| (Figs. 2 and 3) and 32 (Fig. 2) respectively. The supply headers are in turn supplied with water by distribution pipes 33, 34 serving headers 29, 30 (Fig. 2) and pipes 35, 36 serving headers 32, 31 (Fig. 2). All of these supply headers and distribution pipes are located within the air chambers between the inner and outer casing walls and must be supplied by a pipe or pipes which pass through an outer casing wall.

It accordingly becomes necessary to seal around any such pipes which pass through an outer casing wall so as to prevent air leakage from the air chambers into the boiler room. Before describing how this is done according to the invention, the description of the circuits of the banks of heat absorbing elements will be continued.

The banks of evaporation tubes i, 2 discharge steam and water mixture into the common header 3?? from which the mixture flows through pipe 38 (Fig. 2) into the steam and water drum 39. The banks of evaporation tubes 4 discharge into header 40 whence the steam-water mixture flows through pipe 44 (Fig. 2 into the drum 39. The bank of furnace tubes 8 discharge into header 42 whence the steam-water mixture flows through pipes 43, 44 into the drum 39. The bank of heat absorption elements 3 heats the saturated steam received from header 45 and discharges the superheated steam into header 46- whence it is piped to the steam consumer. The header 6,5 is connected to the steam drum 39 by elbow A] and an outside pipe (not shown) between the elbow and the drum.

The invention as here illustratively disclosed is embodied in the outer casing wall shown in front elevation by Fig. I and in side sectional elevation by Fig. 4 and by the left of Fig. 2;the remaining casing walls (which do not involve the invention) being generally similar in construction to that shown in Fig. 1. i

In Figs. 1, 2 and 4 said outside casing wall the steam generator is designated as l6, and it comprises left and right vertical corner columns 48 and 49 (Fig. 1) which support the steam and water separating drum 39 by brackets extending from the columns. Said columns 4-8 and 49 extend from the bottom to the top of the casing wall 16 and their outer sides form a portion of the wall. A portion of column 48 is of the open lattice construction providing the aforesaid air inlet 26 into the casing chamber.

Between columns 48 and 49 are horizontally extending and vertically spaced apart stiffeners 50. 52, 53 and 54- here shown as channels and angles which are fastened to thecolumns. These stiffeners may be the outer members of horizontal' beams such as 5|b, 52b, 536 (Fig. 2) extending from the outer casing wall Hi to the inner wall 9. Vertical members 55 and 56 (Fig. 1) extend between the horizontal stiffeners 50, 5|, 52 and 53, and with the stiffeners divide the space between the columns 48and 49 and the stifieners 5!).and 53into six openings (two in the horizontal direction and three in the vertical direction) as shown. Plates 51, 58, 59 and 60 are fastened to stiffeners 50, 5|, 52 and 53 respectively on. their rearward sides and extend beyond the stiifeners to form ledges as shown, againstv which removable casing panels are fastened as by studs 6|;

said studs being positioned around each of the openings.

The panels for the aforesaid six openings are not shown in Fig. 1; but in Fig. 2 they are shown in cross section at 62. Said casing panels provide access to the air chamber between the outer and inner casing walls. Immediately below said six casing panels is the stifiener 53 here shown as rigidly fastened to a beam 532) (Fig. 2) within the air space of the casing.

The lowermost casing panel 63 (also shown in Figs. 2 and 4) is represented in place in Fig. 1. The horizontal stiffeners 53 and 54 above and below said panel 63 are respectively provided with plates 64 and 65 on their rearward sides (see Fig. 2) which extend beyond the stiffeners to form. top and bottom ledges against which the panel 63 is fastened as by studs and nuts 6!. Members 66 and 61 extend from the sides of columns 48 and 49 and lie in the same plane with the plates 6t, 59. to form end ledges against-which the panel 63 is fastened as by studs and nuts iii.

In accordance with my invention,. the aforesaid water distribution header 68 (see Figs. 1, 2; and 4) having closed ends 68c is weldedinto the panel plate 63 thereby serving as a. stiffening member for said plate and providing communication between the outside water supply pipe 69, (see Fig. 4) to said header and the discharge pipes: 33,v 35 located within the air chamber of the boiler casing between walls It and 9 (see; Figs. 2' and 4). Holes are provided around the periphery of said panel plate 63, through which holes the studs 6.! pass extending from the plates 64., 65, 66, 6-11 (see Fig. 1). These holes are slotted in a vertical direction along one of the. vertical edges of panel 63 to permit vertical movements of the panel 63 and the holes are oversized along the remaining three edges to permit both vertical and horizontal movement of the panel; and a gasket 10 (as shown in. Fig. 4) preferably is compressed between. the plate 63 and the. plates 66, 65, 66, 61, the bolts 6! passing through the gasket.

This improved mounting of the distribution header 63 in the panel plate 63 providesa number of advantages. Oneof these is that the header 68 serves as a stiifener for plate 63.. Another lies in facilitating relative up and down movement by the header and therewith the panel 63, and the horizontal movement of the panel 63 and header 68 from a fixed edge. The plane in which plates 63 lie is parallel to the pipe 'Il (Fig. 2) connecting the drum 39' with the suction of the circulation. pump 12, which delivers boiler water to the steam generating elements; The pump 12 is suspended from the drum 39 by the pipe H and moves vertically downward as the pipe expands and may move horizontally with the expansion of the drum from an anchor point such as at one end of the drum. The pump dis.- charge is connected by pipe 69 to the header 68 and panel 63.

The anchor point for the drum is advantageously located adjacent the same side of the easing wall I6 as are the row of slotted holes in the vertical edge of panel 63. Consequently any horizontal movement of the drum 39 and therewith. the pipe H, the pump 12, the pipe 69, the header 68 and the panel 63, will be accommodated by the oversized holes in the.- remaining three sides of the panel 63. surrounding the studs 6i. As the pump 12 and pipe 69 move, the header .68 and panel 63 can move with them in the same directions and in a. plane both parallel to the pump movements and to the casing wall. The

panel 63 will therefore slide on the plates 64, 65, 66, 61 or on the gasket therebetween and the slotted and oversized holes in plate 63 accommodate the movement.

It will further be seen that this construction eliminates the use of the stufling box which has heretofore been provided around the pump discharge pipe 69 where the pipe passed through a hole in the outside casing wall. arrangements pipe 69 was thence connected to the distribution header (equivalent to header 68) which was then located within the casing air chamber. Such stuffing boxes did not satisfactorily accommodate vertical movement of the pump discharge pipe 69. quired a substantially long straight portion of pipe 69 adjacent the panel 63 in order to provide access for the gland and packing removal. This straight pipe portion required either an increased spacing between the pump 12 and the casing wall It over that required by the use of this'invention, or a reduction in the distance between the outer and inner casing walls [6 and 9. In theformer case the overall setting width of the steam generator is objectionally increased i above that required by use of the invention and in the latter case the air chamber between walls 16 and 9 is obj ectionally decreased. The elimination of these objections made possible by the present invention therefore constitutes a significant advantage.

While I have shown and described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a steam generating unit comprising a heat absorbing section, an associated furnace for supplying heat to said section, and a casing surrounding and enclosing said unit and on at least one side of the unit utilizing spaced apart inner and outer vertical side casing walls cooperating with top and bottom walls to form a fluidtight chamber between the vertical Walls, the combination of means forming an aperture in said outer casing wall on one side of said unit; means on said wall adjacent said aperture for receiving and fastening a removable casing panel thereto in fluidtight contact to close said aperture, said panel comprising a plate; a tube with closed ends forming a supply header for said heat absorbing section, said header being fastened by a fluidtight joint along horizontal diametrically opposite elements coplanar and longitudinally within an aperture of said plate leaving a substantial portion of the peripheral surface of said tube on opposite sides of said plate; an inlet pipe into said tube on the outer side of said plate; and an outlet pipe from said tube on the inner side of said plate and connected to said heat absorbing section.

2. In a steam generating unit comprising steam generating sections, an associated furnace for supplying heat to said sections, and a casing surrounding and enclosing said furnace and sections and utilizing spaced apart inner and outer vertical side casing walls cooperating with top and bottom walls to form fluid tight chambers between the spaced vertical walls, the combination of means forming an aperture in one of said outer casing Walls; means on said wall adjacent said aperture for receiving and fastening a removable casing panel thereto in fluidtight In such prior Such stuffing boxes recontact to close said aperture, said panel com'-' prising a plate; a tube with closed ends and forming a cylindrical supply header for said steam generating sections, said tube being fastened by a fluidtight joint along horizontal diametrically opposite elements coplanar and longitudinally within an aperture of said plate leaving'a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of said tube on opposite sides of said plate; an inlet pipe into said tube on the outer side of said plate; and an outlet pipe from said tube on the inner side of said plate and connected to said steam generating sections.

3. In a steam generating unit comprising steam generating and heating sections, an associated furnace for supplying heat to said sections, and a casing surrounding and enclosing said furnace and sections and utilizing spaced apart inner and outer vertical side casing walls cooperating with top and bottom walls to form fluidtight chambers between the spaced vertical walls on the sides of the unit, the combination of a frame structure supporting said casing and comprising-vertical columns at the corners of said casing extending within said chambers from said top to said bottom walls; stiffening members in an outer casing wall fastened to said columns and extending horizontally at spaced vertical intervals between said columns; means on said columns and members for receiving and fastening a removable casing panel thereto in fluid' tight contact to form one portion of said outer casing wall, said panel comprising a plate; a tube with closed ends forming a cylindrical supply header for said steam generating sections, said header being welded along horizontal diametrically opposite elements coplanar and longitudinally into an aperture of said plate leaving a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of said tube on opposite sides of said plate; an inlet pipe connected to said tube on the outer side of said plate; and an outlet pipe connected to said tube on the inner side of said plate and connecte to said steam generating sections.

4. In a steam generating unit comprising steam generating and heating sections, an associated furnace for supplying heat to said sections, and a casing surrounding and enclosing said furnace and sections and on at least One side of the unit utilizing spaced apart inner and outer vertical side casing walls cooperating with top and bottom walls to form a fluidtight chamber between the vertical walls, the combination of a steam and water separating drum mounted adjacent said outer casing Wall on one side of said unit; means forming an aperture in said outer wall; studs in said wall adjacent said aperture for receiving and fastening a removable casing panel thereto in fluidtight contact to form one portion of said outer casing wall, said panel comprising a plate; a tube with closed ends forming a cylindrical supply header for said steam generating sections said header being welded along horizontal diametrically opposite elements coplanar and longitudinally into an aperture of said plate leaving a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of said tube on opposite sides of said plate, said plate having holes provided to match said studs which holes are larger than the diameters of the studs to permit movement of the plate with respect to said studs; acirculation pump; a vertical pipe connected to the bottom of said drum and to the suction end of said pump; a pipe connected to the discharge end of said pump and said supply header on the outer side of said plate;

and an outlet pipe connected" to said header onthe inner side of said p e. d o, S d Steam enerator sections.

5. An organization according to claim 4 in which said drum is anchored and oriented with respect to said outer casing wall so as to provide for axial longitudinal movement of said drum due to thermal expansion thereof in a plane generally parallel to said outer casing wall; and in which vertical movement of said vertical pipe due to thermal expansion thereof causes a corresponding movement of said pump, discharge pipe and header, saidmovement being accommodated by a parallel movement of said plate while at the same time maintaining a substantially fiuidtight joint between said plate and said outer casingwall.

6. In a steam generating unit comprising steam generating and heating sections, an associated furnace for supplying heat to said sections, and a casing surrounding and enclosing said furnace and sections and utilizing spaced apart inner and outer vertical side casing walls cooperating with top and bottom walls to form fluid tight chamhers between the vertical walls, the combination of a steam and water separating drum positioned generally above the said outer casing wall on one side of said unit; a frame structure supporting said outer casing wall and said drum and comprising vertical columns at the sides of said wall and extending within said chamber from said top to said bottom walls; at least two stiffening members in said one outer casing wall below the drum rigidly fastened to said columns and extending horizontally at spaced apart vertical intervals between said columns; studs on said columns and members for receiving and fastening a removable casing panel thereto in fluidtight contact to form one portion of said outer casing wall, said panel comprising a plate; a tube with closed ends forming a cylindrical supply header for said steam generating sections said header being welded along horizontal diametrically opposite elements coplanar and longitudi nally into an apertureof. said plate. leaving a.-

substantial. portion of the cylindrical surface oi; said tube on opposite sides of said. plate; said plate havin holes provided to match said t da which holes are larger than the diametersof the studs to permit movement of the plate with re, spect to said studs; a circulation pump; an up-.. right pipe connected to the bottom of said drum and to the suction end, Of said pump; a. pipe con-.

nected to. the discharge end of said pump and said supply header on the outer side of said plate; and an outlet pipe connected to. said header on. the inner side of said plate and to said steam generator sections.

'7. An organization according to claim 5. in,

EDWARD W. LUDT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 1,727,177 Prentice Sept. 3, 1929- 1,76l,56'7 Kerr no June 3, 1.930; 1,894,780 Jones May 12, 193l 1,925,847 Prentice Septl 5, 1933. 2,169,934 Vorkauf Aug-15, 1939 2,172,227 Stillman Sept. 5, 1939 2,395,580 Qvarfordt a Feb. 26, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,364 Great Britain v July 9, 1900

Images