US638491A

US638491A - Absorption refrigerating-machine.

Info

Publication number: US638491A
Application number: US72545199A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Allen
Original assignee: ALLEN ICE MACHINE Co
Current assignee: ALLEN ICE MACHINE Co
Priority date: 1899-07-29
Filing date: 1899-07-29
Publication date: 1899-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1916-12-05

Description

No. 638,49I. Patented Dec. 5, |899. F. ALLEN. ABSUBPTION REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

(Application led. July 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 638,49l. Patented Dec. 5, |899. F. ALLEN.

l ABSDRPTIUN BEFRIGERATING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 638,49I. Patented Dec. 5, |899. F. ALLEN. ABSDRPTION BEFRIGEBATING MACHINE, (Application filed July 29, 1899.) (No Model.)

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UNrTnn STATES PATTNT i Tries.

FRANK ALLEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ALLEN ICE MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ABSORPTION VRTE'FRIGERATING--IV'IACi-HNE.;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,491, dated December 5, 1899. Application led July 2Q, 1899. Serial No. 725,451. (No model.)

To4 ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the borough of Brooklyn and State of New York, have invented certain neW and useful Improvements in Absorption Refrigerating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in absorption refrigerating-machines, for Which Letters Patent of the United States were granted to me under date of June 28, 1898, No. 606,326, said improvements being designed for simplifying the construction of the machine described in said Letters Patent for running the entire machine by exhauststeam delivered from the different pumps used in connection with the machine, so that the use of live steam is entirely dispensed with, and thereby a very economical Workin g of the machine produced. This result of operating the refrigerating-machine solely by means of exhaust-steam can only be obtained by the absorption of the heat units of the hot ammonia-gases as they are conducted from the generator to the condenser bythe cold returning ammonia-Water on the one hand and by the utilization of the cold obtained by the expansion of the liquid-ammonia by the Weak ammonia-Water on the other hand, this equalization of the temperatures of the hot and cold gases and liquids being carried on throughout the entire cycle, so that the very effective and economical running of the refrigeratingmacnine is obtained.

My invention consists, therefore, of a refrigerating-machine in Which the absorption of the expanding ammonia-gases by the Weak absorption-Water is accomplished by means of a preliminary absorber and a nal absorber, in connection With a gas-pump for facilitating the Work of the absorbers, While the heating of the strong ammonia-Water on its return to the generator is accomplished by means of a primary equalizing coil, through the interior pipe of which the hot ammoniavapors are conducted, a second equalizingcoil through the interior pipe of which the hot Weak ammonia-Water coming from the generator is conducted, and finally by an eX- haust-steam heater in Which the exhaustinto the generator.

steam from one or more of the operatingpumps of the machine is collected, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a diagram showingin elevation the parts of my improved absorption refrigerating-machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of that portion of the machine adjacent to the generator in Which the strong ammonia-Water returned from the absorber is gradually heated up in its course in the generator; and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the expansion side of the machine, showing the preliminary and final absorber and its connection With the brine-coolerand liquid-ammonia receiver.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre? sponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the generator or still, which is charged with commercial aqua-ammonia. The generator is heated by a coil a, through which exhaust-steam from the engine of the circulating and ammonia pumps P is circulated, the heat of the exhaust-steam liberating the ammonia-vapors from the liquid. The pump P serves for conducting the strong ammonia-Water from the absorber to the primary equalizing-coihthc exhaust-steam of its engine being supplied to the coil ct of the generator, it being one of the pumps that is keptcontinuously running as long as the refrigerating-machine is in use and can supply, therefore, a uniform quantity of exhaust-steam to the generator. The generator is provided with an upright cylinder A', in Which an equalizing-coil is arranged through Which the strong am monia-Water is returned The upright cylinder A is connected at its bottom, as well as by branch pipes, with the horizontal portion of the generator. From the top of the upright cylinder A of the generator A the hot ammonia-vapors liberated from the ammonia-Water are conducted by a pipe ct to the interior pipe a2 of the primary equalizing-coilB, While the eX- terior pipe Z? serves for the passage of the strong ammonia-Water that is returned from the absorber by the pump P.

monia-Water having been cooled to a low temperature in the absorber is supplied from the pump P by the pipe b to the upper end of the The strong am- IOO exterior coil b and conducted in a countercurrent to the hot ammonia-vapors through the primary equaliZing-coil B. The hot arninonia-vapors are then conducted from the interior pipe d2 by a pipe a3 to the upper end of a condenser C, which is cooled by means of cold water that is supplied by a spray-pipe above the condenser, as shown in Fig. l. In the condenser C the ammonia-vapors are liquefied and conducted by a pipe d4, connected with the lower end of the condenser-coil, to the liquid-ammonia jar or receiver L, which is1ocated,preferably, on the same floor or level with the generator. The hot am monia-vapors are thus gradually cooled down to the point of liquefaction, first in their passage through the primary equalizing-coil and then in their passage through the condensing-coil. From the liquid-ammonia receiver L the liquid-ammonia is permitted to expand by means of two expansion-pipes a6 al, which are each provided with a stop-cock, into the headers E' of a brine-cooler E and from the headers E into two systems of expanding` pipes that are surrounded by two systems of exterior pipes for the brine to be cooled. The brine-cooler E is composed of two sets of brine-cooling coils having headers at the lower and upper ends. To thelower headers the expanded arnmonia-Vapors are supplied, while the upper header E2 is connected by a pipe d8 with the iinal absorber H. The upper ends of theinterior coils of the brine-cooler E are connected with a header E3, which is connected by a pipe c with the brine-supply pump P', the inletport of which is connected with a brine-tank E4 by a pipe e'. The brine-tank is located in any suitable position relatively to the ref rigerating-1nachine proper. The lower ends of the interior brine-coils are connected with a header E5, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, and from this header the cold brine is conducted by a pipe e2 to the place of use.

The brine-cooler is preferably divided into two or more systems, each of which is coinposed of a number of individual coils. This is done for the purpose of producing a smaller or larger quantity of brine, according to requirements. ln hot weather all the coil systems of the brine-cooler are used, while in cooler weather one-half the coils, or even a smaller n'umber of the coils, of the same may be required for use.

Theheaderl2 at the upper end ofthe brinecooler is connected by the pipe a8 with the lower end of the final absorber H and with the interior coil of the same, said interior coil being surrounded by an exterior coil through which the stron g am monia-water is conducted. Above the final absorber is arranged a preliminary absorber H', the lower header of which is connected with the upper header of the final absorber H, while its upper header is connected with the weak-ammonia-water cooler F. The weak-ammonia-water cooler F is connected in the same manner as the condenser C and supplied with cooling-water by a spray-pipe above the same. The weak ammonia-water is forced by the pressure in the generator from the saine through a pipe f, having a stop-cock fx, and through the interior pipe of a secondary equalizing-coil I, while the exterior pipe of the coil I is connected at its upper end by a pipe i with the exterior pipe of the primary equaliZing-coil B, as shown clearly in Figs. l and 2. The upper end of the interior pipe of the secondary equalizing-coil I is connected by a pipe f with the lower end of the weak-ammoniawater cooler. The hot weak ammonia-water gradually gives out it-s heat to the strong ammonia water, which is returned by the pump P from the absorber H and the receiver R for the strong ammonia-water, so as to heat the same preliminarily in its return to the generator. The weak am monia-water passes then to the cooler F. It is then conducted from the upper end of the same by means of an injector h into the upper end of the preliminary absorber H', the upper end ot' which is connected by a pipe 7L with the interior pipe of the final absorber. As the weak ammonia-water is forced under a certain pressure into the upper end of the preliminary absorber H', it carries along the cold ammonia-vapors, which are cooled in the coil of the preliminary absorber and absorbed by the weak ammonia-water in its passage through the preliminary absorberand conducted then into the final absorber, in the coils of which the final absorption of any unabsorbed vapors Takes place at still lower temperature, so that the chilled strong ammonia-water is returned from the lower end of the final absorber H by the pipe h2 into the strong-ammonia-water receiver R, then lifted by the pump to the primary equalizing-coil B, and conducted from the same to the secondary equalizing-coil I, as before described. From the lower end of the inner pipe of the coil I the strong ammonia-water is conducted by a pipe t', connected with the inner pipe to a coil m at the interior of an exhaust-steam heater M, said exhaust-steam heater being connected with lthe exhaust-port of the steam-engine of the brine-pump P' or with any other pump of the machine, the outgoing pipe of the exhauststeam coil being connected with the atmosphere. At the interior of the exhaust-steam heater M are arranged two coilsm m', one running in one direction and the other in the ICO IOS

opposite direction, the upper end of the second coil being finally connect-ed by a pipe n with a coil m2 iu the upright cylinder A' of the generator A, and then delivered to the lower horizontal part of the generator, as shown clearlyin Fig. l. The strong ammoniaerator and in such condition that the ammonia vapors can be quickly evaporated again by the heat of the exhaust-steam coil in the same, so as to be sent again through the machine in the same continuous cycle as before described.

A gas-pump P2 is connected with the pipe h, by which the interior expanding pipe of the final absorber H is connected with the upper end of the preliminary absorber H. The pipe h is provided with a stop-cock h3 and connected by branch pipes h4 and h5, respectively at each side of the stop-cock h3, with the inlet and outlet ports of the gaspump P2, as shown in Fig. 3. The exhaustport of the steam-engine which operates the gas-pump is preferably connected with the exhaust-steam heater or the exhaust-steam is permitted to pass off into the atmosphere in case the brine-pump supplies a sufficient quantity of exhaust-steam for the proper working of the generator. The gas-pump is started whenever in- Warmer weather the refrigerating-machine is to be run at its full capacity, in which case the intermediate stopcock h3 is closed and connection made with the ports of the gas-pump P2 by opening the stop-cocks of the pipes h4 h5. When during colder weather a smaller quantity of cold is to be supplied by the refrigerating-machine, the gas-pump is cut out byA closing the stopcocks in the pipes h4 and h5 and opening the intermediate stop-cock h2. By means of the gas-pump P2 the refrigerating-machine can be run at its full capacity Whenever required by the outside temperature or at reduced capacity, the gas-pum p forming, in connection with the sectional brine-cooler, a very effective means of regulating the capacity of the refrigerating-machine and adapting it to the work required to be performed at different temperatures. The gas pump also serves y for drawing the expanded ammonia-gases through the quter pipes of the brine-cooler and the interior, pipe of the final absorber, so as to produce a lower pressure' in said pipe and accelerate the motion to the ammoniavapors through the pipes and the production of a lower degree of temperature.

lt appears from the foregoing that the weak ammonia-water is cooled by two successive steps-first, by the cooling action of the secondary equalizing-coil I, and, secondly, by the action of the weak-ammonia-water cooler, so as to be reduced in temperature preparatory to its reabsorption by the cooled expanded ammonia-vapors. This reabsorption takes place in the preliminary and nal absorbers, the strong ammonia-water being delivered from the latter at the low temperature of the expanding ammonia vapors. This chilled strong ammonia-water is then during its return to the generator subjected to three successive heating actions-first, in the primary equalizing-coil B to the heating action of the hot ammonia-vapors coming from the generator; secondly, in the secondary equalizing-coil to the action of the hot Weak ammonia water, and, lastly, in the exhauststeam heater to the heat of the exhaust-steam in the same, so that in this manner the heat of the hotvammonia-vapors of the weak ammonia-water and of the exhaust-steam of the different pumps is utilized for raising the temperature of the chilled strong ammoniawater, while the low temperature of the expanding ammonia-gas is utilized for cooling the brine required and for producing the final absorption of the weak am monia-Water with the expanded ammonia-vapors, all these steps together tending to great economy of fuel as compared with the absorption refrigeratingmachines heretofore in use, in which the generators have been run by live steam.

Having thus described my invention, I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- '1. The combination, with a generator, of a heating-coil Within the same, a pump for returning the strong ammonia-water to the generator, a pipe connecting the heating-coil in the generator with the exhaust-port of one or more pump-engines, a primary equalizingcoil connected with the outlet-port of saidV pumps and composed of an interior coil for the hot ammonia-vapors andan outer coil for the strong ammonia-water, asecondary equalizing-oil, the outer coil of which is connected with the outer coil of the primary equalizingcoil and the interior coil of which is connected with the generator for conducting off the weak ammonia-Water, an exhaust-steam heater supplied with exhaust-steam, a coil in said exhaust-steam heater connected Wit-h the outer pipe of the secondary equalizing-coil, and a pipe connecting the coil in the exhauststeam heater with the generator for conducting the heated strong ammonia-water back to the generator, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, witha preliminary absorber, of a cooler for the weak ammonia-water connected with said preliminary absorber, a final absorber composed of an outer and an interior coil, the outer coil being connected with the preliminary absorber while the interior coil is connected with the liquid-ammonia receiver for conducting the expanded am monia-gases to the preliminary absorber, a pipe connecting the interior coil of the final absorber with the upper end of the preliminary absorber, a gas-pump, valved pipes connecting the suction and force ports of said pump with the pipe leading to the preliminary absorber connected with said connecting-pipe, and a stop-cock located in said connectingpipe intermediately between the suction and force pipes of the gas-pump, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a brine-cooler, consisting of a number of coils, each composed of an interior and an exterior pipe, of a brine-supply pump connected with the interior pipes of said coils, a liquid-ammonia receiver, pipes connecting said receiver with IIO the exterior pipes of the brine-cooler, a receiver for the strong ammonia-water, a final absorber composed of an exterior and an interior pipe, a pipe connecting the exterior pipes of the brine-cooler with the interior pipes of the final absorber, a pipe connecting the lower end of the exterior pipe of the iinal absorber with the strong` ammonia water receiver, a preliminary absorber connected with the upper end of the exterior pipe of the iinal absorber, and a pipe connecting the interior coil of the final absorber with the upper end of the preliminary absorber so that the available cold of the expanded ammonia-vapors is utilized in the final absorber for chilling the strong ammonia-water formed in the preliminary and final absorbers, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a generator, of a heating-coil, in the same, a circulating-pump, the exhaust-port of which is connected with the heating-coil, an outlet-pipe for the hot ammonia -vapors, a primary equalizing coil comprising an interior coil for the hot ammonia-vapors and an exterior coil for the strong ani moniawater,a condenser connected with the interior coil of said primary equalizing-coil, a secondary equalizing-coil comprising an interior coil for the weak ammoniawater, and an exterior coil for the stropg ammonia-water7 a pipe connecting' the generator p with the interior coil of the secondary equalizing-coil, a pipe connecting the exterior coil ofthe primary and secondary equalizing-coils, a cooler for the weak ammonia-water, connected with the interior coil of the secondary equalizer, a preliminary absorber connected with the weak-ammonia-water cooler, a final absorber comprising` an interior coil and an exterior coil, the latter connected with the lower end of the preliminary absorber, a pipe connecting the interior coil of the final absorber with the upper end of the preliminary absorber, a receiver for the liquid ammonia connected with the condenser, a receiver for the strong ammonia-water connected with the lower end of the final absorber and with the primary equalizing-coil, a brine-cooler comprising an interior coil and an exterior coil, a brine-supply pump connected with the interior coil, pipes connecting the liquid-ammonia receiver with the exterior coils of the brinecooler, and a pipe connecting the exterior coils of the brine-cooler with the interior coil of `the linal absorber, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK ALLEN.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, M. I-I. WURTZEL.