US1597362A - Electric steam boiler - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 1926. 1,597,362

, A. HENRIKSSON ELECTRIC STEAM BOILER Filed Dec. 11, 1923 2 Sh ets-Sheet. 1

a La FIG-l FHLZ! //v VEI/ 7'0 1?.

062 HF/Z/ZZZSSOIL Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,597,362 PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST HENBIKSSON, OI GOTTENBORG, SWEDEN.

'nmc'rnrc arm 301mm.

Application filed December 11, 1928, Serial Io. 880,002, and in Sweden December 12,1922.

The present invention relates to electric steam boilers of the kind in which the heating is effected by one or more electrodes arranged in the boiler and the water serving as a resistance for the heating of the same.

For increasing the output of the boiler, there has been pr osed to alter the concentration of the sa t in the water, since the conductivity of the water within certain limits is increased with increased salt concentration.

These proceedings have proven to be un-' economical in the use of boilers of the construction heretofore known, since the reducing of the salt concentration of the water has necessitated the removing from the boiler of a comparatively great portion of the total volume of the water.

The invention has for its main object to overcome this inconvenience and with this and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing diametrically some embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: 4

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the steam boiler according to one embodiment;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same boiler; v

Figure 3 is a vertical section;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the steam boiler according to a second embodiment;

Figures 5 and 6 are similar views of a steam boiler according to a third embodiment; and,

Figure 7 is a vertical section of an automatic valve.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, 1 denotes a vertical cylindrical boiler. In compliance with this invention, there is arranged in the upper portion of the boiler, a receptacle or chamber 2, from which depends three tubes 3 tapering in the direction downwards and closed at their lower ends. The tubes at their lower ends communicate with a pipe 4, whereas the upper ends communicate with the receptacle 2. The numeral 5 indicates electrodes provided in the tubes 3 and electrically connected with the conductors 6. The electrodes 5 are surrounded by insulating members 7 in the form of tubes of porcelain or other suitable material, placed within the tubes 3. The feed water is applied mto the pipe 4 through the pipe connection 8 by means of a centrifugal pump 9. The water space of the boiler 1 is, by means of plpes 10 and 4 connected with the interior of the tubes 3. From the steam space of the receptacle 2, a pipe 11 leads whereby the steam generated may be carried adjacent the bottom of the boiler 1. The steam enters the water of the boiler through a set of nozzles 12 and ascends throu h the water into the steam space of the oiler, from which the steam is discharged through a conduit 13. The water space of the boiler 1 furthermore, through a pipe connection 14, communicates with the feed water piping 8 on the suction side of the pump 9. The numeral 15 denotes a discharge pipe for the water in the boiler 1.

The pipe connections 8, 10, 14, and 15 are each provided with a regulating valve 16, 17,18 and 19 respectively and by preference, work automatically. Such automatic valves may be of the construction shown in Figure 7.

In the Fi re 7 of the drawings, 20 denotes the va ve proper, having the spindle 21 connected with a piston 23 movable with- 111 a cylinder 22. The lower portion of this cylinder 22 is, by means-of a channel 24, connected with a'fluid pressure pipe 25 and by means of a channel 26, with a discharge pipe 27. The upper portion of the cylinder 22 is, by means of channels 28 and 29, connected with the pressure and discha-rge pipes respectively. By means of a valve 31 controlling the pressure pipe 25 and actuated upon by an electro-m'agnet 30, the pressure medium is permitted to enter into the cylinder, either through the channel 24 or 28, whereby the piston 23 is moved so as to shut or open the valve 20. The electromagnet 30 simultaneously actuates the valve 32 adapted to put either the channel 26 or 29 in connection with the discharge pipe 27 thus allowing the pressure medium to escape from the side of the piston 23, which for the occasion is not in connection with the pressure pipe 25.

The difierent 'electro-magnets of the valves are controlled automatically by the water levels and steam pressure in the boil er in the following manner:

In the electrical circuit including the electro-magnet of the valve 16 of the water feed piping, there is arranged a circuit closing device 33, which causes the valve to open when the water level within the chamber 2 drops below a certain level.

The elcctro-magnet of the valve 17 in the pipe connection 10 is included in an electrical circuit, which may be closed by a deviqe influenced by the pressure in the boiler, for instance, a pressure gauge 34, so that the valve 17 is opened When the steam pressure in the boiler has been raised to a predetermined degree.

The pressure gauge 34 is also adapted to close a circuit to the electro-magnet of the valve 18, when the pressure in the boiler has been reduced to a certain degree, whereby the valve 18 becomes opened.

The electro-magnet of the valve 19 is arranged in a circuit in which there is included a circuit closing device 35 influenced by the water level in the boiler 1, so that the valve 19 is opened when the water level exceeds a certain maximum.

The operation of the-electric steam boiler above described is as follows:

After water has been supplied to the water space of the bolier 1 to the level shown, the electric current is supplied to the electrodes 5. By the resistance of the water, the latter is heated, whereby steam is produced in the tubes 3, and arises to the steam space of the receptacle 2, from which the steam, through the pipe 11, is conducted down into the water space of the boiler 1. The arising steam heats the water in the boiler 1 and finally, it is discharged through the pipe 13. Provided the feed water contains a certain quantity of salt as is the case when undistilled water is used, the salt concentration of the water in the tubes 3 and the receptacle is augmented in the same degree as steam is produced, whereby the conductivity of the water and consequently the steam generation, is increased. When the steam generation exceeds the steam consumption, the steam pressure in the steam boiler is increased. At a certain steam pressure, the pressure gauge 33% closes the circuit of the valve 17 in the pipe connection 10 so that the said valve is opened. On account of the resistance offered by the nozzles 12, a higher steam pressure will be presented in the receptacle 2 than in the boiler proper. By this pressure difference, the salt-containing water from the steam generator 2 and tubes 3 will be discharged through the pipe 10 into the boiler 1. When the water level in the steam generator has been lowered to a certain point, the contact device 33 becomes operative, so that the feeding valve 16 is opened. Thus, the salt concentration in the steam generator 2 and tubes 3 is reduced and the electric conductivity lowered so that the steam generation is diminished. If the steam pressure in the boiler should fall below a certain value, the pressure gauge 34 will close the of the steam generator and its communication with the boiler proper above described, the alteration of the salt-concentration in the steam-generator is effected rapidl and the loss of hot water is greatl r uced.

It is'notneoessary that the va ves 16, 17,

18 and 19 be provided so as to operatesutomatically, they may be arranged to be manually operated, if so desired.

The valves 17 and 18 also may be re lated automatically, by means of suita le devices, with respect to the consumption of electric power, in such a manner that the said consumption is held between certain maximum and minimum limits.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, which is intended to be used for comparatively lower electric tensions, differs from the embodiment previously described in that the electrodes 5 comprise flattened rods fitted in the tubes 3 and cooperating each with a contra-electrode 5 insulated from the electrodes 5,

and of the same shape as the latter.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, which is adapted to be used for high electric tensions, the'steam-generator receptacle 2 and the tubes 3 communicate with a receptacle 2 placed on the bottom of the boiler 1. By means of a pipe connection 1 and a circulating pump 36, the water from the receptacle 2 is caused to be sprayed downwardly by the strainers 37, to the electrodes 5 in the tubes 3. In this construction, the strainers 37 serve as con tra-electrodcs.

The remaining details in this embodiment of the invention, in all essential points, correspond with details described in connection with the Figures 1 and 2, and are indicated by corresponding reference characters; accordingly, a particular description thereof is unnecessary.

It is of course understood that the invention is not confined to the embodiments thereof described and shown in the drawings, but which come within the scope of the appended claims, for instance, the steam generator or chamber 2 may be arranged exteriorly of the boiler instead of being arranged within the boiler as disclosed in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A11 electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generating chamber of a small size in relation to said boiler, electrodes arranged within said chamber, a water feed piping connected to said chamber, means of communication between the steam space of said chamber and the water space of said boiler whereby the trion of steam generated may be efiected there between and means wherebgethe transmission of water may be efiected tween said boiler and chamber.

2. An electric steam generator comprismg a boiler, a steam generating chamber of a small size in relation to said boiler,

electrodes arranged within said chamber, a water ,feed piping connected to said chamber and boiler, means of communication between said boiler and chamber whereby the transmission of water may be efiected therebetween and means of communication between the steam space of said chamber and the water space of said boiler whereby the steam generated in said chamber will be caused to pass through the water of said boiler.

3. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generating chamber of a small size in relation to sai boiler, elec-. trodes arranged within said chamber, means of communication between the steam space of said chamber and the water space of said boiler, a pipe connection between the water space of said chamber and said boiler, and regulating means in said pipe connection adapted to regulate the water supply from said chamber to said boiler.

4. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generatin chamber of a small size in relation to sai boiler, electrodes arranged in said chamber, a steam pipe leadin from the upper end=of said chamber an communicating with the lower end of said boiler, a ipe connection between the water ace 0 said boiler and the lower end of sai chamber, and regulating means in said pipe connection ada ted to regulate the water supply from sai boiler to said chamber.

5. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generating chamber of a small size in relation to said boiler, electrodes arranged in said chamber, a water feed piping communicating with said chamber an boiler, a ipe connection between said boiler and sai water feed piping, and regulating means in said pipe connection ada ted to regulate the water supply from sai boiler to said chamber.

6. An electric steam generator comprising "a boiler,

a steam generating chamber of a small size 'in relation to said boiler, electrodes arranged in said chamber, a water feed piping connected to said chamber, a

pipe connection between the water space of said chamber and said boiler, and regulating means in said pipe connection adapt ed to be controlled by the steam pressure in the boiler, whereby to automatically control the flow of water from said chamber into said boiler when the steam pressure has attained a certain degree.

7. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generatin chamber of a small size in relation. to sai boiler, electrodes arranged in said chamber, a water feed piping connected to said chamber, a pipe connection between the water space of said boiler and said chamber, and regulating means in said pipe connection adapted to be actuated by the steampress'ure in said boiler so as to automatically allow water to pass from said boiler into said chamber when the pressure has been reduced to a certain degree. 7

8. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler having a water space in its lower end and a steam space in its upper end, a steam cratingv chamber of a relatively small size arranged within the steam space of said boiler, a plurality of tubes communicating with and depending her, an electrode arrange within each tube, water feed piping communicatin with said chamber, boiler and lower ends 0 said tubes and means of communication between said chamber and boiler whereby the steam generated may pass therebetween.

9. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler having a water space in its lower portion and a steam space in its upper portion, a steam nerating chamber arranged within said oiler, electrodes arranged within said chamber, water feed pipin communicating with the lower end 0 said chamber and the water space of said boiler, a steam pipe. leading from the steam space of said chamber and communicating with the water s ace of said boiler, and a steam outlet pipe eading from the steam space of said boiler whereby the steam nerated within said chamber will be cause to pass through the water within said boiler before passing through said outlet pipe.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

AUGUST HENRIKSSON.

from said cham-

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