US1750475A - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

March 1l, A193C). A Q KEllNlN 1,750,475

A WATER HEATER Filed April 2, 1328 QL. fari M VE :DP ffz'ed Kerm'lz Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED G. KERNIN, lOFVIVIOSINEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T MOSINEE PAPER MILLS COMPANY, OF lllIOSINIlIEl,` WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN WATER HEATER This invention relates to a heat economy apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for utilizing the waste heat contained in -steam blown off from digesters in pulp makmg processes.

In' the manufacture of pulp, large volumes of steam are liberated during the intermittent blowing off periods occurring at the end of the cooking of each successive batch of chips. 4In sulphate pulp mills especially, the steam is of a peculiarly offensive odor and, owing to its contamination, the steam, or condensatef therefrom, is rarely used in subsequent operations, but is either vented to the atmosphere or blown into a jet condenser Afor discharge into the sewer.

There is little use made, therefore, of the steam for producing hot water for pulp washing purposes on account of the inferior quality of the water that can be made. Furthermore, owing to the intermittent character of the blowing operations, if the water used in condensing the steam is circulated continuously, the resulting water will fluctuate too i widely in temperature to be satisfactory for washing purposes.

Accordingto my invention, however, the waste steam is condensed in a heat economy apparatus by direct contact with constantly circulating water and water for washing purposes is then indirectly heated from the directly heated water. In this way no contamination of the water for washing can occur.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a heat economy apparatus for effectively utilizing the waste heat from steam to produce an uncontaminated water for washing purposes.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specication and the accompanymg drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is i1- lustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

The figure is an elevational view with parts broken away and in section, of apparatus embodying the principles of my invention.

Thereference numeral l indicates a tank, preferablycylindrical in form, with a dished bottom 2 and a dome 3 -extending from the top' thereof. -A pipe 4, in the side of the dome 3, serves for the introduction of steam which is mixed in the dome with water to be heated thereby.. In the pulp mill, to which my invention is particularly directed, the steam entering through the pipe 4 is steam, liberated during the blowing-off of a digester. The flow of steam, therefore, through the pipe 4 is intermittent and in great volume for short periods only. Y

l An outside circulating system comprising a pump 5 connected onits intake side to a pipe 6 leading from thebottom of said tank l and on its discharge side to a pipe 7 connected into the ltop of the dome 3 as at 8 serves to circulate water through the tank 1. This water in circulating, mixes with and condenses steam lintroduced through the pipe 4, .thereby raising the temperature of the water to any desired point. Fresh water may be admitted into the circulating system fromA a main line 9 through the piping 10 controlled by la valve 11. Although the water thus directly heated by the steam becomes contaminated with entrained products from the digestion processes, it is yet suitable for general heating purposes. Valve controlled connections 12 and 13 serve for the diversion of apart of the heated water for any outside heating installation. f f

A barometric jet condenser 14 is connected to the tank 1 by means of a pipe 15 having an upturned elbow 16 opening above the level of the water within the tank 1.

The condenser 14 thus serves to take care of any excess uncondensed steam in the tank 1. Water is fed intov the jet condenser through a valve controlled pipe 17 leading from the main pipei9. The leg of the condenser extends into a sewer pipe or the like. A piping connection 18, having a valve 19 therein, serves as a drain from the tank 1 whenever it becomes necessary to drain the contents of said tank. The level of the water in the tank 1 is maintained by reference to a sight glass 20 and may be reduced to the proper level by'draining oli through a con- 1CD densate line 21 having a valve 22 positioned therein.

In order to utilize the heat of the steam condensed by the water in the tank l, a plurality of closed coils 23 are supported from the bottom of said tank by means of supports 24. lVater for washing purposes is introduced into said coils 23 by opening a valve 25 in a pipe 27 leading to said coils from a source of fresh Water. The heated vwater from said coils 23 istaken 0E from the' upper coil through a pipe 26 leading to difusers, or, wherever the hot water is to be used for washing. Inasmuch as this Water is not brought into direct contact with the heated water in the tank 1, it is sufficiently pure for washing purposes. By reason of the relatively large volume of water within thetank l, the temperature to which the water for washing purposes is heated can be maintained practically constant. A plentiful supply of hot water is thus furnished at practically no cost and at a considerable saving over the usual practices.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention, andI, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claimv as myA invention 1. A `heat economyapparatus for usein the manufacture of pulp, comprising a'tank having a mixing dome, means forintroducing blow-off steam into said dome, an outside circulating system for drawing water from the bottom of'said tankand introducing said water into the top of said dome to condense said steam and be heated thereby and closed pipe coils positioned in said-tank for heating `water circulated through said coils.

2. A heat'economy apparatus for use in Ithe manufacture ofV pulp, comprising Va tank having Va mixing dome, lmeans for introducing blow-oif 'steam into said dome, an outside circulating system fordrawing water from the bottom ofsaid tank and introducing said water into the'top of said dome to condense said steam and be heated thereby, closed pipe coils positioned in said tankfor heating water circulated through Vsaid coils, and a barometric jet condenser associated with said tank for condensing steam vapors remaining uncondensed in said tank.

3. A heat economy apparatus for utilizing the heat of steam produced in the blowing of sulphate pulp digesters, comprising a tank having a mixing dome, meansvfor introducing blow-olf steam into said domefan outside circulating system for drawing water from thebottom of said tank and pumping said water into the top lof s aiddorne` to' condense said steam, closed coils within said-tankffor the circulation of water to be indirectly heated and valved connections in said outside circulating system for diverting some of the direct heated water for heating purposes.

4. A water heater for use in pulp mills for utilizing the heatvalue of the steam and gases blown olf from 4pulp digesters, comprising a tank adapted to be partially filled with water, means for withdrawing water from said tank and discharging it back into said ALFRED G. KERNIN.

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