US788376A - Plant for cleaning and restoring boilers to service condition. - Google Patents

Description

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PATENT OFFICE.

PLANT FOR CLEANING AND RESTORING BOILERS TO SERVICE CONDITION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,376, dated April 25, 1905.

Application led November 2.7,A 1903. Serial No. 182,863.

' Cleaning' and Restoring' Boilers to Service Condition, of which improvement the following is a speciiication. l

Most water for boilers of locomotives and stationary engines is used in its natural condition and contains materials which under a high temperature will be precipitated and formscale on the heating-surfaces, thus necessitating a frequent cleaning of the boiler.

According to the present practice on railways the cleaning involves the following operations: First, the fire is drawn and the locomotive run into the roundhouse, the pressure in the boiler at this time being at about one hundred (100) pounds.- The whistle or pop-valve, or both, are then opened to permit of the escape of steam. To reduce the pressure in the boilerfrom one hundred (100) pounds, more or less, to Zero in this manner usually requires from thirty to forty-five minutes. As soon as the pressure is reduced thebIow-oii cock is opened and the hot water allowed to escape into the sewer. A complete drainage of the water is eected by removing plugs in the water-legs forming the sides of the fire-box. When the boiler has been cooled to a working temperature, which is generally eected by the introduction of cold water through a hose connected to the boiler, wire brushes and scrapers are introduced through tapped holes to loosen the scale, thus permitting itsbeing washed out. This draining, scraping, and washing out requires from three to four hours and being completed the outlets are closed, the boiler iilled with cold water, and the fire started, the draft being induced by compressed air or steam introduced into the stack by a vertically-arranged nozzle. As the fire-box and tubes are cold, the combustion of gases is so imperfect that large volumes of smoke are produced, so filling the roundhouse, rendering it nearly impossible for the workmen to remain in it. rlhis blowing by air is maintained until sufficient steam is generated to permit the locomotive blower to operate, which is kept in operation until service pressure is generated. The generation of working pressure from cold water requires usually a little over an hour, and the total time required for all the operations from the time the fire is drawn until working pressure has been produced requires from five to siX hours. The whole operation involves the waste of a large number of heat units in blowing olil the steam vand the drainage of the hot water into the sewer. It also subjects the boiler to eX- cessive strains by unequal contracting caused by the introduction of cold water, and there i is a large waste of fuel in the generation of working pressure and also a loss of time in the service of the locomotive. On some railroads and in some power plants the water is so treated that practically all foreign matter left in it will remain in solution under conditions of temperature and pressure eXistingin boilers in operation. While little or no scale will be formed on the heating-surfaces when using the treated water orwater practically free from scale-forming ingredients, the percentage of foreign matter in solution in the water in the boiler will increase in a comparatively short time to such a point as to cause foaming. When this occurs, it is the present practice to draw thetire, run the locomotive to the roundhouse, blow off the st eam, empty the boiler, and refill it with cold water, and steam is then generated in the manner described. In short, the operation of cleaning the boiler when treated water is used is the same as with untreated water eX- cept that the scraping of the tubes, 8vo., to loosen and remove scale is not required.

.The object of the invention described herein is to provide for the cleaning of the boiler and the restoration of service conditions without the loss of all the thermal units present in the boiler when the locomotive reaches the roundhouse, without subjecting the boiler to excessive strains, without a large waste of fuel and consequent inconvenience to workmen, and without the long loss of time in service of locomotive incident to the present methods.

The accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, shows diagrammatically the arrangement of the several parts lor elements of my improved plant.

In the practice of my invention the lire of the locomotive to be cleaned is banked or may be drawn and the boiler maintained at the desired temperature by a gas or sprayed-oil llame. It is the proposed practice to retain enough steam-pressure-z'. c., about one hundred (100) pounds -in the boiler to run the locomotive into its stall in the roundhouse. When placed in its stall, the main pipe 1 of a manifold is connected by a flexible pipe to the blow-ofi1 cock, which is then opened, allowing the water and steam from the boiler to flow by the pipe 1 and branch or member 2 of the manifold into the tank 3, which will be termed the blow-olf tank. This tank is provided with an outlet-pipe 4 sufficiently large to prevent the generation of any material pressure therein, so that when water above 212O Fahrenheit from the boiler enters the tank there will be arapid evolution of steam, which will continue until the water is cooled down to or approximately to 212O Fahrenheit. The steam,

thus evolved is conducted by the pipe 4 to a condenser 5, where the steam is employed to heat water to be fed to the boiler, as hereinafter described. Acoil of pipe 6 is arranged within the blow-oilI tank and has one end connectcd by a pipe 7 to a suitable supply of water, which has by preference been treated to prevent the formation of insoluble precipitates in the boiler. The other end of this coil is connected by a pipe 8 to the hot-water tank 9, being provided inside of the tank with a float-valve 10, so as to prevent an overow of water therefrom. This hot-water tank is connected by pipes 11 and 12 to the condenser 5, one of the pipes, as 11, being connected to the inlet end of the condenser and the pipe 12 to the outlet end. A suitable pump 13, preferably of centrifugal type, is arranged in the line of the pipe 11, so as to draw water from the tank 9 and force it through the condenser 5 and back into the tank through the pipe 12. The water as it flows to the tank 9 is heated by the hot water in the blow-O1 tank 3 and by its circulation through the condenser 5 is raised to a still higher temperature by the steam arising from the blow-olf tank, as above described, and caused to pass through the condenser. The water of condensation escapes from the condenser by a pipe 14, which hasa valve 16 connected with the hot-well 9, and also by valve 17 with a pipe 15, leading to a sewer. By this arrangement if the steam passing through the condenser is clean-#L e., free from oil or other impuritiesthe valve 16 .is opened and the water is discharged into the hot-well 9. If, however, the steam is impure, the valve 16 is closed and valve 17 opened, so that the water of condensation will flow by the pipe 15 into the sewer. The condenser 5 is provid ed with an outlet-pipe 18 for the escape of uncondensed steam, and a bypass is provided in .the pipe 4, extending from the pipe 4 around to the pipe 18 and having a suitable valve, so that when. necessary or desired all or a part of the steam from the blow-0E tank can be discharged into the atmosphere without passing through the condenser 5.

By the passage of the feed-water through the coil 6 and the circulation of water from the hot-well through the condenser 5 the water in the hot-well can be raised to approximately 205O Fahrenheit, this being done by the heat contained in the water discharged from the boilers to be cleaned. A pipe 19 is connected with the hot-well, preferably through the pipe 12, and forms the inlet or supply pipe for the feed-pump 20. This pump will receive hot water from the hot-well and force it through the pipes 21 and 22 into the live-steam heater 23, to which live steam is fed from any desirable source by the pipe 24. rlhis live-steam heater is connected by a pipe 25 to the branch or member 26 of the manifold, and the latter is connected to the main pipe 1 of this manifold.

After all the water in the boiler of the locomotive has been blown of as described'the valve 27 in the pipe 2 is closed, and the valves 28 in the pipe 19, 29 in the pipe 22, 30 in the pipe 25, and 31 in the pipe 26 are opened, so that by the operation of the pump 20 water is forced into the boiler through the connection previously established with the pipe 1. As the pump 2O is constructed to operate automatically, as soon as pressure on the delivery side drops, as by opening the valve 31, the valves 28, 29, and 30 are usually kept open except when a different operation of the plant is desired.- The water as it passes through the pump has approximately a temperature of about 205O Fahrenheit, more or less, but by its passage through the live-steam heater 23 is raised to a temperature of about 300O Fahrenheit, more or less, and at that temperature forced to the boiler under pressure sufficiently high to prevent evolution of steam until it enters the boiler.

It will be observed that as the emptying of the boiler and its immediate refilling with water at or approximately at the same temperature as that discharged is effected one immediately after the other no opportunity for any material cooling of the boiler has occurred, and therefore the boiler will not be subject to any severe strains by this operation. As a matter of fact, there remains in the boiler a pressure of about fifty pounds of steam when all the water hasl been discharged, and` this pressure is retained without any mateterial or undesirable diminution until the refilling occurs, which is preferably elfected immediate] y subsequent to the last outlow of water. As soon as the boiler has been filled to the desired level the operation is stopped 'and IOO IIO

. in the boiler.

the fire is started or anew fire is kindled in the fire-box, and as the water has been discharged into the boiler at 3000 Fahrenheit temperature, more or less, there will be sufficient steam to operate the steam-blower of the locomotive, and as the fire-box and tubes will be hot there will be a very little loss due to unconsumed gases.

It has been found by actual trial that the boiler of a locomotive can', counting from the time it enters the stall of the roundhouse to the time it leaves the same ready for service, be entirely emptied, refilled, and steam raised to a service-point in half an hour.

1t will be observed that the feed-water is heated to or approximately to a temperature of 205O Fahrenheit by the-water and steam taken from the boiler and that live steam is necessary to raise it to the 300O or any other teuperature at which it is desired to fill the boi er.

My improvement further contemplates the charging of the boiler with warm water-fzf. e. water from the hot-well-or with cold water, as may be desired. 1f when the boiler is emptied there is reason to believe there may be leaks and after repairs it is desired to test the boiler, valves 32 and 33 in pipe 34, extending from pipe 21, and also the valve 35 in the branch or member 36 of the manifold are opened, so that the water from the-hot-well will rbe forced into the boiler without passing through the live-steam heater 23. Water is prevented from fiowing from the live steam heater during this operation by a check-valve 51 in the pipe 22. The boiler is filled completely with this hot water, all outlets being closed, and the valve 35 is closed. The highpressure pump 37 is then started, drawing water from the supply-pipe 7 and forcing it through the pipe 38 past the valve 39, which is opened, into the main pipe of the manifold and into the boiler. This pump is so constructed as to be capable of producing any desired pressure-say three hundred pounds- As the boiler is filled with hot water at the time of this test, and therefore approximating service condition, the testing of it at this time will be more effective to develop faults than if tested when cold. In order that the hot-well 9 maybe supplied with water without passing through the coil 6, the pipes7 and 8 are connected byapipe 45, having a valve 46. When the water is to be pumped directly into the hot-well, the valves 47 and 48 in the pipes 7 and' 8 are closed and the valve 46 opened, thus forming a by-pass around the coil 6 to the hot-well. Provision is also made for taking the feed-water directly from its supply to the inlet-port of the pump 2O by connecting the pipes 7 to the pipe 19 by a branch 49, having a valve 50 therein. By closing the valves 28 and 47 and opening the valve 50 the pump 20 will draw cold water from the supply, force it through the livesteam heater, and thence directly into the boiler. The water thus iiowing from the supply through the live-steam-heater can be raised to the temperature desired for testing or to the maximum temperature required for charging the boiler for service.

When using treated water or water naturally free from scale-forming materials, it is .usually sufiicient to empty and refill the boiler in the manner described. When, however, water containing scale-forming material is used, the boiler is emptied as described and allowed to cool' down sufficiently to permit of the scale being removed in the usual manner. After the closing of all openings in the boiler except the blow off cock the valve 31 is opened to permit water at a temperature of about 30()O Fahrenheit, more or less, to be pumped into the empty boiler. The water being free from pressure as it enters the boiler a large volume of steam will be evolved, which will distribute itself throughout the boiler and effect a uniform heating 'of all parts. This uniform and equal heating will not cause any injury, as strains are' produced only by unequal and irregular heating.

Provision is made for permitting the discharge of foul water from the blow-off tank after it has been cooled down by the water flowing through the coil 6. In practice it is considered desirable to empty the blow-off tank after each boiler has been cleaned, as otherwise a part of the heat of the incoming hot water and steam will be wasted in heating the water already in the tank. The tank and outlet are preferably so constructed and arranged that the tank will hold approximately the volume of water in the boiler at thetime of cleaning.

Provision is made for utilizing steam in the condenser 5 from sources other than the water from the boiler being cleaned by connecting a pipe` provided with a valve 52, to the steam-pipe 4, the pipe being also connected to a source of exhaust or live steam;

1t will be understood that a manifold A is arranged adjacent to each stall of a roundhouse, and the branches or members 2, 26, 36, 40, and 41 of each manifold are connected, respectively, to main pipes 2, 25, 34, 38, and 42. As repair and erecting shops are usually arranged in the neighborhood of roundhouses, provision is made by pipes 53 and 54, having valves 55 and 56 and extending, respectively, from pipes 34 and 38. to charge boilers in the erecting or boiler shops with hot water and then apply a testing pressure thereto. In order to supply hot water for the boiler and erecting shops when the hot-well 9 is out of IOO IIO

by pipes 64, 34, and 53 to the boiler and erecting shops, valves 45, 33, and 55 being opened, and by pipe 36 to the roundhouse', valve 35 being opened and valve 55 closed. By properly adjusting the steam-supply to the heater 23 the Water can be heated to any desired temperature. Suitable connections are also made to the boilers of the erecting and boiler shops and the boilers of other adjacent power plants, Whereby such boilers may be cleaned and recharged in the manner described and regularly fed With superheated hot and cold water, as desired. To utilize the heat discharged from the stationary boilers in cleaning, the blow-off pipe 2 is provided with a branch 57, having a valve 58, eX- tending to the boiler to be cleaned. In order to recharge the boiler or to continuously feed the same, a pipe 59, extending from such boiler or boilers, is connected by pipes and 61, having valves 62 and 63, respectively,with pipes 21 and 25. By closing the valve 62 and opening valve 63 superheated Water Will be forced by pump 20 to the boiler or its feedpump, While by closing valve 63 and opening valve 62 Water from the hot-Well 9 will be delivered to the boiler or its feed-pump.

No claim is made herein for method of or apparatus for utilizing the heat units contained in the blow-off of a boiler in heating roundhouses or other buildings, as the same form no part of my invention herein.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In an apparatus for cleaning and refilling boilers, the combination of a blow-off tank, a coil of pipe arranged in said tank, means for forcing Water through such coil, a hot-Well connected to the coil, means for forcing the heated Water from the hot-Well to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for cleaning and refilling boilers, the combination of a blow-off tank, a coil of pipe arranged in said tank, means for forcing Water through the coil, a hot-Well connected to the coil, means for forcing water from the hot-Well to the boiler and means forl heating the Water above 2120 Fahrenheit, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for cleaning and refilling boilers, the combination of a blow-off tank, a coil of pipe arranged in said tank, means for forcing Water through said coil, a hot-Well connected to the coil, a condenser or exhauststeam heater, means for causing Water to circulate from the hot-Well through the heater and 'back to the Well, and means for forcing the heated Water from the hot-Well to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for cleaning and refilling boilers, the combination of a blow-0H tank, a coil of pipe arranged in said tank, means for forcing Water through said coil, a hot-Well connected to the coil, an exhaust-steam heater having a steamv connection to the blow-o tank, means for forcing water from the hot- Well through the heater and back to the hot- Welland means for forcing Water from thehotwell to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for cleaning and refilling boilers, the combination of a blow-off tank, a coil arranged in said tank, means for forcing Water through said coil, a hot-Well connected to the coil, an exhaust-steam heater, means for causing the Water from the hot-Well to circulate through the heater, means for forcing the Water from the heater to the boiler, and means for heating the Water above 2120 Fahrenheit, substantially as set forth.

6. In a plant for cleaning and refilling locomotive-boilers, the combination of a manifold adapted to be connected to the boiler of alocomotive and having a series of branches provided With valves, a blow-O tank connected to one branch or member of the manifold, a coil arranged in said tank, means for forcing water through said coil, and a connection from the coil to another branch or member of the manifold, substantially as set forth.

7. In a plant for cleaning andrefilling locomotive-boilers, the combination of a manifold adapted to be connected to the boiler of a locomotive and having a series of branches or members provided with valves, a blow-off tankconnected to one branch or member of the manifold, a coil of pipe arranged in said tank, means for forcing Water through said coil, a hot-Well connected to the coil, means for heating the water above 212O Fahrenheit connected to another branch or member of the manifold, and means for forcing water from the hot- Well through the superheater to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

8l In a plant for cleaning and refilling locomotive-boilers, the combination of a manifold adapted to be connected to the boiler of the locomotive and having a series of branches or members provided with valves, a blow-off tank, an exhaust-heater having a steam connection with the tank, a hot-Well, means for forcing Water into the hot-Well, means for causing Water from the hot-Well to circulate through the heater, a connection from the hot-Well to the manifold and means for forcing Water from the hot-Well to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

9. In a plant for cleaning and refilling locomotive-boilers, the combination of a manifold adapted to be connected to the locomotiveboiler, and provided With branches or members having valves, a blow-off tank connected to one member of the manifold, a coil of pipe arranged in said tank, a hot-Well connected to the coil, means for forcing Water through the coil into the hot-Well, an exhaust-steam heater, means for the water in the hot-Well to circulate through the heater, a superheater connected to the hot-well, the hot-Well and superheater being connected to independent IOO IIO

Y branches or members of the manifold, and

means for forcing water from the hot-well into the boiler, substantially as set forth.

10. In a plant for cleaning and refilling locomotive-boilers, the combination of a manifold adapted to be connected to the boiler of a locomotive, and having a series of branches or members provided with valves, a blow-off tank connected to one branch or member, a supply of hot water connected to another branch and a supply of Water heated above 2120 Fahrenheit connected to a third branch, substantially as set forth.

11. In a plant for cleaning and refilling locomotive-boilers, the combination of a manifold adapted to be connected to the locomotiveboiler, and havingaseries of branches or members provided with valves, a blow-off tank connected to one branch or member, a supply of hot Water connected to another branch or memberand a supply of water Linder testing pressure connected to a third member of the manifold, substantially as set forth.

12. .An apparatus for utilizing the blow-off products of boilers, comprising clarifying and separating tanks, water-heating means, means for delivering the steam from said tanks into a heating apparatus, and means for forcing the heated water into the boiler.

13. An apparatus for handling blow-off products of boilers, comprising a series of tanks, means for delivering the blow-off products therein, means for separating the said products, water-heating means, means for delivering the steam to the water-heating means, means for introducing Water into each of said tanks for reducing their temperature and means for conducting such water to the water-heating means.

14. An apparatus for handling the blow-off products of boilers, comprising a tank for the separation of the elements of the blow-off of `boilers, means for delivering the blow-olf into said tank, a coil arranged in said tank and adapted to be connected to a water-supply and to a boiler, means for independently removing the elements of the blow-off, and means for applying the heat of one of said elements to the wateras it passes from the coil to th boiler.

15.` An apparatusof the character described comprising a Water-heater, a reservoir to receive blow-off Water from a boiler, a heatingcoil for fresh Water located within said reservoir, a pipe for admitting fresh water to said coil, a pipe connecting said coil to the waterheater and a pipe whereby water from a boiler may be delivered to said reservoir.

16. An apparatus of the character described comprising a water-heater, a pipe for delivering hot water from said heater, a mixingchamber, a pipe for delivering cold water to said mixing-chamber and a pipe arranged to deliver water from said mixing-chamber to the boiler to be washed.

17. An apparatus of the character described comprising a water-heater, a reservoir having a closed top and adapted to receive blow-od water from the boiler, connections from the boiler to said reservoir, connections from the upper part of said reservoir to the Waterheater, and connections for conducting the hot Water from the water-heater to the boiler.

18. An apparatus of the character described comprising a reservoir having a closed top, a Water-heater, connections from the top of said reservoir to said water-heater, a heating-coil within said reservoir having a pipe for admitting fresh water thereto, connections from said coil to the water-heater, a pipe for conducting blow-off water from the boiler to the reservoir, and connections for delivering hot water from the water-heater to the boiler.

19. An apparatus of the character described comprising a water-heater, a reservoir to receive blow-off water from the Water-heater, a reservoir to receive blow-off water from the boiler, a heating-coil for fresh water located Within said reservoir, a pipe for admitting fresh water to said coil, connections from said coil to the water-heater, connections from the top of said reservoir to the Water-heater, and connections whereby hot water may be delivered from the water-heater to the boiler.

20. An apparatus of the character described comprising a Water-heater, a reservoir to receive blow-off Water from a boiler, a mixingchamber, a pipe leading from said mixingchamber and having its free end arranged to connect with the blow-olf cock of a locomotive-boiler, a heating-coil within said reservoir, connections from said heating-coil to the water-heater, a pipe connectingv the upper end of the reservoir with the water-heater, a pipe for admitting fresh water to said heating-coil, a pipe for delivering cold water to the mixingchamber, hot-water connections leading from the water-heater to the mixing-chamber, and a pipe leading from the mixing-chamber to said reservoir, and several pipes connected to said mixing chamber being provided with cocks.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set IOO IIO

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