rexresearch1
John GAMGEE
Zero Engine
Zero Engine
"In 1881, he proposed to the US Navy to purchase his zero-engine, in which seawater was used to boil ammonia. President Garfield was in favor of his discovery."
STEAM BOILER
CA35647
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Improvements in Vapor Condensers or Devaporators
GB189316869
[ PDF ]
This invention relates to a method and apparatus whereby liquefiable gases or vapors admitted or forced into reservoirs of liquid, contract in volume and are condensed by the simple act of solution, so that what enters the apparatus as gas or vapor leaves it as liquid at the boiling point, due to whatever pressure the condenser is maintained at during work. There is, in short, spontaneous absorption of the vapor by its own liquid.
The apparatus required for this purpose consists in a series of tubular vessels similar to those known in chemical industries as wash-bottles. These tubes or wash-bottles overflow from one into the other in series so that the vapor, only partially dissolved in transit through the first, progressively diminishes in volume under the acceleration of gravity of the falling liquid, and finally an inverted wash-bottle is used as the final reservoir in which the liquefaction is completed and nothing but liquid can be withdrawn.
Such apparatus is applicable in the industrial - arts for all purposes in which liquefaction of vapors is desired. I have, however, specially pursued this subject for the automatic condensation of low temperature motor fluids used in motive power engines and refrigerating machinery. I have likewise used such means in the manufacture of distilled water and the distillation of alcohols, ethers, essential oils & c.
There are two types of apparatus which are applicable to all practical purposes.
The first is for condensation of vapors formed above atmospheric temperatures, such as water steam, and the second for the automatic liquefaction of gases produced at low temperatures, such as anhydrous ammonia.
In both forms the vapor more or less saturated enters through a tube guarded by a check valve, and the tube descends to near the bottom of a vertical cylinder.
Such tube is plugged below but perforated around its lower portion so as to split up the vapor and make it travel upwards in detached globules and .thus ensure the greatest possible contact with the liquid through which it rises. From near the Upper extremity of this vertical cylinder a tube emerges and descends to the bottom of a second cylinder or wash-bottle, as in the first: case, and such wash-bottle may be made of say the shape and average size of the high pressure cylinders now used for the carriage and storage of oxygen and other gases.
The number and sizes of the wash-bottles depend on the volume of gas to be liquefied and the nature of the fluid in circulation.
The terminal reservoir for the liquid is provided with gauge cocks and glass tube so as to determine the liquid level below which the .liquefied vapor is withdrawn to be led into the boiler or evaporator.
A pipe guarded by a check valve and stop cock connects the terminal reservoir with the top of the first wash-bottle.
The whole of the condensing cylinders are enclosed in a vessel in which a vacuum may be maintained or a stagnant quantity of water which being under atmospheric pressure only cannot be raised above 212 and ensures a steady and uniform temperature of the devaporator. Such cylinder containing water may by the use of a vacuum pump be maintained at or below 180 Fahrenheit so as to favour a vacuum in the case of the condenser of a compound engine.
The main difference in the construction of an apparatus in which the motor fluid boils below average external temperature is to use an uncongealable liquid in the vessel containing the wash bottles and to cool this by evaporation in a suitable spiral coil. The devaporator when in this form must be well protected by nonconducting covering from the influence of surrounding objects.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
This invention relates to a method and apparatus whereby liquefiable gases or vapors admitted or forced into reservoirs of liquid, contract in volume and are condensed by the simple act of solution, so that what enters the apparatus as gas or vapor leaves it as liquid at the boiling point, due to whatever pressure the condenser is maintained at during work. There is, in short, spontaneous absorption of the vapor by its own liquid.
The apparatus required for this purpose consists of a series of tubular vessels similar to those known in chemical industries as wash-bottles. These tubes or wash-bottles overflow frum one into the other in series so that the vapor, only partially dissolved in transit through the first, progressively diminishes in volume under the acceleration of gravity of the falling liquid, and finally an inverted wash-bottle is used as the final reservoir in which the liquefaction is completed and nothing but liquid can be withdrawn.
Such apparatus is applicable in the industrial arts for all purposes in which liquefaction of vapors is desired. I have, however, specially pursued this subject for the automatic condensation of low-temperature motor fluids used in motive power engines and refrigerating machinery. I have likewise used such means in the manufacture of distilled water and the distillation of alcohols, ether, essential oils & c.
There are two types of apparatus which are applicable to all practical purposes.
The first is for condensation of vapors formed above atmospheric temperatures, such as water steam, and the second for the automatic liquefaction of gases produced at low temperatures, such as anhydrous ammonia.
The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate both.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly sectional and Figure 2 a plan.
In both forms, the vapor, more or less saturated, enters through a tube a1 guarded by a swing check valve b, and the tube descends to near the bottom of a vertical cylinder c1. Such tube is plugged below but perforated around its lower portion as seen at d so as to split up the vapor and make it travel upwards in detached globules and thus ensure the greatest possible contact with the liquid through which it rises. From near the upper extremity of this vertical cylinder a tube a2 emerges and descends to near the bottom of a second cylinder or wash-bottle c2 as in the first case, and such wash-bottle may be made of say the shape and average size of the high pressure cylinders now used for the carriage and storage of oxygen and other gases. From the cylinder or wash-bottle c2, a tube a 3 emerges and descends to near the bottom of a third cylinder c3 and so on for any required number of cylinders ; the last cylinder c9 is however like an inverted wash-bottle the pipe a3 entering it at the bottom and extending up to nearly the top and the outlet from the cylinder c9 being near the bottom.
The number and sizes of tho wash-bottles depend on the volume of gas to be liquefied and the nature of the fluid in circulation. The apparatus shown in the figures has 9 cylinders including the inverted wash-bottle c9 which constitutes the final or terminal reservoir for the condensed liquid.
This terminal reservoir for the liquid is provided with a pressure gauge at g and glass gauge f so as to determine the liquid level below which the liquefied vapor is withdrawn to be fed into the boiler -or evaporator; e indicates the outlet for return to the boiler.
A pipe h guarded by a check valve i and stop cock k connects the terminal reservoir c9 with the top of the first wash-bottle c1. The bottle c1 is also provided with a pressure gauge at l.
The whole of the condensing cylinders c1 to c9 are enclosed in a vessel m in which a vacuum may be maintained or which may contain a stagnant quantity of water which being under atmospheric pressure only cannot be raised above 212 and ensures a steady and uniform temperature of the devaporator. Or such cylinder containing water may by the use of a vacuum pump bc maintained at or below 180 Fahrenheit so as to favor a vacuum in the case of the condenser of a compound engine.
GB189316870
Improvements in Motor and Refrigerating Apparatus
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This invention relates to closed cycle motors or engines with an exhaust maintained automatically below the temperature of the environment. The motor fluids used are mainly those with low boiling points, such as ethers, or gases that are liquefied by work at low temperatures independently of external cooling agencies. A characteristic feature lies in the fact that in starting the engine the reduction of temperature of the condenser rather than artificially heating in a boiler is important. The liquid to be gasified is distributed up to a definite level both in the vapor generator proper and in the condenser. Ebullition or refrigeration occurs in the one and invaporation or devaporation in the other..
The vapor rises in and from the boiling- liquid vertically in the first and is spontaneously re-absorbed or dissolved when projected downwards in liquid columns in the second.
Any prime mover is necessarily a cooling machine seeing that the change of state in the vapor generator and the work performed by such vapor in expanding against a resistance is attended by refrigeration. Since the most efficient motor fluids such as methyl chloride, anhydrous ammonia, carbon dioxide & c.-have very low boiling points the heating of the boiler may be effected without actual outlay in , fuel and at the ordinary temperature of the air or .water on the earth's surface. The experimental fact that it is possible to cool a motor fluid below the temperature of surrounding objects by a self-acting process in the running of an engine establishes the novelty and value of my invention.
'Engineers have long known that a vapor remains saturated while in contact with. its own liquid. By progressively submerging such vapor in transit through a series, of connected vessels it is completely absorbed at the temperature at which it is discharged from the engine, or at a lower one if a cooling coil as hereinafter described is used. The collapse of the residual vapor discharged with the liquid from the engine cylinder during its travel through the devaporator not only prevents back pressure but necessitates the use of the force pump or boiler feed apparatus to raise the liquid to the pressure of the vapor generator which is due to the temperature of the heating body whatever that may be.
A motor constructed in accordance with this invention consists therefore of four parts.
First: A vapor generator in which the requisite volume of liquid is maintained in a state of ebullition and automatic circulation for whatever pressure the engine is to be worked at.
Second : A high pressure single cylinder or a compound double or triple cylinder engine receiving the high pressure vapor from the generator and discharging it into the condenser or devaporator.
Third: A condenser or devaporator comprising a vertical cylinder into which the exhaust of the engine is discharged through a tube leading to the bottom of the cylinder so that the residual vapor may rise through liquid and pass on through one or more similar cylinders arranged in series or concentrically, and finally discharging upwards in the reservoir from which the feed pump withdraws the supply for the generator. The vertical cylinders or wash bottles as they may be called in which the vapor is progressively supersaturated or condensed are enclosed in a metal cylindrical or other suitable receiver protected very thoroughly by a vacuum jacket and non-conducting material outside this so as to render it as little affected, as possible by circumambient temperatures. From the liquid reservoir a coil springs which surrounds the internal high pressure cylinders or wash bottles and this coil, provided with a cock to regulate the quantity of liquid entering it, discharges above into the lowest pressure cylinder so as to ensure refrigeration of the liquid in the condenser receiver and if necessary a suitable vacuum pump is to be driven by the engine in order to control the temperature of the devaporator.
Fourth : A suitable feed pump run continuously drawing pure liquid from the liquid or feed reservoir and maintaining a definite level in the generator.
Thus we have a closed cycle and the only chance of leakage is through the stuffing-box or glands of the engine, which may be made practically tight by using long stuffing boxes and suitable packing.
When this apparatus is to be used as an ice making or refrigerating apparatus the vapor generator is to be maintained at a low temperature and pressure according to the fluid to be used. In order to ensure this a fifth element has to be added, viz. a pump for circulating uncongealable hydrocarbon oils or other suitable liquid through a series of jets to reduce the pressure and activate the volatilization in the generator whilst passing the vapor on into a high pressure drum or receiver from which the tube supplying the engine springs. Thus in an anhydrous ammonia machine the pressure in the generator or refrigerator may be maintained at 20 to 25 lbs. whilst the vapor is being compressed in the drum up .to 100 lbs. pressure or more. The drum may be heated should such compression of the gas liquefy it without superheating it, for by the method of condensation all heat of compression is avoided.
Thus we obtain an ice machine based on the expansion of a vapor and its liquefaction in a compound engine combined with final absorption of the residual vapor by the liquid in the condenser. This feature of maintaining a constant high level of' say liquefied anhydrous ammonia in the devaporator as well as in the generator is a distinctive feature of this process of artificial refrigeration eliminating thereby the enormous volumes of condensing water used in all other machines. '
For all practical purposes the ammonia engines constituting the main part of the freezing machine run without fuel at the temperature of the bodies to be cooled.
That this is quite feasible in practice is shown by the pressures for confined ammonia vapor at the temperatures required for ice making say 15 Fahrenheit or-9'-4 Centigrade.
The vapor generator of the ice machine may consist of a number of coils connected by manifolds in the usual way, submerged in the uncongealable liquid of an ice mould tank or an independent refrigerator with circulating dome and internal shield or tubes.
It is obvious from the foregoing description that one of my motors may be developing useful work. to operate machinery in a factory or for other purpose and at the -same time supply ice, the water to be frozen furnishing the means of raising the pressure and temperature in the vapor drum afore described.
It is -for this reason that the two forms of apparatus may be regarded as inseparable in- practical work and based on the dual feature of liquefaction being obtained by expansion instead of by compression and invaporation in the fluid imprisoned in the condenser.
Under certain circumstances, as for instance in- using carbon dioxide, it may be advantageous to charge the condensers with a hydrocarbon oil or other suitable menstruum to be maintained by the action 'of the machine at a low temperature so as to favor devaporation.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
This invention relates to closed cycle motors or engines with an exhaust maintained automatically below the temperature of the environment. The motor fluids used are mainly those with low boiling points, such as ethers or gases that are liquefied by work at low temperatures independently of external cooling agencies.
A peculiar feature is that in starting the engine, the reduction of temperature of the condenser rather than artificially heating in a boiler is important. The liquid to be gasified is distributed up to a definite level both in the vapor generator proper and in the condenser. Ebullition or refrigeration occurs in the one and invaporatlon or devaporation in the other. The vapor rises in and from the boiling liquid vertically in the first and is spontaneously reabsorbed or dissolved when projected downwards in liquid columns in the second.
Any prime mover is necessarily a cooling machine, seeing that the change of state in the vapor generated and the work performed by such vapor in expanding against a resistance is attended by refrigeration. Since the most efficient motor fluids, such as methyl chloride, anhydrous ammonia, carbon dioxide & c. have very low boiling points the heating of the boiler may be effected without actual outlay in fuel and at the ordinary temperature of the air or water on the earth's surface.
I have proved by experiment that it is possible to cool a motor fluid below the temperature of surrounding objects by a self-acting process in the running of an engine.
Engineers have long known that a vapor remains saturated while in contact with its own liquid. By progressively submerging such vapor in transit through a series of connected vessels it is completely absorbed at the temperature at which it is discharged from the engine, or at a lower one if a cooling coil as hereinafter described is used. The collapse of the residual vapor discharged with the liquid from the engine cylinder during its travel through the devaporator not only prevents back pressure hut necessitates the use of a force pump or boiler feed apparatus to raise the liquid to the pressure of the vapor generator which is due to the temperature of the heating body whatever that may be.
A motor constructed in accordance with this invention consists therefore of four .main parts, which are represented in Figure 1 oE the accompanying drawings.
These four parts are :-
First: A vapor generator A in which the requisite volume of liquid is maintained in a state of ebullition and automatic circulation for whatever pressure the engine is to be worked at.
Second: An engine B which may be a high-pressure single cylinder or a compound double or triple cylinder engine receiving the high pressure vapor from the generator A by the pipe C fitted with a stop valve D and discharging it into the condenser or devaporator by the pipe E fitted with a stop valve F, and swing check valve b.
Third : A condenser or devaporator G (seen in elevation partly sectional in
Figure 1 and in plan in Figure 1A) comprising a vertical cylinder III into which the exhaust of the engine is discharged through a tube J leading to near the bottom of this cylinder so that the residual vapor may rise through liquid in this cylinder and pass on in the same manner through one or more similar cylinders H2 H3 H4 & c. arranged in series as shown or concentrically and finally
discharging upwards from the cylinder H8 into the reservoir or last cylinder I by a tube leading from the lower part to near the top thereof. The feedpump with- draws the supply for the generator from this liquid reservoir or last cylinder I.
The vertical cylinders H1 H' & c. or wash-bottles as they may be called, in which the vapour is progressively supersaturated or condensed are enclosed in a metal cylindrical or other suitable receiver K protected very thoroughly by a vacuum jacket and non-conducting material outside this so as to render it as little affected as possible by circumambient temperatures. As the liquid level tends to rise in each of the cylinders H1 H2 & c. owing to the absorption of vapor the liquid over- flows into the next following vessel of the series. From the liquid reservoir I a coil L leads and surrounds the cylinders or wash-bottles H1 H2 & c. and this coil, which is provided with a cock M to regulate the quantity of liquid passing through it, discharges above into the first cylinder or wash-bottle H1 so as to ensure refrigeration of the liquid in the condenser receiver and if necessary a suitable vacuum pump is driven by the engine in order to control the temperature of the devaporator. The first bottle H1 and reservoir I are fitted with pressure gauges and the reservoir with a glass gauge. Ll is a pipe connecting the coil L with the generator, either directly or through a pump; it provides for temporary circulation at starting with the effect of transferring gas and liquid from coil L to A whereby disturbance of equilibrium may be ensured.
Fourth : A suitable feed pump N run continuously drawing pure liquid by the pipe P from the liquid or feed reservoir I and discharging it into the generator A by the pipe P1 maintaining a definite level therein.
Thus we have a closed cycle and the only chance of leakage is through the stuffing-box or glands of the engine which may be made practically tight by using long stuffing boxes and suitable packing.
When this apparatus is to be used as an ice making or refrigerating apparatus the vapor generator A which will now act as the refrigerator is to be maintained at a low temperature and pressure according to the fluid to be used. In order to ensure this, a fifth element has to be added, viz.:a pump, circulating uncongealable hydro carbon oils or other suitable liquids through a series of jets to reduce the pressure and activate the volatization in the generator whilst passing the vapor on into a high pressure drum or receiver from which the tube supplying the engine springs.
Figure 2 illustrates the arrangement .when the apparatus is to be used for ice making or refrigerating. A is the vapor generator. B the engine, G the condenser or devaporator and N the feed pump as in Figure 1, Q is a pump which compresses an uncongealable liquid in the chamber R from which it passes through a series of jets at S where it meets the vapor flowing through the pipe C from the generator A.
The vapor and liquid flow through the pipe T to the pump and are pumped into the chamber R from which the vapor passes to the dome or receiver U whence the engine B draws its supply. V is a flap valve in the pipe C. W is a coil between the compression chamber R and jet devices at S to prevent back pressure.
X and Xl are stop valves respectively between the compression chamber R and the dome U and between this dome and the engine B. Y is a drainage pipe with cock between the dome and the chamber R. Z is a drainage pipe from the compression chamber.
With this arrangement the pressure in the generator or refrigerator of an anhydrous ammonia machine may be maintained at 20 to 25 tbs. whilst the vapour is being compressed in the drum U up to 100 tbs. pressure or more. The drum may be heated should such compression of the gas liquefy it without superheating it, for by the method of condensation all heat of compression is avoided.
Thus we obtain an ice machine based on the expansion of a vapour .and its liquefaction in a compound engine combined with final absorption of the residual vapor by the liquid in the condenser. This feature of maintaining a constant high level of say liquefied anhydrous ammonia in the devaporator as well,as in the generator is a distinctive feature of this process of artificial refrigeration eliminating thereby the enormous volumes of condensing water used in all other machines.
For all practical purposes the ammonia, engines constituting the main part of the freezing machine run without fuel at the temperature of the bodies to be cooled.
That this is quite feasible in practice is shown by the pressures for confined ammonia vapor at the temperatures required for ice making say 15 Fahrenheit or -94 Centigrade.
The vapor generator of the ice machine may consist of a number of coil9 connected by manifolds in the usual way, submerged in the uncongealable liquid of an ice mould tank or an independent refrigerator with circulating dome and internal shield or tubes.
It is obvious from the foregoing description that one of my motors may be developing useful work to operate machinery in a factory or for other purpose and at the same time supply ice, the water to be frozen furnishing the means of raising the pressure and temperature in the vapor drum before described.
It is for this reason that the two forms of apparatus may be regarded as inseparable in practical work and based on the dual feature of liquefaction being obtained by expansion instead of by compression and invaporation in the fluid imprisoned in the condenser.
It is not essential -however in the case of the refrigerating apparatus that the engine should form part of the cycle as the vapor may go direct from the dome or receiver U under the action of the pump N to the devaporator, the pumps in such case being driven by any available power. This practically constitutes a vapor freezing machine in which gas is condensed without heat of compression.
Under certain circumstances, as for instance in using carbon dioxide, it may be advantageous to charge the condensers with a hydro carbon oil or other suitable menstruum to be maintained by the action of the machine at a low temperature so as to favor devaporation...