Steam generating apparatus and methods

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising heat exchange means for placing a liquid in heat exchange relation with a source of heat to promote boiling of said liquid, collecting means in association with said heat exchange means for receiving heated liquid from the latter and collecting the vapor resulting from boiling of said liquid, liquid feed means for pressurizing liquid from a low pressure source thereof and for delivering a flow of said pressurized liquid to said heat exchange means, and means for recirculating liquid from said collecting means to said heat exchange means in response to said flow of pressurized liquid, said apparatus further includes a sensor responsive to a liquid level in said collecting means to produce a signal, means defining a liquid flow path from said collecting means to said low pressure liquid source, and valve means opening and closing said liquid flow path in response to said signal thereby to limit the liquid level in said collecting means, wherein said liquid feed means draws liquid from said low pressure liquid source via a jet pump for delivery to said heat exchange means, said liquid flow path including a branch upstream of said valve means which communicates with a high pressure inlet of said jet pump, whereby pressurized liquid flow from said collecting means to said liquid feed means via said jet pump entrains liquid from said low pressure liquid source and flows therewith to said liquid feed means.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said liquid feed means has a substantially constant speed of operation and a liquid flow rate therethrough which is inversely dependent upon fluid pressure in said collecting means.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein said liquid feed means includes a centrifugal type rotaty pump.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes another heat exchange means interposed both between said liquid feed means and said heat exchange means and in said liquid flow path upstream of said valve means for transferring heat energy therebetween.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes a vapor utilizing device receiving a flow of vapor from said collecting means.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 wherein said vapor utilizing device comprises a fluid turbine.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6 wherein said fluid turbine includes a continuously open fixed-area nozzle assembly controlling the fluid flow rate through said turbine in direct dependence upon the fluid pressure differential thereacross.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 7 wherein said fluid turbine exhausts vapor to a condenser associated with said low pressure liquid source, liquid condensed from said vapor flowing from said condenser to said low pressure liquid source.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 8 wherein said jet pump includes control means for adjusting the flow rate of liquid from said collecting means to said liquid feed means as a function of the fluid pressure in said collecting means.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 9 wherein said control means includes means defining a liquid flow aperture communcicating in liquid flow series with said high pressure inlet of said jet pump, and means for reducing the effective liquid flow area defined at said aperture in dependence upon the fluid pressure within said collecting means.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 10 wherein said valve element includes a conical portion movable into and out of said liquid flow aperture to vary the effective liquid flow area defined thereat.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 wherein said reducing means includes a valve element movable into said aperture so as to reduce the effective liquid flow area defined thereat, and means for moving said valve element.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 12 wherein said moving means includes structure defining a resilient variable-volume chamber operatively associated with said valve element, resilient means biasing said valve element to a first position wherein the latter is substantially removed from said liquid flow aperture, and liquid flow path means exposing said structure to fluid pressure within said collecting means, said fluid pressure collapsing said variable-volume chamber in opposition to said resilient means to move said valve element into said liquid flow aperture to a second position, said valve element in said second position thereof reducing said effective flow area of said aperture in dependence upon said fluid pressure level.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 13 wherein said resilient variable-volume chamber is substantially evacuated.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 13 wherein said resilient variable volume chamber is substantially defined by a pair of coannular bellows members.

Claim 17

In a steam generator comprising a boiler with steam receptacle means receiving both pressurized liquid and vapor for substantially separating same, the method of controlling the liquid level within said steam receptacle means comprising the steps of: utilizing a dynamic liquid pressure generating pump to supply pressurized liquid from a relatively low pressure source to said boiler; utilizing a flow-restricting orifice between said dynamic pump and said boiler to regulate the liquid flow rate to the latter; sensing said liquid level within said steam receptacle; and draining liquid from said steam receptacle to said low pressure source in response to said sensed liquid level; utilizing pump means responsive to said supply of pressurized liquid from said dynamic pump to said boiler for recirculating liquid from said steam receptacle means through the remainder of said boiler; utilizing a jet pump to define said pump means; utilizing a nozzle of said jet pump to define said flow-restricting orifice; employing said jet pump nozzle to form said supply of pressurized liquid into a relatively high velocity liquid jet; utilizing said liquid jet entrain liquid from said steam receptacle for recirculating same through the remainder of said boiler; conserving thermal energy carried from said steam receptacle toward said low pressure source by liquid draining from the former toward the latter by transferring said thermal energy to said supply of pressurized liquid; and conserving pressure energy carried from said steam receptacle toward said low pressure source by liquid draining from the former toward the latter by using said pressure energy to induce liquid flow from said low pressure source to said dynamic pump.

Claim 18

In a steam generator comprising a boiler with steam receptacle means receiving both pressurized liquid and vapor for substantially separating same, the method of controlling the liquid level within said steam receptacle means comprising the steps of: utilizing a dynamic liquid pressure generating pump to supply pressurized liquid from a relatively low pressure source to said boiler; utilizing a flow-restricting orifice between said dynamic pump and said boiler to regulate the liquid flow rate to the latter; sensing said liquid level within said steam receptacle; and draining liquid from said steam receptacle to said low pressure source in response to said sensed liquid level; utilizing pump means responsive to said supply of pressurized liquid from said dynamic pump to said boiler for recirculating liquid from said steam receptacle means through the remainder of said boiler; utilizing a jet pump to define said pump means; utilizing a nozzle of said jet pump to define said flow-restricting orifice; employing said jet pump nozzle to form said supply of pressurized liquid into a relatively high velocity liquid jet; utilizing said liquid jet entrain liquid from said steam receptacle for recirculating same through the remainder of said boiler; conserving thermal energy carried from said steam receptacle toward said low pressure source by liquid draining from the former toward the latter by transferring said thermal energy to said supply of pressurized liquid; and conserving pressure energy carried from said steam receptacle toward said low pressure source by liquid draining from the former toward the latter by using said pressure energy to induce liquid flow from said low pressure source to said dynamic pump.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 wherein said step of conserving pressure energy includes the steps of forming pressurized liquid draining from said steam recepticle toward said low pressure source into an other relatively high velocity liquid jet, and utilizing said other high velocity liquid jet to entrain and pressurize liquid from said low pressure source for delivery to said dynamic pump.

Claim 20

The method of claim 17 further including the step of adjusting said other high velocity liquid jet in response to the vapor pressure level within said steam recepticle means.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17 including the step of utilizing a jet type pump interposed between said low pressure source and said dynamic pump to form said other high velocity liquid jet and to entrain liquid from said low pressure source with said other liquid jet.

Claim 22

In a apparatus having heat exchange means for placing a liquid in heat exchange relation with a heat source, collecting means in association with said heat exchange means for receiving heated liquid therefrom and collecting the vapors resulting from boiling of said liquid, and liquid feed pump means for pressurizing liquid from a relatively low pressure source thereof and for delivering a flow of said pressurized liquid to said heat exchange means, the method of providing for recirculation of heated liquid from said collecting means to said heat exchange means, said method comprising the steps of: utilizing a circulating pump capable of being powered by a flow of pressurized liquid; providing for said circulating pump to receive liquid from said collecting means and to discharge said liquid to said heat exchange means; and utilizing said flow of pressurized liquid from said feed pump means to power said circulating pump; further including the steps of: using two pumps in liquid flow series to substantially define said liquid feed pump means, one of said two pumps including a substantially constant speed dynamic pump whose fluid flow rate is inversely dependent upon the fluid pressure differental thereacross, the other of said two pumps including a jet pump having an inlet receiving a first flow of liquid from said low pressure source, said jet pump also including a high pressure inlet receiving a second flow of liquid from said collecting means and an outlet delivering said first and said second flows together to said dynamic pump; and adjusting the flow rate of said second flow in dependence upon the fluid pressure level within said collecting means thereby to adjust the flow rate of said first flow.

Claim 23

In a apparatus having heat exchange means for placing a liquid in heat exchange relation with a heat source, collecting means in association with said heat exchange means for receiving heated liquid therefrom and collecting the vapors resulting from boiling of said liquid, and liquid feed pump means for pressurizing liquid from a relatively low pressure source thereof and for delivering a flow of said pressurized liquid to said heat exchange means, the method of providing for recirculation of heated liquid from said collecting means to said heat exchange means, said method comprising the steps of: utilizing a circulating pump capable of being powered by a flow of pressurized liquid; providing for said circulating pump to receive liquid from said collecting means and to discharge said liquid to said heat exchange means; and utilizing said flow of pressurized liquid from said feed pump means to power said circulating pump; further including the steps of: using two pumps in liquid flow series to substantially define said liquid feed pump means, one of said two pumps including a substantially constant speed dynamic pump whose fluid flow rate is inversely dependent upon the fluid pressure differental thereacross, the other of said two pumps including a jet pump having an inlet receiving a first flow of liquid from said low pressure source, said jet pump also including a high pressure inlet receiving a second flow of liquid from said collecting means and an outlet delivering said first and said second flows together to said dynamic pump; and adjusting the flow rate of said second flow in dependence upon the fluid pressure level within said collecting means thereby to adjust the flow rate of said first flow.

Claim 24

In an apparatus having a boiler with a steam drum, and a liquid feed pump providing a flow of pressurized liquid to said boiler, the method of providing liquid recirculation within said boiler comprising the step of using said flow of pressurized liquid to power liquid recirculation from said steam drum through the remainder of said boiler and back to said steam drum; utilizing a jet type pump to induce said liquid recirculation; utilizing said flow of pressurized liquid to power said jet type pump; and utilizing as said liquid feed pump a dynamic type pressure generating pump inherently providing a flow rate of said pressurized liquid flow to said boiler which varies inversely according to the liquid pressure differential across said pump.

Claim 25

In an apparatus having a boiler with a steam drum, and a liquid feed pump providing a flow of pressurized liquid to said boiler, the method of providing liquid recirculation within said boiler comprising the step of using said flow of pressurized liquid to power liquid recirculation from said steam drum through the remainder of said boiler and back to said steam drum; utilizing a jet type pump to induce said liquid recirculation; utilizing said flow of pressurized liquid to power said jet type pump; and utilizing as said liquid feed pump a dynamic type pressure generating pump inherently providing a flow rate of said pressurized liquid flow to said boiler which varies inversely according to the liquid pressure differential across said pump.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21 including the step of directing said flow of pressurized liquid through a nozzle of said jet type pump, said nozzle inherently limiting said pressurized liquid flow rate directly according to the liquid pressure differential across said nozzle.

Claim 27

The method of claim 22 further including the step of sensing the liquid level within said steam drum, and draining excess liquid from said steam drum in response to said sensed liquid level.

Claim 28

The method of claim 23 including the step of utilizing a portion of said excess liquid from said steam drum to induce liquid flow from a relatively low pressure source thereof to said dynamic liquid feed pump.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 including the step of flowing said portion of said excess liquid through a jet type pump to induce said liquid flow from said low pressure source to said dynamic liquid feed pump.

Claim 30

The method of claim 25 including the further step of adjusting said portion of excess liquid in response to fluid pressure within said steam drum.

Claim 31

A steam generating apparatus including a jet pump defining an inlet receiving a first flow of liquid from a low pressure source thereof, a high pressure inlet receiving a second flow of liquid from a pressurized steam drum of said apparatus, and an outlet discharging said first and said second flows together to a liquid feed pump, said liquid feed pump supplying said first and said second liquid flows pressurized to a boiler portion of said apparatus, said apparatus further including valve means controlling said second liquid flow in dependence upon the fluid pressure level within said steam drum.

Claim 32

A steam generating apparatus including a jet pump defining an inlet receiving a first flow of liquid from a low pressure source thereof, a high pressure inlet receiving a second flow of liquid from a pressurized steam drum of said apparatus, and an outlet discharging said first and said second flows together to a liquid feed pump, said liquid feed pump supplying said first and said second liquid flows pressurized to a boiler portion of said apparatus, said apparatus further including valve means controlling said second liquid flow in dependence upon the fluid pressure level within said steam drum.

Claim 33

A steam generating apparatus according to claim 27 further including a steam turbine receiving a flow of pressurized vapor from said steam drum, said steam engine including a continuously open fixed-area nozzle assembly through which said vapor flows.

Claim 34

The invention of claim 28 wherein said nozzle assembly operates as a choked nozzle at all differential steam pressures thereacross which exceed a relatively low value.

Claim 35

The invention of claim 27 further including a liquid level sensor operatively associated with said steam drum to produce an output signal in response to a liquid level within the latter, and a valve controlling liquid flow from said steam drum to said low pressure liquid source in dependence upon said sensor output signal.

Claim 36

The invention of claim 30 wherein said output signal produced by said liquid level sensor is of a step function, on-off type.

Claim 37

The invention of claim 31 wherein said liquid level sensor produces said output signal whenever the liquid level within said steam drum reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 38

The invention of claim 30 wherein both said sensor and associated valve are of the step function, on-off type.

Claim 39

The invention of claim 27 wherein said valve means is disposed within said jet pump.

Claim 40

The invention of claim 34 wherein said valve means includes a member defining a nozzle of said jet pump, said nozzle having a nozzle aperture defining an effective liquid flow area through which flows said second liquid flow, said valve means further including a valve element movable relative to said nozzle aperture to adjust the effective liquid flow area defined thereat.

Claim 41

The invention of claim 35 wherein said valve means further includes means defining a resilient variable-volume chamber operatively coupled with said valve element, resilient means biasing said valve element to a first position wherein said effective liquid flow area is a maximum value, and flow path means exposing said variable-volume chamber substantially to fluid pressure within said steam drum.

Claim 42

The invention of claim 36 wherein said variable volume chamber is annular and is defined by the cooperation of a pair of coannular resilient bellows members.

Claim 43

The invention of claim 37 wherein said valve element is carried by an elongate movable stem member, said stem member also carrying a first transverse radial flange, said valve means also including a second transverse radial flange spaced axially from said first flange, said pair of bellows members extending axially between and sealingly coupling with said first and said second radial flanges.

Claim 44

The invention of claim 38 wherein said stem member further carries a transverse radial spring seat, said valve means defining a third radial flange, and said resilient means comprising a coil spring extending between said spring seat and said third radial flange.

Claim 45

The invention of claim 39 wherein said valve means comprises a streamlined body disposed within said jet pump and within said nozzle member between the high pressure inlet of the former and the nozzle aperture of the latter; said streamlined body housing said valve element, said variable-volume chamber, and said resilient means.

Claim 46

The invention of claim 40 wherein said streamlined body is supported within said jet pump by a plurality of struts extending therebetween.

Claim 47

A vapor pressure engine comprising: a boiler having an inlet and an outlet and being substantially filled with pressurized liquid, said boiler placing said pressurized liquid in heat exchange relation with a source of heat; a vapor drum communicating with said boiler outlet to receive a mixed flow of heated liquid and the saturated vapor resulting from boiling of said liquid, said heated liquid filling said vapor drum to a determinate level and the remainder to said steam drum being filled with said vapor; a super heater receiving a first flow of saturated vapor from said vapor drum, said super heater placing said first flow of vapor in heat exchange relation with said source of heat to convert said saturated vapor to superheated vapor; a fluid pressure operated motor receiving said first flow of superheated vapor and producing shaft power by expansion of said vapor to a relatively low pressure and temperature, said motor including a substantially continuously open fixed-area nozzle assembly controlling the fluid flow rate of said first flow directly according to the fluid pressure in said steam drum; a condenser receiving said first flow of vapor from said motor, said condenser placing said vapor in heat exchange relation with a heat absorber to condense said expanded vapor to liquid; a liquid well receiving said liquid from said condenser; a first jet pump receiving a second flow of liquid from said liquid well and a third flow of pressurized liquid from said vapor drum for admixture with said second liquid flow to increase the pressure thereof, said mixed second and third liquid flows forming a fourth pressurized liquid flow; control means in association with said first jet pump for controlling the flow rate of said second and third liquid flows as a function of fluid pressure in said vapor drum; a dynamic liquid pump having a substantially constant speed of operation and receiving said fourth liquid flow to increase the pressure thereof to a level greater than the fluid pressure in said vapor drum, the flow rate of said fourth liquid flow through said dynamic pump inherently being inversely related to the fluid pressure differential across the latter; and a second jet pump receiving a fifth flow of heated and pressurized liquid from said vapor drum and receiving said fourth liquid flow for admixture with said fifth liquid flow to increase the pressure thereof, said mixed fourth and fifth liquid flows forming a sixth liquid flow at a fluid pressure higher than that in said vapor drum, said second jet pump communicating said sixth liquid flow to said boiler inlet.

Claim 48

A vapor pressure engine comprising: a boiler having an inlet and an outlet and being substantially filled with pressurized liquid, said boiler placing said pressurized liquid in heat exchange relation with a source of heat; a vapor drum communicating with said boiler outlet to receive a mixed flow of heated liquid and the saturated vapor resulting from boiling of said liquid, said heated liquid filling said vapor drum to a determinate level and the remainder to said steam drum being filled with said vapor; a super heater receiving a first flow of saturated vapor from said vapor drum, said super heater placing said first flow of vapor in heat exchange relation with said source of heat to convert said saturated vapor to superheated vapor; a fluid pressure operated motor receiving said first flow of superheated vapor and producing shaft power by expansion of said vapor to a relatively low pressure and temperature, said motor including a substantially continuously open fixed-area nozzle assembly controlling the fluid flow rate of said first flow directly according to the fluid pressure in said steam drum; a condenser receiving said first flow of vapor from said motor, said condenser placing said vapor in heat exchange relation with a heat absorber to condense said expanded vapor to liquid; a liquid well receiving said liquid from said condenser; a first jet pump receiving a second flow of liquid from said liquid well and a third flow of pressurized liquid from said vapor drum for admixture with said second liquid flow to increase the pressure thereof, said mixed second and third liquid flows forming a fourth pressurized liquid flow; control means in association with said first jet pump for controlling the flow rate of said second and third liquid flows as a function of fluid pressure in said vapor drum; a dynamic liquid pump having a substantially constant speed of operation and receiving said fourth liquid flow to increase the pressure thereof to a level greater than the fluid pressure in said vapor drum, the flow rate of said fourth liquid flow through said dynamic pump inherently being inversely related to the fluid pressure differential across the latter; and a second jet pump receiving a fifth flow of heated and pressurized liquid from said vapor drum and receiving said fourth liquid flow for admixture with said fifth liquid flow to increase the pressure thereof, said mixed fourth and fifth liquid flows forming a sixth liquid flow at a fluid pressure higher than that in said vapor drum, said second jet pump communicating said sixth liquid flow to said boiler inlet.

Claim 49

The invention of claim 42 wherein said control means includes a valve element movable in response to the fluid pressure level within said vapor drum to adjust said third liquid flow rate to thereby adjust said second liquid flow rate.

Claim 50

The invention of claim 43 wherein said control means includes means for defining a resilient variable-volume chamber operatively connected with said valve element, and flow path means for exposing said chamber defining means substantially to fluid pressure within said vapor drum to move said valve element in response thereto.

Claim 51

The invention of claim 44 wherein said first jet pump includes said control means.

Claim 52

The invention of claim 45 wherein said control means defines a nozzle member of said frrst jet pump, said nozzle member defining a nozzle aperture through which flows said third liquid flow, said valve element moving relative to said nozzle aperture to control the flow rate of said third liquid flow.

Claim 53

The invention of claim 46 wherein said first jet pump defines an inlet leading to a chamber and receiving therein said second liquid flow, said nozzle member directing said third flow across said chamber as a high velocity jet directed toward an outlet of said first jet pump, said high velocity jet entraining said second liquid flow and flowing therewith from said outlet.

Claim 54

The invention of claim 47 wherein said first jet pump further defines a high pressure inlet receiving said third liquid flow, said control means being disposed within said high pressure inlet.

Claim 55

The invention of claim 48 wherein said first jet pump includes a streamlined body disposed within said high pressure inlet and housing said control means.

Claim 56

The invention of claim 42 wherein said dynamic liquid pump is of the centrifugal type.