US 4,071,586 A · Variable orifice desuperheater

Abstract

An automatically regulated variable orifice desuperheater valve is disclosed which includes improved constructional features providing for a more compact installation then heretofore, one which is more reliable in operation and which is at the same time more economical to construct. The desuperheater unit has a welded-closed housing, which includes a concentrically mounted valve guide structure. The lower portion of the desuperheater valve housing structure is arranged so that, after the unit is welded closed, with the valve guide structure contained therein, the valve element may be inserted into the housing from the bottom or inlet opening, followed by a shouldered sleeve which functions as the valve seat. The sleeve is seated against a facing shoulder in the inlet opening of the valve housing, and is secured against such shoulder by appropriate means such as welding. The housing surrounding the valve and valve guide is of minimum height, sufficient to accommodate the flow of steam and injected water around the valve and valve guide, and quickly converges the flow of materials back to the diameter of the main piping systems. The construction of the new device is more rugged and compact than previous designs, significantly less costly to construct, and at the same time superior in performance.

Claims11

Dependent claims

In a variable orifice steam desuperheater unit adapted for in-line operation in conjunction with steam piping upstream and downstream therefrom and of the type comprising

a. upper and lower housing sections joined together to form a mixing chamber of enlarged diameter relative to the upstream and downstream piping,
b. said joined housing sections being adapted for connection to said upstream and downstream piping,
c. an orifice plate fixed in said lower housing and forming therewith an annular water injection chamber provided with an annular atomizing orifice,
d. said water inlet chamber being adapted for connection to water inlet piping, to supply water to said orifice,
e. an axially disposed valve guide structure mounted on the downstream side of said orifice plate,
f. a generally cylindrical valve plug slideably received in said guide structure, and
g. annular means forming a valve seat for cooperation with said valve plug in the region of said atomizing orifice, the improvement characterized by,
h. said lower housing being of unitary construction and extending from a region substantially below said orifice to a region substantially above said orifice,
i. said upper and lower housings being secured together by an annular housing weld in the general region of said valve and valve guide structure,
j. said lower housing having an inlet opening sufficiently large to accommodate axial insertion of said valve plug through said inlet opening and into said valve guide structure,
k. said inlet opening being adapted for connection with the upstream steam piping,
l. said annular means comprising a sleeve-like insert adapted for upward axial telescopic insertion into said inlet opening after insertion of said valve plug and being fixedly secured therein below said valve plug,
m. said sleeve-like insert forming an annular valve seat for cooperation with said valve plug.

10 more elements

In a variable orifice steam desuperheater unit adapted for in-line operation in conjunction with steam piping upstream and downstream therefrom and of the type comprising

a. upper and lower housing sections joined together to form a mixing chamber of enlarged diameter relative to the upstream and downstream piping,
b. said joined housing sections being adapted for connection to said upstream and downstream piping,
c. an orifice plate fixed in said lower housing and forming therewith an annular water injection chamber provided with an annular atomizing orifice,
d. said water inlet chamber being adapted for connection to water inlet piping, to supply water to said orifice,
e. an axially disposed valve guide structure mounted on the downstream side of said orifice plate,
f. a generally cylindrical valve plug slideably received in said valve guide structure, and
g. annular means forming a valve seat for cooperation with said valve plug in the region of said atomizing orifice, the improvement characterized by
h. said lower housing being of unitary construction and extending from a region substantially below said orifice to a region substantially above said orifice,
i. said upper and lower housings being secured together by an annular housing weld in the general region of said valve and valve guide structure,
j. said lower housing having an inlet opening sufficiently large to accommodate axial insertion of said valve plug through said inlet opening and through said orifice and into said valve guide structure on the downstream side of said orifice plate,
k. said inlet opening being adapted for connection with the upstream steam piping,
l. said annular means comprising a sleeve-like insert adapted for upward axial telescopic insertion into said inlet opening after insertion of said valve plug and being fixedly secured therein below said valve plug,
m. said sleeve-like insert forming an annular valve seat at its upper end for cooperation with said valve plug,
n. said upper housing being of a configuration to constrict the internal diameter of said housing substantially to the diameter of the downstream piping substantially immediately above the upper end of said valve guide structure.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable orifice desuperheater

Life of this patent

Variable orifice desuperheater

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11