Vapor condensing apparatus

A tube bundle, comprising a main portion including a pair of parallel rows of tubes over which air is caused to pass successively, an inlet header for introducing steam into one end of the tubes of the main portion, an outlet header having a first section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes at only one row of the main portion, and a second section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the other row of the main portion, and means for draining condensate from each section of the outlet header while isolating the pressure therein from that within the other, and a vent portion including a pair of vent tubes, each vent tube connecting at one end with one outlet header section and extending within one of the rows of tubes of the main portion for connection at its opposite end to an individual pipe near the inlet header.

Apparatus for condensing steam or other vapor which contains non-condensibles such as air at a pressure near or below atmospheric, comprising a housing having an opening through which air is caused to flow, a tube bundle comprising a main condenser portion including a pair of parallel rows of tubes arranged successively in the path of the air flow, the tubes of each row extending in a direction relative to the direction of air flow such that the velocity gradient profile of the air is substantially the same over the lengths of each of them, an inlet header for introducing steam into one of the tubes of the main portion, an outlet header having a first section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only one row of the main portion, and a second section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the other row of the main portion, and means for draining condensate from each section of the outlet header while isolating the pressure therein from that within the other, and a vent portion including a pair of vent tubes, each vent tube connecting at one end with one outlet header section and extending within one of the rows of tubes of the main portion for connection at its opposite end to an individual pipe near the inlet header.

A tube bundle, comprising a main portion including a pair of parallel rows of tubes over which air is caused to pass successively, an inlet header for introducing steam into one end of the tubes of the main portion, an outlet header having a first section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only one row of the main portion, and a second section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the other row of the main portion, and a vent portion including a pair of vent tubes, each vent tube connecting at one end with one outlet header section and extending within one of the rows of tubes of the main portion to a point near the inlet header.

A tube bundle, comprising a main portion including three parallel rows of tubes over which air is caused to pass successively, an inlet header for introducing steam into one end of the tubes of the main portion, an outlet header having a first section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the first row of the main portion to be contacted by the air, a second section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the second row of the main portion to be contacted by the air, and a third section connecting with the opposite ends of the tube of only the third row of the main portion to be contacted by the air, and a vent portion including a pair of vent tubes, each vent tube connecting at one end with one outlet header section and extending within said third row of tubes.

A tube bundle, comprising a main portion including four parallel rows of tubes over which air is caused to pass successively, an inlet header for introducing steam into one end of the tubes of the main portion, an outlet header having a first section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the first row of the main portion to be contacted by the air, and a second section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the second row of the main portion to be contacted by the air, a third section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the third row of the main portion to be contacted by the air, and a fourth section connecting with the opposite ends of the tubes of only the fourth row to be contacted by the air, and a vent portion including a pair of vent tubes, each vent tube connecting at one end with each outlet header section, the vent tube connecting with the first, second and third outlet header sections extending within the third row of the main portion, and the vent tube connecting with the fourth outlet header section extending within the fourth row of the main portion.

For use with apparatus for condensing steam or other vapor which contains non-condensibles such as air at a pressure near or below atmospheric, and which includes a condenser having a pair of parallel rows of tubes through which the vapor flows and over which air is caused to pass successively, an outlet header having a pair of sections each connecting with one end of the tubes of only one row, and means for draining condensate from each outlet header section while isolating the pressure therein from that within the other;

• improved equipment for removing uncondensed vapor and other non-condensibles from the outlet header sections, comprising a pair of separate pipes each connectible at one end with the opposite ends of the tubes of only one outlet header section, a first stage having means connectible with the other end of each pipe for suctioning the uncondensed vapor and other non-condensibles from the outlet header section and discharging them into a common line at a pressure intermediate said subatmospheric pressure and ambient pressure, and a second stage having means connectible with the common line for suctioning the uncondensed vapor and non-condensibles therefrom and discharging them to the atmosphere at a pressure above ambient.