Air-cooled steam condenser

An efficient air-cooled steam condenser which suppresses backflow and inhibits the formation of ice therein, comprising:

• an inlet for steam, an inlet manifold connected at the lower end to said steam inlet for receiving and dispensing the steam, an outlet manifold spaced from said inlet manifold for collecting condensate from the steam at the bottom thereof, and a conduit connected to the top of said outlet manifold on the side of the condenser opposite that of the steam inlet for venting the uncondensed gases, said manifolds positioned at an incline and parallel to one another so that the condensate flows downwardly in said outlet manifold and the uncondensed gases flow upwardly in said outlet manifold, thereby condensing any uncondensed residual steam in the outlet manifold,
• an air blower positioned below said manifolds for blowing a cooling air stream upwardly and through the space between said manifolds, and
• a bundle of parallel, horizontal heat exchange tubes in the space between said manifolds, wherein each tube is a coil including three convolutions arranged horizontally and parallel to one another in consecutive rows relative to the direction of the cooling air stream and having a slope in the direction of said outlet manifold, and wherein each tube is connected to said inlet manifold by the convolution thereof which is the first to be contacted by said cooling air stream and to said outlet manifold by the convolution thereof which is the last to be contacted by the cooling air stream.