In-tube fluid-channeling baffles for air-cooled vacuum steam condensers
OwnerMichael W. Larinoffinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for condensing steam, the device including a bundle of long heat-exchange tubes extending from first and lower header means to second and upper header means defining paths for the steam as it moves from the lower header means toward the upper header means and for effecting a flow of steam upwardly and a flow of steam condensate downwardly within the tubes, and new baffling installed inside some of the tubes of the bundle to channel and separate the upward bulk flow of stream and the downward bulk flow of condensate so as to prevent interaction between the two fluids that disrupts normal flow and heat transfer.
Claims14
For use in a steam powered system comprising a turbine for converting steam energy into mechanical energy upon expansion of steam therein, a boiler for generating steam to be fed to the turbine, and a conduit arrangement coupling the boiler to the turbine and then re-coupling the turbine exhaust to the boiler, the conduit arrangement including (1) a plurality of long heat-exchange tubes through which the expanded steam flows and is condensed;
- (2) a plurality of front, first headers at the lower ends of the condensing tubes for receiving exhaust steam of the turbine;
- (3) a plurality of rear, last headers, one for each condensing tube row at the higher ends of the condensing tubes for receiving non-condensible gasses;
- (4) means associated with the rear, last headers to remove non-condensible gasses from the tube ends, and (5) means within a part of the front length of some of the tubes to channel and thus separate the bulk flows of steam and condensate, said last mentioned means including apertures along the length thereof.
A device for condensing steam, the device including a bundle of long heat exchange tubes extending from first and lower header means to second and upper header means defining paths for the steam as it moves from the lower header means toward the upper header means and for effecting a flow of steam upwardly and a flow of steam condensate downwardly within the tubes, and baffling located within the tubes of the bundle to channel and thus separate the upward bulk flow of steam and the downward bulk flow of condensate, said baffling having aperture means along the length thereof.
Apparatus for controlling the flow of fluids, the apparatus including a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end positionable adjacent to a supply of condensible vapor material which is movable toward the second end, the tube having an interior surface upon which the vapor material condenses and flows downwardly and back toward the first end, the apparatus also including apertured baffle means located within the tube to channel and thus separate the flow of vapor material from the flow of condensate within the tube.
A device for condensing steam, the device including bundles of long heat exchange tubes extending from first and lower header means to second and upper header means defining paths for the steam as it moves from the lower header means toward the upper header means and for effecting a flow of steam upwardly and a flow of steam condensated downwardly through bottom channels within the tubes, and baffling with openings along the lengths thereof, the baffling located within selected tube rows of the bundle to remove most of the condensate continuously and immediately as it is formed on the inside walls of the condensing tubes by draining it directly by gravity flow past the openings of the baffles and into the bottom channels where the collective condensate flows in increasing amounts toward the steam source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.