Method of boosting the efficiency of removing noncondensable gases from vapors
AssigneeElectric Power Research Institute, Inc.
InventorGarrett E. Pack
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Abstract
A method is provided for high-efficiency removal of noncondensable gases (NCG) from geothermal steam. The present method is directed to an improvement for the treatment of geothermal steam to remove most of the residual NCG that would otherwise still be present in clean steam treated by NCG-removal methods of the prior art. In addition to the geothermal application and a preferred configuration, other applications and configurations are described and claimed.
Claims31
In a method for removing noncondensable gases from a vapor comprising the step of bringing said vapor as incoming vapor into a condensing zone of heat exchanging means into countercurrent heat exchange relationship with a liquid,
- whereby noncondensable gases are separated from said vapor as said vapor forms a condensate;
- the improvement comprising the steps of (1) continuously conducting said condensate into a stripping means whereby said condensate and residual noncondensable gases contained therein are separated through exposure of said condensate to vapor having a lower concentration of noncondensable gases than vapor in contact with said condensate when formed in said condensing zone;
- and
- (2) vaporizing at least a portion of the condensate from said stripping means to form vapor essentially free of noncondensable gases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.