CA1080055A - Air-cooled surface condenser - Google Patents

Air-cooled surface condenser

Info

Publication number
CA1080055A
CA1080055A CA306,533A CA306533A CA1080055A CA 1080055 A CA1080055 A CA 1080055A CA 306533 A CA306533 A CA 306533A CA 1080055 A CA1080055 A CA 1080055A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
heat exchange
elements
exchange elements
film
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA306,533A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Axel E. Rosenblad
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rosenblad Corp
Original Assignee
Rosenblad Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rosenblad Corp filed Critical Rosenblad Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1080055A publication Critical patent/CA1080055A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28BSTEAM OR VAPOUR CONDENSERS
    • F28B1/00Condensers in which the steam or vapour is separate from the cooling medium by walls, e.g. surface condenser
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28DHEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D5/00Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, using the cooling effect of natural or forced evaporation
    • F28D5/02Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, using the cooling effect of natural or forced evaporation in which the evaporating medium flows in a continuous film or trickles freely over the conduits

Abstract

AIR-COOLED SURFACE CONDENSER

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A falling film heat exchanger of the plate type has spaced heat exchange elements. Vapor enters the elements and after condensation therein by heat exchange with liquid flow-ing as a film on the outer surfaces of the elements, condensate is discharged from the bottoms of the elements. The coolant liquid is itself evaporatively cooled by a flow of cooling air passing outside the heat exchange elements, within a casing that encloses the elements. The cooling air may even be warmer than the coolant liquid so long as the air is not saturated.
The heat exchange elements themselves can be arranged mutually parallel or in radial array, and the directions of flow of vapor and cooling air can be concurrent or counter current, with either or both of these media flowing upwards or downwards.

Description

`1 163\8~C~55 BAC~GROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention The invention relates to ralling film heat exchangers and more partiFularly to plate-type falling film condensers.

~iscussion of the Prior Art Plate-type falling film heat exchangers are highly e~fective and are widely used in various industrles. Heat exchangers of this type have been disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 3,332,469; 3,3Sl,ll9; 3,366,158 and 3,371,709.
Heat exchange elements made up of pairs of plates secured to-gether around their edges and having opposed dimples to streng-, . ~ . .
then the element against deformation are described in UnitedStates Patent No. 3,512,239 which discloses a method o~ making such elements.
Falling film heat exchangers are used as evaporators to ~aporize liquid flowing as a ~ilm or as condensers to liquiy steam or other vapo~ by the transfer of hea~ therefrom to a falling liquid film. In an evaporator the heating of the liquid is the desired result. In a condenser the heating of the li~uid is an unavoidable con~equence of the transfer of heat from the condensing vapor. The heating of the coolant liquid in conden-.
sers an,d the consequent loss of its ability to cool has been tolerated in the past.
.
, . . .

:' ' .
,~ , ' ' . ~
'' .
108~055 SUMM~RY OF THE I~VENTION

The present invention is directed to improving theper~ormance of falling film condensers by providing means for cooling the flowing film of liquid. While the falling film is accepting heat transferred frbm the vapor being condensed with-in a heat exchange element, the liquid is itsel~ evaporatively cooled ,by the flow of cooling air past the outer surfa~e o~ the liquid. Thus the falling film of liquid acts as a heat exchange medium for ~he vapor being condensed, and ~he air flowing past the alli~g film acts as a heat exchange medium to cool the li~uid, A plurality o spaced parallel heat e~change elements are arranged within a housing. Each heat exchange e}ement is formed of a pair of'spaced, flat plates joined at their peri- -. .
pheries. The,heat exchange elements have top openings connec-ted to a header conduit for the entry or exit of vapor and .
, ha~e bottom openings connected to a pipe for discharge of con- ' densate. In a modified embodiment of the inven~ion, the hea~ -' exchange elemen~s are arranged radially; that is upright heat , exchange elements extend out~Jard like spokes of a wheel.
, ~n the parallel plate arrangement, caoling liquid enters the housing through a pipe which leads to an overflow . ~
:~ box within a distribution box spaced above the heat exchange elemen~s. ~en liquld fills the box it overflows onto a perfor-ated pla~e which distributes the liquid evenly over the hea~
,'' exchanger elements to form the downward running film on the element surfaces~ An outlet for the liquid is provided at the lower end of the housing or casing.
. I . .
. ', . . .

` :

, ,... ..

- - ) ~08~C)55 Near the bottom of the housing there can be a port for the admission of cooling air, which encounters the coolant liquid as the liguid falls as a shower from the lower ends of the heat exchange elements, thereby cooling the liquid. The air then will pass upward between the heat exchange elements in countercurrent 10w to the coolant liquid, and the warmer saturated air will leave the housing at a poin~ above the tops of the heat exchange elements.
Alternatively, the coolant air ca~ be introduced ~hrough the sides of the housing, either near the bot~om or near the top to flow countercurrently ox concurrently with the coolan~ l~quid.
Non-condensed vapor, including noncondensible gases, can be vented from the inerior spaces o~ the heat exchange elements along with the aondensate, or se~arately. If the gases .
are to be vented along with the condensate, the vapor to ~e con-densed is introduced thxough an upper header conduit. If the vent ~ases are to be separated from the condensate, the vapor to be condensed is admitted to the interior spaces of the heat-ing elements through a bottom header which connects to the botttoms o~ the elements, or near their bottoms, to pass upward in countercurrent flow to the coolant liquid, and the non-conden-sed gases are vented through a header near the element tops.
It is contemplated that ~he most common use of the , sys~em of the in~ention will be in the condensation of s~eam, using water as the coolant liquid and air as the coolant for the water, but clearly other gases and liquids can be condensed and used as coolants. When steam contains noxious constituents, the separate venting o~ non-condensed gases containlng such noxious substances pçrmits recovexy o~ cleaner discharged condensate and facilitates su~sequent treatement o~ the vent gases.
' , :

~L08~0~iS

As in the case o the parallel heat exchange elements, the radial arrangement of heat exchange elements permits flow of the vapor, coolant liquid, and cooling air in any permutation of countercurrent and concurrent flows, though it is contemplat-ed that the coolant liquid will always flow downward over the heat exchange surfaces of the elements as a falling film.
In some applications of the invention it is desirable to employ a fan to force the flow of cooling air pa.t the heat exchange elements in contact with the coolan~ liquicl flowing down the heat excha~ge surfaces.
Advantageous arrangements for the distribution o coolant liquid to ~all as a thin film down the heat exchange element suraces in condensers according to ~he invention are dPscribed as being of a pipe or ~lat perorated plate-type.
These and othèr.applications and advantages of the system of the present invention will be more ully unders~ood from the following detailed description of preferred embodi-ments, especially when that description is read with reference to the accompanying drawing.

.
~ Brief DescriPtion of the Drawin~
. - , In the drawing, in which like reference characters -indicate like parts throughout:
Fig. 1 shows a side cut away view of a condenser system according to the invention with a bot~om side air inlet, bottom s-ide vapor inlet and top side air outlet.
Fig. 2 is an end cu~ away view taken pexpendicular to the view of the condenser of Fig. I~

.

: , .
- - S -' ., " ' .

~0~055 Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. l of a condenser system like that of Figs. 1 and 2 except that the side air inlet is located above the bottoms of the heat exchange elements.
Fig. 4 is an end cut away view of the system of Fig. 3 taken perpendicular to the view of Fig. 3.
Fig. S is an isometric view of part ~ the system according to any one of Figs. ~-4 with some parts broken away to show interna} struc$ure.
Fig.-6 is a side cut away view of a condenser sy-~tem according to ~he invention with a cooling air exit at ~he top of the ~ys~am and a pipe dis~ribu~ion arrangement ~or coolant li~uid.
Fig. 7 is an end cut away view o the system o Fig. 6 taken perpendicular to the ~iew of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is an isometric view of part of the system of Figs. 6 and 7 with the housing o~itted.
Fig. 9 is a side cut away view o a condenser system with heat exchange elements arranged radially and having a top side vapor inlet and a bottom header for condensate and vent gases which are led out respectively at the bottom and top o~ -the system.
Fig. lO is a top view o~ the radial sys~em of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a side cut away view of a radial condenser system with a perforated plate distribution arrangement for coolant liquid and a bottom side vapor inlet arrangement.
Fig. 12 is a detail view showing a pipe system of coolant liquid distribution for exit o~ cooling air at the top of the system.

.

108~1055 Fig. 13 is a detail view of a per~orated plate system o~ distribution of coolant li~uid for use in systems according to the invention wherein air exits at the side of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED E~ODI~IENTS
~ . .

The several figures of the drawing illustrate pre-sently preferred embodimen~s of a pla~e heat exchanger o~ the falli~g film type particularly effective for the condensing of steam.. Arrows in the drawing figures show inlets fo~ steam.and cooling air and cooling water as well as outlet~ for vent gases, condensa~e and water. Thus in Figs. 1 and 2, steam to be con-den~ed enters at the lower part o~ the system, and cooling air also ls admitted at the lower part, whereas vent gases and air exit near the top and condensate is withdrawn ~rom the bottom part o the system~ The arrangement of Figsl. 6 and 7 difers .in that steam to be condensed enters near the top of the system and condensate and ~ent gases are drawn off ~ogether near the .
bctttom; that i9, steam and cooling water are in parallel flow.
Each.~exsion of the system has its own advantages. The term "steam" as used throughout this discussion is u.sed generally as a synonym for the word "vapor", but it should be understood that vapor other than water ~apor could be condensed in accordance with the invention.
Referring now more particularly to the embodimen~
illu~trated in Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the condenser apparatus generally designated 10 comprises a plurality of spaced,.parallel vertically oriented heat exchange elements 11, cach o~ which elements is composed of a pair of spaced parallel broad plates 12 secured to~ether around the. p~ate peripneries as !

. - 7 - .

) ~8~055 by welding or other means to form enclos~d spaces within the elements 11. The heating elements ll are enclosed in a casing generally designated 14, having side walls 15 and end walls 16.
The heat exchange elements 11 can be of the type described in my prior U. S. pa~ent No. 3,512,239, which dis-closes a method of manufacturing such elements.
The heat exchange elements ll occupy the central por-tion of the space within the casing 14. Above the heat ~xchange elements 11 are means for introducing cooling water (or other cooling liquid) to flow down the ver~ical surfaces of the plates 12 as a thin film. For this purpose there is a per~'orated tray 18 within the upper portion of the casing, an open-topped box 19 ~paced abov~ the tray 18 and a water inlet pipe 20 passing ~hrough the casing wall 16 for delivery of cooling water.
~ he co~ling water is ed to the box 19 and over~lows ~ . . . ................................ .
out o the open top of the box l9 to distribute water to the perorated tray 18 more evenly than if the water simply poured out of the pipe 20 on to the tray 18. The water then 1aws through the perfora~ed tray to distribute i~self over the sur-faces ~ the plates 12 and runs down the plates 12 as a thin fiXm under the influence of gravity~ The water falls from the lower ends of the heat exchange elements ll as a shower. The lowest part of the casing 14 has inwardly and d~wnwardly curved walls 23 to collect the cooling water and ending at an outlet nozzle 24 for exit of ~he used water.
~ s shown in Fig. 1 there is an inlPt 25 for cooling air-through ~he curved bottom wall 23 of the casing 14. Upon entry the cooling air passes ~hrough the showe~ of water falling from the element 11 and then passes upwards between the elements ll in countercurrent flow to the direc~ion of 10w of the fall-, .

-- '` 1 1)8~1~SS
.

ing water film. Of course the elements 11 are spaced apart by a sufficient distance for free flow of the water film and cool-ing air. Having traversed the vertical length of the elements 11, the cooling air, carrying some evaporated water, exits.
through.the conduit 26 that passes through the casing wall 16 below the water distribution tray 18 near.the top~ends of the elements ll.
Having described the casing 14 outside the heat ex-change elements 11, the flow in the.interibr spaces of ~he elements ll, where condensation occurs, will be considered.
In the embodim,ent o.f Figs. 1 and 2, steam enters the interior o~ the heat exchange.elements 11 at the bottom o~ each element 11, through a bot~om header generally.de~ignat'ed by the reference numeral 27 on ~he opposite side o the casing 14 from the air i~let 25~ The term "side"'is used in this description and in the claims to mean the side walls 15 specifically and also more generally to mean.all o~ the vertlcal wal,ls lS and.l6 .
o~ the casing as dist~nguished from the bottom or top-o the 'system., This bottom header 27 is fed with steam by a pipe 28 and distributea the steam ~hrough a series o~'slot-like openings 29 to the interior spaces o~ the heat exchange elements 11 as shown ~est in Fig. 5, showing how the~e is a g~nerally Uee-shaped.
opening at the lower edge of each element 11 where the plates 12 ' thereo~ are not sealed together as they are elsewhere around , ,; their peripheries. The elements 11 have simi~lar opened edge por-,, tions at 30 at their upper corners, opening on to an upper header . .
,~ 31 leading to ~h.e vent exhaust conduît 32. Steam accordingly ., travels upwards in the in~erior spaces formed wi.thi.n the elements ~ ~ 11. .

. .

: ' ' ' ' , .
: . _ g _ ) 1C~8~55 The header 31 can be diagonally opposite from the location of the header 27, that i~, these headers could open on to diagonally opposite corners of the elements 11, instead of being on the same side of the elemen1:s 11 as shown in Figs.
1 and 2.
The hot steam, rising within the elements 11, is condansed (or cooled and condensed if superheated? by heat exchange through the plates 12 with the cooling water flowing ;
down the outer surfaces of the plates 12. As the steam con-denses on the inner surfaces of the plates 12, condensate runs , down those ~urfaces. There is, of course, su~ficient open space between the opposed inner plate surfaces to allow upward passaae of steam whil~ the condensate flows downward.
. Vapor, plus some non-condensible gases that entered : .. with the steam, are discharged through the upper header 31 ., , - .
and exhaust conduit 32 for such further treatment as may be , necessary ox desira~le. The condensate is removed ~rom the.
bottoms of the elements 11.
The tran~verse bottom header 27 also sexves as a drainage pipe for withdrawal o~ the condensate and is shown to ha~e a portion extending below the bottoms of the elements 11.
For condensate drainage the header 27 is connected to an up-standing pipe section.35 that extends downward away from the `-~
casing 14 as shown in Figs. 1 a~d 5. The condensate exits to .the header 27 throug~ ~he steam entry slots 29.
It will be understood that the heat los~ by the steam in the condensation thereof is gained by the water of the fall- -ing film on the outer surfaces of the pla~es 12. Some water ~, . will evaporate to be carried off through the conduit 26. Thus ; the air entering at the lower paxt of the h~using serves to cool ., .

-- 10 -- .

the water e~fectively, and to increase the ability of the water to cool and condense steam within the e:Lements 11. The water temperature will vary along the height of the plates 12 a~d will be related to the humidity of the cooling air. Thus the water will be cooler at the bottom of the elements 11 when there is a bottom air inlet as in Figs. 1 and 2, since the air near the top o~ the elements 11 will ~e almost saturated in such a system.
The condenser system shown in Figs. 3 and i is basic-ally similar to ~hat shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and indeed the illustration of Fig. 5 can ~e taken as a partial isometric view o the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4. The only di~eren~e between the embodiment o Figs. 3 and 4 and that of Figs. 1 and 2 is that the air inlet duct 25a of ~he embodiment of ~igs. 3 and 4 is adjacent the lower ends of the elements 11 rather than below the ends of the elements 11, reducing the overall height of the condenser and accordingly requiring less energy ~o~ pumping water to the top of the system. In the arrangement of Figs. 3 and 4 the air entering at 25a does not meet a spray of cooling water as it does in Figs. 1 and 2, so there is some 1QSS in heat transfer ability, which can be com-pensated by using more heat exchange elements 11.
The isometric illustration of Fig. 5 shows that the bottom header 27 is large enough to permit counter flow of steam entering through the nozzle 28 and condensate exiting ~rom the interior spaces of the elements 11 through the steam entry openings 29 to leave the system via the drain pipe 35.
Fig. 5 also shows the cooling water distribution system in somewhat greater detail than the preceding figuxes. It can be seen that the flat distributlon tray 18 has a plurality of .

108~55 holes 40 arranged in parallel lines above the centerlines of the heat exchange elements ll. The holes 40 are shown as cir-cular, and can be formed by drilling, but rectangular holes also work well, are less sensitive to misalignment and can be pu~ched inexpensively with standard dies. It will also be seen that the overflow box l9 preferably has cutou~s 41 in i~s 4pstanding walls for distribution of water to the holes 40 when the water from the pipe 20 overflows ~hrough the cutouts 41.
The condenser system generally desig~ated 50 in Fig~.
6 and 7 of the drawings differs signi~icantly from the system of Figs. 1-5 in that heated cooling air exits at the top of the sys~em rather than through the side as in Figs. 1-4~ The system of Figs. 6 and 7 has a casing 54 with generally vertical walls 5~ and 56 and a curved bottom wall area 53 for leading used , . .
cooling water to an outlet nozæle 54, similar to equivalent parts of the system o Figs. 1-5. Unlike the embodiment of Figs. l-S, however, steam is not admitted at the bottom, but rather near the to~ of the apparatus, ~o flow generally downward while being condensed.
. As show.n in Figs. 5 and 6, cooling air is ~ed into ~he system through an opening 57 which can be alongside the lower .
ends of heat exchange elemen~s 51 like the opening 25a of Fig. 3 or below the bottoms. of the heat exchange elements 51 as in the ~mbodiment af Fig. l.to take advantage of the cooling effect of passage of the air through a spray of water falling from the heat exchange elements 51.
The hea~ exchange elements 51 of the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7 are generally similar to ~he elemen~s ll of Figs.
1-5, being formed of pairs of plates joined about their peri-pheries to pro~ide an enclosed space for condensa~.ic~n of s~eam .

1~8V05S

within the elements 51 and exterior surfaces for the flow of coolant liquid as a falling film. However, the only opening near the bottom of each element 51 is an opening on to a header 58 for the escape of vent gases and condensate through the header 58 to a vent nozzle 59 and a condensate drain pipe 60 respectively as shown also in Fig. 8.
The feed of steam to be condensed to the interiors of the heat exchange elements 51 is by way of a header 62 connected tG steam.inlet pipe 63. The header 62 and its open-ings into the elements 51 are.similar in structure to the header 27 described in conjunctian with the embadiment o~ Figs.
1-5, except that the header 62 is positioned a~ the upper ends of the elements 51 to feed in steam only at the top of each element Sl.
Thus, in the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7, the steam passes downward through the elements Sl, flowing in the same direction as the water film on the outside of each element 51.
As in the embodiment previously described, the exchange of heat from the steam to the thin film of water condenses steam inside each element Sl, and the condensate collects on the inner plate surfaces of the elements Sl. The condensate runs down inside the elements 51 and exits at the bottom through the hcader 58 and pipe 60. In this case, however, the noncon-densible substances and any uncondensed steam also exit t~rough the header 58, passing out.through the vent conduit 59.
The system of Figs. 6 and 7 is similar to the other embodiments praviously described in that the coolin~ effect of air is employed. Externally of the elements 51 or 11 the same processes occur in both embodiments of this invention. The air introduced through the bottom wall 53 of the casing at 57 ~08~3~55 evaporatively cools the water it encounters in moving upwards in countercurrent flow to the falling water. When the air stream leaves the system through the system it will have in- -creased the cooling capa~ility of the water by itself cooling the water.
Since the arrangement of Figs. 6 and 7 provides or the exit of cooling air through the ~op of the apparatus ra~her than at the side as in the previously discussed embodiments, - the perforated plate system of distribution of cooling wa~er is not employed, since such an arrangement would not permit ~ree passage of the air. ~n the ar~angement o Figs. 6 and 7, in-stead of a perforated plate, a series of perforated pipes 65 overlie ~he upper edges o the heat e~change elements 51~ Cool-ing water enters through a manifold 66 whence it is evenly dis-tribu~ed to all of the pipes 65. The cooling water then runs ;;i through spaced holes 67 of the pipes 65 to form a film running down the exterior surfaces of the elemen~s 51. Using this method ~or dis~ribution of coolant liquid, air passes freely out of the top o~ the condenser system 50. A slow speed, high volume fan 68 having a hub 69, blades 70 and driven by an electric motor 71 connected by a drive shaft 72 to a gear box 73 is prefera~ly employed to pull air upward through and out of the condenser system. The top o the condenser system 50 is preferably formed as an upwardly widening diffusor outlet at 74 to enhance air J~ ~low.
. :
The drive motor 71 is shown outside the difusor out-let 74 to protect the~motor from moisture carried by the exhaust-ed air, which has evaporated some of the wa~er it has cooled in passing up through the condenser.

.'~

'' ' ' ' l~L

~ 3055 It should be noted that in the embodiment of Figs.
6 and 7 the steam inlet is at the side near the upper ends o~
the heat exchange elements 51 for parallel flow of steam and cooling water instead of the countercurrent flow directions for steam and water as shown in Figs. 1-5. However, variations on both embodLments are possible for any permutation of directions of flow of air, water and steam, provided that the coolant - water flows downward as a falling film. This flexibility of the system allows the user to adjust to almost any design re-quirements while keeping the basic structural elements of the system essentially unchanged. Thus the steam inlet ~o the in-teriors of the heat exchange elements can be at the element sides either a~ their tops or bottoms, or at the bottom edge o the element, the aix outlet can be at the side nQar the top, or through the top as in Figs. 6 and 7, or the air can be ~ed .
downwards through the system parallel to the flow of cooling .
water to exit at or near the bottom of the condenser. In any of these arrangements a fan aan be used to force the flow of air through the system if de~ired.
i . . .
Fig. 8, like Fig. 5, shows what can be called an "element package", that is, a par~ially assembled condenser system which can be shipped to a user and then installed within a casin~. The apparatus shown in Fig. 8 i5 basically similar to what has been discussed in conjunction wi~h Figs. 6 and 7, except for the location of the motor at 71a, shown in Fig. 8 as mounted on the steam header 62. This is intended to illus-trate that the motor 71 can be positioned anywhere in the ~lane of the fan drive shaft 72 for ease of maintenance and to fit design requirements. It can also be seen that the water dis-.

. ) lQ80~55 tribution manifold 66 is shown to be significantly larger in cross sectional area than the water di~tribution pipes 65 leading therefrom, to assure a uniform distribution of cooling water to all of the several pipes 65.
The embodiments of Figs. 9, lV and 11 depart ~rom the parallel heat exchange element structure-o~ the previously described embodiments, while individually quite like the elements 11 and 51 already described, are arranged in a radial configuration.
Like the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7, the apparatus shown in Figs. 9 and 10 provides for the exit o~ cooling air fro~ the top o~ the system. The conaenser of Fig~. 9 and 10, generally designated by the reference numeral 80, has a plural-ity of heat exchange elements 81 formed by pairs of rectangular plates joined togethér around their peripheries like the heat ex~ange elements 11 and 51 already described. The casing 82 of the condenser system 80 i9 generally cylindrical, with a downwardly concave disk like floor 83 having a central drain 84 for the discharge of coolant wa~er which has passed over ~he heat exchange element 81 as a ~alling ~ilm.
Wi~hin the casinq 8~, the upright heat exchange elements 81 are in a radially extending array, equally arcuately spaced lik~ the spokes of a wheel.
.
Steam is introduced into the interior spaces within i the heat exchange elements 81 through a steam inlet 85 connected . .
to a steam header 86 extending around the circumference o~ the casing 82 near the tops o~ the heat exchange element 81, which have openings on to the header 86 like the steam inlet openings 29 shown in Fig. 5. The steam condensed within the heat exchange :' ' `; ' ' .

~8~055 .
elements 81 by heat transfer to the cooling water, and the . vent gases not condensed, exit from the ~elements 81 into a common central chamber 87 opening on to the lower inside edges of the elements 81. A condensate drain pipe 89 leads from the center of the chamber 81 downward and out of the casing 8~ as shown at 90 in Fig. 9. An upwardly extending conduit 91 leads ...
vent gases from the central chamber 87 to a point above the tops of the elements 81 and thence generally horizontally out of the casing to a vent outlet 92. The vent outlet conduit ~1, 92 does pass across the area through which cooling ai.r flows up-ward, bUt because of the,relatively small dimensions of the con-duit, the interference with air fLow is minimal.
The cooling air enters fro~ the sides below the array of heat exchange elements 81 as shown by ~he openings 93 to , contact the water streaming off the heat exchange surfaces 81 :
.in a manner similar to that of the embodimen~ of Figs. 1 and 2, and the air then passes upward, cooling the falling water film , by evaporati.on. A large ~an 95 operating at low speed with high volume action draws the cooling air upward to a space enclosed by the generally slightly conicaL diffusor wall 96. The fan 95 hag a hub 97 and blades 98 as shown in ~igs. 9 and 10.
Separating the central area o~ the condenser system 80 fxom the area through which air and wa~er flow between and over : the heat exchange elements is an upstanding cylindrical wall 99 which prevents the cooling air from entering the central part of the system, so that the cooling air must flow between the heat exchange.elements 81.
Since the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 has air exiting ;~ at the top, the distribution system for cooling water must not: ' . .

.... .

~080055 block air flow. Accordingly, coolant water enters through an inlet 101 to a circular coolant water manifold 102 located in-wardly at the upper end of the barrier wall 99, and the water is distributed to the surfaces of the heat exchange elements by a plurality of perforated pipes 103, one pipe 103 being arranged above the upper edge of each element 81 in a manner .
generally similar to that illustratea in the parallel plate arrangement of Figs. Ç and 7.
- - After ~lowing over the elements 81 the cooling water falls as a spray into the collectiQn area defined by the bottom wall 83, meeting the incoming air. It will be notecl that the .
condensate drain pipe 89 is exposed to the incoming cooling air, which ~urther cools the condensate therein. If desired, the pipe 89 could be ~inned to enhance cooling of the aondensate. ' It will be noted that in the radial arrangement of Figs. 9 and 10, the distance between adjacent heat exchange elements 81 increases with the distance from ~he vertical i centerline o~ the condenser 80 because the elements 81 are themselves of substantially uniform thickness throughout their widths ~rom inner to outer edge. ~owever, the diferencè in air velocity between the inner and outer edges o~ the heat exchange elements is nct signi~icant in a large condenser system according to this emdodiment of the invention.
.
Like the system of Figs. 9 and 10,-the embodiment of Fig. 11 has a radial array of heat exchange elements 111 formed by pairs of rectangular plates joined around theix edge~. The system of Fig. 11 has a cylindrical outer casing 112, a dish-like water collecting bottom wall 113 and a coolant water dis-charge outlet 114. Unlike the radial arrangement o~ Figs. 9 and 10, the condenser o Fig. 11 has a bottom si.de stream inlet arrangement, with steam to be condensed entering ~:hrough the ~.

~08~(~55 inlet 115 and passing through an annular bot~om steam header 116 to the interiors of the plurality of heat exchange elements 111 in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 1-5. Condensate formed within the heat exchange elements 111 exits to the steam inlet header 116 and is discharged through pipe~ 117. Noncon-densible and vent gases leave the interior spaces of the heat exchange elements 111 through a circumferential header 118 which communicates with openings at the upper outside edgPs of the elements 111 like the header 31 of Fig. S.
The cooLing water distribution sy~tem of the embodiment of Fig. 11 is similar to that of Figs. 1-5 adapted to ~he radial arrangement of heat exchange elements 111. There is an annular , per~orated plate lL9 arranged above the top~ of the heat exchange elements lLl to deliver a uniorm flow o water ~o the element~
surfaces through per~oration~ 120. Water is distribu~ed to the perorated plate from a ring-shaped overflow box 121 generally similax to the over~low box 19 of the embodime~ts of Figs. 1-5 except that the box 121 has an annular form. Water is fed to ; the overflow box 12L through inlet nozzles 122.
The cooling water ouerflows cutouts ~not shown in Fig.
11) o~ the box 121 on to the perforated plate 119 whence it ~alls out holes 120 aligned with the heat exchange elements 111.

The cooling water then flows down the ~ull length of the elements i .
111 and drops in the form of a shower to be collected in the sump formed by the floor 113 whence it exits through the drain 114.
Cooling air enters through the ducts 125 below the elements 111 where it encounters the shower o~ water. The air is then drawn up between the elements 111, cooling the water by euaporation. An inner cylindrical walL 126 extending upward .

' 19 .

~8~55 most of the height of the elements 111 ends below the tops of the eiements 111, allowing the air to ~e drawn radially inward and upward by the fan 127 as shown by the arrows in the draw-ing, to be exhausted to the atmosphere through the diffuser 128.
It will be seen that the inner wall 126 encloses a compartment for a motor 129 that dri~es the fan 127 through drive shaft 130. Support structure for-the fan 127 is shown at 131. A manhole 132 and ladder 133 allow personnel to enter within the inner wall 126 for inspection and maintenanca. i-The radial embodiments of the invention of Figs. 9 can have one or more air inlets, condensate and vent outlets, etc. It should also be noted tha~, as in the other embodiment 0~ the invention steam can be ed into the heat exchange elements at or near their bot~oms, through the sides or at the top of the elements, and air and cooling water can flow concurrently or . .
countercurrently, although not all of the permutations have been illustxated in ~he drawings.
Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the two pre~erred types of water distribution, as well as-details of the heat exchang~r elements, identified by number 11 in these drawing figures.
~he e~ements 11 are formed of two generally rectangular plates 12 usually of steelj welded together at their edges as shown a~
the top edge, and spo~ welded a~ spaced locations 141, and ~an be made in accordance with my prior United States patent ~o.
3,512,23g or U.S. patent No. 3,736,783. In Fig. 12, the pipe P, which could be the pipe 103 of Fig. 9 or 65 of Figs. 6-8 has spaced holes ~or distributing wa~er fxom the pipe in~erior to-the top edge L40 of the element 11 whence the water spreads it-sel evenly to fall as a film. The spaced dimples foxmed by the . .
" , ' ' ' ' .
., . ., ~.

.. , .. :. . .

) .
spot welds 141 prevent channelling o the water flow down the plates of the element 11.
In Fig. 13, the perforated distribution plate D has holes ~or the discharge of cooling watex to the element 11 as in the embodiments o Figs. 1-5 and 11.
It should also be understood.that the condensate, vent gases and noncondensibles discharged from the conden~er can be subjected to further treatment as desired, and the cool-ing water discharged can be reused.
Numerous variations, modifications and adaptations of the condensex system ~ccording to the invention, such as, for example use with other media than air and water, will suggest themselves to those acquainted with heat exchange technology, and are considered to be within the spirit and scope o the invention.
.
'~ , ' . ' .,. ' .

' . , .

' , , .

.. . - 21 -

Claims (13)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A falling film heat exchanger comprising: a casing, a plurality of plate heat exchange elements having generally vertical surfaces within said casing, each of said plate heat exchange elements comprising a pair of spaced, sub-stantially flat plates joined at their peripheries and each said element having a bottom inlet for vapor and a top outlet for vent gases vertically spaced from said inlet by most of the vertical height of the element, header means for introducing vapor to be condensed into said elements comprising a transverse header opening on to the bottom inlet of each of said elements at or near the bottom of each element; header means for discharging condensate from said elements; and transverse header means communicating with an upper end of each element for withdrawing vent and non-condensible gases from said elements; means for dis-tributing coolant liquid on to said generally vertical element surfaces to flow as a falling film thereon; and means for passing a stream of cooling air around said heat exchange elements within said casing and encountering said falling film to cool the coolant liquid.
2. An improved method for condensing vapor in a falling film heat exchanger comprising introducing vapor to be condensed into bottom portions of interior spaces of falling film heat exchange elements having generally vertical surfaces, causing the vapor to be condensed to flow upwards in a generally vertical direction within said heat exchange elements, causing coolant liquid to flow as a falling film down said external surfaces to cool and condense the vapor within said interior spaces, causing air to flow in contact with the film to cool the liquid of the film, and with-drawing vent and noncondensible gases through a transverse header from upper portions of said interior spaces
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the air is unsaturated with the liquid of the film and cooling of the film is by evaporation.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the air flows counter-current to the direction of flow of the film.
5. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of spaced heat exchange elements, each said element including a pair of spaced, upright plates joined together at the plate peripheries, a housing enclosing said heat exchange elements, bottom inlet means for introducing steam into the spaces enclosed between said pairs of plates to flow upwards there-between, means for distributing water to flow as a thin film down the exterior surfaces of said plates for the exhange of heat from the steam to the water film through the plates, means for passing a stream of cooling air upwards through said housing from an inlet at or near the bottom of said housing to an air outlet above the heat exchange elements so that the flow of air countercurrent to the flow of the film of water serves to cool the water film by evaporation, an outlet for condensate at or near the bottom of each element, and an outlet for vent gases at or near the top of each element.
6. The heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein the means for dis-tributing water comprises a perforated horizontal plate spaced above the heat exchange elements, having perforations arranged in rows aligned with the elements for distribution of water to form the film.
7. The heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein the housing has generally vertical side walls, and inwardly slanting lower side walls terminating in a bottom outlet for the discharge of water, an inlet for the cooling air through the side wall below the heat exchange elements so that the cooling air flows upwards along the entire height of the heat exchange elements.
8. The heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein said heat exchange elements are in spaced, generally parallel relationship.
9. The heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein said heat exchange elements are radially arranged and equally arcuately spaced apart, said housing being generally cylindrical.
10. The heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein the means for distributing water includes a perforated plate having holes aligned with upper edges of the heat exchange elements.
11. The heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein the means for distributing water comprises a plurality of pipes aligned with upper edges of the heat exchange elements, said pipes having spaced holes for distributing water to said plates.
12. The heat exchanger of claim 5 and including a fan for forcing said stream of air through said housing.
13. The falling film evaporator of claim 1 wherein said means for passing a stream of cooling air is disposed so that said cooling air flows countercurrently with respect to the falling film.
CA306,533A 1977-06-30 1978-06-29 Air-cooled surface condenser Expired CA1080055A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US81161577A 1977-06-30 1977-06-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1080055A true CA1080055A (en) 1980-06-24

Family

ID=25207051

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA306,533A Expired CA1080055A (en) 1977-06-30 1978-06-29 Air-cooled surface condenser

Country Status (11)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5417551A (en)
AT (1) AT361952B (en)
BR (1) BR7804117A (en)
CA (1) CA1080055A (en)
DE (1) DE2828942C2 (en)
FI (1) FI69513C (en)
FR (1) FR2396258B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2000584B (en)
IT (1) IT1106606B (en)
NO (1) NO145589C (en)
SE (1) SE7807371L (en)

Families Citing this family (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2495742B1 (en) * 1980-12-09 1986-03-28 Moreau Christian AIR REFRESHING APPARATUS
JPS58205084A (en) * 1982-05-26 1983-11-29 Hitachi Ltd Thin film evaporating type heat exchanger
JP2654012B2 (en) * 1987-05-06 1997-09-17 キヤノン株式会社 Electron emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
JP2654013B2 (en) * 1987-05-06 1997-09-17 キヤノン株式会社 Electron emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
JP2645708B2 (en) * 1987-08-26 1997-08-25 キヤノン株式会社 Electron-emitting device
JP2627622B2 (en) * 1987-08-26 1997-07-09 キヤノン株式会社 Electron-emitting device
JP2623738B2 (en) * 1988-08-08 1997-06-25 松下電器産業株式会社 Image display device
US5053673A (en) * 1988-10-17 1991-10-01 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Field emission cathodes and method of manufacture thereof
JP2615490B2 (en) * 1989-01-13 1997-05-28 松下電器産業株式会社 Planar type cold cathode and manufacturing method thereof
US5170092A (en) * 1989-05-19 1992-12-08 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Electron-emitting device and process for making the same
DE69026353T2 (en) * 1989-12-19 1996-11-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Field emission device and method of manufacturing the same
ES2093547B1 (en) * 1993-06-17 1997-07-01 Facal Fernandez Ricardo Jesus EVAPORATIVE PLATE CONDENSER, APPLICABLE IN REFRIGERATION INSTALLATIONS IN GENERAL.
ES2189674B1 (en) * 2001-11-12 2004-05-16 Ho-Hsin Wu HIGH PERFORMANCE HEAT CHANGER.
RU2569118C1 (en) * 2014-07-07 2015-11-20 Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Сибирский государственный технологический университет" (СибГТУ) Plate-type film heat exchanger
DE102014119227A1 (en) 2014-12-19 2016-06-23 Benteler Automobiltechnik Gmbh Exhaust gas heat exchanger
USD777945S1 (en) * 2015-06-23 2017-01-31 Arktura, Llc Architectural ceiling fixture module
CN106732209B (en) * 2017-01-24 2023-01-20 江苏德邦工程有限公司 Boiling type isothermal reactor and isothermal control process

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE134119C (en) *
DE268501C (en) *
DE374920C (en) * 1921-02-12 1923-05-03 Hugh Reid Pipe condenser arranged in groups with staggered rows of pipes and repeated supply of spray water to the cooling air
US1809914A (en) * 1927-05-02 1931-06-16 James M Seymour Vertical tubular condenser
CH209013A (en) * 1937-08-11 1940-03-15 Guarini Emilio Apparatus for performing heat exchanges between a liquid and a gas stream.
FR839815A (en) * 1937-08-11 1939-04-13 New water and air cooler that adheres to water and other liquids sliding on vertical surfaces and in vertical counterflow of air
US3366158A (en) * 1966-05-12 1968-01-30 Rosenblad Corp Falling film evaporator
US3332469A (en) * 1966-09-13 1967-07-25 Rosenblad Corp Falling film type heat exchanger
US3572010A (en) * 1969-08-04 1971-03-23 Duke Inc Vapor control apparatus
FR2134231B1 (en) * 1971-04-28 1974-03-22 Jacir Joseph
JPS53110147A (en) * 1977-03-07 1978-09-26 Hisaka Works Ltd Gas cooler

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT361952B (en) 1981-04-10
IT1106606B (en) 1985-11-11
GB2000584A (en) 1979-01-10
FR2396258B1 (en) 1985-09-20
FI69513B (en) 1985-10-31
DE2828942A1 (en) 1979-01-04
GB2000584B (en) 1982-01-13
JPS5417551A (en) 1979-02-08
NO145589B (en) 1982-01-11
IT7850122A0 (en) 1978-06-30
ATA473878A (en) 1980-09-15
FI69513C (en) 1986-02-10
FI782066A (en) 1978-12-31
SE7807371L (en) 1978-12-31
NO145589C (en) 1982-04-21
FR2396258A1 (en) 1979-01-26
BR7804117A (en) 1979-01-16
NO782210L (en) 1979-01-03
DE2828942C2 (en) 1982-10-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA1080055A (en) Air-cooled surface condenser
US4969507A (en) Integral blow down concentrator with air-cooled surface condenser
US3834133A (en) Direct contact condenser having an air removal system
EP1409120B1 (en) Evaporative cooler
EP0738861B1 (en) Method of exchanging heat and heat exchange apparatus with a direct heat exchange section and an indirect heat exchange section
US4216002A (en) Selective condensation process and condenser apparatus
US5246541A (en) Evaporator for liquid solutions
US3351119A (en) Falling film type heat exchanger
GB2085142A (en) Universal trouble light
EP0284208A1 (en) Gas liquid tower structure
US2939685A (en) Condenser deaerator
CA1150643A (en) Liquid-vapor separation device and method
US20090126912A1 (en) Steam Condenser With Two-Pass Tube Nest Layout
US3784171A (en) Evaporative heat exchange apparatus
US4878535A (en) Selective condensation apparatus
US3442494A (en) Evaporative heat exchange apparatus
US3391911A (en) Mixing condensers
US5259928A (en) Apparatus for evaporation of liquid solutions
GB2039019A (en) Surface condensers
US4774033A (en) Gas liquid tower structure
US4386946A (en) Water cooling tower including a suction fan
RU2047071C1 (en) Steam-turbine condensing unit
US3501382A (en) Distillation-condenser with vertically disaligned tubes
US2916260A (en) Condenser deaerator
JPS592837B2 (en) Method for selectively condensing steam contaminated with volatile substances and apparatus for carrying out the method

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry