GB1493045A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

1493045 Air cooled heat exchangers LUMMUS CO 28 Jan 1975 [28 Jan 1974] 3758/75 Heading F4S In an air cooled heat exchanger for condensing steam or other vapour including a main condensing section comprising U-tubes 13 having upstream legs 12a, 14a and downstream legs legs 12b, 14b and a secondary condensing section similarly comprising U-tubes 21 having upstream legs 20a, 22a and downstream legs 20b, 22b and serving to condense vapour not condensed in the main section, the downstream legs of the main section are connected to the upstream legs of the secondary section via condensate collecting manifolds 16 and 18, and the downstream legs of the secondary section terminate in collecting manifolds 24 and 26. Vapour to be condensed is supplied to the upstream legs 12a, 14a of the main condensing section through an inlet manifold 10 and condensate is drained from the manifolds 16, 18, 24, 26 by a collector 36 and drainpipe 38. Uncondensed vapour and uncondensible gases are removed from the heat exhanger through tubes 30 and 32 which are connected to the manifolds 24 and 26 and arranged perpendicular to the flow of vapour and condensate in the U-tubes. Alternatively the condensate and uncondensed gases can be removed via a common outlet 42 connected to the manifolds 24 and 26, as shown in Fig. 2. Vapour to be condensed can either be introduced into the upper, Fig. 1, or lower, Fig. 1, end of the inlet manifold 10. In use cooling air provided by a fan 40 is arranged to flow firstly over the upstream legs 12a, 14a and then over the downstream legs 12b, 14b of both the main and secondary condensing sections. Baffles 28 may be provided, to assist air distribution to the secondary condenser section. The U-tubes may be arranged horizontally but are preferably sloped to permit drainage of condensate by gravity.