US1796708A - Condenser - Google Patents

Description

J. F. GRACE March 17, 1931.

coNDENsER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

J HN F. GRACE.

/NVENTOR A TT RNEY J. F. GRACE March 1.7, 1931.

GONDENSER 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

ATTO NEY J. F. GRACE CONDENSER 7, 1929 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

JOHN F'. GRBCE.

`JVVEV'TOR ATT RNEY a 00 ooa oo ooo o 00 o o o oo hvo 00 0 080 000 0 0 00 00 00 0 o 0 o 0 00 0 o o o 0000 000 0 00 0000000000000000000000000 J. F. GRACE March 17, 1931.

CONDENSER 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

Jon N F.. GRGCE.

IN VEN TUR ATT NEY lei-51. u f

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STA TES" PATENT OFFICE GINIA RSEY, `AssIerNon ro wonTHINGToN PUMP EW YORK, N. Y., A CORPOBATION OF VIR- coNbENsER A plication fiied'nce'mber 7, 1929. seriau. 412,4s1.

This'invention relates to steam'con'densers of the surface typeiand the primary object of the invention isto which leakage of cooling water, circulated through the tuhesjof the condenser, into the steam chamber and its mixing` with the condensate will 'he prevented. i

In steam con densers, the temperature' of the tubes is 'constantly fluctuating and the difference between the -temperature of the tubes adjacent to 'the'steam inlet and those remote therefrom, of'a condenser Operating with a `varying load; is constantly fliictuating through a wide range.

In the present pure water power plant systenis where boil e'r feedwater is pu'rified and degasified hy deg asification etm, to eliminate to the greatest possible'extent; corrosi'on'and other detrimental actions on the *b0ile'r`tubes,

pumps, etc., it is highly desirable to `prevent the crculating cooling water,` which is not" .treated for the'tubes and mixng with the condensat'e,` as such mixing counterac'ts to a' certain ex purification,` from leaking from tent the action of the 'p'urif'ying' mechanism of the system. i

To overcome such leakage it is necessary to provide fluid tight connections between the tubes and the tube heads of the condenser; and in so doing cognzance must be taken of and compensation made for variances in the temperatur-es' in the codenser, varances in the expansion' and contraction relation of the tubes with the shell or casing` and tube heads of the condenser, and also difierences intemperatures locally within the condenser, whereby the tubes in one location in the con denser will he subjected to greater or lesser temperatures and temperature Variances than tubes in another part of the condenser.

The object of the present invention is 'to provide a condenser structure in which both ends of the tubes may be expanded into the tube heads to provide fluid tight connections and further to provide means for compen sating for or acconmodati'ng expansion and contracton'of the tubes undertemperature variances, and also' to accomm'odate unequal` expansion and contraction -of tubes located in various places within' the`condensr due provide a Condnser in to difl' erences in temperature; the' condenser.

The present invention more specifically comprises a steam condenser of the surface type in which the tubes having their ends expanded into the tube heads may bebowed locally within to permit accommodation of their expansion" and centi-action, and one in which one or moresupport plates, depending upon the size of the condenseretc., are mounted for movement ofsufiicent scope to allow for the expansion and contraction of the tubes.

With these and other objects in View as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists in` various features of Construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the'accompanying drawings, showing a condenser of the" preferred form asembodied in the present inventon, and the features forning the invention will be specifically pointed out in the clains.

In the drawingsFigure l is a Vertical cross-section through a stcam condenser constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the condenser taken onthe line 2`-2 of Figur-el.

F igure 3 is a detail section through the condenser taken on the line of Figure `l.` F gure 4 s a fragmcntary section infplan niatic views in plan' illustratingvarious ari rangements ofthe prefcrred and modified forms of the support plates and condenser structures. I i

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a 'Steam condenser of the surface type is illustrated embodying a shell 1 having the water boxes 2 and 3 located at each end of the shell and including the tube heads 4. Water circulating tuhes 5 of approved construction have their ends eXpanded into the tube heads 4 as shown at 6 in Figure 4: of the drawings. The tuhes 5 serve to circulate cooling water through the condenser for the purpose of condensing eXhaust steam whichenters the shell l through the eXhaust steam inlet 7 and they have their ends eXpanded into the tube heads to provide fluid tight oints and prevent the' leakage of the circulating-water into thesteam or condensing space within the condenser shell. r

Owing to the fact that condensers of this type operate under fiuctuating loads and tem- Jerature variances, the temperatures, to

` which the tubes 5 are subjected, vary causing expansion and contraction of the tubes If no provision were .madeto accommodatesuch expansion and contraction of the tubes, the fluid tight joints formed by the expanding of the tube ends into the tube heads would he ruptured resulting in considerable leakage of the cooling water into the condenser, however, in the present invention the tubes 5 are bowed as shown at 8 so as to accommodate their eXpansion and contraction by permitting suhstantially lateral movement of i the bowed portions of the tubes, without rupturing their connection with the tube heads. As clearly indicated in the diagrammatic ures 9 tolinclusive thetuhes 5 on one sidezof the longitudinal center ofthe condensershell 1 are bowed in one direction while the tuhes upon the other or opposite side ofthe long'- tudinal center of the condenser are oppositely bowed, thus causing 'eXpansion of the tuhestowards the shell while their contraction will be towards the longitudinal center of the condenser shell. i V i i Insurface condensers such as areused in the present type of power plants the tubes 5 are of such length in proportion to their diameter that it is necessary to provide support plates for the tuhes between the tube heads, to prevent sagging of the tuhes and to maintain them in their proper positions to insure eicient operation of the condenser.

Vith the tuhes bowed as heretofore described, the present invention provides means or structures which will permit of the proper supporting of the tuhes intermediate the tube heads, to accommodate the'expanding or contracting movement of the tuhes without ef fecting their connection with the supporting means or-plates.- Varous types or forms of' the construction of the support plates and the various means associated therewith are illustrated, and it is to beun'derstood that the presentinvention comprehends any and ;all of these forms, and consequently the broad idea of supporting thetubes intermediate their ends and yet permit of their movem nt under temperature variances. e

The preferred form illustrated in Fgure against l of the drawings comprises support plates 10 and 11 which have arms 13 formed thereon eXtending downwardly from the lower edges of the support plates 10 and 11 into the hot well 9 of the condenser structure. The arms 13 are mounted for pivotal movement upon pivoting pins 14, located in the hot well and carried hy a supporting web 15. The support plates 10 and 11 through which the various tubes 5 eXtend aremounted so as to permit pivotal movement-of the support plates in an edgewise manner outwardly from or inwardly towards the vertical plane bisecting the longitudinal aXis of the condenser shell 1. Since the pivots '14 are in the hot well 9, the uppermost portions of the support plates 10 and 11 will consequently move through greater limits of distanceth an will the lower edges of the support plates which are in proximity tothe hot well and this is as it should he since the upper part of the condenser nearest to the exhaust steaminlet 7 is subjected to the highest temperatures and consequently the tubes in the nests nearest to the exhauststeam iii-let 7 expand and contract through wider ranges than those' in the lower parts of the nests and nearthe hot well.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings the tuhes 5 are arranged in folded, tube nests and a support plate is provided for each nest, but it isto be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangement of tubes as shown.

The support plates 10 and 11 have steadying guides 16 i'ormed thereon which engage cooperative steadying slides or guides 17 carried bythe shell 1 oi the condenser. These cooperating steady 'ing guides 167( and 17 are positioned remotely from the I pivots 14 and serve to steady as well as guide the movements' or" the support plates 10 and 11. v

Thesupport plates 10 and 11 are urged into their normal positions or inwardly towards the vertical plane hisecting the longtudinal aXis ofthe condenser by a spring or springs 18 cooperating with spring plates 19 'and 20 and bolts 21 and 22 which are connected to the support plates 10 and 11 as clearly shown in Fgure 1 of the drawings. The nward'movement of the support plates `1O and 11 are limited by a stop 23 which s e carried by the support plate 11 and engages the bolt carried spring stop plate 19.

The condenser structure emloodies the divided out or isolated air cooling zones' l through which water circulating tuhes 25 e):- tend. J'Che tubes 25 like 'the tuhes 5 have communication with the water boxes 2 and 3, however, they do not extend through the movable support plates and need not he bowed since they are not suhjected to the' same high tem eratures as the water circulating tuhes 5 whose function s to condense the steam. The usual baffles 26 and air outlets 27 are provided.

If it is so desired the tubes which eX- tend through the air cooling zone may be howed both for the purpose oi" compensating for expansion and contraction and to permit drainage of Water therefrom When the condenser is out of service, also it is to he understood that these tubes 25 may be carried by inovable support plates it' desired without departing from the spirit of this in- Vention.

Some condensers are of such size that it will be necessary to provide more than a single set of movable support plates as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 oi' the drawings. In some such instances the othersupport plates will be located within the condenser shell'in such position that accominodation 'for the arms 13 in the hot well will not be possible and Figure 5 of the drawings illus trates a Construction which will` meet this condition. p

In Figure 5 of the drawings, the support plates 30 and 31 are pivotally nonnted within the condenser shell 32 through the medium of links 33 and 34. The links 33 and 34 are pivotally connected to the respective sup port plates 30 and 31 at or near the horizontal center of the support plates or condenser by pivoting pins 35. The links 33 and 34 have their lower ends pivotally connected to the shell 32 by a pivot pin 36 which is located at the lowermost point in the shell. Thus the support plates 30 and 31 are pivotally mount ed on double pivots to permit of their movement towarcls or from the vertical plane in which lies the longitudinal axis of the shell 32 to accommodate expansion or contraction of the tuhes 37, with the greatest scope oi' movement adjacent to the steam inlet 38 of the shell and lesser scope of movement at the location farthest from the exhaust steam inlet; In this modified Construction illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings steadying guides 39 are provided which engage the movable support plates 30 and 31 at their lower ends for guiding movement ofthese parts of the support plates. The support plates are urged into their normal position, namely towards the vertical plane in which lies the longitudinal center of the condenser, by means of springs 40, 41 and 42. The spring 40 is connected by means of suitable connections 43 to the facing edges of the support plates near their highest point or nearest the point farthest from their pivots. The plate-moving contracting action of the spring 40 is augmentecl by the expansion of the springs 41 and 42 which engage suitable bosses 44 on the outer edges of the support plates 30 and 31.`

The tension of thesprings 41 and 42 is regulated by adjusting bolts 45 which extend through the casing,`as clearly shown in the drawings. The condenser shown in Figure 5, like the condenser shown in Figures 1 and 7 includes the air cooling spaces 40 through which extend the tuhes 47 which are 'free from connection with the movable support plates.

In Figure 7, a further modified 'form of tle improved eondenser structure is shown, which modified structure is also adapted 'for use in poitions ot' the condcnser where the hot Well is not available to receive the pivoting levers ol" the inovable support plates. The form illustrated in Figure 7 similar in the majority of respects with the 'form shown in Figure 1 cit the drawings, that is, the support plates 50 and 51 are guided in their movement by cooperating guides and ure urged towards the 'vertical plane in which lies the iongitudinal airis ot the condenser shell 53 by a structure which corresponds to the spring 18 and its cooperating members. The plates 50 and 51 are limited in their inward novmnent by the stop 52. The difference iu the construction shown in Fi 'ure 7 'from that shown in Figur-e 1 is that the pivoting arms 13 ure eliniinatcd and the plates 50 and 51 are mounted upon pivot plus 55 which extend through the lower end oi' the outer wings 50 oi? the support plates. In other words, the support plates 50 and 51 are pivotally mounted upon the pivot pine 55 which are located at substantially the lowest outermost points of the plates and directly above the air cooling zones 57 ot' the condenser.

Figure 8 of 'the drawings shows a still further modified form of the coi-idenser structure and in the condenser shown in this figure the air oli-take is at the center of the condenser as shown at (30 instead of at the sides as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The support plate 61 is circular in shape, but it may be shaped as desired to accon'nnodate the tubes 62 which extend therethrough. It is also to be understood that the tuhes 62 may be arranged in any toi-in or arrangement within the condcnser, without (ilepartiug from the spirit ot' this invention. Uulike the support plates .in Figures 1 to 7 ot the druwings the support plate 01 is not divided or does not comprise se tions of plates positioned upon op posite sides of the longitudinal center ot the condenser but is a single plote for supporting all ot' the tubes or any pre-de termined number of the tuhes within the condenser. The support plote (31 is mounted 'for movement on the air oil-take GO as an axis and the tubes 62 are bowed in such manner that their ezpansicn Will be in a pre-determined direction such as indicated by the arrow A. For example all of the tubes are b'owed so that the line of movement of all ot' the tubes upon expansion and contraction will be in a circular direction about the air oli-take as an axis and such movement will move' the 'support plate 61 about the air ofttake as an aXis to accommodate the eX- panson or contraotion movement of the tubes without disrupting their connection with the support plate.

lt will be noted that in all of the forms of the condenser heretofore described the support plate or plates of the condenser are movable pon fixed aXes to accommodate eXpansion and contraction of the tubes.

The various. types of support plate structures may be arranged in various combinations in a condenser to meet the specific conditions arising in the installation which must he met by the condenser, Figures 9 to 13 inclusive illustrate diagrammatically various combinations of the difi erent types or forms of the condenser support plates. For instance, in Figure 9, the central support plates 10 and 11 are of the type illustrated in Figure 1, that is, theyvare pivoted at the inner lowermost points or' the support plates as indicated at 14. The two outer support plate structures are of the type illustr'ated in Figure 5 of'the drawingsand consequently the ` support plates 30 and 31 are mounted 'or their movement to accommodate expansion and contraction of the tubes through the medium of the links 33 and 34 and the pivots 35 :and 36, thus in a condenser in which the hot well is of suchsize as only to accommodate v one set of movable support plates two or three or even more movable support plates may be provided by combnmg in the condenser structure the support plates OI" the various figures. F or example ;the support plates mounted as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings might be substituted in the structure illustrated in Figure 9 in lieu of the :term as illustrated 'in Figure 5, without departing ironi the spirit in the present invention.

In Figure 10 ot the drawings, the tubes 5 which are bowed, as are all of the other tubes in the variousforms of the condenser structure, are supported intermediate the tube heads i by two sets of movable support plates which are illustrate'd as oi the typeshown in Figure 7 of the drawings, that is, the support plates 50 and 51 in each set are pivotally supported by the pivot pine 55 which are at the lower outermost points ot the support plates.

In Figure 11 of the drawings, a combination of two movahle support plates 10 and 11 together with two stationary support plates ZO of approved Construction of support plate as used at present in a condenser, is illustrated and while this Figure ll shows support plates of 'the type illustrated in Figure 1 ot' the drawings used in combination'with the stationary support plates it is to be understood that this figure, like the other diagrammatic figures is merely for the purpose of illustrating an example of how the support plates v may be combined and consequently the movable support plates of any of the forms may be used in connection with' stationary support plates, either one or more, without departing from the spirit of this invention. Also any' number of any form or forms of the support plates illustrated in the various figures may be combined; an additional example of which is shown in the diagrammatic Figure 12 which shows two sets of support plates, of the type shown in Figure 1 used in combination with two sets of support plates of the type shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

` Figur& 13 shows diagrammatically, in plan,-the structure as illustrated in Figures l and 2 of the drawings, namely, a condenser in which the tubes 5 are bowed intermediate their ends, the tubes on one side of the longitudinal center of the condenser being bowed in one direction and those on the other side being'bowed in the opposite direction. The tubes' are supported intermediate ,the tube heads by the support plates 10 and ll which are mounted for pivotal movement as shown in Figure l and heretotore described.

lt will be understood that the invention is to be limited to the specific Construction or arrangement of parts shown but thatthis may be modified widelywithin the invention as deined by the claims. hat is claimed is:

l. In a condenser, a shell, tubes, and support plates for said tubes, one or moreot said support plates being movable relative to said shell on a fixed aXis to accommodate expansion and contraction of said tubes.;

2. In a conden'ser, a shell, tube heads, tubes havingther ends expanded intosaid tube heads, and support plates tor said tubes,:one or more of said support plates being movable relative to said tube heads and on a fixed axis to accommodate eXpansion and, contraction of said tubes. i

3. In a condenser, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expanded into said tube heads and being bowed intermediate 'their ends, support plates :torfsaid tubes, one or more of said support plates being movable relative to said tube heads on a fixed aXis and in the direction of the bowing of the tubes.

l. In a condenser,` a shell, tubes, support plates for said tubes, one or more of said support plates being mounted on fixed aXes for movement relative'to said shell upon eXpansion or contraction of said tubes, and interengaging guides carried by the shell and movable support plate for guiding movement of the plate or plates.

5. In a condenser, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expanded into said tube heads, saidtubes being bowed intermediate their ends, and a support plate for said tubes engaging the bowed portions of the tubes and movable on a fixed aXis.

6. In a condenser, a shell having an eX- Loj haust steam inlet, tubes in said shell, a pivotally mounted support plate for said tubes, the pivot oi' said plate being located to permit greatest movement of the plate in proximity to the exhanst steam inlet.

7. in a condenser, a shell having an exhaust ste-ani nlet, tubes in said shell, a support plate tor said tubes novable relative to the shell on a fixed axis to accomnodate eX- pension and contraction of said tubes, said being located Whereby the greatest scope of movement of th support plates Will be in proxini y to said exhaust steam inlet.

8. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein arranged in folded nests, said tubes being boWed intermediate their ends With the tubes in one nest bowing in one direction from the longitudinal center of said shell and the tubes in the adjacent nest bowing in the opposite direction froni the longitudinal center of the shell, a support plate for the tubes in each nest, said plates being novable on fixed axes in the direction of the bows in the tubes to accommodate expansion of the tubes.

9. In a condenscr, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expanded into said tube heacis and arranged in folded nests, said tubes being bowed intermediate their ends With the tubes one side of the longitudinal center of the shell being boWed in one direction and the tubes upon the other side of the longitudnal center of the shell being oppositely bowed, support plates for the tubes positioned one upon each side of the longitudnal center or' the shell and novable away froni the longitudinal center to accomnodate eX- pension of the tubes and movable towards the longitudinal center of the shell to accominodate contraction of the tubes, an air-cooling Zone in said shell, tubes in said air-cooling Zone, the tubes in the air-cooling zone being free from connection With said movable support plates.

10. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein arranged in nests, a pivotally mounted support plate for the tubes in each nest, said support plates novable upon their pvots to accommodate expansion and contraction of the tubes.

ll. In condenser, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expanded into said tube heads, pivotally mountcd support plates for said tubes and movable upon their pivots to aecoinmodate ezpansion and contraction of the tubes and means for urgng said support plates into normal position.

12. ln condenser, a shell, tubes therein being bowed intermediate their ends, pivotally mounted support plates for said tubes novable upon their pivots in the direction of the boWs of the tubes to accommodate expansion of the tubes.

13. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, support plates for said tubes, links connected to certain of said support plates, said links being pivotally mounted to permit movement of said support plates to acconmodate expansion and contraotion of the tubes.

14. In a condenser, a shell, a` hot Well connected thereto, tubes in the shell, support plates for said tubes, linls associated With certain of said support plates and extending into said hot Well, means pivotally nountin said links to pernit pivotal movement ot the support pla to acconnnodate eXpansion and contravtion of the tubes.

15. In a condenser, a shell having an eX- haust stean inlet, a hot Well, tubes in said shell, pivotally mountod support plates for said tubes having their pivots disposed in proximity to said hot Well Whereby the greatest scopo of movement of the support plates Will be in proxirnity to said exhaust steam inlet.

16. ln a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, said tubes being bowed, a support plate for said tubes novable on a fixed axis relative to said shell'in the direction of how of the tubes to accomnodate expansion of the tubes, means for noving said support plate in the opposite direction upon contraction of ,said tubes, and guides on said support plate and casing 'for guiding movement of the support plate.

17. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein arranged in folded nests, said tubes being bowod intermediate their ends With the tubes in one nest bowng in one direction from the longitudinal center of said shell and the tubes in the adjacent nest bowing in the opposite direction from the longitudinal center of the shell, a pivotally mounted support plate for the tubes in each nest, said plates being movable in the direction of the bows in the tubes to accommodate expansion of the tubes, and steady slides carried by said plates and shell for steadying and guiding movement of said plates.

18. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein being bowed intermediate their ends, pivotally mounted support plates for said tubes movable upon their pivots in the direction of the bows of the tubes to accommodate eX- pansion ot the tubes, and springs connected to said pivot supporting plates for urging them in the normal position.

19. In a condenser, a shell, tubes, support plates for said tubes, one or more of said support plates being pivotall mounted for movement relative to said shell upon -expansion or contraction of said tubes, and interengaging guides carried by the shell and movable support plate for guiding movement of the plate or plates, and means for limitin g the movement of said plate or plates.

20. In a condenser, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expanded into said tube heads, a support plate novable relative to said tube heads on a .fixed axis to accomnodate expansion and contraction of said plate into normal position.

21. In a `condenser,'a shell, tubes, support d plates for said tubes, links pvotally connected to said shell 'and pvotally connected to certain of said support plates in substantelly the plane of the transverse centre of the Shell.

22. 'In a condenser, a shell tubes, support plates for said tubes, links pvotally connected to said shell and pvotally connected to certain of said support plates in substantally the plane of the transverse centre of theshell guides carred by said shell and engagng sad suoport' plates for guding their movement', and yeldable means for urgng the support plates nto normal position.

23. In a conclenser, e shell, a hot Well, tubes in the shell, a, pluralty of support plete 2 structures for said tubes, eachcomprsng a pair of support plates, links formed upon certain of said support plates and eXtendng into said hot Well, means pvotally connectng said links to said hot Well to permt pvotal 5 movement of the support plates, the support plate structures adjacent to the 'support plates pvotally connected to said hot well i having links pvotally connectedthereto, said p links being pvotally connected to said shell, '30 Whereby all of 'said support plates may move onfiXed axes to accommodate expanson and contraction of the tubes. r

In testnony Whereof I affiX In'ysignature.

JOHN F. GRACE tubes, and means for 'urgng said m'ovable

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