US1827827A - Condenser - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1931. J sMlTH 1,827,827

CONDENSER Filed 001:. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l I H HI INVENTOR John H.5mith WITNESS 2 5 @J QJM ATTORN EY Oct. 20, 1931. J. H. SMITH CONDENSER Filed Opt. 4. 1929 Fig.3.

WITNESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John H-Smith ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 2 0,- 1931 if UNITED STATES PATENT Fries JOHN H. SMITH, OF LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA, ,ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIO & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION'OF PENNSYLVANIA CONDENSER Application filed October 4, 1929. Serial No.'397,339.

My invention relates to apparatus for condensing gaseous media and particularly to apparatus of the surface type intended primarily for condensing steam and it has for 1mm object to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall be so constructed and arranged as to effectively utilize the en.- tire cooling surface of the apparatus in order that it may operate at a very'high heat transfer rate.

It has for a further object to provide a I condenser of the surface type and of relatively large capacity which shall be provided with intermediate tube-supporting sheets so arranged as to permit an unrestricted circulation of the gaseous media within the condenser shell longitudinally of the tube nest as induced by the difference in heat heads obtaining between the cooling water inlet or cold portion of the condenser and the cooling water outlet or relatively warm portion of the condenser.

It has for still another object to provide a condenser of large capacity which shall be so arranged as to provide for the circulation of steam and non-condensable gaseous media longitudinally of the condenser from the warm portion of the cooling tube nest toward the cold portion thereof in order that proper distribution of the steam may be obtained and maximum oooling'of the noncondensable' gaseous media efiected.

It has for still anotherobject'to provide a condenser of the foregoing character wherein the longitudinal movement of the steam and non-condensable gaseous media from the relatively warm portion of the condenser toward the relatively cold portion thereof shall assume a path or route so arranged as to insure ample transfer of heat to the tube nest in order that the longitudinally moving steam may be condensed and in order that the longitudinally moving non-condensable gaseous media may be cooled.

o0 condenser and the liquid condensate from the It has for a further object to provide awarm end of the condenser, whereby the gases are discharged at a relatively low temperature and the liquid condensate at a relatively high temperature. I c

It has for still another object to provide a condenser ofthe foregoing character which shall be of the single-pass type in that the Water flows through the tube nest in a single direction; of the radial flow type in that the steam enters the tube nest from the greater portion of its periphery and the air and noncondensable gases are withdrawn, laterally, from an interior portion of the tube nest; and of the divided water box type in that one longitudinal section of the condenser may be operated while the other half is rendered inactive for cleanin purposes.

These and other 0 jects are effected by my invention as will be seen from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View, in longitudinal sectional elevation, of one form of condenser constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views taken on the lines IL-Iland IIIIII of Fig. 1, respectively;

Fig. 4 is a view, in elevation, of the inlet water box;

Fig. 5 is a view, in elevation, ofthe outlet Water box; and

Fig. 6 is a view, in section, of the condenser hot well structure and is taken "on the line VIVI of Fig; 1.

' In the operation of single pass condensers, that is, condensers in which the cooling water passes longitudinally through the tube nest in one direction only, it has been established for many years that the cooling water, in its passage through the'tube nest, assumesprogressively increasing temperatures in a direction from the inlet water box towards the discharge water box. In other words, the inletend of the condenser may be termed the cold end and the outlet end of the condenser the warm end and, consequently, each footof cooling tube surface near the cold end has a relatively greater capacity for condensing. steam than each foot of tube surface near the warm end. The cold end of the condensernaturally has a higher heat head than the warm end and there is therefore an inherent tendency forthe gaseous media in the condenser shell to ,move or circulate in a direction from the warm end or region of relatively low heat head toward the coldend or region of relatively high heat head. t

In condensers of large capacities which are necessarily quite long, some means must be provided for supporting the tube nest intermediate of its ends and it has been the practice for many years to provide longi tudinally spaced intermediate supporting sheets. which intermediate supporting sheets 1 prevent objectionable sagging or vibration of the condenser tubes. However, such inter mediatetube-supporting sheets may seriously interfere with the free and natural longitudinal circulation of the gases in the condenser shell from the warm end or region of relatively'low heat head to the cold end or region of relatively high heat head. It

has been proposed to utilize the intermediate tube-supporting sheets to completely sectionalize the condenser and thus entirely destroy orprevent the aforesaid natural tendencyv for the gases to circulate longitudinally from the warm toward the cold end. In contradis tinction to the foregoing, .I have conceived of a condenser which allows of such distribution of gases and transfer of heat as will not tween the respective-condenser sections, as

defined by the longitudinally-spaced tubesupporting sheets, as will allow the gases to assume their natural tendency to flow from the warm toward the cold end. Furthermore, my condenser structure is so arranged that the gases, in assuming this general direction of circulation, traverse a substantial portion of the tube nest surface, whereby their condensable components are condensed and the non-condensable components are effectively cooled. Furthermore, the non-condensable gases are preferably withdrawn from the cold end of the condenser or terminus of the natural circulation heretofore referred to and, hence the non-condensable gases are removed from the condenser at the lowest possible temperature.

. My invention recogn zes the existence of pressure drop' in the condenser, first, as a thermal necessity and, secondly, as a function of the physical dimensions, likewise, it recog nizes no attempt to alter or control steam flow and therefore natural pressure drop by any means whatsoever except by the influence of natural causes resulting from physical limitations set up suchas by the pitch of the cooling tubes, the distance of gas travel, the

mas-er,

amount of steam space, etc. My invention, does, however, utilize the existing and natural pressure drop, irrespective of its magnitude,

to effectively cool non-condensable gases in a portion of the condenser set aside primarily for that purpose and built integraltherewith. This portion of the condenser is commonly known as the air and gas cooling section and my invention takes advantage of the pressure drop naturally resulting in the condenser to utilize normally dormant portions of the tube nest for condensing and cooling purposes.

Referring now to the drawing, I show in Fig. 1, a condenser having a shell structure 10 provided with an inlet 11 for steam to be condensed and an outlet 12' for the liquid or condensed media. Secured to each end of the shell structure 10 is a tubesheet 13 and, ex-

tending longitudinally I, through. the. shell.

structure between the tube sheets 13, is a nest of cooling tubes 14. Preferably, the tube nest 14 is so formed, in relation to the inner contour of the shell structure 10, as to define an intervening steam delivery space 15 entirely surrounding, or surrounding the greater orti'on of, the tube nest 14.

ecured to one ofthe tube sheets 13 is an inlet water box 16 of the divided or sectional type provided with inlet connections 17 for the respective sections while, secured to the other tube sheet 13 is an outlet water box 18 of the divided or sectional type "provided with circulating water outlets- 19. In the present embodiment, the condenser is of the singlepass type and hence the water boxes 16 and 18 are so constructed and arranged that the cooling water passes longitudinally through the tubes of the nest 14 in a single direction, Such a condenser is generally referred to as a condenser of the single-pass type.

As stated heretofore, in condensers of the larger capacities, it is essential that some means be provided for supporting the tubes of the nest at points located intermediate of the end tube sheets 13 and, hence, in the present embodiment, I show a plurality of substantially equally spaced tube-supporting sheets 21 and 22 extending transversely of the shell structure and havlng an outer contour generally similar to the outer contour of the nest 14. Preferably, the intermediate tube-supporting'sheets 21 and 22 have their peripheral edges spaced from the side walls of the shell structure or from both the bottom wall as Well as the side walls of the shell structure in order that the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest may freely communicate with the steam delivery space 15.

The intermediate tube-supporting sheets 21 and 22 may be said to divide the tube nest into a plurality of sections 23, 24 and 25, the section 23 located adj acent the inlet water box 16 being referred to as a cold section and the section 2'5 adjacent the outlet water box 18 as a relatively warm section. Extending longitudinally between adjacent tube-sup' porting sheets is a series of air off-take boxes 26 .preferably disposed in lateral alignment with each other. Each of the boxes 26 is provided with right andleft inlets 27 located, 7

take boxes 26 is preferably provided with a centrally-disposed division plate 28, the inlets 27 being disposed on opposite sides of the division plate 28. Extending from the upper terminus of the central division plate 28 of each of-the air off-take boxes is a shroud 29 which, as illustrated, may be of some circular formation so as to enshroud a portion of the tube nest and form an air 'andnoncondensable gas cooling section 31. The shroud 29 is preferably secured between adjacent tube sheets by end flanges secured to the latter.

As shown in Fig. 1, a hot well 33 is connected to the condensate outlet 12 for the reception of condensed media. The condensate outlet 12 and the hot well 33 are preferably located at the warm end of the condenser in the region of the section in order that the condensate removed from the condenser may have as high a temperature as possible. The

hot well 33 is provided with an upstanding flange 34, which flange cooperates with a depending flange 35 for providing a liquid seal 36 for preventing the entrance of free gases into the hot well. The depending flange 35 is preferably supported on the bottom of the air box 26 located in the section 25 and communicates directly with the interior of-the air box through an opening 37 whereby the hot well may be vented directly into the in- 'terior of the air box 26. The hot well 33 is preferably so arranged that it is capable of deaerating the condensate collected therein.

As stated heretofore, owing to the relatively higher heat head prevailing at the inlet end of the condenser than at the outlet end, there is a natural tendency for the gases to flow in a direction from the discharge or circulating water outlet end toward the inlet end of the condenser, and, hence, I provide in the iiitermediate tube-supporting sheet 22, an opening 38 of substantial flow-area, whereby not only may gases liberated from the hot well be permitted to enter the compartment 24, but steam and other gaseous media obtaining'in the relatively warm section 25 and entering the air off-take box 26 through the inlets 27 are also permitted to assume their natural tendency and to flow into the next cooling section 24 through the opening 38, At this point, it is to be remembered that the gases present in the section 25, before entering the air off-take box inlets 27, are compelled to travel transversely across the tube nest, as indicated by the arrow, so as to insure complete utilization of the condensing capacity of the relatively warm section.

Located intermediate of the upper and lower walls of the air boxes is a horizontallyextending division plate 39, the division plate 39 ofthe air box located in section 25 preferably terminating at a point spaced from the intermediate tube-supporting sheet 22 so as to provide an opening 41 in order that the gases entering the air box through the inlets 27 may have free and ready access to the compartment 24 through the opening 38. g

The gases entering the compartment 24 are received in laterally-disposed chambers 42 formed by the intermediate plate 39, the bottom and side walls of the air box and the vertically-extending wall 43. Each of the compartments 42 is provided with laterally disposed outlets 44 so arranged that the gases entering the compartments 42 are again liberated to the tube nest and traverse the cooling section 31 thereof until they again enter the inlets 27 of the air boxes located in the section 24. It will, therefore, be apparent that the gases, in their passage from the warm end of the condenser toward the cold end, are so directed that they traverse a substantial por tion of the tube nest, whereby not only is their condcnsable component reduced to a liquid, but the non-condensable component is effectively cooled. Furthermore, the intermediate section 24 of the tube nest, because of its relatively greater cooling capacity than the'section 25, is utilized to condense as much as possible of the steam circulating toward the cold end of the condenser.

Provided-in the intermediate tube support sheet 21 are openings 45 disposed on each side of the center line of the condenser in order that the gases present in the air off-take box in section 24 may freel enter the section 23 Once in the latter section, the gases, like in the section 24, are liberated from compart ments 46 through outlets 47 so that they may flow laterally through the tube nest and again traverse the cooling section 37 thereof. In this way, the coldest section, that is the section 23, is utilized to condense thesteam and to further reduce the temperature of the gases flowing from the warm end of the condenser.

The air and non-condensable gases entering the interior of the air boxes 26 of the section 23 are finally removed from the air boxes through outlet connections 48 communicating, respectively, with air off- take conduits 49 and 51 located on opposite sides of the center line of the condenser.

One of the important detail Structural features of my invention resides in the arrangement of the ofi'take conduits 4:9 and 51, WhlCh,

as shown, need not necessarily be mechanicaL ly connected to the air off-take box 26. This advantage is obtained by associating with each of the outlets 4(8 a depending flange member 50 which terminates near the bottom of the shell structure below the level of condensate, indicated at 52. As will be apparent, the level of the condensate-52 is maintained in the bottom of the shell structure by the upstanding flange 34 associated with the hot well. The latter flange maintains a level of condensate such as indicated and the flange 50 of the air off-take extends below the level .of the liquid, thereby forming a liquid seal about the edge of the air off-takes 49 and 51 and isolating them from all communication with the interior of the shell structure except'the air and non-condensable gas outlets 48. This is a very 'desirable feature of construction as it permits of the air and non-condensable gas off-takes 49 and 51 being secured to the shell structure by the external flanges 52", no internal con- -nections being necessary. Furthermore, this construction acts as a separator and prevents entramment of condensate 1n the a1r leaving the condenser. Each air off- take 49 and 51 is preferably provided with a stop valve 53 in order that one of the longitudinal sections of the condenser may be rendered inactive for cleaning purposes while the other sectionis still active, all as well understood intheart.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my condenser will be apparent.- Steam to be condensed enters the shell structure through the inlet 11 and surrounds the entire tube nest in the steam delivery space 15. The steam is drawn radially inwardin each of the sections from the perimeter of the tube nest toward the cooling section 31 and thence towardinlets 27 of the air otttake boxes. In its passage across the tube nest, a considerableportion of the steam is condensed and falls to the lower portion of the shell structure from whence it drains through the out-let 12 to the hot well 33. The

7 air and non-condensable gases-enter the inlets 27 of the air off-take boxes and pass toward the air outlets 49 and 51.

As stated heretofore, the section 23 of the condenser has a relatively greater capacity per unit of length for condensing steam than the next section 24 and the latter, in turn has a relatively greater capacity-for con- (lensing steam than the section 25. The heat head prevailing in the section 23 is relatively greater than in the section 25 and hence there is a natural tendency for the steam and other non-condensed gases in the section 25 to flow in a direction toward the section 23. In accordance with my improved was accommodate such movement. Not only are the steam and gases allowed to move freely toward the cold end of the condenser, but

their path of travel is so arranged that, in each successive compartment they are again subjected to the cooling action of a portion of the tubes in that section in orderthat the steam may be condensed and the gases cooled, and hence, each successive section is utilized as a condensing and cooling element to compensate for, what may be termed, the deficiency in the preceding section. In this way, the entire cooling surface from the warm to the cold end of the condenser is fully utilized for both condensing and cooling purposes and, although the necessary intermediate tube-supporting sheetsare provided, they are so arranged that the natural tendency for the steam to flow from the region of low heat head to theregion of high heat head is fully utilized in order that the entire tube surface may be rendered eflective.

Because of the fact that'the air and noncondensable gases are removed at the cold end and the condensate at the warm end, cold air and warmcondensate is assured; and, while I have shown a condenser of the single-pass type, it is to be understood that my invention is also applicable to other than condensers of the. single-pass type in which case the air would be removed from that portion of the condenser in which the circulating water enters and the condensate would be removed from a warmer portion.

In the present embodiment, I show a condenser of the radial flow type and hence the intermediate tube-supporting sheets 21 and 22 are preferably spaced from the side and bottom walls of theshell structure so that 24 and 25 also freely communicate with each other through the surrounding steam delivery space 15. Although, in the present embodiment, I show a type of radial flow condenser wherein the steam delivery. space 15 surrounds the entire periphery of the tube nest, nevertheless it is to be-understood that I may construct radial flow condensers in accordance with my invention wherein the steam delivery space does not extend entirely or completely around the tube nest. Furthermore, it will be obvious that my invention, in its broader aspects, is not confined to condensers of the radial flow type but that it may be applied to various other types of condensers so as to p ovide for the free and natural distribution of the steam and gaseous media throughout the longitudinal length of the tube nest.

.While I have shown my invention'in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the artthat it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limi tations shall be placed thereupon as are im-' posed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate; a tube nest extending longitudinally 1 through the shell structure and having tube sheets located at each end thereof; an inlet water box located at one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box located at the other end of the tube nest; said water boxes providing for the circulation of cooling mediain a single direction longitudinally through the tube nest; a'tube-supporting sheet or sheets 7 located intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest into sections includinga relatively cold section disposed adjacent the inlet water box and a relatively warm section disposed adjacent the outlet water box; passageway means for the passage of gaseous media through/the tube nest sections in a direction from the warm section toward the cold section and including inner portions of the tube nest sections, the respective sections of said passageway means having inlet and outlet openings separated bythe tubes thereof and conduits for conducting media from the inlet opening of a preceding section to the outlet opening of a succeeding section, said outlet openings'being located in the cooling media exit ends of the respective sections; and an outlet for gaseous media communicating with the inlet opening of the cold end section.

2. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outletfor condensate; a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure and spaced from the interior thereof so as to define an intervening steam delivery space surrounding a substantial portion of the tube nest; an inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box associated with the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes being arranged to provide for the circulation by the tubes thereof and conduits for conducting media from the inlet opening of a preceding section to the outlet opening of a succeeding section said outlet openings being located in the cooling mediaexit ends of the respective sections; an dan outlet for gaseous media communicating with the inlet opening of'the cold end section. I

3; In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure and having tube sheets located at each end thereof, an inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box associated with the other end 'of the tube nest, said water boxes providing for the circulation of cooling media in a single direction longitudinally through the tube nest, one or more tube support sheets located intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest into a plurality of sections including a'relatively warm section disposed adjacent the outlet water box and a relatively cold section disposed adjacent the inlet w'ater box, passageway means extending longitudinally through the shell structure for the passage of gaseous shell structure having an inlet for gaseous.

media to be condensed, and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure having tube sheets located at each end thereof, an inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box associated with the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes providing for the circulation of cooling mediain a single direction longitudinally through the tube nest, a plurality of tube-supporting sheets located intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest into a relatively warm section disposed adjacent the out let Water box, a relatively cold section disposed adjacent the inlet water box and an intermediate section, passageway means extending longitudinally through the shell structure for the passage of gaseous media from the warm section of the tube nest to the cold section of the tube nest, said passageway means including first, second and third inlets and first, second and third outlets, said first, second and third inlets being located in the warm, intermediate and cold sections, re spectively, said first outlet communicating with the intermediate section and said second outlet communicating with the cold section, said first and second outlets being spaced transversely of the tubes of the nest from the second and third inlets, respectively, so that gaseous media flows across the tube of the nest fromthe outlets to their associated inlets, and air and non-condensable gas oil-take means communicating with the third outlet.

5. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, said tube nest being spaced from the interior of the shell structure so as to define an intervening steam delivery space, surrounding a substantial portion of the tube nest, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet water box provided for one end of the tube nest and an outlet waterbox for the other end of the tube'nest, said water boxes being so tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction, one or more tube-supporting sheets located intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest, longitudinally, into a plurality'of sections, a gas box structure extending longitudinally through the shell structure, said gas box structure having inlets located in interior portions of each of the tube nest sections and outlets into the tube spaces located in each of the tube nest sections except the section adjacent the outlet Water box,the outlets of the respective sections being disposed in spaced relation with respect to their inlets and in a direction toward the periphery of the tube nest, partition means interposed between the respective inlets of the air box structure for compelling gaseous media entering the respective inlets to leave the gas box structure through the adjacent outlets, and means connectingwith the gas box structure near the inlet water box end thereof for removing air and non-condensable gases from the shell structure.

6. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, said tube nest being spaced from the side walls of the shell structure so asto define an intervening steam delivery space surrounding a substantial portion of the tube nest, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet water box provided for one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box for the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes being so arranged as-tto pass cooling fluid through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction, one or more tube-supporting sheets 10- inset/s27 cated intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest, longitudinally, into a plurality of sections, a gas box extendinglongitudinally between each adjacent pair of tube-supporting sheets, said intermediate tube-supporting sheets being provided with openings affording free communication with the adjacent gas boxes, an inlet for gaseous media provided in each gas box, an outlet into the tube space for gaseous media provided in each gas box exceptthe gas box disposed in the tube nest section located adjacent the outlet water box, the outlets of the respective sections being disposed in spaced relation with respect to their inlets, partition means associated with the outlets of the respective. gas box sections for compelling the gaseous media entering through the openings provided in the intermediate tube-supporting sheets to leave the gas box and enter the tube nest, andmeans connecting with the gas box located in the section of the tube nest disposed adjacent the inlet water box for removing air and non-condensable gases from the shell structure.

7. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet Water box located at one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box located at the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes being so arranged as to pass cooling fluid through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction, one or more tube-supporting sheets located intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing thetube nest, longitudinally, into a plurality of sections, transversely aligned gas boxes extending longitudinally between adjacent tube sheets, said gas boxes having inlet openings located in interior portions of the respective tube sections, bafiie means projecting from. the gas boxes into the tube nest sections and torming, in the vicinity of the inlet openings, a condensing and cooling section extending longitudinally between the tube sheets and throughout a substantial portlon of the shell structure, said intermediate tube-supporting sheets being provided with openings for aflording communication between adjacent gas-boxes and each of said gas boxes, except the gas box disposed in the tube nest section adjacent the outlet water box, having outlet openings spaced from their inlet openings and communicating with the condensing and cooling section, means embodied in the respective gas boxes having outlet openings for directing the gaseous media received through the openings in the intermediate tube-supporting sheets outwardly through said openings and into the condensing and cooling section of the tube nest, and means communicating with the gas box Sill located inthe tube nest section adj acent'the inlet Water box for removing air and noncondensable gases from the shell structure.

8. In a condenser, the combination of a 7 shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a

tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, tube sheets and water boxes located at eaohend of the tube nest, means for conveying gaseous media in a tortuous manner longitudinally through the shell structure, said conveying means being so formed as to pass the gaseous media in approximately one vertical direction-Within the conveying means and in approximately the opposite vertical direction outside of the conveying means and over portions of the tube nest, and means connecting with said conveying means for removing air and noncondensable gases from the shell structure.

9. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure,tube-supporting sheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet Water box located at one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box located at the other end of the tube nest, said Water boxes being so arranged as' to pass cooling fluid through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direccondensable gases from the shell structure.

10. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of tl tube nest, an inlet Water box located at one end of the tube nest and an outlet WELlZGPbOX located at the other end of the tube nest, said Water boxes being so arranged as to pass cooling fluid through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction, means for conveying gaseous media longitudinally through the shell structure from the end adjacent the outlet Water box toward the end adjacent the inlet Water box, means communicating with said gaseous media conveying means near the inlet Water box for removing air and non-condensable gases from the shell structure, a hot Well for receiving condensate discharged from the shell structure, and means for vent ing said hot Well into a portion of the gaseous media conveying means located near the outlet water box end of the shell structure.

'11. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet Water box located at one end of the tube nest and an outlet Water box located at the other end of the tube nest, said Water boxes being so arranged as to pass cooling fluid through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction, one or more tube-support ing sheetslocated intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest, longitudinally, into a plurality of sections, means for conveying gaseous media longitudinally through the tube nest sections in a direction from the outlet Water box toward the inlet .Water box, means commimicating With said gaseous media conveying means near the inlet Water box end of the shell structure for removing air and non-condensable gases from the shell structure, and a hot Well communicating with the shell struc ture near the outlet Water box end thereof for removing condensate from the shell structure.

12. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, tubr-i-supporting sheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet Water box located at one end of the tube nest and an outlet Water box located at the other end of the tube nest, said Water boxes being so arranged as topass cooling fluid through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction, one or more tube-supporting sheets located intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest,

longitudinally, into a plurality of sections, means communicating with. the section dis posed adjacent the inlet Water box for removing air and non-condensable gases'from the shell structure, and a hot Well communicating With the shell structure in the vicinity of 'the tube nest section disposed adjacent the outlet Water box for removing condensate from the shell structure.

13. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, tube sheets and 1 Water boxes located at each end of the tube nest, air and non condensable gas removal means disposed Within the shell structure and provided with an outlet located Withinthe shell structure, an air and non-condensable gas off-take conduit projecting into the shell structure and having an inlet spaced from the air and non-condeusable gas outlet, and liquid sealing means associated with said conduit for confining communication thereofto the air and non-condensable outlet.

14. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through-the shell structure, tube sheets and water boxes located at each end of the tube nest, air and non-condensable gas ofii-take means having an outlet located within the she'll structure, means for maintaining a body of condensate in the lower portion of the shell structure, said air and non-eondensable air outlet being disposed above the level of the mndensate in the shell structure, bafie means surrounding said'outlet and depending into the body of condensate in the shell structure, and an air and non-condensable air off-take conduit projecting into the shell structure and extending above the level of the water therein, said conduit having an inlet opening located within the bafile structure and communicating with the outlet of said air and non-condensablegas oil-take means.

15. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, tube sheets and water boxes located at each end of the tube nest, air and non-condensable gas off-take means having an outlet located'within the shell structure, means for maintaining a body of condensate in the lower portion of the shell structure, said air and non-condensable air outlet being disposed above the level of the condensate in the shell structure, baffle means surrounding said outlet and depending into the body of condensate in the shell structure, and an air and non-condensable gas ofi-take conduit insertable into the shell structure from the exterior thereof and projecting above the level of the condensate in the shell structure, said conduit having an inlet opening disposed within the bafile structure and infree communication with said air and noncondensable outlet and disposed in spaced relation thereto.

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23d day of September,

JOHN -H. STH.

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