US1906980A - Hydraulic system - Google Patents

Description

y 2, 1933- J. LICHTENSTEHN 1, 6,980

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Filed Oct. 18, 1930 $20 I 9 0 dnLI/Fm if 61% dam m ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE JOSEPH LICHTENSTEIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FOSTER WHEELER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Application filed October 18, 193i). Serial No. 489,507.

My invention relates to hydraulics and more particularly to the pumping of water and like fluids. In one phase, my invention relates to the cooling of condensers by cooling water and has for its object to provide a condenser with water at low pressure from a source of water which is sometimes or always of higher pressure while conserving a good portion of the energy otherwise dissipated in the reduction of pressure of the Water from the higher pressure source to the pressure of the condenser.

The nature of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the acompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, which drawing forms a part of this specification, and on which:

Fig. 1 shows a system in which a condenser is cooled by water of high static pressure;

Fig. 2 shows a motor-pump unit which I have designed for the system of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically a modification of the motor and pump mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a condenser 14, connected to the discharge of a turbine 15 and comprising an inlet water box 16 and an outlet water box 17 connected by water 39 tubes 18, is supplied with cooling water from a main 51. This main carries a high pressure, as for example, 90 pounds per square inch. If the cooling water were admitted to the condenser at 90 pounds, the condenser would have to be of expensive construction. If the pressure of the water is reduced as by a reducing valve, there is an energy loss represented by the drop in pressure through the reducing valve.

In accordance with the invention, I first pass the water through a motor or turbine and design the rotor of the turbine so that the pressure is reduced from, for example, 90 pounds to 6 pounds. The energy represented by the drop in pressure is transferred to the shaft of the motor-pump unit, and this energy is utilized to drive the pump. The motor discharges the water to the condenser wherein the pressure may be reduced, due to friction loss, from, for example, 6 pounds to 1 pound. From the condenser the water fiows'into a pump and the pump raises the pressure of the water to the 90 pound pressure of the main feed line. It is only necessary to supply an amount of energy to the motorpump unit corresponding to the friction losses in the whole system.

i In Figs. 1 and 2 the cooling water leaves the conduit 51 through conduit 52 and passes into the motor volute 53. The water then passes through the motor impeller 54 and out from the motor into conduit 52. It will be understood that the inlet and outlet to the pump are given the same reference character because there is in effect one conduit in which the motor is interposed. Conduit 52 connects with the water box 16 of the condenser. The water passes through the condenser and through conduit 55 to the inlet- 56 of the'pump. The water passes through the; pump impeller 57 and thence through the second portion of conduit 55 back into. the main line 51. A check valve 58 may be interposed in conduit 51 to prevent recirculation. The additional energy to compensate for friction loss is delivered by electric motor 59. The water is reduced in pres- 1 sure in its passage through the motor impeller 54'and the reduction of pressure is converted into rotational energy of the common shaft 60 for the motor and the pump. This drives the pump and raises the pressure in thepump up tothe pressure of the mainline 51.

It will be seen that the axial thrust on the shaft is balanced in this unit and that the energy. is transferred from the water in one of the conduits to the water in the other of the conduits to permit a reduction in pressure for the condenser without loss of energy corresponding to the reduction in pressure. The motor and pump need not be made as a unit, but a separate motor and a separate pump may be used as indicated in Fig. 3, the separate motor 27 operating the pump 26 through any suitable drive indicated generally at 50. The motor and pump need not necessarily be of the centrifugal type, but may be of any known type.

It will be understood that the invention may take on various forms and that I am 100.

not to be limited to the precise structures or arrangements shown on the accompanying drawing. The invention may be applicable to other elements to be supplied with water 5 or liquid than a condenser.

What I claim is: Y

1. That improvement in the art of hydraulics which comprises withdrawing fluid from a source under pressure, obtaining work from said fluid by reducing the pressure thereof, conducting the fluid at reduced pressure through a heat exchanger, employing said work obtained from said fluid to pump the fluid back to said source and supplying additional work to compensate for friction loss.

2. That improvement in the art of hydraulics which comprises withdrawing fluid from a source under pressure, obtaining 26 work from said fluid by reducing the pressure thereof, utilizing the fluid at reduced pressure as a cooling medium, employing said work obtained from said fluid to pump the fluid back to said source and supplying additional work to aid in the pumping.

3. Apparatus of the character set forth. comprising a fluid motor, a fluid pump, means for supplying said motor with fluid under pressure, a heat exchange device to be supsu' plied with fluid at a reduced pressure, means for conveying fluid from said motor to said device, means for conveying fluid from said device to said pump, means for driving said pump by said motor, means for conveying fluid from said pump to the supply means and another motor connected to said pump to aid in driving said pump.

4. Apparatus of the character set forth comprising a fluid motor, a fluid pump, means 40-for supplying said motor with fluid under pressure, a member to be supplied with fluid at a reduced pressure, means for conveying fluid from said motor to said member, means for conveying fluid from said member to said is-pump, means for driving said pump by said motor, means for conveying fluid from said pump to the supply means and an additional motor for aiding in driving said pum In testimony whereof I hereunto a my signature.

' JOSEPH LICHTENSTEIN.

Images