US1981989A - Countercurrent condenser - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 27, 1934. H, E BYER 1,981,989

COUNTERCURRENT CoNDENsER Filed NOV. 15, 1932 FIGA.

ATTORNE Patented` Nov. 27, i934 -UNirED srArss PATENT OFFICE Application November 15, 1932, Serial No. 642,729

14 Claims. (Cl. 261-117) This invention relates to condensers of the counter-current type forsteam or other vapor laden gases, although not so limited.

In the class of mechanical equipment as above described, ,the water sheet forthe initial Water distributing pass heretofore universally used, is in the nature of a hollow cone of water the base circumference of which` is represented by the weir diameter above, with the apex of the cone resting on the baffle immediately below the Weir. With this construction, the sheet of water becomes thicker at the apex, resulting in the effective cooling and scrubbing area being much reduced and limited to the thinner part, as regards the water cone thickness, existing in the upper part close to the weir circumference and further causing an excessive pressure drop in connection with the gases passing through the sheet, taking the surface as a whole.

Commercial requirements call for an eXtremely small pressure drop through this sheet coupled with efficient cooling of the gases passing through it and for the use'of theminimum diameter of Weir; whereas the work to be performed calls for a much larger initial surface of water sheet than is possible to obtain by the use of such a hollow inverted cone of Water, as described.

It is an object of the present invention to providea condenser in which the entering cooling water, falling as an initial sheet, aifords an efficiency, greater than heretofore, in the cooling, condensing and/ or scrubbing action at that point. In Icarryingthe invention into effect, the sheet f falling water is caused to take substantially the form of a truncated cone as distinguished from prior practice in which the falling sheet of water takes the form, substantially, of an inverted cone. Assuming an equivalent weir diameter and the same height of water fall, the surface of a truncated cone has just about doublek the. surface of an inverted cone formed with the same diameter of weir as its base.`

` It is also an object-of the invention to provide a condenser in which the cooling water falling as a sheet affords only a very small pressure drop in the gases passing therethrough. Accordingly, a weir is provided from which the water falls as a sheet in substantially the shape of a truncated cone whereby the falling sheet of water becomes thinner as it falls. i

i For high vacuumv work where it is desired `to carry, say, 29.7 vacuum at the steam nozzle, it will be readily seen that the less pressure dropl there is between the nozzle and the vacuum pump suction outlet, the smaller size vacuum pump will be required. As an example, considered on an isothermal compression basis, 29.7" of vacuum corresponds to an expansion of 100 and 29.8 oi vacuum corresponds to an expansion of 150 as regards the volume of air to be handled by the vacuum pump. By employing a falling water sheet in the form of a truncated cone, it is possible to obtain so slight a pressure drop between thesteam nozzle and the vacuum pump suction nozzle or outlet as to result in a pressure of 29.71 at the vacuum pump suction nozzle or a pressure drop of .01. With all previous designs and particularly with a weirv formation producing a falling sheet of water in the shape of an inverted cone, the pressure drop would be represented by .1 requiring that the vacuum pump maintain 29.8 of vacuum at the vacuum pump suction outlet and corresponding to an expansion of 150 as regards isothermal basis. In the commercial sense it would take a much smaller size vacuum pump with corresponding reduction in operating expense, to maintaina vacuum of 29.71 than for a `vacuum of 29.8".- The advantage of the Water distribution with respect to the initial water sheets as contemplated by this invention is, therefore, apparent.

To obtain the desired truncated cone shaped sheet of cooling water in a practical manner, howeveryis not easy. A concentric weir with circular edge, with Water admitted to it through a` pipe feeding water or liquid from the top, sets up a surging in the Weir so that it is impossible to obtain an even flow of Water over the edge. This results from the high velocity of enteringy Water resulting from the high velocity of water flow employed in the injection pipe and it is necessary to employ such a high velocity of water inthe injection piping for commercial reasons, while an unbroken even now of water spilling over the edge of they Weir is required for correct results.

Still another object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an even, steady llow of water over the edge of a Weir. Accordingly, water is admitted from the side below the level of the Water therein, whereby the body of water in the Weir will retard the velocity of entering liquid and act in the nature of a buffer thereto. In carrying the invention into effect, a substantially concentric Weir is supported from the casing as an open channel and the water or liquid then spills over thecombined edges of the Weir. The total linear edge thus afforded is somewhat greater than the circumference of the Weir treated as a true circle, this additional length being an advantage. The water or liquid entering the weir and spilling over its edges will form a fan-shaped water contour corresponding to sections of a truncated cone and having the great advantage that the water sheet becomes thinner at the bottom of its fall.

The invention also seeks a condenser in which the rising gas flow is cooled by contacting with the cooler surfaces of the weir'. To this end, the path taken by the gases between the inlet and outlet bring them in direct contact with those surfaces of the Weir which are cooled by the body of water carried thereby.

Yet another object of the invention is a construction of condenser or the like which is practical from the standpoint of manufacture and use. I

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View lshowing in vertical central section, a condenser ink accordance with this invention;

Figure 2fis a view in transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and locking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a View, in transverse section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

While the invention is applicable to many uses, there is illustrated in the drawing a coun ter-current steam condenser comprising a casing or shell, conveniently formed in sections 6, 7 and 8, preferably cylindrical, having a water inlet 11, conveniently in the section '7.

Near the bottom isa steam inlet 12 below the water inlet and conveniently in the section 6. An air outlet pipe 13 is arranged in the top of the casing in the section 8 and a hot water discharge opening 14 is formed at the bottom of the shell.

As shown,y the inlet 12 takes the form of a pipe `of substantially elbow shape entering'the shell through an opening 17 in the side thereof and turned downwardly so that the mouth faces downwardly in the axis of the shell. Obviously, other known means of delivering the steam at the axis of the shell below the Water baiile may be equally well availed of.

For convenience, the upper section 8' of the condenser is connected to an intermediate shell vsection 7, as by the iianges 15. The sections 6 and 7 are joined by the anges 16. The steam inlet pipe 12 enters the bottom shell section 6 through a flanged opening 17 to which the pipe 12 may be secured, as by the flanges 18.

Within the casing and adjacent to the water inlet 11 is a weir 20-24 of special shape, vforming a reservoir for the incoming water. The weir is substantially rectangular in cross-section with vertical sides 20 anda iiat bottom 21. It is conveniently cast integral with the intermediate casing section 'l and is of substantially the height of that section although not necessarily so. The axis of the trough lies in a diameter of the casing section 'l and extends from side to side. At its midpoint 22,` the weir is of greatest diameter, gradually narrowing in width to the ends and the free upper edge of the walls 20, over which the water flows, is bevelled, as at 24, to form, in effect, deflecting means along the weir walls at their top edges so as to slant away from the center line and toward the outer casing of the condenser, thereby giving an initial direction to the water flowing thereover.

Water is introduced near the bottom of the Weir by the hole l1 opening into one end of the trough. A similar hole 26 is formed at the other end, closed by a cover 27. By removing this cover, sediment deposited in the bottom of the trough may be readily flushed out by a stream of water entering through the water inlet 11.

It is sought by means of the weir 20-24 to de-Y liver a curtain or sheet of water of substantially truste-conical shape, which, because of the increased diameter at the lower end, becomes thinner and ailords an increased surface area for contacting with the upwardly flowing hot gases and permits their flow therethrough with less pressure drop than would be the case if the sheet of water were thicker. It has been found that if a circular weir is disposed at this point in the condenser shell, a sheet of water in the form of a true frustum of a cone will be aiforded and that such a circular weir may be supported from the side walls of the shell, as by a water inlet, for instance. The weir shown in plan in Figure 2 has the proportions and relations just indicated but, for convenience, the sides have been straightened out slightly so as to avoid the angle which would be formed between a peripheral edge of a circular weir and the radialwater entering trough, which angle would result in a thickening of the over-flowing water at that point. It is thus trough-shaped and widest at its midpoint and it tapers gradually in width to the sides of the condenser. The water from the weir thus falls in substantially the shape of a truncated cone, although interrupted at diametrically opposite points where the weir is joined to the shell. Thus two, what may be called fan-shaped sheets or curtains of water fall from the Weir becoming wider and thinner as they fall.

Below the weir 20-24 is van annular Weir or basin 29, 30. This weir 29 is conveniently cast integral with the shell section 6 and has, for convenience, downwardly sloping bottom wall 29 and a vertical Ainner wall 30 over which the water spills. The annular weir 29-30 is disposed below the point at which the falling ian shaped curtains `of water 25 fallinggfrom the Weir 20-24 strikes the wall of the shell.v v This falling water accumulates in the basin 29-30 and over-flows and falls downwardly through the central circular gas passage 31 in the shape of a continuous sheet of water 32 having the form of an inverted cone which strikes-upon a baffle 34, the upper surface of which is curvilinear in all directionsA and may be likened somewhat to an umbrella.

This baille 34 may conveniently be supported by a web 36 from the steam inlet pipe 12. Its transverse diameter is substantially equal to the transverse diameter of the ilow passage 31l and is disposed substantially in the center of the shell. The water falling thereon from the annular Weir 29--30 falls from the periphery thereof in an unbroken sheet 33 of substantially frustoconical form completelysurrounding the steam inlety mouth 12 and striking the wall of the shell at a point near its bottom from which the water flows, as will be understood, through the water discharge opening 1.4. i

The three shell sections, 7 and 8 may be readilyformed` of cast metaL. flanged, `where they '5 13 with its integral baffle 34. is also easily join, for easy connection. The manufacture of this condenser is thus extremely simple, involv` ing only machining operations at the points where the flanges come together. Thestearrr inlet pipe n manufactured as a simple casting.

In the operation of this condenser the cold water overiiows the `two rims of the weir in two fan-like sheets 25, the hydraulic iiow being directed by suitable `means along the Weir walls and at their top edges, so as to slant away from the center line and toward the outer casing of the condenser, as shown by dash lines, Figure 1. The two water sheets thus formed are of equal weight and thickness, each sheet being thickest at the top and thinning at the bottom, forming an effective water blanket through which the air and uncondensible gases pass with minimum pressure drop for iinal cooling before reaching the outlet nozzle in the top of the casing above the welr. The two water sheets owing over the rims of the Weir 20-24 fall onto the collecting basing 29-30 below it, where the total weight of water represented by the two above mentioned sheets collect to form a pool around a concentric opening through which the water falls in a concentric and unbroken sheet of Water 32 onto the umbrella Vbaille 34 located vdirectly below, said umbrella baille discharging thecondensing water into thev steam space below it in the form of an enveloping water umbrella or sheet 33, which completely surrounds they entering steam, where it is acted upon, the condensed steam and hot water flowing away through the hot water discharge pipe 14 below.

` The construction provided remedies the defects inherent in all counter-current condensers as heretofore constructed, to wit, insuiiicient cooling of the air and non-condensible gases, unless by the excessive use of cooling water, which in turn results in excessive pressure drop due to the choking of the air passageways by the excessive `amounts of cooling water.

The construction as provided directs the ascending air and uncondensible gas stream against the bottom and side walls" of the Weir, which are cooled by the water contained therein, and by so impinging, materially helps the cooling action and thereby reduces the volume of the gases before the latter pass through the fanjshaped water sheets 25 flowing over the rims of the weir above. It is in thisrespect that the weir construction differs from all others heretoffore constructed. Heretofore weirs have spilled Vthe cooling water over a concentric rim, so that the air and uncondensible gases passing through the water sheet so formed flow directly into the space above the water weir, without any precooling by contact with the sides of the weir. By the construction of this' invention, the space directly above the collecting basin and below the waterweir issurrounded on all sides by cold water and cold surfaces, making the air cooling action certain and positive, and with economy .in the amount of cooling water employed, and

resulting in minimum pressure dropwith respect to the air and non-condensible gases passing therethrough, due to the fact that the large volume and opening provided does not choke up with the water.

Various modiiications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, coniiguration and disposition of the component elements going to make up the invention as a whole as well as the selection and' combination of' the respective eiementsin a device embodying the counter-current flow of liquids and gases and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanyingv drawing, exceptl as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

l. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casing having a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near the bottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, of a Weir whereof the edges extend between spaced points ondthe casing wall to deliver the water from the inlet, in at least two convex sheets each in contact at its sides with the casing wall and outwardly and downwardly intocontact with the casing wall.

2. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casing having a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near the bottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, oi' a weir whereof the edges extend between spaced points on the casing wall to deliver the water from the inlet in at least two convex sheets each in Contact at its sides with the casing wall each of the same weight and relative thickness, and outwardly and downwardly into contact with the casing wall.

3. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casing having a gas outlet, a

'water inlet therebelcw, a steam inlet near the bottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, of a weir having an edge which is above the water inlet to deliver the water from the inlet in at least two convex sheets each in contact at its sides' with the casing wall and outwardly and downwardly into contact with the casing wall.

4. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casing having agas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet nearA the bottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, o a trough shaped Weir whereof the edges each extend between spaced points on the casing wall to deliver the water from the inlet over said edges in two convex sheets, outwardly and downwardly into contact with the `casing wall.

5. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casinghaving a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near the bottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, of a trough shaped weir whereof the edges each extend between spaced points on the casing wall to deliver the water from the inlet over said edges in two convex sheets, outwardy and downwardly into contact with the casing wall and an annular weir to receive all of said water and deliver it over its inner edge in a continuous sheet of water of substantially inverted conical form.

6. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casing having a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near the bottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, of a trough shaped weir whereof the edges each extend between spaced points on the casing wall to deliver the water from the inlet in two convex sheets, outwardly and downwardly into contact l 'downwardly toward the casing wall, and means Water inlet therebelow, a steaminlet near the bottomand a liquid outlet at the bottom, of a trough shaped Weir to deliver the water from the inlet in two substantially fan-shaped sheets, outwardly and downwardly toward lthe casing wall,

an annular Weir to receive all of said water and deliver it over its inner edge in a continuous sheet o1 water of substantiallyv inverted conicaly formy casing wall completely blanket-ing the gas passage and means centrally disposed in the casing below said first named means to receive all of said Water and discharge it into the space therebelow.

9. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the

combination with a casing having a gas outlet, a

Water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near the bottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, of means to deliver the water from the inlet in at least two substantially fan-shaped sheets, outwardly and to receive all of said water and deliver it in a continuous sheet of water of substantially inverted conical form and means to introduce the steam .within the last named sheet of water to impinge thereagainst.

10. In a countercurrent condenser, a casing having an opening for steam or Vapor, an opening near its top for the escape of air` and non-condensible gases and an opening therebetween for the admission of liquid, means for directing the liquid through the casing to form an umbrella shaped sheet of water adjacent the steam inlet, means to admit the injection water in the form of two fan-shaped sheets of equal weight and thickness spanning the center line diameter of the casing and flowing outwards towards the casing at a point above the steam inlet, whereby the steam will be condensed against the under side of the water umbrella and the air and noncondensible. gases cooled by passage through the two fan-shaped water sheets on the way tothe air outlet.

11. In a countercurrent condenser, in combination, a shell having a gas outlet, a water inlet therebeloW, a steam inlet near the bottom and a water outlet at the bottoma troughshaped weir substantially rectangular in cross-section oi greatest Width at a point substantially midway between its ends and decreasing in width gradually` to the ends thereof and means to introduce water thereinto for overow therefrom.

12. In a countercurrent condenser, in combina-- tion, a shell having an outlet for gas, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near the bottom, a water outlet at the bottom, a trough shaped Weir extending substantially diametrically across' the` shell and means to introduce water a substantial distance below the edge of the weir. v f

13. In a countercurrent condenser, a casing having an opening for steam or vapor, an opening near its top for the escape of air and non-condensible gasesand an opening therebetween for.

the'admissionof liquidmeans for directing the liquid through the casing to form an umbrella shaped sheet of water adjacent the steam inlet, a weir to admit the injection water in the form of two fan-shaped sheets of equal weight andlthicliness spanning the center line4 diameter of the casing and flowing outwards towards the casing at a point above the steam inlet, whereby the steam will be condensed against the under side ofthe Water umbrellaandthe airand non-condensible gases cooled by Contact with the weir and passage through the two fan-shaped water sheets on the way to the air outlet.

14. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casing having a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow anda liquid outlet at the bottom, of a trough shaped Weir to deliver water from the inlet in two substantially fan-shaped sheets, outwardly and downwardly toward the casing wall, a second weir receiving saidwater, an umbrella shaped baiile to. receive water from said second weir and deliver it downwardly in a sheet of substantially umbrella' shape and a steam inlet deliveringV steam beneath the umbrella shaped baffle within the umbrella shaped sheet.

HENRY E. BYER.

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