US2185964A - Heat exchange apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1940. A, J. LARRECQ HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q A WM @AA Q Q @mkm b Inventor: Anthony J. Larrecop J95 IV C: H is Attorngg.

Jan. 2, 1940. A. J. LARRECQ HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS 2 Shets-Sheef. 2

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Patented Jan. 2, 1940' 2,185,964 HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS,

Anthony J. Larrecq, Beach Bluff, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 17, 1938, S erialNo. 191,1147

12jClaims; (01. 257-25) The present invention relates to heat exchange apparatus for use with motor vehicles. Although not limited thereto, the invention is especially applicable to locomotives which are driven directly or indirectly by means of an elastic operatingfluidsuch as steam which is de-- sired to be continuously re-condensed and: reutilized. r

It is an object of the invention to provide an air cooled heat exchanger apparatus capable of con-. densing the exhaust fluid of the locomotive engine with very little loss of suchfiuid thereby to reduce to a small value the amount of make-up fluid necessarilysupplied during" a given run of the locomotive.

A further object is to provide a surface type condenser which will operate efliciently under the conditions encountered in a locomotive or other motor vehicle.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as applied to a locomotive, the heat exchange apparatus comprises a condenser arranged in the upper portion of the vehicle adjacent the roof and after-cooler sections arranged adjacent the outer 25, side walls of the vehicle in such a way as to permit air to be drawn through inlets, in such walls,

forced across the heat exchange surfaces thereof, and discharged through the roof of the vehicle by means of a blowerappropriately arranged. The condensate is collected in a reservoir arranged in the vehicle floor. By this arrangement; a very eflicient operation of the heat exchange apparatus isobtained, since the cooling air passes first over the after-coolersections and then over the condensen section. As a, result, a very complete separatiohgof the condensable vapor and the non-'condensables takes place and correspondingly-little fluid has to be supplied to the system for makeup purposes. V

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel ;and my invention, attention is directed to the folrangement; Fig. 3 is a side View of a section of the condenser arrangement taken through the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section detail througha group of the condenser 55 tubes appearing in Pigs. 2v and 3; and Fig: 5 is a which are'mechanically connected further aspects oi the condensing apparatus arfragmentary detailed view in section of the con-' denser supporting means shown in Fig. 2.- f

Since it is particularly adaptable for such use,- the invention will be described as applied to-a turbo-electric locomotive, that is, a locomotive which employs an elastic fluid turbine as 'a prime mover and an electric generator and motor combination for transmitting the energy developed 7 by theprime mover to. the driving wheels of the locomotive. By condensing the exhaust fluids of the turbine, at low back pressure may bemaintained andhigh turbine cycle efiiciency realized.

. Furthermore, the rate at which make-up fluid must be supplied may be reduced to a low value so that long continuous runs without rewatering become possible, this being a factor of considerable importance in maintaining high speed locomotive schedules. 1 v v The locomotive which is illustrated in Fig.1 as

being of the reversible type comprises acab structure I!) supported on trucks ll and l2 havinga pair of similar power plant-units l3 and I4 ar ranged atopposite ends of the locomotive struc- V ture. For the present purposes, only one 'unit will bedescribed sincethe two units are substantially identical. The power plants include a boiler 15 shown, an'elasticifiuid turbine l6 and an electric generator ll connected'to the turbine in 'any'suitable manner. The power developed by the generator is transmitted to electric motors, not shown, to the driving wheels of the locomotive. The elastic fluid flows from the boiler l5 through a conduit l-8 through the turbine l6 and exhausts '"through the conduit 19 into themain condenser section 20 disposed in the upper per-*- tion of the vehicle immediately adjacent the cab I roof. The admixed, condensateand' non-condensable pass from the. main condenser. 20 through connections 2| to apair. of after-cooler of "the locomotive cab, these being drained by conduits 23 into the reservoir or hot-well 24 from e which the condensate is returned to the boiler'by means of a pump 25 and conduit 26.

As shown in Fig.3, the main condensercomprises a transverse inlet header 21, and a parpreferably heated by a liquid fuel burner, notsections 22 disposed in theoppositesidewalls" The tubes are provided with fins 3| in a wellknown manner to increase the heat radiating surface thereof. The elastic fluid entering the inlet header 21 through the exhaust conduit l9 passes through the first section of heat exchange tubes where partial condensation takes place, these tubes draining into the intermediate header 29.. Condensate is drained from the in-.- termediate header29 by means of a conduit 32 communicating therewith into the hot-well 24. The remaining elastic fluid passes then into the second section of heat exchange tubes where further condensation takes place, these tubes draining into the outlet header 28. The condenser unit is so arranged and shaped, as indicated, to conform with the shape of the roof to utilize advantageously the available space therebeneath. As viewed in Fig. 2, due to the arch of the roof, the depth of the condenser section is considerably less at the. sides than in the central portion. Accordingly, at the sides where the condenser is only a few tubes deep, the tubes .are relatively closely spaced. Likewise in the central section where the depth of the condenser is considerable, the tubes are more widely spaced apart so that the resistance to air flow is substantially uniform throughout the width of the condenser unit. Under such conditions, the temperature rise of the cooling air is substantially uniform across the condenser surface.

From header 28, the condensate together with any remaining traces of vapor and admixed noncondensables pass through connections 2| into the after-cooler sections 22 where separation is completed. The after-cooler sections 22 disposed adjacent the opposite side walls 33 immediately below the main condenser 20 comprise upper headers 34 and lower headers 35 having a plurality of vertically arranged heat exchange tubes 35 communicating therebetween. The side walls are provided withopenings protected by louvers 31 through which cooling air passes and circulates over the surface of the tubes 36. The coolingair coming first into contact with the after-cooler sections completes the separation of the condensable vapors and the non-condensable gases which pass from the lower headers of these sections through the conduits 23 into the hot-well 24 located in the floor of the cab structure. The non-condensables are drawn from the hot-well through a connection 39by any suitable ejector or pumping means, not shown.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to improve the characteristics of .the condenser by spraying the tubes'thereof with anevaporative fluid, such as water.

Means for accomplishing this result are illustrated as comprising a series of spray tubes 40 which extend at spaced intervals longitudinally through the condenser section. As

shown in Fig. 3, these spray tubes are connected by a supply conduit 4|, and are so perforated as indicated in Fig. 4, at 42 and so spaced 'withrespect to the condenser tubes that the jets of water therefrom contact with substantially all of the heat exchange tubes of the section.

Expansion considerations and the types of vibration normally encountered in high speed locomotive operation make it necessary to provide for a certain degree of flexibility in the heat exchanger mounting so that at least some relative motion can take place between the heat exchanger units and the supporting framework of the vehicle without excessively stressing the heat exchanger parts. In accordance with the present invention the main condenser unit is resiliently supported upon the vehicle framework, as shown in the detail sketch, Fig. 5. The condenser headers 21, 28 and 29 are secured as by welding to a pair of parallel supporting members 43 extending along opposite sides thereof which are provided with extending flange portions 44. The flange portions are adapted to rest upon angle brackets 45 secured to the side walls 33 of the vehicle through intermediate resilient supporting means 46. A pin 41 which is secured as by welding to the angle bracket 45 through an anchoring disk 48, extends upwardly through an aperture 49 provided in the flange portion 44. A plurality of annular, disks 50 of resilient material, such as rubber, provided at their inner and outer peripheries with annular metallic spacer rings 5|, are mounted on the pin, held between a shoulder 52 thereon and a nut 53 threaded onto the upper end thereof. A cylindrical member 54 is secured as by welding to the upper surface of the flange portion 44 around the aperture 49, and engages and positions the disks so that the pin 41 is retained in a spaced relationship with the edges of the aperture 49. A cap 55 is threaded into the upper portion of the cylinder, the shoulder 56 of which engages the outer spacer ring of the upper disk and clamps the assembly of disks so that the flange 44 is supported spaced from the vehicle frame member 45 and the anchor ring48. By this arrangement, there is no metal to metal contact between the condenser unit 20 and thesupporting structure, so that vehicular vibrations and stresses are effectively insulated. The after-cooler sections 22 are supported at their lower ends upon angle brackets 51 secured, as by welding to the side walls of the vehicle, suitable apertures 58 being provided in the horizontal portion of the bracket for the passage of the drain conduits therethrough. The

upper ends of the after-cooler sections are retained in position by resilient means which allow for the expansion of the sections, and prevent the transmission of injurious stresses from the vehicle body to the sections. As shown in Fig. 5, a cushion 59 of resilient material, such as rubber, is held by a suitable retainer member 60 which in turn is fastened, as by welding, to the underside of bracket 45. A metal section '6! moulded into the central portion of the cushion provides a bearing surface for a cooperating lug 62 extending from the upper surface of the aftercooler header 34.

In order to force air through the heat exchange apparatus with the desired velocityfI may utilize one or more blowers arranged in a suitable manner between the after-cooler sections and the condenser unit. The particular form of blower illustrated comprises a set of vanes 63 which, as shown,.may be driven by any suitable means such as a turbine 64. The turbine and blower are supported as by suitable brackets 65 extending from the side walls of the vehicle. As shown, the bracket 65 comprises a sheet of metal which forms a partition between the lower portion of the vehicle and the condenser compartment and substantially encloses the air passage between the side wall and the roof openings. A stationary liner 66 depending from the condenser supports is arranged around the blower vanes to provide an orifice therefor, a ring 61 at the lower edge thereof increases the rigidity of the arrangement. The cooling air is drawn through inlet louvers in the side walls, past the aftercooler tubes and is forced by the blower upwardly past the condenser tubes and is discharged 55 jac'ent theh'oof'pf th venicli In havfmggfinlet and utlet headers longitudinally co sider to said bondenser spaced'apart with"'rp'ect to said vehicle, a plurality of heat exchange tubes communicating between said headers and sloping toward said W outlet header, a pair of after-cooler sections disposed along opposite side walls of said vehicle, said after-cooler sections each comprising upper and lower headers having vertically arranged heat exchange tubes communicating therebe- 7 n5 tween, the upper headers of said after-cooler sections communicating with the; outlet header of said condenser, a reservoir for condensate in the floor of the vehicle, a conduit extending from the lower headers of said after-cooler sections to 70 said reservoir, inlets for air in the side walls adjacent said after-cooler sections, an outlet for air in the roof of said vehicle adjacent said condenser section, a blower positioned between said aftercooler sections and said condenser section for if; drawing air past said after-cooler sections and said outlet headers transversely arranged with respect 60 g it past the condenser and through, tlet opening. A

on 1 roi' -bondensateaingith Q 'nt nu aiieonduitiromdra-inir said aiteracoolersdr toisa th btlliletil'iekdel f long oppositessideenel-lst id it F CODIEIFJ'SBCtiODSrfiDII} r hl-ough stheiouliifii en la tube-sentencing amon the l motor vehicle havin an d t exchange mea-nsdor, Qmlens idexhaust-tram saidt'enginm'sai ndenser rdisposed ;adjacent to said vehicle, a pluralityof heat exchange tubes connected between said headers and, sloping towards said outlet header, said tubes being so spaced apart that the resistance to air flow past said tubes is substantially uniformacross the 55 surface of said condenser, and an intermediate header between said inlet and outlet headers communicating with said heat exchange tubes.

6. Heat exchange apparatus including a condenser having inlet and outlet headers, a plurality 10 of heat exchange tubes connected between said headers andsloping toward said outlet header, anv intermediate header between said inlet and outlet. headers communicating with said heat exchange tubes, means for conducting condensate from in the ,said intermediate and outlet headers and a reservoir for receiving such condensate.

7. Heat exchange apparatus including a condenser having horizontally spaced apart inlet and outlet headers, a plurality of heat exchange tubes connected between said headers and sloping toward said outlet header, an intermediate header parallel with said inlet and outlet headers communicating with said heat exchange tubes,

means for conducting condensate from said intermediate and outlet headers, a plurality of spaced apart tubes extending between said heat exchange tubes for spraying said last mentioned tubes with an evaporative fluid such as water. 8. Heat exchange apparatus including a condenser having spaced apart inlet and outlet headers, a plurality of heat exchange tubes connected between said headers and sloping toward said outlet header, an intermediate header between said inlet and outlet headers communicating with said heat exchange tubes, means for and means positioned between said condenser and said after-cooler for forcing cooling fluid into contact with the tubes of said condenser and said after-cooler.

9. In a motor vehicle having an elastic fluid engine, heat exchange means for condensing the elastic fluid exhaust from said engine, said means comprising a heat exchanger disposed adjacent an opening in the roof of said vehicle, inlet and outlet headers for said heat exchanger arranged transversely of said vehicle, a pair of heat exchangers arranged adjacent openings in the opposite walls of said vehicle, said pair of heat exchangers each having an upper inlet header and a lower outlet header and conduit means communicating between the outlet header of said first heat exchanger and the inlet headers of said pair of heat exchangers.

' 10. In a motor vehicle having an elastic fluid engine, heat exchange means for condensing the elastic fluid exhaust from said engine, said means comprising a heat exchanger disposed adjacent an opening in the roof of said vehicle and extending longitudinally with respect thereto, inlet and outlet headers for said heat exchanger. arranged transversely of said vehicle, the opposite ends of said headers being resiliently supported on the sidewalls of said vehicle, a pair of heat exchangers arranged adjacent openings in the opposite side walls of said vehicle, said pair of heat exchangers each having an upper inlet header and a lower outlet header, a conduit connection between the outlet header of said first heat exchanger and the inlet headers of said pair of heat exchangers, and blower means for circulating air through said heat exchangers.

11. In a motor vehicle having an elastic fluid engine, heat exchange means for condensing the elastic fluid exhaust from said engine arranged within a compartment in the upper portion of said vehicle,said means comprising a heat exchanger disposed adjacent an opening in the roof of said vehicle, inlet and outlet headers for said heat exchanger arranged transversely of said vehicle, a pair of heat exchangers arranged within said compartment adjacent openings in the opposite side walls of said vehicle, and having inlets adjacent said outlet header, means for conducting elastic fluid from said outlet header to the inlet of each of said pair of heat exchangers, means defining an air passage between said side wall and said roof openings and substantially partitioning said heat exchanger compartment from theremainder of said vehicle, and means arranged in said air passage for circulating cooling air through said heat exchangers.

12. In a motor vehicle'having an elastic fluid engine, heat exchange means for condensing the elastic fluid exhaust from said engine arranged within a compartment in the upper portion of said vehicle, said means comprising a first heat exchanger longitudinally arranged adjacent an opening in the roof of said vehicle, inlet and outlet headers for said first heat exchanger arranged transversely of said vehicle and supported upon the opposite side walls thereof, a pair of heat exchangers arranged within said compartment adjacent openings in the opposite side walls of said compartment, means for conducting the uncondensed elastic fluid from said first heat exchanger to each of said pair of heat exchangers, a blower arranged beneath said first-mentioned heat exchanger and between said oppositely disposed heat exchanger for circulating cooling air therethrough, and means including the support for said blower substantially enclosing the air passage between said side wall and said roof openings.

' ANTHONY J. LARRECQ.

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