US2256535A - Condenser - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. 23, 1941 CONDENSER Charles B. Tuley, Glenolden, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-. pany, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 6, 1937, Serial No. 167,510.

3 Claims.

My invention relates. to a surface condenser, more particularly to a scoop condenser for a ship, and it has for an object to provide an improved arrangement for circulating cooling water therethrough.

A more particular object is to provide an improved arrangement for effecting forced circulation of cooling water through the condenser while maneuvering or moving astern.

It has long been known to provide condensers in ships with scoops for utilizing the velocity of approach of the sea water to effect flow through the condenser while the ship is moving ahead at sufficient speed. At other times, however, as when maneuvering or going astern, the scoop is not effective and it is necessary to provide a pump.

for effecting flow of water at such time. In some cases, the pump has been placed in the path of the flow effected by the scoop. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the pump imposes resistance to flow.

It is an object of my invention to provide an arrangement of the character set forth in which the pump for effecting forced circulation is not disposed in the path of water flow effected by the. scoop so that it offers no resistance to such flow.

Still another object is to provide an arrangement of the character set forth in which the Scoop provides flow of cooling water through the condenser in a single pass and in which the pump effects flow in two passes. I

In accordance with my invention, I provide a scoop and an overboard discharge for effecting flow of water through the condenser by utilizing the velocity of approach of the sea water, while the ship is moving ahead at sufficient speed. I further provide a sea chest, of a design suitable for use while the ship is maneuvering or moving astern, and a pump for effecting forced circulation of water through the sea chest andthe condenser. The pump is arranged outside the path of water flow effected by the scoop, so that it does not oifer any resistance to such flow. The Pump may, therefore, be designed for eflicient operation instead of being designed for low re-' sistance to flow. Also, because the pump takes its water from a separate sea chest'instead of through the scoop which is designed for ahead operation, the loss in head through the scoop is avoided during astern operation. Such loss of head is considerable and imposes suction lift on the pump. In an optional arrangement, the scoop effects flow of water in a single pass through the condenser, while'the pump effects two-pass flow.

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

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section of a scoop condenser according to one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a second embodiment; and,

Fig. 4 is a partial horizontal section showing a modification of the valve arrangement of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 in detail, I show a surface condenser l0 disposed in a ship whose hull is shown at l l. The condenser proper is of usual construction, having condenser tubes l2 and inlet and outlet water boxes 13 and I4 communicating with the opposite ends of the tubes. The inlet water box l3 communicates with the water outside the hull ll through a scoop IS, a gate valve I6 and a conduit IT. The scoop I5 is of such form as to provide velocity-pressure conversion of the water flowing therethrough, the scoop utilizing the velocity of approach of the sea water relative to the ship for effecting such velocity-pressure conversion and consequent flow. The outlet water box l4 communicates with the sea water outside the hull through a conduit l8, a gate valve l9 and an overboard discharge 20. The latter may be provided with lips 2| and .22 on the forward and astern sides thereof. The construction so far described is known in the art.

In accordance with my invention, I further provide a sea chest 23 having a strainer plate 24.

The sea chest 23 is connected to the inlet water box I3 by a gate valve 25 and a conduit 26. It is of a form and construction to provide suitable entrance flow of sea water at any speed and direction of movement of the ship. The conduit 26 contains a propeller pump 21 including stationary vanes 28 and moving vanes 29 mounted on a shaft 30. Any other suitable type of pump may be used. The pump is driven by a turbine 3| connected to the shaft 30, or in any other suit- Figs. 1 and 2-operatz'on In normal operation, while the ship is moving ahead at suflicient speed, to the right as indicated by the arrow, the flapper valve 32 is posiastern, the flapper valve 32 is moved to close the conduit IT, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1. Op-

eration of the pump 21 is efiected by energizing the turbine 3|. The pump 21 theneflfects forced circulation of sea water inwardly throughthe strainer plates 24 and through the sea chest 23 and the conduit 26 to the inlet water box.. The water then flows through the tubes and'is dis charged through the overboard discharge, 2 as when the scoop I is efiecting flow.

Inasmuch. as thepump 21: is not disposed in thejpath 'of the flow of seawater efiected by the scoop l5,-it oifers noresistance to'such flow. It may, therefore, be designed for maximum projected area required for maximum'e'fficiency for the amount of water and the head required. Furthermore, suitable flow. of water into the condenser is provided by reason of the sea chest 23 which is designedso asto be suitable for such flow.

' Figure 3 f In.Fig;*3 Ishowa secondfembodiment of my invention in which a scoop isprovided to provide singlepass flowthroughthe condenser, as in the first embodiment, but in .which the circulating pump. is arranged to-provide two pass flow. The condenser 4|! comprises tubes 4|, and inlet and outletwater boxes 42 and 43 communicating with theoppos'iteends. of the tubes. The inlet water box 42gcommunicates with thesea water through a conduit. 44. having: its inlet' end'portion 45 formed to "provide ascoop; In other Words, it is of. divergent form, as in'Figs; 1 and 2, to effect velooityepressure conversion A valve 46 is provided and is adapted to shut 01f communication; between the conduit 44 and the inlet water box 42.:

.The' outlet water box43 is provided with an( intermediate vertical partition 41. dividing the same intoltwo chambers 48 and 49, each chamber communicating with one-half'of the tubes 4|. The-partition 4'! is formed=with an opening 5!) which'is' adaptedto be closed by a flapper valve 5|. The chamber'49 communicates with an overboard"discharge52. w

The chamber 48 communicates with the sea water outside the hull of the ship through an inlet conduit 53 which includes" a seachest 54. The 'sea'chest 54 is of a form and construction to provide suitable entrance flow of sea water at any speed and direction of movemen-t of the, ship. The inlet conduit 53. isprovided with a propeller pump 55 disposed therein. A valve 56 isfalso'provided in the inlet conduit 53 for'shutting ofi flowi'therethrough. Any suitable mesh, nismmay beprovided for simultaneously. oper-; ating the valves 46, 5| and 56, such as the system or rotating'fshafts andcbevelled gears indicated generallyjbythe referencenumeral 41 and ineluding a 'han'd wheeisa." a. a

' l fig. al-operation 1 When. the ship is .moving. ahead at suificient speed-Ito the-rightfass'een in Fig. 3) flow of sea j f f e d 'r ishfthe,bon in single pass to the left as shown by the full line arrows. The valves 46 and 5| are in open position, and the valve 56 is in closed position, as shown in full lines on the drawings. The sea water enters the scoop 45, which utilizes the velocity of approach of the sea water to eflect velocitypressure conversion and consequent flow of sea water through the condenser. The sea water enters the inlet water box, and passes through the tubes 4| to the outlet box 43. The water entering the chamber 48 passes through the open- "ing 50 into the chamber 48, and the water from both chambers is then discharged through the f .overboard discharge 52. During such flow, the

propeller pump 55 is idle, and since it is not disposed in the path of the flow, it ofiers no resistance thereto.

' When the ship is not moving ahead at suificient speed, as when maneuvering ahead or going astern, the valves 46 and 5| are closed and the valve 56 is open as shown by the dot and dash lines. 'The'propeller pump 55 is operated to effect flow of sea water inwardly through the sea chest to the chamber 43. Since the opening 50 is closed, the seawater flows in one pass through the tubes communicating with the chamber 48 to the chamber 42 which now serves as a reversing chamber. The water then enters the other half of the tube nest and flows in a second pass to the chamber 49, from which it is discharged through the overboard discharge 52. In this case, twopass flow of water through the condenser is ef-- per-valve 59, hinged at 60, serves the purpose of both of the valves 5| and 56 of Fig. 3. The connection of the conduit 53 with the chamber 48a,

and the opening 50a in the partition 47a are so arranged that the flapper valve may close either one and leave the other open. The construction and operation of this modification is otherwise the same as that of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. Y

From the foregoing description; it will be ap parent that I have provided a marine surface condenser so arranged that the tubes extend in a fore-an'd-aft direction with respect to the ship, the tubes having their ends communicating with water boxes. the exteriorjof thehull of'the ship by means of first, second, and third conduits, the first conduit extending forwardly'andibeing inclined at an" acuteangle with respect to the hull of the ship and the second and third conduits extending:

the third conduit to the overboard discharge. A

pump associated with the second conduit provides for circulation of water through the latter, thetubes, and the thirdconduit to the overboard d scharge when going astern. When going ahead above a minimum speed, valve means provide for Thewate'r boxes are connected to c isolation of the second conduit and the pump from the scoop flow path including the tubes so that the scoop is effective to produce circulation. On the other hand, for conditions where the scoop would be ineffective, such as operation ahead below the minimum, maneuvering or astern, the valve means provide for isolation of the first conduit and the scoop from the pump fiow path including the tubes. As shown in the drawings, it is necessary in all cases to have the first conduit communicate with the forward or inlet Water box and the third conduit communicate with the aft or outlet water box and to have valve means to isolate the pump and the second conduit from the flow path of the scoop when the latter is effective and to isolate the first conduit and the scoop from the flow path of the pump when the latter is effective; however, the second conduit may communicate either with the inlet or with the outlet water box. Where the second conduit is connected to the inlet water box, the portion of the flow path provided by the tubes is identical both for the scoop and the pump so that it is merely necessary to provide valve means effective to open the first conduit and close the second and vice versa. On the other hand, where the second conduit is connected to the aft water box, as the overboard discharge or third conduit is also connected thereto, it is necessary that the valve means shall also be capable of separating the two, when the pump is effective to define the tube portion of the fiow path.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departin from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a marine condenser having ahead and astern Water boxes, a condenser scoop for conveying sea water to said ahead water box, valve means for controlling flow through said scoop, a partition in said astern water box dividing the same into first and second chambers communicating with first and second groups of tubes, said partition having an opening therein, an overboard discharge communicating with said first chamber, a sea chest communicating with said second chamber, a

pump for translating sea water through said sea chest, and valve means for controlling flow through said sea chest and through the opening in said partition.

2. In condensing apparatus, the combination of a shell, a nest of tubes therein, a water box communicating with said tubes at one end, first conduit means communicating with said Water box and including a scoop, first valve means for hutting off flow of Water through said first conduit means, second conduit means communicating with one portion of the tubes at the second or opposite end, third conduit means having fiuid translating means for effecting fiow of water therethrough, and second valve means for selectively connecting a second portion of the tubes at said second end to either said second conduit means or said third conduit means, whereby, when the first valve means is open and the second valve means connects said second tube portion to said second conduit means, single pass fiow of water through the condenser is efiected by said scoop, and when said first valve means is closed and said second valve means connects said second tube portion to said third conduit means, two-pass flow of water through the condenser is effected by said scoop.

3. In a surface condenser, a shell, first and second water boxes connected to the ends of the shell; a partition dividing the second box into first and second chambers and having an opening providing for communication therebetween; a nest of tubes having the ends thereof communicating with the boxes and arranged so that a portion thereof communicates with said first chamber and the remainder with said second chamber; first means including a first conduit for supplying Water to the first box, second means including a second conduit for supplying water to the first chamber of the second box; means providing a discharge passage for the second chamber of the second box; first, second, and third valves for opening and closing the first and second conduits and said partition opening, respectively; and means for opening and closing said valves such that, when the first means is effective to supply water to the first box, the first and third valves will be open and the second closed, and, when said second means is effective, said second valve will be open and the first and third valves will be closed.

CHARLES B. TU'LEY.

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