US2796050A

US2796050A - Exchanger vapor generators

Info

Publication number: US2796050A
Application number: US424991A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gustav A Rehm
Original assignee: SPRINGFIELD BOILER Co
Current assignee: SPRINGFIELD BOILER Co
Priority date: 1954-04-22
Filing date: 1954-04-22
Publication date: 1957-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1974-06-18

Description

June 18, 957 I G. A. REHM 2,795,050 7 EXCHANGER VAPOR GENERATORS Filed April 22, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l In We 72 Z02" 'as fav ./7. fiem June 18, 1957 G. A. REHM EXCHANGER VAPOR GENERATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22. 1954 jnvenzor Jarfier & @arfer .itzarneys June 18, 1957 G. A. REHM EXCHANGER VAPOR GENERATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 22, 1954 U I Inventor lfflllllfllfll Iflllllll!llflllflll mrflld Jzfarney June 18, 1957 G. A. REHM 2,796,050

I EXCHANGER VAPOR GENERATORS Filed April 22, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 uszaz/ A jikm United States Patent F EXCHAN GER VAPOR GENERATORS Gustav A. Rehm, Springfield, Ill., assignor to Springfield Boiler Company, Springfield, 111., a corporation of Illi- IIOIS Application April 22, 1954, Serial No. 424,991

3 Claims. (Cl. 122-32) heat; for example, the cooling jackets of an internal combustion engine or the like.

A primary object of my invention is a steam generating unit designed and constructed. to convert heat energy from a so-called contaminated source into high pressure steam.

Another object of my invention is a unit of the above type adapted for use with a heat exchanger fluid or coolant with one or more heat exchangers in combination with a steam drum.

Another object of my invention is a steam generating unit of the above type constructed and arranged for ease of access while having generally heavy tube sheets and the like.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of my steam generating unit;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal view of the unit shown in Figure 1, with parts omitted or broken away for clarity;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, similar to Figure l, of a modified form of the steam generating unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of this modification; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of still a third form of my invention.

In Figure 1, a steam generating unit is indicated generally at and includes a horizontally disposed drum 12 with a plurality of generally upright heat exchangers 14. The heat exchangers are arranged in generally symmetrical rows one or more deep, as shown in Figure 1, and one or more across as shown in Figure 2.

High pressure heated fluid, hereinafter referred to as the coolant, from a heat source is brought in through a suitable inlet main 16 and discharged through an outlet main 18. The heat exchangers 14 are mounted generally upright on any suitable supporting structure, not shown..

Inlet pipes 20 extend inwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and are connected to the inlet main 16. Suitable inlet connections 22 join each of the heat exchangers to one of the pipes 20 and outlet connections 24 carry the coolant from the heat exchangers to outlet pipes 27 which carry the coolant to the outlet main 18. While I have shown onlythree such inlet and outlet pipes 20 and 27. serving six sets of heat exchangers, there could be six or,

Patented June 18, 1957 Ice 30 up through the heat exchanger and back to the outlet portion 32.

Thus, the coolant will enter through the inlet main 16, will circulate into the transverse inlet pipes 20, will flow through each of the inlet pipes 22 to the inlet portions 30 in the bottom or side of the heat exchanger, and up through the heat exchanger tubes 34 and back to the outlet portion 32 where it is discharged through the outlet pipes 24 to the conduit 26 and back to the outlet main 18.

The interior of each of the heat exchangers is adapted to contain a fluid, such as water or liquid metal or any other suitable liquid, up to the level indicated in Figure 1. The water is drawn off through pipes 36 to a transverse conduit 38, a group of which extend between the heat exchanger, as shown in Figure 2, and out to a longitudinal main 40. A discharge pipe 42 carries the water to a pump 44 and is recirculated through a supply pipe 46 to a longitudinal inlet main 48. This main has a plurality of jets 50 adapted to inject water into a group of transverse conduits 52 with venturi sections extending between the heat exchanger, as shown in Figure 2, connected to the lower end of the heat exchangers by pipes 56. Thus, a closed circulating system is formed with a conventional pump 46 circulating water drawn off at the top of the heat exchangers through the pipes 36 and returning itto the bottom of the heat exchanger through the pipes 56. Water carryover pipes 59 from the heat exchangers to the steam drum are provided, as required, to maintain a water level in the heat exchangers and the drum.

The steam formed in each of the heat exchangers is carried to the steam drum by a plurality of pipes 58 with appropriate valves, if valves are desired. The top of the heat exchangers are provided with suitable manholes and covers 57.

A suitable outlet 60 for steam is provided on the drum, and a feed water make-up to the drum is provided through an inlet 62, the amount of water being fed to the drum for make-up being regulated by a Valve 64 controlled by an expansion tube 66. One end of the tube is connected to the top of the drum through a pipe 68 while the other end is connected to the steam drum below the water level by a pipe 70. If there is sudden increase in the steam demand, a rapid withdrawal of stored steam is followed by a rapid drop in pressure, and a bubbling up of escaping steamat a rapid rate. This raises the water level in the drum and contracts the tube which decreases the valve opening. The decrease of cold water feed input allows the boiler to steam at the required rate. A continued heavy steam demand gradually lowers the water level in the boiler tube, expanding the tube and opening the control valve 64 wide enough to pass through acquired flow.

The specific internal details of the steam drum 12 of themselves do not form a part of this invention and as an example only, reference is made to U. S. Pat. No.

In Figure 3, I have shown a modified form of my invention, a lot of the details being the same as in Figures 1 and 2; for example, six heat exchangers are positioned transversely and arranged in four rows. A steam drum 102 is positioned above the normal water level 104,

' each of the heat exchangers being connected at its top to the return and inlet pipes so that natural circulation can take place, the degree of forced circulation provided being regulated by a suitable valve system. The water inlet from thepump has branches 118 with jets 120 which project water into a venturi section 122 in the branches 116. A suitable steam outlet 124 is provided on the steam drum with one or more condensate returns 126 connected to the bottom of the drum and to the fluid circulating system.

It should be noted that a water level is not maintained in the steam drum and only steam alone is provided. One or more standpipes 128 are connected to the steam drum by a lead 130' and to the water in the heat exchangers by'a pipe system 132. A suitable feed water make-up control system similar to the one shown in Figures 1 and 2, is indicated at 134 for regulating the amount of make-up water supplied to the system through a pipe 136 from a suitable source 138. a

The coolant circulating system can be generally the same as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified form similar to Figures 1 and 2 and showing one of the heat exchangers diagrammatically connected to the drum. The exchanger 150 has a coolant inlet 152 and outlet 154 connected to a chamber 156 in the bottom of the exchanger. The chamber is divided into two portions by a wall section 158, and the coolant is circulated up through the fluid in the exchanger pipes 164). Steam is taken out ofthe top of the exchanger through a suitable connector 162 toa steam drum 164. The water circulating system includes the pipe 166 connecting the top of the heat exchanger to the drum and the pipe 16% for returning fluid from the drum to the bottom of the heat exchanger. The steam outlet is provided with a separator 169 which returns moisture to the fluid outlet flow in pipe 166 by a lead 170. The pipe 168 may be provided with a forced circulation pump to augment the water circulation if desired, as in Figure l.

Make-up water and return condensate from a conventional turbine generator unit or the like is introduced into the drum from an inlet 171 by a suitable pump or the like and is heated by the steam from the pipe 162. The inlet or makeup water flows down over an internal structure in the drum designated at 172 generally, the details of which are old and conventional as shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,655,905. The heat exchanger 159 is divided into a plurality of segments or sections. bottom section 174-is generally cup-shaped and is welded to an intermediate section 176 in a circular connection indicated generally at 178. The intermediate section 176 has access openings 16th for inspection and repair. An

pipe 168 is connected to a section 134 which is welded at 186 circumferentially to the intermediate section and.

to the main portion 188 of the heat exchanger at a circumferential weld 199. A circular shield or baffle 191 is. provided to prevent the incoming water from damaging the tubes.

The use, operation, and function of my invention are as follows:

My invention is primarily usable with a heat source that contacts the fluid or coolant by circulating around it; for example, a chemical reaction or process, an internal combustion engine, an electrical reaction or magnetic reaction, as the case may be, or any other type. The coolant circulating around the source could be heavy water, or distilled water, a liquid metal, sodium, or the like. The coolant from the heat source will be at a very high pressure; for example, in one case in the neighborhood of 2300 lbs. p. s. i.

The coolant cannot be used as the fluid to directly transfer the heat to a turbo-generator unit; Therefore, I have provided an intermediate transfer unit so that the heat energy can be transferred from the coolant to a more usable fluid; for example, water. To do this, the coolant is circulated through a group or battery of heat exchangers which are constructed both to withstand the high pressures of. the coolant and also to prevent intermingling of For example, the

4 the coolant and water so that the water will not become contaminated. With these heat exchangers, a conventional drum is connected in a closed circulating system, be it a water drum or a steam drum, and heat energy in the form of steam is withdrawn from the drum and used in a turbo-generator or other unit.

While I have not shown other conventional details, it should be understood that conventional condensers and pumps could be used to return the condensed steam to the water circulating system.

The large rolled sections of metal shown in the lower part of the exchanger in Figure 5 are provided to withstand the high pressures in the coolant.

The entire unit could be constructed as follows:

One steam drum, such as in Figures 1 through 3, with a battery or collection of small exchangers. On the other hand, more than one drum can be used with less heat exchangers. At the same time, installations may require that one exchanger be used with one drum. The various combinations of drums and. exchangers should fit the requirements of the particular installation. For example, one drum can easily be used with only one exchanger, or one drum can have more than one exchanger in the form of a battery or collection. At the same time, possibly two drums either wet or dry, could be used with only one exchanger. In any event, all installations will require that at least one drum be used with one exchanger.

Although I have not shown any specific superheater, it should be understood that one can easily be installed and used. For example, the steam taken from the drum could be directed over another U-tube type heat exchanger in contact with the coolant. Even though I have shown valves between the heat exchangers and the drum and in the coolant lines leading to the heat exchangers in Figures 1 through 4, it should be understood that these can be eliminated, as in Figure 5, is desired.

While I have shown and described the preferred form and one modification of my invention, it should be understood that numerous changes and alterations can be made without departing from the inventions fundamental theme. I therefore wish that the invention be unrestricted except as by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a steam generating system and the like, a water circuit and a coolant circuit, a plurality of generally upright elongated heat exchangers common to both the water and coolant circuits to effect heat transfer from the coolant to the water, each heat exchanger having a pressure resistant bottom section with thickened walls for the coolant capable of withstanding pressures on the order of 2300 pounds p. s. i., and an upper elongated steam and water chamber with Walls substantially thinner than those in' the bottom section, a thickened tube sheet between the bottom section and the upper chamber separating them, heat exchanger tubes connected to the tube sheet extending into the upper chamber, an inlet connection for the coolant connected to one portion of the bottom section of each heat exchanger, an outlet connection for the coolant connected to another portion of the bottom section of each heat exchanger, the coolant inlet and outlet connections being constructed and arranged to provide coolant flow through the heat exchanger tubes, a longitudinal drum in the water circuit, a water return connection between the bottom of the longitudinal drum and each of the heat exchangers connected generally at the bottom of the steam and water chamber, a water outlet connection below the normal Water level for the steam and water. chamber of. each heat exchanger recirculating Water externally to the bottomof the steam and water chamber, and a steam outlet connection for. the top of the steam. and .water chamber ofeachheat. exchanger connectedv to the drum.

2. The structure. of claim 1 in which. the. water. outlet connection for. the steam and water chamber for each heat exchanger is connected. to the longitudinal drum below its normal water level so that the water is returned externally from the top to the bottom of the steam and water chamber indirectly through the drum.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which the water outlet connection for the steam and water chamber for each 5 heat exchanger is returned directly to the bottom of the steam and water chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,774,114 Vandeveer Aug. 26, 1930 1,781,057 Elmwall Nov. 11, 1930 2,220,045 Kraft et a1. Oct. 29, 1940 2,379,661 Sebald July 3, 1945