US2886247A - Trapless steam condensate system - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1959 A. G. ARBOGAST 2,886,247

TRAPLESS STEAM CONDENSATE SYSTEM Filed Nov. 1, 1957 STEA M 5U PPLY STEAM HEATED EQUIPMENT lN AQALLEI. I8 I 19 /9 /9 PRESSUEFEYIISZULBE. ommcas "'h E Z6 TOVENTEO l5 oewsnre 43 R iwIVER LOW 5102-: PRESSURE NORMALLY IMPULSE LINE OPEN VALVE 42 DIAPHRAGM 4/ CHAMBEZ -4I- HIGH SIDE pzsssurzs m upa LINE) 4 Pl G. .2. 43 5 5/,

33% I I m INVENTOR. ALVA 6. 48806457;

- invention.

United States Patent i 2,886,247 TRAPLFSS STEAM (IONDENSATE SYSTEM A i Alva Gleason Arbogash Charleston, W. va.- Application November 1, 1957, Serial $101,693,944 1 7. c1. 237-9) T This-invention relates to steam utilization systems, and

more particularly to a method and means for removing steam'condensate from steam-using equipment and is a continuation-in-part application of my pending application Serial No.-683,901, filed September 13, 1957.

- A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved system for rapidly removing steam condensate from steam-utilizing equipment of the type em-- ploying the latent heat of steamfor the operation thereof, thev system involving simple components, requiring no steam .traps, and providing a higher rate of heat transfer.

to a steam-utilizing device that can be attainedin a systememploying steam traps.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im-= proved system for rapidly removing steam condensate from steam utilizing equipment, the system being arranged so that it provides positive control of condensate drainage, thereby permitting a controlled amount of steam to be withdrawn with the condensate and assuring complete and rapid disposal of the steam condensate.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved system for rapidly removing steam condensate from steam-utilizing equipment, the system involving relatively inexpensive components, being reliable in operation,

and: assuring maximum rate of heat transfer to the equipment, whereby the equipment may be efficiently employed for:.performing process worlerequiring heat transfer.

steam-utilizing system. arranged in accordance with the present invention. Designated at 11 is a high pressure steam line leading from a source of high pressure steam, said steam line being connected to a steam header 12 through a manually controlled valve 13. Designated at,

. 14 is an exhaust header which is connected to the condensate drainage line 15 leading to a suitable vented condensate receiver, not shown.

Designated at16 are a plurality of steam-utilizing de-v vices, for example, heating devices employed in process 1. work, said devices utilizing the latent heat of the high Thus, the heat transfer.

pressure steam admitted thereto. devices 16 are supplied with live steam from the header 12 through inlet conduits 17, as shown in Figure 1, the exhaust steam leaving the devices 16 through discharge i conduits 18. The discharge conduits 18 are connected to the exhaust steam header 14 through respective restriction devices 19, similar to those shown and fully described in applicants copending application Serial No. 683,901, filed .September 13, 1957. Thus, the restriction devices 19 .comprise sleeve members provided with internal trans-.

::-A still further object of the invention is to providean improved method and means for rapidly removing steam condensate from steam-utilizing equipment of the type employingthela'tent heat of steam, the means being arranged so thatit requires minimummaintenance, has high sensitivity to the presence of live steam in the condensate drain line, responds immediately to the presence of condensate in the drain line to rapidly remove the con-- densate, and is especially useful in process work, such as plastic molding, air heating at high temperatures, contact heating of moving material over a heated platen or roll, orthelike, :or .in other'operations involving the use of extremely high steam pressures, the apparatus being charx v Figure l is a schematic view of a steam-utilizing system.

constructed and arranged in accordance with the present Figure 2 is enlarged longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken. through the condensate-sensitive impulse amplifying device employed in the system of Figure 1.

"Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a typical verse walls, each formed centrally with a restriction, defin-- ing an orifice, the orifice being calibrated or dimensioned to handle the maximum quantity of condensate that its associated steam utilizing device can produce in a given period of ,timeundera predetermined pressure ditferential across the orifice.

The aforesaid pressure diflerential across the orifices in the restriction devices.19 is controlled by a pressure difierential responsive valve, designated generally at 23,

and fully described in the above mentioned copending, application, Serial No. 683,901, entited Trapless Steam Condensate System, The valve 23 is connected in the condensate ,drain line 15 and is controlled in accordance.

with the difference in pressures in the steam line 11 (and steam header 12) and the condensate drainage line 15.'

The pressure-responsive valve 23 is of the normally open type and includes a diaphragm housing 25 containing a diaphragm and having respective chambers 39 and- 40 above and belowthe diaphragm thereof. The dia-. phragm is connected to'a. plunger valve provided-in the plunger housing 26, spring means, not shown, being providedto bias the plunger of the valve to an open position with respectto its seat. chamber 40 to the end of the high pressure steam header .12, whereby the high pressure steam in header 12 acts against the spring means of the valve and tends "to close the valve in accordance with the supply steam pressure.

Thus, increase in pressure: in line 11 normally acts to close the valve, since it acts against the valve spring.

A conduit 42 connects the. upper diaphragm chamber 39 to the intermediate portion of a pressure impulse amplifying device 43- provided in the condensate drainage line 15 between the valve 23 and the exhaust header 14. Thus, the low pressure steam inthe exhaust header 14 flows through the line 15 to the device 43 and is transmitted to the upper diaphragm chamber 39 through the conduit 42, acting against the diaphragm and thus sup-. plementing the spring force of the valve plunger, whereby the valve is opened in accordance with the steam pres surein the drainage conduit 15, the net force opposing the spring being therefore the diiference between the sup ply steam pressure and the pressure of the steam in the drainage conduit 15.

The pressure impulse'amplifying device 43 comprises a 'main conduit section 50 connected in the condensate discharge line 15 and contains a nozzle member 51 having the reduced discharge spout portion 52 located substantially axially in the body 50 and discharging downstream, The conduit 42- is. connected to the intermediate-portion of the body '50 namely, toward the condensate receiver.

" at a point forwardly adjacent to the discharge spout 52,

Patented May 12, 1.959-

A conduit 41 connects the lower:

as is clearly shown in Figure 2. Conduit 52 is provided I with the Pitot tube 60 which is located forwardly adjacent to the discharge spout 52 and faces said discharge spout, namely, faces upstream, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the Pitot'tube 60 is located relatively close to the discharge spout 52 and is in a position to receive condensate in motion discharging from the nozzle member 51.

From the above description it will.be apparent that the total pressure on the impulse line 42 will be the sum of thestatic pressure in the body 50 of the pressure impulse amplifying device 43 plus the impulse pressure of the moving condensate and steam discharging 'from the spout 52 and being received in the Pitot tube60.

In the absence of condensate, the valve 23 will be regulated only in accordance with the pressure differential between the supply steam in header 12-and the exhaust steam in the drainage conduit 15'. However whensteam condensate. is present in the line 15, the condensate physically strikes the Pitot tube 60, causing an'increase inthe effective pressure in conduit 42 which is above the normal static pressure in the body 50 of device 43. This acts to assist the valve spring and to open the valve 23 to a degree beyond its normal position, thus lowering assaaw 0 i ploying the latent heat of steam in the devices 16, and

- wherein condensate is likely to develop. 1

the pressure in conduit 15 to further increase the differential pressure across the orifices in the devices 19, thus producing a further increase in flow which causes a still further increase in the impact pressure of the condensate engaging the Pitot tube 60, because of the increased velocity of the condensate. This action continues until the valve 23' is wide open, if necessary. The exaggerated opening of valve 23 causes all the condensate to be quickly blown from theequipment, after which steam, unaccompanied by condensate, will begin to exhaust from the flow-accelerating nozzle 51. The density of steam, as compared with 'water, is so low that it does not develop any substantial impact pressure on the Pitot tube 60. This causes the pressure in line 42 to drop back to the static pressure in the body 50*, whereby normal operation of the. valve 23 is resumed.

Therefore, the presence of condensate in liquid form in the drainage line 15 will cause the valve 23 to be opened beyond the amount which it would ordinarily open, and if necessary will cause valve 23 to be completely opened, until the'liquid condensate is completely blown out of line. 15. As soon as the liquid condensate has been eliminated, the valve automatically resumes its normal condition, wherein the valve is opened to a degree in accordance only with the difference in steam pressures between supply header 12 and condensate exhaust line 15.

. It Will be noted that the impulse pressure on the Pitot tube 60 is the sum of the pressure of the steam discharging from the spout 52 and any liquid condensate which may be present therein. The density of the liquid condensate is much greater than that of the steam, and therefore the impact pressure developed thereby will quickly cause valve 23 to open so as to clear out the liquid condensate from the drainage line 15.

As described in applicants copending application Serial No. 683,901, the calibrated orifices in the restriction devices 19 are employed in place of steam traps and their flow capacity is controlled by the difference in pressure across the orifices, as set up by the pressure differential-responsive control valve 23, in combination with the calibrated orifices. Positive control of condensate drainage is provided by the adjustment of-the valve 23, as above explained, which permits a controlled amount of steam to be withdrawn, along with any condensate developing therein, the condensate being quickly eliminated by the action of valve 23 and Pitot tube 60. Therefore complete discharge of the steam condensate is assured and maximum rate of heat transfer in the devices 16 is obtained.

The invention is especially useful in process work em- While a specific embodiment of an improved trapless steam condensate system has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system of the character described, a source of high pressure steam, a condensate drainage line, a steam utilizing device having an intake conduit andan exhaust conduit, means connecting said intakeconduit to said source, means connecting said' exhaust conduit to said condensate drainage line and including a restriction, a pressure-responsive valve in said condensate drainage line, means acting to open said valve to a degree in. accordance with the difference in pressures. of said source and said condensate drainage line, and means to open said valve. of con-;

beyond said degree responsive to the presence densate flowing in said drainage line. 1

2. Ina system of the character described, a sourceofl high pressure: steam, a condensate drainage line, a steam containinga diaphragm, means acting to open said valve to. a degree in accordance with the difference in pressures. on Opposite sides of said diaphragm, respective conduits connecting the chambers on opposite sides, of the diaphragm respectively to. said source and the .drainage line downstream from said nozzle, and a Pitot tube. connected to the drainage line conduit and facing said noz-:

' zle, whereby to open said valve beyond'said degree .re-

sponsive to the presence of condensate flowing in said drainage line.

3. In a system of the character descri'bed,-a high pres sure steam line, a steam-utilizing device havingan intakeconduit and an exhaust conduit, means connecting the intake conduit to the steam line, a condensate drainage:

line, conduit means connecting said exhaust conduit to said drainage line, a nozzle element mounted insaid drainage line and defining a restriction therein, a pressure. responsive valve mounted in said drainage .line 'downstream from said nozzle, means controlling the degree-of closing of said valve in accordance with the difference. in

steam pressures between the steam line and the portion of the drainage line between said nozzle and the valve, and means opening the valve independently of said'ditfer ence in steam pressures responsive to the presence of condensate discharging from said nozzle.

4. In a system of the character described, .a highpres sure steam line, a steam-utilizing device having an intake conduit-and an exhaust conduit, means connecting the intake conduit to the steam line, a condensate drainage line, conduit means connecting said exhaust conduit tosaid drainage line, a nozzle element mounted insaid drainage line and defining arestriction therein, a pressure responsive valve mounted in said drainage line downstream from said nozzle, means acting .to close .the valve responsive to the steam pressure in said high pressure line, means acting toopen the valve in accordance with the steam pressure in the portion of the drainage line between said nozzle and'the valve, .and means acting to further open said valve responsive to the presence of condensate discharging from said nozzle.

5. In a system of the character described, a high presline, conduit means connecting said exhaust conduit to said drainage line, a nozzle element mounted in said drainage line and defining a restriction therein, a pressure-responsive valve mounted in said drainage line downstream from said nozzle, means acting to close the valve responsive to the steam pressure in said high pressure line, means acting to open the valve in accordance with the steam pressure in the portion of the drainage line between said nozzle and the valve and including a conduit connecting said portion to the valve, and means comprising a Pitot tube in said portion facing the outlet of said nozzle and connected to said last-named conduit and acting to further open said valve responsive to the presence of condensate discharging from said nozzle.

6. In a system of the character described, a high pressure steam line, a steam-utilizing device having an intake conduit and an exhaust conduit, means connecting the intake conduit to the steam line, a condensate drainage line, conduit means connecting said exhaust conduit to said drainage line, a restriction in said last-named conduit means, a nozzle element mounted in said drainage line and defining a further restriction therein, a pressureresponsive valve mounted in said drainage line downstream from said nozzle, means controlling the degree of closing of said valve in accordance with the difference in steam pressures between the steam line and the por- 6 tion of the drainage line between said nozzle and th valve, and means opening the valve independently of said difierence in steam pressures responsive/to the presence of condensate discharging from said nozzle.

7. In a system of the character described, a high pressure steam line, a steam-utilizing device having an intake conduit and an exhaust conduit, means connecting the intake conduit to the steam line, a condensate drainage line, conduit means connecting said exhaust conduit to said drainage line, a restriction in said last-named conduit means, a nozzle element mounted in said drainage line and defining a further restriction therein, a pressureresponsive valve mounted in said drainage line downstream from said nozzle, means acting to close the valve responsive to the steam pressure in said high pressure line, means acting to open the valve in accordance with the steam pressure in the portion of the drainage line between said nozzle and the valve and including a conduit connecting said portion to the valve, and means comprising a Pitot tube in said portion facing the outlet of said nozzle and connected to said last-named conduit and acting to further open said valve responsive to the presence of condensate discharging from said nozzle.

No reference cited.

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