US3543843A - Air cooled condenser apparatus - Google Patents

Air cooled condenser apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3543843A
US3543843A US754048A US3543843DA US3543843A US 3543843 A US3543843 A US 3543843A US 754048 A US754048 A US 754048A US 3543843D A US3543843D A US 3543843DA US 3543843 A US3543843 A US 3543843A
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Prior art keywords
tubes
row
condenser
rows
fins
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US754048A
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English (en)
Inventor
Addison Y Gunter
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Hudson Products Corp
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Hudson Products Corp
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28B—STEAM OR VAPOUR CONDENSERS
    • F28B1/00—Condensers in which the steam or vapour is separate from the cooling medium by walls, e.g. surface condenser
    • F28B1/06—Condensers in which the steam or vapour is separate from the cooling medium by walls, e.g. surface condenser using air or other gas as the cooling medium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28B—STEAM OR VAPOUR CONDENSERS
    • F28B1/00—Condensers in which the steam or vapour is separate from the cooling medium by walls, e.g. surface condenser
    • F28B1/06—Condensers in which the steam or vapour is separate from the cooling medium by walls, e.g. surface condenser using air or other gas as the cooling medium
    • F28B2001/065—Condensers in which the steam or vapour is separate from the cooling medium by walls, e.g. surface condenser using air or other gas as the cooling medium with secondary condenser, e.g. reflux condenser or dephlegmator
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S165/00—Heat exchange
    • Y10S165/184—Indirect-contact condenser
    • Y10S165/193—First-stage condenser serially connected to second-stage condenser

Definitions

  • Appendix An air cooled condenser in which successive rows of finned tubes of equal length extend between an inlet header and an outlet header and are adapted to be arranged in the direction of air flow therepast.
  • the fins on each tube of the row first to be contacted by the air flow extend from the inlet header for a lesser length thereof than the fins on each tube of a successive row.
  • An air flow regulating means is provided on the side of the condenser adjacent the last succeeding row of tubes and generally opposite the unfinned lengths of the tubes at their ends adjacent the outlet header.
  • the condenser is a vent condenser having its inlet header connected in series with the outlet header of a main condenser to receive uncondensed vapors therefrom.
  • This invention relates generally to air cooled condenser apparatus; and, more particularly, to improvements in air cooled condenser apparatus for use in condensing steam or vapors of other liquids having relatively high freezing points.
  • the condensable steam in the tubes of the rows nearest the air fiow may be fully condensed a considerable distance from the outlet header.
  • This not only represents poor utilization of the tube surfaces, but also creates a very hazardous situation in environments in which the ambient temperature is considerably below the freezing point of the condensate. That is, the condensate may freeze up and thereby choke the tubes in the first row, which causes the air flow to successive rows to be at a lower temperature so that the tubes of successive rows may also become frozen up.
  • the tubes of successive rows were provided with successively smaller openings therethrough, either by way of different sizes of tubes or different sizes of orifices in the tubes.
  • the heat exchanging capacities of the tubes ofsuccessive rows were adjusted by various means, such as fins of different spacing, fins of different sizes, etc. along the lengths of the tubes.
  • An object of this invention is to provide air cooled condenser apparatus in which freezing up is much less likely than in condensers of the type above described.
  • Another object is to provide air cooled condenser apparatus in which there is not only a tendency to balance condensation in the various rows of tubes, as in the prior condensers above described, but also an increase in tube side temperature at the outlet header, so that freezing is normally prevented even in the event of ambient temperatures lower than that for which the apparatus was designedv
  • a further object is to provide such apparatus in which there is more accelerated condensation in the last rows of tubes than in prior apparatus of this type, and, more particularly, in which the extent ofthis acceleration may be controlled.
  • Yet another object is to provide such apparatus in which the finned tubes in the different rows arc of such construction that they may be made in substantially the same manner.
  • an air cooled condenser in which the fins of each tube of the row first to be contacted by the air flow extend therealong for a lesser length than the fins of each tube of a successive row. More particularly, the fins on each tube extend from the inlet header so that the unfinned lengths of the tubes are adjacent the outlet header, whereby each tube of the first row has a greater unfinned or bare length adjacent such outlet header than does each tube of the successive row.
  • the unfinned lengths of the tubes maintain the fluid temperature of the inside walls of the tubes of at least the first row of tubes at a relatively high temperature. That is, the overall heat transfer rate between the air and the fluid within the unfinned lengths of the tubes is so low that the temperature of the fluid will be only slightly less than its temperature as it leaves the finned lengths of the tubes. Consequently, even if there is condensation in the ends of the tubes of the first row near the outlet header, the temperature of the condensate will normally be maintained above its freezing point.
  • the tubes of the successive rows differ only in the lengths of fins therealong, although, in other embodiments, the tubes of some rows may be identical in all respects.
  • all the tubes may be of equal size, free of orifices or the like, and have fins of equal size and spacing therealong. Standard fin forming practices permit these lengths of fins to be determined within normal operating procedures.
  • this condenser may be a vent condenser connected in series with and downstream of a main condenser.
  • This has the advantage of lowering the pressure drop in the vent condenser by removing condensate from the outlet header of the main condenser, so that only uncondensed steam is introduced into the vent condenser.
  • the unused tube lengths resulting from overdesign are reduced proportionately.
  • the number of tubes in the vent condenser are usually less than in the main condenser.
  • FIG. I is a perspective view of a condenser constructed in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the condenser of FIG. 1, with the direction of air flow indicated by an arrow, and
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of condenser apparatus constructed in accordance with the last-mentioned embodiment of the invention, with the direction of air flow through the main and vent condensers thereofindicated by an arrow.
  • the condenser illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and indicated in its entirety by reference character 1ft, comprises an inlet header it at one end, an outlet header at the other end, and tubes extending therebetween and thus connected in parallel to one another. More partic rly, the tubes extend successive rows A, B, C, and D w..rch adapted to be arranged to extend in the direction of air flow. Thus, with the air flow being in a vertically upward direction, as shown in FIG. 2, the tubes are disposed generally horizontally so that the first row A of tubes to be contacted by the air flow is the lowermost, and the last row D to be contacted by the air flow is the uppermost.
  • each such row is illustrated in FIG. 1 as having a plurality of tubes, this invention further contemplates that each row may instead comprise only a single tube. Still further, and as well known in this art, air flow may be either due to induced draft or mechanical means of some type, neither of which is illustrated herein.
  • this cool air flowing upwardly around and between the tubes 13 condenses the vapors in the tubes, which may be'steam.
  • This steam or other vapor is introduced into the inletheader 11 through a port 14, and the steam condensed in the various tubes is removed from the outlet header 12 through a port 15 at its lower end.
  • Noncondensables or uncondensed steam, if there is any, is removed through a port 16 at the upper end of outlet header 12 to an ejector.
  • the tubes 13 are provided with fins 17 thereabout for increasing the heat transfer rate between the air on the outside of the tubes and the steam or other vapor on the inside of the tubes.
  • These fins are of equal size and spacing and may be formed on the tubes in any number of well known ways, such as by extrusion, by wrapping about the tube, etc. If desired, the heat transfer rates of the tubes may be further increased by the provision of discontinuities such as louvers or the like on their surfaces.
  • the temperature differential between the air surrounding the first or lower row A of tubes and the fluid within such tubes will be greater than the differential between the air surrounding the tubes of the second row B and the fluid therein.
  • the temperature differential between the air surrounding the tubes the second row B and the fluid within such tubes is greater than the differential between the air surrounding the tubes of the third row C and the fluid within such tubes. The same may be said, of course, about the third and fourth rows of tubes, or any additional pairs of successively adjacent rows of tubes.
  • the differential between the air surrounding the tubes of the first row and the fluid in such tubes is greater than the differential between the air surrounding the tubes of any successive row and the fluid in such tubes, whether such successive row be the second, third or fourth row of tubes to be contacted by the air flow.
  • the problem of unequal condensation in the rows of tubes is greatest in the first two rows of tubes to be contacted by air flow, less critical in the case of the second and third rows of tubes, and still less critical in the case of the third and fourth rows of tubes. That is, if there is freezing up in the tubes of conventional condensers, it will always occur in the tubes of the first row, and the possibility of additional freezing up in succeeding rows is progressively less likely.
  • the fins 17 of the tubes of the first or lower row A extend from the inlet header 11 along a lesser length thereof than the tubes of a successive row, whether it be row B, C, or D. More partlcu-Charly, in this particular embodiment of the invention, the fins of the tubes of each row extend along a lesser length thereof.
  • the condenser of this invention maintains the temperature of the condensate within the tubes adjacent the outlet header [2 at substantially the temperature at which it condensed. This in turn greatly reduces the likelihood of freezing up of condensate in the tubes, particularly those on the first or lower row A. That is, as previously mentioned, the heat transfer rate between the air and fluid to be condensed is many times less in the case of unfinned or bare tubes than it is in the case of finned tubes, so that these unfinned lengths of tubes are kept much warmer than would be the finned lengths thereof.
  • the tube side outlet temperature of the unfinned tube length, and thus the temperature of condensate therein could be as high as 56.6 F.
  • the tube side outlet temperature, and thus the temperature of condensate in the tubes could be 29 F. Consequently, in this typical example, steam condensed in the tubes of the first or lower row A could be frozen with the use of conventional finned tubes, while the temperature of such condensate in tubes having unfinned lengths, as shown herein, would be well above freezing point.
  • the air regulating means extends generally between the termination of the fins on the first or lower row A of tubes and the outlet header 12.
  • the air cooled condenser apparatus shown in FIG. 3 comprises a main condenser and a vent condenser, which are designated in their entireties by reference characters 19 and 20, respectively.
  • the main condenser 19 is of generally conventional construction, comprising an inlet header 20 at one end, an outlet header 21 at the other end, and tubes 22 extending therebetween. More particularly, the tubes have fins 23 extending therealong and are arranged in rows extending in the direction of air flow, which is indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3, whereby air is caused to flowsuccessively over the rows of tubes in an upward direction.
  • the fins extend throughout the entire lengthsofthe tubes 22 of allrows from one header to the other.
  • the inlet header 20 has a port 24 at its upper end for introducing steam or other vapor to be condensed into the tubes of the condenser.
  • the outlet header 21 has a lower port 25 for removing condensate from the tubes of the main condenser, and an upper port for conveying uncondensed vapor from the main condenser to the vent condenser.
  • the vent condenser 20 also includes an inlet header 27, an outlet header 28, and tubes 29 extending therebetween for connection in parallel with one another.
  • the inlet header 27 has a port 30 therein connected by a conduit 31 to the port 26 of outlet header 21 of main condenser 19 so as to receive uncondensed vapor therefrom, as above described.
  • Outlet header 28 has upper and lower ports 32 and 33, respectively, for connection to an ejector and to discharge condensate.
  • the vent condenser will normally be connected to the outlet headers of two or more main condensers for receiving uncondensed vapor from each of them, whereby the number of tubes in the vent condenser will be half or even less than half those in the main condenser.
  • the tubes 29 of the vent condenser of short length relative to those of the main condenser, as shown in FlG. 3, the total length of tube surface in the vent condenser will be even a smaller fraction of the total lengths of tube surface in the main condenser.
  • the two condensers are so designed relative to one another that, in the expected ambient temperature range, condensation will not be complete within the tubes of any of the rows of the main condenser, so that there is no danger of freezing up in the main condenser. Also, since total tube lengths of all the tubes of the main condenser are used to condense, there is a reduction in surface'requirements.
  • the vent condenser 20 is similar in construction to the condenser of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the tubes 29 of the first or lower row A to be contacted by air flow have lesser lengths of fins 34 therealong than do the tubes of each of the successive rows B, C, and D of tubes.
  • the vent condenser 21 may also be provided with a means 35 for regulating air flow through the unfinned lengths of the tubes.
  • An air cooled condenser comprising a pair of headers, successive rows of tubes of equal length extending between the headers and adapted to be arranged in the direction of air flow therepast, and fins on said tubes, the tins of each tube of the row first to be contacted by said air flow extending for a lesser length thereof than the fins on each tube of a successive row.
  • Air cooled condenser apparatus comprising a main condenser having apair of headers and successive rows of finned tubes extending between the headers and adapted to be arranged in the direction of air flow therepast, a vent condenser having a pair of headersand successive rows of tubes extending therebetween and adapted to be arranged in the direction of air flow therepast, and means connecting a header of the main condenser with a header of the vent condenser, the tubes of the vent condenser having fins thereon with the fins on each tube of the row first to be contacted by said air flow extending for a greater length thereof than the fins on each tube of a successive row.
  • An air cooled condenser comprising an inlet header, an air cooled condenser, and an air cooled condenser
  • successive rows of tubes ofequal length extendmg between the headers and adapted to be arranged in the direction of air flow therepast, and fins on said tubes, the fins on each tube of the row first to be contacted by said air flow extending from the inlet header for a lesser length than the fins on each tube of a successive row.
  • Air cooled condenser apparatus comprising a main condenser having an inlet header, an'outlet header, and successive rows of finned tubes extending between the headers and adapted to be arranged in the direction of air flow therepast, and a vent condenser having an inlet header connected to the outlet header of the main condenser, an outlet header, and successive rows of tubes extending between the headers and adapted to be arranged in a direction of air flow therepast, the tubes of the vent condenser having fins thereon with the fins on each tube of the row first to be contacted by said airflow extending from the inlet header for a lesser length than the fins of each tube of a successive row.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
US754048A 1968-08-20 1968-08-20 Air cooled condenser apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3543843A (en)

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US75404868A 1968-08-20 1968-08-20

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US (1) US3543843A (de)
BE (1) BE737047A (de)
DE (1) DE1942157A1 (de)
ES (1) ES371191A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2015946A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1220797A (de)
NL (1) NL6912665A (de)

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3677338A (en) * 1971-02-17 1972-07-18 Gen Electric Surface condenser
US3716097A (en) * 1969-12-11 1973-02-13 Kraftwerk Union Ag Air condensation plant
US3739841A (en) * 1971-03-24 1973-06-19 Phillips Petroleum Co Indirect heat transfer apparatus
US3792572A (en) * 1972-06-02 1974-02-19 Dow Chemical Co Apparatus for dehumidifying and diluting a wet gas stream
US3840067A (en) * 1972-05-04 1974-10-08 Lummus Co Air-cooled heat exchanger with reduced noise level
US3882925A (en) * 1974-06-17 1975-05-13 Ecodyne Corp Method and apparatus for condensing steam
US4190102A (en) * 1978-01-04 1980-02-26 Gea Luftkuhlergesellschaft Happel Gmbh & Co. Kg Air cooled condenser installation
US4342359A (en) * 1977-12-12 1982-08-03 Baker Jack T Universal flue stack heat exchanger
US4417619A (en) * 1978-06-05 1983-11-29 Sasakura Engineering Co., Ltd. Air-cooled heat exchanger
US4537248A (en) * 1978-06-05 1985-08-27 Sasakura Engineering Co., Ltd. Air-cooled heat exchanger
US4905474A (en) * 1988-06-13 1990-03-06 Larinoff Michael W Air-cooled vacuum steam condenser
US6557372B1 (en) * 2002-01-28 2003-05-06 Smc Kabushiki Kaisha Refrigerating unit having plural air cooled condensers
WO2008004886A1 (en) * 2006-07-07 2008-01-10 Norsk Hydro Produksjon A.S. Heat exchanger with cooling fins
US20100107595A1 (en) * 2008-11-05 2010-05-06 General Electric Company Combined cycle power plant
US20140034273A1 (en) * 2011-04-29 2014-02-06 Shanxi Electric Power Research Institute Evaporative condenser radiating module for steam exhaust of a steam turbine
CN103615911A (zh) * 2013-11-26 2014-03-05 中冶南方工程技术有限公司 连铸机排蒸汽系统用自然冷却器
US20140299305A1 (en) * 2013-04-03 2014-10-09 Trane International Inc. Heat Exchanger with Differentiated Resistance Flowpaths
CN105258527A (zh) * 2015-11-20 2016-01-20 常熟市永达化工设备厂 一种搪瓷冷凝管
CN105627787A (zh) * 2014-10-27 2016-06-01 上海妍杰环境设备有限公司 全蒸发空冷凝汽器及其使用方法

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2039019B (en) * 1978-08-18 1983-09-01 Rosenblad Corp Surface condensers
EP0160717A1 (de) * 1984-05-04 1985-11-13 GEA Luftkühlergesellschaft Happel GmbH & Co. Luftgekühlter Oberflächenkondensator
FR2688054B1 (fr) * 1992-02-26 1997-05-16 Hamon Ind Thermique Refrigerant de liquide pour installations industrielles telles que centrales electriques.
EP3650793A1 (de) 2018-11-08 2020-05-13 Buchen KraftwerkService GmbH Verfahren und vorrichtung zur reinigung von luftkühlern

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3716097A (en) * 1969-12-11 1973-02-13 Kraftwerk Union Ag Air condensation plant
US3677338A (en) * 1971-02-17 1972-07-18 Gen Electric Surface condenser
US3739841A (en) * 1971-03-24 1973-06-19 Phillips Petroleum Co Indirect heat transfer apparatus
US3840067A (en) * 1972-05-04 1974-10-08 Lummus Co Air-cooled heat exchanger with reduced noise level
US3792572A (en) * 1972-06-02 1974-02-19 Dow Chemical Co Apparatus for dehumidifying and diluting a wet gas stream
US3882925A (en) * 1974-06-17 1975-05-13 Ecodyne Corp Method and apparatus for condensing steam
US4342359A (en) * 1977-12-12 1982-08-03 Baker Jack T Universal flue stack heat exchanger
US4190102A (en) * 1978-01-04 1980-02-26 Gea Luftkuhlergesellschaft Happel Gmbh & Co. Kg Air cooled condenser installation
US4417619A (en) * 1978-06-05 1983-11-29 Sasakura Engineering Co., Ltd. Air-cooled heat exchanger
US4537248A (en) * 1978-06-05 1985-08-27 Sasakura Engineering Co., Ltd. Air-cooled heat exchanger
US4905474A (en) * 1988-06-13 1990-03-06 Larinoff Michael W Air-cooled vacuum steam condenser
US6557372B1 (en) * 2002-01-28 2003-05-06 Smc Kabushiki Kaisha Refrigerating unit having plural air cooled condensers
WO2008004886A1 (en) * 2006-07-07 2008-01-10 Norsk Hydro Produksjon A.S. Heat exchanger with cooling fins
GB2453502A (en) * 2006-07-07 2009-04-08 Shell Int Research Heat exchanger with cooling fins
GB2453502B (en) * 2006-07-07 2011-03-16 Shell Int Research Heat exchanger with cooling fins
US20100107595A1 (en) * 2008-11-05 2010-05-06 General Electric Company Combined cycle power plant
US8408003B2 (en) * 2008-11-05 2013-04-02 General Electric Company Combined cycle power plant
US20140034273A1 (en) * 2011-04-29 2014-02-06 Shanxi Electric Power Research Institute Evaporative condenser radiating module for steam exhaust of a steam turbine
US9618268B2 (en) * 2011-04-29 2017-04-11 Shanxi Electric Power Research Institute Evaporative condenser radiating module for steam exhaust of a steam turbine
US20140299305A1 (en) * 2013-04-03 2014-10-09 Trane International Inc. Heat Exchanger with Differentiated Resistance Flowpaths
US10107506B2 (en) * 2013-04-03 2018-10-23 Trane International Inc. Heat exchanger with differentiated resistance flowpaths
CN103615911A (zh) * 2013-11-26 2014-03-05 中冶南方工程技术有限公司 连铸机排蒸汽系统用自然冷却器
CN105627787A (zh) * 2014-10-27 2016-06-01 上海妍杰环境设备有限公司 全蒸发空冷凝汽器及其使用方法
CN105627787B (zh) * 2014-10-27 2017-11-24 上海妍杰环境设备有限公司 全蒸发空冷凝汽器及其使用方法
CN105258527A (zh) * 2015-11-20 2016-01-20 常熟市永达化工设备厂 一种搪瓷冷凝管

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6912665A (de) 1970-02-24
BE737047A (de) 1970-02-04
FR2015946A1 (de) 1970-04-30
ES371191A1 (es) 1971-08-16
GB1220797A (en) 1971-01-27
DE1942157A1 (de) 1970-02-26

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