US957175A

US957175A - Surface condenser.

Info

Publication number: US957175A
Application number: US38813507A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis R Alberger
Original assignee: ALBERGER CONDENSER Co
Current assignee: ALBERGER CONDENSER Co
Priority date: 1907-08-12
Filing date: 1907-08-12
Publication date: 1910-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1927-05-10

Description

L. R. ALBERGER.

SURFACE GONDENSBR.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

Patented May 10, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IIHIHIHHIHIHIIHI lllllllllllllllllllllllIlHHIIIIIIII! j L. R. ALBERGER. SURFACE OONDENSER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12. 1907. 957, 1 75,. Patented May 10, 1910.

' 3-s1IBETs-s1II:BT 2.

@IMM

L. R. ALBERGER. SURFAGE GONDBNSER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907. @5T/y1 75,' Pgtented May 10,1910

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED PAT Louis n ALBERGER, or annnnwrcn,n coNNEcTIcU'r,

DENSEB COMBANY, NEW YOBKNN, Y., AACORPDBATION GF NEW SURFACE commises;

Specilcation` of Letters Patent. Patented May Ml, 1910.

Application led August 12, 1907. Serial Eo. 388,135.

To all 'whom 'it may concem Be it known that I, LOUIS R. ALBERGER, a

' citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of Greenwich, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, vhave invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Surface Condensers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates lto the condensation of exhaust steam from engines, steam turbines, and various kinds of steamniotors, and to the production'of a vacuum by the use of the dry vacuum system. A

The invention is especially useful with that class of apparatus known as surface condensers, in which the condensation is effected by the contact of the steam with water-cooled surfaces.

The object of the invention is to promote the usefulness of condensers by providing a surface condenser having a very high etticiency; and further to furnish a condenser of maximum eiiciency suitable for location under a steam turbine or other motor, of which it maybe considered as constituting a 4supporting base or frame.

In my former Letters Patent on surface condensers, No. 868,390, dated October 15, 1907, I have illustrated and described various forms of base condensers, consisting essentially of a section in which the steam and commingled air entering above come into contact with tubes containing the cooling water, by which the steam is partially condensed, the steam, air and water of condensation traveling in the same direction; and another section in which the steam and commingled air are received below from the first section, and pass upward coming into Contact with tubes containing cooling water until the steam is entirely condensed, the air being removed above at or near the top of the condenser by a dry vacuum pump. The cooling water may enter above in that kind of a condenser, and the air separated from the exhaust steam be removed above, so that the air may be brought into contact with the coldest tubes before removal, while the water of condensation is brou ht into contact with the exhaust steam. l. vention contained in my other application is grounded upon the principle that in= a sur a ce condenser the highest eiiiciency can aid infore it is rea y best be obtained by steam and commingled air lnto the condenser at or near the bottom, and bringing the circulating water in at or near the top, and causing the water of condensation to gravitate against the incoming steam and air; but inasmuch as there are situations, as in the case of a steam turbine, where it .is not always convenient to introduce the exhaust steam into the bottom ofi the condenser, a part of the condenser is .so arranged as that steam may be introduced at assreNon To Limena consbringing the exhaust 5.5L

the top, from which part the said steam so introduced enters the bottom of another part, and so the advantage of using a bottom-'steam-inlet is secured along with the necessitated arrangement of a primary introduction ofV the steam at the top.

My present invention consists of a Specific form of base condenser analogous in some respects to certain of the forms described in my aforesaid co-pending application, but differing in certain other respects. It comprises a condenser having a part into which the steam and commingled air enter above and come into contact with tubes'containing cooling water by which the steam is partially condensed, and another art into which the steam and commin'gle air enter below from the rstpart, and then pass upward and come into contact with tubes containing cooling water until the steam is entirely condensed. A suitable division is placed at each side between the primary or secondary parts or chambers, but arranged to allow of a` assage at the bottom from the first part to t e second. The coolin water preferably enters the condenser at t e bottom and leaves it at the top,A both the water connections being at the same end of the condenser so that the other end may be left free and without obstructive projections. In order to provide for the proper circulation of the water, the tubes are arranged in nests or groups in a horizontal series, said nests or groups communicating. at one end.V

of the condenser with a commonl chamber, and at `the other end with individual chambers, the latter being arranged. in a horizontal series, one receiving the incoming water just after it enters the condenser, and the other receivin tobe withdrawn from the the outgoing .water just be# condenser. This arrangement which I have -ust outlined is duplicated, so that in reality provide a condenser wherein a double twopass distribution of the water is effected; that is to say, the water supplied by the circulating pump is divided into two portions, one passing to one side-of the base, and the other to thel other side, and the construction of the condenserv permittin two passes throu h each side, one in eac direction, so that t ere is a double two-pass distribution. And the invention also consists in various details and peculiarities in the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accom anying drawing illustrating` m invention, igure 1 is an -end elevation o my4 improved surface condenser, the end shown being that where the circulating water enters and leaves the condenser shell, the cover for the water chambers at one side being removed. Fig. 2 is an opposite end elevation of my improved surface condenser with one cover plate belonging to one ofthe water chambers on that side of the condenser removed,-,in order to indicate a chamber located directly opposite to a pair of chambers like those exposed in'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of my improved surface condenser. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical seetion on the line m m of Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the different igures of the drawing. The condenser -frame 1` may have any suitable shape and size, and I am not restricted, therefore, to the specified formand dimensions illustrated. It is supported in any desired manner, as, for instance, upon a suitable groundwork at 2. As thecondenser in this particular type of my invention generally serves as the base of a steam motor, the latter will be superposed thereon in any preferred way, and 1t has not seemed necessary to illustrate in the drawings any specimen or example of motor other than the partial outline 25 in Fig. 4. Ordinarily it may be a steam turbine or other form of steam engine. I have represented in the drawings a cylindrical inlet 3 through which the steam from the turbine or other motor, as 25, passes downward into the top of the condenser 1. It, of course, will be clearly understood that I am not restricted to any particular type of steam generator, but my condenser is adapted to 4be used with all kinds of steam motors; neither am I confined to lacing my condenser in the base of the turblne or other motor, although this is the preferable and at present the intended location therefor.

Insidethe shell 1, at the opposite longitudinal sides, are sections or chambers wherein the cooling surfaces are located.

4, 4 denote the innermost sections, and 5, 5 the outermost, said sections 4 being divided from the sections 5 by means of vertical partitions 6 which'are secured to the condenser shell 1 at the to but stop short of the bottom of the shel so as to leave a space or opening at 7, through which the steam may pass from the sections 4 to the sections 5. The sections 4, 4 usually and preferably constitute together a single lar e chamber in which condensing surfaces wi l be located at the sides with some considerable intervening free and open steam s ace between them. The condenser shell 1 t us in reality, as I have portrayed it, consists of two duplicate condenser shells, each composed of a'chamber 4 and its contained cooling surface, and a chamber 5 and its contained cooling surface, with the intervening partition 6, therey being between these duplicate constructions the steam space open at the top to receive the exhaust steam from the motor. In each chamber 4 is a nest of longitudinal tubes 8, and in each chamber 5 there is a corresponding nest of longitudinal tubes 9, these

tubes

8 and 9, being for the purpose of carrying the cooling water which is introduced thereinto at the ends.

At one end of the condenser shell 1 on each side,-that is to say, for each of the

tube nests

8 and 9,-are water chambers 10 and 11, water chamber 10 being entered by the tubes belonging to the nest 8, and the water chamber 11 being entered by the tubes belonging to the nest 9. Thus it will be seenV that at one end of the frame 1 there will be two water chambers 10 and two water chambers l1, as illustrated in-Fig. 3. The two chambers 11 have openings 12 in the bottom which are connected by a water pipe 13 having an inlet opening 14, to which any suitable piping may be connected, running to some source of water supply for furnishing the circulating water to cool the aforesaid tubes, into contact with which the steam is brought for condensation purposes. The other two water chambers 10 at this end of the condenser are connected by a pipe 15 having an outlet 16 to which may be coupled some suitable pipe to lead away the circulating water from the condenser. At the opposite end of the condenser frame 1, there are

single chambers

17, 17 one on each side, each of which chambers receives the tubes of one of the nests 8. and likewise the tubes of one of the nests 9, so that in this manner `the chamber 17 acts as a connection between the ends of the tubes of the two nests and enables the water emerging from tubes 9 to pass around through this chamber and enter the tubes 8.

The

tube nests

8 and 9 are separated from each other', as already stat-ed, by the partitions 6, below which are the openings 7, said partitions 6 being placed vertically or otherwise as desired. YHence the

nests

8 and 9 hein the same horizontal plane `or are situated in a horizontal series. The chambers 10 and 11 are separated from each other by vertical partitions'l, and hence these chambers "may be viewed as located in the same horizontal plane orin a horizontal series. The water supply pipe 13 lirst de- I livers water through the bottom inlet openings l2 into the chambers 11 which are the outside chambers, and thence it passes into the nests of tubes 9 which are the outside nests, making these outside nests conse-` `from which it started, and entering the inside chambers 10 it`iinds exit from the apparatus through the connection 15 and outlet 16'. Thus it will be seen that by this construction and arrangement the water makes one pass from the water inlet end of the condenser to the opposite end, and one pass back to the inlet end again, or in all two passes; and as this is done on both sides of the condenser, or in other Words as the con-` struction is duplicated, l find it convenient to express the operation as a double twopass distribution of the circulating water accomplished through the medium o a horizontal series of distinct nests of tubes. ln

f this way, the water from the circulating pump is divided into two parts after it is introduced through the inlet 14, one part going to one side of the-condenser shell, and the other part going to the other side, each part making two passes through the shell and coming back to the end of the condenser whence `it started, so that l am enabled in this manner to cause the circulating water to' enter and leave at the same end of the condenser, which is an important object, since it keeps both the openings, the inlet and the outlet, at one end of the condenser, and enables the other end of the condenser to be utilized for other things, and also eliminates the necessity of any channels or connections of any kind at the other end of t-he condenser. In the present example of the invention, l place at the other end of the condenser an exhaust opening 18 available for use when the engine is to be run unoncondensing, and likewise a manhole 19 for permitting access to the interior of the condenser shelL,

The accomplishment of the object of hav- Aing the water enterand leave at the same end of the condenser is only possible where there is an even number of passes. In a condenser Which'may be called a single twopass condenser, or one wherel the water entering at one end of the condenser flows through one tube nest on one side of an inner 'steam space to the other end and, returns to the rst end through a second nest on the other side of said steam space, it is usually necessary to provide piping at the other endlto connect the two nests,4 so that the Water can flow from the end of one pass to the end of the other pass, and this piping, thus necessitated, obstructs the openings that are desirably placed on that end of the shell of the condenser, as 18 and 19 already referred' to. Such a single two-pass condenser would be one having merely two nests, as 8, 8, whose ends opposite to the water inlet would have to be connected by piping as stated. Another form where there is an even number of passes is what may be termed a single four-pass condenser where the water passes through one nest from the inlet end to the other end of the condenser, and then.returns through a second nest; it then passes through a third nest from .the

`inlet end to the other end of the condenser and finally back` again through a fourth nest; but here-there is a large amount of frictional resistance to the flow of the required amount of the water through four passes. This resistance is eight times as great` as it is in my double two-pass condensergor, in other words, in my improvement, the friction is only one-eighth of what it is in a single four-pass condenser. With my form whlch I designate a double twopass condenser, there is a great reduction in the resistance to the flow; while at the same time the other end of the condenser is kept free for the convenient location of the noncondensing and manhole openings.

The operation is as follows: The steam from the turbine Aor other motor, as 25, passes down through the cylindrical inlet 3 and enters the central steam space 4, there coming into contact with the tube nests 8 and being partially condensed. The steam then flows through the openings 7 into the sections 5 and comes into contact therein with the tube nests 9 where the rest of the steam is condensed. As Ithe cooling water flows first in the arrangement I have described into the outer tubes 9, it is evident that they are cooler than the tubes 8, and are in fact the coldest surfaces in the condenser. In the central exhaust steam space or the sections or chambers 4, therefore, it must be observed that the exhaust steam, the air cominingled therewith, andthe water of condensation all travel in a downward direction; whereas in the sections or chambers 5, the exhaust steam, and the air commingled therewith both travel in a direction the reverse of that of the travel of the water of condensation.

.At suitable points in the walls of the condenser frame 1, proximate to the. coldest'condensing surfaces,that is to say, for an example, at certain points in the walls of the sections or chambers 5 adjoining the'coldest l the air outlets 20, and furthermore it is ltion of, a shell containin equally evident that the water of condensation which falls'down into the lower part of the chambers 5 is brought into contact with the exhaust steam before removal through the opening or openings 21.whieh are placed at suitable points in the bottom of the condenser; and in the case of the Water of condensation which falls to the bottom of the chambers 4, it will be brought into contact either with the hottest tubes or exhaust steam before removal. At anyr suitable point in the sections or chambers 4 and 5, as at 21, I provide an outlet or outlets for the water of condensation. When there are several of these, they may be connected.

by suitable piping running to a withdrawal pump.

Many changes may be made in the precise combination and arrangement of the various parts without going outside of the scope of the present invention. rllhe construction may be multiplied several times so long as the results attained justify such increase in the construction and arrangement, and so long as the whole structure operates as a single unit. Obviously, moreover, the steam may not enter exactly at the top of the condenser, nor pass exactly in a vertical direction in either of the forms, but may pass obliquely or laterally; and one of the principal objects of the invention is reached when the steam entering at or near the-to of the condenser is completely condense into water which comes into contact with the steam before being removed, and whenthe air is cooled by tubes containing cooling water immediately before being removed by the dry vacuum pump. There may be a Wide variation also in many of the details and eculiarities of construction, and I there 'ore reserve the liberty of modifying the invention in these respects, in order to secure the best results.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a surface condenser, the combinaa central steam space provided at one en with an opening to the atmosphere, two grou s or nests of Water-cooled tubes at each si e of the steam space, the members of said groups or nests waive being arran ed in a horizontal series, one group at eac side carrying the coolingwater in one direction and the other'in the opposite direction, so that one group of tubes 1s colder than its companion group, and means for introducing cooling water into the condensery at one end thereof andy withdrawin it from the same end, whereby at each si e of the condenser a return circulation 'of the water from one end of the 'condenser to the other end and back to the nrst end again is effected, and means at chside of the condenser for dividing the colder group fromthe warmer group of `tubes and thus allowing the steam topass from contact with one group into contact with the companion group.

2. In a surface condenser, the combination of a shell or frame, having a top inlet for the steam and a central inner steam space, the latterbeing provided with a free exhaust opening to the atmosphere and also Stil with a manhole, two groups of tubes for the cooling water arranged at opposite sides of the steam space, and two other parallel companion roups for the cooling water alongside of t e first-mentioned grou s, the members of all of said groups of tu bein arranged in horizontal series, means for dividing the inner groups of tubes from the outer and providing an opening whereby the steam may pass from contact with the inner groups into contact with the outer groups, and means for introducing'circulating water into said groups at one end of the condenser and withdrawing lit from the same end of the condenser.

3. In a surface condenser, the combination with a steam motor, of a base therefor comprising condensing apparatus consisting essentially of a. shell or frame into the top site sides of the steam space, groups or nests of tubes parallel to the st-mentioned groups, and means for introducin circulating water at one end of the con enser rst into the outer grou s ornests of tubes and withdrawing itat the same end of the condenser from the inner groups or nests of tubes whereby a return circulation is effecte the water flowing from one end of the condenser to the other end and back to the rst end at each side of the steam s ace.

4f. In a surface condenser, the com ination with a steam motor, of a base therefor comprising condensing apparatus consisting essentially of a shell having an inner steam space which first receives the steam at the top from the motor, said steam space being furnished at one end with an exhaust opening to the atmosphere and also with a man- `denser into the outer hole, two parallel groups or nests of tubes at each side of the steam space, the members of said groups or nestsbelng arranged in a horizontal series and separated from each other by dividing means which allows the steam to pass from the inner oup to the outer group, means for introircin` circulating water first at one end of t e conglroups of tubes and allowing it to traverse t e length of the condenser and return through the inner grou s of tubes so that it may be removed from t e same end of the condenser where it enters said end being opposite to the location of the exhaust opening and the manhole, whereby a return circulation of the wateris effected, said water being colder in its first pass on each side of the condenser than it is in. its second return pass.

5. In a surface condenser, the combination with a steam motor, of a base therefor comprising condensing apparatus consisting essentially of a shell having an inner steam space receiving Athe exhaust steam at the top from the motor, groups of water-cooled tubes at each side of said steam space, other `groups of water-cooled tubes alongside the` yfirst-mentioned groups and parallel thereto, the groups at each side of the steamspace being in a horizontal series, individual chambers at one end of the condenser belonging to each group of tubes, other chambers at the opposite end of the condenser arranged so that each chamber is common to two groups, means for introducing circulating water at one end of the chamber and removing it at the same end, so that the water may make one pass through a group of tubes at each side of the steam space and return to the first end of the condenser through the companion group, substantially as described.

6. ln a surface condenser, the combination of a shell or frame, means for dividing it into sections or chambers, there being a pair of such chambers at each side of the shell, the chambers communicating with each other, groups or nests of horizontal tubes containing cooling water and arranged in a horizontal series in the said chambers, together with a horizontal series of water chambers at one end of said groups of tubes, other chambers at the opposite ends con necting the tubes of two groups, means for introducing cooling water into the said groups ot' tubes so that it will make a pass through one group at each side and return through the companion group at the same side, cooling water thus being introduced into and withdrawn from the condenser at the same end, while the other end is left free and is providedwith a non-condensing exhaust opening and an access opening for the interior, and a steam space within the shell, intermediate between the inner nests v'than those in the or roups of tubes, the circulation of the coo 1n water being a return circulationon each side of the steam space and passing from one end of the condenser to the opposite end thereof and then back again to the first end on the same side of the steam'space.

7. In a surface condenser for the condensation of exhaust steam and the production of a vacuum, the combination of a chamber having an inlet. at or near the top for the admission of exhaust steam, a chamber having an inlet at or near the bottom for the admission .of exhaust steam coming from the first chamber, condensing surfaces in the chambers, those in one chamber being colder other, means for introducing cooling water from below first to the cooling surfaces of 'one chamber, said cooling surfaces of the two chambers being arranged in a horizontal series, the latter combination operating so that the air may be brought into contact with the coldest surfaces before removal and the water of condensartion may be brought into contact with the exhaust steam before removal, the circulation of the cooling water being from one end of the condenser to the opposite end thereof and back againto the rst end of the condenser on the same side ofthe steam space. l

8. In a surface condenser for the condensation of exhaust steam and the product-ion of a vacuum, said condenser having hori-,

."ontal tubes containing cooling water, said tubes arran ed in groups or nests, some of which are co der than the others, said groups or nests bein arranged '1n-a horizontal series, the com ination of a chamber having an inlet above for the exhaust steam, in which chamber the exhaust steam, the air commingled therewith and the water of condensation all travel together in the same direction, with a chamber having an inlet for the exhaust steam below, in which chamber the exhaust steam and the air commingled therewith both travel in a reverse direction to that of the water of condensation, the coldesttubes being in the second chamber contiguous tb the point where the air is removed, so as to bring the air into contact with said coldest tubes before ,removal and the water of condensation into contact with the exhaust steam before removal, the circulation of the cooling water being 4a double return circulation on each side of the steam space, thewater passing from one end of the condenser to the other end and then back again to the first end on the same'side of the .steam space.

.9. In a surface condenser, the combinaf tion with a steam motor, of: a base therefor comprising condensing apparatus consisting essentially of divisions or chambers having nests of horizontal tubes containing cooling water, said nests being arranged in a horicomprising condensing apparatus consisting air, means for bringin zontal series oneof said chambers being a top-steam-inlet chamber and another being a bottom-steam-inlet chamber, means for dividing these chambers from each otherLso that the exhaust steam may pass readily from one to the other, the said means directing the steam awa from the outlet for the the cooling water in at the bottom and withdrawing it at the top at the same end of the condenser and causing a water circulation through the tubes, and means for withdrawing the air from the condenser in such a manner that the air may be brought into contact with the coldest surfaces before removal and the water of condensation may be brought into contact with the exhauststeam before removal.

10. In a surface condenser, the combination with a steam motor, of a base therefor essentially of a chamber having an inlet above for the exhaust steam, in which chamber the exhaust steam, the air commiaigled therewith and the water vof condensation all travel together in` the same direction, and a second chamber which receives the exhaust steam below .from the first chamber, in which second chamber the exhaust steam and the air commingled therewith both travel in a direction the reverse of that in the first chamber, nests of tubes in the two chambers which vary as to coldness, said nests bein located in a horizontal series and provi ed at one end with a horizontal series of individual water chambers, and at the other end with water chambers connect- 7ing two groups together, means for dividing the condensing chambers from each other, s aid means directing the steam away from the outlet for the air, means for introducing the circulating water from below at one end of the condenser and removing .it

from above at the same end, all the parts being arranged so that the air may be brought into contact with the coldest surfaces before removal and the water of condensation into contact with the exhaust steam before removal.

11. Ina surface condenser having nests of horizontal tubes containing cooling water, which nests are situated in a horizontal series, a section kin which the exhaust steam enters above, in combination with another section in which the exhaust steam enters below after leaving the rst section, means for introducing the circulating water below at one end of the condenser and removing it above at the same end, water chambers arranged in horizontal series at the water inlet end of the condenser, there being one chamber for each nest of tubes, and a water chamber at the opposite end of the condenser common to' two nests so that the water therein may pass from one nest to the other, all arranged so that the air separated from the exhaust steam may brought into contact with the coldest tubes in the second Acondensing chamber by the removal while the water of condensation is brought into contact with the exhaust steam before removal.

12. In a surface condenser, a shell having a steam inlet at or near the top and an air exit at or near the top separate from the steam inlet, in combination with a partition directin the steam awa from the air exit and dividing the shell into two communicating chambers, together with nests of tubes situated in said chambers in a horizontal series, in one of which chambers the steam, the commingled air yand the water of condensation travel together in the same direction, and in the other of which the steam :and the commingled air travel in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the water of condensation, water chambers arranged in a horizontal series at one end of the condenser, there being one chamber for each nest of tubes, and a water chamber at the opposite end of the condenser connecting two nests of tubes. l ,i

13. In a surface condenser, a shell having a steam inlet at or near the top and an air exit at or near the top separate from the steam inlet, in combination with a partition directin the steam away from V-`the air exit and dividing the shell into two communicating chambers, a nest of tubes in each chainber, said nests being arranged in a horizontal series, means for introducing circulating water into the condenser at one end below and withdrawing it from "above at the same end, water chambers at one end of the condenser arranged in a horizontal series, one serving as-an inlet chamber in conjunctionwith one nest of tubes, and the other serving as an outlet chamber in conjunction with the other nest of tubes, and a water chamber at the opposite end of the condenser serving to connect the two nests of tubes, all arranged so that the'air may be brought into contact with the coldest tubes in the second chamber before removal and the water of condensation may be brought into contact with the exhaust steam before removal. v 1

14:. In a surface condenser, the combination with a steam motor, of a base comprising condensing apparatus consisting essentially of divisions or chambers containing nests or groups of tubes containing cooling water, said nests or groups being arranged in a horizontal series, and said divisions or chambers primarily receivingthe exhaust steam and air commingled therewith at or near the top of the condenser and which provide exit for the air separate from the steam at or near the top of the condenser, v means for introducing the cooling waterN otherwise as desired. YHence the

nests

.At suitable points in the walls of the condenser frame 1, proximate to the. coldest'condensing surfaces,that is to say, for an example, at certain points in the walls of the sections or chambers 5 adjoining the'coldest