GB1568713A - Condensate-removing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONDENSATE REMOVING APPARATUS (71) We, FLExlTALLlc GASKET COMP ANY INC., a Corporation of the State of Connecticut, United States of America, of P.O. Box 680, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for removing condensate from pressurised vapour, such for example as steam in pressurised lines installed in steam power plant in ships, indust rial installations and the like.

In our UK. patent specification 1,427,036 is described and claimed a device which includes, inter alia a plate provided with a restrictive orifice and associated upstream thereof a screen or strainer having flow passages of smaller crosssection than the orifice.

Apparatus according to U.K. patent 1,427, 036 has found widespread application, both marine and industrial, as efficient but must cheaper substitutes for conventional valved steaimtraps. However, difficulties sometimes occur when very dirty steam is supplied due to the build-up of retained particles on the upstream face of the strainer which can gradually block the stream supply line.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for removing condensate from pressurised gas streams which, under very dirty supply conditions (as with low pressure steam), is simpler to maintain than the apparatus described and claimed in UK. patent 1,427, 036.

According to the invention, apparatus for inclusion in a pressurised gas pipe, particularly a pressurised steam pipe, to remove condensate therefrom, comprises (a) a plate having a restricted orifice to produce a pressure drop downstream in the pipe, and (b) a strainer upstream of the restrictedorifice plate for the removal of solid particles from the gas stream, the strainer having multiple openings smaller than the restricted orifice; wherein the strainer is enclosed with the restricted-orifice plate in a housing whose body has an inlet and an outlet which can be connected to the pipe and are each of total flow area less than that provided by the multiple openings in the strainer; and the housing has a limb through which the strainer can be removed for cleaning without detaching the housing from the pipe.

Preferably, the strainer has a total flow area which is at least 5 times that of the inlet to the housing from the pressurised gas pipe.

Preferably, the strainer is tubular, for example cylindrical.

Preferably, the strainer extends from a main part of the body of the housing into the limb thereof, to facilitate removal of the strainer for cleaning while the apparatus remains installed in the pressurised gas pipe.

Preferably, the inlet and outlet of the housing are screw-threaded so as to be connectable to the pressurised gas pipe by coupling means such as nuts.

The invention is further illustrated by the drawing accompanying the provisional specification, which is an axial section of a pressurised steam-supply line incorporating apparatus according to the invention.

In the drawing a Y-shaped housing has a body 1 connected at inlet 2 to steam supply line 3 by coupling nut 4. A gasket (not shown) is included in the joint. Outlet 5 of the housing is connected to steam line 6 by coupling nut 7, plate 8 provided with a restrictive orifice 9 being clamped between the face of outlet 5 and coupling nut 7 through gaskets 10, 11. A cylindrical strainer 13 extends from the body 1 of the housing into a limb 12 and is clamped between access nut 14 and neck 15 of the housing.

This arrangement ensures that steam and condensed water entering inlet 2 pass through open end 16 of strainer 13 and through the side wall of the strainer before reaching orifice 9, through which the steam and condensate pass to outlet 5.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for inclusion in a pressurised gas pipe to remove condensate thereform, comprising (a) a plate having a restricted orifice to produce a pressure drop downstream in the pipe, and (b) a strainer upstream of the restrictedorifice plate for the removal of solid particles from the gas stream, the strainer having multiple openings smaller than the restricted orifice; wherein the strainer is enclosed with the restricted-orifice plate in a housing whose body has an inlet and an outlet which can be connected to the pipe and are each of total flow area less than that provided by the multiple openings in the strainer; and the housing has a limb through which the strainer can be removed for cleaning without detaching the housing from the pipe.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the strainer has a total flow area which is at least 5 times that of the inlet.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strainer extends from a main part of the body of the housing into the limb thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the housing are screw-threaded so as to be connectable to the pipe by threaded coupling means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the drawing accompanying the provisional specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. plate 8 provided with a restrictive orifice 9 being clamped between the face of outlet 5 and coupling nut 7 through gaskets 10, 11. A cylindrical strainer 13 extends from the body 1 of the housing into a limb 12 and is clamped between access nut 14 and neck 15 of the housing. This arrangement ensures that steam and condensed water entering inlet 2 pass through open end 16 of strainer 13 and through the side wall of the strainer before reaching orifice 9, through which the steam and condensate pass to outlet 5. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for inclusion in a pressurised gas pipe to remove condensate thereform, comprising (a) a plate having a restricted orifice to produce a pressure drop downstream in the pipe, and (b) a strainer upstream of the restrictedorifice plate for the removal of solid particles from the gas stream, the strainer having multiple openings smaller than the restricted orifice; wherein the strainer is enclosed with the restricted-orifice plate in a housing whose body has an inlet and an outlet which can be connected to the pipe and are each of total flow area less than that provided by the multiple openings in the strainer; and the housing has a limb through which the strainer can be removed for cleaning without detaching the housing from the pipe.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the strainer has a total flow area which is at least 5 times that of the inlet.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strainer extends from a main part of the body of the housing into the limb thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the housing are screw-threaded so as to be connectable to the pipe by threaded coupling means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the drawing accompanying the provisional specification.