US2111240A - Surface condenser - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1938. r ACE 2,111,240

I SURFACE'CONDENSER Filed Feb. 19, 1936 5 sheets sheet 1 Jon F. GRACE.

INVENTOR By W? ATT RNEY March 15, 1938. J F RA E SURFACE CONDENSER Filed Feb. 19, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JUHIN E ER'mzE.

IN VEN TOR ATTRNEY Rdarch l5, 1935i J p SURFACE CONDENSER Filed Feb. 19, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOHN F.GRAC-EQ.

LNVENTOR A ORNEY March 15, 1938. J. F CE SURFACE CONDENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 19, 1936 JOHN F. GRaoEa INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY March 15, 1938. F RA E w 2,111,240

SURFACE CONDENSER JoHN E GRacE.

INVENTOR Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SURFACE CONDENSER Application February 19, 1936, Serial No. 64,787

29 Claims.

This invention relates to surface condensers for condensing steam and the primary object of the invention is to provide a surface condenser in which the shell or housing is built up of sheet metal sections, welded or otherwise suitably connected at the joints, and in which the shell is constructed to withstand the stresses imposed upon the shells or housings of large steam condensers of the surface type, with a minimum amount of cross bracing, and with a high degree of simplicity in its construction, thereby provid ing a sheet metal shell condenser, which is strong, durable and one which may be manufactured at a relatively lower cost with respect to the cost of the shells or housings of approved type of surface condensers of comparative surface area.

In surface condensers of large surface area and condensing capacity as employed in present-day modern power plants, the condenser shells or housings are subjected to heavy stresses, due principally to the absolute pressure of the atmosphere exterior of the condenser and partly to the temperature variances to which they are subjected andthe load they must carry because of the weight of the parts, and the method of attaching to the turbine, etc. Heretofore, it has been the general practice to construct the shells or housings of such condensers, particularly those of large area and capacity, of heavy cast metal of sufficient weight and strength to withstand the stresses; however, the present-day tendency is towardssheet metal shells, because of cheapness of such shells, and lighter Weight, etc. With the advent of such sheet metal shell condensers, arose the problem of strength to Withstand the stresses of operating conditions Without resorting to excess bracing and interference with the condensing space and the flow of steam into and through the condenser.

The present invention comprises a condenser shell in which the shell itself embodies in its construction novel characteristics or features that enable it to withstand the stresses'to which it is subjected during operation and in which such cross bracing as is employed serves the dual function of strengthening and bracing the shell, and forming supports for the segmental support plates employed for supporting the tubes used for the circulation of the cooling medium through the condenser.

A further object of the present invention is'to provide in a steam condenser as specified a novel construction and arrangement of support plates for supporting the cooling medium circulating tubes, without imposing or permitting any abnormal or excessive stresses on any part of the condenser shell, and which support plates are arranged to permit unimpeded flow of steam to be condensed longitudinally to all parts of the condenser as well as to permit penetration of the steam to all parts of the condensing surface of the condenser, thereby obtaining maximum condensing of steam with a, minimum amount of tube or condensing surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a surface condenser for steam as specifled a novel arrangement and construction of shell, braces, and supporting plates, which will provide maximum supporting strength and will not interrupt or abruptly divert the steam flow through the condenser, with the resultant creation of air pockets or dead spaces.

With these and other objects in View, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a condenser of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved surface condenser.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the condenser.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the condenser, having the water box and one-half of one of the tube sheets removed to show the interior arrangement of the support plates and braces in the shell.

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the condenser taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the condenser taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 but having the water boxes removed.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective of a part of the condenser structure.

Figures '7, 8 and 9 are detail views in elevation of the different sections which go to make up the support plates of the condenser.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of the condenser, having awater box and tube sheet removed and parts broken away to illustrate the interior construction of the condenser.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved condenser comprises a shell generically indicated by the numeral l. The shell I- has the usual tube sheets 2 and 3 attached at the ends thereof to which the ends of the tubes (not shown) used for circulating the cooling water from one of the water boxes 4 or 5 through the condensing space to the other water box are attached in any approved manner.

The water circulating tubes are of the usual approved type employed in surface condensers and they are left out of the drawings so as not to obscure unnecessarily the details of the interior construction of the condenser.

In the drawings the condenser is shown as what is commercially known as a single pass condenser, that is, the cooling water enters the water box 4 through the inlets 6, passes through the condensing space into the water box 5 and passes out of the water box through the outlets 1. While the condenser is illustrated as a single pass condenser it is to be understood that the features of the condenser forming the present invention may be embodied with a two pass condenser or a condenser of any multiple. number of passes for the circulating of cooling water without departing from the spiritv of the present invention.

The shell I of the condenser is formed of sections of sheet metal which are preferably welded at the joints but may be connected in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is to be understood that the shell may be made of any number of connected sections, depending upon the size of the shell.

The lower portion 8 of the shell I is formed of curved sections which present concave surfaces to the interior of the condenser and in the construction shown in the drawings, the middle portion 9 of the upper part In of the condenser is also shown as formed of sections II and I2 of sheet metal which are curved so as to present convex surfaces to the outer side of the condenser and concave surfaces inwardly to the interior of the condenser. The condenser illustrated is shown as provided with two inlets I4 and I5 for exhaust steam. However, the invention is equally applicable to condensers having a single exhaust steam inlet or any desired and practical number of exhaust steam. inlets. The sides I5 of the exhaust steam inlets which also form part of the condenser shell, are curved to present concave surfaces to the exterior of the condenser shell conversely to the curvature of the sections 8 and I These sides I6 are curved in the manner illustrated so as to guide properly the incoming steam into the condenser shell for proper delivery of the steam into the condensing space of the condenser. As clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the condensing space, identified by the uppermost portions of the support plates and the diagrammatic outline of the tube bank in Figure 3 of the drawings, commences substantially in a line with or slightly above the plane in which the sides Iii begin to curve outwardly so that the incoming steam engaging along the convex inner surfaces of the sides IE will pass tangentially off these convex surfaces into the tube bank or condensing space next the sides of the condenser. Part of such steam will enter the tube banks near their top while the remaining portion of it will pass downwardly through the steam lanes indicated at IT and enter the condensing surface or tube bank at points below the uppermost part thereof. It is to be understood, of course, that steam enters the condenser shell through the entire opening or space in the exhaust inlets l4 and I5 and it is only the steam which enters at the end portions of such inlets that is referred to above in connection with the interior convex surface of the sides I6.

The condenser shell embodies two straight sections 20 and 2I which are in the form of flat I beams, the lower ends of which are bolted, welded or otherwise suitably attached to the flanges 22 formed on the upper edges of the sections forming the lower portion 8 of the condenser while the upper edges of these straight absorbing bracing flat sections are attached in any suitable manner, preferably by bolting, to the flanges 23 which are formed upon the lower edges of the sections forming the portion 9 and of the sides I6 of the. exhaust inlets I d and I5. The concave curvature of the sides I6 together with the straight vertical beams or sections 2i and the convexly curved sections forming the portion 8 of the condenser all cooperate and combine to strengthen the shell I of the condenser in such manner as to absorb effectively the stresses to which the condenser shell is subjected during operation. The straight fiat sections 20, it will be noted are placed or extend along the sides of the shell at the center of the condenser and provide relatively long straight stress-absorbing sections which are supported directly upon the supporting feet 25 of the condenser thereby transmitting through these flat straight sections 20 and 2|, the stresses of the condenser shell directly to the supporting feet 25 and the foundation, indicated at 26, on which the condenser is supported. Of course, it is to be understood that such straight flat sections 20 and 2| are equally efficient in absorbing and distributing stresses of the convexly curved sections I I and I2 as they are of the concavely curved sections or sides I6, and also that they will be equally effective in absorbing and transmitting stresses in condenser shells which do not have the concave sections I6.

The exhaust inlets, the lower ends of the straight sections 20 and 2| and the top of the central or intermediate portion 9 of the condenser are all braced by suitable sheet metal braces 21 which are welded or otherwise suitably attached to the various parts of the condenser shell where required.

The shell I is braced transversely by a plurality of horizontal braces 30 arranged in horizontal vertically spaced rows, and extending from one side of the condenser to the. other, as clearly shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings.

The horizontal transversely extending braces 39 are composed of transversely extending side rails 3! disposed in parallel relation and connected preferably by cross braces 32 at spaced points.

The braces 30 in the uppermost row, that is, the braces nearest the exhaust steam inlets, have their ends suitably connected to the flat plates 33 of the brace structures 34. The fiat plates 33 are connected or attached to the sides i6 by suit: able brackets 35 which are welded or otherwise suitably attached to the shell of the condenser as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6 of the drawings.

The tubes, (not shown) through which the circulating water travels from water box to water box, are supported intermediate their ends, by support plates, as is usual in the construction of large surface condensers, however in the present invention, a particular novel type of support plate is provided, which is segmental, each support plate unit being composed of a plurality of sections attached to and supported by the cross braces 30 and the supporting or attaching brackets 35, so as to distribute throughout the length of the condenser shell, the weight and load of the condenser tubes for the purpose of distributing the weight in such manner as to impose as little stress as possible upon the condenser shell at any concentrated point. Also the provision of the segmental support plates provides sinuous paths longitudinally through the condenser and the condensing space which will permit the steam to be condensed to pass freely throughout the entire length of the condensing space of the condenser.

Each support plate unit or assembly which supports all of the tubes at one location in the shell is composed primarily of two sections each ex tending transversely across approximately onehalf of the condensing surface from a vertical space in the center toward one side.

Each of the sections, which are clearly shown in Figures 3, 4, '7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, is

composed of a relatively small piece fill substantially kite shaped with its side edges converging as they extend downwardly and which conforms in shape to the space between the arms M of the V piece 42 of the support plate unit. The top or kite shaped piece 49 has its upper edge at tached to the proper cross brace 30 in the uppermost row of the cross braces and the V shaped pieces 42 have the upper ends of one of their arms attached to the outside edge of the same proper cross brace 30 of the uppermost horizontal row of cross braces as indicated at 43 while the upper end of its other arm is attached to the proper attaching bracket 35 as shown at 44. The lower end of the substantially v-shaped piece a2 is attached as shown at 45 to the proper cross brace 30 in the lowermost horizontal row of the cross braces and it may, if so desired, be attached to the proper cross brace 3% of the intermediate rows of cross braces.

The third and final piece 46 of each of the support plate sections is relatively large in comparison to the other two pieces of each section and it is cut away from its upper edge downwardly to provide a V-shaped space into which the piece 42 will fit. The piece 46 has an arm 41 which is attached to the same edge of the pro-per cross brace in the uppermost row as the piece 40 i and this piece 46 is also attached at spaced points as indicated at 48 to the shell proper of the condenser and it is supported and rendered more rigid by attachment to the various cross bars 38. The pieces 46 and 40 are secured to the same edges of the transverse braces 3%], but they are spaced apart to provide a space of the same size and shape as the piece 52 so that steam will pass around the piece 42 and through the V-shaped space between the pieces 40 and 46.

The pieces 46 of the support plates, which are clearly shown in Figure 7 of the drawings are each cut away as indicated at 49 to provide space for the air cooling sections 50 of the condenser. In the drawings, the condenser is shown as having an air-cooling section 50 on each side thereof but it is to be understood that only one aircooling section may be provided without departing from the spirit of the present invention and that this air-cooling section may be located as shown in the drawings or at any other convenient location with respect to the condensing surface.

As clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings the relatively small kite-shaped pieces 40 and the pieces 46 of each support plate section are placed in alignment with each other, while the substantially V-shaped piece 42 of each support plate section is positioned parallel to the pieces 49 and 4B but spaced therefrom so as to provide a plurality of sinuous paths opening longitudinally through the condenser to permit the free longitudinal flow of steam in either direction throughout the entire length of the interior of the condensing space. This arrangement of the pieces of the support plates also distributes the load 01' the support plates on the shell and prevents concentration of the loads occasioned by the support plates and the tubes on the shell proper.

A novel type of partition structure is provided for partitioning off the air-cooler spaces 59 in the condenser. These partitions 5| are formed of sheet metal and extend from end to end of the condensing space within the condenser shell. They have arch-like openings 52 cut therein at proper spaced intervals to permit entrance of air and uncondensed vapor into the air-cooler sections 50, the partitions themselves preventing entrance of the air and uncondensed vapor into the air-cooler sections except through these openings 52. The plates or partitions 5| have their edges which extend around the arch-like openings 52 bent or shaped to form drainage troughs 53 which serve to drain the condensate which falls upon the partitions 5| downwardly into the bottom of the condenser shell along the sides of the openings 52 preventing the condensate from showering across the openings 52.

The air-cooler sections 50 have tube supporting plates 54 therein which are spaced staggeredly with respect to the support plate sections of the main condensing chamber of the condenser. The air and uncondensed vapor are taken off from the air cooler sections 50 through suitable air ofi takes 56.

Suitable dams or baffie plates 51 are located in the lowermost portion of the condenser shell and extend from end to end of the condenser for a short distance upwardly into the condensing space for the purpose of maintaining the desired level of the condensate in the bottom of the condenser outwardly of these baffle plates. The pieces 46 of the support plate sections are provided with cut out portions 58 which permit longitudinal flow of the condensate through the condenser shell.

The condensate flows from the condenser shell through a suitable outlet-59 into the hot well 60. The hot well 60 may be either formed of sheet metal or cast as desired and it is attached to the condenser shell proper in any suitable manner through the medium of the flanged attaching ring 6| which is welded or otherwise suitably connected to the condenser shell. As clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the interior or the condenser is provided with a longitudinally extending central throughout its length and opens into the opening 59. This space 62 is arranged to permit the direct passage of some of the exhaust steam entering the condenser, to the bottom of the condenser for the purpose of re-heating the condensate as it showers over the baflies 51 for passage to the hot well and for heating the other condensate as it showers downwardly through the condensing space between the baffles 51 immediately prior to the passage of the condensate into the hot well. A

In the drawings a heater of any approved type is shown at 65. However this heater forms no part of the present invention.

In Figure of the drawings a slight modification of the improved condenser is shown. The only difference, however, between this modified form of the invention and the preferred form is in the construction of the support plates for the space 82 which extends cooling water circulating tubes. In all other respects, the condenser is the same. That is, the condenser shell or housing in this preferred form embodies the straight I beam sections 20' and 2| which extend longitudinally of the shell I along its middle and are attached by suitable flanges to the curved portions of the shell which form the upper and lower parts thereof.

The shell I has cross braces 30 therein which are of the same or similar construction to the cross braces 30 of the preferred form, it has the air cooler defining partitions 5 l the condensate damming baffles 51, etc.

The support plate structures are, however, different in this modified form and the means for supporting the cooling water circulating tubes (not shown) is a plurality of flat strips 10 of sheet metal which are arranged in angled relationship to each other and to the vertical and are disposed in aligning sets or tiers with the strips in one tier disposed staggeredly with respect to the strips in the tier next thereto. Kitelike sections II are provided which are attached to the proper braces 30' in the uppermost row of cross braces. These kite-shaped sections H are positioned to fit or fill spaces between the angled fiat strips 10 so that when looking at the condenser from the end substantially solid appearing support plates are provided or in other words supports are provided which cover the tube areas of the condensing space. In other words support is provided, for all of the tubes (not shown) at relatively close transverse planes in the condensing space without concentrating the load of the weight of the tubes and their supports at particular points on the shell I of the condenser, which supports distribute this weight or load over a large number of spaced points on the shell. The staggered arrangement of the supporting plates or strips also permits free unimpeded longitudinal travel of the steam through the condensing space of the condenser and insures or permits thorough distribution of the steam in the condensing space together with the resultant maximum condensing efficiency of the condenser which will condense a maximum amount of steam with a minimum amount of tube surface and condensing space.

While in the foregoing description and in the drawings the surface condenser has been described and shown as being constructed of sheet metal, it is to be understood that the principles of the invention may be applied to condensers having cast iron shells, or shells and other parts made of any suitable material in any suitable manner, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a surface condenser, a shell, an exhaust steam inlet for said shell, the sides of said exhaust steam inlet being curved inwardly and outwardly in a continuous curve from the mouth of the exhaust steam inlet to present convex surfaces to the interior of the shell.

2. In a surface condenser, a shell, an exhaust steam inlet for said shell, a tube bank in said shell provided with steam lanes, the sides of said exhaust steam inlet being curved inwardly and outwardly in a continuous curve from the mouth of the exhaust steam inlet to present convex surfaces to the interior of the shell for directing incoming steam into certain of said steam lanes from one part of the curved surfaces thereof and into other steam lanes from other portions of the curved surfaces thereof.

3. In a surface condenser, a cylindrical shell embodying flat straight stress absorbing portions extending longitudinally of the shell from end to end thereof, a partition within said shell for defining an air-cooling space, said partition formed of sheet metal and provided with spaced out out portions for forming entrance openings into the air-cooler section, and condensate drainage troughs on said partition about said openings.

4. In a surface condenser, a shell built up of a plurality of portions of sheet metal, certain of said portions being transversely curved and other of said portions being transversely straight for absorbing and distributing stresses, a partition within said shell for defining an air-cooling space, said partition formed of sheet metal and provided with spaced out out portions for forming entrance openings intothe air-cooler section.

5. In a surface condenser, a shell, a partition within said shell for defining an air-cooling space, said partition formed of sheet metal welded to the shell flange and provided with spaced out out portions for forming entrance openings into the air-cooler section, the edge portions of said metal sheet above said openings shaped to form condensate drainage troughs.

6. In a surface condenser, a shell built up of sheet metal and including upper and lower curved portions and fiat straight portions intermediate said upper and lower curved portions and attached thereto and extending throughout the length of the shell, support plates in said shell, said support plates each composed of a plurality of pieces shaped to provide a complete support plate section, certain pieces of each support platesection. being disposed staggeredly with respect to the other pieces of the particular support plate section, a partition within the shell for defining an air-cooling space, said partition formed of sheet metal and provided with spaced cut out portions for forming entrance openings into the aircooler section.

'7. In a surface condenser, a shell built up of sheet metal and including upper and lower curved portions and fiat straight portions intermediate said upper and lower curved portions and attached thereto and extending throughout the length of the shell, support plates in said shell, said support plates each composed of a plurality of pieces shaped to provide a complete support plate section, certain pieces of each support plate section being disposed staggeredly with respect to the other piece of the particular support plate section, a partition within the shell for defining an aircooling space, said partition formed of sheet metal and provided with spaced out out portions for forming entrance openings into the air-cooler section, and tube supporting plates in said air-cooler section disposed staggeredly with respect to the pieces of the support plate sections.

8. In a surface condenser, a shell built up of a plurality of portions of sheet metal, certain of said portions being transversely curved and other of said portions being transversely straight for absorbing and distributing stress, and transverse braces in said shell and having their ends attached to said transversely straight portions, and supporting feet for said shell engaging one edge of said straight portions.

9. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of curved portions and a plurality of straight portions having edgewise engagement with and connected to said curved portions, said condenser shell having exhaust inlet openings, the side walls of said exhaust inlet openings being curved oppositely to the curvature of the remaining curved portions of the shell and extending to the upper edges of said straight portions.

10. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell, and flat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions throughoutthe length of the shell and extending in stress distributing continuation from the outside supports of the shell.

11. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions exmnding longitudinally of the shell, and fiat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions extending throughout the length of the shell and positioned between the upper and lower curved portions, said fiat portions having their fiat sides parallel to a vertical plane bisecting the longitudinal center of the shell, and supporting feet for the condenser attached to the lower edges of said straight fiat portions.

12. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell, flat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions extending throughout the length of the shell and positioned between the upper and lower curved portions, and transverse braces in said shell and having their ends attached to said straight portions for co-operating therewith in distributing stresses.

18. In a surface condenser having an air-cooling section, a shell built up of sheet metal and including upper and lower curved portions and flat straight portions intermediate said upper and lower curved portions and attached thereto and extending throughout the length of the shell, support plate units in said shell, said support plate units each composed of a plurality of pieces shaped to provide a complete support plate section for supporting all of the tubes in the condenser outside of the air-cooling section, certain pieces of each support plate section. being disposed staggeredly with respect to the other pieces of the particular support plate section, cross braces having their ends attached to said flat straight portions, and certain of said support plate units having one of their ends attached to a cross brace to facilitate the distribution of stress in the condenser.

14. In a surface condenser, a shell formed of sheet metal, and tube supporting means within said shell comprising flat metal pieces, certain of which are disposed in staggered relation to others, each of said pieces connected to said shell at a point spaced from where another piece is connected to the shell for distributing the tube and support loads over'a wide area of the shell.

15. In a surface condenser, a shell, a partition Within the shell for defining an air-cooling space, said partition formed of a single sheet of metal attached to said shell and extending from end to end of the interior of the shell and provided with spaced out out portions for forming entrance openings into the air-cooler section.

16. In asurface condenser, a shell, a partition within the shell for defining an air-cooling space, said partition formed of a single sheet of metal attached to said shell and extending from end to end of the interior of the shell and provided with spaced out out portions for forming entrance openings into the air-cooler section, the edge portions of said. sheet about said openings being shaped to form condensate drainage troughs,

17. In a surface condenser, a shell built up of sheet metal and including upper and lower curved portions and fiat straight portions intermediate said upper and lower curved portions and attached thereto and extending throughout the length of the shell, support plates in said shell, said support plates each composed of a plurality of pieces shaped to provide a complete support plate section, certain pieces of each support plate section being disposed staggeredly with respect to the other pieces of the particular support plate section, a partition within theshell for defining air-cooling section, and tube supporting plates in said air-cooler section disposed staggeredly with respect to the pieces of the support plate sections, the edge portions of said metal sheet about said openings being shaped to form condensate drainage troughs, said shell having an exhaust steam inlet, the sides of said exhaust steam inlet being curved to present convex surfaces to the interior of said shell.

18. In a surface condenser, a shell built up of sheet metal and including upper and lower curved portions and flat straight portions intermediate said upper and lower curved portions and attached thereto and extending throughout the length of the shell, support plates in said shell, said support plates each composed of a plurality of pieces shaped to provide a complete sup-port plate section, certain pieces of each support plate sec tion being disposed staggeredly with respect to the other pieces of the particular support plate section, a partition within the shell for defining an air-cooling space, said partition formed of sheet metal and provided with spaced out out portions for forming entrance openings into the air-cooler section, and tube supporting plates in said air-cooler section disposed staggeredly with respect to the pieces of the support plate sections, the edge portions of said metal sheet about said openings being shaped to form condensate drainage troughs, said shell having an exhaust steam inlet, the sides of said exhaust steam inlet being curved to present convex surfaces to the interior of said shell, and supporting feet for said shell engaging said flat straight portions whereby stress will be transmitted from the straight portions through said feet to a foundation on which the condenser rests.

19. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a. plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell, and flat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions throughout the length of the shell and extending vertically from the line of support of the shell.

20. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell, flat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions throughout the length of the shell and extending vertically from the line of support of the shell, and supporting feet for said shell engaging said flat straight portions whereby stress will be transmitted from the straight portions through said feet to a foundation on which the condenser rests. I

21. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper andlower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell and flat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions throughout the length of the shell, supporting feet for said shell engaging said fiat straight portions, said flat straight portions extending in straight lines from said feet and the line of support of the feet whereby stresses will be transmitted from the straight portions through said feet to a foundation on which the condenser rests.

22. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell and flat straight stress distributing and absorbing portions positioned between the upper and lower curved portions, transverse braces in said shell and having their ends attached to said straight portions for co-operating therewith in distributing stresses, tube support plate units in said shell, each of said support plate units being made up of a plurality of pieces attached to said transverse braces.

23. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell and flat straight stress distributing and absorbing portions positioned between the upper and lower curved portions, transverse braces in said shell and having their ends attached to said straight portions for co-operating therewith in distributing stresses, tube support plate units in said shell, each of said support plate units being made up of a plurality of pieces attached to said transverse braces, certain of said pieces of each support plate unit being arranged in longitudinally spaced relation to other pieces in the same unit with said other of said pieces being spaced in the same transverse plane through the shell.

24. In a; surface condenser, a welded sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of curved portions and a plurality of straight portions having edgewise engagement with and connected to said curved portions, tubes in said condenser shell and arranged to form central and side steam lanes, said condenser shell having exhaust steam inlet openings, the side walls of said exhaust steam inlet openings being curved inwardly and outwardly in a continuous curve from the mouth of the exhaust steam inlet to present convex surfaces inwardly to the interior of the condenser whereby entering steam will be tangentially projected off said inner convex surface towards certain of said steam lanes.

25. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell, fiat straight stress-absorbing and distributing portions throughout the length of the shell and extending vertically from the line of support of the shell, and cross-braces within the shell and attached to said fiat straight portions and extending across the shell.

26. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell, flat straight stress-absorbing and distributing portions throughout the length of the shell and extending vertically from the line of support of the shell, cross-braces within the shell and attached to said flat straight portions and extending across the shell, and tube supporting support plate sections attached to said cross braces.

27. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell, flat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions throughout the length of the shell and extending vertically from the line of support of the shell, said shell having an exhaust steam inlet, the sides of which inlet are curved inwardly and outwardly in a continuous curve from the mouth of the exhaust steam inlet to present convex surfaces to the interior of the shell, and cross braces attached to the curved sides of said exhaust steam inlet, and tube support plate sections attached to said braces.

28. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell, fiat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions throughout the length of the shell and extending vertically from the line of support of the shell, said shell having an exhaust steam inlet, the sides of which inlet are curved inwardly and outwardly in a continuous curve from the mouth of the exhaust steam inlet to present convex surfaces to the interior of the shell, cross braces attached to the curved sides of said exhaust steam inlet, tube support plate sections attached to said braces, and cross braces attached to said flat straight stress absorbing portions and extending across said shell, said tube support plate sections being attached to said last-named cross braces.

29. In a surface condenser, a sheet metal shell built up of a plurality of upper and lower curved portions extending longitudinally of the shell and flat straight stress absorbing and distributing portions throughout the length of the shell positioned between the upper and lower curved portions and extending vertically from the line of support of the shell, cross braces within the shell and attached to said fiat straight positions and extending across the shell support plate units in said shell each made up of a plurality of staggered pieces, certain of said pieces having one of their ends attached to one of said cross braces for facilitating distribution of stress in the condenser.

JOHN F. GRACE.

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