US3747673A - Ltr condenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A low temperature rise condenser is disclosed which employs a modular construction with relatively short tubes in a sloped position that facilitates installation and maintenance and permits a greater concentration of cooling surface for a given floor space.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Jones et al.

1111 3,747,673 [4 1 July 24,1973

[ LTR CONDENSER [75 I Inventors: William E. Jones; Donald A.

Halpin; Joseph J. Biese, all of Easton, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company, New

York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 199,468

[52] US. Cl 165/67, 60/95 A, 165/112,

. 165/114 [51] Int. Cl......, F281) 1/02, F28b 9/00 [58] Fieldof Search... 165/110, 111, 112,

165/113, 67, 114; 60/95 R, 95 A f [561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,956,784 10/1960 Parkinson 165/112 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 617,790 l1/l926 France 165/110 Primary Examiner -Albert W. Davis, Jr. Attorney-Frank S. Troidl et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A low temperature rise condenser is disclosed which employs a modular construction with relatively short tubes in a sloped position that facilitates installation and maintenance and permits a greater concentration of cooling surface for a given floor space.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 LTR CONDENSER This invention relates to a system for the control of source water temperature, particularly to prevent its increase above the predetermined maximum allowable value as a consequence of discharging heated water from a power plant.

Power generating stations and manufacturing plants discharge heated water at such high temperatures that ecological concern has lead to staturtory restrictions that limit the total temperature rise across a given installation. With the traditional arrangement of steam turbines, surface condensers and associated circulating and condensate pumps, temperature rises from 10 to 30 F have been common and the discharge from the tubes is usually downstream to avoid recirculation of the heat. Local and state laws now require smaller gradients typically limiting the maximum to 5 F or less. Such restrictions require huge amounts of cooling water. Prior condenser art would require major modification to the foundations and/or the size of the condenser which has horizontal tubes of sufficient length to project to the ends or sides of the turbine pedestal.

Our invention utilizes a modular construction with relatively short tubes in a sloped position with steam spaces connected to each turbine exhaust with a Y type exhaust manifold. It utilizes the concrete condenser supporting structure which contains a hydraulic conduit of distribution of circulating water from or to the condenser tubes.

The objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparentfrom a study of the following description taken with the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a turbine house foundation integral with the condenser; and FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the cooling tube modules. 1

In FIG. 1 the turbine foundation l envelops the Y shaped steam dome 12 on both sides of which is located a modular type tube bundle 18. Each module has a large number of tubes in a sloped position for convenient withdrawal and greater density of cooling surface area per square foot of floor space. Further, each module comprises a large number of tubes 20, more clearly seen in FIG. 2, both ends of which terminate in tube sheets 22 which provide water tight connections with the water box' and with the outlet, or inlet, compartment 24 which is also a concrete supporting structure for the condenser. Intermediate plates 26 provide support for the tubes and shell and collect the majority of condensate to prevent flooding of the lower section of the tubes by condensed steam. Collecting troughs 28 extend from the plates and lead to perforated reheating trays 32 for final reheating and deaeration before collection in the-hotwell 34 and removal through condensate outlet 36. i

Each module is fitted with a positive venting air cooler section which vents the noncondensables through a collecting duct to air off take pipe 38 for removal bythe air removal equipment.

The hot well can be easily modified in size to provide the condensate required for the system. The modules make the tube bundles compatable with transportation limitations, shop capabilities and foundation limitations. As ease of installation and maintenance are major considerations the short tubes installed in the shop require a minimum of tube pulling space and hence allow greater areas for installation of other major equipment than heretofore allowed by prior art.

Combing the concrete supporting structure and circulating water conduit system eliminates a set of water boxes and with the short slope tubes reduces the total circulating pump head required by prior art.

A siphon-type circulating water system can be employed so that only the friction and inertia of the syytem need be overcome by the circulating pumps.

In operation, the steam exhausted by the turbines enters the Y shaped steam dome, is guided to the modules and enters the bundle tubes 20 condensing on these cooled surfaces and draining onto the intermediate plates and lower tube sheet which conveys the condensate 30 to the collecting trough 28 which extends on each of them. The condensate is channeled to perforated heating trays 32 which reheat and deaerate condensate by using bypass steam. The condensate collects in the hot well 34 from which it is discharged through outlet 36. The non-condensables in the steam are vented through a cascading air cooling section which reduces the temperature and the volume for more efficient venting through pipes 38 to 40. The cooling water is pumped by conventional circulating water pumps into the inlet water boxes 16 wherein it enters the large number of tubes and flows to the outlet compartment 24 for ultimate return to the cooling water source. Should station layout benefit the concrete compartment can serve as the inlet water box, and the water may discharge through the upper water boxes. I

We claim:

1. In a steam condenser, a temperature controlled source water system comprising a combined concrete supportingstructure and cooling water outlet chamber a cooling water inlet, at least one shell superimposed on the source water outlet having at least one vent for non-condensables, a plurality of modules with replaceable tubes positioned therein at an angle from the horizontal and tube sheets at each end of the tubes spacing and sealing the tubes in the modules. at least one manifold communicating between the cooling water inlet connection and one of said tube sheets in each module to direct the cooling water through the tubes,

a steam dome superimposed on said shell to direct steam between said tubes and shell,

at least one hotwell located below the shell having a positive reheating-deaeration system comprising at least one reheating tray, a condensate collecting trough beneath the tubes to convey condensate from the tubes to the tray, and

a condensate discharge outlet.

2. The steam condenser of claim 1, wherein the modules further comprise intermediate plates for supporting; said tubes and each said intermediate plates has one of said collecting troughs coupled thereto and extending therefrom, for collecting condensate for channelling to the reheating-deaerations system. i

3. The steam condenser of claim 1, wherein the steam dome further comprises a concave surface for increased support and improved flow.

* ik III 4K

Claims (3)

1. In a steam condenser, a temperature controlled source water system comprising a combined concrete supporting structure and cooling water outlet chamber , a cooling water inlet, at least one shell superimposed on the source water outlet having at least one vent for non-condensables, a plurality of modules with replaceable tubes positioned therein at an angle from the horizontal and tube sheets at each end of the tubes spacing and sealing the tubes in the modules. at least one manifold communicating between the cooling water inlet connection and one of said tube sheets in each module to direct the cooling water through the tubes, a steam dome superimposed on said shell to direct steam between said tubes and shell, at least one hotwell located below the shell having a positive reheating-deaeration system comprising at least one reheating tray, a condensate collecting trough beneath the tubes to convey condensate from the tubes to the tray, and a condensate discharge outlet.

2. The steam condenser of claim 1, wherein the modules further comprise intermediate plates for supporting; said tubes and each said intermediate plates has one of said collecting troughs coupled thereto and extending therefrom, for collecting condensate for channelling to the reheating-deaerations system.

3. The steam condenser of claim 1, wherein the steam dome further comprises a concave surface for increased support and improved flow.

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