GB944590A - Improvements in and relating to the condensation of metal vapours - Google Patents

Abstract

<FORM:0944590/C3/1> <FORM:0944590/C3/2> A surface condenser for metal vapour, e.g. Zn, consists of an enclosure surrounded by a jacket which contains a first cooling liquid or molten substance; a second cooling liquid is circulated through pipes situated within the first liquid and the heat abstracted by the condenser is varied by altering the level of the first liquid in the jacket and/or the amount of the second liquid circulating through the pipes. The first liquid may be a molten substance or low melting-point metal, e.g. Pb, Cd, Sn, Bi, Na, K or an alloy of these, and the second liquid may be an organic liquid, e.g. diphenyltetrachloride, or pressurized water. Either or both liquids may be circulated to an apparatus for the utilization of heat. The first liquid is maintained at a temperature above or below the said solidification temperature of the metal to be condensed according to whether the condensing surface is a metal or an inert refractory material. Fig. 1 shows a condenser having an inlet 1 and an outlet 14 for any carrier gases. The condensing surface 3 is cooled by a first liquid filling an annular chamber 5 and heat is withdrawn from this first liquid by coils 7, 8, 9 containing a second liquid which are connected to a heat utilization apparatus (not shown). Valves 71, 81, 91 regulate the amount of liquid passing through the coils and enable the temperature of the first liquid to be maintained constant at various levels. Fig. 2 shows a condenser in which the annular chamber 5 is surrounded by further chambers 16, 17 both containing further first liquid and connected at their lower ends. Cooling coils 8 contain second liquid and the level of liquid in the chamber 16 is varied by increasing or decreasing the gas pressure in the chamber 17 by means of a valve 18. If the condensing surface is a refractory material the chamber 5 may be omitted.