US2453662A - Condenser - Google Patents

Description

H. M. GRAHAM Nov. 9, 1948.

.coNDENsER 4 Sheeissheet l Filed March 2, 1944 oooo.ooooo,\oo

oooooooodoo H. M. GRAHAM Nov. 9, 1948.

CONDENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1944 .Nv' 9, l948 V H. M. GRAHAM 2,453,662

CONDENSER Filed March 2, 1944 v 4 sheets-sheet s H. MQ GRAHAM Nov. 9, 1948.

CONDENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,Filed March 2, 1944 Harold Mmzam Patented Nov. 9; 1948 UNITE D STATES PATENT' GFFI-CE CONDENSER" Harold M,-Graham,-fl Kenmore, N. Y., assigner to Graham Manufacturing Co., Inc., New York, N.r Y., acorporationof New York Application March-2, 1944, Serial No. 524,741

The present invention relates to improvements in condensers and more particularlytosurface condensers for condensing steam l and other vapors.

The invention improves condenser construction and operation by providing a tube bank and shell construction cooperating to form a vapor lane and a reheating chamberwherein `vapor entering the inlet to the condenser at high velocity-will have a portion conducted. directly into the l reheating chamber for increasing the pressure in the. reheating chamber to anV amount; higher than the inlet pressure for effectively using the heat in saidvapor'for heating the condensate to a higher temperature than the vapor temperature at said inlet. l

The invention provides a condenser constructed to provide increased efficiency by utiliz,- ing part of the heat in thesteam being: condensed to reheat the condensate to. a higher temperature than the steam tenlperatureentering the condenser.

The invention further provides `for `improving the construction and operation of a condenser to increase its efficiency by having a pair of tube banks arranged one in each side of the-:shell `extending inwardly frorn the sidewalls thereof to provide condensing zones substantially filling-the shell. Each bank of condenser tubes has radially arranged steam passages through the condensing zones radiating upwardly and inwardly from the central side portions of the shell. The condenser banks terminate in spaced relation in the central portion of the shell with the inner faces diverging upwardly from the bottom portion at an approximate 10 angle to theupper central portion where each bank then curves outwardly in arcuate relation to the upper top side portions ofthe shell to form a central vertical-.funnel-shaped vapor lane through said shell. The bottom portions of the condenser banks terminatefin spaced relation above the bottom of saidy shell to form a condensate reheating chamber below the banks having the lower end of the vapor lane communicating therewith. With the width of `the f narrow portion of the vapor lane equal to about onetwelfth of` the width I ofboth condenser tube banks, a cooperation is obtained in the condenser between the radiating steam passages in the condensing zone, the steam lane and condensate reheating chamber for condensing a large volume of steam or the like and reheating the condensate to a higher temperature-in the reheating chamber 'than the temperature of; the vapor at `the inlet. The forming'ofatop portion on the coni` claims.l (o1. 257-43) the construction of condenser tube banks to secure more efficient condensation of vapor by having the tubes in each bank arranged inrows to provide a cross-sectional tube patternzinwhich transverse rows radiate `from the. central .outside portion ofthe banklupwardly.` and inwardly in substantially radial relation to provide steam passages through said banks that are wider at the inner face of the bank, while curved intersectingv rows of the tubes in the bank are arranged concentrically in uniform spaced relation andextend inwardly from the outer upper side portion of the bank and then curve into downwardly extending relation in the central portion of the shell merging -into spaced parallel rows of tubes inclined inwardly and downwardly to the bottomof the tube bank.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows atop planview of a condenser w-iththe water. bok` on one end broken-away and omitting illustration of the condenser tubes:

Fig.y 2 is a view showing the condenser partlyin side elevation `and partly in vertical longitudinal,` cross-section with portions broken away for convenience.' in illustrating the invention, with ,only portions of a few condenser tubesllustrated.

Fig. 3` shows the condenser in end.\e1ev ationy with a portion of the water box brokenfawayand yshown in cross-section for illustrating details of construction `with the cross-sectional pattern of the condenser tubes shown diagrammatically by center lines.`

Fig, 4 is 'a vertical transverse section taken!v on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the cross-sectional tube bank pattern diagrammatically by the intersectng center lines. y

Fig. 5 isanlenlarged fragmentary vdetail crosssection through the margin of a tube sheet; water box andthe flange on one end Votthjey shell' showing how the tube sheet and water box vare bolted to the shell. i i 1' Figy is anenlarged fragmentarydetail crosssection showing the expansionl joint at oneend of the shell.

Fig 7' is an enlarged fragmentary diagram.. matic illustration showingv the cross-sectional tube pattern in the air cooler including :the angular relation between intersecting l center line through the tube centers.` i a l The condenser constructed, according f to` the present invention has a metal shell I open ation--A positeends, Theshell is formed toprovide spaced parallel vertical side walls 2 merging into downwardly `and. inwardly curved bottom portions' illustratedin semi-cylindrical form` inthe draw:

. ings with the radius for-the bottom portion'ghavingl the center on a horizontal` center line -at 114,.

` see Fig- 4. The radius of a typical condenserlfrom at the top edges to provide the end portions ofv inletl. As shown in Fig. 1 inlet 'l is substantially rectangular in form having the ends terminating close to the end portions 'of the shell and having a width equal to about one-third of the condenser width. The top wall portions S and 8 in forming inlet 'I are provided at the upper edges with a flange 9 welded th'ereon and formed with a plurality of openings for forming one partV of a flange joint to which the exhaust end of a turbine, vapor conduit or other apparatus may be bolted to provide a tight joint at the inlet to the condenser.

The right-hand end of the shell has a flange I0 welded thereon in the manner shown in Fig. 5. The left-hand end of the condenser as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 6 has a sleeve I I slidably mounted thereon and connected to the end portion of the shell by means of a sheet metal ring I2 of U- shape in cross-section having one part of the ring welded at I3 to the shell and the other part of the ring welded to the inner end of sleeve Il. This provides a bellows type expansion joint.' A ilange I4 is welded to the other end of sleeve ll wh'ere it projects beyond the end or the shell. Flange I4 is formed with a plurality of openings for receiving securing bolts. This structure provides means for compensating for the difference in expansion between the shell and the condenser tubes.`

`A pair of tube sheets I5 are mounted one at each end of the shell with the periphery Vof the tube sheets engaged against ilanges I and I4. The tube sheets are bolted to flanges I il and ll'by collar bolts I6, as'shown in Fig. 5, having the collars engaging in recesses in the outer faces of the tube sheets so that when the nuts are threaded on the ends of the bolts passing through flanges I0 and I4 the tube sheets will be rigidly secured in sealed relation against flanges Il) and I 4 on the ends of the condenser shell. Suitable gaskets I A plurality of baille plates I 'I are arranged in vertical transversely extending spaced parallelv relation in the top portion of the shell and are secured at the ends by welding or the like to top wall sections 6. These baiiies I'ldirect steam entering through th'e inlet in a downward path toward the bottom of the shell and also cooperate in yreinforcing the top structure of the shell. These baffles have central openings, partly shown in Fig. 4.

`A plurality of tube support plates I8 are mounted in vertical transversely extending relation with opposite ends secured to the side wall and bottom portions 2 and 3 of the shell by welding or the like. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the centrally located tube support plates are in staggered relation with respect to the upper and lower tube support plates I8. rIhese tube support plates are provided with a plurality 0f perforations (not shown) to receive and support the condenser tubes at spaced intervals between the tube sheets. The central sections of plates I8 are apertured as shown in Fig. 4 to provide communication throughout the central portion 0f the shell. A pair of air baiiles I9 of angle form in cross- `section is formed of sheet metal and has one free edge welded or otherwise suitably secured to the lower portions of side walls 2 of the shell, one at each side thereof. The other portion of the angle extends inwardly and downwardly toward the curved bottom portion 3 of the sh'ell and terminates in spaced relation to the inside of the shell to provide an air Iinlet il along the lower` edge. Air baies I9 are slotted to receive and engage over tube support plates i8 and the centrally located group of tube support plates i8 are apertured at 2l inside air baffles I9 on each side of the condenser shell to provide continuous interior air manifolds throughout the lull length of baffles I9 which are closed at the ends near the tube sheets by blank-off plates Ill.

The condenser is provided with a pair of condenser tube banks having a plurality of tubes arranged' in longitudinally extending relation throughout the length of the shell with opposite ends secured in tube sheets I5 so that the interior of the tubes open at the ends of the condenser on the outside faces of the tube sheets in a manner well-known in the art. The condenser tubes are indicated by the numeral I5. The illustration of the tube banks in the drawings is substantially diagram-matic due to the small scale required for illustration. The tube banks are therefore illustrated by showing the cross-sectional patternproduced by the intersecting cenf ter lines of the transverse and intersecting curved rows in which the tubes are arranged, without illustrating the tubes in cross-section. Circles have been drawn on some of the tube centers outlining the tube banks to further aid in illustrating the arrangement of the tubes in the condenser.

Each tube bank is formed with the tubes arranged in the same but opposite manner as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The tubes are arranged to provide transverse rows of tubes radiating substantially from air baiiles I9 toward the central and upper portions of the shell, these radiating transverse rows of tubes being indicated by the numeral 22 referring to the transversely extending and radiating center lines. The transverse center lines 22 for the tube rows at the bottom of the condenser bank incline inwardly and downwardly to a slight extent and then as the rows progress upwardly the center lines 22 radiate inwardly and upwardly until they extend in a vertical relation adjacent the upper portions of side walls 2 of the shell. These radiating center lines 22 for the transverse rows of tubes start with an intersecting curved center line indicated at 23 and extend inwardly to the center line 24 dening the shape of the inner face of the condenser banks and the centers for the inner row of tubes.

For example, in a typical full-sized condenser constructed as illustrated in the drawings, the centers for the condenser tubes along the line 23 are spaced an inch apart and the tubes will be spaced successively greater distances apart, progressing outwardly to the inner face of the condenser bank along the intersecting curved center line 24 where centers of the tubes will be spaced approximately one and nine-sixteenths inches apart. This provides tapering steam passages through the condensing Zones arranged in substantially radial relation extending toward gesegnet `outerj bottomi portionsf lthe l shell kthe' tube pattern i'clicated'by "the `center lines Eintersecting at "light angles as f indicated at E25 and ze 'are arranged in right 1angular"relation to show a minimum spacing ia-long center l-inef23. Y

Afgro'iipy ofV condenser Ytubes inv each bank I pass through the condenserlf'ietween'` air bailies lland A-shell 'side portions "2 above entrance 2l) to form an aircooler havingthe tubes arranged slightly closer'together' as shown by the group of intersecting center lines showing the `positions Yof the tube centers "asfirrdieated at 21'. The `angle`between intersecting center lines indicated ati28 is 60 and measured "alongeach ofthe intersecting center lines the tube centers -are spaced approximately one inch vapartin a typical condenser "thereby bringing the tubes slightly closer together in ther air ycooler section thanin the portionsv indicated by numerals 25 andZ` by reason of the acuteangular relation of the center lines.

The tube banksh'ave the intersecting curved center lines23 and 24 in the upper portion of the condenser `arranged in concentric arcuate `relation with the radius of each centerline having' a Ycenter at 29 on the horizontal center line through the condenser on which `center 4 is located. The radius from center 23 to center line 24 in atypical condenser is twenty-seven inches. Below the center line on which center29` is located, the cen- `-ter lines for the tubes between center lines7 23 and m24l extend in spaced* parallel inclined relation to- "linesZ terniinati'ng at the top"edges`o f"the`side walls. In thel typical condenser the distance between centers 4 andl2l isA thirty-fourinchesand from center-29 to the outer vertical transverse center' line istwelve inches. `There is a` partial trow of tubes spaced inwardly one inch from line 24 located at the top portions of each tube bank asshown in Fig.'4.

The condenser tube banks-have the inner face Iiorrned by the'in'ner row of tubes along center lines 24 terminating in spacedfrelationto'each other on opposite sides' of the vertical center line through the condenser shell With the tubes at the bottom central portion of the banks' terminating `in" spaced relation above the bottom of the" shell toprovide a narrow throat portion at f3ll. The

`tubes at thebottom of the condenser bank are arranged to provide an outwardly and tapering bottom portion to the tube bank 'indicated at 3| below throat 3D on' each side thereof forming a condensate reheating chamber "32 hai/ing throat llr communicating therewith. `l'teheating'chamber 3.2 vextends across` the bottom of thercndenserf Y under the bottom portions of both tube banks and on oppositel sides offthroat "3D, The reheating chamber '32 yextends uniformly throughout 1 the 'length'of the shell'between'tubesheets. The h u bottom? ofthefcorrdenSer-shelll is-l formedfiWith-a i" 'ffdensrefshelleand *to communicate with the int6 rpirantybf apertures-nain'longitudinally-extending relation. V

The"Widthffthefthroat'portion f3!! at theV bottoin'portio'n between? the condenser banksis equal t5 to approximatelyloiewelfthoflthe AWidth of the fcondrier banks"`at'tli'e top of the condenser, that lis the {overall f'dirnensio'n Vlas shown, equalling {ninety-"six an'dtlireeffquarters inches in the typical condenser. The opening between the conspacing' between tubes 'qn"center in bothfdireclili-o den'er'banks forns'faf-unnel-shaped lane in crossvtions VJof one inch thereby beingfequal `to `the AS'oiclri extending 1'ilollgitadirlflly throughout the length of the f'sh'ellf between theftube sheets. The ipper endofthisilaneopens into a wide space extending to the uppered'ges of the side Walls so 1;5 that thet'opvj portion? of the condenser is open to fprvide for thestea'm entering through inlet 1 expandigoutwadly tothe upper edges of the `side"Walls"underthe inclined top Wall sections "Bfandltoill thetop portion* of the condenser theN 'elongatednarowf inlet. The steam can then pass "downwardly through' the steam lane with only A='a""s`rn"a`.ll 'fprtin passing throughv narrow throat portion `-`."ill finto condensate reheating Henamber sz.

agota ongf'fthe'i-nner `s'urlacesof fair bales i9 into the enings Zil'fattlie flower 'ends thereof. A pluial'ity i:inverted"Veshaped deector strips 34 "iare'rnountedlalong the lower inner edges of air *baiiies [9 'ffl dectng condensate i dripping on and?flovvirig 'dow'n the baffles to the opposite sides it reof"'forfelirninatinginterferencewith the op- 'f`e`z1a'.tic"1n of the suction Ior 4vacuum in the interior airf'rnanifolds.

FThe"mannerv ofsecuring the ends of condenser 40l tubesinfthel tube sheets I5 is not illustrated ben 'the condenser*sl1ell"fand` through openings 33.

`-Thefcorid"enser tube banks form the condensing j Zonefvvithin thefshellf'wlere eteam; vapor and the l"lillieiare condensed into liquid form `which flows 35o "doit/inwardly and A'drops from one tube to the next,

*like rain. v`rThe condensate Y'drips from the upper ltubes nearf the' side 'walls 2- on' baffles E9 and then through the"1owe1 tubes vthrough reheating cham- Inews2Aanoon'the "bottom curved portion 's of the'fshe'll 'All'if thecondensateows through yreleatingchanber'SZ to l"openings '33 where the "feondensateflpassesffinto'casingfi forming a hot Swell-'oni the lb'ttom of the shell.

l l'jIotWelFcasrigfflis "provided with a plurality v"ofitransvrse ba'iesiilfrnied With perforations 3B of varying size arranged in alternate relation in "successive partitions. AApertures k3 9 are formed 'iin'the'llowr'dges offp'artitions 31 to provide for uthefdrai'riingff the cndensatetoward outlets outletfpipesfto drainff'condensate from the hot 'fit/ell. Thefhbt vvell'is yprovided With `a manhole "ce'ver' 4I "detachably mounted over an opening 'in thes'ide of easing '35 that may? be removed To `V`when"desirdltoobtainaccess tothe interior of terior air manifold on opposite sides of the shell to provide for equalization of the vacuum in the manifolds. An air outlet connection is provided at 43 having communication with the interior air manifold at the right side of the shelf as shown in Fig. 3, so that a pipe connection can be made to air outlet connection 43 for connecting it with a vacuum pump or ejector designed to create the desired amount of vacuum in the interior air manifolds to secure the desired operation of the condenser. A plurality of pipe sec tions 44 are mounted in spaced relation at opposite sides of the bottom center portion of the condenser shell and communicate with the side portions of the compartments in hot well casing 35 between the various partitions 31, for venting the sides of the hot well into the shell so that the vacuum in the manifolds will maintain effecu tive operation on the vapor in the hot well without interference from the condensate running into the hot well. The pipe sections 44 extend above the inner bottom face of the shell so con densate cannot clog the openings therein.

A gauge glass of conventional form may be provided on one side portion of casing 35 for indicating the level of condensate in the hot well as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Water boxes of substantially conventional construction are provided on opposite ends of the condenser, a combined inlet and outlet water box being indicated at 45 and the return water box at 45. Water box 45 has inlet 4l at the bottom portion of the water box while the outlet 48 is at the top side portion as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Collar bolts l are used to detachably secure water box 45 in sealed relation against the tube sheet l5, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. Water box 45 has a central horizontal partition 49 extending therethrough for dividing the water box into inlet and outlet chambers while return water box 45 does not use a partition. This provides for the circulation of cooling water or other uid into the bottom of water box 45 through inlet 41 and then through the lower group of tubes in both banks to return water box 46. The fluid then travels upwardly in return water box 46 to the upper group of tubes in both tube banks and through them to the upper chamber in water box 45 and then out through outlet 48. A cover 50 is bolted on water box 45 to close the end of the box in the usual conventional manner. Cover 5l] is provided with a plurality of manholes, having covers 5I, also of conventional construction, in order to provide for access to the interior of the water box and the tube sheets. The return water box constructed in a similar manner, wellknown in the art. Supporting brackets 52 are mounted on the outside lower central portions of the condenser shell to provide supports for mount-- ing the condenser in the location in which it is to operate.

In order to guard against the passage of steam or other vapor downwardly between the inner faces of side wall portions 2 of the shell and the outer row of condenser tubes, deflector strips 53 are secured in inwardly and downwardly inclined relation on the inner faces of the upper portions of side walls 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and extend longitudinally throughout the length of the shell. These delector strips 53 deflect steam entering between the outside portion of the tube banks and shell into the tube banks for condensation. In the central portion of the tube banks it will be noted that there is an absence of tubes in a transversely extending portion ofl the tube 'banks in horizontal alignment with partition 49 in water box 45. The use of the partition in the water box prevents tubes from being mounted in this portion of the tube sheets thereby leaving a transversely extending space between upper and lower portions of both tube banks. To prevent steam or other vapor to be condensed from passing through the condensing zone without contacting with the tubes in the banks, a plurality of longitudinally extending baiile plates 54 are mounted in spaced parallel relation on rods 55 extending in transverse relation in the shell with opposite ends secured to the upper portions of air bailes Ill. Plates 54 are also engaged in slots and secured in support plates IB. Plates 54 block the passages in the tube banks so that steam or other vapor entering the same will be deected into contact with the tubes in the banks and subjected to the condensing operation of the condensing zone.

The condenser herein disclosed is adapted for operation with steam turbines of al1 sizes including turbines used on ships for propulsion as well as large steam turbines used for industrial purposes. It is customary to mount the turbine over the condenser with the exhaust end of the turbine secured to the condenser inlet to directly discharge steam from the turbin into the condenser inlet. The condenser is tightly sealed at all joints to prevent leakage of air or cooling fluid into the inside of the shell. In operating a condenser of the character shown in the drawings with a steam turbine it will be understood that the steam exhausting from a turbine into inlet 'l is being received in inlet 'i at high Velocity and in substantial quantities. A high Vacuum is applied to the interior air manifolds which results in the high Velocity steam entering into the funnel-shaped lane at the top of the condenser and by reason of the inclined tcp wall sections the steam spreads out within the top of the condenser over the tube banks. Steam entering the central portion of the condenser through inlet 'i flows downwardly at high velocity into the narrow portion between the tube banks in the central portion of the shell and has rapidly decreasing velocity as it flows through throat 35 into condensate reheating chamber 52. As the steam passes downwardly through the lane the vacuum in the interior air manifoldsoperating through the condenser banks causes a large volume of the steam to be drawn laterally through the radial passages between the transversely extending rows of tubes and into contact with the surface of the tubes maintained at a cold temperature by the cooling water circulated through the water boxes from the inlet to the outlet. This causes the vapors to condense on the tubes. The arrangement of the tube banks with the tubes in the pattern as hereinabove described provides an eicient condensing structure for rapidly condensing large volumes of steam. The condensed steam falls like rain through the condensing zcne until it reaches the bottom where it flows into and passes through condensate reheatng chamber 32 and into casing 35 forming the hot well, Steam passing downwardly through throat 3B into condensate reheating chamber 32 also passes through openings 33 into the hot well. Since there is no outlet for the steam at the bottom of the condenser the small portion of steam passing into condensate reheating chamber 32 and the hot well will have the velocity reduced to a substantial extent and converted into building up pressure in the condensate reheating chamber greater than the pressure fof@ the-.steamfatthe :in-let end of.1th e.

of the steam entering at theinlet. Steam entering.A

reheating chamber 32:Vf through throatv 303. turns. outwardly in both directions into the/tube` banks in the condensing; zone. under the suction. created in the interior air manifoldand byfreasongoiathe. inclination of the rows oitubesat thebcttom..of the tube banks shown as inclining inwardly. and downwardly and having. passaesbetween. the rows of tubes gradually decreasing in sizeirom the inner face of the tube banks outwardlytoward the vacuum channels isdrawn toward; thetube banks. The steam therefore curls .back undenthe. bottom of the tube banks andliscondensedas it flows through the condensing zone towardopene ing. 2li, into the air cooler. Pipe sectionszd. also provide for the. vacuum inthe interiorfainmanifold drawing steam andcair iromzthe upperportions of hot well casing in` maintainingyeffective operationof the.. vacuum in.allparts of the condenser.

In all steam systems there is` a certain .percentage of air mixed with thesteam vapor and y'in the operation of a condenser. such as hereinlshown and described the .steamwill be substantially entirely condensed in passing.` through the` con-- densing zones. Any. remaining steam and air that passes through the tube banks into the-space between the banks and balies I9 will flowdowm Wardly along the inner faces of..` the baffles and f through the openings ZU-.atthe lower. ends of the airbaiiles intovair cooler tube. banksz'l. The. air will be cooled and any steam, thesaturation comrponent of the air, and other condensa-ble products will be condensed in his air coolerv section while uncondensable gases such as airwill pass through the air cooler unit and be substantially cooled to reduce its volume. and temperature to. as `near the cooling fluid temperature as possible, whereupon it will pass into theinteriorair. manifolds. and

then subsequently be evacuated through air outlet 43.

The condensate passes from thecondensate reheating chamber zithrough openings 33fiinto the hot well and is drained ofi .through .openings 394m the bottoms of the partitions. and throughs. the outlets 4E] for return to the. boiler tobe. reconverted into steam.

In a typical installation of a condenser as shown in the drawings and hereinabove described, with steam entering the condenser at the inlet ata temperature ofv 70 F., and a vacuumoiv 29.26 inches of mercury at the top of the condenser shell, a steam pressure of .74 inch of mercury Was measured at the steam inlet. A pressure of 1.03 inches of mercury was measured in thefcon densate reheating chamber 32 andthe condensate was heated to a temperature o f 80"v F. Steam was being condensed at an approximate volume of 71,000 pounds per hour while circulating water siderablejincrease-in efliciency; i s.obtaine eachtube. lies*l ina. transver i0 higher than Ithe `irriperi lite of. thefsteam atl-thV inlet. It. will Ftherei ore `be, `understooel-.tha

operation. 0i.v the` present i condenser. fver. realist varieties.. of condens, e1s. heretofole-v known; in, the.. er. Where .ithas besafouaci ini-.ost dioulft tortelvent. excessive subcfooling. oflzthe condensate.` to tem'neraturesmore thanl?" E. below. .the,`tempera., ture'otthesteamatmennen,

YThearra'rigeinent of the tube rowslinthetube beets.. ille-Slammer@ the tubsbanks .iaprpvidig thegfunnei-.Sliaped landinjhe central. portion of t condense sh 1l with aJQng. narrowportion e throu ut a.' substantial part of, the 1^ hi of iii.S..1l ad setting.graduallyharrower d thejthroa 3,9 near thabottoin of the ,tub.e.

nlsswitli ihefwiith' 0f. the. Spese bsiweenfthe @riser hanissioririins. thoteaml lane proporaeaeestaapp ofrimatelaoneeiwelfth. 0f the-.forear albi. dth oki'the, condenserbanks provide. a co. the.. c user. structure.. bemin. dis; h thafelima n.oitnareheatinschami ibe` .bottom.oi .the om,1deinsr,y for, obiairiig, "l'QeSo -meiehqy olaf.. o tion ovtrthecone topnovidethe.condensate heated 'to a bei' iemesreiiilteihan that of thesieamnter:

ai?. the .inlet will 'be understood that modernere designed o o-.r v ith. the. disclosure herein mayialso appli ation for Condehsinajvaporsotther typesthanlsteam wherefa similar. g-inheat with thel increas"e,l of eiiciency o.l..:a`ineol may, b e for useful...

inveiimlemed.iS.; i. A .stoemcnndsaser Comprising. Metil.. hay; ing a. steam inlet at.v thei tonand al. condensate outlet. atthe. b.ottoln, an interior air. manifold alongeael sidegoisaidfshell.inthescent Q, tion,y a of condenser -tubeibanls l nioairii'fad..in Soidlie oaohbaiiltextendiria between the mis of. said .elhalong onersid. substantially lling ...Soia-Shel from..ihe.`ioeio ihe.. bott0m portions. thereof .an extending about the 'adiae cent. air. manifold to. Pte-rides. `Substantial. f time. bank section ih .lll 4dir'edtiQDSf: 'insidegsauld shell ftoin oaid-.ait-manifold .through which ,steam must pass i manifold.. cath. bank; beine howard. lsai formed;` of.. apluralijty ofspacedfparallel. condens er tubes.. having a.. cross-sec]A o1' pattern Vwherein mwen@ also; in an intereeating. row, the transverse...tuberoyrs radi* Misafir-m ASe.ieleit manifolds to prendo tapering steam passages: extending.. transversely through drfsaidrmani: the Central .loweseiid-oieeehfbank .Xtendinain parallel rel tion andysligh in `ned.,to thefverticahoentltal. plane oir Seidsheil and the upper ends of said intersecting tub-e ws` curving tvfalzfiir in @maestria snatefitrel-a .1.91.1 nto Subir-:horizontal sortie S. Where Sie., secties Y tubetrowsfeni ad. Cseittlieruenei firmer sidesoi said Shel-1.. seid: tube fbanhsbeine spaced apart inthe.. central portion; of; said@ sh ll and cooperatins.;4 to: seni-rail iunneieshaped steamA ane. Anavthe a. wideupper /portiontcurving inwardly :about fthe innerrfaces, .of fsaid tube.: banks into a.narrow.andfdownwardlyrextending passage in .than entrai portionto, the; bottom-otisaidgpshelh saidf. beings formedi to, provid-e.. outwardly tapering` loeren-inner'. portions` at thesbottom of saidslrell for. cooperation therewithI to..fo`rm a central condensate. .reheating Chambon under. the lowerinnenportions ofrsaidfbanks, saidtuhe banks andgsneilzproridine the.. only meansormina Said reheating chamber in said shell, and said tube banks providing the only obstruction in said shell between said reheating chamber and air manifolds whereby said shell and tube banks cooperate to condense steam in all parts of said banks and provide a higher steam pressure in said condensate reheating chamber than at the steam inlet for heating condensate passing therethrough to a higher temperature than the steam temperature at'said inlet.

2. A steam condenser comprising a shell having a steam inlet at the top and a condensate outlet at the bottom, a pair of interior air manifolds each located along one side of said shell in the central portion, a pair of condenser tube banks mounted in said shell, each bank having a plurality of tubes extending between the ends in spaced substantially parallel relation and substantially filling said shell along one side from the top to the bottom portions thereof about the adjacent air manifold to provide a substantially uniform tube bank section in all directions from said air manifold within said shell through which steam must pass toward said manifold, each tube bank having a cross-sectional pattern wherein each tube lies in a transverse row and an intersecting row, said transverse rows at the lower end of each bank extending inwardly in radiating relation from the adjacent air manifold to provide substantially radial steam passages transversely through each bank ofk progressively reduced size from the inner edge of each bank toward the adjacent air manifold, said intersecting rows of tubes at the lower end of each bank extending in spaced parallel relation inclined at a small acute angle to the vertical central plane of said shell, said tube banks being in spaced relation at the central portion of said shell with the innermost intersecting rows of tubes cooperating to define the inner face of said bank and a central steam lane of gradually reduced size pro-- gressing toward the bottom central portion of said shell, said tube banks having outwardly and downwardly inclined lower inner portions for cooperation with said shell to form a central condensate reheating chamber in the bottom of said shell extending under the lower inner portions of said banks, said tube banks and shell cooperating to provide the only means forming said reheating chamber, and said tube banks forming the only obstruction to steam passage between said reheating chamber and said manifolds, whereby said shell and tube banks cooperate to condense steam in all parts of said banks and provide a higher steam pressure in said condensate reheating chamber than at the steam inlet for heating condensate passing therethrough to a higher temperature than the steam temperature at said inlet.

3. A steam condenser comprising a shell having a steam inlet at the top and a condensate outlet at the bottom, a pair of interior air manifolds each located along one side of said shell in the central portion, a pair of condenser tube banks mounted in said shell, each bank extending between the ends of said shell along one side substantially filling said side of said shell from the top to the bottom portions thereof and extending about the adjacent air manifold to provide a substantially uniform tube bank section in all directions from said air manifold through which steam must pass toward said manifold, said tube banks defining condensing zones in opposite sides of said shell extending inwardly to the central portion thereof and cooperating to define a central funnel-shaped steam lane extending between the sides at the top of said shell and tapering inwardly and downwardly into a narrow portion between said banks opening between the bottom portions thereof, said shell and tube banks being the only means arranged in spaced relation at the bottom to form a condensate reheating chamber below said condensing zone having the lower end of said steam lane communicating with the central portion thereof, whereby high velocity steam will pass through said steam lane into said reheating chamber and provide increased pressure therein for heating condensate from said condensing zone passing therethrough to a higher temperature than steam entering said steam lane at said inlet while steam will pass outwardly from all portions of said steam lane and reheating chamber through said banks of condenser tubes forming said condensing zone for condensation.

4. A steam condenser` comprising a shell having a steam inlet at the top and a condensate outlet at the bottom, a pair of interior air manifolds each located along one side of said shell in the central portion, a pair of condenser tube banks mounted in said shell, each bank extending between the ends of said shell along one side substantially filling said side of said shell from the top to the bottom portions thereof and extending about the adjacent air manifold to provide a substantially uniform tube bank section in all directions from said air manifold through which steam must pass toward said manifold, said tube banks dening condensing zones and substantially filling the side portions of said shell and terminating in spaced relation to each other in the central portion of said shell to form an upright funnel-shaped steam lane having a Wide upper portion extending inwardly into an elongated narrow vertical central portion converging in inclined relation to a narrow throat at the lower portion between said banks having a width of approximately one-twelfth of the total width of said banks, said tube banks being formed at the bottom central portion in cooperation with the bottom of said shell to provide a condensate reheating chamber and forming the only means to provide said longitudinally extending condensate reheating chamber having said steam lane communicating with the central portion thereof through said narrow throat, whereby high velocity steam will pass through said steam lane into said reheating chamber and provide increased pressure therein for heating condensate from said condensing zone passing therethrough to a higher temperature than steam entering said steam lane at saidk inlet.

HAROLD M. GRAHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 865,875 Curran Sept. l0, 1907 1,764,782 Ehrhart June i7, i930 1,780,476 Grace Nov. 4, 1930 1,796,708 Grace Mar. 17, 1931 1,855,231 Grace Apr. 26, 1932 1,935,864 Tinker et al Nov. 21, 1933 2,168,902 Grace Aug. 8, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 273,262 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1927

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