Surface-type Heat Exchanger Patents (Class 165/113)
  • Patent number: 6101823
    Abstract: An evaporative condensing apparatus used in an air conditioner to reduce the power consumption of the air conditioner and improves its EER value. The evaporative condensing apparatus is based on the rule that the condensing temperature is directly proportional to the condensing pressure during the exchange of a cooling agent between liquid state and gas state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Nutec Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng-Chu Chiu, Tsui-Ling Hsuen, Chih-Hsien Huang
  • Patent number: 6095238
    Abstract: A feed water heater has a longitudinally cylindrical body comprising a cylindrical shell portion constituting a main body portion of a feed water heater and a water box-shaped chamber operatively connected to the cylindrical shell portion and partitioned by a tubesheet. In the cylindrical shell portion, a heat exchanger tube bank is arranged and supported by a plurality of support plates, a drain cooling section is disposed in association with the heat exchanger tube bank for carrying out a heat recovery of a drain generated in the heat exchanger tube bank, a dilution condensing chamber is provided for the heat exchanger tube bank and adapted to excessively flow the steam into the heat exchanger tube bank, and a non-condensable gas chamber is provided for the heat exchanger tube bank. The drain cooling section, the dilution condensing chamber and the non-condensable gas chamber are arranged axially in this order in the cylindrical shell from the tube sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shunji Kawano, Shoji Nakashima, Koichi Yoshimura, Kenji Sato, Hideki Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 6089039
    Abstract: A second condenser includes a condensation promoting portion that promotes a condensation action on a refrigerant by reduction of the sectional area of a refrigerant path. The condensation promoting portion includes a step-forming wall between the sectional area reduced portion and a refrigerant path portion in the upstream thereof A vortex/turbulent flow generator is provided as necessary in the upstream and downstream of the sectional area reduced portion of the refrigerant path. The air conditioner includes a first condenser and a second condenser that are coupled in a crossflow manner so that an object for heat exchange, that is, a coolant passes first through the second condenser including the condensation promoting portion and then through the first condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Noriyuki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6085529
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising a precooler and reheater core adjacent a chiller core, first heat transfer passages extending through both cores through which incoming air passes in a first direction, second heat transfer passages extending through the chiller core through which coolant passes in heat exchange relationship with incoming air and perpendicular to the first direction, and third heat transfer passages extending through the precooler and reheater core through which cooled air from the chiller core passes in heat exchange relationship with the incoming air and perpendicular to the first direction. A manifold contiguous with both cores conducts chilled air from the chiller core to the third set of heat transfer passages.Incoming air is chilled in the chiller core and thereafter exchanges heat with the incoming air in the precooler and reheater core to precool the incoming air to form water droplets and to raise the temperature of the chilled air to a usable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: American Precision Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Galus, David F. Fijas
  • Patent number: 5961781
    Abstract: A process of improving the heat efficiency by condensation of vapor in concentrated chemical solutions, according to which vapor and a concentrated chemical solution are introduced into an absorber comprising a cooler/condenser. In accordance with the invention, the condensate formed in the condensation process is utilized to dilute the concentrated chemical solution in the absorber, and the heat of condensation and the heat of solution generated from the dilution step are recovered by heat exchanged thereof with a heat-absorbing medium. A plant for performing the process is described, comprising an absorber (1) and a cooler (condenser) associated therewith, and at least one heat exchanger (3) having an inlet and an outlet for supply and withdrawal of a heat-absorbing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags AB
    Inventor: Peter Wickstrom
  • Patent number: 5950717
    Abstract: An air cooled condenser is provided which improves the heat transfer in the dephlegmator pipes and reduces the risk of condensate back-up. A condensate outlet extending from the bottom end to the top is arranged in selected dephlegmator pipes. The cross section and the geometry of the condensate outlet is configured in accordance with the respective cross section geometry and the dimensions of the dephlegmator pipe. The length of the condensate outlet is preferably between 100 mm and 500 mm. By separating the steam phase and the condensate phase at the entrance to the dephlegmator pipes, a mutual disadvantageous influence of the two phases on each other is prevented. In particular, the frictional forces between the steam and condensate can be appreciably reduced. As a result, the back-up velocity, that is, the steam inlet velocity at which the condensate starts to back up, is appreciably reduced. Depending on the length of the condensate outlets, a condensate back-up or swallowing can be prevented entirely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: GEA Power Cooling Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Herman Peter Rolf Fay
  • Patent number: 5941301
    Abstract: In a steam condenser which is set up in an on-floor arrangement and in which the steam is condensed on tubes through which cooling water flows and which are combined in separate banks, the tubes of a bank arranged in rows enclosing a hollow space, a cooler for the non-condensable gases is arranged in the hollow space. The sectional banks are horizontally directed in their longitudinal extent and are arranged vertically one above the other. The cooler for the non-condensable gases has its suction action directed toward a zone below the longitudinal center line of the individual bank. The hollow space is connected to a compensating lane in the interior of the bank, the longitudinal center line of which compensating lane, on account of the asymmetrical condensate loading in the horizontally oriented sectional bank and the asymmetrical localization of the pressure minimum in the tube assembly, runs below the longitudinal center line of the sectional banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Peter Baumann
  • Patent number: 5845505
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising a precooler and reheater core adjacent a chiller core, first heat transfer passages extending through both cores through which incoming air passes in a first direction, second heat transfer passages extending through the chiller core through which coolant passes in heat exchange relationship with incoming air and perpendicular to the first direction, and third heat transfer passages extending through the precooler and reheater core through which cooled air from the chiller core passes in heat exchange relationship with the incoming air and perpendicular to the first direction. A conduit conducts chilled air from the chiller core to the third set of heat transfer passages.Incoming air is chilled in the chiller core and thereafter exchanges heat with the incoming air in the precooler and reheater core to precool the incoming air to form water droplets and to raise the temperature of the chilled air to a usable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: American Precision Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Galus, David F. Fijas
  • Patent number: 5824836
    Abstract: A system for lowering the ambient temperature of a vapor being produced from a glycol dehydrator unit, as well as a system for reducing the emissions of BTEX is disclosed. Generally, the system comprises a condenser for condensing the vapor into a fluid phase and a gas phase, and a storage tank, fluidly connected to the outlet of the condenser. The system will also contain a pump member, operatively associated with the storage tank, adapted for pumping the fluid phase from the storage tank; and, a activating member adapted for activating the pump means after the fluid phase reaches a predetermined level within the storage tank. The system will include as part of the condenser member a turbine associated with a roof, with the roof being generally positioned over the condenser coils so as to shade the condenser coils. A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a vapor phase as well as lowering the ambient temperature is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: James W. Becquet
  • Patent number: 5765629
    Abstract: A two-stage steam condenser that prevents freezing from occurring in the tube rows by continual purging of the tube rows. Such continual purging prevents any steam from back-flowing into a tube row thereby eliminating the possibility that condensate or noncondensable gases will become trapped therein. This is achieved by isolating each of the tube rows in the second stage of the condenser so that the pressure of one tube row is not exposed to the pressure occurring in another adjacent tube row. The condensate collected in the various tube rows of this second stage is delivered to a common drain pot that is hydraulically balanced to accommodate the various pressures in these tube rows. Such hydraulic balancing also prevents any back-flowing from occurring from one tube row into another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventors: James David Goldsmith, George Edward Kluppel, George Steve Millas, Thomas Wayne Strock
  • Patent number: 5732766
    Abstract: Gas at elevated temperature from a compressor (50) is fed to a first cooling coil (14) and thence to a second cooling coil (18) in chamber (16). The cooled gas at line (20) enters a chamber (22) where water and oil (if present) separate. A contaminant-free stream of compressed gas is further purified at filter chambers (28, 34). A portion of the gas flow, carrying the liquefied water or water/oil mixture is returned via reducing valve (44) to the interior of chamber (16) where it travels up riser pipe (46) in heat-exchanging relationship with the gas in coil (18) and emerges through port (48) as a condensate-free gas stream, the condensate having re-volatilized after passage through the reducing valve (44). The described arrangement minimizes or eliminates watery waste and cools the gas stream without the need for a powered cooler or supply of cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Process Scientific Innovations Limited
    Inventors: George Sherwood Hunter, John Leslie Oakton, Alex George Hunter
  • Patent number: 5727623
    Abstract: A pair of heat exchangers of generally cylindrical shape are coaxially coupled to the opposite ends of a cylindrical air-water separator. Each heat exchanger has a stack of heat transfer disks brazed together to define two alternating sets of intercommunicating flow paths. The first set of flow paths of the first heat exchanger receives high-temperature, high-humidity air under pressure, which is precooled by low-temperature, low-humidity air flowing to the second set of flow paths from the air-water separator. The precooled high-humidity air is directed through an internal passageway in the separator into the second heat exchanger, in which the air is cooled by heat exchange with a coolant. The cooled high-humidity air is then directed into the separator for reduction of the moisture. The low-temperature, low-humidity air is then afterheated by precooling the incoming high-temperature, high-humidity air in the first heat exchanger, for subsequent delivery to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Orion Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masuo Yoshioka, Hiromoto Ohta, Toshiaki Yamagishi, Noritake Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 5653281
    Abstract: An air-cooled steam condensing module with an integral vent condenser has a steam header, one or more rows of condensing tubes between the steam header and a (generally lower) common condensate header. The module also has at least one row of vent condenser or dephlegmator tubes located adjacent the condensing tubes which connect the lower header to a vent header. The dephlegmator tubes may be of the same or larger diameter than the condensing tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventors: John Lawrence Berg, George Edward Kluppel, William Joseph Oberjohn, Thomas Wayne Strock
  • Patent number: 5632329
    Abstract: A method for uniformly distributing the vapor conducted from a parallel flow condenser section of an air cooled condenser into the dephlegmator cubes of a subsequently arranged countercurrent condenser includes throttling gaseous fluids present at the ends of the dephlegmator tubes on the collector side when the gaseous fluids are withdrawn from the dephlegmator tubes. In the air cooled condenser for carrying out the method, at least the predominant majority of the dephlegmator tubes has resistance elements at or near where they connect to the gas collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: GEA Power Cooling Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. R. Fay
  • Patent number: 5618497
    Abstract: A polymerization apparatus, comprises a polymerization vessel, a reflux condenser installed outside the polymerization vessel and a pipe connected between the reflux condenser and a wall of the polymerization vessel with an end thereof opening into a gaseous phase region inside the polymerization vessel, for returning the liquid condensate to the polymerization vessel, wherein said end projects from an inner surface of the wall of the polymerization vessel into the gaseous phase region. In polymerizing a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond using the polymerization apparatus, the quantity of heat removed by the reflux condenser is increased stepwise or continuously with progress of the polymerization, such that not less than 20% of the total reaction heat generated during the whole course of the polymerization is removed by the reflux condenser. With 100 or more repeated polymerization runs, polymer scale deposition inside the vessel is minimal even below the pipe end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Ueda, Yoshihiro Shirota, Yoshihiko Hirai, Toshiaki Maruyama, Tadashi Amano
  • Patent number: 5540899
    Abstract: A reactor arrangement and process for indirectly contacting a reactant stream with a heat exchange stream uses multiple passes of the heat exchange stream in a transverse flow arrangement to control temperature conditions over the width and length of channels through which the reactant passes. The heat transfer coefficient may be varied by changing the number and/or the arrangement of the corrugations along the plates or adding a heat adjustment plate to a channel containing the heat exchange fluid. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature conditions. The variation in corrugation arrangements within a single heat exchange section is highly useful in maintaining a desired temperature profile in an arrangement having a cross-flow of heat exchange medium relative to reactants. The corrugations arrangement eliminates or minimizes the typical step-wise approach to isothermal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: William J. Koves
  • Patent number: 5509466
    Abstract: The condenser has a condenser shell with a reservoir portion, condenser tubes for cooling vapor flowing over the condenser tubes to condense the vapor to a liquid, and subcooler tubes in a subcooler compartment for cooling liquid within the reservoir portion. The condenser includes a drainage member for forming a void in the reservoir portion and having an upper surface inclined relative to a horizontal plane for directing the liquid from the condenser tubes toward the entrance to the subcooler compartment. The drainage member reduces the amount of liquid required in the reservoir for efficient subcooler and system operation by occupying space in the liquid reservoir that normally is occupied by liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: William F. McQuade, Keith E. Starner, Mark A. Adams
  • Patent number: 5411078
    Abstract: A fluid cooler having contiguous air cooled and evaporative portions and having a heat exchanger common to both portions. The heat exchanger employs a series of straight tubes which traverse both the air-cooled and the evaporative portions. Separate fans are provided for the air-cooled and for the evaporative portions. The segments of the straight tube laying within the air-cooled portion are finned. The segments of straight tubes laying within the evaporative portion are partially finned and extend further downwards as a sub-cooling section of the evaporative coil portion, thereby providing means for cooling the fluid to a temperature lower than ambient dry-bulb temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Roland Ares
  • Patent number: 5404938
    Abstract: A single assembly heat transfer device installed in an environmental control apparatus having a primary evaporator, a two-section heat pipe having an evaporator section and a condenser section, and an end plate. The primary evaporator, the evaporator section and the condenser section are mounted on the end plate, thereby forming a single assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Heat Pipe Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Khanh Dinh
  • Patent number: 5394710
    Abstract: A refrigerant receiver of elongated pipe 4 shape arranged in front of a refrigerant condenser 3. The receiver is of a dimension matched to that of the condenser, and has an inlet 34 for connection with the condenser section 13 and an outlet 38 for connection with a supercooler section 14. The receiver has inclined pipe portions 35 and 37 having inclinations to the horizontal direction, between which a bent portion 36 is arranged. No bubble is created in the refrigerant in the receiver irrespective of large values of the inclination of the receiver, thereby allowing only the liquid phase refrigerant to flow into the supercooler 14 from the outlet of the receiver 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Nippondensco Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsuo, Yasushi Yamanaka, Kenichi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5379833
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a refrigeration circuit for condensing gaseous refrigerant and incorporating an integral refrigerant subcooler. The heat exchanger utilizes an oversized header communicating with the heat exchanger coils of sufficient volume to serve as a reservoir for condensed refrigerant eliminating the need for a separate receiver receptacle. Refrigerant subcooling occurs at the lower region of the receiver whereby the subcooler is automatically provided with liquified refrigerant from the condensing portion of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Koolant Koolers, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas H. Mathews
  • Patent number: 5377489
    Abstract: A steam turbine system including a low pressure (LP) turbine has a plurality of moisture extraction points at which a steam-water mixture is extracted and passed through a respective one of a corresponding plurality of heat exchangers. Each exchanger passes the steam-water mixture in heat exchange relationship with feedwater in a feedwater conduit. A low pressure and low temperature final stage extraction point on the steam turbine is coupled to a condenser, and water collected at the condenser is directed into the feedwater conduit. The system separates at least some of the steam in the steam-water mixture from the final stage extraction point and passes this steam in heat exchange relationship with water in the feedwater conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: George J. Silvestri, Jr., Paul W. Viscovich
  • Patent number: 5368096
    Abstract: A scrubber and heat recovery system for flue gas comprises a housing having a cooling section and a condensing section. An inlet is located near the cooling section and an outlet is located near the condensing section for the entry and exit of the flue gas. A cooling heat exchanger is located in the cooling section and a condensing heat exchanger is located in the condensing section for interactively contacting the flue gas. A perforated tray is located in the condensing section at the condensing heat exchanger for improving distribution of the gas and providing additional contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Paul J. Williams
  • Patent number: 5355943
    Abstract: A condensing plant (10) comprises a steam receiving inlet manifold (11) connected to one end of tube nests (14) externally grazed by air for therein achieving the at least partial steam condensation. At their opposite end the tubes (14) are gathered into at least one outlet manifold (15) for the condensed liquid. Each outlet manifold (15) is connected by a vertically-extending duct (17) to a vertical rain-fall element (19, 20) opening at the lower part thereof into a collection tank (21). The collection tank (21) is supplied with steam from the inlet manifold (11) so that said steam moves up along the vertical element (20) for heating of the liquid falling thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: FBM Hudson Italiana S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Gonano, Giovanni Murgia, Giovanni Ricci
  • Patent number: 5301746
    Abstract: A natural draft cooling tower for condensing turbine steam of a power plant is comprised of identical sectors assembled to form the cooling tower. A central steam inlet line terminates in radial distributing lines. Each sector has one of the radial distributing lines. Each sector has first heat exchanger elements operating in a condensational manner and second heat exchanger elements operating in a dephlegmational manner, with the second heat exchanger elements arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger elements. The second heat exchanger elements are each provided with a fan. Each sector has an inert gas line connected to the second heat exchanger elements and a condensate removal line connected to the first and the second heat exchangers. Each sector further comprises an independent support frame for supporting the first and the second heat exchanger elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Balcke-Durr Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Burkhard Trage, Richard Leitz, Georg Schrey
  • Patent number: 5299633
    Abstract: A heat exchanger device for refrigeration driers in compressed-air installations is described. Such heat exchanger devices have an air/air heat exchanger (1) and a refrigerant/air heat exchanger (2). According to the invention, the air/air heat exchanger is produced as a plate heat exchanger and the refrigerant/air heat exchanger is produced as a combined tube/plate heat exchanger. The tube/plate heat exchanger has at least one unit containing a tube coil being coiled in a meandering manner and forming two spaced broad sides, and two plates, each plate being fastened at one of the two broad sides (FIG. 1 ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Autokuhler GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Werner Bruggemann, Josef Gievers
  • Patent number: 5287916
    Abstract: An apparatus for disposing liquid effluent which has been separated from a fluid system includes a compressor for supplying a compressed fluid to the fluid system. An engine for driving the compressor has an exhaust system which vents an exhaust fluid to an atmosphere external to the fluid system. An aftercooler is flow connected to an outlet of the compressor. A separating means for removing liquid effluent from the compressed fluid is flow connected to the aftercooler. The separating means has a conduit through which the separated liquid effluent flows. A reservoir for collecting the liquid effluent is flow connected in fluid receiving relation to the conduit of the separating means and flow connected in fluid supplying relation to the exhaust system of the engine. During operation, the collected liquid effluent flows from the reservoir into the exhaust system, whereupon entry therein, the exhaust fluid vaporizes the liquid effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Glenn E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5275233
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing moisture from a hot compressed gas before the gas is delivered to a work tool. The apparatus includes a unitary rigid structure composed of a central core, with a header mounted on each side of the core. The central core includes a recuperator section and an aftercooler section, and the headers define air passages whereby the air passing through the apparatus is first cooled in the recuperator section, further cooled in the aftercooler section, and then reheated in the recuperator section. A water separator is positioned at the location where the gas reaches its lowest temperature, and such that upon reheating, a relatively dry and hot gas may be delivered to the work tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Randal A. Little
  • Patent number: 5205352
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for condensing into liquid phase a vapor containing non-condensable gas components through heat exchange with a heat exchanging medium has a vessel having a vapor inlet for receiving the vapor containing the non-condensable gas components and a discharge port for the non-condensable gas components. The heat exchanger further has a tube nest disposed in the vessel and having a plurality of tubes through which the heat exchanging medium flows. The vapor containing non-condensable gas components flows towards the discharge port across the tube nest so as to be condensed into liquid phase through heat exchange with the heat exchanging medium flowing through the tubes, so that the non-condensable gas components are separated from the liquid phase and flow towards the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Takahashi, Iwao Harada, Yasuo Fujitani, Michihiko Aizawa
  • Patent number: 5181557
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating a resin phase from a solvent solution containing a solvent, demetallized oil and a resin. The apparatus has a vertically-positioned heat-exchange surface having an upper portion which is heated by circulating a heat-exchange fluid and a lower portion which is heated by conduction of heat from the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Uop
    Inventor: Brian W. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 5173155
    Abstract: A vacuum boiler evaporator includes a sealed vacuum boiler vessel, a sealed vacuum condenser vessel which contains a partition that divides it into a first chamber and a second chamber that functions as a noncondensible gas collector, a conduit which connects the vacuum boiler vessel with the first chamber of the vacuum condenser vessel, a plurality of heat transfer tubes which extend through the first chamber and into the second chamber, and a return pipe which extends from the second chamber to the vacuum boiler vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignees: Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd, Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyata, Akio Seta, Nobuhiko Tsui, Hiroshi Kujirai, Youji Satoh, Hitonobu Shotani, Kazuya Sahara, Yoshimichi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 5145000
    Abstract: A condensate storage tank assembly comprises a tank section having a condensate outlet at a lower end thereof. An upwardly enlarged steam chamber is connected to the upper end of the tank section and receives a condensate drain line which extends from the drain pot of a condenser. The upwardly enlarged steam chamber surrounds a portion of the condensate drain line at least up to the highest level of condensate in the drain line. A steam line from the source of steam which also feeds the condenser, is connected to the upper end of the tank section for supplying steam above the condensate level in the tank section. The steam heats the condensate drain line in the steam chamber to avoid freezing the condensate in the drain line. An upwardly enlarged deaerator may also be provided on the upper end of the tank section. The drain pot is also supplied with steam from the condenser for avoiding freezing of condensate in the condensate drain lines which supply condensate from the condenser to the drain pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventor: George E. Kluppel
  • Patent number: 5145574
    Abstract: A process for separating a resin phase from a solvent solution containing a solvent, demetallized oil and resin which process comprises: (a) passing the solvent solution over a portion of a generally vertically positioned heat-exchange surface thereby heating the solvent solution to precipitate a resin phase; (b) heating an upper portion of the vertically positioned heat-exchange surface with a circulating hot heat-exchange fluid; (c) passing at least a portion of the resin phase which is precipitated on the upper portion of the vertically positioned downwardly over a lower portion of the vertically positioned heat-exchange surface which lower portion is maintained at a lower temperature than the temperature of the upper portion; (d) recovering the solvent solution having a reduced concentration of resin; and (e) recovering a resin phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Brian W. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 5139083
    Abstract: There is disclosed a new and improved single-row, two-pass steam condensing bundle used for condensing steam in air-cooled vacuum steam condensers in power plant applications and the like. The new bundle is divided into a plurality of identically built mini-bundle sets. Each mini-bundle set has one centrally located 2nd-pass tube with symmetrically placed 1st-pass tubes positioned on either side of it. The steam leaving each 1st-pass tube is controlled by a flow equalizing device installed at the end of the tubes. The flow of the noncondensible gas mixture leaving each 2nd-pass tube is controlled by an individual orifice in the gas piping system. The larger the number of mini-bundle sets incorporated into the bundle, the greater its counterflow freeze protection feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Inventor: Michael W. Larinoff
  • Patent number: 5129449
    Abstract: A condenser (44) of a heated fluid which is condensed within a core of the condenser in response to heat exchange between the heated fluid and a coolant fluid flowing through the core in accordance with the invention includes a plurality of heat conductive laminates (70 and 72) having at least one first channel (12) through which the fluid being condensed flows and at least one second channel (14) through which the coolant flows. The cross-sectional area of at least one of the at least one first channel in the condenser decreases in a direction of fluid flow through the condenser producing increased velocity of the heated fluid flowing in the direction of fluid flow causing a shear force between a vapor phase of the heated fluid and liquid phase condensed on a perimeter of at least one first channel which causes the fluid phase to flow through the at least one channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Dam C. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5107919
    Abstract: An improved air dryer for pneumatic systems (10). The improved air dryer (10) employs air-to-air and an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger portions (12-14) that are substantially parallel and coextensive. Each heat exchanger portion (12-14) is made up of a plurality of tube units (16-52), each tube unit (16-52) having three concentric tubes (22-24-26-58-60-68). The intermediate tube (60) of the air-to-refrigerant portion (14) includes a helically deformed central portion (66) to increase surface area and create turbulence within adjacent passageways (70-74). The tubes (16-52) terminate at each end in separate header units (34-40-46-80-86-92). Incoming air is passed co-currently, then countercurrently, in the-air-to-air portion (12) with air that has been dried, whereupon a pre-cooling stage is achieved. This pre-cooled air is then passed counter-currently, then co-currently, to refrigerant in the air-to-refrigerant portion (14) for causing condensation of moisture therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Pioneer Air Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjiv K. Basseen, Richard A. Harlan, Masoud Zarif
  • Patent number: 5076353
    Abstract: A liquefier for the coolant in a vehicle air-conditioning system equipped with finned heat exchange tubes through which the coolant is conducted in cross-current to the inflowing ambient air. The heat exchange tubes are arranged in several rows of tubes disposed one behind the other in the direction of flow of the incoming ambient air with the respective heat exchange tubes being connected in cross-countercurrent flow. The rows of tubes are subdivided into several component groups (14, 16) which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow of the incoming ambient air, with their fin arrangements being decoupled with respect to thermal conduction. The component groups (14, 16) are connected in series with respect to the coolant and in countercurrent to the direction of flow of the incoming ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Thermal-Werke Warme, Kalte-, Klimatechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 5018572
    Abstract: In a steam condenser erected on-floor, in which the steam is precipitated on pipes through which cooling water flows and which are combined into separate clusters (2), the pipes of a cluster, which are arranged in rows, enclosing a cavity (13), a cooler (14) for the non-condensable gases is arranged in the cavity. The component clusters (2) are aligned horizontally in their longitudinal extent and are arranged vertically above one another. The cooler (14) for the non-condensable gases has its suction effect directed towards a zone below the longitudinal center line of the individual cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
    Inventors: Francisco Blangetti, Vaclan Svoboda
  • Patent number: 4958679
    Abstract: A condenser for the water-steam loop of a power plant includes a condensate-filled lower portion. A heating pipe system is disposed in the lower portion and nozzles are disposed on the heating pipe system through which heating condensate or heating steam is forced into the condensate for heating the condensate and thereby expelling dissolved gases from the condensate. A heating valve is connected to the heating pipe system and a proportional regulator is connected to the heating valve for adjusting heating output of the heating pipe system through the quantity of hot condensate or hot steam. A measurement variable converter connected to the proportional regulator acts upon the proportional regulator at least as a function of oxygen content of the condensate and as a function of subcooling of the condensate, the subcooling being equal to the difference between the temperature of the condensate and the temperature of condensation of steam to be condensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Drosdziok, Harry Sauer, Walter Zoerner
  • Patent number: 4944839
    Abstract: A falling film evaporator in which some plate elements have their upper portions surrounded by a hood to prevent feed liquor from contacting hot vapor generated in the evaporator and exchanging heat therewith by direct contact. Other elements are located outside the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Rosenblad Corporation
    Inventor: Axel E. Rosenblad
  • Patent number: 4930571
    Abstract: A heat recovery system for at least partially cooling and at least partially cleaning an exhaust stream of hot air from a heating operation which is contaminated with vaporized, condensable liquids and with finely divided particulate solids comprising (a) a first indirect heat exchange means for partially cooling the hot exhaust stream with a fresh stream of cold air to a temperature not significantly above the dew point of vaporized liquids entrained in the hot air stream and for partially heating the fresh stream of air, (b) solids collecting means for centrifugally separating a substantial portion of the finely divided solids from the partially cooled exhaust stream and (c) second indirect heat exchange means for further cooling the exhaust stream to a temperature below the dew point of vaporized liquids initially contained therein to thereby liquefy a significant portion of the vaporized liquids and to further heat the stream of fresh air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Industrial Energy Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Paull
  • Patent number: 4928753
    Abstract: A heat pipe apparatus incorporated in a heat exchanger comprises an evaporative pipe group disposed within a flow of a heating fluid, a condenser pipe group located away from the evaporative pipe group, a passage for connecting both pipe groups and for circulating therethrough a working medium, a single passage branching off from the connecting passage between the lower header of the condenser pipe group and the evaporative pipe group, and a second condenser pipe group having its lower header connected to the single passage and its upper header connected to a separator for non-condensible gas. This arrangement provides an improved removal of non-condensible gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Kotaka
  • Patent number: 4926931
    Abstract: An improved steam power system comprising a turbine for converting steam energy into mechanical energy upon expansion of steam therein, a boiler for generating steam to be fed to the turbine, and a conduit arrangement coupling the boiler to the turbine input and then coupling the turbine exhaust to the boiler through air cooled steam condensing mechanisms, the condensing mechanisms including a plurality of U-shaped tubes through which the expanded steam flows and is condensed; front header means at the input ends of the tubes located in the cooler ambient air exposed regions of the tubes for receiving exhaust steam from the turbine; rear header means at the output ends of the tubes located in the warmer unexposed regions of the tubes for receiving condensate and non-condensible gasses; and means in the rear headers to remove non-condensible gasses from the rear headers, the tubes being designed and constructed to protect the tubes from freezing for lack of steam by employing a tube arrangement that flows stea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Inventor: Michael W. Larinoff
  • Patent number: 4905474
    Abstract: An improved air-cooled vacuum steam condenser in a steam turbine cycle comprising a turbine for generating mechanical power, a boiler for generating steam, a conduit arrangement coupling the boiler to the turbine and then another conduit arrangement coupling the turbine exhaust back to the boiler through steam condensing mechanism. The steam condensing mechanisms include a plurality of finned tubes through which the expanded exhaust steam may flow counter to its condensate and be condensed; a plurality of front headers at the lower ends of the condensing tubes for conveying the exhaust steam from the turbine and receiving the condensate from the finned tubes; a plurality of rear headers at the upper ends of the condensing tubes for receiving the non-condensible gasses; and means in the rear headers to remove non-condensible gasses from the rear headers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Inventor: Michael W. Larinoff
  • Patent number: 4878535
    Abstract: Heating elements formed by joining a pair of plates around most of their peripheries are provided with an internal partition which separates upper and lower internal spaces within the element so that separate streams of condensate are discharged from the element. A plurality of such plate elements can be used in a falling film condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Rosenblad Corporation
    Inventor: Axel E. Rosenblad
  • Patent number: 4852643
    Abstract: A vacuum condensor with condensate catch, consisting of a horizontal cylindrical housing with neck, the both bottoms of which are closed by covers, and inside the housing there are mounted heat-exchange bodies, while externally to it there are connected a deaeration device and a condensate pump. The heat-exchange bodies can be either pipes or plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Kombinat "Korabostroene"
    Inventor: Mihail V. Mihailov
  • Patent number: 4749030
    Abstract: A condenser for separating solvent vapors from non-condensable gases. The condenser includes an outer shell, a middle shell inside the outer shell, and an inner shell inside the middle shell. The shells are coaxial and the middle shell is open at the bottom. Mixed solvent vapors and non-condensing gas pass downwardly through an annular space between the inner and middle shells. There is a condensate receiving chamber in the outer shell below the lower end of the middle shell. A cold trap is mounted in the upper portion of the condensate receiving chamber. Coolant is introduced into the cold trap to cool the cold trap. Helical tube means mounted on the cold trap receives the coolant from the cold trap. The helical tube means extends upwardly through the annular space between the inner and middle shells and discharges into an upper portion of the inner shell, and is removed from the inner shell. Condensate is withdrawn from the chamber in the lower portion of the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Inventor: Arthur C. Knox, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4726418
    Abstract: A vacuum condensor with a condensate trap consisting of a horizontal cylindrical housing with a neck has two bottoms which are closed by covers, and inside the housing there are mounted heat-exchange bodies. Externally of the housing there are connected a deaeration device and a condensate pump. The heat-exchange bodies can be either pipes or plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Kombinat "Korabostroene"
    Inventor: Mihail V. Mihailov
  • Patent number: 4702308
    Abstract: A header for a large heat transfer tube bundle having verticle U-bends. The header provides a four pass system employing the upper ends of the tubes for the first and third passes and the lower ends for the second and fourth passes. The header is arranged with a central divider and two boxes, one on either side of the divider. The boxes separate portions of the tubes from the main header cavities for the third and fourth passes. Condensate is removed after both the second and fourth passes. The first pass includes an inverted U-shaped configuration of tubes to increase available tube side heat to the outer sides of the tube bundle. The boxes include a gasket arrangement for separating portions of the tube bundle into various passes. A diffuser is also employed to better distribute incoming flow to the inverted U-shaped configuration of the first pass tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Southwestern Engineering Company
    Inventors: Renato R. Noe, Abraham L. Yarden
  • Patent number: 4690207
    Abstract: A natural-draft cooling tower having a plurality of preferably roof-shaped heat exchange elements for condensing the turbine exhaust steam from a power plant. A portion of the heat exchange elements are connected to operate as condensers, and another portion of the heat exchange elements are connected to operate as dephlegmators, reflux condensers or fractionating columns, with the latter being disposed downstream, when viewed in the direction of flow of the steam, of the heat exchange elements that operate as condensers. In order to assure a complete condensation, and a residual condensation in the heat exchange elements that operate as reflux condensers, under all weather and load conditions, the heat exchange elements that operate as reflux condensers are each provided with a respective fan, the conveying capacity of which can be regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Balcke-Durr Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Burkhard Trage, Richard Leitz