All-secondary air cooled industrial steam condenser

Abstract

A new design for large scale field erected industrial steam condensers in which all of the bundles are constructed as secondary bundles, in A-frame or V-Shape configuration, with tubes oriented 25-35 degrees from the vertical, steam fed from the bottom and condensate is collected from the bundles from the bottom using a combination / hybrid manifold that both delivers steam to the tubes and collects condensate from the tubes and which is constructed so that the condensate is prevented from returning down the steam delivery riser(s) and in which the cross-sectional dimensions of the tubes are 125 mm wide with a cross-section height of less than 10 mm with fins that are 9.25 mm in height, arranged at 9 to 12 fins per inch.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0001]The present invention relates to large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condensers.Description of the Background[0002]The current finned tube used in most large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condensers (“ACC”) uses a flattened tube that is approximately 11 meters long by 200 mm wide (also referred to as “air travel length”) with semi-circular leading and trailing edges, and 18.8 mm internal height (perpendicular to the air travel length). Tube wall thickness is 1.35 mm. Fins are brazed to both flat sides of each tube. The fins are usually 18.5 mm tall, spaced at 11 fins per inch. The fin surface has a wavy pattern to enhance heat transfer and help fin stiffness. The standard spacing between tubes, center to center, is 57.2 mm. The tubes themselves make up approximately one third of the cross sectional face area (perpendicular to the air flow direction); whereas the fins make up nearly two thirds ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an improved design for a heat exchanger system that can use smaller tubes and has improved performance. The system uses a V-configuration which allows for more efficient use of space and allows for longer finned tubes. Additionally, the system can use “louvered” fins which are easier to manufacture and more readily available. Overall, the design allows for a smaller size and improved performance of the heat exchanger system.

Problems solved by technology

The first stage configuration is thermally efficient; however, it does not provide a means for removing non-condensable gases.

Another part of the logic is to weld the top steam manifold duct to each of the bundles at the factory and ship them together, thus saving expensive field welding labor.

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