Vapor control apparatus

Claim 2

In vapor control apparatus: an elongated vertically disposed tubular housing, spaced apart upper and lower closed annular chambers within said housing, said upper chamber being spaced inwardly from the wall surfaces of said tubular housing so as to define an essentially annular passage therebetween, said lower chamber extending inwardly from the wall surfaces of said housing and terminating inwardly in an annular wall surface defining a centrally disposed air inlet; an annular array of condensing tubes interconnecting said upper and lower chambers, said condensing tubes surrounding the centrally disposed air inlet defined by said lower chamber, means for introducing odor containing vapor into said upper chamber; means for discharging condensate from said lower chamber, including means for also discharging noncondensables from said lower chamber; of water spray means mounted within said housing and positioned to spray water on said annular array of condensing tubes throughout substantially their full length; and blower means for drawing air (FIGS. said housing through said centrally disposed air inlet and for discharging it from the opposite end of the said housing, the air stream so formed flowing upwardly through and around said condensing tubes and through the sprays of water emitted by said water spray means.

Claim 3

The vapor control apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for discharging noncondensables from said lower chamber includes means for introducing the noncondensables into the airstream flowing upwardly through said housing.

Claim 4

The vapor control apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein said water spray means comprises a centrally disposed water pipe extending upwardly within said annular array of condensing tubes, said pipe having radially disposed sets of nozzles arranged to direct sprays of water outwardly toward said condensing tubes.

Claim 5

The vapor control apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein a water reservoir underlies said lower annular chamber, and pump means operatively connected to said centrally disposed water pipe for pumping water from said reservoir into said pipe.

Claim 6

The vapor control apparatus claimed in claim 4 including conduit means for introducing water into said reservoir, and means for regulating the back and forth of water into said reservoir.

Claim 7

The vapor control apparatus claimed in claim 5 wherein the means for discharging condensate from said lower chamber includes a discharge compartment for receiving condensate from said lower chamber, and means for introducing water into said discharge compartment.

Claim 8

The vapor control apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein said discharge compartment is open to the flow of a part at least of the spray water returning to said reservoir through the centrally disposed opening in said lower chamber.

Claim 9

The vapor control apparatus claimed in claim 7 including baffle means in said housing overlying said upper chamber and positioned so that the air stream flowing upwardly through said housing impinges on said baffles prior to being discharged from said housing.

Claim 10

The vapor control apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for discharging noncombustibles from said lower chamber includes means for selectively introducing the noncombustibles into the airstream flowing upwardly through said housing, or for diverting said noncondensables to an incinerator or the like.

Claim 11

In vapor control apparatus: an elongated vertically disposed tubular housing, spaced apart upper and lower closed annular chambers within said housing, said upper chamber being spaced inwardly from the wall surfaces of said housing so as to define An essentially annular passageway therebetween, said lower chamber extending inwardly from the wall surfaces of said housing and terminating inwardly in an annular wall surface defining a centrally disposed passageway opening downwardly from said housing; an annular array of condensing tubes interconnecting said upper and lower chambers, said condensing tubes surrounding the centrally disposed opening in said lower chamber; conduit means for introducing vapors into said upper chamber; an annular base underlying said housing, said base having a plurality of air inlet ports therein, the lower portion of said base being divided by a baffle into a water reservoir and a condensate discharge compartment; a centrally disposed water pipe extending upwardly from said reservoir through said annular array of condensing tubes, sets of radially disposed spray nozzles mounted at spaced apart intervals along said water pipe within the area of said condensing tubes, pump means for pumping water from said reservoir into said water pipe, and conduit means for introducing water into said reservoir, including float-controlled valve means for maintaining a predetermined water level in said reservoir; means for discharging condensate from said lower chamber into said discharge compartment; means for discharging noncondensables from said lower chamber, said discharge means comprising conduit means for selectively introducing the noncondensables into said annular base above said reservoir, or for directing said noncondensables to an incinerator or the like; blower means at the upper end of said housing beyond said upper chamber for drawing air upwardly through the central opening in the lower chamber, so as to initially lie to the inside of said annular array of condensing tubes, the air stream stream flowing outwardly around said condensing tubes and upwardly around said upper chamber; and baffle means in said housing between said blower means and said upper chamber, said baffle means being inclined and positioned so that the air stream will impinge on the inclined surfaces of said baffles.

Claim 12

In vapor control apparatus: an elongated vertically disposed tubular housing, spaced apart upper and lower closed annular chambers within said housing, said upper chamber being spaced inwardly from the wall surfaces of said housing so as to define An essentially annular passageway therebetween, said lower chamber extending inwardly from the wall surfaces of said housing and terminating inwardly in an annular wall surface defining a centrally disposed passageway opening downwardly from said housing; an annular array of condensing tubes interconnecting said upper and lower chambers, said condensing tubes surrounding the centrally disposed opening in said lower chamber; conduit means for introducing vapors into said upper chamber; an annular base underlying said housing, said base having a plurality of air inlet ports therein, the lower portion of said base being divided by a baffle into a water reservoir and a condensate discharge compartment; a centrally disposed water pipe extending upwardly from said reservoir through said annular array of condensing tubes, sets of radially disposed spray nozzles mounted at spaced apart intervals along said water pipe within the area of said condensing tubes, pump means for pumping water from said reservoir into said water pipe, and conduit means for introducing water into said reservoir, including float-controlled valve means for maintaining a predetermined water level in said reservoir; means for discharging condensate from said lower chamber into said discharge compartment; means for discharging noncondensables from said lower chamber, said discharge means comprising conduit means for selectively introducing the noncondensables into said annular base above said reservoir, or for directing said noncondensables to an incinerator or the like; blower means at the upper end of said housing beyond said upper chamber for drawing air upwardly through the central opening in the lower chamber, so as to initially lie to the inside of said annular array of condensing tubes, the air stream stream flowing outwardly around said condensing tubes and upwardly around said upper chamber; and baffle means in said housing between said blower means and said upper chamber, said baffle means being inclined and positioned so that the air stream will impinge on the inclined surfaces of said baffles.