Patent US3660980A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3660980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indirect air condensation plant
Assignee: GEA Luftkuehler GmbH
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Filing: 1970-05-13
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A condensation plant for condensing superheated steam and the like, having a jet condenser for condensing the steam and a plurality of air-cooled cooling elements to feed cooling water to the condenser and to cool the condensate. Distribution means, including pumps and valves, are provided between the condenser and cooling elements which allow for the selective flow of the condensate and drainage of any individual portion of the plant. A vacuum line is included in the distribution means and is connected to the highest point of each cooling element. The pressure in the vacuum line is below atmospheric pressure and only slightly above the specific saturation pressure of the condensate corresponding to the water temperature in the upper part of the cooling elements. The vacuum line, along with providing a control function, also enables replacement of a single cooling element without shutting down the entire plant.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermann Knirsch
- 👤 Hans-H Von Cleve
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:36
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K9/00; F01K9/003; F28; F28B; F28B3/00; F28B3/04; F28B9/00; F28B9/04; F28B9/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A condensation plant for condensing exhausts such as steam and the like comprising a jet condenser having at least one jet nozzle therein and operatively connected to receive exhausts to be condensed, a plurality of air-cooled cooling elements having inputs and outputs and arranged in groups, a distribution system connecting said condenser to said cooling elements and comprising a condensate-discharge line connected to receive condensate from said jet condenser and feed it to the inputs of said cooling elements, at least one pump means in said discharge line, a water-return line connected to the outputs of said cooling elements and to the jet nozzle of said condenser, a throttle member in said water-return line, and a vacuum line means operatively connected to the highest point of each of said cooling elements, said vacuum line means for maintaining a pressure at said highest points of said cooling elements which is below atmospheric pressure and above the saturation pressure of the condensate at the temperature of the condensate in the upper parts of the cooling elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A condensation plant for condensing exhausts such as steam and the like comprising a jet condenser having at least one jet nozzle therein and operatively connected to receive exhausts to be condensed, a plurality of air-cooled cooling elements having inputs and outputs and arranged in groups, a distribution system connecting said condenser to said cooling elements and comprising a condensate-discharge line connected to receive condensate from said jet condenser and feed it to the inputs of said cooling elements, at least one pump means in said discharge line, a water-return line connected to the outputs of said cooling elements and to the jet nozzle of said condenser, a throttle member in said water-return line, and a vacuum line means operatively connected to the highest point of each of said cooling elements, said vacuum line means for maintaining a pressure at said highest points of said cooling elements which is below atmospheric pressure and above the saturation pressure of the condensate at the temperature of the condensate in the upper parts of the cooling elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising an air exhaust on said jet condenser, said vacuum line being also connected to said air exhaust.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum linE is connected to the inside of the jet condenser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising a separate evacuation device, said vacuum line being connected to said separate evacuation device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the pressure in the vacuum line as a function of the water level present in the cooling elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A condensation plant according to claim 5, further comprising water-level detector means provided in several cooling elements of the plant, and at least in one cooling element of each group of cooling elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A condensation plant according to claim 6, wherein each water-level detector means can adjust the pressure in the vacuum line independently of the other water-level detector means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising a water trap mounted in the vacuum line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A condensation plant according to claim 8, wherein said water trap additionally comprises means for connecting its water side with the inside of the jet condenser or the water-return line, and means for connecting its air side with the air exhaust of the jet condenser or an evacuation device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A condensation plant according to claim 9, further comprising a shut-off member connected to the water side of said water trap, means to control said shut-off member as a function of the water level in the water trap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising a shut-off element in the vacuum line at least at the end of each group of cooling elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising a gas equalization line, a water tank, means to connect the vacuum line of at least each group of cooling elements connected separately to said gas equalization line between the cooling elements and said water tank, means to fill the gas equalization line and the water tank with an inert gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising an inert gas supply device and means to connect the vacuum line of at least each group of cooling elements separately to said inert gas supply device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A condensation plant according to claim 12, further comprising means to connect the pressure side of an evacuation device temporarily with a gas equalization line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising means to adjust the throttle member in the water-return line as a function of the pressure in the cooling elements at their highest points.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising means to adjust the throttle member in the water-return line as a function of the pressure in the vacuum line within the region of the cooling elements and the temperature in the region of the highest points of the cooling elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising means to adjust the throttle member in the water-return line as a function of the pressure difference between the pressure in the vacuum line in the region of the cooling elements and the pressure in the jet condenser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A condensation plant according to claim 15, wherein each group of cooling elements is provided with at least one separate pressure detector and with at least one separate temperature detector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, further comprising an expansion turbine mounted in the return line and serving as a throttle member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A condensation plant according to claim 1, wherein said vacuum line means comprises means for maintaining a pressure at said highest points of said cooling elements which is below atmospheric pressure and only slightly above the saturation pressure of the condensate at the temperature of the condensate in the upper parts of the cooling elements.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A condensation plant according to claim 5, comprising an evacuation device connected to the vacuum line, said evacuation device for regulating the pressure in said vacuum line as A function of the water level in the cooling elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB978067A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |