Constant velocity uniform flow evaporator header

Claim 2

A uniform upward flow discharge header apparatus comprising: a. A generally horizontal, longitudinally extending header duct means having an upper portion, a first end and a second end; said header duct means decreasing in transverse cross sectional area from said first end to said second end; b. inlet means communicating with said header duct means at said first end for admitting the flow of fluid longitudinally into said header duct means; and c. a generally horizontal, longitudinally extending fluid exit port means having a lower portion and an upper surface portion, said lower portion in coextensive communication with the upper portion of said header duct means for the upward outflow of fluid from said header duct means through said fluid exit port means; said header duct means and said fluid exit port means cooperatively adapted to provide essentially uniform volumetric flow per unit area from the upper surface portion of said fluid exit port means.

Claim 3

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including outlet means in the second end of said header duct means for the discharge of excess fluid flow from said header duct means.

Claim 4

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inlet means includes flow director means for longitudinally orienting the flow of fluid admitted into said header duct means.

Claim 5

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the decrease in the transverse cross sectional area of the header duct means from the first end to the second end is proportional to the volume of upward outflow of fluid cumulatively along the length of said header duct means to provide essentially uniform average fluid flow velocity longitudinally through said header duct means.

Claim 6

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fluid exit port means comprises means defining a plurality of upwardly extending, open ended passageways extending from the lower portion to the upper surface portion of said fluid exit port means for the flow of fluid therethrough from said header duct means.

Claim 7

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means defining a plurality of open-ended passageways comprises an open-ended cellular structure.

Claim 8

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the upward extension of said passageways in said fluid exit port means is inversely proportional to the combined pressure losses of the fluid flowing through said header duct means.

Claim 9

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said fluid exit port means further includes a first end and a second end corresponding to the first and second ends of said header duct means and wherein the upper surface portion of said exit port means slopes downwardly from said first end to said second end to reduce the potential head of the fluid flowing through said passageways in proportion to the pressure losses of the fluid flowing through said header duct means.

Claim 10

In a falling film evaporator of the type providing for the downward flow of a fluid over the exterior vertical surfaces of an evaporator panel to evaporate the fluid flowing thereover and to condense vapor flowing therein, an improved overflow header apparatus providing uniform fluid flow distribution over the exterior verticaL panel surfaces at high flow rates comprising: a. a longitudinally extending header duct means for disposition along the top of said evaporator panel, said header duct means having parallel vertical side walls for alignment with the exterior vertical surfaces of said evaporator panel, an open upper edge portion, a bottom wall, and a first and second end; b. inlet means communicating with said header duct means at the first end thereof for admitting and directing the flow of fluid longitudinally through said header duct means from the first end to the second end; c. longitudinally extending fluid exit port means carried by and in fluid flow communication with said header duct means; said fluid exit port means having parallel vertical side walls in alignment with the side walls of said header duct means, a bottom edge portion engaging the open top edge portion of said header duct means, an upper overflow surface, and a first end and a second end corresponding with the first and second ends of said header duct means; said fluid exit port means further having means defining a plurality of vertically extending open ended passageways communicating with said header duct means and with said upper overflow surface for the vertical upward outflow of fluid therethrough; and d. said header duct means being further adapted to provide decreasing cross sectional flow area from said first end to said second end thereof in proportion to the volume of cumulative vertical upward outflow of fluid along the length of said header duct means from the first end to the second end thereof to provide uniform average fluid flow velocity longitudinally through said header duct means.

Claim 11

In a falling film evaporator of the type providing for the downward flow of a fluid over the exterior vertical surfaces of an evaporator panel to evaporate the fluid flowing thereover and to condense vapor flowing therein, an improved overflow header apparatus providing uniform fluid flow distribution over the exterior verticaL panel surfaces at high flow rates comprising: a. a longitudinally extending header duct means for disposition along the top of said evaporator panel, said header duct means having parallel vertical side walls for alignment with the exterior vertical surfaces of said evaporator panel, an open upper edge portion, a bottom wall, and a first and second end; b. inlet means communicating with said header duct means at the first end thereof for admitting and directing the flow of fluid longitudinally through said header duct means from the first end to the second end; c. longitudinally extending fluid exit port means carried by and in fluid flow communication with said header duct means; said fluid exit port means having parallel vertical side walls in alignment with the side walls of said header duct means, a bottom edge portion engaging the open top edge portion of said header duct means, an upper overflow surface, and a first end and a second end corresponding with the first and second ends of said header duct means; said fluid exit port means further having means defining a plurality of vertically extending open ended passageways communicating with said header duct means and with said upper overflow surface for the vertical upward outflow of fluid therethrough; and d. said header duct means being further adapted to provide decreasing cross sectional flow area from said first end to said second end thereof in proportion to the volume of cumulative vertical upward outflow of fluid along the length of said header duct means from the first end to the second end thereof to provide uniform average fluid flow velocity longitudinally through said header duct means.

Claim 12

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the vertical extension of the plurality of open-ended passageways in said fluid exit port means decreases in height along said fluid exit port means from said first end to said second end thereof in proportion to the frictional pressure losses of the fluid flowing in said header duct means.

Claim 13

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the vertical extension of the plurality of open ended passageways in said fluid exit port means decreases in length along said fluid exit port means from said first end to said second end thereof in proportion to the frictional pressure losses of the fluid flowing in said header duct means.

Claim 14

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the cross sectional area of the plurality of vertically extending passageways increases along said fluid exit port means from said first end to said second end thereof in proportion to the frictional pressure losses of the fluid flowing in said header duct means.

Claim 15

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means defining a plurality of open-ended passageways comprises an open-ended cellular structure.

Claim 16

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said inlet means includes flow director means for longitudinally orienting the flow of fluid admitted into said header duct means.

Claim 17

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the fluid is a brine solution and wherein said header duct means further includes fluid outlet means in the second end thereof for discharge of excess solid material concentrating in said brine fluid flowing in said header duct means.