Adjustable selective orificing steam condenser

Claim 1

In a steam condenser of a type in which a plurality of tubes are arranged in a plurality of generally parallel rows, extending between and communicating with a steam inlet header and a condensate outlet header; in which the rows of tubes extend transversely of and at spaced intervals perpendicular to the direction of airflow of cooling air that passes over and around the rows of tubes to condense steam flowing through the tubes from the inlet to the outlet header; and in which all of the tubes in all of the rows have the same internal diameter and length and the same heat exchange cooling surface area; the steam inlet header having a chamber and inlet means for said chamber; partition means mounted within the chamber dividing the chamber into a series of metered steam zones each communicating with at least one row of tubes; said partition means being constructed to distribute inlet steam in the chamber in successively smaller amounts to each successive zone corresponding to the reduced cooling effect of the airflow of cooling air passing successively over the spaced rows of tubes to which steam is distributed from successive zones; said partition means including a plurality of partition plates which divide the chamber into a plurality of subchambers, in which the subchambers form said series of metered zones successively communicating with successive rows of tubes, and in which a passage is formed by each plate communicating between adjacent subchambers in which the passages are successively smaller; and means for adjusting partition plates to change the size of said passages and thereby regulate the flow of inlet steam to said subchambers whereby the steam in each subchamber may be maintained at an optimum operating level by such adjustment to compensate for changes in operating conditions.