US3868830A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Condensate removal device for heat exchanger
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1973-08-31
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Granted: 1975-03-04
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Expires: 1993-08-31
Abstract
Abstract The invention takes the form of a set of perforated tubes disposed at the gas output side of a heat exchanger, in a position not to appreciably affect the rate of flow of the air or other gas. The tubes are connected to a common manifold which, in turn, is connected to a sucking device such as a vacuum pump. Where it is necessary to conserve and recirculate the air sucked through the tubes, the output of the manifold is run through a separator to remove the condensate from the gas. The perforations in the slurper tubes are quite small, lying in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.100 inch. The tubes are disposed in contact with the surfaces of the heat exchanger on which the condensate is precipitated, whether fins or plates, so that the water may be directed to the tube openings by means of surface effects, together with the assistance of the air flow. Only about 5 percent of the air output need be thus diverted, and it effectively removes virtually all of the condensate.
Inventors
- 👤 James C Administrator Fletcher
- 👤 Raymond B Trusch
- 👤 Edward W O'connor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:53
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F17/00; F28F17/005; F28B; F28B9/00; F28B9/08; F28D; F28D1/00; F28D1/02; F28D1/04; F28D1/047; F28D1/0475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In a slurper in a heat exchanger of the type including a set of coolant tubes and an array of parallel plates or fins, said coolant tubes passing through said fins and being disposed for circulation therein of a liquid cooling medium while a gas flow is maintained between said coolant tubes and through said array of fins, vapors carried by said gas flow being precipitated onto said coolant tubes and fins in the process, the improvement comprising a set of slurper tubes disposed in contact with the gas outlet portions of said fins, each of said slurper tubes containing a plurality of small openings and being adapted for common connection to means for sucking fluids through said openings and passing them through said slurper tubes to an external discharge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a slurper in a heat exchanger of the type including a set of coolant tubes and an array of parallel plates or fins, said coolant tubes passing through said fins and being disposed for circulation therein of a liquid cooling medium while a gas flow is maintained between said coolant tubes and through said array of fins, vapors carried by said gas flow being precipitated onto said coolant tubes and fins in the process, the improvement comprising a set of slurper tubes disposed in contact with the gas outlet portions of said fins, each of said slurper tubes containing a plurality of small openings and being adapted for common connection to means for sucking fluids through said openings and passing them through said slurper tubes to an external discharge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The slurper of claim 1 in which said slurper tubes are disposed with said small openings therein facing in the same direction as said gas flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The slurper of claim 1 in which said slurper tube openings are a plurality of small holes spaced along the length of said tubes and disposed between said fins, said holes being of a diameter in the range of 0.010 to 0.100 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The slurper of claim 3 in which said slurper tubes are disposed so that said openings face in the same direction as said gas flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The slurper of claim 3 in which the number of holes is about equal to the number of fins and the slurper tubes are disposed so that the fins partially enter said holes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The slurper of claim 5 in which said holes are of a diameter in the range of 0.010 to 0.100 inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The slurper of claim 1 in which said slurper tubes are disposed in contact with surrounded by said fins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The slurper of claim 7 in which said openings in said slurper tubes are small holes disposed between said fins, said holes being of a diameter in the range of 0.010 to 0.100 inch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The slurper of claim 8 in which said small holes face in the same direction as said gas flow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The slurper of claim 1 in which said slurper tubes are disposed with said small openings therein facing in the direction opposite that of said gas flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The slurper of claim 1 in which said slurper tubes are disposed so that some of said fins partially enter said small openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The slurper of claim 1 in which said small width openings are slots elongated along the length of the slurper tubes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The slurper of claim 12 in which said slots have a length substantially equal to the distance between the uppermost and lowermost fins in the array of fins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The slurper of claim 13 in which said slots have a width in the range of from about 0.010 inch to about 0.100 inch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a slurper or condensate removal device in heat exchangers of the type having a plurality of liquid flow conduits therein for the circulation of a liquid cooling medium, said liquid flow conduits being spaced from each other to define at least one open-ended passage for accommodating an air or other gas flow therethrough, said heat exchanger having in contact with said gas passages a plurality of surfaces, such as the outer surfaces of said liquid flow conduits, for facilitating the condensation of vapors carried by said gas flow, and also having extensions of said surfaces, as in the form of fins, extending beyond said liquid conduits at the gas flow exit face of said heat exchanger, the improvement comprising a plurality of tubes in contact with said extensions or fins, each of said tubes having a plurality of narrow openings therein and being adapted for connection to means for sucking fluids through said openings and through said tubes to an external discharge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a slurper or condensate removal device in heat exchangers of the type having a plurality of liquid flow conduits therein for the circulation of a liquid cooling medium, said liquid flow conduits being spaced from each other to define at least one open-ended passage for accommodating an air or other gas flow therethrough, said heat exchanger having in contact with said gas passages a plurality of surfaces, such as the outer surfaces of said liquid flow conduits, for facilitating the condensation of vapors carried by said gas flow, and also having extensions of said surfaces, as in the form of fins, extending beyond said liquid conduits at the gas flow exit face of said heat exchanger, the improvement comprising a plurality of tubes in contact with said extensions or fins, each of said tubes having a plurality of narrow openings therein and being adapted for connection to means for sucking fluids through said openings and through said tubes to an external discharge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The slurper of claim 15 in which said openings in said slurper tubes are a plurality of small holes spaced along the length of said slurper tubes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
144 words
A slurper in a heat exchanger of the type having elongated liquid flow passages defined by enclosing plates, said plates being spaced from one another so that their outer surfaces (those facing away from the liquid flow passages) define gas flow channels, an array of parallel fins disposed in such gas flow channels extending across the width thereof and elongated in the same direction as the plates and extending beyond the plates at the gas exit end of the heat exchanger, said slurper comprising a set of tubes disposed at the end of the liquid flow channels between the projecting ends of said fins and in contact therewith, said slurper tubes having a multiplicity of small width openings therein and being adapted for connection to a suction device for pulling fluids through the openings and passing them along said tubes to an external discharge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
A slurper in a heat exchanger of the type having elongated liquid flow passages defined by enclosing plates, said plates being spaced from one another so that their outer surfaces (those facing away from the liquid flow passages) define gas flow channels, an array of parallel fins disposed in such gas flow channels extending across the width thereof and elongated in the same direction as the plates and extending beyond the plates at the gas exit end of the heat exchanger, said slurper comprising a set of tubes disposed at the end of the liquid flow channels between the projecting ends of said fins and in contact therewith, said slurper tubes having a multiplicity of small width openings therein and being adapted for connection to a suction device for pulling fluids through the openings and passing them along said tubes to an external discharge.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
125 words
A slurper in a heat exchanger of the type having a number of elongated parallel plates, adjacent pairs of such plates being provided with transverse closure members to define liquid flow passages and leaving unobstructed air flow passages between such pairs, such plates extending beyond the closure members to define fins, said slurper comprising a set of tubes disposed adjacent the closure member at one end of the liquid flow passages and between said fins in contact therewith, said slurper tubes having a portion within the fins and a portion projecting beyond the fins, said projecting poriton having a number of small width openings therein and being adapted for connection to a means for sucking fluids through the openings and tubes to an external discharge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
125 words
A slurper in a heat exchanger of the type having a number of elongated parallel plates, adjacent pairs of such plates being provided with transverse closure members to define liquid flow passages and leaving unobstructed air flow passages between such pairs, such plates extending beyond the closure members to define fins, said slurper comprising a set of tubes disposed adjacent the closure member at one end of the liquid flow passages and between said fins in contact therewith, said slurper tubes having a portion within the fins and a portion projecting beyond the fins, said projecting poriton having a number of small width openings therein and being adapted for connection to a means for sucking fluids through the openings and tubes to an external discharge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-03 | 1978-09-02 | 1979-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-03 | 1982-09-02 | 1983-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-03 | 1986-09-02 | 1987-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |