Vacuum producing condenser

Claim 2

In a vacuum producing condenser for vapors containing non-condensible gases, a shell having a generally horizontal condenser chamber, a bundle of condenser tubes generally horizontally across said condenser chamber, means for directing water downwardly onto said bundle of condenser tubes, means for discharging air from the interior of said shell to create a downward flow of air through said condenser chamber across said bundle of condenser tubes, a basin at the bottom of said condenser chamber for collecting and draining said water directed onto said bundle of condenser tubes, said basin being configured to guide said downward flow of air smoothly through a 180° turn and back upwardly into said shell for exhaustion therefrom, and means in the upper portion of said basin for directing air from said condenser chamber toward the lower portion of the basin to provide a more uniform air flow velocity through a greater portion of the basin.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said air directing means comprises baffle means projecting downwardly from the condenser chamber into the basin.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said baffle means comprises at least one baffle member angled relative to the vertical and against the downward flow of air from said condenser chamber.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein said baffle means comprises at least one baffle member having a lip at the lower end thereof defining a trough for capturing water accumulating on the baffle member.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2 wherein said basin has a smooth curved wall portion below said bundle of condenser tubes for receiving water directed thereover and a vertically rising wall portion against which water is directed by said curved wall portion, said baffle means directing the air toward said curved wall portion.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 including at least one baffle member protruding inwardly of said vertically rising wall portion creating a stop for any upwardly moving water.

Claim 8

In a vacuum producing condenser for vapors containing non-condensible gases, a shell having a generally horizontal condenser chamber, a bundle of condenser tubes generally horizontally across said condenser chamber, means for directing water downwardly onto said bundle of condenser tubes, means for discharging air from the interior of said shell to create a downward flow of air through said condenser chamber across said bundle of condenser tubes, a basin at the bottom of said condenser chamber for collecting and draining said water directed onto said bundle of condenser tubes and for guiding said downward flow of air smoothly through a 180° turn and back upwardly into said shell for exhaustion therefrom, said basin having a smooth curved wall portion below said bundle of condenser tubes for receiving water directed thereover and a vertically rising wall portion against which water is directed by said curved wall portion, and at least one baffle member protruding inwardly of said vertically rising wall portion creating a stop for any upwardly moving water.

Claim 9

In a vacuum producing condenser for vapors containing non-condensible gases, a shell having a generally horizontal condenser chamber, a bundle of condenser tubes generally horizontally across said condenser chamber, means for directing water downwardly onto said bundle of condenser tubes, means for discharging air from the interior of said shell to create a downward flow of air through said condenser chamber across said bundle of condenser tubes, a basin at the bottom of said condenser chamber for collecting and draining said water directed onto said bundle of condenser tubes and for guiding said downward flow of air smoothly through a 180° turn and back upwardly into said shell for exhaustion therefrom, said basin having a smooth curved wall portion below said bundle of condenser tubes for receiving water directed thereover and a vertically rising wall portion against which water is directed by said curved wall portion, and at least one baffle member protruding inwardly of said vertically rising wall portion creating a stop for any upwardly moving water.

Claim 10

In a condenser for vapors containing non-condensible gases, means defining a condenser chamber, and means for discharging air from said condenser chamber, said discharging means comprising: means for forcing air upwardly into an exhaust stack, said exhaust stack having diverging interior wall means exhausting to atmosphere whereby said diverging interior wall means recover a portion of the kinetic energy of the air expelled by said air forcing means for converting the air velocity head into a pressure head as the interior walls of the stack diverge, said diverging interior wall means including damper means in at least one side thereof forming a continuation of said diverging wall means when in a closed condition and complementarily diverging fixed wall means in at least another side thereof opposing said damper means.

Claim 11

In a condenser for vapors containing non-condensible gases, means defining a condenser chamber, and means for discharging air from said condenser chamber, said discharging means comprising: means for forcing air upwardly into an exhaust stack, said exhaust stack having diverging interior wall means exhausting to atmosphere whereby said diverging interior wall means recover a portion of the kinetic energy of the air expelled by said air forcing means for converting the air velocity head into a pressure head as the interior walls of the stack diverge, said diverging interior wall means including damper means in at least one side thereof forming a continuation of said diverging wall means when in a closed condition and complementarily diverging fixed wall means in at least another side thereof opposing said damper means.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 8 wherein said air forcing means includes a propeller fan.