MODULAR AIR COOLED CONDENSER APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20200132376A1
• Filed: 12/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPG Dry Cooling USA LLC
• Original Assignee: SPG Dry Cooling USA LLC
• Inventors: VOUCHE, Michel, DELEPLANQUE, Christophe, FAUCONNIER, Fabien
• Granted Patent: US 11,112,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/26 heat exchangers or the like making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 1/06 using air or other gas as the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 7/00 Combinations of two or more condensers, e.g. provision of reserve condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 9/02 for feeding steam or vapour to condensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 Heat exchanger or boiler making

Abstract

Modular air cooled condenser apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example mechanical draft modular air cooled condenser includes a succession of a first condenser bundle panel, a second condenser bundle panel, a third condenser bundle panel, and a fourth condenser bundle panel. The example condenser also includes a first, second, third, and fourth condensate headers connected to respective ones of the first, second, third, and fourth condenser bundle panels. The example condenser also includes a fan positioned to create a draft to flow over the first, second, third, and fourth condenser bundle panels.

Claims

1. A mechanical draft modular air cooled condenser comprising:

a succession of a first condenser bundle panel, a second condenser bundle panel, a third condenser bundle panel, and a fourth condenser bundle panel;

a first condenser pair including;

the first condenser bundle panel having a first top end and a first bottom end;

a first condensate header connected to the first bottom end;

the second condenser bundle panel consecutive to the first condenser bundle panel, the second condenser bundle panel having a second top end and a second bottom end; and

a second condensate header connected to the second bottom end, the first bottom end of the first condenser bundle panel and the second bottom end of the second condenser bundle converging toward each other, the first condensate header and the second condensate header separated by a first distance;

a second condenser pair including;

the third condenser bundle panel consecutive to the second condenser bundle panel, the third condenser bundle panel having a third top end and a third bottom end;

a third condensate header connected to the third bottom end, the third condensate header and the first condensate header separated by a second distance, the second distance greater than the first distance;

the fourth condenser bundle panel consecutive to the third condenser bundle panel, the fourth condenser bundle panel having a fourth top end and a fourth bottom end; and

a fourth condensate header connected to the fourth bottom end, the third bottom end of the third condenser bundle panel and the fourth bottom end of the fourth condenser bundle converging toward each other, the fourth condensate header and the third condensate header separated by the first distance, the fourth condensate header and the second condensate header separated by the second distance;

a fan positioned to create a draft to flow over the first condenser bundle panel, over the second condenser bundle panel, over the third condenser bundle panel, and over the fourth condenser bundle panel; and

a support frame that supports the first, second, third, and fourth condenser bundle panels.

2. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 1, wherein the first condensate header and the fourth condensate header are separated by a third distance, the third distance equal to the sum of the first distance and the second distance.

3. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 1, wherein the second top end of the second condenser bundle panel and the third top end of the third condenser bundle panel converge toward each other.

4. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 1, further including a shroud surrounding the fan, the shroud having an opening with a diameter greater than the second distance.

5. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 4, wherein the diameter is greater than a sum of the first distance and the second distance.

6. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 5, wherein the diameter is greater than a sum of the twice the first distance and twice the second distance.

7. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 1, wherein the first condenser bundle panel includes a first set of parallel tubes connected perpendicularly to the first condensate header, the second condenser bundle panel includes a second set of parallel tubes connected perpendicularly to the second condensate header, the third condenser bundle panel includes a third set of parallel tubes connected perpendicularly to the third condensate header, and the fourth condenser bundle panel includes a fourth set of parallel tubes connected perpendicularly to the fourth condensate header, wherein the first condensate header is parallel to the second condensate header, the third condensate header is parallel to second condensate header, and the fourth condensate header is parallel to third condensate header.

8. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 7, wherein respective ones of the tubes of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth sets of tubes have a length equal to approximately two meters.

9. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 1, wherein the first, the second, the third, and the fourth condenser bundles each have a length greater than ten meters.

10. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 1, wherein the second condensate header and the third condensate header are disposed between the first condensate header and the fourth condensate header.

11. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 1, wherein the first condenser bundle and the second condenser bundle form a V-shape.

12. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 1, wherein the second condenser bundle and the third condenser bundle form an inverted V-shape.

13. A mechanical draft modular air cooled condenser comprising:

a first condenser bundle panel having a first top end and a first bottom end;

a first condensate header connected to the first bottom end;

a second condenser bundle panel having a second top end and a second bottom end;

a second condensate header connected to the second bottom end,

the first bottom end of the first condenser bundle panel and the second bottom end of the second condenser bundle converging toward each other to form a V-shape side profile,

the first condensate header and the second condensate header

positioned between the first bottom end and the second bottom end at or near a bottom of the V-shape side profile; and

a fan positioned to create a draft to flow over the first condenser bundle panel and over the second condenser bundle panel.

14. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 13, where the V-shaped side profile is a first V-shaped side profile, the condenser further including:

a third condenser bundle panel having a third top end and a third bottom end;

a third condensate header connected to the third bottom end;

a fourth condenser bundle panel having a fourth top end and a fourth bottom end; and

a fourth condensate header connected to the fourth bottom end,

the third bottom end of the third condenser bundle panel and the fourth bottom end of the fourth condenser bundle converging toward each other to form a second V-shape side profile,

the third condensate header and the fourth condensate header positioned between the third bottom end and the fourth bottom end at a bottom of the second V-shape side profile, and

the fan positioned to create a draft to flow over the third condenser bundle panel and over the fourth condenser bundle panel.

15. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 14, the second top end of the second condenser bundle panel and the third top end of the third condenser bundle converging toward each other to form an inverted V-shape side profile.

16. The modular air cooled condenser according to claim 15, further including at least one manifold at or near an apex of the inverted V-shape side profile.

17. A frame comprising:

a first condenser bundle panel including a first set of parallel tubes connected perpendicularly to a first condensate header, the first condenser bundle panel removable from the frame;

a second condenser bundle panel including a second set of parallel tubes connected perpendicularly to a second condensate header, the second condenser bundle panel removable from the frame;

a third condenser bundle panel including a third set of parallel tubes connected perpendicularly to a third condensate header, the third condenser bundle panel removable from the frame; and

a fourth condenser bundle panel including a fourth set of parallel tubes connected perpendicularly to a fourth condensate header, the fourth condenser bundle panel removable from the frame.

18. The frame of claim 17, wherein the first condenser bundle panel is at least ten meters in length and respective tubes of the first set of tubes have a length of approximately two meters.

19. The frame of claim 17, wherein the first condenser bundle panel, the second condenser bundle panel, the third condenser bundle panel, and the fourth condenser bundle panel are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and the frame is dimensioned for removable placement in a shipping container for transportation.