Method and apparatus for removing water vapor from high pressure steam lines

• US 3,877,895 A
• Filed: 03/23/1972
• Issued: 04/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Watts Investment Company
• Original Assignee: Harry J. Wonderland, Lawrence L. Guzick
• Inventors: Wonderland, Harry J., Guzick, Lawrence L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nozick, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US05/237,328
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 210/97,445-452 55/502,466,485-487 138/40,41,44
• US Class Current: 95/273
• CPC Class Codes: F16T 1/34 without moving parts other than hand valves, e.g. labyrinth type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/91 Gaskets

Abstract

An assembly comprising an orifice plate having a restriction designed to provide a substantial pressure drop in a steam line is disclosed. A first compressible spiral wound gasket consisting of alternate layers of asbestos and metal strip is mounted between the orifice plate and the end of the pipe on the downstream side of the plate. A second spiral wound gasket comprising alternate layers of asbestos and metal strip provides a seal between the high pressure side of the orifice plate and the end of the adjacent pipe. A screen having a multiplicity of openings dimensioned to permit the flow of particulates smaller than the size of the orifice is mounted on the high pressure side of the orifice. The screen is securely gripped in the inner periphery of the gasket. A second screen having a mesh larger than the first screen is mounted intermediate the first screen and the orifice thereby preventing axial movement of the first screen against the orifice plate.

Claims

1. An assembly for removing condensate in high pressure steam lines and the like, comprising a plate adapted to be mounted in a line carrying steam or other vapor under pressure, said plate having a restrictive orifice therein, a first gasket in engagement with the downstream side of the plate providing a pressure seal, between the orifice plate and the downstream section of the line, a second gasket in engagement with the upstream side of the plate providing a pressure seal between the adjacent side of the orifice plate and the upstream section of the line, a screen element on the upstream side of the orifice carried by the second gasket and extending throughout the entire flow cross section of the line, said screen element having a multiplicity of openings of a size to admit only particles small enough to pass through the restrictive orifice and fluId pervious support means positioned between the screen element and the plate, and extending over and engaging portions of the screen element at a plurality of discrete locations for maintaining the screen element in spaced relation to the orifice plate even under conditions of high pressure.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said screen element comprises a wire mesh screen.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said support means comprises a mesh screen element having mesh openings which are relatively large as compared to the openings in the first named screen element.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said second gasket comprises a spiral metal strip and a strip of compressible packing material interposed in the spiral convolutions, said gasket having a grooved inner periphery, and wherein said screen element and said spacer means are mounted in a peripheral rim adapted to fit within said grooved inner periphery.

5. An in-line assembly for the removal of condensate from high pressure steam lines and the like, said assembly being adapted to fit between a pair of pipe sections, and comprising a flat plate having an orifice for creating a pressure drop in the line, a spiral wound gasket of alternate layers of packing and metal strip in engagement with the low pressure side of the orifice plate providing a seal between the low pressure side of the orifice plate and the adjacent pipe section, a second spiral wound gasket of alternate layers of packing layers of packing and metal strip in engagement with the high pressure side of the orifice, said second gasket providing a seal between the high pressure side of the orifice plate and the adjacent pipe section, and a screen element carried by said second gasket, said screen element providing a multiplicity of flow passages to the orifice, said flow passages having a cross sectional area smaller than the cross sectional area of the orifice, and fluid pervious support means positioned between the screen element and the orifice plate and constructed and arranged to engage the screen element at a plurality of discrete locations to maintain the screen element and the orifice plate in space relation to allow the passage of fluid to the office.

6. IN A HIGH PRESSURE STEAM CONDUIT, AN ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ORIFICE PLATE FOR PRODUCING A RELATIVELY LARGE PRESSURE DROP IN THE CONDUIT, FIRST GASKET MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF THE ORIFICE PLATE FOR PROVIDING SEALING BETWEEN THE ORIFICE PLATE AND THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF THE CONDUIT, AND SECOND GASKET MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF THE ORIFICE PLATE FOR PROVIDING SEALING BETWEEN THE ORIFICE PLATE AND THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF THE CONDUIT, A SCREEN IN THE CONDUIT CARRIED BY THE FIRST GASKET MEANS ON THE UPSTEAM SIDE OF THE ORIFICE PROVIDING A MULTIPLICITY OF FLOW PASSAGES EACH HAVING A CROSS SECTION SMALLER THAN THE ORIFICE AND A FLUID

7. A method of maintaining a multiplicity of flow passages to a condensate draining orifice located in an orifice plate in a high pressure steam line or the like wherein a filter effective to arrest the travel of any particle too lare in size to pass through the orifice is placed closely adjacent the orifice on the upstream side of the orifice plate comprising mounting a fluid pervious support means between the orifice plate and the filter means, supporting the filter at a plurality of discrete locations spaced across the filter by engagement with the support means and maintaining the support means between the filter means and the orifice plate under conditions of high pressure in the line to provide a multiplicity of flow passages to the orifice by placing the filter means and support means in an internal peripherial groove of a spiral wound gasket and compressing the spiral wound gasket between the orifice plate and an upstream section of the line.