Apparatus for removing ammonia and carbon dioxide gases from a steam

• US 5,772,709 A
• Filed: 04/18/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graham Companies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graham Corporatiom
• Inventors: Lines, James Richard, Ruck, Donald Neal, Tice, David William, Athey, Roderick Elwyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US08/634,241
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 261/97, 261/118, 261/112.1, 261/155, 261/116, 55/222, 55/240, 55/260, 55/268, 55/269, 95/211, 95/217, 95/228, 95/229, 95/232, 95/236, 95/288
• US Class Current: 96/322
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/406 Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/002 by condensation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1431 Pretreatment by other processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

A geothermal steam condenser for reducing residual ammonia gas from a geothermal steam. The present condenser includes a column attached to the condenser for forming a curtain of temperature conditioned condensate, such that residual ammonia gas is passed through the conditioned water curtain to be furthered absorbed prior to exiting the geothermal steam condenser.

Claims

1. A two stage condenser assembly for absorbing ammonia and carbon dioxide gases in a condensate of water from a steam, comprising:

(a) a first stage condenser housing having a vapor inlet, an outlet and a condensing surface, the condenser housing including a subcooling section to allow a condensate to be cooled to a temperature below a saturation temperature in the condenser housing;

(b) a second stage column connected to the first stage condenser housing, the column including a vapor outlet and a condensate outlet; and

(c) a flow control surface for regulating a flow of the condensate from the first stage condenser housing to the second stage column to form a condensate curtain in the column, the condensate curtain intermediate the vapor inlet and the vapor outlet, the flow control surface, the vapor inlet and the vapor outlet selected to locate the condensate curtain to occlude passage of a residual gas from the first stage condenser housing to the vapor outlet.

2. The condenser of claim 1 further comprising a packing in the column.

3. The condenser of claim 2 wherein the packing is positioned intermediate the vapor inlet and the condensate curtain.

4. The condenser of claim 2, wherein the packing includes an increased surface contact area to enhance absorption of the residual gas.

5. The condenser of claim 2, wherein the packing is one of a tray and mesh.

6. The condenser of claim 1, wherein the flow control surface is disposed in the condenser housing.

7. The condenser of claim 1, wherein the flow control surface is disposed in the column.

8. A two stage condenser assembly for absorbing gases into a condensate of a steam containing water vapor and the gases, comprising:

(a) a first stage condenser housing having a vapor inlet, an outlet and a condensing surface to form a condensate and a residual gas containing the gases;

(b) a second stage connected to the first stage condenser housing, the second stage including a vapor outlet and a condensate outlet; and

(c) a flow control surface for regulating a flow of the condensate from the first stage condenser housing to the second stage to form a continuous condensate barrier in the second stage, the barrier intermediate the vapor inlet and the vapor outlet, the flow control surface, the vapor inlet and the vapor outlet selected to pass the residual gas through the continuous condensate barrier as the residual gas travels from the first stage condenser housing to the vapor outlet.

9. The two stage condenser assembly of claim 8, wherein the flow control surface includes a weir for substantially setting the amount of condensate passing from the first stage condenser housing to the second stage.

10. The two stage condenser assembly of claim 8, wherein the flow control surface is selected to form a condensate barrier having a continuous periphery.

11. The two stage condenser assembly of claim 10, wherein the flow control surface creates the condensate barrier to surround the residual gas passing from the first stage condenser housing.