Water cooled steam jet

• US 5,857,838 A
• Filed: 04/09/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Postal Technologies Inc (Opex Corporation)
• Inventors: Wagner, Edward P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thorpe, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): TYLER, CHERYL JACKSON
• Application Number:
  US08/832,679
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 417/173, 417/54, 417/198
• US Class Current: 417/173
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/24 displacing liquids, e.g. containing solids, or liquids and elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/462 with provisions for cooling the fluid

Abstract

A water cooled steam jet for transferring fluid and preventing vapor lock, or vaporization of the fluid being transferred, has a venturi nozzle and a cooling jacket. The venturi nozzle produces a high velocity flow which creates a vacuum to draw fluid from a source of fluid. The venturi nozzle has a converging section connected to a source of steam, a diffuser section attached to an outlet and a throat portion disposed therebetween. The cooling jacket surrounds the venturi nozzle and a suction tube through which the fluid is being drawn into the venturi nozzle. Coolant flows through the cooling jacket. The cooling jacket dissipates heat generated by the venturi nozzle to prevent vapor lock.

Claims

1. A cooled steam jet for transferring fluid comprising:

a. a source of fluid to be transferred;

b. a source of steam;

c. a venturi nozzle comprising a convergent section, a diffuser section, and a throat portion disposed therebetween, said venturi nozzle being capable of producing a high velocity flow capable of creating a vacuum to draw the fluid from said source of the fluid to be transferred, said venturi nozzle being connected to said source of steam, said throat portion having a high velocity flow; and

d. a cooling jacked disposed around said throat portion and said converging and diffuser sections of said veneturi nozzle, said cooling jacket having an inlet connected to said source of coolant and an outlet allowing said coolant to flow through said cooling jacket, thereby cooling said venturi nozzle to prevent vaporization of the fluid being transferred as the fluid is being drawn into said venturi nozzle.

2. A cooled steam jet as recited in claim 1, wherein said coolant comprises water.

3. A method for preventing vapor lock when transferring fluids, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a venturi nozzle for producing a high velocity flow capable of creating a vacuum to draw the fluid from a source of the fluid to be transferred, said venturi nozzle comprising a converging section, a diffuser section, and a throat portion disposed therebetween, said venturi nozzle being connected to a source of steam, said throat portion having a high velocity flow;

b. providing a cooling jacket disposed around said throat portion and said converging and diffuser sections of said venturi nozzle, said cooling jacket having an inlet connected to a source of coolant and an outlet capable of allowing said coolant to flow through said cooling jacket, thereby cooling said venturi nozzle to prevent vaporization of the fluid being transferred as the fluid is being drawn into said venturi nozzle;

c. connecting said cooling jacket to said source of a coolant;

d. activating said cooling jacket, thereby allowing said coolant to flow around said cooling jacket; and

e. activating said venturi nozzle whereby said high velocity flow creates a vacuum to draw the fluid to be transferred into said venturi nozzle while said cooling jacket dissipates the heat generated by said venturi nozzle and prevents vapor lock.

4. A method for preventing vapor lock when transferring fluids as recited in claim 3, wherein said coolant comprises water.

5. A cooled steam jet for transferring a fluid comprising:

a. steam jet means for producing a high velocity flow capable of creating a vacuum to draw the fluid from a source of the fluid to be transferred, said steam jet means having a steam inlet and an outlet, said steam jet means being in communication with said source of the fluid to be transferred;

b. a suction tube through which the fluid is drawn; and

c. cooling means, surrounding said steam jet means and a portion of the suction tube, for cooling said steam jet means to prevent vaporization of the fluid being transferred as the fluid is being drawn into said steam jet means.