Condenser

Abstract

A condenser, comprising a steam inlet and an exhaust chamber which are connected via a plurality of cooling tubes connected in parallel, which exhaust chamber is provided with an exhaust opening which is connected to a pump, wherein the condenser is provided with a supplemental barrier to screen the pump during use from steam breaking through a cooling tube, as well as to screen the other cooling tubes from steam from a cooling tube subject to steam breakthrough. A method for condensing steam in a cooler, wherein by means of a pump a pressure is maintained in the cooler, and wherein the inert gas discharge is screened from steam breaking through the cooler.

1 . A condenser, comprising a steam inlet and an exhaust chamber which are connected with each other via a plurality of cooling tubes connected in parallel, which exhaust chamber is provided with an exhaust opening which is connected to a pump for discharging inert gas, wherein the condenser is provided with a supplemental barrier to screen the pump during use from steam breaking through a cooling tube.  
   
   
       2 . A condenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the supplemental barrier is designed as a flow resistance.  
   
   
       3 . A condenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the supplemental barrier is placed upstream of the pump and, while leaving clear at least one suction route from steam inlet to pump, at least partly closes off at least one other suction route from steam inlet to pump.  
   
   
       4 . A condenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the flow resistance comprises a restrictor.  
   
   
       5 . A condenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the flow resistance comprises a variable valve.  
   
   
       6 . A condenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow resistance comprises a thermal valve which hampers the throughflow when a predetermined temperature of the passing medium is exceeded.  
   
   
       7 . A condenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling tubes are divided into groups and terminates per group in a separate exhaust chamber.  
   
   
       8 . A condenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the exhaust chambers are each provided with their own pump.  
   
   
       9 . A condenser according to  claim 7 , wherein several exhaust chambers are connected with the same pump.  
   
   
       10 . A condenser according to  claim 9 , wherein between each exhaust chamber and pump, a separate exhaust line is present in which a flow resistance is included for screening the pump from steam breaking through.  
   
   
       11 . A method for condensing steam in a cooler, wherein by means of a pump, through discharge of inert gas, a low pressure is maintained in the cooler, and wherein the pump is screened from steam breaking through the cooler.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the pump is screened in that, upon steam breakthrough, while leaving clear at least one suction route between steam inlet and pump, at least one other suction route between steam inlet and pump is closed off.  
   
   
       13 . A method for condensing steam in a cooler, said method comprising: 
 pumping an inert gas using a pump to maintain a low pressure in the cooler; and    screening the pump from steam breaking through the cooler.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein screening the pump includes providing at least one open suction route between a steam inlet and the pump, and closing off at least one other suction route between the steam inlet and the pump.