Kinetic steam condenser

Abstract

Method and system for condensing steam at any temperature, the steam being in contact with a large water surface, whereby the relative temperatures of the steam and water are regulated so that the steam is kept at under-saturation pressure and the water temperature is kept at up to 100° C.

1 . A method of condensing steam, the steam being in contact with a large water surface, whereby the relative temperatures of the steam and water are regulated so that the steam is kept at under-saturation pressure and the water temperature is kept at up to 100° C. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature difference between the steam and the water is kept below 10° C. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature difference between the steam and the water is kept below 5° C. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steam is exhaust steam from a power plant turbine and the condensate is reused as boiler feed water. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature regulation comprises heating the steam using hot gases discharged from the power plant's chimney. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature regulation comprises heating the steam using fuel burning. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature regulation comprises recycling water through cooling means. 
   
   
       8 . A steam condenser comprising:
 a steam inlet;   a water inlet;   a plurality of water receiving surfaces;   heating means for heating the steam;   control means for maintaining a predefined temperature difference between the steam and the water and for maintaining the water temperature below 100° C.; and   a condensate outlet.   
   
   
       9 . The steam condenser of  claim 8 , wherein the water receiving surfaces comprise a plurality of trays, installed at various heights. 
   
   
       10 . The steam condenser of  claim 9 , wherein each tray comprises a vertical bracket for holding water in the tray and a draining pipe for draining excess water into a lower tray. 
   
   
       11 . The steam condenser of  claim 8 , wherein the steam heating means comprise pipes leading hot gases. 
   
   
       12 . The steam condenser of  claim 11 , wherein the hot gases are gases discharged from the power plant's chimney. 
   
   
       13 . The steam condenser of  claim 11 , wherein the hot gases are gases produced from burned fuel. 
   
   
       14 . The steam condenser of  claim 8 , wherein the control means comprise:
 means for measuring the steam temperature in the condenser; and   means for controlling the heating means accordingly.   
   
   
       15 . The steam condenser of  claim 8 , wherein the control means comprise:
 means for measuring the water temperature in the condenser; and   means for recycling water through cooling means.