Modular air cooled condenser flow converter apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mechanical draft cooling tower that employs air cooled condenser modules. The aforementioned cooling tower operates by mechanical draft and achieves the exchange of heat between two fluids such as atmospheric air, ordinarily, and another fluid which is usually steam. The aforementioned cooling tower utilizes a modular air cooled condenser concept wherein the air cooled condensers utilize heat exchange deltas and uniquely designed fluid flow dividers.

1 . A flow divider for the distribution of a flow of industrial fluid for use in an air cooled condenser or the like having a vertical axis, the flow divider comprising:
 a cylindrical lower base portion that receives the flow of industrial fluid;   an upper diffusion region that extends from said cylindrical base portion wherein said upper diffusion region is generally non-cylindrical in geometry;   a first port disposed on said upper diffusion region that allows for the flow of industrial fluid there through; and   a first conduit connected to said first port.   
     
     
         2 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second port disposed on said upper diffusion region that allows for the flow of industrial fluid there through; and   a second conduit connected to said second port.   
     
     
         3 . The flow divider according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a third port disposed on said upper diffusion region that allows for the flow of industrial fluid there through; and   a third conduit connected to said third port.   
     
     
         4 . The flow divider according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a fourth port disposed on said upper diffusion region that allows for the flow of industrial fluid there through; and   a fourth conduit connected to said fourth port.   
     
     
         5 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper diffusion region is generally square in geometry. 
     
     
         6 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , wherein said first conduit is an elbow conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The flow divider according to  claim 2 , wherein said second conduit is an elbow conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flow vane disposed within said cylindrical lower base portion. 
     
     
         9 . The flow divider according to  claim 8 , said flow vane is a plurality of flow vanes. 
     
     
         10 . The flow divider according to  claim 4 , wherein said first conduit is rotated about the vertical axis to a first position; wherein said second conduit is rotated about the vertical axis to a second position; wherein said third conduit is rotated about the vertical axis to a third position; and, wherein said fourth conduit is rotated about the vertical axis to a fourth position. 
     
     
         11 . An air cooled condenser for cooling an industrial fluid, comprising:
 a first condenser bundle having a first set of tubes having first and second ends;   a steam manifold connected to the first ends of the first set tubes;   a condensate header connected to said second end of the first set tubes;   a second condenser bundle having a second set of tubes having third and fourth ends;   a steam manifold connected to the third ends of the second set tubes;   a condensate header connected to said fourth end of the second set tubes;   a flow divider for the distribution of a flow of industrial fluid comprising:
 a cylindrical lower base portion that receives the flow of industrial fluid; 
 an upper diffusion region that extends from said cylindrical base portion wherein said upper diffusion region is generally non-cylindrical in geometry; 
 a first port disposed on said upper diffusion region that allows for the flow of industrial fluid there through; 
 a second port disposed on said upper diffusion region that allows for the flow of industrial fluid there through; 
 a first conduit connected to said first port and said first set of tubes; and 
 a second conduit connected to said second port and said first set of tubes. 
   
     
     
         12 . The air cooled condenser according to  claim 11 , wherein said upper diffusion region is generally square in geometry. 
     
     
         13 . The air cooled condenser according to  claim 11 , wherein said first conduit is an elbow conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The air cooled condenser according to  claim 11 , wherein said second conduit is an elbow conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The air cooled condenser according to  claim 11 , further comprising a flow vane disposed within said cylindrical lower base portion. 
     
     
         16 . The air cooled condenser according to  claim 15 , said flow vane is a plurality of flow vanes. 
     
     
         17 . A method for distributing a fluid to be cooled using a flow divider, comprising:
 receiving the fluid to be cooled through a cylindrical lower base portion;   flowing the fluid to be cooled through an upper diffusion region that extends from said cylindrical base portion wherein said upper diffusion region is generally non-cylindrical in geometry;   flowing the fluid to be cooled through a first port disposed on said upper diffusion region; and   flowing the fluid to be cooled through a first conduit connected to said first port.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of flowing the fluid to be cooled through a second port disposed on said upper diffusion region. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the upper diffusion region is generally square in geometry. 
     
     
         20 . A flow divider for use with an air cooled condenser or the like, comprising:
 means for receiving the fluid to be cooled through a cylindrical lower base portion;   means for flowing the fluid to be cooled through an upper diffusion region that extends from said cylindrical base portion wherein said upper diffusion region is generally non-cylindrical in geometry;   means for flowing the fluid to be cooled through a first port disposed on said upper diffusion region; and   means for flowing the fluid to be cooled through a first conduit connected to said first port.