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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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 provides an inlet that receives the flow of industrial fluid, wherein said cylindrical base portion has a first diameter;   a first truncated cone extending from said lower base portion wherein said first truncated cone has a first end and a second end and wherein said first truncated cone transitions from one diameter to another as said cone extends from said first end to said second end;   a second truncated cone extending from said lower base portion wherein said second truncated cone has a third end and a fourth end and wherein said second truncated cone transitions from one diameter to another as said cone extends from said third end to said fourth end;   a first conduit connected to said first truncated cone, wherein said first conduit has a second diameter; and   a second conduit connected to said second truncated cone, wherein said second conduit has a third diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said truncate cone is connected to said lower base portion and said third end of said second truncated cone is connected to said lower base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , wherein said second diameter is less than said first diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The flow divider according to  claim 3 , wherein said third diameter is less than said first diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The flow divider according to  claim 4 , wherein said second and said third diameters are equal. 
     
     
         6 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said first truncated cone has a diameter and said second end has a diameter that is less than said first end diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The flow divider according to  claim 6 , wherein said third end of said second truncated cone has a diameter and said fourth end has a diameter that is less than said third end diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , wherein said flow divider has a “Y” shaped geometry. 
     
     
         9 . 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 first and second ends;   a steam manifold connected to the first ends of the second set tubes;   a condensate header connected to said second end of the second set tubes;   a flow divider, comprising:   a cylindrical lower base portion that provides an inlet that receives the flow of industrial fluid, wherein said cylindrical base portion has a first diameter;   a first truncated cone extending from said lower base portion wherein said first truncated cone has a first end and a second end and wherein said first truncated cone transitions from one diameter to another as said cone extends from said first end to said second end;   a second truncated cone extending from said lower base portion wherein said second truncated cone has a third end and a fourth end and wherein said second truncated cone transitions from one diameter to another as said cone extends from said third end to said fourth end;   a first conduit connected to said first truncated cone, wherein said first conduit has a second diameter and is in fluid communication with said first tube bundle; and   a second conduit connected to said second truncated cone, wherein said second conduit has a third diameter and is in fluid communication with said second tube bundle.   
     
     
         10 . The flow divider according to  claim 9 , wherein said first end of said truncate cone is connected to said lower base portion and said third end of said second truncated cone is connected to said lower base portion. 
     
     
         11 . The flow divider according to  claim 9 , wherein said second diameter is less than said first diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The flow divider according to  claim 11 , wherein said third diameter is less than said first diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The flow divider according to  claim 12 , wherein said second and said third diameters are equal. 
     
     
         14 . The flow divider according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said first truncated cone has a diameter and said second end has a diameter that is less than said first end diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The flow divider according to  claim 14 , wherein said third end of said second truncated cone has a diameter and said fourth end has a diameter that is less than said third end diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The flow divider according to  claim 9 , wherein said flow divider has a “Y” shaped geometry. 
     
     
         17 . The flow divider according to  claim 9 , further comprising a flow vane disposed within said cylindrical lower base portion. 
     
     
         18 . The flow divider according to  claim 17 , said flow vane is a plurality of flow vanes. 
     
     
         19 . A method for distributing a fluid to be cooled using a flow divider, comprising:
 receiving the fluid to be cooled through a a cylindrical lower base portion that provides an inlet that receives the flow of industrial fluid, wherein said cylindrical base portion has a first diameter;   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 truncated cone extending from said lower base portion wherein said first truncated cone has a first end and a second end and wherein said first truncated cone transitions from one diameter to another as said cone extends from said first end to said second end;   flowing the fluid to be cooled through a second truncated cone extending from said lower base portion wherein said second truncated cone has a third end and a fourth end and wherein said second truncated cone transitions from one diameter to another as said cone extends from said third end to said fourth end   a cylindrical lower base portion that provides an inlet that receives the flow of industrial fluid, wherein said cylindrical base portion has a first diameter;   flowing the fluid through a first conduit connected to said first truncated cone, wherein said first conduit has a second diameter; and   flowing the fluid a second conduit connected to said second truncated cone, wherein said second conduit has a third diameter.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said first end of said truncate cone is connected to said lower base portion and said third end of said second truncated cone is connected to said lower base portion.