US2157436A - Means for condensing fluids - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1939;

E. FRENKEN MEANS FOR CONDENSING FLUIDS Filed May 23. 1936 EnoF Renken Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATE 5 PATENT OFFICE f This invention relates to new, and useful improvements in condensing apparatus.

One object 'of the invention is to provide an improved condensing apparatus'.wherein the com- 5' paratively cool condensed liquid is forced into intimate contact with the fluid to be condensed,

- whereby the temperature of the condensed liquid 'is utilized to aid in condensing said fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an 10 improved condenser which is particularly adapted for use with refrigerating systems employing a volatile fluid, such as ammonia, as a. refrigerating medium.

' An important object'of the invention is to pro- 16 vide the combination with a mechanical refrigerator of a self-contained condenser unit wherein the comparatively cool liquid condensate 'is utilized to condense the incoming hot gas, thereby eliminating the provision of an auxiliary cooli refrigerating unit of an ordinary, mechanical '20 m ing medium or unit.

A'further object of the invention is to provide acondenser for a refrigerating system which system employs a compressor for circulating the refrigerating medium, the condenser including a'sealed condensing chamber wherein the condensed-liquid is maintained at a level; the compressor being located within the chamber whereby the hot gas-is released into said chamber, and means for agitating or spreading the condensed liquid within the chamber, whereby the comparatively cool liquid condenses the gas and also cools the compressor by dissipating the heat incidentalto its operation. e i

A particular object of the invention is to utilize a the power of the compressor motor. for agitating or spreading the condensed liquid within the condensing chamber, whereby said liquid isforced into intimate contact with' the gas to be -condensed.

40 A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved condenser which'is constructed of a minimum number of parts and which is provlded with cooling means, whereby it operates under lower temperatures, at all times, which 45 greatly increases theefliciency thereof.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in

which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein: r e

' 1 Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a condensing unit, constructed in accordance with the invention,

' Figure 2 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 2- 2 ofFig'ure l, Figure 3"is a view, similar to Figure 1, showin 5 a water jacket surrounding the condenser, and Figure '4 is a detail viewof one form of agitator. In the drawing, the numeral l0 designates-a casing or housing which is. preferably constructed of metal, or other suitable material. .The casing is provided with a bottom Ill" and the upper end of the casing" is' flanged, whereby-a top H may be bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The interior of--th e casingforms a condensing chamber i2. The casing is preferably cylindrical in shape and has a plurality ofradially extending fins 13 formed on its exteriorsurfaceand these fins serve to air cool thechamber l2.

The usual compressor and motorunit ll of the refrigeratorinot shown) is bolted or otherwise removably fastened to the underside of. thetop ll, whereby .when said top ismounted on the casing the compressor and motor depend into the condensing chamber i2 formed within the 5 casing ill. The compressor includes the usual cylinder l5 having-the piston lioperating therein. A gas-inlet pipe l 1 extends through the top H of the casing-and is connected with the cylinder l5,whereby the hot gases'are conducted to said '30 cylinder. .A gas outlet pipe l8 leadsfrom the:

piston and this pipe releases the gas into the interior of the condenserfchamber 12. The piston .16 of the cylinder is reciprocat'ed' by a crank l9 which is formed on the shaft of the motor; .35-

.The gas or vapor which is condensed within the chamber l2 will, of'course, fall to the bottom or lower-end of the chamber and will be condensed into a liquid form. The condensed liquid is conducted fromthe chamber l2 throughan outlet 40 pipe 2| which extends radially through the wall of thecasing Ill. The pipe M is located at some distance from the bottoni' ill of the casing, and it is obvious that the location of said pipe will maintain a predetermined level of the condensed liquid within thechamber. i2.

For sprayingthe condensed liquid upwardly into the chamber l2 and, into intimate contact with the incoming hot gases, the motor shaft 20 is extended downwardly from the crank Hand 5 blades 23. Manifestly, when the motor and compressor are operating, the agitator 22 is rotated and serves to spray the condensed liquid standing within the casing upwardly into, the chamber i2 and into intimate contact with the hot gas or vapor which is released into this chamber from the outlet pipe l8. The liquid which is sprayed upwardlyis relatively cool and also contacts the motor and the compressor to aid in cooling these parts.

The operation of the device is obvious. The hot gas will enter the compressorthrough the inlet pipe "11 and will be released into the condensing chamber l2 through the outlet pipe l8. At the same time, the agitator 22 will be rotated whereby the liquid condensate is sprayed; up

wardly within the chamber l2 into contact with this hot gas or vapor. The condensed liquid is comparatively cool and will materially aid to effect a condensation of the gas or vapor within the chamber. It is a well known fact that a-fine spray will-more efficiently condense a gas or vapor and, therefore, the agitator is utilized to produce such a spray, The coolingfins 13 on the outer surface of the casing-I 0 provide an increasedsurface for conducting away the heat-withinthe chamber l2 to theoutside air. These fins also aid in dissipating the heat oi. thestanding condensed liquid in the bottom of the casing, whereby cool- 'ing of said liquid will be increased.

It is pointed out that the unit is self-contained and may be readily employed with the usual mechanical refrigerator: By providing the removable top "and fastening themotor and compressor unit thereto, it 'is'possibleto remove said compressor and motor by'merely removing said top. The liquid, which is sprayed upwardly, not'only is utilized tocondense the-hot gases'end vapors, but is also utilized to cool the motor and compressor, whereby these parts operate under a minimum temperature at all'times, which greatly increases their ei flciency.

The invention is not to be limited-to the provision of the cooling fins 13 on the outer surface of the casing ID, as various other means'of'cool- 'ing the chamber and dissipating the heat therein may be employed." In Figure 3, the casing'is whereby said casing may-be housed therein". The

It is pointed but that 9.. parti ular type oi jwalls ofi-thecasing l0 are'sp aced from the inner walls of the'jacket 24 by suitable ribs 25. The

upper end of, the jacket2l is formed witl'i an annular flange 26, whereby a suitable closure or cover 21 may be bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The inlet pipe I] I extends through an'opening'28in the top 21 and a suitable packing gland 29 may surround this pipe. The outlet pipe 2| which conducts the liquid condensate from the interior, of the. chamber l2 extends outwardly through an opening 30 formed in the wallof the 'iacket 2. Cold water, or some other cooling medium, is introduced into the jacket to fill the space between said jacket andjthe casing it, through an inlet pipe 3| which is located at the upper end of the jacket in the wall thereof. Manifestly, the water jacket acts as a cooling medium to coolthechambei l2.and quickly dissipate the heat therein. The operation of this form is exactly the same as that shown in Figure 1.

tater has been disclosed, but the invention is no;

to be limited, to an agitator of this construction.

It is manifest that various types of agitators or.

Spreaders may be employed and, so long as the power of the compressor motor is utilized to perform the spraying of the liquid, the purposes of the invention are accomplished.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A condenser for the refrigerating medium of a refrigerating system including, a casing having the motor and compressor of said system located therein, means for maintaining a level of the liquid condensate within the container, and

. means for releasing the fiuid to be condensed from the compressor into the container above the liquid level, and vmeans operated by the motor compressor into the container above the liquid level, means operated, by the motor for spreading the liquid upwardly within the container into contact-with the fluid to effect condensation thereof, and a water jacket surrounding the container for cooling the same to enhance condensaliquid upwardlywithin the container into contact with the fluid to, condense the same.

4. A condenser for the refrigerating medium of a-refrigerating system including, a casing having the motor and compressor of said system 10- catedtherein, means for maintaining a level, of the liquid condensate within the container, means actuated by the rotation of the motor shaft for forcing the fluid to be condensed into the container above the liquid level, and an agitator secured to the motor shaft and rotatable within the liquid level for spreading the liquid upwardly within the, container into contactwith the .fiuid to condense'the same. p

5. A condenser for the refrigerating medium of a refrigerating system including, a casing having the motor and compressor of said system located -therein, means for maintaining a level of the liquid condensate within the container, means for releasing the fluid to be condensed from the compressor into the container above the liquid level, an agitator securedto the motor shaft and rotatable within the liquid level for spreading the liquid upwardly within the container into contact with the fiuidto condense thesame, and a water jacket surrounding the'container for coolving the same to enhance condensation of the fluid therein.

I 6. condenser for the refrigerating medium of a refrigerating system including, a casing having the i do: and compressor of said system located means for maintaining a level of the ondensate within the container, means r '1' the rotation of the motor shaft for forcing the fluid to be condensed into the container above the liquid level, an agitator secured to the motor shaft and rotatable within the liquid level for spreading the liquid upwardly within' the container into contact with the fluid to condense the same, and a water jacket surrounding the container for cooling the same to enhance condensation of the fluid therein.

7. The combination with a'mechanical refrigerator of a self-container condenser unit including, a closed casing forming a condensing chamber which has the motor and compressor of said refrigerator mounted in its upper end, whereby the motor shaft extends downwardly within the chamber, means for maintaining a suflicient level of liquid condensate within the container to submerge the lower end of the motor shaft, means for releasing the fluid to be condensed into the container above said liquid level, and means mounted on the lower end of the motor shaft for spreading the liquid upwardly into contact with said fluid to effect condensation thereof.

8. The combination with a mechanical refrigerator of a self-contained condenser unit including, a closed casing forming a condensing chamber which has the motor and compressor of said refrigerator mounted in its upper end,

whereby the motor shaft extends downwardly' ENO F. RENKEN.

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