US2618133A - Baffle for air ducts of generator coolers - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 18, 1952 w. M. KENNEDY BAFFLE FOR AIR DUCTSOF GENERATOR COOLERS Filed April 20, 1949 INVENTOR WILLl QM M. KENNEDY MM ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1952 RAFFLE FOR AIR DUCTS OF GENERATOR COQLERS William M. Kennedy, Lyndhurst, N. J. Application April 20, 1949, Serial No. 88,609 Claims. (Cl. 62140) 1 1 This invention relates to cooling systems as employed in connection with turbine driving generators. Still more particularly, the invention deals with the use of condensation collecting and dispensing bafiies in air ducts of cooling units of this type and kind, thereby increasing eificiency of, and maintain operation of such units.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, 7

in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views; and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side View of a genera-tor showing a cooling unit operating in conjunction therewith, with parts of the construction broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of Fig.1.

In Fig. l of the drawing, I have diagrammatically illustrated at 5, a generator driven from a turbine or other motor shaft 6, and at l I have indicated diagrammatically, a cooling unit for generators of this type and kind. This unit comprises an air duct coupled with and communic=ating with opposed sides of the generator, as seen at t and 9. The air duct comprises one tube or housing 60 extending upwardly from the attached end a and in the tube it is disposed a fan housing I I driven by an electric motor I 2. The upper end of the duct or housing I i! communicates with a horizontal duct or housing portion 5 which in turn communicates with another vertical duct or housing M, the latter communicating with the generator at the end 9. In the upper end of the vertical portion I i of the housing or air duct, is disposed an air cooling mechanism I5 in the form of a series of pipe coils [6 through which cool water, or other cooling means is circulated, as in other devices of this type and kind, inlet and outlet of the cooling medium being disposed at the header #7.

Beneath the coils i i, the air duct l4 has a series of bailies i8, l8, l3 and 20, as indicated in section in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The bafiie I8 is disposed centrally of the air duct l4 and comprises downwardly inclined side plates 2! terminating at their lower ends in upwardly and inwardly curved trough-like portions 22 having at one side of the air duct l4, discharges 23 to a common drain pipe 24. The troughs 22 terminate short of the opposed walls of the air duct to provide air circulating spaces 25. It will appear that the bafiles 19 are disposed directly below the circulating passages 25 and comprise upwardly inclined walls 26 terminating at their upper end portions in upwardly and outwardly curved flanges 2?, which lie beneath the bafiie l8 Well inwardly of the trough 22, This produces a central circulating passage 28 in the duct I4, as will be apparent. Suitable discharges 29 are provided at the lower ends of the bafiie adjacent the side walls of the duct 14 which open into a common drain 3B.

Beneath the air circulating passage 28 and centrally of the air duct I4 is disposed the baffie 20 which is reversed with respect to the arrangement of the baiile It in the sense that it has upwardly and laterally flared walls 3| forming a trough-like structure of the baffle 20 at the base of which is a discharge 32 opening into a drain 33. Upper ends of the walls 31 have inwardly turned flanges 34 and these ends are spaced inwardly of the side walls of the air duct to form other circulating passages 35, similar to the pas sages 25.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that as air is circulated through the cooling unit 1, it passes upwardly through the side H) of the air duct, across the upper part 13 of this air duct, down and around the pipe coils i6, and then through the circulating passages 25, 28 and 35, and thus through the generator.

Passage of heated air over the pipe coils l6 develops condensation, which condensation drops onto the baflies or is picked up by the baflies in the circulation of air through the duct M or the passages 25, 28 and 35 thereof, and this condensation is discharged through the drain or discharges 24, 39 and 33. By overlapping adjacent bafiies, in the manner illustrated. greater assurance of picking-up the condensate is provided, and by disposing of this condensate, the danger of destroying the generator is substantially eliminated. Circulation of moist air through genera.'

tors of the kind under consideration can become extremely destructive and by providing baflies oi the type and kind illustrated and the required number thereof, in a given unit, a definite con.-

trol and check is provided for substantially dispensing with excess moisture in the air admitted to and passed through the generator.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown one arrangement of baflles to accomplish the desired result. It will be apparent, however, that this arrangement may be amplified or varied to suit different conditions, and particularly in increasing the number of bafiles employed. It is preferred, however, that in the use of several baflles, that arrangements be had which will collect the condensation throughout the complete cross-sectional area of the air duct, so as to prevent any possible transmission of moisture directly down through the duct. It will be understood that the bafiies, as seen in sections, in Fig. 2 of the drawing, extend completely across or join front and back walls of the air duct id, as seen in Fig. 2. This has been indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

In the present showing. the baflies are disposed cross-wise with respect to the circulating coils I 6. It will be apparent, however, that the bafiie may be disposed at right angles to the position shown, in which event, they would extend length- Wise withrespect to the coils.

'It will be understood that bafiles are arranged in-the air duct in a manner to cause the air to be deflected in its circulation through the air duct, thusgiving ample opportunity to displace themoisture. .In this connection it will be apparent that the curved ends-on the bailies materially aidin collecting and directing condensation to the drain discharges of said baffles. In addition to collecting condensation, it will also be understood'that the bafiies serve as means of eliminating water that might escape, by virtue of a leak, ,from the tubes. In other words, the ballles serve to eliminate transmission of moisture to the generator, which would materially affect the windings thereof.

:Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A cooling system for apparatus of the class descrihed,.comprising an air duct having a horizontaltop part terminating in depending ends opening directly into widely spaced depending sides, cooling means extending transversely through the upper portion of one side, means comprising a series of bafiles vertically spaced in. staggered relationship in said side of the air duct below said cooling means for collecting condensation, said bafiies being arranged on opposed side walls of the duct and intermediate said opposed side walls, means for disposing condensation from each of said bafiles outwardly of the air duct. the staggered arran ement of said baffles defining irregular circulating passages throu h said side of the duct, and means in said duct for providing forced circulation of air therethrough.

-2. A cooling system for apparat s of the class described, comprising an air duct having a horizontal top part terminating in depending ends opening directly into widely spaced depending sides, cooling means extending transversely throu h the upper portion of one side, means comprising a series of baffies vertically spaced in staggered relationship in said side of the air duct below said cooling means for collecting condensation, said bafiies' being arranged on o posed side-walls of the duct and intermediate said opposed side walls, means for. disposing condensation from each of said baflles outwardly of the air duct, the staggered arrangement of said bafiies defining irregular circulating passages through said side of the duct, means in said duct for providing forced circulation of air therethrough, and all of the baffles terminating in curved free ends.

3. In cooling systems of the character described, comprising an air duct having vertical sides widely spaced and directly joined by a horizontal top portion having depending ends opening into said sides, means providing a forced circulation of air through said duct, means in the upper portion of one vertical side of the air duct for cooling air circulated therethrough, a plurality of baiiles ,in said side of the air duct directly beneath said relation to otheropposed walls of said duct to form'air circulating passages between said curved ends and last named walls, and other bailies extending inwardly from said second named opposed walls and overlying ends of said first named bafile.

4. In cooling systems of the character described, comprising an air duct having vertical sides widely spaced and directly joined by a horizontal top portion having depending ends opening into said sides, means providing a forced circulation of air through said duct, means in the upper portion of one vertical side of the air duct for cooling air circulated therethrough, a plurality of bafiles in said side of the air duct directly beneath said cooling means, said baiiles being spaced vertically in the air duct and arranged to control circulation of air through said side of the duct, means for draining condensation collected by said baiiles, one baflie being disposed centrally of the air duct between opposed walls thereof and having upwardly curved trough ends in spaced relation to other opposed walls of said duct to form air circulating passages between said curved ends and last named walls, other baffles extending from the last named walls upwardly in the direction of the central portion of the air duct, the upper ends of said last named baiilesterrninating in outwardly curved portions, and said curved portions being spaced apart to form centrally of the air duct an air circulating passage.

5. In cooling systems of the character described, comprising an air duct having vertical sides widely spaced and joined by a horizontal top portion, means providing a forced circulation of air through said duct, means in the upper portion of one vertical side of the air duct for cooling air circulated therethrough, a plurality of baiiles in said air duct directly beneath said cooling means, said bafiles being spaced vertically in the air duct and arranged to control circulation of air through said duct, means for draining condensation collected by said baiiles, one bafile being disposed centrally of the air duct between opposed walls thereof and having upwardly curved trough ends in spaced relation to other opposed walls of said duct to form air circulating passages between said curved ends and last named opposed walls, other baffies extending from the last named upwardly in the direction of the central portion of the air duct, the upper endsor" curved portions, said curved portions being spaced apart to form centrally of the air duct an air circulating passage, another bafiie disposed in the air duct beneath the first named baffle and said second named bafiies, said last named baflle being in the form of a trough shaped member, and upper ends of the trough shaped member being curved inwardly and spaced from the second named opposed walls of said air duct.

WILLIAM M. KENNEDY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Fryer Sept. 2, 1879 Number Number Name Date Farrar June 22, 1909 Reynolds et a1 Jan. 11, 1910 Lyle Dec. 30, 1913 Sykes July 1, 1924 Gargan May 12, 1925 Parsons Aug. 28, 1928 Krackowizer Oct. 18, 1938 Buchanan July 22, 1941 Wellington Dec. 30, 1941 Boettcher May 16, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Jan. 31, 1913

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