Steam Dispersion System

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/619,517, filed Mar. 28, 2024; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/189,028, filed Mar. 23, 2023, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/681,365, filed Feb. 25, 2022, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/935,861, filed Jul. 22, 2020, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/241,126, filed Jan. 7, 2019, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/273,097, filed Sep. 22, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,174,960; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/222,538, filed Sep. 23, 2015, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The principles disclosed herein relate generally to the field of steam dispersion humidification. More particularly, the disclosure relates to control and evacuation of unwanted condensate from steam dispersion systems.

Industrial buildings which use steam boilers for heating may use the boiler steam for humidification by injecting it directly into the air. A steam dispersion system panel is used to uniformly disperse the steam into an airstream within an air duct or air handling unit (AHU).

Cool air flowing across the dispersion tubes of the steam dispersion system panel causes some of the steam within the dispersion tubes to condense. This condensate is drained out of the steam dispersion system panel to prevent it from accumulating and entering the airstream with the steam.

The condensate drain of a pressurized steam dispersion panel is typically located on the end of a steam header of the panel opposite of the steam inlet. The velocity of the pressurized steam entering the header of the steam dispersion system forces the condensate to the opposite end of the header where the drain is typically located. If the drain were on the same side as the steam inlet, then unwanted condensate could accumulate in the header and enter the airstream. For this reason, condensate drains are typically located on the end opposite of the pressurized steam inlet.

However, locating the drain on the opposite end of a header from the steam inlet necessitates access to both ends of the header for installation of steam and condensate piping, thus potentially increasing the size of the AHU or reducing the active dispersion area of the panel. Installation costs may also be higher for the piping.

An external condensate drain pipe can be installed underneath the header and sloped back to the steam inlet side of the header, but this may increase cost and requires space underneath the header which may reduce the active steam dispersion area of the panel.

It is desirable for the steam inlet and condensate drain to be on the same side of the header. Access to only one side, instead of both sides, of the header is then needed for steam and condensate piping. This can reduce installation costs and utilize the AHU space more efficiently. However, unwanted accumulation of the condensate is a serious concern as noted above.

Improvements in this area are desired.

The principles disclosed herein relate to improvements in piping of unwanted condensate from steam dispersion humidification systems.

The inventive principles relate to the use of an internal feature or structure within the header which re-directs the flow of the entering steam approximately 180 degrees back towards the steam inlet. The drain port can be located on the same side as the steam inlet since the condensate is pushed towards the drain by the re-directed steam flow. The condensate does not accumulate in the header or enter the airstream. The condensate drain can be located on the same side as the steam inlet while reliably draining the condensate from the header. The advantages of same-side piping are combined with effective condensate drainage from the header without the need for an external condensate drain pipe underneath the header.

The internal steam re-directing feature may include a hollow structure or a pipe through which the steam is transported towards the opposite end of the header. Orifices that penetrate the hollow structure or pipe allow some of the steam to exit to enhance uniform steam distribution within the header and control back pressure before the remaining steam is re-directed approximately 180 degrees back towards the steam inlet side of the header. The redirecting structure can include a 180-degree U-bend of the pipe, two quantity 90-degree bends of the pipe, or multiple styles of deflecting shields or deflectors provided within the header that cooperate with the pipe in re-directing the steam.

In one particular aspect, the disclosure is directed to a steam dispersion system including a steam header defining a first end and a second end, a plurality of steam dispersion tubes extending upwardly from the header, a condensate drain outlet located at the first end of the header, a hollow pipe positioned within the header, the hollow pipe defining a length extending within the header in a direction generally from the first end to the second end, the hollow pipe defining a main humidification steam inlet located at the first end of the header and a main steam outlet within the header, wherein the hollow pipe is configured to receive steam that flows in from the main steam inlet toward the main steam outlet. The hollow pipe may define a plurality of orifices along the length thereof for allowing steam that is flowing through the hollow pipe to enter the header for distribution through the steam dispersion tubes. A steam re-direction structure is configured to direct steam flow leaving through the main steam outlet back toward the first end of the header.

According to another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a humidification steam dispersion system comprising a steam header defining a first end, a second end, and a steam exit point for supplying humidification steam to the atmosphere, a condensate drain outlet located at the first end of the header, a hollow pipe positioned within the header, the hollow pipe defining a length extending within the header in a direction generally from the first end to the second end, the hollow pipe defining a main humidification steam inlet located at the first end of the header and a main steam outlet within the header, wherein the hollow pipe is configured to receive steam that flows in from the main steam inlet toward the main steam outlet, and a steam re-direction structure configured to direct steam flow leaving through the main steam outlet back toward the first end of the header.

According to yet another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a humidification steam dispersion system comprising a steam header defining an interior and a steam exit point communicating with the interior for supplying humidification steam to the atmosphere and a hollow pipe positioned within the header interior, the hollow pipe defining a main humidification steam inlet and a main steam outlet, wherein the hollow pipe is configured to receive steam that flows through the pipe by entering the pipe through the main steam inlet and exiting the pipe through the main steam outlet into the header interior, wherein the main steam inlet and the main steam outlet face in the same direction.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

A steam dispersion systemhaving features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure is illustrated in. The steam dispersion systemgenerally includes a steam headerand a plurality of steam dispersion tubesextending upwardly from the header. It should be noted that the steam dispersion systemillustrated inis simply one example in which the inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure can be used. Other systems are certainly possible.

As will be described in further detail below, the headeris configured to receive steam from a steam source, and the steam is dispersed into duct air through steam delivery pointsof the steam dispersion tubes. The steam source may be a boiler or another source providing pressurized steam. The steam source provides pressurized steam towards the header. In the depicted example, each of the tubescommunicates with the header interiorfor receiving pressurized steam. The steam tubes, in turn, disperse the steam to the atmosphere at atmospheric pressure. The headeris designed to distribute pressure evenly among the tubesprotruding therefrom.

In a system such as that illustrated in, the steam supplied by the steam source is piped through the systemat a pressure generally higher than atmospheric pressure, which is normally the pressure at the point where the steam exits the tubesand meets duct air. The pressure created by the flowing steam can be used for piping unwanted condensate(see) from the systemas will be discussed in further detail below.

Still referring to, each steam dispersion tube, as depicted, includes a generally cylindrical walldefining an outer surfaceand an inner surface. In other embodiments, the steam dispersion tubesmay be of other shapes, such as square, triangular, elliptical, etc. Also, in other embodiments, the steam dispersion tubesmay be formed from multiple pieces that are attached together to form the tubes. The steam dispersion tubedefines a hollow interiorfor carrying steam. The steam dispersion tubeincludes a plurality of openingsthrough the cylindrical wallfor emitting the steam. In certain embodiments, the outer surfaceof the cylindrical wallmay be covered with insulation material. The insulation material may define a plurality of openings through the insulation that are aligned with the openingsof the steam dispersion tube.

The steam delivery pointsof the steam dispersion tubemay be defined by nozzles (i.e., tubelets) provided in the openings. It should be noted that in other embodiments, the steam delivery pointsmay be defined simply by the openingsof the tubeswithout the use of any nozzles. Each of the tubescommunicates with the header interiorfor receiving and dispersing humidification steam to the atmosphere (e.g., to an air duct).

Still referring to, the headerof the steam dispersion systemmay be mounted via a frame structure (not shown) across an air duct for positioning the tubesin the duct air flow.

The headerdefines a first endand a second end. The first endincludes a condensate drain openingfor allowing unwanted accumulated condensate to be drained from the system.

The headerreceives the supply steam through a hollow structure or pipethat extends within the headerin a direction generally extending from the first endto the second end. The hollow pipedefines a main steam inletat the first endof the header, generally adjacent the same side as the condensate drain openingof the system.

Supply steam is transported through the hollow pipetowards the opposite second endof the header from the first endthat has the main steam inlet.

As shown, the hollow pipeincludes orifices or openingsthat penetrate the hollow structure or pipeto allow some of the steam to exit to enhance uniform steam distribution within the headerand to control back pressure. The steam distributed through the orifices is used as humidification steam that enters the air duct through the tubesextending from the header.

The hollow pipe, in the example depicted in, is also utilized to pipe condensate toward the condensate drainthat is positioned at the same endas the main steam inlet.

The depicted pipeis configured to re-direct the pressurized steam approximately 180 degrees back towards the steam inlet endof the header. The redirecting structurecan include a 180-degree u-bend of the pipe, two quantity 90-degree bends of the pipe, or multiple styles of deflecting shields or deflectorsprovided within the headerthat cooperate with the pipein re-directing the steam, as will be discussed in further detail below.

In the example shown in, the steam redirecting structureis in the form of a 180-degree bend of the hollow pipethat is formed from two 90-degree bends positioned at an opposite second endof the pipefrom the steam inlet end. In other example embodiments, the bend can be less than 180 degrees. Depending upon the configuration of the system, the bend can be provided at any angle greater than 90 degrees and less than or equal to 180 degrees. Pressurized steam flow exits the hollow pipeat a main steam outlet openingat the second endthat directs the steam toward the same endas the condensate drain.

illustrate a 180-degree bend of the hollow pipethat is formed from a 180-degree U-bend that is formed from two tube portionsthat are cut at sharp angles that are welded together.

As noted above, the steam redirecting structurecan also include different styles of types of deflecting shields or deflectorsthat cooperate with the hollow pipein re-directing steam flow toward the condensate drain.

For example, in the depicted example of the systemin, the steam redirecting structureis provided by a combination of an angled outlet openingat the second endand a curved deflectorhaving a concave configuration for directing the steam flow towards the condensate drain.

illustrates an example of the systemwith multiple such curved deflectors.

The second endof the hollow pipethat defines the main steam outlet/openingcan be cut at different angles and dimensions to control the openingto allow optimum steam velocity hitting the deflector(s)to create sufficient force to flow condensation toward the condensate drain. The angle and the size of the openingcan also be used to control the amount of backpressure to optimize the proper amount of steam dispersed through the orificesalong the length of the pipe.

Referring now to, an example of the systemis illustrated wherein deflector(s)positioned both partially below and above the hollow pipeare used to redirect steam flow toward the condensate drain. The deflectorsare positioned at the second endof the headeradjacent the main steam outletof the pipe. It should be noted that in the example of, the outlet openingformed at the second endof the pipeis not angled and generally faces toward the second endof the header. The deflectorsre-direct the steam flow back toward the condensate drainfrom both above and below the hollow pipeas shown.

Another example of a deflectorin combination with the pipebeing used as a steam re-direction structureis illustrated in. In the example depicted in, the hollow pipedefines a sealed endwith an outlet openingthat is positioned generally at a bottom side of the pipeat an intermediate location before the sealed end. The pipefurther includes a deflectorwithin the pipethat splits the pipegenerally into two steam flow channels, a forward flow channeland a rearward flow channel. The deflectorcooperates with the sealed endand the bottom openingof the pipein creating a generally circular clockwise flow pattern, as depicted, for the steam and directs the steam back through the rearward flow channeland out the openingtoward the condensate drain.

The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the inventive aspects of the disclosure. Since many embodiments of the inventive aspects can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, the inventive aspects reside in the claims hereinafter appended.