Flash economizer

Abstract

A flash economizer employing an enclosed upright container has upper, intermediate and lower chambers for flashing pressurized blowdown effluent in the nature of moisture-contaminated steam. It is constructed to initially separate and remove pure steam in its upper so-called flashing chamber and to thereafter maximize, principally in the intermediate chamber, an indirect transfer of heat from the remaining heat-containing condensate or water to a clean effluent, such as make-up water. An upwardly spiraled tubing array positioned about and along the intermediate chamber receives the clean effluent and advances it in an upwardly spiraled counterclockwise path therealong, while the heat-containing condensate is directed in a downflow, counter or clockwise-spiraled path along the tubing array. The tubing array is carried by an enclosing support structure that defines a spiral downflow path for the heated condensate therealong and therabout. Enlarged inlet and outlet tubing members extend into and along the lower and into the intermediate chamber in a spaced relation with respect to each other, with the outlet or return tubing member extending along an inner periphery of the tubing array and along a substantially central supporting structure about which the array extends within the intermediate chamber. Downflow of heated condensate is proportioned to maintain a full spiral downflow within the enclosing structure along the tubing array while providing a central downflow along the inside of the central supporting structure.