From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Condenser performance tests, comparing plain and finned condensers and methods of condensate return.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\2\ img237 | |
| Date | 30th December 1932 | |
| -4- Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}/DJh.1/MT.30.12.32. Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} USING WATER ONLY AS COOLANT. Condensate Collected in 3 mins. from plain condenser - 2.5 pints. " 3 mins. " finned " - 5.5 pints. The condensate flow is increase 120% when using the finned condenser. These results are borne out by the model test described in the supplementary report attached. The total area of the plain condenser - 6.875 Sq Ft The fitting of FINS increase the surface area 3.4 times. The weights of the condensers are PLAIN 17 lbs. FINNed 30 lbs. (5) Returning Condensate Back to Main Water System. In the original arrangement of condenser and steam pipes it was thought that the condensate would gravitate back to the header tank via. the steam pipes but owing to the small dia. steam pipe used, the steam velocity was too high to allow gravitation, and not wishing to increase the diameter of the pipes, other means of dealing with the condensate were evolved. AT THE MOMENT A check test was made in order to confirm the quantity of condensate collected in the condenser and this was found to be seven pints in four minutes or 1.75 pts/min. An attempt was made to utilize the depression in the main circulating water pump suction pipe for drawing off the condensate from the condenser but the air drawn into the pipe when the condenser was dry was sufficient to break down the circulation, but when steaming the injector dealt with the condensate efficiently. In order for the water to gravitate against the steam the pipe size would have to be very large and would be unsuitable for neat installation. The next stage was to utilize the horn pipe pressure and the injector as used for the volute drain. The injector was fixed on the header tank, the pressure side being connected to one of the horn pipes and the suction side to the condenser. This arrangement proved very successful and at the end of 7 mins. run, steaming hard, there was only 1/2 pint of condensate left in the condenser. Sketch No.2 shows the arrangement. Further tests are to be made to find the minimum pipe diameter, the condensate will gravitate back to the tank. This is in order to try and delete additional pipes necessary for the injector system. | ||