Patent ID: 7926277

Claim:
In a condenser of the type having a housing inside in which is disposed a plurality of water tube bundle sections, spaced-apart condensate trays disposed beneath at least some of said water tube bundle sections, a steam inlet for steam to flow inside said housing for contacting said tube bundle sections for heat removal, and potentially having a stagnant zone of high air concentration during operation wherein any air inleakage and noncondensable gases preferentially collect and condensate in said air zone becomes subcooled, allowing said air to become partially absorbed by said subcooled condensate, and which is fitted with an air removal section (ARS) disposed in or near said stagnant air zone, the improvement which comprises: (a) dams placed in each condensate tray at about the outer boundary of said potential stagnant air zone in an outward direction away from the stagnant air zone for preventing subcooled condensate in said condensate trays in said stagnant air zone from leaving said stagnant air zone; and (b) drains placed beneath each condensate tray disposed within said stagnant air zone for diverting subcooled condensate in said condensate trays in said stagnant air zone for collection; (c) baffles placed through each tube bundle section above said stagnant air zone to prevent condensate from passing into said stagnant air zone; and (d) baffles placed through each tube bundle below said stagnant air zone for diverting condensate to a collection drain placed below said stagnant air zone for collection of said subcooled condensate.