Patent ID: 8707557

Claim:
An apparatus for improving a performance of steam surface condensers comprising a condenser having a multitude of tubes for condensing steam organized in starburst pattern, the tubes extending between tube sheets located inlet end and outlet end of the condenser, the condenser further having a bay where cooling water passing through the tubes generates a condensate rain, the condenser having an air cooler section in a form of a slotted core pipe for receiving non-condensable gases, the core pipe having an exit opening at the bay, the inlet end tube sheet having an entry opening for receiving the non-condensable gases from the core pipe across the bay, an off-take pipe at the entry opening for receiving and conducting the non-condensable gases to air removal equipment, the off-take pipe having a hood with covering top and open underside extending into the bay to protect penetration of the non-condensable gases from the condensate rain to improve a non-condensable removal capability, thereby increasing an overall heat transfer coefficient and thus producing a reduction in a backpressure of a steam turbine to increase a power and a thermal efficiency of a plant.