HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

The system and method of controlling a level of flooding to remain substantially constant within a flooded heat exchanger wherein steam flows into a steam side and condenses to form condensate that partly floods the steam side and that flows out of the steam side, and wherein cold water flows into a water side in heat exchange relationship with the steam side to heat the cold water and form heated water that flows out of the water side, comprises collecting the water condensate flowing out of the heat exchanger condensate outlet into a level controller through a controller condensate inlet; connecting the level controller to a steam source having a pressure equivalent to that of the heat exchanger steam side; and controlling the level of condensate in the level controller to remain substantially constant with a controller valve that allows condensate to be exhausted out through a controller condensate outlet if the level of the condensate in the level controller rises beyond a valve activation threshold wherein the level of condensate in the heat exchanger steam side will also be controlled to remain substantially constant consequently allowing a level of flooding in the flooded heat exchanger to remain substantially constant. The heat exchanger heated water outlet can be coupled to a mixer with a further cold water inlet, for obtaining a system and method of providing a determined heated water temperature at a system heated water outlet in a heat exchange system.

主权项

1. A heat exchange system comprising a system steam inlet, a system condensate outlet, a system cold water inlet, a system heated water outlet, a flooded heat exchanger and a level controller, said flooded heat exchanger comprising:
an exchanger steam inlet connected to said system steam inlet; an exchanger condensate outlet; an exchanger cold water inlet connected to said system cold water inlet; an exchanger heated water outlet connected to said system heated water outlet; a steam side wherein steam flows in through said exchanger steam inlet and condensate flows out through said exchanger condensate outlet for condensing the steam to form condensate that partly floods said steam side at a condensate level; a water side wherein water flows in through said exchanger cold water inlet and out through said exchanger heated water outlet for heating water by a heat exchange with said steam side;and said level controller comprising:
a controller condensate inlet connected to said exchanger condensate outlet; a controller steam link connected to a steam source having a pressure equivalent to that of said heat exchanger steam side; a controller condensate outlet connected to said system condensate outlet; and a controller valve for selectively allowing condensate out through said controller condensate outlet;wherein said condensate level in said heat exchanger steam side will be controlled to remain substantially constant by said controller valve selectively controlling condensate output through said controller condensate outlet.