MadModder
Gallery, Projects and General => How do I?? => Topic started by: lordedmond on July 23, 2011, 07:00:04 AM
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some info please
I am building as a side project a triple expansion engine. I have to seal the condenser tubes into the tube plates which go on the ends of the condenser casting then the end cover go on
the tube plates will not pass through the casting
tubes are 1/4 od and the tube plate is 1/16 inches in both cases
I could soft solder them in but the TP could bend and fail to seal the vacuum ( water is in the tube ) to the casting
Any ideas
Stuart
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Is it possible to arrange for one tune plate to 'float' to take up expansion/contraction?
A U tube arrangement with single tube plate wouldn't suffer this problem.
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thanks for the reply
a floating TP would not seal the vac chamber
I could alter the design to have a u tube arrangement but getting the bends in may be difficult
Thanks again for the input
Stuart
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a floating TP would not seal the vac chamber
It would need a suitable seal - no idea if you have room for such. I've known floating tube plates in heat exchangers sealed to hold significant pressures.
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the answer is very little
3 1/2 long 2 high and a inch deep
the 3 1/2 is the tube length and it is a two pass system the dwg shows the plates screwed with csk screws to the casting and the end casting bolted through into the casting , but there is no indiction as to the method of sealing.
in full size turbine condensers ( this is a triple expansion engine ) they are expanded into the steel TP and are made of brass tube
these are 1/4 copper in 1/16 TP
as there will be a vacuum out side the tubes and a small water pressure outside , so the seal would have to stand about 10 psi
Stuart
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O ring seals?
or make them a press fit and use Loctite 574 is it.(the orange sealant goop which seals everything.) the Loctite goes into
a shallow groove so its invisible.
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thanks for the reply
to tight tube spacing for O rings
I will look into the goop
Stuart
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How about make up a suitable taper plug and push into the tube end so the end expands onto the tube plate?
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Is this a condenser like with a vacuum pump and all?
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its the condenser for a triple expansion steam engine it returns the waste steam to water and thus plus a vacuum to improve the efficiency of the final stage
the tube plates are a bit thin at 1.8 mm brass one end is ok as it can be done before assembly a drift could work in the other end though
Stuart