JAMES J HSU
Engineers in Cincinnati, OH

4189926, Feb 26, 1980

Jun 15, 1978

5/915690

James J. Hsu - Cincinnati OH

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

F01K 1100

60687

A subatmospheric pressure condenser has an enclosure within which steam is condensed after exhausting from an associated turbine. The enclosure is flexibly connected to the turbine to permit relative movement therebetween. The condenser also has an outer wall which is flexibly connected to the enclosure to define a vacuum balancing chamber therebetween with the outer wall being structurally connected to the turbine for the purpose of reducing the atmospheric pressure force exerted on the turbine's structure by the turbine. The structural connectors between the outer wall and the turbine intersect the enclosure and provide fluid communication therethrough between the turbine's exhaust port and the vacuum balancing chamber. At the intersection between the structural connectors and the enclosure, sleeves are attached to the enclosure in closely spaced surrounding relationship with each of the structural connectors to minimize liquid intrusion therebetween from the enclosure to the vacuum balancing chamber. Since the outer wall is flexibly connected to the enclosure and the vacuum balancing chamber has little or no water intrusion, the outer wall efficiently transmits atmospheric pressure forces exerted thereon through the structural connectors to the turbine and reduce the load on and thus the required size of the turbine's support structure.