Rotary pre-heater for high temperature operation

A rotor for a high temperature rotary pre-heater, the rotor comprising:

• a hub having an exterior surface with a plurality of first pockets formed therein;
• an annular rim positioned around and coaxially with the hub, the annular rim having an interior surface with a corresponding plurality of second pockets formed therein;
• a plurality of spokes, extending between the hub and the annular rim, each of the plurality of spokes having first terminal end and a second terminal end, the first terminal end is seated in a respective one of the plurality of first pockets and the second terminal end is seated in a respective one of the plurality of second pockets;
• and
• a first ceramic fiber blanket disposed between at least one of:
• the first terminal end and the respective one of the first pockets;
• and
• the second terminal end and the respective one of the second pockets.

A rotary pre-heater comprising:

• an annular housing;
• a hot-end connecting plate having a first inlet and a first outlet, the hot-end connecting plate being secured to a first axial end of the annular housing;
• a cold-end connecting plate having a second inlet and a second outlet, the cold-end connecting plate being secured to a second axial end of the annular housing;
• a rotor disposed for rotation in the annular housing and between the hot-end connecting plate and the cold-end connecting plate, the rotor comprising:
• a cold-end rotor mounted for rotation on a spindle proximate the cold-end connecting plate, the cold-end rotor having a first plurality of flow passages extending therethrough;
• a hot-end rotor assembly disposed on the cold-end rotor, the hot-end rotor assembly being proximate the hot-end connecting plate, the hot-end rotor assembly having a second plurality of flow passages extending therethrough, the hot end rotor comprising:
• a hub having an exterior surface with a plurality of first pockets formed therein;
• an annular rim positioned around and coaxially with the hub, the annular rim having an interior surface with a corresponding plurality of second pockets formed therein;
• a plurality of spokes, extending between the hub and the annular rim, each of the plurality of spokes having at least one terminal end, the at least one terminal end being seated in a respective one of the plurality of first pockets and the corresponding one of the second pockets;
• and
• a first ceramic fiber blanket disposed between the at least one terminal end and the respective one of the first pocket and the second pocket.

A rotary pre-heater comprising:

• an annular housing;
• a hot-end connecting plate having a first inlet and a first outlet, the hot-end connecting plate being secured to a first axial end of the annular housing;
• a cold-end connecting plate having a second inlet and a second outlet, the cold-end connecting plate being secured to a second axial end of the annular housing;
• a rotor disposed for rotation in the annular housing and between the hot-end connecting plate and the cold-end connecting plate, the rotor comprising:
• a cold-end rotor mounted for rotation on a spindle proximate the cold-end connecting plate, the cold-end rotor having a first plurality of flow passages extending therethrough;
• a hot-end rotor assembly disposed on the cold-end rotor, the hot-end rotor assembly being proximate the hot-end connecting plate, the hot-end rotor assembly having a second plurality of flow passages extending therethrough, the hot end rotor comprising an annular housing;
• an insulation assembly surrounding an exterior surface defined by the annular rim, the insulation assembly comprising a second ceramic blanket engaging the exterior surface, and the insulation assembly comprising an insulation retaining assembly engaging the second ceramic blanket, the insulation retaining assembly comprising:
• a plurality of elongate retainer elements, each of the retainer elements having a root end adapted to be held in fixed relationship to the cold-end rotor and a distal end proximate to the hot-end rotor, portions of each of the plurality of retainer elements being adapted for circumferential movement.