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US 4,044,820 AGranted
Method and apparatus for preheating combustion air while cooling a hot process gas
AssigneeEcono-Therm Energy Systems Corporation
InventorElon J. Nobles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat transfer apparatus for cooling a hot process gas to a temperature close to its dew point without condensation. The hot gas passes through a first chamber while air to be heated passes in an adjacent second chamber. A series of fluid containing tubes extend back and forth between the two chambers. The fluid continuously flowing through the tubes extracts heat from the hot gas and transfers it to the air to be heated.
Claims39
A method for cooling a hot gas close to its dew point without causing condensation comprising
- flowing air through a first chamber while flowing the hot gas to be cooled through a second chamber which is separated from the first chamber by a common wall, and
- continuously flowing a heat transfer fluid having a high heat capacity as compared to said hot gas through the inlet end of heat transfer tubes which extend back and forth between the two chambers through said common wall in a serpentine path between the two chambers which extends in one direction and out the outlet end of the tubes at the opposite end of said serpentine path, whereby the heat which is absorbed by the heat transfer fluid in each section of the tubes in the hot gas chamber is directly transferred to the air as the heat transfer fluid advances through the tubes in the first air chamber.
A method for heating combustion air while cooling a hot process gas close to its dew point comprising
- flowing air to be preheated through a first chamber while flowing the hot process gas through a second chamber which is separated from the first chamber by a common wall, and
- continuously flowing a heat transfer fluid having a high heat capacity as compared to said hot gas through the inlet end of heat transfer tubes which extend back and forth between the two chambers through said common wall in a serpentine path between the two chambers which extend in one direction and out the outlet end of the tubes at the opposite end of said serpentine path, whereby the heat which is adsorbed, by the heat transfer fluid in each section of the tubes in the hot gas chamber is directly transferred to the air as the heat transfer fluid advances through the tubes in the first air chamber.
A heat transfer apparatus for heating combustion air while cooling a hot process gas close to its dew point comprising
- a first chamber defining a combustion air zone through which air to be heated flows in a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus;
- a second chamber adjacent said first chamber defining a process gas zone through which heated process gas flows in a second direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite to said first direction;
- a common wall between said two chambers thermally separating said combustion air zone and said process gas zone;
- hollow conduit heat transfer means extending through said common wall and bending back and forth between said two zones to form at least one serpentine coil extending in one direction;
- an inlet header at one end of said serpentine coil;
- an outlet header at the opposite end of said serpentine coil;
- and
- means to continuously circulate a heat transfer fluid through said inlet header, said heat transfer means between said two zones, and said outlet header, whereby the heat adsorbed by said fluid in the hot process gas zone is transferred to said combustion air.
5 more elements
A heat transfer apparatus for heating combustion air while cooling a hot process gas close to its dew point comprising
- a first chamber defining a combustion air zone through which air to be heated flows in a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus;
- a second air chamber adjacent said first chamber means defining a process gas zone through which heated process gas flows in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and the same as said first direction;
- a common wall between said two chambers thermally separating said combustion air zone and said process gas zone;
- hollow conduit heat transfer means extending through said common wall and bending back and forth between said two zones to form at least one serpentine coil extending in one direction;
- an inlet header at one end of said serpentine coil;
- an outlet header at the opposite end of said serpentine coil;
- and
- means to continuously circulate a heat transfer fluid through said inlet header, said heat transfer means between said two zones, and said outlet header, whereby the heat adsorbed by said fluid in the hot process gas zone is transferred to said combustion air.
5 more elements
In a heating apparatus having an air inlet section, a heater section, a convection section and a flue gas outlet section, the improvement wherein a heat transfer apparatus is provided for heating the combustion air while cooling the hot flue gas close to its dew point comprising
- a first chamber connected to said air inlet section defining a combustion air zone through which air to be heated flows in the first direction along the longitudinal axis of the heat transfer apparatus;
- a second chamber adjacent said first chamber defining a flue gas zone through which heated flue gas flows in a second direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite to that of said first direction with said second chamber being connected to said flue gas outlet section;
- a common wall between said two chambers thermally separating said combustion air zone and said process gas zone;
- hollow conduit heat transfer means extending through said common wall and bending back and forth between said two zones to form at least one serpentine coil extending in one direction;
- an inlet header at one end of said serpentine coil;
- an outlet header at the opposite end of said serpentine coil;
- and
- means to continuously circulate a heat transfer fluid through said inlet header, said heat transfer means between said two zones, and said outlet header, whereby the heat adsorbed by said fluid in the hot process gas zone is transferred to said combustion air;
- stack flow means to release said flue gas to the atmosphere;
- and
- fan means receiving the flue gas from said second chamber and directing the gas up through said stack flow means.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.