Method and apparatus of heat-pulsed recuperation of energy

#This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for recuperating heat from, and imparting kinetic energy to, a gas or gases. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and an apparatus for heat-pulsed recuperation of heat energy, through the preheating of reactants in a high-temperature combustion process or the like.

#Many high temperature industrial combustion processes end up with products of combustion at a temperature in excess of 1400 degrees Kelvin (.degree.K.). At such a temperature, half or more of the available heat energy of the combustion products remains unutilized. While recuperation of this heat energy is desirable, the combustion gases are typically available at a pressure minimally above atmospheric pressure. As a result, the gases lack the static pressure needed for them to be passed without added propulsion through an efficient energy recovery device. Propulsion devices such as fans or blowers could conceivably provide such propulsion, but fans and blowers which could withstand the high temperature of the gases would appear to be prohibitively expensive or beyond the state of the art. Moreover, the gases are often corrosive, further limiting the conceivably useful propulsion mechanisms to those having materials capable of withstanding a corrosive atmosphere.

#Because of the high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance limitations on propulsion devices, recourse for energy recovery is typically had to tall chimneys or flues. The chimneys and flues attempt to provide a buoyant force sufficient to move the gases through open regenerator checkers and open spaces of radiant recuperators. Such tall chimneys and flues result in low gas velocities, low heat transfer rates, and minimal control over effluents for cleaning and detoxification. Thus, a need exists for improved recuperation of heat energy from the products of high temperature, industrial combustion processes and the like, and improved means for imparting kinetic energy to such products.

#The preferred method and apparatus of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawing in the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Apparatus And Method. The accompanying drawing includes four figures or views, which are briefly described as follows:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the preferred apparatus of the present invention, in a first stage of the preferred method;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the preferred apparatus in a second stage of the preferred method;

#Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the preferred apparatus of the present invention is a heat-pulsed recuperator 10. The recuperator 10 includes a pressure vessel 12, two valves or gates 14 and 16, an injector-burner 18, heat exchanger tubing 20 and a controller 22. The controller 22 is depicted in FIG. 1 only for clarity.

#The vessel 12 has an outer wall 24 which defines an internal, pulse chamber 26 and an internal, recuperator chamber 28. An inlet 30 is defined into the pulse chamber 26. An outlet 32 is defined from the recuperator chamber 28. The vessel 12 has an inner wall 34 located between the chambers 26, 28. The inner wall 34 defines an internal passage 36 between the chambers 26, 28.

#The gate 14 is positioned at or within the inlet 30, and the gate 16 is positioned at or within the internal passage 36. Thus, the gate 14 is an inlet gate and the gate 16 is a passage gate. Each of the gates 14, 16 is selectively operable, e.g., movable, to open and close its associated passageway. The gate 14 is operable to open and close the inlet 30, as seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2. The gate 16 is operable to open and close the internal passage 36, as seen by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4. As so adapted, the gate 14 constitutes a means for selectively opening and closing the inlet 30; the gate 16 constitutes a means for selectively opening and closing the passage 36.