Labyrinth articulation joint for regenerative air heater seal frame
AssigneeThe Babcock & Wilcox Company
InventorsDavid W. Gerber, Frederick M. Untch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A labyrinth articulation joint (38) for use in the seal frame (35) of a rotary regenerative air heater (20). An internal labyrinth arrangement of intercooperating tabs (54,55) and slots (44,45) in the two hinges (41,51) of the labyrinth articulation joint (38) present a series of successive right angle turns that increases the pressure drop through the labyrinth articulation joint (38) thus reducing the leakage of air through the labyrinth articulation joint (38), and thereby minimizing erosion of the labyrinth articulation joint (38) due to abrasive particles that would otherwise be carried through the joint by the leakage air.
Claims10
An articulation joint mountable in the radial arms of a seal frame of a rotary regenerative air heater used to transfer heat from the gas side to the air side of said heater to permit said seal frame to conform to the surface of the stator of said air heater, comprising:
- a first hinge, having an internal labyrinth arrangement of tabs;
- a second hinge, having an internal labyrinth arrangement of slots adapted to closely receive and intercooperate with the internal labyrinth arrangement of tabs on the first hinge, such that a succession of right angle turns is presented to air attempting to leak through the articulation joint, thereby minimizing leakage of the air through the joint and erosion of the joint from abrasive particles entrained in the air;
- and
- means for removably coupling said first hinge to said second hinge.
An articulation joint mountable in the radial arms of a seal frame of a rotary regenerative air heater used to transfer heat from the gas side to the air side of the heater to permit the seal frame to conform to the surface of the stator of the air heater, comprising:
- a first hinge;
- a second hinge;
- means for removably coupling the first hinge to the second hinge;
- and
- means, located internally on the first and second hinges, for presenting a succession of right angle turns to air attempting to leak through the joint across the height, width and depth thereof to minimize leakage of air from the air side to the gas side of the air heater through the articulation joint and erosion of the joint from abrasive particles entrained in the air.
A rotary regenerative air heater used to transfer heat between a stream of gas flowing through the air heater and a stream of air flowing through the air heater, comprising:
- a stator including an open-ended cylindrical shell containing a stationary heat exchange mass, the shell and the heat exchange mass being disposed about a central shaft;
- air inlet and outlet hoods, each being co-axially secured to the central shaft at opposite ends of the open-ended cylindrical shell for rotation therewith relative to the stationary heat exchange mass, for directing the stream of air through the hoods and the stationary heat exchange mass;
- gas inlet and outlet ducts, located at opposite ends of the open-ended cylindrical shell, for directing the stream of gas past the air hoods and through those portions of the heat exchange mass not covered by the rotating hoods;
- seal frames, disposed along a periphery of the air inlet and outlet hoods and flexibly connected thereto, for supporting and carrying a sealing strip in sliding contact against a surface of the stationary heat exchange mass to maintain a seal between the air stream and the gas stream;
- and
- articulating joints, disposed in radial sections of the seal frames, to permit the seal frame to conform to the surface of the stationary heat exchange mass of the stator, the articulating joints having an internal labyrinth arrangement of intercooperating tabs and slots that present a succession of right angle turns to air attempting to leak through the articulation joint, thereby minimizing leakage of air through the joint and erosion of the joint from abrasive particles entrained in the air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.