Regenerative burner and regenerative heat exchange system applicable thereto

A regenerative heat exchange system comprising:

• regenerator with open ends and divided into three or more chambers in a circumferential direction in such a manner that fluid can pass through each of the chambers;
• double-pipe outlet/inlet means connected to both opening ends of the regenerator, each of which means being partitioned by an annular partition wall into a low-temperature fluid chamber connected to a low-temperature fluid system of two types of passage through which two types of fluid having different temperatures flow and a high-temperature fluid chamber connected to a high-temperature fluid system through which two types of fluid having different temperatures flow;
• and changeover means which is provided between the regenerator and each outlet/inlet means provided in front of or at the rear of the regenerator to isolate the regenerator from the outlet/inlet means, the changeover means being provided with a low-temperature fluid communicating hole by which the regenerator communicates with the low-temperature fluid chamber and a high-temperature fluid communicating hole by which the regenerator communicates with the high-temperature fluid chamber, the holes not simultaneously communicating with the same chamber of the regenerator, the changeover means causing at least one chamber through which no fluid flows among chambers of the regenerator while the high-temperature fluid communicating hole and the low-temperature fluid communicating hole are positioned respectively to communicate with other chambers of the regenerator, the changeover means being continuously or intermittently rotated to enable successive communication of the low-temperature fluid chamber and the high-temperature fluid chamber of each outlet/inlet means provided in front of and at the rear of the regenerator with any of the chambers of the regenerator.