US 6,470,835 B1Granted

Plate-type heat exchanger for exhaust gas heat recovery

AssigneeAqua-Chem, Inc.

InventorsTod A. Stansfield, Wilfred L. Ayala, Stephen R. Wilkinson, Brian W. Huibregtse, Todd L. Anderson, Hyunjae Park

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Abstract

An exhaust gas heat recuperation system for use with a boiler is disclosed. The heat recuperation system includes a plate-type heat exchanger for exhaust gas heat recovery for exchanging heat between an exhaust gas and a charge gas. The heat exchanger preferably includes a series of exhaust gas plates stacked alternately with, and parallel to, a series of charge gas plates. Each of the exhaust gas plates and charge gas plates have raised contained ridges to form a substantially sinusoidal path for directing the respective gas therealong. The shape of the path reduces exhaust gas particulate deposition. The charge gas flows in a countercurrent to the exhaust gas to facilitate maximum heat transfer. The heat exchange is particularly useful in laminar flow conditions. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger is connected to exhaust gas inlet and outlet conduits, change gas inlet and outlet conduits, and a condensate collection changer as part of an exhaust gas heat recuperation system, for use particularly in steam or hot water boiler applications. The heat exchanger can be used as a retrofit to existing boilers or integrated into a single unit as part of a new boiler construction.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An exhaust gas heat recuperation system comprising:

a heat exchanger for exchanging heat from an exhaust gas to a charge gas, the heat exchanger including:
a plurality of exhaust gas plates, each exhaust gas plate having a plurality of raised contoured ridges forming a substantially sinusoidal path along each exhaust gas plate and defining multiple substantially sinusoidal exhaust gas channels for directing the exlhxaust gas therealong;
and
a plurality of charge gas plates stacked alternately with and parallel to the exhaust gas plates, each charge gas plate having a plurality of raised contoured ridges adjacent to the exhaust gas plates and forming a substantially sinusoidal path along each charge gas plate and defining multiple substantially sinusoidal charge gas channels for directing the charge gas therealong, the exhaust gas plates and the charge gas plates connected together to permit exhaust gas entering the exhaust gas contoured channels to Slow parallel to and in a substantially opposite direction to the charge gas flowing in the charge gas contoured channels to facilitate heat transfer from the exhaust gas to the charge gas;
an exhaust gas inlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the exhaust gas to the heat exchanger,
an exhaust gas outlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the exhaust gas from the heat exchanger;
a charge gas inlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the charge gas to the heat exchanger,
a charge gas outlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the charge gas from the heat exchanger, and
a boiler connected to the charge gas outlet conduit for receiving the charge gas when the charge gas exits the heat exchanger to assist in boiler combustion.

6 more elements

An integral boiler and exhaust gas heat recuperation system comprising:

a heat exchanger for exchanging heat from an exhaust gas to a charge gas, the heat exchanger including:
a plurality of exhaust gas plates, each exhaust gas plate having a plurality of raised contoured ridges forming a substantially sinusoidal path along each exhaust gas plate and defining multiple substantially sinusoidal exhaust gas channels for directing the exhaust gas therealong;
and
a plurality of charge gas plates stacked alternately with and parallel to the exhaust gas plates, each charge gas plate having a plurality of raised contoured ridges adjacent to the exhaust gas plates and forming a substantially sinusoidal path along each charge gas plate and defining multiple substantially sinusoidal charge gas channels for directing the charge gas therealong, the exhaust gas plates and the charge gas plates connected together to permit exhaust gas entering the exhaust gas contoured channels to flow parallel to and in a substantially opposite direction to the charge gas flowing in the charge gas contoured channels to facilitate heat transfer from the exhaust gas to the charge gas;
an exhaust gas inlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the exhaust gas to the heat exchanger;
an exhaust gas outlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the exhaust gas from the heat exchanger;
a charge gas inlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the charge gas to the heat exchanger;
a charge gas outlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the charge gas from the heat exchanger;
a boiler connected to the charge gas outlet conduit for receiving the charge gas when the charge gas exits the beat exchanger,
a condensate collection chamber connected to the heat exchanger for collecting condensation formed as a result of cooling the exhaust gas;
and
wherein the heat exchanger is connected directly to the boiler to form an integral unit.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/024,086Filed 17 Dec 2001 · division
Priority: 15 Jun 2000
Granted: 29 Oct 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F28F 3/042
The means being integral with the element: in the form of local deformations of the element
F24D 12/02
Other central heating systems: having more than one heat source
F28D 9/0037
The conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by paired plates touching each other: the conduits for the other heat-exchange medium also…
F28D 21/0008
For domestic or space-heating systems: air heaters