CA2244257A1 - Adjustable axial seal plates for rotary regenerative air preheaters - Google Patents

Adjustable axial seal plates for rotary regenerative air preheaters Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2244257A1
CA2244257A1 CA 2244257 CA2244257A CA2244257A1 CA 2244257 A1 CA2244257 A1 CA 2244257A1 CA 2244257 CA2244257 CA 2244257 CA 2244257 A CA2244257 A CA 2244257A CA 2244257 A1 CA2244257 A1 CA 2244257A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
axial seal
seal plate
rotor
centerline
axial
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2244257
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Mark E. Brophy
Glenn D. Mattison
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alstom Power Inc
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/604,646 external-priority patent/US5628360A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2244257A1 publication Critical patent/CA2244257A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

An arrangement of means is provided in an air preheater (10) for mounting and adjusting the axial seal plates (32) in relation to the rotor (12) using a reduced number of adjustable mounting means (35) and replacing the remaining adjustable mountings (35) with adjustable compression stops (60). These adjustable compression stops (60) engage but require no attachment to the axial seal plates (32). This reduces the work necessary in the limited space between the air preheater housing (28) and the axial seal plates (32) thereby reducing costs and facilitating installation and replacement.

Description

CA 022442~7 1998-07-24 W O 97/31235 PCT~US97/02937 Adius~abie Axial Seal Plates For Rotary Reg~nerative Air Preheaters Background of the Invention The present inventlon reiates to rotary regenerative air preneaters 5 which empioy axial seals and axial seal plates located between the rotor and the rotor housing and dividing the air preheater into a gas sector and one or more air sectors. SpecificallY the invention retates to a novel arrangement for mounting and ad~usting the axial seal plates.
A rotary regenerative alr preheater transfers sensible heat from 10 the flue gas leavlng a boiler 70 the entering comDustlon air tnrough re~3enerative heat transfer surface In a rotor which turns continuously through the gas and air ~treams. The rotor which is packed with the heat transfer surface is supported through a lower bearing at the cold end of the air preheater and guided through a bearing assembly located 15 at the top hot end. The rotor is divided into comparrments by a number of radially extending plates referred to as diaphragms. These Compartments are adapted to hold modutar baskers in which the heat transfer surface is contained. The air preheater is divided into a flue ~as side or sector and one or more combustion alr sldes or sectors bv sector 2~1 piates. Flexible radial seals on the rotor usually mounted on the top and ~ottom edges of the diaphragms are in close proximity to these sector plates and minimize leakage of gas and air between sectors.
Likewlse axial seal plates are mounted on the housing between the housing and the periphery of the rotor between the air and gas sectors.
25 These axial seal plates cooperate with flexible axiai seais mounted on the outer ends of the diaphragms. These axial seais and seal plates togelher with the radial seals and sector plates effectiveiy separate the air and flue gas streams from each other.

W O 97/3123~ PCTrUS97/02937 For maximum effectiveness, the axial sealing ptates rnust be adjustable during operation to accommodate for thermai expansion and wear of parts. The prior art practice has been to use an arrangement of four adjusters, referred to as canister-type adjusters, which are each attached to the housing and to ~he axi~l seal plated, one in the proximity of each of the four corners of the axial seal plate and move the axial seal plate inward and outward in the radial direction. Each adjuster requires a mounting ~ox or canister, several grade plates, a threaded and machined adjuster rod, shear bolt means to tie the adluster rod to the axial seal p~ate plus an assortment of nuts and botts.
This is a somewhat expensive device prlrnariiy because of the cost to manufacture the acljustor rod In addition, this adjuster is difficult to Install and replace because it must be connected to both the housing and the axial seal plate and there is iimited access available to the axial 1 6 seal plate .

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an arrangement of means in an air preheater for mounting and adjusting axial seal piates using a reduced number of adjustable mountings and replaclng the remalning adiustable mountings with adiustable compression stops which engage but are not attached to the axial seal plates. This reduces cost and facilitates installation .

Brief Oescription of the Drawinç~s Figure 1 is a top p~an view of a typical rotary regenerative air preheater with the upper hot end center section removed for clarity and ilustrating the axial seal plates mounted in position.
Figure 2 is an eievation view in cross section of the air preheater or Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section view taken along line 3 - 3 of Figure 4 illustrating the details of one of the prior art canister-type adjustable mountings.
Figure 4 is an elevation view of the external face of one of the 5 side panels illustrating the arrangement of prior art adjusters.
Figure 5 is a top view of the Figure 4 arrangement.
Fiyure 6 is a detailed section view of one of the adjustable stops of the present invention taken atong line 6 - 6 of Figure 7.
Figure 7 is an elevation view of the external face of one of the 10 side paneis similar to Figure 4 but illustratlng the arrangement of canister-type ad~ustable mounlinys and adJusta~le stops of the present invention .
Figure 8 is a top view of the arrangement of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a modification of the present invention showing a 15 different arrangement of the adjustable stops.

CA 022442~7 1998-07-24 W O 97/3123S PCT~US97/02937 Descrip~ion of the Preferred Embodiments In order to unders~and and appreciate the present invention, reference wili first be made to Fiyures 1 to 3 which illustrate the generai environment of the inventlon and the prior means for mounting and adjusting the axial seal piates of an air preheater. Figures 1 and 2 depict a top plan view and a vertical cross~section view resDectively of an air preheater 10. The rotor 1 2 is mounted on the shaft 14 and supported between the hot end center section 16 and the cold end center section 18. The hot end center section 1 ~i is supported from the cold end center section 18 by the pedestals 20 on each end of these center sections 16 and 18. The rotor 12 comprises an outer rotor shell 22 and diaphragms piates 24 dividing the rotor into a piurality of c~mpartments 26. As is conventional, modular heat exchange baskets wou~d be loaded into the compartmentS 26.
Mounted on the top and bottom of the structure and usualiy attached to the sides of the center sections would be the conventional fiue gas and air inlet and outlet connecting plate duct assemblies ~not shownl which form the connection and transition between the rectangular ducts and the circular air preheater. Mounted between the hot and cold end center sections 16 and 18 and around the rotor 12 are the vertical housing pane~s 28 which form the rotor houslng. Mounted adjacent to the upper and iower ends of the rotor 12 are the conventional sector piates 30 which divide the air preheater into a flue gas side or sector and an air side or sector in a known manner.
2~i Although not shown, radial seals which are normally attached to the upper and iower edges of the diaphragm plates 24 interact with the sector plates 30 to prevent or reduce the intermixing of the air and flue gas. Also. circumferential bypass seals which are not shown would be provided between the rotor and the housing to prevent the air and flue gas from flowing around the outside of the rotor. These are usually located around both the bottom and top edges of the rotor.

W O 97/3123~ PCT~US97102937 Figures 1 and 2 a~so show the axial sealing means extending in the axial direction at the periphery of the rotor between the gas side and air side. This seafing means comprises the axial seal plates 32 and the axial seals 34. The axial seai plates 32 are mounted from the vertical housing paneis 28 and adjustably positioned in the proximity of the rotor periphery. Mounted on the rotor and usualiy on the outer ends of the diaphragm piates 24 are the flexible axial seals 34. These flexible axial seals 34 are in ciose proximity to the axial seal plates 32 thereby minimizing the amount of fuel gas and air from flowing circumferentially into the wrong sector.
The present invention relates to the mounting of these axial seal piates 32 from the vertical housing panels 28. Figures 1 and 2 iilustrate the prior art type of mounting in general while Figures 3 and 4 illustrate such mountlngs and their arrangement in detail. These prior art types of mountings are employed in the present invention along with other new positioning means in a unique arrangement so the description of the details o~ the prior art is relevant to the present invention.
Referring fitst to Figure 3, the prior art adjustabie mounting means generally designated 35, which is commonly referred to as a canister-type adjuster. comprises a canister 36 which is basically a box welded to a vertical housing panel 28 around an aperture 38. Welded to the outer end of the canister 36 is a guide plate 40 having an aperture 42. Located outwardty of the E~uide plate 40 is a second yuide piate 44 having an aperture 46 which is boited to the first guide plate 40 by the bolts 48. Clamped between the two guide plates 40 and 44 is a hex nut 50 which can be turned when the bolts 48 are loosened anb which is held tightly in position when the bolts 48 are tightened.
Threaded through the hex nut 50 and attached to the axial seal plate 32 is an adjuster rod 52. This rod is threaded at 54 such that the rod will move axially with respect to the panel 28 and with respect to the rotor ~2. The rod 52 is attached to the axial seal plate 32 by means of a WO 97~123~ PCTrUS97/02937 sheer pin. In the illustrated arrangement, the fitting 57 on the end of the rod 52 is attached to a post 56 extending from the axial seal plate 32 by the sheer pin 58 extenciing through holes in the post 56 and fitting 57 although other specific arrangements can be used. Therefore, 5 turning the hex nut 50 moves the axial seal plate 32 either toward or away from the rotor 12. As shown in the drawinç~s, there are canister-type adjusters 35 in each of the four corners of the axial seal plate 32.
Because the adjustor rod 52 has a machined fitting 57 on the end, the rod is comparatively expensive. Also, there is only a very 10 limited space between the panel 28 and the axial seal ptate 32 in which to maneuver to attach the rod to the axial seal plate. This makes installatlon and removal difficult and there are four such connections to complete Therefore the present invention repiaces two of the four adjustable mounting means with adjustable compression stops which 15 are less expensive and easier to install and yet will zccurately position the axial seal plate when used in conjunction with the remaining two adiustable mountings means.
Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, the two remaining adjustable rnounting means 3~ are moved to the centerline of the axial seai plate 20 32. The adjustable mounting means now mount the axial seal plate and are used to position the centerline of the axial seal plate with respect to the rotor 12. Each of the ad~ustai~le compression means generally designated 60 comprises an adjustable bolt 62 which extends through a hole 64 in the panel 28 and is threaded through a nut 58 welded to 25 the reinforcement plate 66 which is welded to the panei 28. The end 68 of the boit 62 engages ~contacts but is not attached to) a contact pad 70 welded to the axial seal p~ate 32. It can be seen particulariy in Figure 8 that the two adiustable bolts 62 located on opposite sides of the centerline function as push rods or stops for the canister-type 30 adjustable mounting means 35 to pul~ against thereby piacing the bolts 62 in compression. Therefore, the canister-type adjusters 35 are first W O 97/31235 PCTrUS97102937 adjusted to accurately space the centerline of the axiat seai plate 32.
Then, the adjustable compression means 60 are adjusted to accurately space the edges of the axial seal plate. An alternative arrangement is depicted in Figure 9 where there are four adjustable compression means 5 60, one at each corner of the axial seal plate 32, instead of just two as in Figure 7. Static seals 69 are welded to and between the axial seal plate and the panel 28 to lock the position of the axiai seai plate after adjustment. These static seals 69 extend the ~uli height of the axial seal plates and prevent gas flow behind the axial seal plate.
The canister-type adjusters 35 are actually used to mount the axial seai plates as well as move or adjust them inward or outward. In the present invention, these are located oniy on the centeriine of the axial seal plates. On the other hand, the adjustable compression means 60 are not attached to and do not mount the axial seal plate but only 15 function as push rods or stops. They can force the axial seal plates inward but they cannot pull them outward. One of the advanta~es is that the adjustable compression means 60 are less complicated and less expensive. The other advantage relates to the ease of installation and removal. As can be seen primarily in Figures 5 and 8, there is not much 20 spzce between the panels 28 and the axial seal plates for access to make the connection between the rods 52 to the posts 56. In the present invention, there are only two rather than four canister type adjustable mountings thereby reducing both cost and installation time.
The adjustable compression means 60 do not require any attachment 25 to the axial seal plate.
-

Claims (3)

1. An assembly for adjustably mounting an axial seal plate (32) between a housing panel (28) and the rotor (12) of a rotary regenerative air preheater (10), the rotary regenerative air preheater (10) being of the type having the rotor (12), a plurality of housing panels (28) surrounding the rotor (12), and a plurality of axial seal plates (32) each having an axial centerline and disposed between a respective housing panel (28) and the rotor (12), comprising:
a. a pair of mounting rods (54) each extending between the axial seal plate (32) and the respective housing panel (28) and means (35) adjustably attaching each mounting rod (54), at a respective end thereof, to the respective housing panel (28) and, at the other respective end thereof, to the axial seal plate (32) such that the pair of mounting rods (54) are attached to the axial seal plate (32) at spaced apart positions along its centerline and the centerline of the axial seal plate (32) may be moved toward and away from the rotor (12) by adjusting movement of the mounting rods (54); and b. a pair of adjustable stop means (60) engaging the axial seal plate (32) on respective opposite sides of its centerline and being adjustably movable toward and away from the rotor (12) to thereby provide adjustable stops for the axial seal plate (32) on both sides of the centerline thereof.
2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the adjustable stop means (60) contacts the axial seal plate (32) at one location thereon on one side of the centerline of the axial seal plate (32).
3. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the adjustable stop means (60) includes two adjustable stop members and the two adjustable stop members of each adjustable stop means contact the axial seal plate (32) at two locations thereon on one side of the centerline of the axial seal plate (32).
CA 2244257 1996-02-21 1997-02-14 Adjustable axial seal plates for rotary regenerative air preheaters Abandoned CA2244257A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US604,646 1996-02-21
US08/604,646 US5628360A (en) 1996-02-21 1996-02-21 Adjustable axial seal plates for rotary regenerative air preheaters
PCT/US1997/002937 WO1997031235A1 (en) 1996-02-21 1997-02-14 Adjustable axial seal plates for rotary regenerative air preheaters

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2244257A1 true CA2244257A1 (en) 1997-08-28

Family

ID=29422929

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2244257 Abandoned CA2244257A1 (en) 1996-02-21 1997-02-14 Adjustable axial seal plates for rotary regenerative air preheaters

Country Status (1)

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CA (1) CA2244257A1 (en)

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