FR2637969A1 - HEAT TRANSMISSION OR LATCH TRIM ELEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

A number of elements 17 must be placed in a chamber so that a fluid passing through the chamber is in contact with these elements. The element 17 has the form of a three-dimensional solid in one piece, of an appropriate mineral composition and consists of a core part 50 extending longitudinally and having a large number of radial parts 52, configured similarly, extending generally radially outward therefrom and terminating in associated peripheral portions 53. Each radial part 52 and its associated peripheral part 53 has a section generally in the shape of a "T", longitudinally coextensive with said core part. The outermost radial surfaces of all of said peripheral parts 53 define between them a generally cylindrical configuration.

Description

Tower lining and heat transmission elements exist

  in the prior art. In the case of heat transmission elements, these are frequently used in large numbers, to form heat transmission layers. For example, certain heat transmission elements are made of ceramic or porcelain stoneware and are used in such a way that the fumes or odors are sent into a combustion chamber, to be burnt at a temperature high enough that substantially all what is released into the atmosphere is converted to carbon dioxide and water. When such gases pass through the combustion chamber, they generally pass first through layers of porcelain stoneware which have been preheated so that they can, in turn, preheat the gases. entering so that combustion is ensured as soon as the entering gases pass into the combustion chamber. In such uses of heat transmitting elements, the gas flow is periodically reversed, so that the gases from the combustion chamber also pass outward through the porcelain stoneware chamber to preheat the stoneware - porcelain or the elements in the chamber, while the combustion products are

  sent outwards towards the atmosphere.

  In such devices, the combustion processes alternate the flow through the recovery chambers which contain the elements, so that the elements either preheat the incoming gases or are themselves heated by the outgoing gases. An example of such a system is that described in patent S5 US 3,895,918 issued in the name of James H. Mueller on

July 22, 1975.

  It is also known to use elements of the above type as lining for towers, and for example for gas washers or other industrial equipment, in which the elements are generally discharged in bulk or stacked in an orderly manner to allow the flow of fluids through them, and often generally to allow fluids to flow simultaneously in opposite directions through them, for example in liquid-gas contact systems, liquid contact systems- liquid, and fluid-fluid contact systems. Often such systems are used to collect impurities from stack effluents or the like, rather than discharging them to the atmosphere. An example of a tower trim element in a saddle configuration is that described in US Patent 4,155,960. Other examples of tower trim elements are described

  in US Patents 4,333,892, 4,303,599 and 4,316,863.

  Depending on whether the elements are used for lining towers or for the conservation / transmission of heat, there are a number of considerations which are common to each type of use of the elements. For example, a factor of interest in the two systems of use is the importance of the surface presented by the elements; another factor may be the importance of the mass of the elements; yet another factor is geometric shapes; another factor is the drop in pressure or pressure drop across the chamber or tower in which the elements are accumulated or disposed; yet another factor is the inherent resistance of the elements to support each other in a filled tower or filled chamber arrangement; yet another factor is the ability of the elements to remain intact, without breaking, when accumulated from above to fill a room or tower; another factor is the manufacturing economy. These factors and other factors or characteristics of such elements, it will be seen, have common points whatever the application of the elements to heat transmission

or the lining of towers.

  The present invention is directed to the creation of elements intended to be used as heat transmission material or lining of chemical towers and, preferably, intended to be used in a tower or filled chamber arrangement. Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to create a new configuration for a heat transmission element or tower lining. It is an additional object of the present invention to accomplish the above object, in which a three-dimensional solid form is made of a material of suitable composition, in which the configuration of the element is generally cylindrical, by being made up of radial parts coming from a core and ending towards the outside in an enlarged part to provide a large number of sections in the shape of "T" which

  collectively define a cylindrical configuration.

  It is an additional goal to achieve the above, in which longitudinal channels are

  arranged between "T" shaped parts.

  It is another object to realize the above, in which the building material is a mineral material, at least partially a metal, a clay, a ceramic, a plastic material comprising glass fiber embedments, or another matter

synthetic.

  It is yet another object of the present invention

  than to achieve any of the goals set out above

  above, in which the elements have area / weight ratios in square feet / pounds in the range of about 1.20 to about 1.56 (1 square foot =

  9.29 x 10-2 m2 and 1 book = 4.45 N).

  It is an additional object of the present invention to achieve any of the objects set out above, in which the elements, in cross section, are open at approximately 65% to allow fluid to flow through them. It is another object of the present invention to achieve any of the aims set out above, in which the elements can have various diameter / length ratios according to their desired end uses. Various other features of the invention

  appear moreover from the description which follows.

  Embodiments of the subject of the invention are shown by way of non-limiting example to

annexed drawings.

  Fig. I is a perspective view of an element in

  compliance with the present invention.

  Fig. 2 is an end view of the element of the

fig. 1.

  Fig. 3 is a left side elevation view of

the element of fig. 2.

  Figs. 4 to 8 are partial views in end elevation and on a larger scale of alternative embodiments of the "T" shaped parts of others

configurations of an element.

  Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view, partially exploded, of an incineration device with which the elements in accordance with the present invention are used in the form of supports for a

heat transmission.

  Fig. 10 is a graph showing the surface / weight ratios of the elements in accordance with the present invention, for a range of diameter / length ratios.

  Before describing the constructions of

  elements in themselves, reference is first made to FIG. 9, in which an incineration device is designated as a whole by the reference 10 and comprises a high temperature combustion chamber 11 comprising a large number of energy recovery chambers 12 arranged around it, being separate by a wall 13. The wall 13 is shown in FIG. 9 as having convex faces or faces 15! 5 and concave faces or faces 16. The elements 17 inside the chambers i2 exert forces of weight or gravity against the convex faces 15 of the wall 13 which hold the blocks individual 18 under compression. The blocks 18 have perforations --i (not shown) for the passage of gases through them from the concave faces 16 to the convex faces 15, and vice versa, as will be explained below, and are generally made of refractory material, arranged in generally horizontal rows, each row comprising several blocks and the adjacent rows being in offset relation one

with the other.

  The combustion chamber 11 comprises one or more burners 22, rising through its bottom, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Such burners allow combustion inside the combustion chambers to occur at temperatures up to 2000 F

  (1100C), or more, depending on the constituents of the gases.

  In general, the inlet gases from -5 from a factory, power plant or similar device

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  suitable enter the inlet orifice 23, to go into the toroidal inlet distribution device 24, from which they can enter, via vertical conduits 19, into some of the already preheated energy recovery chambers 12, to pass over the preheated elements which are stacked inside, so that when such gases enter the combustion chamber through its porous wall portions 14, to go into the combustion chamber 11, they can # be easily burned inside, the gases then passing outside through other parts of porous walls 13, passing through yet other layers of elements in recovery chambers 12, to serve to heat the elements inside such chambers as they pass outwards through them, on their way to an evacuation pipe 27, to be discharged, by means of a fan X of a n conduit subjected to a pump 28, as shown, to the atmosphere, preferably under

  the form of carbon dioxide and moisture.

  It can be seen that various valve arrangements 30 can be used to direct the flow of gases either inwards, through the recovery chambers on their passage to the combustion chamber 11, or outwards from the combustion chamber. 11, through the recovery chamber 12, as desired, but that, in any given device 10, some of the recovery chambers 12 will, at any given time, send gases inward, and some will send gases to the exterior, as will be understood from the prior art discussed above. Preferably, the blocks 18 which constitute the wall parts 13 are porous, in the sense that they have perforations which are formed therein, these perforations corresponding to approximately 30%. at 40%. the volume of each block, and in some cases around 50%

at 70% of each block.

  As produced, and in accordance with the present invention, the device operates in such a way that contaminated fumes or odors can enter the device through the intake manifold type ring 24. The valves 30 thus direct these fumes containing gases or the like, in chambers 12, in 1: passing them over the elements, and displacing the gases towards the incineration chamber. The gases leave the element layers 12 at temperatures very close to the incineration temperature. The oxidation is completed in the combustion chamber 11 by means of a gas (or oil) burner which maintains a preset incineration temperature. After the combustion has been carried out in the chamber 11, the purified gases are then discharged out of this chamber through the layers of elements which are at this time in the "exit" mode, thereby sending heat to the elements, that

elements absorb.

  We understand that the situation is then reversed, so that a given layer of elements works alternately to receive heat from the outlet gases, or to preheat the gases, depending

valve positions 30.

  With reference to fig. 1 to 3, it can be seen that the layer 12 of the elements 17 is a layer in which the elements 17 have been "loaded in bulk" in the language of the trade: 30, which means that they are not arranged with geometric precision but that they have been supplied to the chamber in a fall by gravity, so that the elements assume various orientation positions in their layers. In variants but less usual Z-5, in particular when the elements are of

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  B small dimensions, these can be arranged with

  precision according to a given model, if desired.

  Each element 17 is geometrically configured, preferably by an extrusion process, to include an elongated core portion, extending from one face 51 to the opposite face 51, with a large number of radial parts 52 extending outwards from the core part 50. In the embodiment shown, six radial parts are illustrated here, although a higher or lower number can, if desired, be used. It can also be seen that the radial parts 52 are illustrated as being spaced apart at angles segal to one another of approximately 60 ', although non-uniform spaces

  can also be provided, if desired.

  Each radial part 52 is provided with an associated peripheral part 53, such that, according to the end view illustrated in FIG. 2, a given radial part 52 forms together, with a peripheral part 53

  i) associated, a generally T-shaped section.

  Joined together, these "T" shaped sections, as illustrated in fig. 2, describe a generally circular configuration, as indicated by the dotted line 54 illustrated in FIG. 2. It may also be noted that the external surfaces 55 of the peripheral parts in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 are shown as being in the shape of an arc of a circle, in accordance with a true section. It may further be noted that the external surface 55 of each peripheral part does not need to be really in the form of an arc of a circle, but can be generally configured in various forms, such that the external configuration of the elements will be always "generally" cylindrical. Z- "5 We can also note that the configurations

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  adjacent in "T" of the element 17 have peripheral parts which define between them longitudinal channels to increase the contact surface with the flow of a fluid, when gases or other fluids flow through a layer of elements. It may additionally be noted that, in the particular configuration of the element illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the elements appear in section in the form

  "wagon wheel" configurations.

  IC With specific reference to fig. 4, it will be noted that a core part 58 has a longitudinally coextensive through hole 60, situated generally in the center thereof, in order to facilitate the creation of an additional contact surface and of

  favor the passage of the fluid through the element.

  With reference to fig. 5, a variant of peripheral part 61 for another embodiment of the element has a curved peripheral surface 62 which connects smoothly with curved corner parts O 63, as shown, rather than with planes abruptly cutting as illustrated in the mode of

realization of fig. 2.

  With reference to fig. 6, it can be seen that the peripheral part 64 has a longitudinally ribbed outer surface 65 to provide a surface for

  additional contact with the elements.

  With reference to fig. 7, another variant of the embodiment of the elements has a peripheral part 66 which is generally of triangular section, while still forming a "T" configuration with its radial part 67, and has a ribbed external peripheral surface 68, for allow greater resistance between the peripheral part and the radial part, but always with an increased contact surface on the external surface of the peripheral part. With reference to fig. 8, another configuration section has been illustrated for the radial and peripheral parts of an element, the peripheral part 70 being generally similar to the part 61 of FIG. 5, but the radial part being curved sinusoidally at 71, as shown, to allow an increased contact surface at the area of the

radial parts.

  It is thus seen that various modifications can be made to the elements of the present invention, while retaining the large number of "T" shaped sections.

as shown.

  It has been found that in certain embodiments of the element in accordance with the present invention, in particular those with a diameter of 1 inch over a length of 1 inch (1 inch = 2.54 cm), the surface can go up to 0.053 square feet per element (1 square foot = 9.29 x 102 m2), to have an opening area of 65%, as seen in end view, as in fig. 2. Such an element may provide in a filled tower or in a heat recovery chamber, when a large number of such elements are used, up to 92 square feet of surface per cubic feet of elements through which the fluids (1 cubic foot = 2.8 x

-2 m2).

  It can be seen that the ability to provide enlarged contact surfaces allows, in the case of lining of chemical towers, greater possibility of washing from a higher surface and, in the case of heat recovery elements, bigger

heat recovery.

  The configurations for the elements as described here allow increased washing or heat transmission as may occur, using smaller passageways which increase the surface of the boundary layers, increase the turbulence of the fluid passing through these, and allow more contact with the surfaces. In the case of heat transmission elements, this allows a transmission of

increased heat.

  In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that a layer of these elements can ensure the same heat transmission for a volume of approximately 37% of C0 that of the elements of the prior art, with a reduction of 10 & 15%. pressure drop, or pressure drop, across the elements. It has also been found that, in accordance with the elements of the present invention, for approximately the same pressure drop across a layer of elements and with the same heat transfer capacity, only about half the volume of elements is necessary. This considerably reduces the expense by providing elements in which the existing parameters are

290 acceptable.

  While it is also seen that there may be variations in the radial portions of the "T" configurations, depending on the desired strength of the elements, the generally acceptable design criteria can be satisfied. For example, a design criterion is that the elements, when in a layer, must be able to support a column height of up to 50 feet (1 foot = 30 cm) without the elements at the level of the part column are overwritten by the weight of the elements. Another design criterion is that the wall thickness considerations are such that the elements in any location in a layer should be able to support up to 2000 pounds per square foot of floor area for the layer (1 pound per square foot = 4.8 P a. It is seen that, within the scope of the present invention, a certain flexibility is provided to allow different element resistances, according to the desired construction parameters. construction elements may include various metallic and non-metallic materials, including ceramics, aluminum, silicon, and even plastics, with or without the incorporation of glass fibers or the like. In general, the materials of the composition depend on the desired end use. For example, under high temperature conditions, such as recovery conditions. heat in accordance with the embodiment of the elements as shown in fig. 9, it may be desirable for the elements to be of ceramic, clay or similar material capable of withstanding temperatures up to 2200 ° F (1200 C) or more. In

  in such cases, the elements can be made for example in sandstone-

  porcelain. For other uses, such as for lining towers, elements of metallic construction, such as steel, may be desirable, when temperatures of the order of 500 ° F (260 C> can be encountered. thus sees that any of the various compositions set forth herein, and others not specifically described, all included in the term "mineral composition" can be used. Such materials may further include St porcelain, stoneware. chemical porcelain, various steels, alloys, hardened metals such as titanium, nickel, teflon, polypropylenes, or the like. The particular compositions and / or formulations will depend on the desired end use. Examples of such uses can be found in distillation, gas absorption, heat recovery, and other related operations. In connection with heat recovery, particularly of the regeneration type, the elements nts provide frameworks to facilitate heat recovery as the gases pass through the interstices between the individual elements, such that gas streams become finely divided while the gases pass over the elements, allowing heat transmission between the gases and

the item.

  The present invention seeks to optimize the physical characteristics of the elements in order to provide a maximum surface / mass ratio, in order to optimize the rates of heat transmission. This is achieved by introducing a high state of turbulence, with a minimum pressure drop or pressure drop across the element layer, to result in improved efficiency

of heat transmission.

  The present invention also provides possibilities for configuring the length / diameter ratios of the elements to provide a desired orientation during bulk loading. Thus, a larger length / diameter dimension will tend to orient the element, when it is put in place, in a horizontal position in order to allow maximum orientation in the horizontal direction. The opposite condition will occur with a diameter larger than the length, so that there will be a tendency for the element to orient in a vertical position, which will maximize the flow in a vertical direction. In this way, the elements can be specifically provided with desired length / diameter ratios depending on whether the flow will be, either horizontal or vertical, through the layer 355 of elements, thereby making it possible to maximize the transmission efficiency of heat and minimize pressure drops during the flow of gases or fluids through

layer.

  With reference to fig. 10 it is seen that there is provided a graph showing the relative area / weight ratios for various lengths and diameters. For example, in a vertical upward direction, we presented the various entries for an element with a diameter of 0.75 inch (1 inch = 2.54 x 10-2 m2) and various surface / weight ratios, ranging from about 1.22 to 1.33, as the length of the element decreases from 2 inches to 1.75 inches, to 1.5 inches, to 1.25 inches, to 1 inch, to 0, 75 inch. We can thus note the relative effect of the diameter of the element to the length of the element, while noting that the configuration in section produces high surface / weight ratios, whatever the relative diameter / length ratios, these ratios area / weight in all cases represented on the graph being between 1.20 and 1.56, such as measurements in X} square feet per pound (1 square foot = 9.3 x 10-2 m2 and

one pound = 4.45 N).

  The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail since various modifications can be made thereto without departing from its

frame.

Claims (13)

  1. Element intended to be used as a material for transmitting heat or for lining chemical towers, characterized in that a number of elements must be placed in a chamber, so that a fluid passing through the chamber is in contact with these elements, said element having the shape of a three-dimensional solid in one piece, of an appropriate mineral composition and consisting of a part of 1 C core extending longitudinally and having a large number of radial parts, configured so similar, generally extending radially outward therefrom and terminating in associated peripheral portions; each radial part and its associated peripheral part having a generally T-shaped section, longitudinally coextensive with said core part, the outermost radial surfaces of all of said peripheral parts defining   between them a generally cylindrical configuration.   2. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent parts of the peripheral parts are distant from each other, defining between they longitudinal channels.   ^ -15 3. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral parts are of general section in the shape of a circular arc.   4. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the core part has a through hole: 3O generally central, longitudinally coextensive thereto. 5. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent parts of the peripheral parts are distant from each other, defining between E5 them longitudinal channels, in that the peripheral parts are of general section in the form of d arc, and in that the core part has a generally central through hole, longitudinally coextensive & this one.   6. Element according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that its mineral composition includes materials chosen from clay, alumina zinc and other metals.   7. Element intended to be used as a material for transmitting heat or for lining chemical towers, characterized in that a large number of elements must be placed in a chamber so that a fluid passing through the chamber is in contact with these elements; said element having the shape of a three-dimensional solid in one piece, of an appropriate mineral composition and being produced in a generally cylindrical configuration with openings extending longitudinally thereto, said element having a surface / weight ratio in square feet / pound in the range of about 1.20 to 1.56   (1 square foot = 9.29 x 10-2 m2 and one pound = 4.45 N).   8. Element according to claim 7, characterized in that the surface / weight ratio is in the range from about 1.4 to about 1.5. 9. Element according to claim 7, characterized in that, in section, the configuration generally   cylindrical of the element is open at about 65%.   10. Element according to claim 7, characterized in that the surface / weight ratio is in the range from about 1.4 to about 1.5, and in that, in section, the generally cylindrical configuration of   the element is about 65% open.   11. Element according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the element has an area / weight ratio in square feet / pound within the range from about 1.20 to about 1.56.   12. Element according to claim 11 characterized in that the surface / weight ratio is in the range of about 1.4 to about 1.5. 13. Element according to claim 11 characterized in that, in section, the configuration generally   cylindrical of the element is open at about 65%.