GB2085566A - Heat-transmitting elements for regenerative heat exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

A regenerative heat exchanger provided with heat transmitting elements in the form of hollow balls 1, the free interiors of which are filled with gas. The balls form a fluidized bed and/or a bed of loose material in the exchanger. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heat transmitting elements for regenerative heat exchange The invention relates to heat-transmitting elements for regenerative heat exchange.

The invention starts from heat exchangers with heat accumulators which are known, for example, in the form of plate or lattice structures.

These heat exchangers transmit the heat from the hot region into the cold region by means of indirect heat storage in the storage material which is heated in the hot region and cooled in the cold region.

The known heat storage materials are built in the form of stationary plates or rigid parts with various structures.

In many industrial cases, particularly with heat exchangers between gases with a high content of dust and soot or contaminated liquids, incrustations form on the heat-exchanger surface of the known heat exchangers and can only be removed with great difficulty.

The object of the present invention consists in providing heat-transmitting elements which render possible an intensive heat exchange without problems and the cleaning of which is effected without great expenditure on apparatus.

According to the invention, this problem is solved in that the heat-transmitting elements are constructed in the form of hollow bodies with walls of a temperature and corrosion resistant material.

Furthermore, the elements according to the invention may be used in a fluidized bed or a bed of loose material.

As distinct from the known heat storage materials, the elements according to the invention are in motion during the work, as a fluidized bed or a bed of loose material.

Heat transmission from a hot to a cold region is effected by cyclic transport of the elements between the hot and the cold regions.

In the hot chamber, the heat storage is effected in the elements by heating the wall.

After the transport of the elements into the cold chamber, the surrender of heat is effected by cooling of the wall.

The decisive advantage of the invention consists in that the elements according to the invention are easy to clean, that is to say they necessarily clean themselves when used as a fluidized bed or a bed of loose material.

The elements according to the invention have a high coefficient of heat transfer at the boundary gas-element surface in a fluidized bed.

Examples of embodiment are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

Figure 1 shows the element according to the invention as a hollow ball, Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 show various arrangements of the element according to the invention in a Ljungström heat exchanger.

Figure 6 shows the use of the elements according to the invention as a fluidized bed in a column heat exchanger, Figure 7 shows the arrangement of the elements in a column heat exchanger as a static bed.

As Figure 1 shows, the element according to the invention consists of the hollow ball 1, the free interior of which is filied with gas 3.

The wall 2 may consist of metallic or nonmetallic materials.

Figures 2 to 4 shows a rotor of a Ljungström heat exchanger 6 with a vertical shaft 7. In Figure 2, the elements 1 according to the invention are above conventional storage material 8, in Figure 3 they are below. Figure 4 shows a Ljungström heat exchanger without conventional storage material, only with the elements 1 according to the invention. The cold gas inlet is designated by 9 and the hot gas inlet by 10. According to the direction in which the flow approaches the elements 1, a static bed or a fluidized bed is formed. The fluidized bed is only formed if the flow of gas is introduced into the heat exchanger from below.If the axis 7 of the rotor 6 is disposed horizontally for example (Figure 5), the elements 1 being arranged as a static bed, the cleaning of the elements is effected by the circulation in the sector compartment without any additional energy requirements for a blow-off device. Figure 6 shows a column heat exchanger with a fluidized bed, wherein the hot gas is introduced at 11, heats the elements 1 and leaves the column again at 12. The cold gas enters at 13 and leaves the column at 1 4. The heated elements sink through a device 15 down into the lower portion of the column and are returned to the upper portion of the column via a pneumatic or mechanical transport system 1 6 not illustrated in detail.

Figure 7 shows a heat-exchange column with a static bed wherein the heated elements 1 reach the lower portion of the column in batches-by means of a rotary vane iock 1 7 for example, there heat the cold gas and are returned to the upper portion of the column via the transport system 1 6.

1. Heat-transmitting elements for regenerative heat exchange, characterised in that the elements are constructed in the form of hollow bodies, the free interior of the bodies being filled with gas.

2. The use of the heat-transmitting elements as claimed in claim 1 as a fluidized bed and/or as a bed of loose material in regenerative heat exchangers.

3. A regenerative heat exchanger provided with heat-transmitting elements as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Heat transmitting elements for regenerative heat exchange The invention relates to heat-transmitting elements for regenerative heat exchange. The invention starts from heat exchangers with heat accumulators which are known, for example, in the form of plate or lattice structures. These heat exchangers transmit the heat from the hot region into the cold region by means of indirect heat storage in the storage material which is heated in the hot region and cooled in the cold region. The known heat storage materials are built in the form of stationary plates or rigid parts with various structures. In many industrial cases, particularly with heat exchangers between gases with a high content of dust and soot or contaminated liquids, incrustations form on the heat-exchanger surface of the known heat exchangers and can only be removed with great difficulty. The object of the present invention consists in providing heat-transmitting elements which render possible an intensive heat exchange without problems and the cleaning of which is effected without great expenditure on apparatus. According to the invention, this problem is solved in that the heat-transmitting elements are constructed in the form of hollow bodies with walls of a temperature and corrosion resistant material. Furthermore, the elements according to the invention may be used in a fluidized bed or a bed of loose material. As distinct from the known heat storage materials, the elements according to the invention are in motion during the work, as a fluidized bed or a bed of loose material. Heat transmission from a hot to a cold region is effected by cyclic transport of the elements between the hot and the cold regions. In the hot chamber, the heat storage is effected in the elements by heating the wall. After the transport of the elements into the cold chamber, the surrender of heat is effected by cooling of the wall. The decisive advantage of the invention consists in that the elements according to the invention are easy to clean, that is to say they necessarily clean themselves when used as a fluidized bed or a bed of loose material. The elements according to the invention have a high coefficient of heat transfer at the boundary gas-element surface in a fluidized bed. Examples of embodiment are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Figure 1 shows the element according to the invention as a hollow ball, Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 show various arrangements of the element according to the invention in a Ljungström heat exchanger. Figure 6 shows the use of the elements according to the invention as a fluidized bed in a column heat exchanger, Figure 7 shows the arrangement of the elements in a column heat exchanger as a static bed. As Figure 1 shows, the element according to the invention consists of the hollow ball 1, the free interior of which is filied with gas 3. The wall 2 may consist of metallic or nonmetallic materials. Figures 2 to 4 shows a rotor of a Ljungström heat exchanger 6 with a vertical shaft 7. In Figure 2, the elements 1 according to the invention are above conventional storage material 8, in Figure 3 they are below. Figure 4 shows a Ljungström heat exchanger without conventional storage material, only with the elements 1 according to the invention. The cold gas inlet is designated by 9 and the hot gas inlet by 10. According to the direction in which the flow approaches the elements 1, a static bed or a fluidized bed is formed. The fluidized bed is only formed if the flow of gas is introduced into the heat exchanger from below.If the axis 7 of the rotor 6 is disposed horizontally for example (Figure 5), the elements 1 being arranged as a static bed, the cleaning of the elements is effected by the circulation in the sector compartment without any additional energy requirements for a blow-off device. Figure 6 shows a column heat exchanger with a fluidized bed, wherein the hot gas is introduced at 11, heats the elements 1 and leaves the column again at 12. The cold gas enters at 13 and leaves the column at 1 4. The heated elements sink through a device 15 down into the lower portion of the column and are returned to the upper portion of the column via a pneumatic or mechanical transport system 1 6 not illustrated in detail. Figure 7 shows a heat-exchange column with a static bed wherein the heated elements 1 reach the lower portion of the column in batches-by means of a rotary vane iock 1 7 for example, there heat the cold gas and are returned to the upper portion of the column via the transport system 1 6. CLAIMS

1. Heat-transmitting elements for regenerative heat exchange, characterised in that the elements are constructed in the form of hollow bodies, the free interior of the bodies being filled with gas.

2. The use of the heat-transmitting elements as claimed in claim 1 as a fluidized bed and/or as a bed of loose material in regenerative heat exchangers.

3. A regenerative heat exchanger provided with heat-transmitting elements as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.