GB675408A - Improvements in heat regenerators - Google Patents

Abstract

675,408. Heat regenerators. REFSLUND, K. April 13, 1950 [April 13, 1949]; No. 9115/50. Class 64(i) In a heat regenerator, e.g. for use with a gas turbine, comprising one or more pistons 17 each containing a heating space divided by partitions 20, 24 into sections 23 through which heating and heat-absorbing fluids flow alternately transversely to the piston axis, in contact with heat absorbing and transmitting material in the heating space, the piston is cylindrical and is displaceable in a cylinder 1 having ports 26 for the two fluids alternating axially, and piston rings 25 close the spaces between the cylinder wall and the partitions. The piston rings may be on the piston wall, as shown, or on the cylinder wall. In one form, Fig. 1, the piston 17 contains two passages 18, 19 separated by a partition 20 and subdivided by partitions 24 into compartments containing heat-absorbing material. The cylinder 1 has an annular jacket which is subdivided by partitions into semi-annular chambers. Flow of fluid between the ends of the piston and the cylinder is prevented by telescopic partitions 34, 35, or by imperforate extensions of the piston. With the piston in the position shown, the heat transmitting fluid flows through the lower passage 18 from the inlet 15, and the heat absorbing fluid flows through the inlet pipe 10, the upper passage 19, and the outlet pipe 12. When the piston is moved to its lower position by hydraulic actuation of an attached piston 28, the heating fluid flows through the upper passage 19 and the heated fluid through the lower passage 18. The heat-absorbing material in the piston may be tubes, plates, threads, porous material, or, as shown in Fig. 3, alternating flat and corrugated sheets 47, 48, the corrugations being such that the passages 107 formed by them have a greater hydraulic diameter at the centre than at the sides. Cleaning fluid, e.g. a liquid or compressed air, can be passed through the piston passages 18, 19 from chambers 38 with outlet slots to chambers 42 with inlet slots. In another form, the piston is annular, and encloses two coaxial passages for the supply of one fluid and withdrawal of the other. The piston may have more than two transverse passages for fluids, and a regenerator may comprise more than one piston moving independently or coupled together. They may be actuated hydraulically, by compressed air, or by a rotating shaft. When combustion gases are used for heating, they may byepass the piston passages at the start, through a byepass pipe or passage in the cylinder, to prevent sooting up. For this purpose, the telescopic plates 34 at one end of the cylinder may be collapsed hydraulically to allow free passage of the hot gases. Alternatively, the piston may be in two parts which are initially separated to allow free passage of the hot gases, and are afterwards connected together.