US3702156A - Air-to-air energy exchange wheel and method of fabrication - Google Patents

Air-to-air energy exchange wheel and method of fabrication Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3702156A
US3702156A US94910A US3702156DA US3702156A US 3702156 A US3702156 A US 3702156A US 94910 A US94910 A US 94910A US 3702156D A US3702156D A US 3702156DA US 3702156 A US3702156 A US 3702156A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
wheel
spokes
rim
air
hub
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US94910A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Marvin K Rohrs
Robert J Neary
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.)
Aero Flow Dynamics Inc
Mestek Inc
Original Assignee
Aero Flow Dynamics Inc
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
Application filed by Aero Flow Dynamics Inc filed Critical Aero Flow Dynamics Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3702156A publication Critical patent/US3702156A/en
Assigned to MESTEK, INC., A CORP. OF PA reassignment MESTEK, INC., A CORP. OF PA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: WING INDUSTRIES, INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D19/00—Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus in which the intermediate heat-transfer medium or body is moved successively into contact with each heat-exchange medium
    • F28D19/04—Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus in which the intermediate heat-transfer medium or body is moved successively into contact with each heat-exchange medium using rigid bodies, e.g. mounted on a movable carrier
    • F28D19/041—Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus in which the intermediate heat-transfer medium or body is moved successively into contact with each heat-exchange medium using rigid bodies, e.g. mounted on a movable carrier with axial flow through the intermediate heat-transfer medium
    • F28D19/042—Rotors; Assemblies of heat absorbing masses
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D53/00—Making other particular articles
    • B21D53/02—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers
    • B21D53/027—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers by helically or spirally winding elongated elements
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/4935—Heat exchanger or boiler making
    • Y10T29/49357—Regenerator or recuperator making

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air-to-air energy exchange wheel and to the method of fabricating same.
  • Heat transfer wheels are used in regenerative heating systems.
  • the wheel is usually composed of a metallic material, or the like, constituting a matrix which is capable of absorbing thermal energy from a stream of hot air or gas and giving up the stored energy to a separate stream of air or gas to be heated.
  • rotary regenerative units have been used as preheaters for combustion air for gas turbines and for similar heating purposes. They have also been used as economizers in connection with space heating equipment.
  • the wheels are generally exposed to wide ranges of temperature and, therefore, must be designed to accommodate substantial thermal expansion and resist deformation. They should be light in weight. They must be sufficiently rigid to withstand the fluid pressures, primarily dynamic, from the gas streams. The wheels also must be shaped so that suitable seals can be arranged to cooperate with their surfaces to isolate the two gas or air streams. Depending upon the thermal and other requirements, these wheels may be quite large in diameter. Thus, designing a satisfactory wheel is quite complicated.
  • a heating system employing a heat transfer wheel.
  • the heating system is unique in that it provides an efficient combustion unit specifically for generating the hot gases which heat the wheel and then uses the wheel to heat air which is used directly in an environmental space heating capacity.
  • the wheel on the combustion chamber side is exposed to a mixture of air and combustion products at a temperature of the order of 1300 to 1500 F. which mixture exits from the wheel at about 240 F.
  • the incoming air is generally at 70 F. and leaves at about 160 F.
  • the wheel is arranged to be rotated at about 20 rpm. and has a diameter of a little over 3 feet and a thickness of only 3 inches.
  • an object of the present invention to provide an air-to-air energy exchange wheel with completely flush surfaces for efiicient gaseous sealing. It is a further object of the invention to provide a wheel particularly suited for heat transfer and capable of withstanding without distortion the temperatures encountered in a heating system of the type described in the aforesaid application.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an economical method of fabricating such a wheel.
  • an air-to-air energy exchange wheel having a metal frame comprising a hub and a concentric outer rim.
  • the frame supports a cellular filling or matrix formed by spirally wrapping around the hub alternate corrugated and flat metal foil ribbons having a width equal to the axial dimension of the rim.
  • the filling is capable of transferring energy from air-to-air and occupies the space between the hub and the rim. It is permeable to air traveling parallel to the axis of the hub.
  • the frame further comprises a first group of radially extending angularly spaced spokes disposed in corresponding grooves in the filling on one side of the wheel, and a second group of radially extending angularly spaced spokes disposed in corresponding grooves in the filling on the other side of the wheel, both sets of grooves preferably being also formed in the hub and rim.
  • the spokes in both instances are set flush with the corresponding opposite faces of the wheel represented by the rim and matrix.
  • the spokes in the first group are secured at both ends to the rim and hub, respectively, and the spokes in the second group may be secured, preferably only at one end to either the rim or the hub while the unsecured end remains floating.
  • a method of forming a wheel of the aforesaid type which comprises the steps of spirally wrapping about a metal hub alternating flat and corrugated foil ribbons until the desired diameter is obtained.
  • the wrapping is secured by disposing a metal n'm therearound.
  • a plurality of angularly spaced radial slots are produced across the foil wrapping, and preferably across the hub and rim, on both sides of the wheel.
  • the slots are produced with a depth substantially less than the axial dimensions of the foil wrapping and at no point sever a turn of the foil wrapping.
  • a metal spoke is then inserted in each slot so that it is flush with the Wheel surface. All of the spokes are secured on one side of the wheel at both ends to the hub and rim, respectively, and on the other side of the wheel all of the spokes may be secured, preferably at only one end to either the rim or the hub.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a wheel constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2, in FIG. 1.
  • the wheel in its preferred form consists of a hub 10, a rim 11, a matrix filling 12, a plurality of radial spokes 13 angularly spaced on the upper face of the wheel, and another plurality of angularly spaced radial spokes 14 on the lower face of the wheel.
  • the hub is formed from a tubular or cylindrical metal piece to the ends of which are secured caps 16 and 17 containing the apertures 18 and 19, respectively.
  • the apertures 18 and 19 provide for inserting a shaft on which the wheel may be mounted.
  • spokes 14 are located on the lower side of the wheel staggered centrally between the corresponding spokes 13 on the upper side of the Wheel. The relationship can be seen through the section of matrix that has been broken away in FIG. 1.
  • the wheel is produced by first taking the hub element 15 and securing to it one or more pairs of ribbons, one of which is a fiat ribbon while the other is a corrugated ribbon 21.
  • These ribbons may be made of metallic foil. In the present case, stainless steel has been used satisfactorily, having a thickness of .002 inch.
  • the width of the ribbons should be equal to the width of the rim to provide an overall flush surface.
  • the pair of foils having an end secured to the hub member 15 is wrapped spirally thereabout until the desired diameter for the wheel is attained. Then the surrounding rim 11, which is preferably of stainless steel, is assembled to retain the wrapping in place.
  • grooves are ground or cut with an abrasive wheel across the hub member 15, the matrix 12, and the rim 11 to accommodate both the spokes 13 and 14.
  • the spokes are then installed, the depth of the grooves being such as to accommodate the spokes flushly in the surface of the matrix.
  • the spokes 14 are welded or otherwise secured to the hub member 15 and to the rim 11 at their respective ends.
  • the spokes 13, as shown, are similarly secured at their outer ends to the rim 11 but left free or floating to elongate with a sliding fit in the grooves in the hub member 15.
  • the end plates or caps 16 and 17 are welded to the cylindrical member 15, taking care to avoid welding to the inner ends of the spokes 13.
  • a wheel has been constructed having an outer diameter of 37 /2 inches and a thickness of 3 inches.
  • the spokes 14 were formed from /s inch stock with a height in the axial direction of 1% inches.
  • the spokes 13 were formed from Vs inch stock with a height in the axial direction of /2 inch.
  • the spokes 14 have a height three times the height of the spokes 13.
  • the construction described above was found to withstand the severe temperature conditions encountered in the system described previously without appreciably distorting. It was discovered that in the combustion area where the wheel is exposed to the hot gases the temperature of the wheel at the surface approaches 1200 F. while the temperature drops abruptly within the matrix so that it is of the order of 300 F. only one inch below the surface.
  • the spokes 14 which are of substantial dimension and provide for the rigidity of the wheel are essentially shielded from severe temperature changes.
  • the spokes 13 are provided solely for retaining the matrix which would normally deform telescopingly in the absence thereof due to thermal expansion. However, because the radially inner ends of the spokes 13 are left unsecured, the spokes can expand without distorting the wheel.
  • the upper spokes bind and distort the rim even though the spokes are floating relative to the hub. In such case it may be preferable to have the rim ends of the spokes free and the hub ends secured. If means are provided for preventing the upper spokes from slipping completely out of the rim or hub such spokes may be installed with both ends floating or unattached. Alternatively, under less adverse con ditions, the upper spokes may be secured at both ends to both the rim and the hub.
  • An air-to-air energy exchange wheel comprising a hub, a rim concentric with said hub and spaced radially therefrom, a cellular filling of means fortransferring energy from air-to-air occupying the space between said hub and said rim permeable to air traveling parallel to the axis of said hub, said filling being a continuous spiral wrapping of flat and corrugated ribbons of heat absorbing material and having opposite faces flush with opposite edges of said rim, a first group of radially extending angularly spaced spokes extending between said hub and rim and disposed in corresponding grooves in said filling on one side of said wheel flush with the face of said filling and edge of said rim, a second group of radially extending angularly spaced spokes extending between said hub and rim and disposed in corresponding grooves in said filling on the other side of said wheel flush with the face of said filling and edge of said rim, said spokes and corresponding grooves on said one side and on said other side each having a depth
  • An air-to-air energy exchange wheel according to claim 1, wherein said cellular filling comprises a spiral wrapping of corrugated metal foil medium.
  • An air-to-air energy exchange wheel wherein said filling, said rim and said second group of spokes are all formed from stainless steel, said hub is formed from carbon steel, and said first group of spokes is formed from hot rolled steel.
  • An air-to-air energy exchange wheel wherein said cellular filling is in the form of a continuous spiral wrapping of alternating flat and corrugated metallic foil ribbons; and wherein the height of the spokes in said first group in the axial direction is of the order of 3 times the corresponding height of the spokes in said second group.
  • the method of forming an air-to-air energy exchange wheel which comprises the steps of spiral wrapping about a metal hub alternating flat and corrugated ribbons of heat absorbing material until the desired diameter is obtained, securing the wrapping by disposing a metal rim therearound having an axial dimension equal to that of said ribbons, producing a plurality of angularly spaced radial slots extending across the wrapping on both sides of the wheel, said slots having a depth substantially less than the axial dimension of the wrapping and at no point severing a turn of the wrapping, inserting a metal spoke extending between said hub and said rim in each slot so that it is flush with the wheel surface, securing all of the spokes on one side of the wheel to the hub and rim, respectively, and securing all of the spokes on the other side of the wheel at least to the rim or the hub.
  • An air-to-air energy exchange wheel comprising a hub, a rim concentric with said hub and spaced radially therefrom, a spirally wound matrix of corrugated material for transferring energy from air-to-air occupying the space between said hub and said rim permeable to air traveling parallel to the axis of said hub, said matrix having 0pposite faces flush with opposite edges of said rim, a first group of radially extending angularly spaced spokes extending between said hub and said rim and disposed in a first set of corresponding grooves in said matrix on one side of said wheel flush with the face of said matrix and edge of said rim, a second group of radially extending angularly spaced spokes extending between said hub and said rim and disposed in a second set of corresponding grooves in said matrix on the other side of said wheel flush with the face of said matrix and the edge of said rim, the grooves of said first and second sets of grooves being of a depth substantially less than the axial dimension of said
  • An air-to-air energy exchange wheel according to claim 12 wherein the axial height of said first set of spokes is greater than the axial height of said second set of spokes, the sum of said heights being less than the height of said rim.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Storage Of Web-Like Or Filamentary Materials (AREA)
  • Air Supply (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
US94910A 1970-12-03 1970-12-03 Air-to-air energy exchange wheel and method of fabrication Expired - Lifetime US3702156A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9491070A 1970-12-03 1970-12-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3702156A true US3702156A (en) 1972-11-07

Family

ID=22247889

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US94910A Expired - Lifetime US3702156A (en) 1970-12-03 1970-12-03 Air-to-air energy exchange wheel and method of fabrication

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3702156A (Direct)
BE (1) BE776245A (Direct)
CA (1) CA938606A (Direct)
DE (1) DE2159911A1 (Direct)
FR (1) FR2116545B1 (Direct)
GB (1) GB1347377A (Direct)
IT (1) IT945213B (Direct)
NL (1) NL7116607A (Direct)
SE (1) SE374428B (Direct)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3780498A (en) * 1972-03-31 1973-12-25 Universal Oil Prod Co Sulfur oxides removal system
US3789494A (en) * 1972-04-24 1974-02-05 Aga Ab Method of spirally winding strip to produce pinned units
US3891030A (en) * 1971-06-18 1975-06-24 Rothemuehle Brandt Kritzler Cylindrical heating-surface support structure for regenerative air preheaters
DE2732989A1 (de) * 1976-07-21 1978-01-26 Munters Ab Carl Rotor fuer einen feuchtigkeits- und/oder waermetauscher
US4093435A (en) * 1973-11-23 1978-06-06 Wing Industries Inc. Total heat energy exchangers
US4191241A (en) * 1978-12-20 1980-03-04 Wing Industries, Inc. Energy exchange wheel and method of fabrication
US4307774A (en) * 1980-11-20 1981-12-29 Konstantins Dravnieks Heat wheel construction
US4316499A (en) * 1980-04-16 1982-02-23 Svenska Rotor Maskiner Aktiebolag Rotary, regenerative heat exchanger having floating sealing rings
US4331198A (en) * 1979-12-10 1982-05-25 Midland-Ross Corporation Rotary heat exchanger
US4361620A (en) * 1979-03-08 1982-11-30 Wing Industries, Inc. Total energy exchange medium and method of making the same
US4825936A (en) * 1983-08-15 1989-05-02 Airxchange, Inc. Rotary heat regenerator
US9212826B2 (en) 2011-09-01 2015-12-15 Steve Eugene Everett Method and apparatus for climatic conditioning of space within a building structure

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3240598A1 (de) * 1981-11-03 1983-06-09 Northern Solar Systems, Inc., Hingham, Mass. Rotierendes waerme-rueckgewinnungs-geraet

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3891030A (en) * 1971-06-18 1975-06-24 Rothemuehle Brandt Kritzler Cylindrical heating-surface support structure for regenerative air preheaters
US3780498A (en) * 1972-03-31 1973-12-25 Universal Oil Prod Co Sulfur oxides removal system
US3789494A (en) * 1972-04-24 1974-02-05 Aga Ab Method of spirally winding strip to produce pinned units
US4093435A (en) * 1973-11-23 1978-06-06 Wing Industries Inc. Total heat energy exchangers
DE2732989A1 (de) * 1976-07-21 1978-01-26 Munters Ab Carl Rotor fuer einen feuchtigkeits- und/oder waermetauscher
US4191241A (en) * 1978-12-20 1980-03-04 Wing Industries, Inc. Energy exchange wheel and method of fabrication
US4361620A (en) * 1979-03-08 1982-11-30 Wing Industries, Inc. Total energy exchange medium and method of making the same
US4331198A (en) * 1979-12-10 1982-05-25 Midland-Ross Corporation Rotary heat exchanger
US4316499A (en) * 1980-04-16 1982-02-23 Svenska Rotor Maskiner Aktiebolag Rotary, regenerative heat exchanger having floating sealing rings
US4307774A (en) * 1980-11-20 1981-12-29 Konstantins Dravnieks Heat wheel construction
US4825936A (en) * 1983-08-15 1989-05-02 Airxchange, Inc. Rotary heat regenerator
US9212826B2 (en) 2011-09-01 2015-12-15 Steve Eugene Everett Method and apparatus for climatic conditioning of space within a building structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2116545A1 (Direct) 1972-07-13
IT945213B (it) 1973-05-10
BE776245A (fr) 1972-06-05
CA938606A (en) 1973-12-18
NL7116607A (Direct) 1972-06-06
GB1347377A (en) 1974-02-27
DE2159911A1 (de) 1972-06-08
SE374428B (Direct) 1975-03-03
FR2116545B1 (Direct) 1976-02-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3702156A (en) Air-to-air energy exchange wheel and method of fabrication
US4335783A (en) Method for improving thermal shock resistance of honeycombed structures formed from joined cellular segments
KR910001691B1 (ko) 매트담체/기체 서브조립체 및 촉매변환기의 제조방법
US3373798A (en) Regenerator matrix
CA1114806A (en) Heat exchanger
US2995344A (en) Plate type heat exchangers
US2445471A (en) Heat exchanger
US3910344A (en) Regenerator matrix
US3747646A (en) Insulation of gas feed tubes
US4178991A (en) Heat exchanger and a heat exchanger element therefor
US4381815A (en) Thermal shock resistant honeycomb structures
US3086625A (en) Cellular core and method of making same
US4061183A (en) Regenerator matrix
US2579212A (en) Heat exchanger
US3901309A (en) Regenerator disk flexible rim
US4084633A (en) Rotor for rotary heat exchangers
US3101778A (en) Ceramic rotor fabrication
AU699782B2 (en) Heating sheet bundle for regenerative heat exchangers
US3191666A (en) Regenerative fluid heater
US3800860A (en) Regenerator bodies for rotary regenerative heat exchangers
US3683478A (en) Method for producing a heat exchanger
US3875994A (en) Regenerator for gas turbine engine
US4307774A (en) Heat wheel construction
US3958626A (en) Regenerator matrix structure
US3465815A (en) Heat exchanger assembly for air preheater

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: MESTEK, INC., A CORP. OF PA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WING INDUSTRIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004740/0426

Effective date: 19870702