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
  • F28D19/047—Sealing means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a rotary regenerative heat exchanger of the kind specified in the preamble of claim 1.
• SE 176 375 discloses a rotary regenerative heat exchanger with a support in the form of rolling bodies, mounted in the outer ends of sector-shaped plates close to both ends of the rotating part and rolling on a flange along the periphery at the top and bottom end of the rotor.
• Each sliding shoe therefore is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface.
• a similar solution is disclosed in WO95/00809, in which there is provided a measuring rod adjacent to the sliding shoe, which measuring rod is directed parallel to the adjustment direction. The measuring rod from a resting position can be momentary brought in contact with the related flange and indicates when the size of the clearance requires advancement of the sliding shoe a distance so that the initial clearance is restored.
• Each rotor flange has a circumferentially continuous end surface on which the sliding shoes slide. Due to inaccuracy and/or thermal deformations of the rotor flange this end surface often deviates from a planar shape.
• the surface in practice has waves in the circumferential direction and is therefore perpendicular to the rotor axis only at the tops and bottoms of these waves, whereas it in other parts is slightly inclined.
• the front surface of each sliding shoe when travelling along the end surface therefore in some parts will be parallel to and in other parts be inclined in relation to the co-operating part of the end surface. It might also be the case that the rotor flange and therewith also the end surface slants in the radial direction so there will not be parallelity between a front surface of a sliding shoe and the end surface neither in the radial direction.
• the object of the present invention therefore is to attain a rotary regenerative heat exchanger in which the above discussed problem is overcome.
• a rotary regenerative heat exchanger of the kind specified in the preamble of claim 1 includes the features specified in the characterizing portion of the claim.
• the sliding shoe By mounting the sliding shoe so that its front surface is free to tilt, this surface will be able to follow the end surface of the rotor flange and thereby automatically adapt to local deviations in the orientation of the end surface from its theoretical plane perpendicular to the axis of the rotor.
• the tilting is arranged to occur around a tilting point so that the front surface can tilt both in the circumferential direction and the radial direction as well as combined.
• the front surface of the sliding shoe thereby automatically will be maintained in parallel to the front surface on the rotor flange and secure a proper sliding shoe function
• the mounting means for the sliding shoe preferably includes co-operating spherical mounting surfaces.
• fig. 1 is a partial axial section through a rotary heat exchanger according to the invention
• fig. 2 is a view of a detail of fig. 1
• fig. 3 is a schematic circumferential section through a sliding shoe according to prior art
• fig. 4 is a schematic axial section through a sliding shoe according to prior art
• fig. 5 is a section corresponding to that of fig. 3 but showing the principle of a sliding shoe according to the present invention
• fig. 6 is a circumferential section through a sliding shoe according to a first embodiment of the invention
• fig. 7 is a section similar to that of fig. 6 showing a second embodiment of the invention.
• the heat exchanger illustrated in fig. 1 is of conventional type having a stationary casing 1 and a cylindrical rotor 2 containing a regenerative mass 3.
• the rotor has a hub 4 and an upper fixed sector shaped centre plate 5 with a movable sector plate 6 pivotally connected thereto and corresponding lower fixed centre plate 7 and movable sector plate 8.
• the two sets of plates 5, 6 and 7, 8 have the function to seal against the upper and lower ends of the rotor 2 as tight as possible and thereby separate the heat exchanging media flowing to and from the rotor through axial openings connected to media ducts (not shown).
• each of the movable sector plates 6, 8 are provided with a device, which device forms support means 10 for maintaining a certain clearance (S) between the ends of the sector plates 6, 8 and an upper and lower annular edge flange 9 attached to the rotor along its upper and lower peripheries, each flange having an outer circumferentially continuous end surface 11 for co-operation with a front surface on the sliding shoe 17 of each support means 10.
• Each of the movable sector plates 6, 8 is affected by a predetermined force towards the rotor 2, which force is established by the weight of the sector plate and/or additional means, e.g. counter- weights (not shown), and the support means 10 take up these forces.
• Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the sector plate 6 co-operating with the upper rotor flange 9 in a view as seen from outside the periphery of the flange.
• the plate 6 has two supports 10, each with a sliding shoe 17 sliding on the end surface 1 1 of the rotor flange 9 as the flange rotates in the direction of the arrow.
• Figs. 3 and 4 represent prior art and are for the purpose to schematically illustrate the problem to be solved by the invention.
• Fig. 3 shows how the wave-shape of the rotor flange 9' in the circumferential direction in some positions, causes non-parallelity between the front surface 12' of the sliding shoe 17' and the end surface 1 1' of the rotor flange 9', resulting in reduced contact area or, in the case of a gas cushion sliding shoe, in failure of the bearing ability of the gas cushion
• fig. 4 being an axial section through the sliding shoe, the corresponding effect when the rotor flange 9' slants radially is illustrated.
• Fig. 5 is a schematic section corresponding to that of fig. 3 and illustrates the operating principle of a sliding shoe according to the invention.
• the support means 10 is movably mounted in the sector plate 6 in a way allowing the sliding shoe 17 with its front surface 12 to be free to tilt so that the front surface 12 automatically adapts to the momentary direction of the end surface 1 1 on the rotor flange 9. These surfaces thereby will be maintained in parallel and assure a proper sliding, either by contact or on a gas cushion.
• a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in fig. 6 which is a section through the sliding shoe.
• the sliding shoe 17 in this embodiment is of the contacting type, sliding with its front surface 12 on the end surface 1 1 of the rotor flange 9, which rotates in the direction of the arrow.
• the sliding shoe is made of carbon or graphite and is attached to a metal rear plate 18 connected to a threaded bolt 19.
• the bolt 19 extends through a meshing threaded hole in a cup-shaped mounting element 20, having an upper spherical mounting surface 22.
• the sliding shoe 17 extends through an opening 25 in the sector plate 6, and a sleeve 24 is attached on the sector plate around the opening 25.
• the sleeve 24 is provided with an inwardly directed sleeve flange 21 of spherical shape, and the bolt 18 projects out through the central opening 26 found by this flange 21.
• the sleeve flange 21 has an internal spherical bearing surface 23 of substantially the same radius (R) as the mounting surface 22 of the mounting element 20.
• the bearing surface 23 of the sleeve flange 21 is supported by the mounting surface 22 of the mounting element 20.
• the opening 26 formed by the sleeve flange 21 is somewhat wider than the bolt 19 and the mounting unit 20 does not reach the sleeve 24.
• the mounting unit 20 is free to slide on the sleeve flange 21 so that the mounting unit 20 and the sleeve flange 21 constitute movable mounting means for the slide shoe.
• the mounting surface 22 and the bearing surface 23 either or both of them preferably are coated with graphite, polythetraflourethylen or the like.
• the radius of the mounting and bearing surfaces 22, 23 has its centre 0 centrally on the front surface 12 of the sliding shoe 17.
• the slide shoe is in a position where the end surface 11 of the rotor flange 9 is perpendicular to the rotor axis, the axis of the sliding shoe 17 being perpendicular to the end surface and the sector plate 6 and the rotor flange being parallel.
• FIG. 7 A second embodiment of the invention in which gas cushion sliding shoes are used is illustrated in fig. 7.
• This figure shows the sliding shoe 17a co-operating with an inclined part of the rotor flange 9a.
• the sliding shoe has an axial channel 30 extending therethrough, which channel through a hose 31 is connected to a source of gas of a pressure sufficient to establish a gas cushion between the sliding shoe 17a and the rotor flange 9a.
• the function of the movable mounting means of this embodiment is similar to that of the above described first embodiment, and the radius (R) of the special mounting surface 22a has its centre in the gap between the front surface 12a and the end surface 1 1a.
• the slide shoe 17a is tilted in relation to the sector plate 6a guided by the mounting surface 23a of the sleeve flange 21a.
• the sliding shoe has ability to tilt both circumferentially and radially. It should, however, be understood that the sliding shoe can be arranged to allow to tilt only in either of these directions, e.g. only circumferentially. In that case the mounting and bearing surfaces have cylindrical shape instead of spherical.
• the special mounting and bearing surfaces can be provided with gas supply means for establishing a gas cushion between these surfaces in order to reduce the friction therebetween.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Holders For Apparel And Elements Relating To Apparel (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Sealing Devices (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
• Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
• Support Of The Bearing (AREA)
• Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20398011

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Citations (3)

• 1995
  • 1995-04-20 SE SE9501445A patent/SE505618C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1996
  • 1996-04-15 AT AT96911148T patent/ATE198666T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-04-15 ES ES96911148T patent/ES2155934T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-04-15 PL PL96322818A patent/PL181381B1/pl unknown
  • 1996-04-15 DE DE69611522T patent/DE69611522T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-04-15 EP EP96911148A patent/EP0824664B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-04-15 WO PCT/SE1996/000484 patent/WO1996033381A1/en active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (3)

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