WO2011044676A1

WO2011044676A1 - Cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2011044676A1
Application number: PCT/CA2010/001585
Authority: WO
Inventors: Darsell Karringten; William Kelly
Original assignee: Absolute Combustion International Inc.
Priority date: 2009-10-14
Filing date: 2010-10-12
Publication date: 2011-04-21

Abstract

A cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus for use with a burner comprises a main body having a front end and a back end and defining a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the back end. There is at least one air inlet and a mixing chamber. A fuel passageway has a fuel receiving inlet and a fuel emitting outlet for delivering fuel to the mixing chamber. A first air flow channel has an inlet in fluid communication with the at least one air inlet, and an outlet disposed adjacent the fuel emitting outlet, for delivering air to the mixing chamber. The main body defines a fluid receiving and retaining chamber. There is a fluid inlet in the main body to permit the ingress of fluid into the fluid receiving and retaining chamber of the main body, and a fluid outlet in the main body to permit the egress of fluid from the fluid receiving and retaining chamber of the main body. A plurality of fluid directing vanes are disposed in the fluid receiving and retaining chamber of the main body to define a fluid flow path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet.

Description

COOLING JACKET, HEAT TRANSFER APPARATUS AND HEAT RECOVERY APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus for use with burners, and more particularly to cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus for use with high temperature, high efficiency burners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Generally, it is not necessary, and not even desirable, to remove heat from the area of a burner that is fueled by natural gas, propane, and so on, since a burner is typically trying to produce as much heat as possible. However, there are instances where the actual body of a burner, especially if it has a heat shield that directs the output of the burner, can become extremely hot, and therefore requires cooling. This applies even more so to burners that are extremely efficient and produce an extreme amount of heat.

[0003] It has been found that with an extremely efficient burner, such as that disclosed in a co-pending patent application to the present inventors, the extreme heat produced by the disclosed burner tends to increase the nitrous oxide (NOx) levels that are output by the burner. NOx is a generic term for mono-nitrogen oxides (NO and N02). These oxides are produced during combustion, especially combustion at high temperatures. This increase the nitrous oxide (NOx) levels is highly undesirable for environmental reasons. Most, or possibly all, fuels that are used in burners contain in their natural state the constituents that can produce emissions such as NOx. Upon these fuels being ignited, the NOx and other emissions are released. When the materials (such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and so on) that comprise the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30 come into direct contact with the ignited fuels of the burner, such materials can reach temperatures of near failure or exceed their predetermined failure point. When such temperatures are reached, the materials can cause additional NOx to be created during combustion.

[0004] The cost of construction of a burner is also a major consideration. It has been found that cooling the main body of a burner can reduce the cost of construction by permitting less expensive materials to be used for many of the parts. More specifically, stainless steel has been found to be very effective in standing up to the rigours of extremely high temperatures processed by a high-efficiency high-temperature burner. However, stainless steel is expensive, and is also hard to work with and is therefore also expensive to have parts machined from stainless steel. It is therefore desirable to be able to produce a cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus that comprises both stainless steel and carbon steel in an CVD AT 10/12/20105:50:53 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] ' SV :FOO003/15 * ONIS:3907 * CSID:9058494643 * DURATION (mm-ss):34-34 appropriate configuration to reduce or even minimize the amount of stainless steel that is used and therefore reduce or minimize the cost of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus.

[0005] It has also been found that high temperature burner as disclosed in the inventors' co-pending application, that the flame is generally not visible. This is a dangerous situation because it might not be apparent that the burner is on, especially if the burner is in a noisy environment. Accordingly, cooling the burner, or at least the exterior portions of the burner, is highly desirable for safety concerns.

[0006] Another problem with high temperature burners is that there is a significant amount of ambient heat generated. This ambient heat could be recovered and used either by the burner or could be used by another application.

[0007] United States Patent No. 2,457,304 issued December 28, 1948 to Crowe, discloses an Atomizing Fuel Burner with cooling jacket. This atomizing fuel burner comprises a main body in the form of an outer tube. Coolant is fed by a pipe into a port at the front tip of the burner. The coolant circulates through an overall open chamber and is released from the burner through an outlet pipe 10 disposed in the middle area of the burner.

[0008] United States Patent No. 4,384,846 issued May 24, 1983 to Waldhofer is entitled Burner, and comprises a burner including a hollow water cooled casing and a hollow water cooled jacket surrounding the casing. Two respective channels are formed in the burner for feeding fuel and an oxygen-containing medium to a nozzle of the burner. The casing and the jacket form at their proximal ends a conical annular nozzle gap which receives a plurality of circumferentially distributed spacing elements. The spacing elements form between themselves a plurality of slots for discharging a combustible mixture of fuel and oxygen-containing medium from the nozzle gap. A heat-expansion compensator is provided in the burner which connects the casing with the jacket in an axially prestressed position such that the casing is always in abutment with the jacket in the area of the nozzle gap via the spacing elements.

[0009] United States Patent No. 5, 176,875 issued January 5, 1993 to Kanazumi et al, discloses a Tubular Water-Cooled Jacket For Furnaces. The tubular water-cooled jacket includes a tubular member having a plurality of axial apertures and a plurality of transverse apertures. Each transverse aperture is formed therein so as to bring at least two of the axial apertures into open communication with each other. The plurality of axial apertures and the plurality of transverse apertures corporate one with another to define a plurality of fluid passageways for cooling water isolated from one another. Each of the fluid passageways may be defined by at least two of the axial apertures and at least one of the transverse apertures connected to the at least two axial apertures. The tubular member may include a plurality of segments arranged side-by-side in a circumferential direction thereof and joined together.

RCVD AT 10/12/20105:56:53 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] · SVR:FOO003/15 * DNIS:3907 * CSID:9058494643 * DURATION (mm-ss):34-34 [00010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus.

[00011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cooling j acket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus that can be manufactured at a reasonable cost.

[00012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus that can stand the rigours of extremely high temperatures.

[00013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus that is more safe than an uncooled burner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00014] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus for use with a burner. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus comprises a main body having a front end and a back end and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and a back end. The main body defines a fluid receiving and retaining chamber. There is a fluid inlet in the main body to permit the ingress of fluid into the fluid receiving and retaining chamber of the main body and a fluid outlet in the main body to permit the egress of fluid from the fluid receiving and retaining chamber of the main body. A plurality of fluid directing vanes are disposed in the fluid receiving and retaining chamber of the main body to define a fluid flow path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. In use, fluid ingresses into the fluid receiving and retaining chamber through the fluid inlet, travels trough the fluid receiving and retaining chamber via the fluid flow path, and egresses from the fluid receiving and retaining chamber through the fluid outlet, to thereby remove heat from the burner.

[00015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus comprises a main body having a front end and a back end and defining a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the back end. There is at least one air inlet and a mixing chamber. A fuel passageway has a fuel receiving inlet and a fuel emitting outlet for delivering fuel to the mixing chamber. A first air flow channel has an inlet in fluid communication with the at least one air inlet, and an outlet disposed adjacent the fuel emitting outlet, for delivering air to the mixing chamber. The main body defines a fluid receiving and retaining chamber. There is a fluid inlet in the main body to permit the ingress of fluid into the fluid receiving and retaining chamber of the main body, and a fluid outlet in the main body to permit the egress of fluid from the fluid receiving and retaining chamber of the main body. A plurality of fluid directing vanes are disposed in the fluid receiving and CVD AT 10/12/2010 5:50:53 PM [Eastern Daylight TimeJ * SVR:FOO003/15 * DNIS:3907 * CSID:9058494643 * DURATION (mm-ss):34-34 retaining chamber of the main body to define a fluid flow path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. In use, fluid ingresses into the fluid receiving and retaining chamber through the fluid inlet, travels trough the fluid receiving and retaining chamber via the fluid flow path, and egresses from the fluid receiving and retaining chamber through the fluid outlet, to thereby remove heat from the burner.

[00016] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[000171 The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, and use, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[00018] Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus according to the present invention;

[00019] Figure 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00020] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view from the front of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00021] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view from the rear of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00022] Figure 5 is a right side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00023] Figure 6 is left side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

RCVD AT 10/12/20105:56:53 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] * SVR:FOO003/15 * DNIS:3907 * C SID: 9058494643 * DURATION (mm-ss):34-34 [00024] Figure 7 is a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00025] Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00026] Figure 9 is a front end elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00027] Figure 10 is a back end elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00028] Figure 11 is a sectional side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1, taken along section line 11-11 of Figure 9;

[00029] Figure 12 is a sectional top plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling j acket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1, taken along section line 12-12 of Figure 9;

[00030] Figure 13 is a perspective view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00031] Figure 14 is a perspective view from the back central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00032] Figure 15 is a right side elevational view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure

[00033] Figure 16 is a left side elevational view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure i;

[00034] Figure 17 is a top plan view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

RCVO AT 10/12/20105:56:53 P [Eastern Daylight Time] * SVR:FOO003/15 * DNIS:3907 * CSID:9058494M3 * DURATION (mm-ss):34-34 [00035] Figure 18 is a bottom plan view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1;

[00036] Figure 19 is a front end elevational view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure i;

[00037] Figure 20 is a back end elevational view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure i;

[00038] Figure 21 is a sectional side elevational view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1, taken along section line 21-21 of Figure 19;

[00039] Figure 22 is a sectional top plan view from the front central body member of the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of Figure 1, taken along section line 22-22 of Figure 19; and,

[00040] Figure 23 is a sectional side elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus is removably and replaceably mountable on the burner.

[00041] Advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00042] Referring to Figures 1 through 23 of the drawings, it will be noted that Figures 1 through 22 illustrate the first preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of the present invention, and Figure 23 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of the present invention.

[00043] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 22, which show the first preferred embodiment of a cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30 for use with a burner

RCVD AT 10/12/20105:50:53 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] * SVR:FOO003/15 · DNIS:390? * CSID:9058494643 * DURATION (mm-ss):34-34 20 that bums a combustible gas such as propane, butane, and so on. The burner 20, as illustrated, has an air flow controlling rear housing 22, an outer housing 24, and a substantially straight fuel nozzle 26 that resides within the air flow controlling rear housing 22 and the outer housing 24. The first preferred embodiment of acoolingjacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30 is generally integrally formed with the burner 20.

[00044] The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30 comprises a main body 40 having a front end 42 and a back end 44 and a longitudinal axis "X" extending between the front end 42 and the back end 44. The main body 40 is elongate along the longitudinal axis "X", and has a length "L" defined between the front end 42 and the back end 44.

[00045] The main body 40 defines a fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 therein, as will be described in greater detail subsequently. The fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 retains acooling fluid 52 therein, such as water, or glycol, or any other suitable cooling fluid. Care must be taken to not used a combustible oil based coolant or any other type of combustible coolant. Alternatively, even a non-combustible cooling fluid in its gaseous state could be used.

[00046] Further, in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main body 40 defines a burner throughpassage 54 for receiving the burner 20 therein. In this manner, the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30 according to the present invention completely surrounds the burner 20, either in contacting relation or as an integral part of the burner 20, in order to maximize the amount of heat that can be removed from the burner 20, as desired.

[00047] There is a fluid inlet 46 in the main body 40 to permit the ingress of fluid into the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 of the main body 40. The fluid inlet 46 extends to the outer housing 24 of the burner 20 and has an inlet coupling member (not shown) secured in sealed relation thereto. Similarly, there is also a fluid outlet 48 in the main body 40 to permit the egress of fluid from the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 of the main body 40. The fluid outlet 48 extends to the outer housing 24 of the burner 20 and has an outlet coupling member (not shown) secured in sealed relation thereto. Preferably, the fluid inlet 46 and the fluid outlet 48 are both disposed adjacent one of the front end 42 and the back end 44 of the main body 40, and in the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the fluid inlet 46 and the fluid outlet 48 are both disposed adjacent the back end 44 of the main body 40. Such rearward situation of both the fluid inlet 46 and the fluid outlet 48 permits ready access to the fluid inlet 46 and the fluid outlet 48 when the burner 20 is installed in an apparatus such as a furnace, and so on.

[00048] A suitable supply hose and return hose (not specifically shown) are connected in fluid communication, and preferably in removable and replaceable relation, to the inlet coupling member and the outlet coupling member, respectively, for supplying fluid to the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and

RCVO AT 10/12/20105:56:53 PM (Eastern Daylight Time] * SVR:FOO003/15 * DNIS:3907 * CSID:9058494643 ' DURATION (mm-ss):34-34 heat recovery apparatus 30 of the present invention, and subsequently removing the heated fluid from the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30. Typically, the supply and return hoses are each connected to a common source of fluid, such as a coolant tank. Heat may be recovered from the heated fluid either directly from the source of cooling fluid 52, or from a heat exchanger or the like, as the cooling fluid 52 circulates. The heat from the cooling fluid 52 may also be used to preheat the fuel being supplied to the burner 20, if appropriate and desired.

[00049] A plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 are disposed in the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 of the main body 40 to define a fluid flow path 62 from the fluid inlet 46 to the fluid outlet 48. The flow of fluid along the fluid flow path 62 is shown in part in Figure 17 by arrows "A".

[00050] In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the main body 40 comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 generally surrounding a substantially cylindrical inner wall 72. The substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 and the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72 together define the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 therebetween. The substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 and the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72 are retained in spaced relation by a front end wall 74 and a back end wall 76. The substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 is preferably press fit into place over the front end wall 74 and a back end wall 76. The substantially cylindrical outer wall 70, the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72, the front end wall 74 and the back end wall 76 together define the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 therebetween. As can be best seen in Figures 11 and 21, the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72 defines the burner throughpassage 54.

[00051] The substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 is mounted in on the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72, the front end wall 74 and the back end wall 76. It is retained in place by friction fit, or by welding, or by any other suitable means.

[00052] The plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 are disposed between the substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 and the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72 to define the fluid flow path 62. It should be understood that in order to maximize the cooling effect of the present invention so that a maximum amount of heat transfer takes place, is important that the fluid flows along a defined path, namely the fluid flow path 62, from the fluid inlet 46 to the fluid outlet 48. If the fluid merely enters the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 and is not specifically directed along a defined cooling path, the fluid would generally just randomly migrate around in the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50. Accordingly, some of the highly heated fluid would remain at length in the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 thus reducing the ability of the present invention to absorb heat from the burner 20. Similarly, some of the partially heated fluid would egress from the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50, thereby not removing a maximum amount of heat from the burner 20.

6747 * RCVD AT 10/12/20105:56:53 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] * SVR:FOO003/15 ^« DNIS:3907 · CSID:9058494643 * DURATION <mm-ss):34-34 [00053] Preferably, in order to properly direct the flow of fluid along the fluid flow path 62, the plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 ensure that all of the cooling fluid 52 travels a full and defined path from the fluid inlet 46 to the fluid outlet 48. In order to help accomplish this flow of fluid along a full and defined path, namely the fluid flow path 62, from the fluid inlet 46 to the fluid outlet 48, the plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 are substantially solid to thereby preclude the flow of fluid through the fluid directing vanes 60, such that fluid must flow along the length of the fluid directing vanes 60 through the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50. Further, the plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 are each solidly connected generally along their entire length to one of the substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 and the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72, and are in closely contacting relation with the other one of the substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 and the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72. In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 are each solidly connected generally along their entire length to the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72. It has been found that it is useful to form the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72 and the plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 from one piece of solid material, with the fluid flow path 62 that is between the plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 formed by a suitable machining operation.

[00054] Further, in order to cover the entire area of the substantially cylindrical inner wall 72, the plurality of fluid directing vanes 60 are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis "X". The plurality of vanes 60 comprises a forwardly extending set of vanes 60f extending forwardly lengthwise from the back end wall 76 and a rearwardly extending set of vanes 60r extending rearwardly lengthwise from the front end wall 74. The forwardly extending set of vanes 60f are disposed in interleaved relation with the rearwardly extending set of vanes 60r.

[00055] As is readily apparent, during use, heat passes from the burner 20, through the inner wall, and to the fluid flowing in the fluid flow path 62 of the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50. The fluid increases in temperature as it travels through the fluid flow path 62, as indicated by arrow "A" in Figure 17. The heated fluid exits the main body 40 via the fluid outlet 48 to thereby remove heat from the burner 20. The heat is thereby largely precluded from reaching the substantially cylindrical outer wall 70.

[00056] In use, with the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30 according to the present invention, fluid ingresses into the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 through the fluid inlet 46, travels through the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 via the fluid flow path 62, and egresses from the fluid receiving and retaining chamber 50 through the fluid outlet 48, to thereby remove heat from the burner 20. The amount of heat that can be removed from the burner 20 is controlled by the overall size of the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30 of the present invention, both the diameter and the length, and also by the amount of coolant fluid that is passed through the burner 20 per unit time.

RCVD AT 10/12/20105:56:53 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] * SVR:FOO003/15 ^« DNIS:3907 * CSID: 9058494643 * DURATION <mm-ss):34-34 [00057] Reference will now be made to Figure 23, which shows the second preferred embodiment of a cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus, as indicated by the general reference 130 for use with a burner 120 that bums a combustible gas such as propane, butane, and so on. The second preferred embodiment cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 130 is similar to the first preferred embodiment cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 30 except that the cooling j acket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus 130 is removably and replaceably mountable on the burner 120.

[00058] It has been found that with the cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus according to the present invention, the substantially cylindrical outer wall 70 remains cool enough to touch with a person's bare hand and not sustain any discomfort.

[00059] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the implementation of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

RCVD AT 10/12/2010 5:56:33 PM [Eastern Daylight TimeJ ^« SVR:FOO003/15^■ DNIS:3907 * CSID:9058494643 · DURATION (mm-ss):34-34

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus for use with a burner, said cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus comprising: a main body having a front end and a back end and a longitudinal axis extending between said front end and a back end, wherein said main body defines a fluid receiving and retaining chamber; a fluid inlet in said main body to permit the ingress of fluid into said fluid receiving and retaining chamber of said main body, a fluid outlet in said main body to permit the egress of fluid from said fluid receiving and retaining chamber of said main body; and, a plurality of fluid directing vanes disposed in said fluid receiving and retaining chamber of said main body to define a fluid flow path from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet; wherein, in use, fluid ingresses into said fluid receiving and retaining chamber through said fluid inlet, travels trough said fluid receiving and retaining chamber via said fluid flow path, and egresses from said fluid receiving and retaining chamber through saidfluid outlet, to thereby remove heat from said burner.

2. The coolingjacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main body defines a burner throughpassage for receiving a burner therein.

3. The coolingjacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 2, wherein said main body comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall generally surrounding a substantially cylindrical inner wall, and wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are disposed between said cylindrical outer wall and said cylindrical inner wall to define said fluid flow path.

4. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 3, wherein said substantially cylindrical outer wall and said substantially cylindrical inner wall together define said fluid receiving and retaining chamber therebetween.

5. The coolingjacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 4, wherein said substantially cylindrical inner wall defines said burner throughpassage.

6. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 5, wherein said main body is elongate along said longitudinal axis, and has a length defined between said front end and said back end.

7. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 6, wherein said substantially cylindrical outer wall and said substantially cylindrical inner wall are retained in spaced relation by a front end wall and a back end wall, and wherein said substantially cylindrical outer wall, said substantially cylindrical inner wall, said front end wall and said back end wall together define said fluid receiving and retaining chamber therebetween.

8. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are each solidly connected generally along their entire length to one of said substantially cylindrical outer wall and said substantially cylindrical inner wall.

9. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are substantially solid to thereby preclude the flow of fluid through said fluid directing vanes, such that fluid must flow along the length of said fluid directing vanes through said fluid receiving and retaining chamber.

10. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 9, wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.

11. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 10, wherein said plurality of vanes comprises a forwardly extending set of vanes extending forwardly lengthwise from said back end wall and a rearwardly extending set of vanes extending rearwardly lengthwise from said front end wall.

12. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 11, wherein said forwardly extending set of vanes are disposed in interleaved relation with said rearwardly extending set of vanes.

13. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet are both disposed adjacent one of said front end and said back end of said main body.

14. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 13, wherein said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet are both disposed adjacent said back end of said main body.

15. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 3, wherein said substantially cylindrical outer wall is mounted in removable and replaceable relation on said substantially cylindrical inner wall, said front end wall and said back end wall.

16. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus of claim 15, wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are each solidly connected generally along their entire length to said substantially cylindrical inner wall.

178. A cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner, and comprising: a main body having a front end and a back end and defining a longitudinal axis extending between said front end and said back end; at least one air inlet; a mixing chamber; a fuel passageway having a fuel receiving inlet, and a fuel emitting outlet for delivering fuel to said mixing chamber; a first air flow channel having an inlet in fluid communication with said at least one air inlet, and an outlet disposed adjacent said fuel emitting outlet, for delivering air to said mixing chamber; wherein said main body defines a fluid receiving and retaining chamber; a fluid inlet in said main body to permit the ingress of fluid into said fluid receiving and retaining chamber of said main body, a fluid outlet in said main body to permit the egress of fluid from said fluid receiving and retaining chamber of said main body; and, a plurality of fluid directing vanes disposed in said fluid receiving and retaining chamber of said main body to define a fluid flow path from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet; wherein, in use, fluid ingresses into said fluid receiving and retaining chamber through said fluid inlet, travels trough said fluid receiving and retaining chamber via said fluid flow path, and egresses from said fluid receiving and retaining chamber through said fluid outlet, to thereby remove heat from said burner.

18. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 17, wherein said main body comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall generally surrounding a substantially cylindrical inner wall, and wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are disposed between said cylindrical outer wall and said cylindrical inner wall to define said fluid flow path.

19. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 18, wherein said substantially cylindrical outer wall and said substantially cylindrical inner wall together define said fluid receiving and retaining chamber therebetween.

20. The cooling j acket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 19, wherein said substantially cylindrical outer wall and said substantially cylindrical inner wall are retained in spaced relation by a front end wall and a back end wall, and wherein said substantially cylindrical outer wall, said substantially cylindrical inner wall, said front end wall and said back end wall together define said fluid receiving and retaining chamber therebetween.

21. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 20, wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are each solidly connected generally along their entire length to one of said substantially cylindrical outer wall and said substantially cylindrical inner wall.

22. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 17, wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are substantially solid to thereby preclude the flow of fluid through said fluid directing vanes, such that fluid must flow along the length of said fluid directing vanes through said fluid receiving and retaining chamber.

23. The cooling j acket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 17, wherein said main body is elongate along said longitudinal axis, and has a front end and a back end, and has a length defined between said front end and said back end.

24. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 23, wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.

25. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 24, wherein said plurality of vanes comprises a forwardly extending set of vanes extending forwardly lengthwise from said back end wall and a rearwardly extending set of vanes extending rearwardly lengthwise from said front end wall.

26. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 25, wherein said forwardly extending set of vanes are disposed in interleaved relation with said rearwardly extending set of vanes.

27. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 17, wherein said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet are both disposed adjacent one of said front end and said back end of said main body.

28. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 27, wherein said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet are both disposed adjacent said back end of said main body.

29. The cooling jacket, heattransfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 20, wherein said substantially cylindrical outer wall is mounted in removable and replaceable relation on said substantially cylindrical inner wall, said front end wall and said back end wall.

30. The cooling jacket, heat transfer apparatus and heat recovery apparatus in combination with a burner of claim 29, wherein said plurality of fluid directing vanes are each solidly connected generally along their entire length to said substantially cylindrical inner wall.