Granular bed air heater

Patent · Tue Mar 23 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5052585

Smith, R D

An apparatus and process for the transfer of heat from a hot exhaust fluid stream as, for example, produced by a combustion process, into an incoming air stream, to heat the incoming air stream close to the temperature of the exhaust stream. Such high heat transfer efficiency has heretofore not been practiced due to the fact that these exhaust streams frequently contain particulate, water vapor and other condensable vapors. The particulate in the gas fouls high performance heat exchangers and if the temperature of the gas is reduced below its dewpoint, the condensed moisture exacerbates the fouling problem and introduces a corrosion problem of its own. The apparatus of the invention includes a moving granular bed heat exchanger that can cool the exhaust gas to provide enough energy to heat the incoming air close to the temperature of the exhaust gas. Particulate in the hot exhaust fluid stream is filtered in the granular bed. The apparatus can also include means for the removal of condensed water vapor and other vapors should the exhaust gas be cooled below the dewpoint to provide increased heat transfer. The invention can be used with, for example, boilers, furnaces, dryers and the like, to preheat an incoming air stream.

• Assignee: EDB-82-142794
• Patent Number(s): US 4320796
• OSTI ID: 5052585
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320304* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
AIR HEATERS
BOILERS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COOLING
DRYERS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY RECOVERY
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXHAUST GASES
FILTRATION
FLUIDS
FURNACES
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
GRANULAR MATERIALS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT RECOVERY
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATERS
MATERIALS
OXIDATION
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES