Abstract: A gas water heater device includes a combustion chamber for providing a gas flow, a pipe assembly, and a heat exchanger disposed over the combustion chamber including a plurality of thermal conductors disposed in parallel with each other, each of the plurality of thermal conductors further comprising a base, a plurality of through holes accommodating the pipe assembly therethrough, and a flange for collecting condensed water formed on the base.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a liquid storage tank includes a liquid storage tank having an interior and a peripheral sidewall. An engine compartment is appended to the peripheral sidewall in front of the heat tube. An engine is disposed in the engine compartment. Heat given off from the engine during operation heats the engine compartment and such heat is transferred through peripheral sidewall to the interior of the liquid storage tank. An exhaust conduit extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank. Heat from hot exhaust gases passing through the exhaust conduit heats the interior of the liquid storage tank.

Abstract: The invention concerns a boiler condensation module, characterised in that it comprises a water/fume heat exchanger (E) and a closed circuit compression thermodynamic frigorific apparatus, said module (2) being communicated with a boiler (1) intercepting the flow of the fumes and the flow of the water, in order to subtract sensitive heat and vaporisation latent heat to the fumes of the boiler to yield the same as heat to the system water thus improving the combustion efficiency.

Abstract: The steam generator (1) comprises a first normal feed water device (8) and a second emergency feed water device (16) of the steam generator, comprising, respectively, a first toroidal header (10) and a second toroidal header (17) arranged coaxially with respect to the outer jacket (2b) of the steam generator. The second toroidal header (17) of the second emergency feed water device (16) placed inside the upper cylindrical part (2b) of the outer jacket comprises, fastened to each of a set of openings penetrating an upper part of its toroidal wall, a water injection tube (22) having an open lower end part fastened to the opening of the toroidal wall, a straight part inclined with respect to the vertical axial direction in the direction of a central part of the steam generator and an open upper end at the end of the straight part of the tube (22) for injecting emergency water inside the steam generator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising a pair of tube bundles (21, 31) through which the fluid to be heated flows, one primary bundle (21) surrounding a cylindrical burner (40) and the other secondary bundle (31) on which the water steam contained in the combustion gas exhausting from the primary bundle is condensed, whereby the tubes forming the bundles have a flattened section and a helicoidal shape, such that the combustion gas flow between the coils, from the inside to the outside for the primary bundle (21) and in the reverse order for the secondary bundle (31), both bundles being arranged inside a same shell (1). Said heat exchanger is characterised in that the axial dimension (l2) of the secondary bundle is substantially smaller than the axial dimension (I1) of the primary bundle, such that an available space for an exhaust trunking (7) is provided at the end of said secondary bundle (31).

Abstract: A hydrogen generator comprises a burner for generating a combustion gas, a reformer provided around the burner to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen by a steam reforming reaction based on a feed material comprising a compound containing at least carbon and hydrogen and a steam, using heat transmission from a combustion gas generated by the burner, and an evaporator having an inner tube provided around the burner, an outer tube provided around the inner tube, and a bottom plate that closes a lower portion of a tubular space formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, the evaporator being configured to evaporate water supplied to the tubular space to generate a steam to be supplied to the reformer, wherein a water absorbing member having a water absorbing capability is provided in the tubular space.

Abstract: A miniature vaporizer for effectively vaporizing a process fluid (e.g., a liquid media) in small energy system applications, such as systems employing chemical reformers and fuel cells. The vaporizer of the present invention can employ a heating medium, such as a hot exhaust generated by a power system, as the heating source for generating steam or for evaporating a fluid (e.g., liquid chemicals or fuels). The vaporizer of the invention can optionally be configured to vaporize water thereby functioning as a miniature steam generator, to evaporate a process fluid thereby functioning as a miniature evaporator or heat exchanger, or to evaporate a process fluid and mix the fluid with another medium. This evaporator/mixer configuration can be used in reformer plants where a liquid chemical or fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel, methanol, etc.) needs to be first evaporated and mixed with steam prior to the introduction of the resultant mixture to a converter (e.g., reformor or fuel cell).

Abstract: The steam humidifier fed with a premix of natural gas and forced air under low pressure (less than 1 psi) includes a main frame, a movable lower frame, a two part evaporation canister, releasably sealed, for water, an immersible combustion chamber retaining a radiant gas burner and a heat exchanger coupled downstream thereto. The heat exchanger is a coil with an upstream end coupled to the combustion chamber and a downstream end mounted through the upper part of the canister. Maintenance is enhanced by having the lower part of the evaporation tank or canister move downwardly to expose the combustion chamber and the heat exchanger coils. The coils are subject to thermal shock or relatively rapid thermal expansion and contraction which causes scale, adhered thereon, to be released and broken off. A high degree of control and modulation is achieved because the radiant burner is configured for modulated operation from a blue flame mode through a radiant mode.

Abstract: The steam generator (1) comprises an outer casing (2) with an axis (8) that is in a vertical disposition when the heat exchanger is in service, a bundle of tubes having straight portions that are parallel to one another and to the axis (8) of the heat exchanger (1) inside the outer casing (2), at least one tube plate (4) having through holes, each receiving the end of a tube of the bundle, and at least one water chamber having a wall (6) that is circularly symmetrical about the axis (8) of the heat exchanger (1), the water chamber being fixed to the tube plate (4) at the bottom of the heat exchanger. The surface (14a) of the solid bottom (14) of the heat exchanger includes at least one central point disposed substantially on the axis of the heat exchanger (1) at a highest level relative to the set of points constituting the inside surface (14a) of the bottom (14) of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A water heater is provided in which neutralization process of drain is not required and an excellent heat efficiency is achieved. A route of exhaust gas which is passing through the main heat exchanger 18 is divided into a first exhaust gas chamber 23 having a secondary heat exchanger 19 and a second exhaust gas chamber 24 having a drain evaporator. Because of this, hot exhaust gas which is passing through only the main heat exchanger 18 flows into both the secondary heat exchanger 19 and the drain evaporator 100. Therefore, in the secondary heat exchanger 19 exhaust gas heat can be efficiently recovered by utilizing the hot exhaust gas, and in the drain evaporator 100 drain can be evaporated efficiently by utilizing the hot exhaust gas.

Abstract: A method for controlling fouling of a heat exchanger that operates downstream of a cracking furnace by injecting liquid water upstream of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A support plate for retaining tube array spacing within a heat exchanger tube and shell structure. The support plate having a plurality of individual tube receiving apertures formed therein. Each aperture has at least three inwardly protruding members and bights are formed therebetween when the tube associated therewith is lodged in place to establish secondary fluid flow through the support plate. The inwardly protruding members terminate in flat lands that restrain but do not all contact the outer surface of the respective tube. These flat lands minimize fretting wear and eliminate potential gouging of the outer wall of the tube. The plate wall forming each aperture has an hourglass configuration which, inter alia, reduces pressure drop, turbulence and local deposition of magnetite and other particulates on the support plates.

Abstract: A condensing gas boiler having a corrosion prevention structure of preventing corrosion caused by using heterogeneous metal is provided, which includes a casing provided with a combustion chamber therein; a present heat exchanger arranged in the casing, which includes a first tubular tube made of a copper material having a plurality first thermal pins formed by processing an outer circumferential surface; a latent heat exchanger disposed at a distance from the present heat exchanger, which includes a second tubular tube whose inner portion is made of a copper material and whose outer portion is made of aluminum, having a plurality second thermal pins formed by processing an outer circumferential surface; end plates contacting and engaged with each other while the present heat exchanger and the latent heat exchanger are fixedly arranged in respective rows and installed in the casing; and a plurality of connection tubes which are mutually connected through a connection portion so that water can circulate throug

Abstract: A flow control apparatus for a boiling water nuclear reactor steam dryer is provided. The steam dryer includes at least one discharge plenum. In an exemplary embodiment, the flow control apparatus includes a support member, an elongate perforated plate member coupled to the support member, and at least one positioning member coupled to the support member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a liquid storage tank includes a liquid storage tank having an interior and a peripheral sidewall. An engine compartment is appended to the peripheral sidewall in front of the heat tube. An engine is disposed in the engine compartment. Heat given off from the engine during operation heats the engine compartment and such heat is transferred through peripheral sidewall to the interior of the liquid storage tank. An exhaust conduit extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank. Heat from hot exhaust gases passing through the exhaust conduit heats the interior of the liquid storage tank.

Abstract: Element for heat exchanging between fluids, where the flowing canals for the fluids consist of slits on either side of a thin, folded sheet material (1), and that the ratio between the slit width (24) of the canals and depths (25) in the slits is less than 0.15 times the thickness of the sheet material.

Abstract: A moisture separator 100 includes a plurality of flat frame plates 102 disposed parallel to each other to define a plurality of zigzag passages 101 between the frame plates 102, side walls facing the upstream side of the passages 101 defining entrance openings 120a and 122a of droplet collecting pockets 120 and 122.

Abstract: A vaporizer is provided for delivering vapor streams such as high purity streams to a processing destination, such as a wafer processing chamber. The vaporizer includes a heated base having one or more seamless slots formed in one of its faces for carrying a liquid which is vaporized by heat from the heated plate. In one embodiment, the vaporizer includes an atomizer for atomizing the liquid prior to vaporization to reduce the temperature of vaporization. In one embodiment, the vaporizer includes a heat exchanger having cross-slots intersecting a plurality of seamless slots to reduce unvaporized liquid from exiting the vaporizer.

Abstract: A heating system for heating liquids, stored in a tank at low ambient temperature, has a heating chamber with an inlet and an outlet for convectively flowing liquid past a flameless heater. Cold liquid is drawn through an inlet line, from the tank near its base and into a heating chamber, absorbs radiant energy from the heater as it travels therethrough. Heated liquid is circulated into the tank through an upper outlet from the heating chamber and back into the tank. Preferably, the heated liquid reenters the tank through a floating discharge flexibly connected to the upper outlet so as to remain dynamically in contact with the liquid at all times, thus avoiding airlocks which would interrupt the convective flow of liquid through the heating system.

Abstract: A baffle for slowing the incoming water flow into a booster heating tank so that the turbulence in the water tank is minimized. The baffle consists of an inner cap and outer cap which are positioned over the inlet to a water heating tank. The outer cap is spaced apart from the inner cap such that the incoming water flows through openings in the inner cap and is directed to the underside of the outer cap. The water, having been sufficiently slowed by the contact with the underside of the outer cap, then smoothly flows downward along the outer cap flange and into the main plenum of the tank.

Abstract: A support plate for retaining tube array spacing within a heat exchanger tube and shell structure. The support plate having a plurality of individual tube receiving apertures formed therein. Each apertures has at least three inwardly protruding members and bights are formed therebetween when the tube associated therewith is lodged in place to establish secondary fluid flow through the support plate. The inwardly protruding members terminate in flat lands that restrain but do not all contact the outer surface of the respective tube. These flat lands minimize fretting wear and eliminate potential gouging of the outer wall of the tube. The plate wall forming each aperture has an hourglass configuration which, inter alia, reduces pressure drop, turbulence and local deposition of magnetite and other particulates on the support plates.

Abstract: An evaporator which is small, light and whose activating time is short. The evaporator has an atomizer for atomizing a fluid being supplied into a conduit for the fluid to be heated in a plate type heat exchanger. To produce the evaporator, a metal plate is bent in a U shape, a heat exchanger module unit is produced by connecting a flow blocking member to one end of the U-shaped plate; a first interval maintaining member is attached to an outside surface of each of the plates; a second interval maintaining member is attached to an outside surface of each of the plates; and a plurality of said heat exchanger modules is arranged in a piled parallel relationship, with the first and second interval maintaining members maintaining a predetermined interval between the plates.

Abstract: A waste heat boiler for cooling hot syngas in heat exchange with water under boiling pressure, consists of an outer pressure shell (1) having a water space (2) filled with boiling water up to a predetermined fluid level (4) and a steam space (3) above it. In the water space (2), heat exchanger tubes (5) are arranged, through which the syngas to be cooled flows. Downstream from the heat exchanger tubes (5) is a superheater for superheating the saturated steam generated by the boiling water. This superheater is positioned at least partially in the steam space (3) above the fluid level (4) and has straight tubes (7), through which the syngas coming from the heat exchanger tubes (5) flows and around which the steam exiting from the water space (2) circulates.

Abstract: A burner apparatus includes a mounting head having a fuel inlet opening defined in the mounting head for receiving combustion air and fuel gas through the opening. An inner support structure is attached to the mounting head. The inner support structure defines an interior zone communicated with the fuel inlet opening of the head. An exterior layer of flexible woven heat resistant material is received about the inner support structure and defines an exterior flame attachment surface. The mounting head may include a radial opening defined therethrough. An igniter is located outside of the mounting head adjacent the radial opening so that the igniter is proximally spaced from a combustion zone surround the burner apparatus. The burner apparatus may include a plurality of foraminous back pressure plates located in the interior zone distal of the igniter for balancing the pressure of the fuel gas/combustion air mixture along the length of the burner.

Abstract: A gas fired tube and shell heat exchanger directs a flame directly into an inlet end of the tube bundle and the flame and exhaust are drawn through the tube bundle by an induced draft blower located in the exhaust stream outside of the shell. Liquid to be heated is pumped through the shell by an electric pump. In another preferred embodiment, a forced draft blower is placed on behind the burner to force air into the tube bundle. Control features prevent the burner from firing unless there is liquid flow through the shell.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air-heated/hot-water vaporizer having a very high thermal efficiency and which is easy to handle for a long period of time. Hot water supplied to the inner tube 24 of the hot water tube 22 passes through the inner tube 24 and flows out from the other end thereof to the closed end side of the outer tube 23. The hot water having flowed out to the closed end side of the outer tube 23 passes through the annular path formed by the inner tube and the outer tube 23, flows in a direction counter to that of the hot water flowing in the inner tube 24, and flows from the opening of the outer tube 23 to the outside. Liquefied gas supplied to the liquefied gas tube 21 flows along the outside of the outer tube 23, and is heated and vaporized by hot water flowing through the hot water tube 22.

Abstract: A self-compensating, energy saving heat transfer unit to provide an efficient means to transfer energy from steam to water in a central heating system. The steam enters a mixing chamber and creates a negative pressure environment. Water in a backwater pipe, which is at a lower temperature and pressure, is than is absorbed into the mixing chamber where energy is passed from the steam to the water. The water then leaves the first mixing chamber and enters a second mixing chamber where compensation water is added to make up for the possible loss of water that may occur in the central heating system. The heated water then exits the heat transfer unit and goes back into the central heating system. After being cooled in the central heating system, the water then reenters the heat transfer unit at the backwater pipe and continues the cycle over again.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for its use for a continuous production on an alkali metal, preferably sodium metal, by a reduction of the metal hydroxide with methane or natural gas as a reductant.

Abstract: A water heater baffle having an inlet and an outlet for the passage of water therethrough, the baffle being arranged to force the water entering the baffle through a labyrinth before exiting the baffle in a direction substantially 90° to its general flow of entry into the baffle.

Abstract: The steam generator comprises a cylindrical outer jacket (2) arranged with its axis vertical, a bundle wrapper (4) arranged coaxially with respect to the outer jacket and a space (9) in which feed water can flow between the bundle wrapper (4) and the outer jacket (2) or a guide skirt (8, 8a). A water supply device (10) placed towards the top of the space (9) in which the feedwater flows comprises a torus-shaped manifold (12), the upper wall of which is traversed by a number of flow openings (18) distributed in the circumferential direction of the manifold (12). A feed pipe (13) opens into the manifold and the feedwater is guided by a guide device towards the annular flow space (9). Radial dividing walls (19a, 19b, 19c, 19d) are arranged transversely in a water flow space delimited between the manifold (12) and the guide device (14).

Abstract: A hot water heater for generating substantial instantaneous hot water by positioning a plurality of burners adjacent one end of a heat transfer section. The heat transfer section includes an elongated housing which has a plurality of tubes carried therein. Water is circulated through the elongated housing for being heated by the products of combustion being generated by the burners being drawn within the elongated tubes by means of a vacuum. A combustion chamber in which the burners are carried is frusto-conical in shape with the large diameter end being exposed to the atmosphere and the small diameter end being in communication with the heat transfer section.

Abstract: A low-pressure feedwater preheater or heater in power station plants, heated with bleed steam and having a two-pass tube bundle of the tube sheet type of construction, has a carrier design for the tube bundle having side plates (9) running parallel to the tube bundle and one or more supporting plates (8) disposed perpendicularly to the tube bundle. In the center of the bundle between the cold and the hot leg, a partition (11) extends along the entire length of the bundle leg. Arranged on either side of the partition (11) are suction tubes (12) through which non-condensable gases are drawn off in the zones of lowest pressure. According to the invention, the supporting plates (8) are each made of a single piece and are thus continuous, and the partition (11) consists of individual sheet-metal parts which are connected to the supporting plates (8).

Abstract: A device for use with surfaces submerged in and moving in relation to a gas or liquid to eliminate surface flutter. Such flutter is caused by turbulence in the form of eddies formed in the gas or liquid. The device reduces the size of the eddies by placing a wall within a predetermined distance of the surface. The wall has a structure of bumps or openings formed thereon. The size of the bumps or openings, the spacing thereof along the wall, and the distance of the wall from the surface are related, so that the maximum eddy size is determined by the distance of the wall from the surface.

Abstract: A sleeved boiler-reactor provides enhanced nucleate boiling and reduced risk of film-boiling within boiling tubes of the boiler-reactor, in the same manner as prior boiler-reactors of seam-welded construction, without the high fabrication cost incident with seam-welding, through the use of a closely wound helical shaped boiling tube structure constrained by lugs against a sleeve portion of the casing of the boiler-reactor.

Abstract: Vaporizing device connected to a cooling circuit. In particular, it includes a receptacle (28) traversed by heat exchange tubes (26) which unite two pipes connected to a hot branch (3) and a cold branch (4) of the circuit. A vapor reject pipe (10) is open to engage vaporization; the circulation of hot water in the heat exchange tubes (26) drives vaporization of the liquid contained in the receptacle (28) whose feeding with liquid is ensured by a pipe (23) linked to the pipe (21) and comprising a stop valve (24) and a flow reducer (25).

Abstract: A water heater is provided for connection to a heated fluid source for transfer of heat from the heated fluid to water in the water heater. The water heater includes a shell having a water storage tank and a heat exchange chamber mounted within the tank. The water heater also has an inlet tube and outlet tube for the introduction and removal of water from the tank. A supply line is connected to the heat exchange chamber to introduce heated fluid into the chamber. A return line, also connected to the heat exchange chamber, removes fluid for reheating. Water stored in the tank is heated by heat exchange from heated fluid recirculated through the heat exchange chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating device for submersion within a tank of water to boil the water to produce steam, and for superheating the steam, comprising an outer sleeve; an inner sleeve partially disposed through the outer sleeve and having a proximal end, and a distal end in the form of an outlet port, the inner sleeve further defining a vapor chamber; a heating element disposed within the vapor chamber and in electrical communication with an external electrical power supply, the heating element adapted to produce heat in response to electrical energy from the power supply; a steam inlet tube extending outwardly from the inner tube and in fluid communication with the vapor chamber; and a one way valve disposed within the vapor chamber adjacent the outlet port, the valve adapted to selectively gate the flow of vapor from within the vapor chamber through the outlet port; wherein the heating device is configured to heat the water within the tank to a boil to produce steam, the steam inlet tube ada

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger utilizing a primary heated fluid to vaporize a secondary fluid flowing axially therethrough including a preheater assembly located within a cold leg side of the heat exchanger to allow axial flow of the secondary fluid through a preheater assembly to heat the secondary fluid to it boiling point temperature. The heat exchanger generally comprises a vertical shell portion with a tubesheet disposed adjacent a lower end thereof and a tube bundle which includes a plurality of U-shaped tubes through which the primary fluid flows. The preheater assembly is located in the vicinity of the tubesheet wherein the secondary fluid enters the preheater through a fluid inlet nozzle into a lower feedwater inlet box which is disposed around the inlet nozzle for dispersing the secondary fluid from the nozzle over a greater area.

Abstract: In a heat exchanger such as a steam generator equipping a nuclear power station the secondary fluid is injected into the upper part of an annular space (30) formed between an outer envelope (10) and a bundle or core envelope (26) having a common vertical axis. Injection takes place by means of a supply pipe (44), which issues into an overflow or weir (62). The latter has an upper horizontal edge (64) from which the secondary fluid is discharged onto a deflecting wall (54). The secondary fluid flows along this wall towards the bottom of the annular space (30). A device (60) for trapping migrating bodies can also be placed in the overflow (62) or between the latter and the deflecting wall (54).

Abstract: A single port, internal liquid heat exchange assembly for heating domestic water from a free-standing, low pressure wood fired boiler. A threaded manifold fastener retains the assembly in suspension within a single access port of a conventional water heater. An elongated manifold contains first and second coaxial flow columns which terminate at exposed inlet and outlet ports and communicate with each other within the manifold. Constructions are disclosed having concentric flow columns, convolute and expandable manifold walls, internal bypass ports, vibration dampeners, multi-ported flow transition zones and which may include a sacrificial anode.

Abstract: The secondary water supply for a steam generator is provided by a toroidal or semitoroidal collector (38) placed in the bottom of the annular recirculation space (32) of the generator, in a larger diameter part (36) of the outer envelope. The collector (38) has holes (40) ensuring a vertical mean flow of the secondary water into the annular space (32). The cross-section of the holes is chosen in such a way as to trap in the collector the migrating bodies or members from the secondary water circuit and which could damage the steam generator tubes. At least one access orifice makes it possible to extract these migrating bodies from the collector during maintenance operations.

Abstract: In a preheating steam generator, the secondary water is introduced into a preheating space (34) by deformable extensions (52) from inverted J tubes (50) fixed to a semi-torroidal supply collector (48). The structure may be in the form of three tubular segments interconnected by swivel connections or couplings. The fitting of the extensions (52) between the tubes (50) and a plate (54) partly upwardly sealing the preheating space (34) is ensured by dismantable fixing members, without any welding.

Abstract: This patent discloses a secondary fluid supply system for a steam generator used in nuclear reactor power plants. The secondary fluid supply system comprises a secondary fluid (feedwater) inlet nozzle near the base of the steam generator shell, a feedwater riser pipe spaced between the shell of the steam generator and the tube bundle wrapper, the upper end of the feedwater riser pipe being connected to a distribution ring having a plurality of spray nozzles positioned in the recirculating pool above the top of the U-shaped heat exchanger tubes.

Abstract: In a steam generator or boiler used in a nuclear reactor, the secondary water is supplied via at least one pipe (48) issuing directly into the bottom of an annular recirculation space (32) formed between the outer envelope (10) and an inner envelope (26) surrounding inverted U-tubes (24), on the side of the cold branches of the tubes. A perforated collar or flange (56) placed in the annular space (32), above the pipe (48), produces a pressure drop or flow limitation preventing the rise of the feed water and controls the circumferential distribution of the recirculation water, which drops from the separators (28).

Abstract: A steam generator having two vaporization chambers filled with molten metal salts for sequential flash evaporation of preheated atomized water through multiple vaporization tubes in said respective chambers. The molten metal salts are heated by secondary solar thermal input from lens assemblies and primary heat input from U-shaped hot air heating tubes within said vaporization chambers supplied by gas fired tube burners. Steam vapor generated by initial vaporization chamber is re-circulated to the secondary chamber outputting super heated steam. The molten metal vaporization chambers are encased in a single pressure vessel with re-circulation of condensate and multiple heat exchangers within.

Abstract: A hydro injection system for generating steam from the heat exchanged between a stream of hot combustion gases and a countercurrent flow of warm water sprays which contact hot tubes transporting the hot combustion gases is disclosed. The system comprisesi. a continuous supply of hot combustion gases and means for propelling the gases through the system;ii. a continuous supply of cold water and means for warming said cold water prior to steam generation;iii. a pressure vessel means for conducting the heat exchange; andiv. a condensate receiver means for recirculating and equilibrating water in the system.

Abstract: The installation comprises a steam generator, which consists of a first heat exchanger (50) and two second heat generators (53, 54). The first heat exchanger (50) is a radiant heat exchanger, in which the temperature of the hot gas coming from a reactor (52) is lowered to a temperature beneath the softening point of the dust. The second heat exchangers (53, 54) are convection heat exchangers, which are connected after downstream of the first heat exchangers (50) in the gas flow and are connected in parallel to one another. In the gas flow downstream of each second heat exchanger (53, 54) is a shut-off device (61 and 62).

Abstract: A heat exchange humidifier for generation of steam-to-steam or fluid-to-steam humidity may include at least one steam tube in a heat exchanger array which may be coated with a non-stick surface such as tetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON.RTM.) coating or the like, to prevent the build-up of minerals. The steam tubes in the heat exchanger array are in a substantially layered configuration, each layer being offset and below the preceding upper layer, or in helical configuration. This organization of the tubes in the heat exchanger array maximizes convection currents in a fluid surrounding the steam tubes to minimize dead water films and maximize heat transfer from the steam or fluid inside of the tubes to the surrounding water, resulting in an overall increase in boil-off capacity for adding humidity to the air.

Abstract: In a preheating steam generator, the feed water is distributed in a feed space (34) by inverted J-shaped tubes (50), so as to mix with the recirculation water passing out of the water-steam separators, which ensures the preheating of said feed water. In order to prevent the latter rising again above the upper edge (30a) of skirt (30) externally defining the space (34), use is made of one or more of the four procedures consisting of partly obstructing by a plate (52) the top of space (34), downwardly extending tube (50), increasing the diameter in the vicinity of their end and upwardly extending skirt (30).

Abstract: A baffle for slowing the incoming water flow into a booster heating tank so that the turbulence in the water tank is minimized. The baffle consists of an inner cap and outer cap which are positioned over the inlet to a water heating tank. The outer cap is spaced apart from the inner cap such that the incoming water flows through openings in the inner cap and is directed to the underside of the outer cap. The water, having been sufficiently slowed by the contact with the underside of the outer cap, then smoothly flows downward along the outer cap flange and into the main plenum of the tank.