Movable Heat Storage Mass With Enclosure Patents (Class 165/DIG13)
  • Patent number: 4542786
    Abstract: Heat exchangers depend for efficiency upon maximizing fluid flow, such as air, through their fins about tubes extending through the fins. The air flow, particularly at the ends of a heat exchanger, can sometimes be of a significantly reduced amount owing to flow restrictions caused by the construction of, or arrangement of elements in, a heat exchanger. A core (12) of a heat exchanger (10) of the present invention utilizes a relatively varied angular arrangement for tubes (16) in the core (12) which improves air flow, particularly at the ends (28,40) of the core (12). Air flow is thus improved over a portion of the heat exchanger (10) to increase heat transfer, as well as purging of debris, for the folded or zipzag core arrangement described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Gene A. Anders
  • Patent number: 4537248
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an aircooled heat exchanger including first and second sets of tubes that carry a fluid to be cooled. One end of each tube is connected to an inlet header and the other end is connected to an outlet header. Each tube includes first and second longitudinal portions which are joined or connected by an intermediate bent portion. The tubes are arranged in the flow path of a cooling air flow. The first portions of the first set of tubes are located upstream, with respect to the direction of air flow, relative to the second portions of the first set and relative to the first portions of the second set, and the second portions of the second set are located upstream relative to the first portions of the second set and to the second portions of the first set. This offset relation of portions of the tubes substantially equalizes the heat exchange with the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Sasakura Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Minami
  • Patent number: 4475586
    Abstract: A heat exchanger with at least one main tube, closed off at one end, into which compressed air, which is to be heated, is admitted and, after being heated, is removed. The main tube has at least two channel guideways which are separated from one another in the longitudinal direction. U-shaped or curved compressed air lines project from the main tube and contact the hot gases. Each compressed air line is connected at one end to the channel guideway of the main tube into which compressed air is admitted, and at its other end with the channel guideway through which the heated compressed air is removed. The compressed air lines are formed primarily from hollow bodies, which extend in the direction of flow of the hot gas and which preferably are tapered at the inflow and outflow ends in order to aid the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: MTU Motoren-Und Turbinen Union Munchen GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Grieb, Wilfried Klussmann
  • Patent number: 4434112
    Abstract: A counterflow evaporative heat exchanger employs parallel vertical uninterrupted coil containing sections having the sides thereof arranged to increase the area of liquid contact within the tubes, the smooth flow of a liquid film on the outside of the tubes, and to increase the impingement of gases against the outsides of the tubes thereby providing smooth liquid flow the full vertical length of each section and permitting the use of maximum air velocity with turbulence but with a minimum of liquid entrainment in the gas stream, thereby enhancing cooling of the internal liquid and reducing the space required for the coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: Frick Company
    Inventor: John J. Pollock
  • Patent number: 4417619
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an aircooled heat exchanger including first and second sets of tubes that carry a fluid to be cooled. One end of each tube is connected to an inlet header and the other end is connected to an outlet header. Each tube includes first and second longitudinal portions which are joined or connected by an intermediate bent portion. The tubes are arranged in the flow path of a cooling air flow. The first portions of the first set of tubes are located upstream, with respect to the direction of air flow, relative to the second portions of the first set and relative to the first portions of the second set, and the second portions of the second set are located upstream relative to the first portions of the second set and to the second portions of the first set. This offset relation of portions of the tubes substantially equalizes the heat exchange with the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Sasakura Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Minami
  • Patent number: 4363353
    Abstract: One exchanger unit comprises a length of exhaust pipe tube having a plurality of smaller heat exchange tubes which extend diametrically through the exhaust pipe tube. Each of the heat exchange tubes is canted slightly longitudinally of the exhaust pipe tube and the heat exchange tubes are disposed in a helical configuration to force the exhaust gases to swirl through the exhaust pipe tube. The heat exchanger units can be disposed in a furnace exhaust pipe or can be arranged between inlet and outlet plenums which are connected in a furnace exhaust pipe or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Inventor: Ronald B. Pranaitis
  • Patent number: 4363355
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided, comprising a housing defining a cavity therein, the housing having an inlet and outlet for feeding fluid into, and removing fluid from, the cavity of the housing, a pair of fixed spaced head plates fixed to the housing at either end of the cavity to preclude passage of fluid past the plates between the housing and plates, a pair of second head plates, one for each fixed head plate and secured to the side of the fixed head plate remote the other fixed spaced head plate, at least one of which second plates being removably secured to the fixed head plates, a gasket positioned between the fixed head plates and second plates, the housing further comprising covers for covering the head plates and providing a space between the head plates and cover, a pair of spacer plates secured to the housing between the fixed head plates, each spacer plate positioned adjacent each fixed head plate, the spacer plates permitting fluid within the cavity to flow therethrough, each of the fixed and secur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Inventor: Martin D. Prucyk
  • Patent number: 4299273
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, especially recuperator for high temperature reactors, comprising a prismatic extending jacket and a multiplicity of elongated hexagonal elements arranged within the jacket and essentially parallel to the primary direction or extent thereof. Each hexagonal element has a central tube and heat transfer surfaces arranged about each central tube and extending axially up to the outer contour or outline of the corresponding hexagonal element. Both ends of the heat transfer surfaces are connected to collectors seated upon the central tube. Each hexagonal element is connected by spacers with its neighboring elements and with analogous spacers spatially fixedly arranged at the region of the jacket laterally bounding the heat exchanger. The spacers have play so that the spacing between the elements and between the elements and the spatially fixedly arranged spacers can alter by the amount of such play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Ltd.
    Inventor: Heinz Fischli
  • Patent number: 4235286
    Abstract: A heat reclaiming flue pipe is comprised of a section of standard flue pipe of standard diameter and length. A plurality of metal pipes pass through the interior of the flue pipe section and are arranged in alignment with one another. Hot flue gases and smoke heat the plurality of metal pipes which in turn heat the air within the metal pipes. The heated air passes from the ends of the pipes into the room where the flue is located. Any number of heat reclaiming flue pipes may be utilized in the flue system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Inventor: Adolph Behlau
  • Patent number: 4226279
    Abstract: A method of suppressing formation of heat exchange fluid particles into standing waves is provided. Pursuant to the method a plurality of metal fins attached to a plurality of tube sections extending within a shell are disposed within a heat exchanger shell such that the fins extend parallel to the tube sections and parallel to the direction of flow of fluid through the shell. The fins define with the tube sections a barrier adapted to interrupt movement of columns of fluid particles in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of fluid through the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Frantisek L. Eisinger, Harry H. Pratt
  • Patent number: 4208220
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for cleaning outsides of heat exchange tubes mounted transversely to the vertical flow of seawater in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plants. The invention comprises a number of small floating objects circulating in the seawater flow which randomly clean outside surfaces of heat exchange tubes. The floating objects are made of buoyant plastic foam encased in polyethylene or other material selected to maximize cleaning but minimize wear on the outside surfaces of the tubes. The preferred shape of the floating objects is generally fusiform, altered to have erratic motion in seawater flow. Appendages may trail from the floating objects to increase the randomness of the cleaning action.The flow of seawater is arranged to provide a constantly circulating path for the floating objects to rise through slow downward flow and to fall with greater downward flow velocity. Screens located above and below the heat exchanger prevent the floating objects from escaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: The Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii
    Inventor: Henry J. White
  • Patent number: 4206806
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger, ends of adjacent heat-conducting pipes are flattened to form joining faces and these faces are butt-welded together to form a parallel pipe heat exchanger without end plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Inventor: Akira Togashi
  • Patent number: 4202405
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air cooled condenser comprising a tube bundle having rows of tubes arranged to be successively contacted by cooling air, an inlet header at one end of the bundle connected to the tubes of one of the outermost rows and the row adjacent thereto, an outlet header at the one end of the bundle connected to the tubes of the other outermost row and the row adjacent thereto, and means at the other end of the bundle connecting the tubes of the outermost rows to one another and the tubes of the adjacent rows to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventor: William F. Berg
  • Patent number: 4187901
    Abstract: A collector for radiant heat energy is disclosed, containing a radiation-absorbing heat-conducting panel in thermal contact with a series of "riser" tubes, through which a working fluid flows, thereby carrying away the radiant heat incident on the panel and absorbed by the fluid. A pair of larger diameter "header" pipes are connected to opposite ends of the riser tubes, providing access for the working fluid to and from the risers, and conducting the fluid to the pump driving the fluid motion and to the thermal "load" or object desired to be heated. Each riser tube intersects and passes through the interior of each header pipe, and the short end of the riser tube emerging from the opposite side of the header pipe is sealed by means of a cap which may be removed to facilitate cleaning of the riser tubes. Fluid passes between the risers and headers through a series of "metering holes" which are drilled through the walls of the riser tubes and located in the interior of the header pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1980
    Inventors: Robert A. Coleman, Larry D. Beard
  • Patent number: 4179902
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hot water system which utilizes heat from the refrigerant of a refrigeration system to produce hot water. The utilized heat consists of the superheat of the refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant. The water passing through a water-cooled condenser, which is part of the refrigeration system, is heated to a selected temperature by removal of both the superheat of refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant as it passes through the condenser. The condenser has a water inlet and an outlet between which is connected a hot water storage tank. As the water in the condenser is heated by absorption of the superheat of the refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant passing therethrough, the heated water rises and flows by convection into the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Paul Mueller Company
    Inventors: Paul Mueller, Ray A. Prine
  • Patent number: 4175308
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger, ends of adjacent heat-conducting pipes are flattened to form joining faces and these faces are butt-welded together to form a parallel pipe heat exchanger without end plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Inventor: Akira Togashi
  • Patent number: 4175617
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for refrigerator evaporators of the type consisting of helically coiled refrigerant-carrying tubing with radially inward extending fins formed along the length of the coiled tubing, with the air to be refrigerated directed across the axis of the coil turns. The coil turns are skewed from the helix angle to expose a greater proportion of the fins into the air flow path between the coil turns so as to increase the air flow contact with the fins. The skewing is created by relatively offsetting opposite portions of the coil turns along the air flow path across the helical coil to increase the obliqueness of a portion of each coil turn with respect to the direction of air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Hahn, Ivar Lohmus, David E. Oakley
  • Patent number: 4169502
    Abstract: A tubular heat exchanger, which may be used as an automobile radiator or the like, comprises tubes for transporting a liquid heat transfer medium between two collecting chambers, and lamellar baffles, supported by the tubes in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto, for intercepting a gaseous heat transfer medium flowing past the tubes. The tubes are disposed substantially equidistant one from another such that, when viewed in cross section, their centers are arranged in series along a first line which extends uniformly back and forth with respect to a substantially straight second line. Each section of the first line, which extends from one side to the other of the second line, passes through at least three tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1979
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Erwin Kluck
  • Patent number: 4019573
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between fluids comprising a conduit for flow of a first fluid therethrough comprising a manifold with a single port in one area and a pair of ports in another area and a plurality of spaced fluid tubes attached to the pair of ports with the combination of the plurality of tubes having outer peripheral surfaces describing a cylinder and the inner confronting peripheral surfaces spaced apart to provide an open area therebetween for flow of a second fluid therethrough and means for directing the second fluid over and around both the inner and outer peripheral surfaces and through the open area between the tubes for achieving maximum surface area heat transfer with minimum cross sectional area of the conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Arthur B. Modine