Abstract: An air heater for use in association with a radiant heating tube, the air heater comprising a heat exchanger having a combustion air inlet and a heated combustion air outlet, and a heated gas inlet and a heated gas outlet. The heated combustion air outlet has a transfer pipe connected thereto, an opposite end of the transfer pipe adapted to be connected to an inlet end of a radiant heating tube, and the heated gas inlet to the heat exchanger adapted to be connected to a discharge end of said radiant heating tube. The transfer pipe extending from the heated air outlet of the heat exchanger to an entrance to a radiant heating tube has an air control damper means situated therein. The end of the transfer pipe adapted to be connected to an entrance to a radiant heating tube has a venturi portion therein, an oil nozzle means being situated at inlet of the venturi portion of the transfer pipe adjacent the intake end of said radiant heating tube.

Abstract: A portable space heater features a tubular heat shield of generally uniform cross sectional configuration about and in longitudinally offset, concentric, closely spaced relation to a tubular shell defining its combustion chamber to project beyond a nose cone at its outlet end. The projection of the shield beyond the cone is limited to produce, upon a high velocity pressurized flow of air around the inner surface of and the length of the shield, distinctive flow of air within the projected end of the shield and about the nose cone the pattern of which produces an effective heat exchange with the products of combustion at the cone which substantially moderates the cone temperature.

Abstract: A heating wall of a coking oven, particularly a horizontal coking oven, separates the coking chamber of the coking oven from the heating flues through which a heating medium flows to heat a charge of coking coal which is contained in the coking chamber. The heating wall is provided with a plurality of individual compartments which are separated from each other and also from the coking chamber and from the heating flues, the compartments being situated between the coking chamber and the heating flues and increasing the rate of heat transmission through the heating wall. Depending on the desired heat-transmission properties of different portions of the heating wall, the compartments may be distributed either uniformly or nonuniformly, or may have the same or different dimensions. The heating wall is constituted by refractory blocks and the enclosed compartments are provided in these refractory blocks.

Abstract: A fireplace heat exchange system is disclosed which is connectable to an existing forced air heating system of a building. The heat exchange unit includes a housing or enclosure within which is disposed a firebox. The enclosure and the firebox define a heat exchange space. The firebox includes a front opening which is closed by doors. A plenum is positioned on top of the firebox for collecting combustion gases. A plurality of heat exchange fins are secured to the exterior of the firebox within the heat exchange space to channel the incoming air entering the housing around and over the firebox and to increase the efficiency and rate of heat exchange. An air control device is positioned adjacent the front of the firebox to control the amount of combustion air entering the firebox. A chimney connects to the plenum and a chimney damper limits the combustion gas flowing out the chimney.

Abstract: Each sheath tube of a bayonet type heat exchanger is provided with spacer means secured thereto and extending inwardly from the inner wall surface thereof to define an opening through which the respective bayonet tube freely extends at least generally coaxially with the sheath tube, the surface of the spacer means adjacent the bayonet tube being smoothly contoured to substantially minimize damage to the bayonet tube from vibration.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use with a pottery kiln or the like includes a plurality of tubes for carrying air aligned by and arrayed in groups in a vertical array from the cool end to the hot end of the flue of the kiln. Connecting passageways are provided vertically between successive groups of tubes, for directing air from each group of tubes through the next hotter group, to heat the air gradually and in stages as it passes therethrough. As many sets of progressively hotter tubes may be used as required for raising the air therein to a desired temperature. Also, the number and size of tubes may vary overall as well as from group to group, according to the size of kiln and temperature to which the air is to be raised. The final group of tubes is provided with a connection to the combustion chamber of the kiln for mixing therein with fuel to provide flame to the firing chamber thereof.

Abstract: A bellows arrangement for forming a gas leakage resistant pressure seal between ceramic heat exchange tubes has an elongated metallic bellows defining a central passageway with first and second ends. A metallic tube passes through the bellows and freely moves with respect to the second end of the bellows while defining a gas chamber between the tube and bellows. Axial expansion of the bellows under the influence of the internal pressure when such pressure is higher than the external pressure which may be the atmosphere acts to apply a force at the interface between the bellows assembly and the ceramic heat exchange tube which is proportional to the internal pressure of the heat exchange tube, thereby accommodating movement of the heat exchange tube and providing a pressure seal that is leak resistant.

Abstract: Layered composite cross-flow ceramic recuperators having minimal leakage between layers and consequent high efficiencies are utilized for industrial waste heat recovery in an apparatus in which the ceramic recuperator is surrounded by a metallic housing adapted for coupling to the metallic fittings of existing furnaces, calciners, ovens and preheaters. The ceramic recuperators are formed from stacks of bi-sectioned ribbed layers, the sections of each layer being sealed together to minimize leakage of the heat transfer fluids between layers, and thus to increase the efficiency of the heat transfer.

Abstract: A rapid heat recuperative heat exchanger particularly adapted for use with large gas turbine engines, including a heat exchanger core which is composed of a plurality of spaced plate members. The core is supported within a skeleton framework by hanger members, the lower ends of which are slidably attached to horizontal control rods which extend through aligned openings in the core plates and which guide movement of the plates in an axial direction to the rods due to thermal expansion. Pressurized air is introduced to the core by inlet and outlet fittings on the end of the core which are of significantly greater thickness than the plate members. It is undesirable to join active heat exchange members of widely varying masses and differing cross-sections. Therefore, the end plate of the core is made of material having the same thickness as the inlet and outlet fittings. Progressing from the relatively thick end plate, the plates are gradually decreased in thickness until a desired plate dimension is achieved.

Abstract: A combuster is provided for utilizing a combustible mixture containing fuel and air, to heat a load fluid such as water or air, in a manner that minimizes the formation of nitrogen oxide. The combustible mixture passes through a small diameter tube where the mixture is heated to its combustion temperature, while the load fluid flows past the outside of the tube to receive heat. The tube is of a diameter small enough that the combustible mixture cannot form a flame, and yet is not subject to wall quench, so that combustion occurs, but at a temperature less than under free flame conditions. Most of the heat required for heating the combustible mixture to its combustion temperature, is obtained from heat flow through the walls of the pipe to the mixture.

Abstract: A heat recuperator for recovering thermal energy from exhaust gases emitted by a high temperature combustion furnace. The thermal energy is absorbed by an incoming stream of air. The heated air may be diverted to auxiliary heat-requiring systems and/or mixed with fuel and used in the combustion process thereby providing significant savings in energy consumption. The heat recuperator is constructed as a countercurrent-flow heat exchanger, preferentially, from a plurality of interchangeable modular elements. Each modular element is longitudinally separated into at least two flow channels in heat exchange relationship. One flow channel is used for hot exhaust gases while the incoming air is forced countercurrently through another flow channel to thereby absorb thermal energy from the hot exhaust gases.

Abstract: A recirculating processing oven heater including a direct fired burner for heating processing gas and a catalytic converter downstream from the burner for removing unburned combustible gas and providing additional heating prior to delivery of the processing gas to an associated processing oven. A housing of the heater defines first and second parallel paths along which the gas flows between an inlet and an outlet thereof and the burner and catalytic converter are located along the first path to heat gas flowing therealong while mixing of the gas downstream therefrom at a junction of the two paths provides heating of the gas that flows along the second path. The relative mass flow rates of gas flowing along the first and second paths is adjustable by a control valve mechanism including first and second adjustable valves at the inlet of the heater housing.

Abstract: The space heater of the invention features an improved motor-transformer package which may be easily applied to and removed from the heater, as an integrated unit. The design and mount of this package makes it extremely easy to service and insures that in the placement and operation thereof the total package will be surrounded with an insulating flow of air, the cooling effect of which guarantees a longer and more useful operating life for the included components and related apparatus. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the motor and transformer elements of the package are connected, in a superposed relation, to opposite sides of a mounting plate the design of which essentially dictates the required placement of the package in a heater housing.

Abstract: A recuperative heating system has a heat conductive chimney flue; a fuel combustion chamber exhausting hot waste gases and smoke upwardly through the flue; coaxial ducts about the flue, defining a fresh air flow path downwardly from a cool air intake along the outer duct and upwardly along the inner duct into direct heat exchange relationship with the outer surface of the flue and exhausting outwardly from the inner duct into a warm air room vent; and a plurality of U-shaped conduit tubes, each having its bight within the flue. The legs of each U-shaped tube are of different lengths with the inlet end on the longer leg opening into the outer duct and the outlet end on the shorter leg opening into the inner duct.

Abstract: A system for producing glass spheres in which the combustion air introduced into the furnace is preheated. The furnace has a shroud enclosing at least a portion of its outer surface, and ambient air is introduced to the space between the outer surface and the shroud by means of a fan generating a slight positive pressure. Preheated air is removed from the shroud by a plurality of ducts leading to the source of heat.

Abstract: A heat recovery apparatus in which an exhaust gas section and a fresh air section are disposed in side-by-side relationship to form an integral unit, for recovering heat from a stack or flue and discharging fresh air into a space to be heated. Heat pipe units extend from the hot gas passage of one section into the fresh air passage of the other section to transfer the heat between the two passages, the air flow in the exhaust gas section being in a series flow relationship and the flow in the fresh air section being in a parallel flow relationship. Louvers are provided for controlling the flow of exhaust gases and fresh air through the respective passages, and blowers are used to force the exhaust gases and fresh air through the passage. The passages of each section are provided with a main and by-pass passages controlled by louvers which are used to regulate the heat recovery and output of the unit.

Abstract: A waste gas heat recovery device and method of using the same, which device may be interposed between a stack and associated to use the waste heat and minimize the heat energy required in operating the furnace. The device may also be used with any type furnace or heat emitting device in which heated waste gas and air for combustion of fuel are discharged through the waste gas flues alternately.

Abstract: An energy conserving process furnace has a recuperator to utilize heat derived from exhaust gases in order to reduce fossil fuel consumption of the furnace. Elongated, enhanced surface ceramic heat exchanger tubes are used in the recuperator to recover heat energy from the exhaust gas. A preferred sealing arrangement is used between the metal and ceramic tubes to contain the combustion air. Heat is added by the recuperator to combustion air used in a fluid fuel burner. The ceramic tubes are provided with vibration protective mechanisms to prolong useful life under severe mechanical vibration encountered in some applications.In a method of operating a slot furnace, exhaust gas is exhausted from a side of the furnace through the slot or a passageway having an elongated horizontal cross section. In the preferred arrangement a second passage or air curtain passageway is positioned adjacent the first passageway to permit proper gas flow through a recuperator.

Abstract: Exhaust heat from a slot furnance is recouped by a preheater unit consisting of a pipe mounted within a flue into which exhaust gasses pass through a slot, the flue being formed by a three-sided structure mounted on the outside wall of the furnance above the slot. Combustion air is supplied to the preheater pipe in a direction tangential and transverse to the pipe axis, and a passage leading from the preheater pipe to the furnace burner or burners is provided with means for controlling the temperature and volume of the preheated air supplied thereto.

Abstract: A heater for heating a multiphase feedstock in which a single tube or multiple tube passes are disposed in a housing and bent into a series of contiguous loops arranged in substantially horizontally disposed superposed layers. Each layer consists of two substantially parallel straight portions respectively connecting the corresponding ends of two curved portions. A plurality of burners are provided in the housing for heating the feedstock as it passes through the entire length of the tube.

Abstract: A system for recovering heat from the exhaust gases of a heat generator in which a conduit connects the heat generator to the discharge stack and a fan forces the hot gases from the heat generator to the stack. A heat recovery unit removes heat from the gases as they pass through the conduit and an inner stack is disposed in the discharge stack and has an inlet in communication with the conduit and an outlet for discharging the gases. An additional conduit connects the heat generator to the discharge stack for permitting a natural flow of the gases from the heat generator to the discharge stack during inoperation of the fan.