Cross Patents (Class 122/311)
  • Patent number: 6164247
    Abstract: An intermediate fluid type vaporizer has an intermediate fluid evaporator for containing an intermediate fluid. The intermediate fluid evaporator includes heat source tubes for evaporating the intermediate fluid, and a low-temperature liquid evaporating section for evaporating a low-temperature liquid by exchanging heat between the low-temperature liquid and the evaporated intermediate fluid. In the intermediate fluid evaporator, members for dividing the intermediate fluid, and cover plates for covering both ends of the intermediate fluid level from above are provided to prevent the intermediate fluid level from changing due to the shaking of the intermediate fluid evaporator itself. This vaporizer and an LNG tank are mounted on a ship so as to vaporize LNG in the ship and to supply the LNG to an onshore consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaishi Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Masahide Iwasaki, Shinji Egashira, Tsuyoshi Oda, Kazuhiko Asada, Kuniteru Sugino
  • Patent number: 6101984
    Abstract: A fluid heater, comprising a tank having an inner chamber for accommodating a fluid to be heated, a heat exchanger having a tube bundle and a shell surrounding the tube bundle, the shell being introduced in the tank so that a wall of the shell is in contact with the fluid in the interior of the tank, the shell having an inlet for introducing a heating fluid, the tube bundle having an outlet which communicates through an upwardly raising pipe with the interior of the tank and an inlet for introducing a fluid to be heated, so that when the heating fluid is introduced through the inlet of the shell into the shell heat of the heating fluid is transferred through the wall of the shell to the fluid in the interior of the tank and also heats the fluid inside the tube bundle so that the heated fluid from the tube bundle is supplied through the upwardly raising pipe into the interior of the tank, providing a heat transfer between the heating and heated fluid by forced and natural convection simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Ari Nir
  • Patent number: 5816496
    Abstract: A compact fuel fired steam generating type humidifier. The apparatus uses a gaseous fuel as the prime source of heat to generate steam used to humidify air in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning of buildings. The humidifier may be a stand alone unit that disperses the steam into the space or the steam generated by the apparatus may be dispersed in forced air flow of the building heating system. The steam generating unit includes a water tank in which there is located a combustion chamber and a heat exchanger chamber for transferring the heat from the products of combustion to the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: James E. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 5799620
    Abstract: High efficiency heat transfer from hot gases produced by combustion of fuel and oxygen in a burner to usably heat is provided in a simple and effective manner. A burner within a water-tight casing is mounted submerged within a pool of condensate within a boiler casing. Hot gases from the burner are passed into direct heat exchange contact with condensate in the pool, and then flow in a turbulent manner into contact with a wet solid material heat exchange surface, such as pieces of limestone mounted on a perforated plate above the pool of liquid. The hot gases give up heat directly to the liquid wetting the heat transfer surface, and then are exhausted out the top of the boiler, passing through a secondary heat exchanger. Condensate is drained from the boiler to prevent excessive buildup. Liquid from the pool is circulated through a primary heat exchanger into heat exchange relationship with a heat exchange fluid, and then reintroduced into the boiler casing above the heat transfer surface (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventors: Clarence W. Cleer, Jr., Brett Allen Cleer, Mark Cleer, Patrick I. Branch
  • Patent number: 5765546
    Abstract: A dual direct contact water heater is described and consists of a heater housing having two sections, each section having a water reservoir. One section provides hot water at a high temperature and provides a source of heat exchange to heat an external source of water for commercial use. A burner is provided in the first section to provide the heat source to a packing through which water percolates. The source of water for the first section is the outlet of a heat exchanger whereby water from the reservoir is recirculated in a closed circuit in the first section. Hot gases rising from the first section is directed to a second section which also includes a second packing and a reservoir and it also has a closed loop whereby a second source of hot water, at a lower temperature, is utilized in a closed loop and in heat exchange with a second external source to produce domestic hot water or without heat exchanger to produce hot water for various processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignees: Sofame, Societe en Commandite Gaz Metropolitain, Gaz de France
    Inventors: Luc Mandeville, Stephane Brunet, Michel Dallaire, Pascal Bocherel
  • Patent number: 5758605
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating steam in which water is fed directly into a combustion zone which is configured in such a manner that water cannot by-pass the zone. A steam generator may be comprised of three conduits arranged coaxially with one another which carry fuel, oxygen, and feed water to a fuel-oxygen mixing zone and a combustion zone. Alternatively, a generator may be comprised of two concentric conduits which carry water and a mixture comprised of fuel and oxygen to a combustion zone. Steam flows out of the generator through a restriction at one end of the outermost conduit. In one embodiment, the combustion zone extends into a housing which communicates with and is attached to the outermost conduit. The invention provides very high thermal efficiency and very low atmospheric emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventor: Noel C. Calkins
  • Patent number: 5749328
    Abstract: A boiler for heating a working fluid includes a first module containing the hearth, a burner fed by said fuel gas, and an internal water circuit for wetting the hearth and creating a first level of mass and heat exchange due to vaporization without heat transfer to the working fluid; a second module including an exchanger-condenser associated with the circuit portion for circulating the working fluid and receiving the combustion gases laden with water vapor coming from the hearth of the first module and a third module including a water vapor pump providing a third level of mass and heat exchange between the combustion gases coming from the second module and the oxidizing air injected into the enclosure via an air inlet, with a device for directing the oxidizing air to the first module after it has been heated and wetted by passing through the third module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Gaz de France
    Inventor: Remi Guillet
  • Patent number: 5735235
    Abstract: A direct contact gas-to-liquid method and system for heating a liquid with a burning source being wholly submerged and producing-power is disclosed. A liquid is heated by an internal combustion engine means, which is submerged in a container and can utilize the inherent swelling power from the burning gases in the engine means to draw large air into the engine means to support the burning without any other drift device, and to further drive other devices supplying and heating the liquid in the heating method and the heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Weicheng Li
  • Patent number: 5732664
    Abstract: Apparati and methods for controlling the distribution of steam to a number of boilers, and for optimizing the performance of a steam boiler. The distribution of steam to the boilers is controlled by a master control system in communication with the boilers, steam subheaders, steam-flow sensors, a comparator module, a summer module, a main steam-supply header, and a pressure sensor in the main steam-supply header. The performance of an individual boiler is optimized by (a) maintaining a constant steam pressure in the boiler, (b) measuring the relative humidity of the air supply for fuel combustion, and (c) supplying and controlling the amount of steam to be mixed with the air supply to optimize the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph W. Badeaux, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5713309
    Abstract: There is provided a compact and lightweight steam generator capable of efficiently and economically generating steam. An impeller is disposed in a housing. While the impeller is rotated by hot water poured inside the housing through a hot water inlet, the hot water is spread to generate steam inside the housing. By a ventilation fan to be operated in association with the impeller, the steam generated inside the housing is blown off into a shower room. The hot water poured inside the housing is discharged to the inside of a hot water reservoir through a discharge port. Steam generated inside the hot water reservoir, is drawn into the inside of the housing and then blown off into the shower room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Kenji Higashi
  • Patent number: 5649476
    Abstract: A steam generator for use in steam cooking appliances includes an inner wall which provides a boiler chamber around a core of a thermostat-controlled electric heater and an outer wall which defines a buffer chamber around the boiler chamber, the inner and outer walls including openings to enable water to flow from a water reservoir into the buffer chamber and then into the boiler chamber and for the equalization of gas pressures therebetween. The heater core provides high latent heat-continuing steam which passes upwardly into a head chamber and through discharge orifices in an end wall thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Production Engineered Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: James Montagnino, Wyley Kitzmiller
  • Patent number: 5392738
    Abstract: A steam generator for a steam bath for generating steam from hot water supplied thereto. The steam generator for a steam bath has a closed main part equipped with a hot-water supply port, an air inlet, a discharge port and a steam outlet. Hot water received from the hot-water supply port is distributed in the main part so as to contact with air coming through the air inlet, and the thus generated steam is discharged through the steam outlet. Warm water formed as a result of steam generation is discharged from the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hidemi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 5305735
    Abstract: A container having a chamber with a cool water inlet disposed at the top thereof in a burner near the bottom thereof. An exhaust for flue gases is disposed at the top of the container. A first heat exchange zone is disposed in the chamber above the burner inlet for permitting the rising heat and products of combustion to contact the falling water from the water inlet. A second heat exchange zone is disposed in the chamber below the first heat exchange zone and a heat exchange pipe is disposed in the second heat exchange zone for being in direct contact with the flame of the burner. A pool of heated water is disposed at the bottom of the container and is pumped therefrom through the heat exchanger in the second zone whereby the water therein will be heated and pumped to a radiator or other place where the heat is needed. A third heat exchange zone is provided for receiving the exhaust flue gases and using such heat to heat the same zone as the other heat exchangers, another zone, or another medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: David P. Welden
  • Patent number: 5261225
    Abstract: A pressurized combustion of slurries of low-cost, unbeneficiated solid fuels in the presence of steam and alkali in which sulfur oxide emissions are inherently low, emissions of nitrogen oxides controlled by the injection of a scavenging agent and emissions of particulates prevented by condensing steam on and around them. The combustion has applications to steam boilers, combined cycles and gas turbines, including steam injected (STIG) and intercooled steam injected (ISTIG) versions. Turbine blade and nozzle erosion and deposits are avoided by the effective wet separation of ash particles before reheating and expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Dipac Associates
    Inventor: Norman L. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 5259341
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Allbrand Service, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Person
  • Patent number: 5097802
    Abstract: A high efficiency furnace having a substantially continuous wet heat exchanger wherein such continuous wet operation is provided by raising the dew point of the combustion products by submerged combustion before introduction into said head exchanger. That is, a water holding reservoir is provided between the burner and the heat exchanger, and condensate flows from the heat exchanger back into the reservoir. The combustion products are drawn through the water in the reservoir by providing a partition having a submerged lower portion, and providing a pressure differential between the chambers on the two sides of the partition. The submerged passageway from one chamber to the other may preferably be a serrated bottom edge on the partition or a plurality of apertures in the partition. The pressure differential may be provided by using a combustion blower or alternatively, using an induced draft blower preferably disposed at the flue end of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Lawrence G. Clawson
  • Patent number: 5088450
    Abstract: In a steam generator with a blow-in head through which an oxidizer and a fuel are blown into a combustion chamber adjoining the blow-in head and with injection devices for water leading into the combustion chamber, in order to create optimum conditions in the combustion chamber, it is proposed that the blow-in head have several blow-in elements which blow the oxidizer and the fuel jointly into the combustion chamber and which conduct one of these two in an inner cylinder flow and the other in a ring flow surrounding the inner cylinder flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Hans Sternfeld, Karlheinz Wolfmueller, Alfred Brunn
  • Patent number: 5086731
    Abstract: A gas fired direct contact water heater in which the heated water is led off from a reservoir in a lower part of the heater through an outlet conduit including a continuously running pump pumping the heated water along the conduit to a user's valve which is opened when the user requires heated water. To replace that water a water supply conduit controlled by a ball-cock valve conveys water to a first spray bar in an upper part of the heater above heat transfer means through which passes the downward flowing water and upward flowing products of combustion resultant from the burning fuel gas. A return conduit opens into the outlet conduit between the user's valve and the pump. The return conduit leads to a second spray bar in the heater above the heat transfer means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventors: John F. Lockett, Aik B. Lua
  • Patent number: 5055030
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons in a which a first toroidal vortex of fuel and a combustion supporting gas is created with its center adjacent the axis of an elongated combustor; a second toroidal vortex of combustion supporting gas is generated between the first toroidal vortex; the fuel is burned in the presence of the combustion supporting gas to produce a fuel gas at the downstream end of the combustor; water is introduced into the flue gas adjacent the downstream end of the combustion to produce a mixture of flue gas and water; a major portion of the water is vaporized in a vaporizor to produce a mixture of flue gas and steam; and the mixture of flue gas and steam is injected into a hydrocarbon bearing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Robert M. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 5050375
    Abstract: A pressurized combustion of slurries of low-cost, unbeneficiated solid fuels in the presence of steam and alkali in which sulfur oxide emissions are inherently low, emissions of nitrogen oxides controlled by the injection of a scavenging agent and emissions of particulates prevented by condensing steam on and around them. The combustion has applications to steam boilers, combined cycles and gas turbines, including steam injected (STIG) and intercooled steam injected (ISTIG) versions. Turbine blade and nozzle erosion and deposits are avoided by the effective wet separation of ash particles before reheating and expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Dipac Associates
    Inventor: Norman L. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 5046436
    Abstract: An apparatus for the preheating of liquid waste having a heated sealed container, a liquid waste tank, a jacket positioned around the sealed container so as to form a heat exchange region between the interior of the jacket and the exterior of the sealed container, and an injector for transmitting a heated liquid waste from the tank into the interior of the sealed container. An inert gas container is connected to the waste tank so as to pass argon gas for displacing the oxygen from the interior of the liquid waste tank. An insulating layer is formed around the exterior of the sealed container and the waste tank. Suitable conduits connect the waste tank with the heat exchange region of the sealed container. A storage vessel is in valved relationship with the liquid waste tank. Suitable pumping is provided so as to transmit the liquid waste into the heat exchange region and back to the liquid waste tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: Benjamin P. Fowler
  • Patent number: 5027750
    Abstract: Liquid and vapor are mixed and heated in a novel heat exchanger which comprises a shell, vertical heat exchange tubes, means for injecting vapor into the base of the shell, means for injecting liquid into a stream of the vapor and means to remove a stream of liquid droplets in vapor from an upper position of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: David Boland, James C. Hill, Frederick H. Lancaster, Andrew M. Day