High efficiency direct contact heat exchanger
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A direct contact heat exchanger assembly comprising:
- an evaporator jacket; and
an inner member received within the evaporator jacket, a sleeve passage defined between the evaporator jacket and the inner member, the sleeve passage configured and arranged to pass a flow of water therethrough, the inner member defining an inner exhaust chamber configured to pass hot gas from a combustor therethrough, the inner member further having a plurality of exhaust passages extending from the inner exhaust chamber through a sidewall of the inner member to the sleeve passage to enable at least a portion of the hot gas passing through the inner exhaust chamber to enter the flow of water in the sleeve passage;
wherein the evaporator jacket is elongated and generally cylindrical in shape, and the inner member comprises;
a generally cylindrical turning vane received within the evaporator jacket, the turning vane having an inner surface defining at least part of the inner exhaust chamber, the turning vane configured to pass hot fluid from the combustor through the inner exhaust chamber, an outer surface of the turning vane and an inner surface of the evaporator jacket are spaced to form, at least in part, the sleeve passage, the sleeve passage exhibiting an annular shape and extending around the outer surface of the turning vane, the turning vane having a plurality of elongated raised directional turning fins extending out from the outer surface of the turning vane within the sleeve passage, the turning fins positioned to direct a flow of water in the sleeve passage into a swirling path around the turning vane; and
a generally cylindrical stator received within the evaporator jacket, the stator longitudinally coupled to the turning vane, the stator having an inner surface configured and arranged to form at least another part of the inner exhaust chamber, the stator having an outer surface, the outer surface of the stator and the inner surface of the evaporator jacket spaced to form at least another part of the sleeve passage, the stator having a plurality of elongated raised directional maintaining fins extending out from the outer surface of the stator within the sleeve passage to maintain the swirling path of the flow of water directed by the turning fins of the turning vane, the plurality of exhaust passages extending from an interior of the stator between the inner exhaust chamber and the sleeve passage.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A direct contact heat exchanger assembly is provided. The direct contact heat exchanger assembly includes an evaporator jacket and an inner member. The inner member is received within the evaporator jacket. A sleeve passage is formed between the evaporator jacket and the inner member. The sleeve passage is configured and arranged to pass a flow of liquid. The inner member has an inner exhaust chamber that is configured to pass hot gas. The inner member further has a plurality of exhaust passages that allow some of the hot gas passing through the inner exhaust chamber to enter the flow of liquid in the sleeve passage.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A direct contact heat exchanger assembly comprising:
-
an evaporator jacket; and
an inner member received within the evaporator jacket, a sleeve passage defined between the evaporator jacket and the inner member, the sleeve passage configured and arranged to pass a flow of water therethrough, the inner member defining an inner exhaust chamber configured to pass hot gas from a combustor therethrough, the inner member further having a plurality of exhaust passages extending from the inner exhaust chamber through a sidewall of the inner member to the sleeve passage to enable at least a portion of the hot gas passing through the inner exhaust chamber to enter the flow of water in the sleeve passage;
wherein the evaporator jacket is elongated and generally cylindrical in shape, and the inner member comprises;a generally cylindrical turning vane received within the evaporator jacket, the turning vane having an inner surface defining at least part of the inner exhaust chamber, the turning vane configured to pass hot fluid from the combustor through the inner exhaust chamber, an outer surface of the turning vane and an inner surface of the evaporator jacket are spaced to form, at least in part, the sleeve passage, the sleeve passage exhibiting an annular shape and extending around the outer surface of the turning vane, the turning vane having a plurality of elongated raised directional turning fins extending out from the outer surface of the turning vane within the sleeve passage, the turning fins positioned to direct a flow of water in the sleeve passage into a swirling path around the turning vane; and a generally cylindrical stator received within the evaporator jacket, the stator longitudinally coupled to the turning vane, the stator having an inner surface configured and arranged to form at least another part of the inner exhaust chamber, the stator having an outer surface, the outer surface of the stator and the inner surface of the evaporator jacket spaced to form at least another part of the sleeve passage, the stator having a plurality of elongated raised directional maintaining fins extending out from the outer surface of the stator within the sleeve passage to maintain the swirling path of the flow of water directed by the turning fins of the turning vane, the plurality of exhaust passages extending from an interior of the stator between the inner exhaust chamber and the sleeve passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
9. A direct contact heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
-
an elongated cylindrical evaporator jacket;
a cylindrical inner member received within the evaporator jacket, the inner member having an inner surface defining an inner exhaust chamber, the inner member configured and arranged to pass hot gas through the inner exhaust chamber, an outer surface of the inner member and an inner surface of the evaporator jacket spaced to form an annular shaped sleeve passage extending around the outer surface of the inner member, the sleeve passage configured and arranged to pass a flow of water therethrough, the inner member having a plurality of exhaust passages extending from the inner exhaust chamber through a sidewall of the inner member to the sleeve passage, the plurality of exhaust passages allowing some of the hot gas passing in the inner exhaust chamber to mix with the flow of water passing in the sleeve passage to create a gas mix in the sleeve passage; anda plurality of raised fins extending out from the outer surface of the inner member within the sleeve passage configured and oriented to impart or maintain a swirling path to the flow of water in the sleeve passage;
wherein at least some of the plurality of exhaust passages each pass through an associated fin of the plurality of raised fins to the sleeve passage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification