US3645237A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water heater having fluidized bed combustion and heat exchange region
Assignee: Trane US Inc
•
Filing: 1970-06-10
•
Granted: 1972-02-29
•
Expires: 1990-06-10
Abstract
Abstract Water is heated to an elevated temperature or steam is produced, by passing water through heating coils which are embedded in a fluidized bed of inert particles. The heat for the system is produced by combustion of a material such as propane, methane or the like in a lower zone of the fluidized bed. The combustion is stabilized by intermixing small particles and large particles in the lower zone. The large particles are not fluidized but are merely suspended in the upflowing fluid, and the small particles are fluidized in the interstices of the large, relatively stationary particles.
Inventors
- 👤 Ram Gopal Seth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:07
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24H; F24H1/00; F24H1/22; F24H1/40; F22; F22B; F22B31/00; F22B31/0007; F22B31/0015; F22B31/0023; F23; F23C; F23C10/00; F24H9/00; F24H9/18; F24H9/1809; F24H9/1832; F24H9/1836
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A heater comprising: a combustion zone which includes a substantially stationary porous matrix defining a tortuous passage system, and fluidizable particles trapped in the matrix system for multiple collisions with each other and the molecules in the flowing combustibles; and a fluidized bed receiving hot gases issuing from the combustion zone, and a heat exchanger immersed in the fluidized bed for accepting heat from the fluidized particles by scouring effects on the heat exchanger walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A heater comprising: a combustion zone which includes a substantially stationary porous matrix defining a tortuous passage system, and fluidizable particles trapped in the matrix system for multiple collisions with each other and the molecules in the flowing combustibles; and a fluidized bed receiving hot gases issuing from the combustion zone, and a heat exchanger immersed in the fluidized bed for accepting heat from the fluidized particles by scouring effects on the heat exchanger walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein the substantially porous matrix is formed by discrete particles sized sufficiently large to remain unfluidized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heater of claim 2 wherein the matrix-forming particles have diameters greater than 0.5 inch, and the fluidizable particles have diameters less than 0.1 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein the individual matrix-forming particles are of sufficient mass and heat-retaining character as to maintain relatively high temperatures in the combustion zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein the matrix-forming particles are configured and sized so as to have limited contact with one another, whereby the matrix has a substantial heat-retaining character.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A heater comprising: a combustion bed which includes relatively large nonfluidized particles and relatively small fluidized particles in the interstices between the large particles; a fluidized bed receiving gases issuing from the combustion bed; and a heat exchanger immersed in the fluidized bed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A heater comprising: a combustion bed which includes relatively large nonfluidized particles and relatively small fluidized particles in the interstices between the large particles; a fluidized bed receiving gases issuing from the combustion bed; and a heat exchanger immersed in the fluidized bed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The heater of claim 6 wherein the fluidized bed is formed directly above the combustion bed; said fluidized bed comprising fluidizable particles of the same size and mass as the fluidizable particles in the combustion bed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heater of claim 7 wherein the fluidized bed is contiguous to the combustion bed whereby fluidizable particles are enabled to circulate between the two beds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heater of claim 6 wherein the combustion bed is of sufficient depth as to maintain a substantial temperature increase between the inlet face and its outlet face.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The heater of claim 6 wherein the combustion bed is of sufficient depth that the gas temperature rises appreciably as the gas moves into the bed interior and then levels off as the gas nears the outlet face of the combustion bed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A heater comprising: a first combustion bed containing fluidizable particles buffeted by the flowing gases; a second heat transfer bed containing fluidizable particles; and a heat exchanger immersed in the heat transfer bed; said combustion bed being thermally isolated from the heat transfer bed so that combustion temperatures are maintained.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A heater comprising: a first combustion bed containing fluidizable particles buffeted by the flowing gases; a second heat transfer bed containing fluidizable particles; and a heat exchanger immersed in the heat transfer bed; said combustion bed being thermally isolated from the heat transfer bed so that combustion temperatures are maintained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heater of claim 11 wherein the thermal isolation is achieved by structuring the combustion bed as a number of separated compartments, each containing fluidizable particles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2459836A
Cited
US2610842A
Cited
US2729428A
Cited
US2976853A
Cited
US3397657A
Cited
US3565022A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |