Heat exchanger structure for a compact boiler and the like

Claim 2

A boiler comprising a conduit network through which a first fluid is transmitted, a matrix of discrete conductive bodies which contact each other, said matrix being randomly dispersed between adjacent conduits forming said conduit network and contacting only part of the outer adjacent surfaces of said conduits forming said network, the bodies of said matrix providing tortuous light-transparent spacial paths therebetween through which a second fluid may pass, said matrix in the direction of flow of said second fluid having plural layers of said conductive bodies, said second fluid being applied directly against the outer wall of said conduit network and being indirectly applied against said outer wAll through the spacial paths between the bodies of said matrix, and a burner which discharges the second fluid at an elevated temperature to transfer heat to the first fluid, whereby the second fluid will be applied substantially at the elevated temperature directly, and indirectly through the spacial paths of the matrix, against the outer wall of said conduit network.

Claim 3

A boiler according to claim 1 in which the conduit network comprises a plurality of conduits which are substantially parallel to each other in a cylindrical configuration and the burner is positioned to deliver the second fluid radially within the cylindrical configuration.

Claim 4

A boiler comprising a plurality of interconnected longitudinal conduits through which a first fluid is transmitted, a matrix structure of discrete conductive bodies which are randomly dispersed between said adjacent conduits and which contact each other to provide light-transparent paths in the spaces between said bodies, the bodies of said matrix structure contacting only parts of the outer walls of said adjacent conduits so that substantial segments of said outer walls are not in contact with any of said conductive bodies, a second fluid being applied directly against segments of the outer walls of said conduits and being indirectly applied against the outer walls of said conduits through the spaces between the bodies of the matrix structure, the spaces between the bodies of the matrix structure providing the paths through which the second fluid may be discharged, said matrix in the direction of flow of said second fluid having plural layers of said conductive bodies, and a burner discharging the second fluid above a predetermined temperature against segments of the outer walls of the conduits and against the matrix structure to transfer heat to the first fluid.

Claim 5

A boiler comprising a plurality of interconnected longitudinal conduits through which a first fluid is transmitted, a matrix structure of discrete conductive bodies which are randomly dispersed between said adjacent conduits and which contact each other to provide light-transparent paths in the spaces between said bodies, the bodies of said matrix structure contacting only parts of the outer walls of said adjacent conduits so that substantial segments of said outer walls are not in contact with any of said conductive bodies, a second fluid being applied directly against segments of the outer walls of said conduits and being indirectly applied against the outer walls of said conduits through the spaces between the bodies of the matrix structure, the spaces between the bodies of the matrix structure providing the paths through which the second fluid may be discharged, said matrix in the direction of flow of said second fluid having plural layers of said conductive bodies, and a burner discharging the second fluid above a predetermined temperature against segments of the outer walls of the conduits and against the matrix structure to transfer heat to the first fluid.

Claim 6

A boiler according to claim 3 in which the longitudinal conduits are arranged in a cylindrical pattern with the burner positioned within the inner wall of said cylindrical pattern.

Claim 7

A boiler comprising a heat exchanger in the form of a substantially hollow circularly cylindrical belt-shaped structure, said structure including a plurality of interconnected substantially parallel conduits transmitting a fluid to be heated, said conduits being linked to each other by a corresponding plurality of matrices of discrete pellets, each matrix being formed by randomly dispersed pellets separately interposed between the side walls of a different pair of adjacent parallel conduits, the pellets of each matrix being of such size and shape that, when joined to each other between the side walls of adjacent conduits, light rays will be optically transparent through said matrix, a surface combustion burner which feeds its combustion gases directly against the inner walls of the parallel conduits and directly against the matrices between said conduits so that the combustion gases directly impinge upon the walls of said conduits and directly impinge upon all of said matrices, said matrices in the direction of flow of said combustion gases having plural layers of said pellets, and an exit port for discharging said gases after they have passed through the spaces between the pellets and said matrices.

Claim 8

A boiler comprising a heat exchanger in the form of a substantially hollow circularly cylindrical belt-shaped structure, said structure including a plurality of interconnected substantially parallel conduits transmitting a fluid to be heated, said conduits being linked to each other by a corresponding plurality of matrices of discrete pellets, each matrix being formed by randomly dispersed pellets separately interposed between the side walls of a different pair of adjacent parallel conduits, the pellets of each matrix being of such size and shape that, when joined to each other between the side walls of adjacent conduits, light rays will be optically transparent through said matrix, a surface combustion burner which feeds its combustion gases directly against the inner walls of the parallel conduits and directly against the matrices between said conduits so that the combustion gases directly impinge upon the walls of said conduits and directly impinge upon all of said matrices, said matrices in the direction of flow of said combustion gases having plural layers of said pellets, and an exit port for discharging said gases after they have passed through the spaces between the pellets and said matrices.

Claim 9

A boiler according to claim 5 in which the burner is located substantially coaxially within the inner wall of the circularly cylindrical belt-shaped structure, said burner feeding its heated gases substantially along radial paths directly contacting the inner walls of said parallel conduits and said matrices.

Claim 10

A boiler according to claim 5, including means associated with the burner for mixing air under pressure with gas to be burned to produce the mixture of heated gases to travel radially in paths directly contacting the parallel conduits and the matrices.

Claim 11

A boiler according to claim 7 in which the exit port is exterior to and distant from the belt-shaped structure for transmitting to the external atmosphere the discharged gases after they have traversed the matriCes.

Claim 12

A boiler comprising a heat exchanger having a plurality of substantially parallel fluidconveying conduits positioned between two substantially uniformly spaced coaxial boundaries contiguous to said conduits and conveying fluid to be heated, a plurality of independent matrices each composed of a plurality of contacting randomly dispersed conductive bodies interposed between said coaxial boundaries and so arranged that a large section of each conduit is detached from all of said bodies of the matrices, said bodies of each matrix being of such size and shape as to provide light-transparent paths extending through each matrix through which the radiation of burning gases will be visible, each matrix coupling a small section of one conduit to a small section of another adjacent conduit so that said conduits are physically linked to each other and supported by the linkages, a surface combustion burner emitting gases as a heating fluid for impinging directly against the matrix-detached sections of each of said conduits and directly against each of said matrices, said matrices in the direction of flow of said combustion gases having plural layers of said conductive bodies, said burner feeding the heating fluid directly against detached sections of each of said conduits and directly against each of said matrices for elevating the temperature of the fluid to be heated as it is conveyed by said parallel conduits, whereby said matrices provide a medium of predetermined low pressure loss for the flow of the heating fluid.

Claim 13

A boiler comprising a heat exchanger having a plurality of substantially parallel fluidconveying conduits positioned between two substantially uniformly spaced coaxial boundaries contiguous to said conduits and conveying fluid to be heated, a plurality of independent matrices each composed of a plurality of contacting randomly dispersed conductive bodies interposed between said coaxial boundaries and so arranged that a large section of each conduit is detached from all of said bodies of the matrices, said bodies of each matrix being of such size and shape as to provide light-transparent paths extending through each matrix through which the radiation of burning gases will be visible, each matrix coupling a small section of one conduit to a small section of another adjacent conduit so that said conduits are physically linked to each other and supported by the linkages, a surface combustion burner emitting gases as a heating fluid for impinging directly against the matrix-detached sections of each of said conduits and directly against each of said matrices, said matrices in the direction of flow of said combustion gases having plural layers of said conductive bodies, said burner feeding the heating fluid directly against detached sections of each of said conduits and directly against each of said matrices for elevating the temperature of the fluid to be heated as it is conveyed by said parallel conduits, whereby said matrices provide a medium of predetermined low pressure loss for the flow of the heating fluid.

Claim 14

A boiler according to claim 9 in which the parallel conduits are connected in series with each other so that the fluid to be heated will be exposed to the heating fluid emitted by the burner for a large time interval.

Claim 15

A boiler comprising a substantially cylindrical heat exchanger having a plurality of substantially parallel interconnected conduits spaced from each other and conveying fluid to be heated and positioned between two concentric cylindrical boundaries defining said parallel conduits, a corresponding plurality of matrices of randomly dispersed pellets which are bound to each other so that each matrix is interposed between two adjacent parallel conduits between said two concentric cylindrical boundaries so that large portions of the outer and inner walls of said conduits are detached from all of said matrices, a surface combustion burner positioned within the smaller of the two concentric cylindrical boundaries of the parallel conduits and discharging gaseous products of combustion directly impinging against the detached inner walls of said parallel conduits and directly impinging against said matrices to elevate the temperature of the fluid to be heated, said matrices in the direction of flow of said products of combustion having plural layers of said pellets, the pellets of each matrix being of such size and shape as to provide light-transparent, low pressure loss paths for the gaseous products traversing each matrix, said gaseous products being exhausted after passing through the matrices of pellets.

Claim 16

A boiler comprising a substantially cylindrical heat exchanger having a plurality of substantially parallel interconnected conduits spaced from each other and conveying fluid to be heated and positioned between two concentric cylindrical boundaries defining said parallel conduits, a corresponding plurality of matrices of randomly dispersed pellets which are bound to each other so that each matrix is interposed between two adjacent parallel conduits between said two concentric cylindrical boundaries so that large portions of the outer and inner walls of said conduits are detached from all of said matrices, a surface combustion burner positioned within the smaller of the two concentric cylindrical boundaries of the parallel conduits and discharging gaseous products of combustion directly impinging against the detached inner walls of said parallel conduits and directly impinging against said matrices to elevate the temperature of the fluid to be heated, said matrices in the direction of flow of said products of combustion having plural layers of said pellets, the pellets of each matrix being of such size and shape as to provide light-transparent, low pressure loss paths for the gaseous products traversing each matrix, said gaseous products being exhausted after passing through the matrices of pellets.

Claim 17

A boiler comprising a heat exchanger having a plurality of substantially parallel conduits transmitting therethrough a fluid to be heated, a corresponding plurality of matrices each composed of randomly dispersed discrete particulate bodies, the bodies of each matrix being brazed to each other so that there are spaces between said bodies to form light-transparent, low gas pressure paths and being brazed to the side walls of two of the substantially parallel conduits without being brazed to or otherwise contacting the front and rear walls of said parallel conduits, a surface combustion burner adjacent to the front walls of said parallel conduits and emitting gases to be impinged directly against the front walls of said conduits and also simultaneously directly against the front walls of said matrices, said matrices in the direction of flow of said combustion gas having plural layers of said particulate bodies, the gases emitted by tHe burner not impinging directly against the side walls of said conduits.

Claim 18

A boiler comprising a heat exchanger having a plurality of substantially parallel conduits transmitting therethrough a fluid to be heated, a corresponding plurality of matrices each composed of randomly dispersed discrete particulate bodies, the bodies of each matrix being brazed to each other so that there are spaces between said bodies to form light-transparent, low gas pressure paths and being brazed to the side walls of two of the substantially parallel conduits without being brazed to or otherwise contacting the front and rear walls of said parallel conduits, a surface combustion burner adjacent to the front walls of said parallel conduits and emitting gases to be impinged directly against the front walls of said conduits and also simultaneously directly against the front walls of said matrices, said matrices in the direction of flow of said combustion gas having plural layers of said particulate bodies, the gases emitted by tHe burner not impinging directly against the side walls of said conduits.

Claim 19

A boiler according to claim 12 including a common portal for discharging the gases after they have traversed the spaces between the particulate bodies of all of said matrices.

Claim 20

A boiler system comprising a surface combustion burner having a cylindrical porous surface member capable of continuously transmitting therethrough gases to be burned and transmitted in paths and capable of withstanding the heat generated by the continuously burning gases, a plurality of parallel fluid-conveying conduits together positioned concentrically about said porous surface member, a plurality of porous matrices corresponding in number to the number of parallel conduits and providing low gas pressure loss paths through said matrices, said paths being light-transparent, each matrix interconnecting the side walls between two adjacent conduits but leaving the remaining portions of said walls of said conduits adjoining said cylindrical porous surface member uncovered by any of said matrices, each matrix being composed of a plurality of randomly dispersed particulate bodies which are brazed to each other and to the interconnected side walls of the adjacent conduits, said matrices in the direction of flow of said burned gases having plural layers of said particulate bodies whereby gases burned by said burner will impinge against the uncovered portions of said walls of said conduits exposed to said porous surface member and will impinge also against said matrices.

Claim 21

A boiler system comprising a surface combustion burner having a cylindrical porous surface member capable of continuously transmitting therethrough gases to be burned and transmitted in paths and capable of withstanding the heat generated by the continuously burning gases, a plurality of parallel fluid-conveying conduits together positioned concentrically about said porous surface member, a plurality of porous matrices corresponding in number to the number of parallel conduits and providing low gas pressure loss paths through said matrices, said paths being light-transparent, each matrix interconnecting the side walls between two adjacent conduits but leaving the remaining portions of said walls of said conduits adjoining said cylindrical porous surface member uncovered by any of said matrices, each matrix being composed of a plurality of randomly dispersed particulate bodies which are brazed to each other and to the interconnected side walls of the adjacent conduits, said matrices in the direction of flow of said burned gases having plural layers of said particulate bodies whereby gases burned by said burner will impinge against the uncovered portions of said walls of said conduits exposed to said porous surface member and will impinge also against said matrices.

Claim 22

A boiler system according to claim 14, in which each matrix is composed of a plurality of spherical pellets of steel each coated with copper.

Claim 23

A boiler system according to claim 14, including a blower, a source of combustible gas, and means for supplying to the combustion burner a mixture of air and gas in predetermined proportions at a predetermined pressure and for maintaining the proportions substantially constant.

Claim 24

A boiler system according to claim 16, including a utilization structure coupled to the parallel fluid-conveying conduits for receiving and responding to the heated fluids derived from the boiler system.

Claim 25

A boiler system according to claim 16, including means to maintain the proportions of air and gas substantially constant notwithstanding changes in the pressure developed by the blower.

Claim 26

A boiler system comprising a belt-shaped cylindrical heat exchanger having a plurality of longitudinal conduits which are connected in series with each other for transmitting a first fluid, a plurality of light-transparent matrices equal in number to said parallel conduits, each matrix being formed of randomly dispersed particulate bodies which are porous to a second fluid and being interposed only between the side walls of two adjacent conduits, means including a burner for transmitting heated gases radially to said heat exchanger so that the said second fluid in the form of heated gases will impinge directly against the undersides of said matrices and traverse the matrices with a substantially constant but relatively low loss of pressure and said matrices in the direction of flow of said combustion gases having plural layers of said particulate bodies.

Claim 27

A boiler system comprising a belt-shaped cylindrical heat exchanger having a plurality of longitudinal conduits which are connected in series with each other for transmitting a first fluid, a plurality of light-transparent matrices equal in number to said parallel conduits, each matrix being formed of randomly dispersed particulate bodies which are porous to a second fluid and being interposed only between the side walls of two adjacent conduits, means including a burner for transmitting heated gases radially to said heat exchanger so that the said second fluid in the form of heated gases will impinge directly against the undersides of said matrices and traverse the matrices with a substantially constant but relatively low loss of pressure and said matrices in the direction of flow of said combustion gases having plural layers of said particulate bodies.

Claim 28

A boiler according to claim 19 in which the burner includes a porous surface structure coaxial with the axis of said heat exchanger and producing and transmitting heated gases as a second fluid in all radial directions simultaneously against the undersides of said conduits and said matrices so as to elevate the temperature of the first fluid.

Claim 29

A boiler system according to claim 19, including means including a blower and a source of combustible gas for supplying to the combustion burner a mixture of air and gas in predetermined proportions and for maintaining the proportions substantially constant.

Claim 30

A boiler system according to claim 21, including a utilization structure coupled to the parallel fluid-conveying conduits for responding to the heated fluiDs flowing through said structure.

Claim 31

A boiler system according to claim 21, including means to maintain the proportions of air and gas substantially constant notwithstanding changes in the pressure developed by the blower.