Combination dust collector and heat exchanger

Claim 1

A combination dust collector and heat exchanger, comprising: means for providing a gravity separation chamber having an inlet and an outlet; means in communication with the inlet for recirculating gases through the chamber at reduced gas velocity so that particulate material entrained by the gases may be separated therefrom by gravity during passage of the gases through the chamber, and for discharging a portion of the gases through the outlet; and heat exchange means operatively associated with the chamber for exchanging heat between the gases and a fluid prior to discharge of the gases through the outlet; said means for recirculating gases including means for directing gases from the inlet along a generally horizontal course in overlying relation to the chamber and communicating with the outlet, means being interposed between the chamber and said horizontal course for causing a portion of the gases exiting the chamber to be discharged via the outlet, and for causing the remaining portion of said gases to be returned to the chamber along said horizontal course, and means in communication with said horizontal course for first reversing the direction of gas flow from the inlet, and then for directing the gases into the chamber at reduced gas velocity; said heat exchange means being located between the outlet and said horizontal course and including a plurality of heat exchange elements spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit gas flow therebetween toward the outlet, said heat exchange elements and said means interposed between the chamber and said horizontal course extending in convergent planes along the direction of gas flow from the inlet to form a convergent inlet passage constituting said horizontal course.