Multiflow rotary heat exchanger element

Claim 1

A multiflow rotary heat exchanger element comprising: a rotatably mounted longitudinal shaft; a plurality of coil sets fixedly positioned to said shaft at spaced intervals along the length thereof; each of said coil sets being formed of an equal plurality of separate equally configured coils, each of said coils of each set being in the form of a circular sector, each of said coils having extending therethrough a fluid passage including first and second radial portions joining at least one circumferential portion, all of said coils of each said coil set being arranged substantially in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft; a plurality, equal to said plurality of coils in each said coil set, of separate fluid conduit means for supplying plural separate streams of fluid from a first end of said element to a second end thereof, said fluid conduit means being entirely fluid isolated from each other; each said fluid conduit means including the fluid passage of a selected one only of said coils of each of said coils sets, and a plurality of separate channels, one each of said channels connecting the fluid passage of the said selected coil of one of said coil sets with the fluid passage of the said selected coil of the next successive coil set, said channels serially connecting said fluid passages of said selected coils from said first end of said element to said second end thereof; fluid inlet means extending into a first end of said shaft, said fluid inlet means communicating with the first radial portion of each of said fluid passages of the coils of the coil set adjacent said first end of said shaft; fluid outlet means extending from a second end of said shaft, said fluid outlet means communicating with the second radial portion of each of said fluid passages of the coils of the coil set adjacent said second end of said shaft; the separate channels of each of said separate fluid conduits connecting the second radial portion of the fluid passage of the respective selected coil of each coil set with the first radial portion of the fluid passage of the respective selected coil of the next downstream coil set, taken in the direction of flow of fluid from said first end of said shaft to said second end thereof; and said coils in the form of circular sectors being positioned such that corresponding sectors of each of said coil sets are aligned longitudinally of said shaft, the adjacent selected and connected coils of each of said separate fluid conduits being sequentially circumferentially displaced with respect to each other, and the circumferential displacement of said selected and connected coils being in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said shaft.

Claim 9

An apparatus for the continuous heat treatment and stirring of a material, said apparatus comprising: a material container; a material inlet at a first end of said container for continuously introducing therein material to be treated; a material outlet at a second opposite end of said container for continuously removing therefrom treated material; a shaft rotatably mounted in said first and second container ends and extending longitudinally through said container; a plurality of coil sets fixedly positioned to said shaft at spaced intervals along the length thereof; each of said coil sets being formed of an equal plurality of separate equally configured coils, each of said coils of each set being in the form of a circular sector, each of said coils having extending therethrough a fluid passage including first and second radial portions joining at least one circumferential portion, all of said coils of each said coil set being arranged substantially in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft; a plurality, equal to said plurality of coils in each coil set, of separate fluid conduit means for supplying plural separate streams of fluid from a first end of said shaft to a second end thereof, said fluid conduit means being entirely fluid isolated from each other; each said fluid conduit means including the fluid passage of a selected one only of said coils of each of said coil sets, and a plurality of separate channels, one each of said channels connecting the fluid passage of the said selected coil of one of said coil sets with the fluid passage of the said selected coil of the next successive coil set, said channels serially connecting said fluid passages of said selected coils from said first end of said shaft to said second end thereof; fluid inlet means extending into said first end of said shaft, said fluid inlet means communicating with the first radial portion of each of said fluid passages of the coils of the coil set adjacent said first end of said shaft; fluid outlet means extending from said second end of said shaft, said fluid outlet means communicating with the second radial portion of each of said fluid passages of the coils of the coil set adjacent said second end of said shaft; the separate channels of each of said separate fluid conduits connecting the second radial portion of the fluid passage of the respective selected coil of each coil set with the first radial portion of the fluid passage of the respective selected coil of the next downstream coil set, taken in the direction of flow of fluid from said first end of said shaft to said second end thereof; and said coils in the form of circular sectors being positioned such that corresponding sectors of each of said coil sets are aligned longitudinally of said shaft, the adjacent selected and connected coils of each of said separate fluid conduits being sequentially circumferentially displaced with respect to each other, and the circumferential displacement of said selected and connected coils being in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said shaft.

Claim 10

An apparatus for the continuous heat treatment and stirring of a material, said apparatus comprising: a material container; a material inlet at a first end of said container for continuously introducing therein material to be treated; a material outlet at a second opposite end of said container for continuously removing therefrom treated material; a shaft rotatably mounted in said first and second container ends and extending longitudinally through said container; a plurality of coil sets fixedly positioned to said shaft at spaced intervals along the length thereof; each of said coil sets being formed of an equal plurality of separate equally configured coils, each of said coils of each set being in the form of a circular sector, each of said coils having extending therethrough a fluid passage including first and second radial portions joining at least one circumferential portion, all of said coils of each said coil set being arranged substantially in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft; a plurality, equal to said plurality of coils in each coil set, of separate fluid conduit means for supplying plural separate streams of fluid from a first end of said shaft to a second end thereof, said fluid conduit means being entirely fluid isolated from each other; each said fluid conduit means including the fluid passage of a selected one only of said coils of each of said coil sets, and a plurality of separate channels, one each of said channels connecting the fluid passage of the said selected coil of one of said coil sets with the fluid passage of the said selected coil of the next successive coil set, said channels serially connecting said fluid passages of said selected coils from said first end of said shaft to said second end thereof; fluid inlet means extending into said first end of said shaft, said fluid inlet means communicating with the first radial portion of each of said fluid passages of the coils of the coil set adjacent said first end of said shaft; fluid outlet means extending from said second end of said shaft, said fluid outlet means communicating with the second radial portion of each of said fluid passages of the coils of the coil set adjacent said second end of said shaft; the separate channels of each of said separate fluid conduits connecting the second radial portion of the fluid passage of the respective selected coil of each coil set with the first radial portion of the fluid passage of the respective selected coil of the next downstream coil set, taken in the direction of flow of fluid from said first end of said shaft to said second end thereof; and said coils in the form of circular sectors being positioned such that corresponding sectors of each of said coil sets are aligned longitudinally of said shaft, the adjacent selected and connected coils of each of said separate fluid conduits being sequentially circumferentially displaced with respect to each other, and the circumferential displacement of said selected and connected coils being in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said shaft.