Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
An indirect Brayton energy recovery system useful for extracting and converting heat units from the hot combusted exhaust gases of a furnace, the furnace being operable independently of said recovery system except for selective recovery of heat units through said recovery system, the furnace requiring a supply of heated air for proper operation, the system comprising: (a) means providing a compressor and turbine coupled together along a common shaft for joint rotative actuation, (b) an electrical generator drivingly connected to said common shaft for being driven, (c) a heat exchange mechanism having independent flow passages, first ones of said flow passages being effective for carrying ambient gases, and second ones of said passages being effective for receiving said hot exhaust gases, (d) independently driven air delivery means effective to conduct a supply of ambient air through said first passages of said heat exchanger for preheating to improve combustion using said ambient air supply, and (e) exhaust gas delivery means effective to sequentially conduct all of the exhaust gases from said furnace through said turbine for adiabatic expansion, to a pressure of about 7.3 psia at a temperature of about 1160° F., thence directly through said second passages of said heat exchanger for releasing heat units, and thence directly through said compressor for elevating the pressure of said gases back to ambient for direct release to atmosphere, whereby a substantial portion of the original waste energy of said exhaust gases may in part be converted to electrical energy and in part redeployed for preheating said ambient air supply for more efficient combustion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
An indirect Brayton energy recovery system useful for extracting and converting heat units from the hot combusted exhaust gases of a furnace, the furnace being operable independently of said recovery system except for selective recovery of heat units through said recovery system, the furnace requiring a supply of heated air for proper operation, the system comprising: (a) means providing a compressor and turbine coupled together along a common shaft for joint rotative actuation, (b) an electrical generator drivingly connected to said common shaft for being driven, (c) a heat exchange mechanism having independent flow passages, first ones of said flow passages being effective for carrying ambient gases, and second ones of said passages being effective for receiving said hot exhaust gases, (d) independently driven air delivery means effective to conduct a supply of ambient air through said first passages of said heat exchanger for preheating to improve combustion using said ambient air supply, and (e) exhaust gas delivery means effective to sequentially conduct all of the exhaust gases from said furnace through said turbine for adiabatic expansion, to a pressure of about 7.3 psia at a temperature of about 1160° F., thence directly through said second passages of said heat exchanger for releasing heat units, and thence directly through said compressor for elevating the pressure of said gases back to ambient for direct release to atmosphere, whereby a substantial portion of the original waste energy of said exhaust gases may in part be converted to electrical energy and in part redeployed for preheating said ambient air supply for more efficient combustion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus system as in claim 1, in which the compressor has means to create a vacuum in said exhaust gas delivery means so that the exhaust gases, after having exited from said heat exchanger, are sucked into said compressor, there being little or no back pressure created in said passages through which the exhaust gases flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus system as in claim 1, in which said system is arranged to provide a continuous supply of air to said furnace, irrespective of the condition of operation of said compressor-turbine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus system as in claim 1, in which the exhaust gas temperature supplied to said turbine is in the range of 1200°-1600° F. whereby the necessity for cooling of said exhaust gas delivery means is eliminated.