US4444128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat generator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-06-04
•
Granted: 1984-04-24
•
Expires: 2002-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a heat generator in which combustible fuels such as fossil fuels, refuse, or other materials are burned is described. Flue gas generated in the heat generator and combustion air are passed in heat exchange relationship in a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is selected so that it removes a substantial amount of heat from the flue gas, whose temperature is consequently lowered to a level where a corrosive pollutant such as SO 3 in the form of H 2 SO 4 is likely to condense out. A pollutant removing liquid is applied onto the portion of the heat exchanger where the flue gas passes through both to scrub the flue gas and protect that portion of the heat exchanger from corrosive effects from condensed pollutants. Particulates and gaseous pollutants are removed from the flue gas and the heat exchanger by the liquid, which may be a neutralizing liquid such as an alkaline solution to provide a protective sheath for the heat exchanger against the effects of corrosive pollutants. In the described illustrative embodiment, the invention is shown in use with a thermal section for a large scale power plant.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Monro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:29
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23J; F23J15/00; F23J15/006; F23J15/08; F23L; F23L15/00; F23L15/04; F23J2900/00; F23J2900/15004; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
In a method for operating a heat generator wherein a fuel, containing pollutants, is burned with an inflow of air to generate a hot combustion gas which, after transfer of heat therefrom, exhausts as a flue gas at an elevated temperature and contains particulates and gaseous pollutants, the improvement comprising the steps of: passing the flue gas and the inflow of air through a heat exchanger for the transfer of heat from the flue gas to said inflow of air for a preheating thereof, wherein the heat exchange relationship with the inflow of air is sufficient to reduce the temperature of the flue gas from a transfer of heat therefrom to the inflow of air for an enhanced thermal efficiency of the heat generator, with the temperature of the flue gas being reduced by said transfer of heat by said heat exchanger to a level where at least one of said pollutants condenses out from the flue gas within the heat exchanger; and simultaneously applying pollutant removing liquid onto the heat exchanger at a location enabling said liquid to remove, from the flue gas, pollutants and particulates while protecting said heat exchanger from removed and condensed corrosive pollutants and particulates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a method for operating a heat generator wherein a fuel, containing pollutants, is burned with an inflow of air to generate a hot combustion gas which, after transfer of heat therefrom, exhausts as a flue gas at an elevated temperature and contains particulates and gaseous pollutants, the improvement comprising the steps of: passing the flue gas and the inflow of air through a heat exchanger for the transfer of heat from the flue gas to said inflow of air for a preheating thereof, wherein the heat exchange relationship with the inflow of air is sufficient to reduce the temperature of the flue gas from a transfer of heat therefrom to the inflow of air for an enhanced thermal efficiency of the heat generator, with the temperature of the flue gas being reduced by said transfer of heat by said heat exchanger to a level where at least one of said pollutants condenses out from the flue gas within the heat exchanger; and simultaneously applying pollutant removing liquid onto the heat exchanger at a location enabling said liquid to remove, from the flue gas, pollutants and particulates while protecting said heat exchanger from removed and condensed corrosive pollutants and particulates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the liquid is applied in a manner sufficient to remove the condensed pollutant without a significant cooling effect on the heat exchange process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liquid applying step includes: applying a liquid which neutralizes and absorbs pollutants from said flue gas in said heat exchanger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said removed pollutant includes SO 3 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said removed pollutant is H 2 SO 4 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flue gas temperature is reduced to the order of about 120° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and further including the step of: passing said flue gas from which said pollutant and particulates have been removed in heat exchange relationship with the flue gas available prior to said removal step to reheat said pollutant and particulate depleted flue gas to a temperature sufficiently high for the suppression of a plume upon discharge of flue gas to atmosphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said flue gas is passed in heat exchange relationship with the inflow of air in a rotary regenerative heat exchanger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator is set forth in claim 1, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said liquid applying step consists of flood spraying the heat exchanger with said liquid to establish a running liquid condition in a zone of the heat exchanger in a manner sufficient to timely remove condensed corrosive pollutants while reducing the cooling effect of the liquid on the heat exchange process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 9 and further including the steps of: separating moisture entrained by the inflow of air emerging from the heat exchanger; and separating moisture entrained by flue gas emerging from the heat exchanger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said liquid is formed of an alkaline neutralizing solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said step for applying said pollutant removing liquid further comprises: applying the liquid to the heat exchanger at intervals selected to prevent corrosive damage and to reduce the cooling effect of the liquid on the heat exchange process.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said step of applying said pollutant removing liquid further comprises: applying the liquid intermittently at discrete portions of the heat exchanger.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 8 wherein said step of applying said pollutant removing liquid further comprises: applying the liquid to the rotary heat exchanger at intervals selected to prevent corrosive damage and to reduce the cooling effect of the liquid on the heat exchange process in the rotary heat exchanger.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 8 wherein said step of applying said pollutant removing liquid further comprises: applying the liquid along a portion of the rotary heat exchanger as it rotates to transfer heat from the flue gas to the combustion air.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 15 wherein said step of applying said pollutant removing liquid further comprises: applying the liquid along a portion of the rotary heat exchanger located where the rotor in said heat exchanger leaves the heat exchanger part through which combustion air passes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 16 wherein said step of applying said pollutant removing liquid further comprises: reciprocating a liquid spray between the inner and outer diameter of the rotor of the heat exchanger while the heat exchanger is operating to transfer heat from the flue gas to the in-flow of air.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a heat generator wherein a fuel, containing pollutants, is burned with an inflow of air to generate a hot combustion gas which exhausts as a flue gas at an elevated temperature and contains particulates and gaseous pollutants, the improvement comprising: heat exchange means for transferring heat from the flue gas to the inflow of air wherein the heat exchange relationship is selected so as to reduce the temperature of the flue gas from a transfer of heat therefrom to the inflow of air for enhanced thermal efficiency of the heat generator, with the temperature of the flue gas being reduced by said transfer of heat by the heat exchanger means to a level where at least one of said pollutants condenses out from the flue gas within the heat exchange means; and means for applying during said heat exchange a pollutant removing liquid onto said heat exchange means at a location selected to enable direct contact by the flue gas with said liquid for removal of pollutants and particulates from the flue gas and protection of said heat exchange means against corrosive effects of removed and condensed pollutants.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a heat generator wherein a fuel, containing pollutants, is burned with an inflow of air to generate a hot combustion gas which exhausts as a flue gas at an elevated temperature and contains particulates and gaseous pollutants, the improvement comprising: heat exchange means for transferring heat from the flue gas to the inflow of air wherein the heat exchange relationship is selected so as to reduce the temperature of the flue gas from a transfer of heat therefrom to the inflow of air for enhanced thermal efficiency of the heat generator, with the temperature of the flue gas being reduced by said transfer of heat by the heat exchanger means to a level where at least one of said pollutants condenses out from the flue gas within the heat exchange means; and means for applying during said heat exchange a pollutant removing liquid onto said heat exchange means at a location selected to enable direct contact by the flue gas with said liquid for removal of pollutants and particulates from the flue gas and protection of said heat exchange means against corrosive effects of removed and condensed pollutants.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improved heat generator as set forth in claim 18 wherein said heat transferring means is a rotary heat exchanger having a hot zone through which said flue gas is passed, and wherein said liquid is applied to said hot zone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improved heat generator as set forth in claim 19 and further including: moisture separators respectively located in the path of the air inflow and the flue gas as they emerge from said rotary heat exchanger.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a method for operating a heat generator in a large electrical power plant in which a fuel, containing pollutants, is burned with an inflow of air to generate a hot combustion gas in a boiler for heat exchange with a working fluid, and wherein the combustion gas is exhausted as a flue gas at an elevated temperature with particulates and gaseous pollutants and wherein the heat from the flue gas is passed to combustion gas in a preheater, the improvement comprising: passing the flue gas, after its passage through said preheater, and the inflow of air through a heat exchanger for the transfer of heat from the flue gas to said inflow of air for preheating thereof to a temperature selected to enhance the thermal efficiency of the heat generator; simultaneously applying pollutant removing liquid to the heat exchanger at a location enabling said liquid to remove from the flue gas, pollutants and particulate while protecting said heat exchanger from corrosive removed pollutants and particulates for an enhanced thermal efficiency of the heat generator in said large electrical power plant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a method for operating a heat generator in a large electrical power plant in which a fuel, containing pollutants, is burned with an inflow of air to generate a hot combustion gas in a boiler for heat exchange with a working fluid, and wherein the combustion gas is exhausted as a flue gas at an elevated temperature with particulates and gaseous pollutants and wherein the heat from the flue gas is passed to combustion gas in a preheater, the improvement comprising: passing the flue gas, after its passage through said preheater, and the inflow of air through a heat exchanger for the transfer of heat from the flue gas to said inflow of air for preheating thereof to a temperature selected to enhance the thermal efficiency of the heat generator; simultaneously applying pollutant removing liquid to the heat exchanger at a location enabling said liquid to remove from the flue gas, pollutants and particulate while protecting said heat exchanger from corrosive removed pollutants and particulates for an enhanced thermal efficiency of the heat generator in said large electrical power plant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator for a power plant as set forth in claim 21 wherein said step of transferring heat to the inflow of air includes the raising of the temperature of the inflow of air to a level generally within about ninety degrees fahrenheit of the temperature of said flue gas where it exhausts from said boiler.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
86 words
The improved method for operating the heat generator for a power plant as set forth in claim 22 wherein said step of passing the flue gas through said heat exchanger further includes transferring sufficient heat from the flue gas to the inflow of air to lower the temperature of said flue gas to a level where a corrosive pollutant including SO 3 in the form of sulfuric acid condenses out from said flue gas and is flushed off the heat exchanger by said pollutant removing liquid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a method for operating a heat generator wherein a fuel, containing pollutants, is burned with an inflow of air to generate a hot combustion gas which, after transfer of heat therefrom exhausts as a flue gas at an elevated temperature and contains particulates and gaseous pollutants, the improvement comprising the steps of: passing the flue gas and the inflow of air through a heat exchanger for the transfer of heat from the flue gas to said inflow of air for a preheating thereof; and simultaneously applying pollutant removing liquid onto the heat exchanger at a location enabling said liquid to remove, from the flue gas, pollutants and particulates while protecting said heat exchanger from removed corrosive pollutants and particulates without a significantly affecting the heat exchange process in the heat exchanger.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a method for operating a heat generator wherein a fuel, containing pollutants, is burned with an inflow of air to generate a hot combustion gas which, after transfer of heat therefrom exhausts as a flue gas at an elevated temperature and contains particulates and gaseous pollutants, the improvement comprising the steps of: passing the flue gas and the inflow of air through a heat exchanger for the transfer of heat from the flue gas to said inflow of air for a preheating thereof; and simultaneously applying pollutant removing liquid onto the heat exchanger at a location enabling said liquid to remove, from the flue gas, pollutants and particulates while protecting said heat exchanger from removed corrosive pollutants and particulates without a significantly affecting the heat exchange process in the heat exchanger.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 24 wherein said liquid applying step comprises: applying the liquid intermittently at discrete portions of the heat exchanger.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 24 wherein said liquid is applied at intervals selected to prevent corrosive damage.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method for operating the heat generator as claimed in claim 24 wherein the heat exchanger is a rotary heat exchanger in which a rotor transfers heat from the flue gas to the inflow of air and wherein the liquid is applied along a portion of the rotary heat exchanger where the rotor enters the hot zone of the heat exchanger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2812923A
Cited
GB987654A
Cited
US3733777A
Cited
US3839849A
Cited
US4089088A
Cited
DE2724030A1
Cited
US4284609A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-24 | 1987-10-24 | 1988-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-24 | 1991-10-24 | 1992-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-24 | 1995-10-24 | 1996-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |