Waste heat recovery apparatus

Claim 2

A waste heat recovery apparatus comprising: a high-temperature unit including a high-temperature casing having an inlet through which an exhaust gas is introduced into the unit and an outlet through which the exhaust gas is discharged from the unit, a set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in the high-temperature casing, and a dry-type cleaner for removing dust on the heat exchanger tubes; a low-temperature unit including a low-temperature casing having an inlet through which the exhaust gas is introduced into the unit and an outlet through which the exhaust gas is discharged from the unit, a set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in the low-temperature casing, and a flush-type cleaner for removing dust on the heat exchanger tubes by spraying flushing water on the tubes; an intermediate duct connecting the outlet of the high-temperature unit and the inlet of the low-temperature unit so that the exhaust gas from the high-temperature unit is passed into the low-temperature unit through the intermediate duct; an exhaust duct connected to the outlet of the low-temperature unit so that the exhaust gas is discharged from the low-temperature unit through the exhaust duct; a by-pass duct connecting the intermediate duct and the exhaust duct; first damper mean for controlling the flow of the exhaust gas from the intermediate duct to the low-temperature casing; and second damper means for controlling the flow of the exhaust gas from the intermediate duct to the by-pass duct.

Claim 3

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first damper means is disposed in the low-temperature casing on a side along the intermediate duct.

Claim 4

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second damper means is disposed in the by-pass duct.

Claim 5

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said flush-type cleaner is disposed in the low-temperature casing so that the flushing water is jetted against the set of heat exchanger tubes from above the same and from the intermediate duct side.

Claim 6

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger tubes are each formed with fins on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and are partially inserted and fixed in supporting tubes which are supported in contact with one another in the low-temperature casing

Claim 7

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each said supporting tube is formed, on the peripheral wall thereof, with cut lugs bent inward to engage the fins of the corresponding heat exchanger tube.

Claim 8

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dry-type cleaner includes a number of cleaning members disposed between the heat exchanger tubes for rotation and movement in a longitudinal direction of the tubes, and adapted to touch and brush off dust on outer peripheral surfaces of the tubes, and a drive mechanism for rotating and moving the cleaning members in the longitudinal direction of the tubes.

Claim 9

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said drive mechanism includes a frame disposed in the high-temperature casing for movement in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger tubes and rotatably supporting the cleaning members, transport means for moving the frame in said direction, and rotating means for rotating the cleaning members as the frame moves in said direction.

Claim 10

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flush-type cleaner includes an inner tube having a number of nozzles through which the flushing water is jetted, and an outer tube coaxially surrounding the inner tube to protect the same and having a window facing the nozzles so that the flushing water jetted from the nozzles passes through the window.

Claim 11

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said inner tube is made of an acid- and heat-resisting plastic material and said outer tube is formed of steel or stainless steel and lined for acid- and heat-resisting properties.

Claim 12

The waste heat recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the heat exchanger tubes of at least low-temperature unit includes an inner tube of metal and an outer tube covering the inner tube and made of lead alloy metallurgically bonded to the inner tube.

Claim 13

A waste heat recovery method for use with a high temperature unit comprising a high-temperature unit including a high-temperature casing having an inlet through which an exhaust gas is introduced into the unit and an outlet through which the exhaust gas is discharged from the unit, a set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in the high-pressure casing, and a dry-type cleaner for removing dust on the heat exchanger tubes; a low-temperature unit including a low-temperature casing having an inlet through which the exhaust gas is introduced into the unit and an outlet through which the exhaust gas is discharged from the unit, a set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in the low-temperature casing, and a flush-type cleaner for removing dust on the heat exchanger tubes by spraying flushing water on the tubes; an intermediate duct connecting the outlet of the high-temperature unit and the inlet of the low-temperature unit so that the exhaust gas from the high-temperature unit is passed into the low-temperature unit through the intermediate duct; an exhaust duct connected to the outlet of the low-temperature unit so that the exhaust gas is discharged from the low-temperature unit through the exhaust duct; a by-pass duct connecting the intermediate duct and the exhaust duct; first damper means for controlling the flow of the exhaust gas from the intermediate duct to the low-temperature casing; and second damper means for controlling the flow of the exhaust gas from the intermediate duct to the by-pass duct, said method comprising the steps of: (a) at least partially closing said first damper means from an open position while at least partially opening said second damper means from a closed position for blocking flow from said low temperature unit into the intermediate duct while permitting flow from the high temperature unit through the intermediate duct into the by-pass duct, (b) cleaning the low-temperature unit with said flush-type cleaner, and (c) returning the first and second damper means to their respective open and closed positions.

Claim 14

A waste heat recovery method for use with a high temperature unit comprising a high-temperature unit including a high-temperature casing having an inlet through which an exhaust gas is introduced into the unit and an outlet through which the exhaust gas is discharged from the unit, a set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in the high-pressure casing, and a dry-type cleaner for removing dust on the heat exchanger tubes; a low-temperature unit including a low-temperature casing having an inlet through which the exhaust gas is introduced into the unit and an outlet through which the exhaust gas is discharged from the unit, a set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in the low-temperature casing, and a flush-type cleaner for removing dust on the heat exchanger tubes by spraying flushing water on the tubes; an intermediate duct connecting the outlet of the high-temperature unit and the inlet of the low-temperature unit so that the exhaust gas from the high-temperature unit is passed into the low-temperature unit through the intermediate duct; an exhaust duct connected to the outlet of the low-temperature unit so that the exhaust gas is discharged from the low-temperature unit through the exhaust duct; a by-pass duct connecting the intermediate duct and the exhaust duct; first damper means for controlling the flow of the exhaust gas from the intermediate duct to the low-temperature casing; and second damper means for controlling the flow of the exhaust gas from the intermediate duct to the by-pass duct, said method comprising the steps of: (a) at least partially closing said first damper means from an open position while at least partially opening said second damper means from a closed position for blocking flow from said low temperature unit into the intermediate duct while permitting flow from the high temperature unit through the intermediate duct into the by-pass duct, (b) cleaning the low-temperature unit with said flush-type cleaner, and (c) returning the first and second damper means to their respective open and closed positions.