Heat recovery system

Claim 2

A heat recovery system which comprises: a storage tank for an intermediate heat transfer fluid; a heater for burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream having heating values of from about 50 to 900 BTU/SCF to heat the intermediate heat transfer fluid to recover heating values of the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream; means for receiving heating values from the intermediate heat transfer fluid; means for conducting heat from the intermediate heat transfer fluid to said means for receiving heating values, whereby heating values are recovered from said intermediate heat transfer fluid; and means for enabling a portion of the intermediate heat transfer fluid to bypass said means for receiving heating values from the intermediate heat transfer fluid, thereby varying the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid according to the amount of heating values acquired from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream in relation to the amount of heating values needed.

Claim 3

A heat recovery system according to claim 1 wherein the means for receiving heating values comprises at least one fluid having a lower temperature than the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid.

Claim 4

A heat recovery system according to claim 1 further comprising heat exchanger means for passing the heated intermediate heat transfer fluid in indirect heat transfer relationship with at least one fluid means for receiving said heating values.

Claim 5

A heat recovery system according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of heat exchanger means for passing the heated intermediate heat transfer fluid in indirect heat transfer relationship with fluids at descending temperature levels for recovery of said heating values.

Claim 6

A heat recovery system according to claim 1 further comprising means for recycling said intermediate heat transfer fluid through said storage tank.

Claim 7

A heat recovery system according to claim 1 further comprising means for increasing the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid in the storage tank.

Claim 8

A heat recovery system according to claim 1 further comprising means for decreasing the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid in the storage tank.

Claim 9

A heat recovery system according to claim 1 further comprising means for maintaining the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid in the storage tank at a substantially constant level.

Claim 10

A heat recovery system according to claim 1 further comprising means for introducing an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream to said heater.

Claim 11

A heat recovery system according to claim 9 further comprising means for receiving heating values from said intermediate heat transfer fluid, whereby a substantially steady flow of high pressure steam is produced.

Claim 12

A process for recovering heating values from a waste gaseous stream comprising: storing an intermediate heat transfer fluid in a storage tank; burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream having heating values from about 50 to 900 BTU/SCF in a heater while passing the intermediate heat transfer fluid through the heater; transferring heating values from the burned waste gaseous stream to the intermediate heat transfer fluid; and generating a substantially steady flow of steam from feed water using the transferred heating values of the intermediate heat transfer fluid; varying the temperature of the heat transfer fluid according to the amount of heating values acquired from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream in relation to the amount of heating values needed to generate the substantially steady flow of steam.

Claim 13

A process for recovering heating values from a waste gaseous stream comprising: storing an intermediate heat transfer fluid in a storage tank; burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream having heating values from about 50 to 900 BTU/SCF in a heater while passing the intermediate heat transfer fluid through the heater; transferring heating values from the burned waste gaseous stream to the intermediate heat transfer fluid; and generating a substantially steady flow of steam from feed water using the transferred heating values of the intermediate heat transfer fluid; varying the temperature of the heat transfer fluid according to the amount of heating values acquired from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream in relation to the amount of heating values needed to generate the substantially steady flow of steam.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 11 further comprising superheating the saturated steam.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 11 further comprising introducing an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream into the heater for burning.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 13 further comprising producing a substantially steady flow of superheated saturated steam.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 11 further comprising recycling the intermediate heat transfer fluid from the heater to the storage tank.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 11 further comprising passing the heated intermediate heat transfer fluid through at least one heat exchanger whereby heating values in the intermediate heat transfer fluid are transferred to the saturated steam, thereby producing superheated saturated steam.

Claim 19

A process according to claim 16 further comprising introducing an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream into the heater for burning and producing a substantially steady flow of superheated or saturated steam.

Claim 20

A heat recovery system which comprises: a storage tank for an intermediate heat transfer fluid; a heater for burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous steam having heating values of from about 50 to 900 BTU/SCF to heat said intermediate heat transfer fluid to recover heating values of said waste gaseous stream; conduit means for introducing said waste gaseous stream into said heater; conduit means for passing said intermediate heat transfer fluid from said storage tank to said heater; means for conducting heat from said intermediate heat transfer fluid to means for generating a substantially steady flow of steam; and means for enabling a portion of said heat transfer fluid to bypass said steam generating means; whereby an uneven supply of available heat transferred from the intermittently flowing burned waste gaseous steam to the heat transfer fluid produces a substantially steady flow of steam using thermal storage, wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous steam is greater than that required for generating the steam the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to rise by causing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass the steam generating means, and wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is less than that required for generating the steam the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to fall by reducing the flow of heat transfer fluid bypassing the steam generating means.

Claim 21

A heat recovery system which comprises: a storage tank for an intermediate heat transfer fluid; a heater for burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous steam having heating values of from about 50 to 900 BTU/SCF to heat said intermediate heat transfer fluid to recover heating values of said waste gaseous stream; conduit means for introducing said waste gaseous stream into said heater; conduit means for passing said intermediate heat transfer fluid from said storage tank to said heater; means for conducting heat from said intermediate heat transfer fluid to means for generating a substantially steady flow of steam; and means for enabling a portion of said heat transfer fluid to bypass said steam generating means; whereby an uneven supply of available heat transferred from the intermittently flowing burned waste gaseous steam to the heat transfer fluid produces a substantially steady flow of steam using thermal storage, wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous steam is greater than that required for generating the steam the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to rise by causing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass the steam generating means, and wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is less than that required for generating the steam the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to fall by reducing the flow of heat transfer fluid bypassing the steam generating means.

Claim 22

A process for recovering heating values from a waste gaseous stream comprising: storing an intermediate heat transfer fluid in a storage tank; burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream in a heater while passing the intermediate heat transfer fluid through the heater; transferring heating values from the burned waste gaseous stream to the intermediate heat transfer fluid; generating a substantially steady flow of steam from feed water using the transferred heating values of the intermediate heat transfer fluid; raising the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid while generating steam when the heating values acquired by the intermediate heat transfer fluid from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream are greater than needed to generate a substantially steady flow of steam by allowing a portion of the intermediate heat transfer fluid to bypass the steam generating step; and reducing the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid while generating steam when the heating values acquired by the intermediate heat transfer fluid from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream are insufficient to generate a substantially steady flow of steam; whereby an uneven supply of available heat transferred from the intermittently flowing burned waste gaseous stream to the heat transfer fluid produces a substantially steady flow of steam using thermal storage, wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is greater than that required for generating the steam the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to rise by causing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass the steam generating means, and wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is less than that required for generating the steam the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to fall by reducing the flow of heat transfer fluid bypassing the steam generating means.

Claim 23

A process for recovering heating values from a waste gaseous stream comprising: storing an intermediate heat transfer fluid in a storage tank; burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream in a heater while passing the intermediate heat transfer fluid through the heater; transferring heating values from the burned waste gaseous stream to the intermediate heat transfer fluid; generating a substantially steady flow of steam from feed water using the transferred heating values of the intermediate heat transfer fluid; raising the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid while generating steam when the heating values acquired by the intermediate heat transfer fluid from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream are greater than needed to generate a substantially steady flow of steam by allowing a portion of the intermediate heat transfer fluid to bypass the steam generating step; and reducing the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid while generating steam when the heating values acquired by the intermediate heat transfer fluid from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream are insufficient to generate a substantially steady flow of steam; whereby an uneven supply of available heat transferred from the intermittently flowing burned waste gaseous stream to the heat transfer fluid produces a substantially steady flow of steam using thermal storage, wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is greater than that required for generating the steam the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to rise by causing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass the steam generating means, and wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is less than that required for generating the steam the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to fall by reducing the flow of heat transfer fluid bypassing the steam generating means.

Claim 24

A process for recovering heating values from a waste gaseous stream comprising: storing an intermediate heat transfer fluid in a storage tank; burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream in a heater while passing the intermediate heat transfer fluid through the heater; transferring heating values from the burned waste gaseous stream to the intermediate heat transfer fluid; recovering heating values from the intermediate heat transfer fluid to provide a substantially steady flow of heat to a process fluid; raising the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid when the heating values acquired by the intermediate heat transfer fluid from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream are greater than needed to provide a substantially steady flow of heat to the process fluid by allowing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass the step of recovering heating values from the intermediate heat transfer fluid; and reducing the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid to provide a substantially steady flow of heat to the process fluid when the heating values acquired by the intermediate heat transfer fluid from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream are insufficient to provide a substantially steady flow of heat to the process fluid; whereby an uneven supply of available heat transferred from the intermittently flowing burned waste gaseous stream to the process fluid produces a substantially steady flow of heated process fluid using thermal storage, wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is greater than that required for heating the process fluid the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to rise by causing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass process fluid heating means, and wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is less than that required for heating the process fluid the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to fall by reducing the flow of heat transfer fluid bypassing the process fluid heating means.

Claim 25

A process for recovering heating values from a waste gaseous stream comprising: storing an intermediate heat transfer fluid in a storage tank; burning an intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream in a heater while passing the intermediate heat transfer fluid through the heater; transferring heating values from the burned waste gaseous stream to the intermediate heat transfer fluid; recovering heating values from the intermediate heat transfer fluid to provide a substantially steady flow of heat to a process fluid; raising the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid when the heating values acquired by the intermediate heat transfer fluid from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream are greater than needed to provide a substantially steady flow of heat to the process fluid by allowing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass the step of recovering heating values from the intermediate heat transfer fluid; and reducing the temperature of the intermediate heat transfer fluid to provide a substantially steady flow of heat to the process fluid when the heating values acquired by the intermediate heat transfer fluid from burning the intermittently flowing waste gaseous stream are insufficient to provide a substantially steady flow of heat to the process fluid; whereby an uneven supply of available heat transferred from the intermittently flowing burned waste gaseous stream to the process fluid produces a substantially steady flow of heated process fluid using thermal storage, wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is greater than that required for heating the process fluid the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to rise by causing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass process fluid heating means, and wherein when the supply of heat from burning the waste gaseous stream is less than that required for heating the process fluid the temperature level of the stored heat transfer fluid is allowed to fall by reducing the flow of heat transfer fluid bypassing the process fluid heating means.