Patent US3752012A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5259444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchanger containing a component capable of discontinuous movement
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1990-11-05
•
Granted: 1993-11-09
•
Expires: 2010-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Regenerative heat exchangers are described for transferring heat between hot and cold fluids. The heat exchangers have seal-leakage rates significantly less than those of conventional regenerative heat exchangers because the matrix is discontinuously moved and is releasably sealed while in a stationary position. Both rotary and modular heat exchangers are described. Also described are methods for transferring heat between a hot and cold fluid using the discontinuous movement of matrices.
Inventors
- 👤 David G. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:22
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D19/00; F28D19/04; F28D19/047; F28D19/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A regenerative heat exchanger for transferring heat between a hot fluid stream and a cold fluid stream, said heat exchanger comprising, a first matrix comprising a first plurality of modules, a second matrix comprising a second plurality of modules, means for providing a first discontinuous movement of said modules within each of said first and said second matrices, means for directing said hot fluid stream to said first mentioned matrix and said cold fluid stream to said second matrix, each of said fluid streams being substantially perpendicular to the direction of said first discontinuous movement, means for providing a second discontinuous movement of said modules from said first mentioned matrix to said second matrix. and seal means positioned to seal said hot fluid stream from said cold fluid stream when said modules are stationary and being releasable to permit movement of said modules.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A regenerative heat exchanger for transferring heat between a hot fluid stream and a cold fluid stream, said heat exchanger comprising, a first matrix comprising a first plurality of modules, a second matrix comprising a second plurality of modules, means for providing a first discontinuous movement of said modules within each of said first and said second matrices, means for directing said hot fluid stream to said first mentioned matrix and said cold fluid stream to said second matrix, each of said fluid streams being substantially perpendicular to the direction of said first discontinuous movement, means for providing a second discontinuous movement of said modules from said first mentioned matrix to said second matrix. and seal means positioned to seal said hot fluid stream from said cold fluid stream when said modules are stationary and being releasable to permit movement of said modules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A regenerative heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein the matrix is fabricated of a material selected from a group consisting of metals, stainless steels, ceramics, heat-resistant cast alloys, refractory materials, thoria-dispersed alloys, graphite, and carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon-base materials.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A regenerative heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2 wherein the matrix is fabricated of a material having a honeycomb configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A regenerative heat exchanger as claimed in claim 3 wherein the matrix is a ceramic honeycomb.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A regenerative heat exchanger as claimed in claim 4 wherein the ceramic is a glass ceramic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A regenerative heat exchanger as claimed in claim 4 wherein the ceramic is silicon carbide or silicon nitride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A regenerative heat exchanger as claimed in claim 4 wherein the ceramic is silicon oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A regenerative heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hot and cold fluids each comprise a gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a method of exchanging heat between a hot fluid steam and a cold fluid stream in a regenerative heat exchanger having a matrix with first and second passageways for said hot and cold fluid streams respectively and said heat exchanger having sealing means to seal said hot and cold streams from each other, the improvement comprising, sealing said hot and cold fluid streams from each other to prevent mixing of said fluids when said matrix is stationary with respect to the position of said fluid streams. and releasing said seal and moving said matrix with respect to the position of said fluid streams, said movement being at least partially linear and further being in a direction perpendicular to the direction to said fluid streams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a method of exchanging heat between a hot fluid steam and a cold fluid stream in a regenerative heat exchanger having a matrix with first and second passageways for said hot and cold fluid streams respectively and said heat exchanger having sealing means to seal said hot and cold streams from each other, the improvement comprising, sealing said hot and cold fluid streams from each other to prevent mixing of said fluids when said matrix is stationary with respect to the position of said fluid streams. and releasing said seal and moving said matrix with respect to the position of said fluid streams, said movement being at least partially linear and further being in a direction perpendicular to the direction to said fluid streams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvement of claim 9 wherein said regenerative heat exchanger has a first group of heat exchange modules and a second group of heat exchange modules forming said matrix and said method further including the step of moving said modules from said first group to said second group and vice versa.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement of claim 10 and further comprising, said matrix comprising a porous material. and establishing said hot and cold fluid streams through respective first and second portions of said matrix, and incrementally moving said matrix to reciprocate said first and second portions with respect to said hot and cold fluid streams.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB666889A
Cited
US2925880A
Cited
GB917307A
Cited
US3216486A
Cited
US4449573A
Cited
FR2345687A1
Cited
US4360977A
Cited
EP0235996A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-08 | 1997-05-10 | 1997-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-08 | 2001-05-10 | 2001-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-08 | 2005-05-10 | 2005-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |