US4287138A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Direct contact gaseous to liquid heat exchange and recovery system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-03-05
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Granted: 1981-09-01
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Expires: 2000-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for recovering and reclaiming heat from a source of relatively hot gases, which are preferably substantially vapor-saturated, by directly contacting the gases with a relatively cooler spray of liquid, such as water, in a heat exchange zone. The relatively warm liquid resulting from the contact of the sprayed cooler liquid with the vapor-saturated gases are collected in a receiver zone in the heat exchanger. This relatively warm liquid is then available for use. The hot gases which entered the heat exchanger will exit at a cooler temperature. They may be released to the atmosphere or returned to a process or room. The method is particularly suited for recovering heat from steam system condensate vents, dye fixation steamer exhausts, boiler exhaust stacks, and dry can enclosures such as those used in the textile and paper industry.
Inventors
- 👤 Lynn A. Buckner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:39
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28C; F28C3/00; F28C3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
In a process which includes the steps of: providing a plurality of dry cans in a drying process from which vapor-saturated gas at a first elevated temperature emanates, the improvement comprising the procedural combination of steps of: containing said emanating vapor-saturated gas and directing said gas to an upstanding heat exchanger comprising a means for receiving said contained gas; directly contacting said vapor saturated gas in a heat exchange zone within said heat exchanger with a relatively cooler spray of liquid, said contacting step occurring as the result of a plurality of spray heads located along a substantial length of said heat exchange zone for dispersing significant amounts of said relatively cooler liquid substantially throughout the direct contact heat exchange zone in said heat exchanger, the dispersing step providing a plurality of liquid phase droplets from a plurality of spray heads in said heat exchange zone to form a repetitive plurality of liquid phase barriers for intimate contact with said substantially saturated vapor within said heat exchange zone; collecting relatively warm liquid resulting both from the agglomeration of sprayed relatively cool liquid and condensing of at least a portion of the saturated vapor to a receiver zone of said heat exchanger; exhausting a gas from the heat exchanger which is relatively cool compared to the substantially saturated inlet gas; and returning the gas exhausted from the heat exchanger to said dry cans as a supplemental source of make-up gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
In a process which includes the steps of: providing a plurality of dry cans in a drying process from which vapor-saturated gas at a first elevated temperature emanates, the improvement comprising the procedural combination of steps of: containing said emanating vapor-saturated gas and directing said gas to an upstanding heat exchanger comprising a means for receiving said contained gas; directly contacting said vapor saturated gas in a heat exchange zone within said heat exchanger with a relatively cooler spray of liquid, said contacting step occurring as the result of a plurality of spray heads located along a substantial length of said heat exchange zone for dispersing significant amounts of said relatively cooler liquid substantially throughout the direct contact heat exchange zone in said heat exchanger, the dispersing step providing a plurality of liquid phase droplets from a plurality of spray heads in said heat exchange zone to form a repetitive plurality of liquid phase barriers for intimate contact with said substantially saturated vapor within said heat exchange zone; collecting relatively warm liquid resulting both from the agglomeration of sprayed relatively cool liquid and condensing of at least a portion of the saturated vapor to a receiver zone of said heat exchanger; exhausting a gas from the heat exchanger which is relatively cool compared to the substantially saturated inlet gas; and returning the gas exhausted from the heat exchanger to said dry cans as a supplemental source of make-up gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of containing further includes the step of substantially entirely enclosing the dry cans with a hood and side panels which includes ducts connected to the hot gas inlet of said heat exchanger for conducting hot gases thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of collecting relatively warm liquid includes the step of using said liquid in a process remote from said dry cans.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a process which includes the steps of: providing a plurality of dry cans in a drying process from which vapor-saturated air emanates, the improvement comprising the procedural combination of steps of: containing said emanating vapor-saturated air and directing said air to an upstanding heat exchanger comprising a means for receiving said contained air; directly contacting said vapor saturated air in a heat exchange zone within said heat exchanger with a relatively cooler spray of liquid, said contacting step occurring as the result of a plurality of spray heads located along a substantial length of said heat exchange zone for dispersing significant amounts of said relatively cooler liquid substantially throughout the direct contact heat exchange zone in said heat exchanger, the dispersing step providing a plurality of liquid phase droplets from a plurality of spray heads in said heat exchange zone to form a repetitive plurality of liquid phase barriers for intimate contact with said substantially saturated vapor within said heat exchange zone; collecting relatively warm liquid resulting both from the agglomeration of sprayed relatively cool liquid and condensing of at least a portion of the saturated vapor to a receiver zone of said heat exchanger; exhausting air from the heat exchanger which is relatively cool compared to the substantially saturated inlet air; and conveying said exhausted air to a room as a supplemental source of room heating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a process which includes the steps of: providing a plurality of dry cans in a drying process from which vapor-saturated air emanates, the improvement comprising the procedural combination of steps of: containing said emanating vapor-saturated air and directing said air to an upstanding heat exchanger comprising a means for receiving said contained air; directly contacting said vapor saturated air in a heat exchange zone within said heat exchanger with a relatively cooler spray of liquid, said contacting step occurring as the result of a plurality of spray heads located along a substantial length of said heat exchange zone for dispersing significant amounts of said relatively cooler liquid substantially throughout the direct contact heat exchange zone in said heat exchanger, the dispersing step providing a plurality of liquid phase droplets from a plurality of spray heads in said heat exchange zone to form a repetitive plurality of liquid phase barriers for intimate contact with said substantially saturated vapor within said heat exchange zone; collecting relatively warm liquid resulting both from the agglomeration of sprayed relatively cool liquid and condensing of at least a portion of the saturated vapor to a receiver zone of said heat exchanger; exhausting air from the heat exchanger which is relatively cool compared to the substantially saturated inlet air; and conveying said exhausted air to a room as a supplemental source of room heating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process as set forth in claim 4 wherein the step of containing further includes the steps of substantially entirely enclosing the dry cans with a hood and side panels which includes ducts connected to the hot air inlet of said heat exchanger for conducting hot air thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as set forth in claim 4 wherein the step of collecting relatively warm liquid includes the step of using the liquid in a process remote from the dry cans.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
225 words
In a process which includes the steps of: steam-dying fabrics in a dye steamer and, as a result, producing vapor-saturated gas at an elevated temperature, the improvement comprising: containing said vapor-saturated gas and directing said gas to an upstanding heat exchanger comprising a means for receiving said contained gas; directly contacting said vapor saturated gas in a heat exchange zone within said heat exchanger with a relatively cooler spray of liquid, said contacting step occurring as the result of a plurality of spray heads located along a substantial length of said heat exchange zone for dispersing significant amounts of said relatively cooler liquid substantially throughout the direct contact heat exchange zone in said heat exchanger, the dispersing step providing a plurality of liquid phase droplets from a plurality of spray heads in said heat exchange zone to form a repetitive plurality of liquid phase barriers for intimate contact with said substantially saturated vapor within said heat exchange zone; collecting relatively warm liquid resulting both from the agglomeration of sprayed relatively cool liquid and condensing of at least a portion of the saturated vapor to a receiver zone of said heat exchanger; exhausting a gas from the heat exchanger which is relatively cool compared to the substantially saturated inlet gas; and recovering heat from said relatively warm liquid by using said liquid in an associated process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
225 words
In a process which includes the steps of: steam-dying fabrics in a dye steamer and, as a result, producing vapor-saturated gas at an elevated temperature, the improvement comprising: containing said vapor-saturated gas and directing said gas to an upstanding heat exchanger comprising a means for receiving said contained gas; directly contacting said vapor saturated gas in a heat exchange zone within said heat exchanger with a relatively cooler spray of liquid, said contacting step occurring as the result of a plurality of spray heads located along a substantial length of said heat exchange zone for dispersing significant amounts of said relatively cooler liquid substantially throughout the direct contact heat exchange zone in said heat exchanger, the dispersing step providing a plurality of liquid phase droplets from a plurality of spray heads in said heat exchange zone to form a repetitive plurality of liquid phase barriers for intimate contact with said substantially saturated vapor within said heat exchange zone; collecting relatively warm liquid resulting both from the agglomeration of sprayed relatively cool liquid and condensing of at least a portion of the saturated vapor to a receiver zone of said heat exchanger; exhausting a gas from the heat exchanger which is relatively cool compared to the substantially saturated inlet gas; and recovering heat from said relatively warm liquid by using said liquid in an associated process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process as set forth in claim 1, 4 or 7, further including the steps of variably heating the relatively warm liquid from said heat exchanger to varying temperatures and providing the variable temperature liquid to determined ones of a plurality of wash boxes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-31 | 1985-03-02 | 1985-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-31 | 1989-03-02 | 1989-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-31 | 1993-03-02 | 1993-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |