HK1142123A - Boiler with variously-shaped heat exchange elements - Google Patents

Description

Boiler with differently shaped heat exchange elements

The present invention relates to a boiler with differently shaped heat exchanger elements.

A heat exchanger is a device that changes the temperature of a fluid ("working fluid") by forcing heat exchange with another fluid ("exchange fluid"), the bulk of which is at a temperature sufficient to transform the working fluid to the desired temperature. When the heat exchange is completed, the working fluid reaches the desired temperature, and the exchange fluid, which is depleted and no longer maintains the heat exchange, is discharged.

The heat exchanger of the boiler is equipped with a burner capable of generating a heat exchange fluid (combustion fumes and hot air) in the combustion chamber, in order to heat water or air (i.e. the working fluid) inside the boiler shell or body.

International patent application No. pct/EP2006/067252 discloses a combined heat exchanger consisting of heat exchange modules, each module comprising:

-a combustion chamber for heating a heat exchange fluid;

-exchange walls for the heat exchanger channels;

-an exchange fluid discharge chamber provided with a discharge flue.

Each heat exchange module is formed by a pair of elementary elements, which are mutually connected in facing position to form a single block.

Once such a heat exchanger is installed inside a casing to form a boiler, the inner wall of the casing is deformed by the internal pressure thereof.

The object of the present invention is to achieve a boiler that can withstand higher pressures than conventional heat exchangers.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a boiler comprising a burner; a heat exchanger adapted to increase the temperature of the working fluid by heat exchange with an exchange fluid, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat exchange modules arranged side by side defining a combustion chamber inside which said burner for generating said exchange fluid is inserted; an exchange wall for the exchange fluid channel; a discharge chamber for the exchange fluid provided with a discharge flue; and a substantially parallelepiped casing suitable for being filled with a working fluid, characterized in that it has side walls, upper and lower walls, and end walls, the side walls being interconnected by means of gaskets located between the heat exchanger modules, the end walls being provided with stiffeners to prevent them from deforming due to the pressure of the working fluid.

The heat exchanger may be of the same type as disclosed in patent application PCT/EP 2006/067252. The reinforcement may be a rod externally connected to the wall of the housing. The shim plate is connected to the wall of the housing and has a significantly smaller area than the housing wall, so that it does not obstruct the passage of the working fluid within the housing.

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of embodiments hereinafter, which are disclosed in a non-limiting manner in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a boiler according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the boiler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the boiler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view along the line V-V in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows only a simplified side view of the heat exchanger;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the heat exchanger only;

fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII of fig. 6.

Fig. 1-5 show a boiler 1 according to the invention. It can raise the temperature of water or other working fluid by heat exchange with the hot air and fumes that make up the exchange fluid.

The boiler 1 comprises a heat exchanger 50, which is constituted by eight exchanger modules 2 for forming a combustion chamber 2B, a channel-shaped exchange wall 2C and a discharge chamber 2D. The burner 3, as shown in fig. 1-5, is intended for a combustion chamber 2B located at the inlet 51 of the first of the eight heat exchangers 2, while the discharge flue 4 is connected to the outlet 52 of the discharge chamber 2D. The exchange fluid generated in the combustion chamber 2B passes through the exchange wall 2C and then through the discharge chamber 2D and the discharge flue 4.

For support, the modules are arranged in a substantially parallelepiped, hermetically sealed housing 5, as shown in fig. 1-5. Such a housing 5 is formed by the following walls:

upper and lower walls 5B parallel to the direction of flow of the exchange fluid inside the discharge flue 4;

two end walls 5C parallel to the exchange wall 2C (one in front and one in rear);

two side walls 5D at right angles to the exchange wall 2C.

The casing 5 contains a working fluid which exchanges heat with the exchange fluid through the exchange wall 2C. The working fluid is introduced through the conduit 7B and discharged through the conduit 7C; both conduits 7B and 7C are integral with the front wall 5C-also comprising the inlet 51, the support elements of the burner 3, and the outlet to the discharge flue 4.

Three tie plates or panels 6 structurally connect the side walls 5D and are positioned parallel to the exchange wall 2C and the front wall 5C; such panels 6 have welded ends 10 and are therefore securely insertable into the cavity 11 between the side walls 5D (in other embodiments, other connectors may be used, as appropriate to integrate the panels 6 with the side walls). In this embodiment, such a cavity 11 is like a groove in the metal sheet forming the side wall 5D.

The panel 6 is dimensioned so that its height is substantially less than the height of the exchange wall 2C, so as not to obstruct the passage of the operating fluid.

The panel 6 has the function of supporting the two side walls 5D in position with respect to each other, preventing them from deforming even if the pressure of the exchange fluid is increased to 4.5 bar.

The reinforcing rods 8 for the front and rear walls 5C and the upper and lower walls 5B structurally reinforce the housing 5, preventing deformation of said enclosure walls under high pressure.

Claims (6)

1. A boiler (1) comprising a burner (3); -a heat exchanger (50) suitable for increasing the temperature of the operating fluid by heat exchange with an exchange fluid, the heat exchanger (50) comprising a plurality of heat exchange modules (2) arranged side by side defining a combustion chamber inside which said burner (3) for generating the exchange fluid is inserted; an exchange wall (2C) for the passage of an exchange fluid; a discharge chamber (2D) for the exchange of fluids and provided with a discharge flue (4); and a substantially parallelepiped casing (5) for containing a working fluid, characterized in that said casing (5) comprises side walls (5D), upper and lower walls (5B) and end walls (5C), the side walls (5D) being interconnected by means of gaskets (6) between the heat exchanger modules (2), the end walls (5C) being provided with reinforcing elements (8) to prevent their deformation due to the pressure of the working fluid.

2. A boiler according to claim 1, characterized in that said pad (6) is formed by a panel (6), the end (10) of the panel (6) being firmly mounted in the cavity (11) between said side walls (5D) of the casing (5).

3. A boiler according to claim 2, characterized in that said panels (6) are parallel to said exchange walls (2C).

4. A boiler according to claim 3, characterized in that said panels (6) are substantially rectangular and have a height substantially smaller than the height of said exchange walls (2C).

5. A boiler according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said reinforcement (8) comprises rods for said upper and lower walls (5B) and end walls (5C).

6. A boiler according to claim 5, characterized in that said rod (8) is located outside said casing (5).