HK1128191B - A regenerative heat exchanger and its radial seal and method for separating gaseous media - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a regenerative heat exchanger for the heat exchange of gaseous media. The invention further relates to a radial seal for use in a regenerative heat exchanger and a method for separating gaseous media in a regenerative heat exchanger. The heat storage body of the regenerative heat exchanger comprises a plurality of radially extending sector walls which subdivide the heat storage body into sectors. At least two heat storage chambers which are arranged behind one another in the radial direction are provided within a sector, which heat storage chambers are arranged for the through-flow of gaseous media. Radial seals are further arranged on the face side of the heat storage body for separating the gas streams, which seals form cover surfaces for the heat storage chambers and cover the heat storage chambers in an alternating manner during the operation of the regenerative heat exchanger, with the radial seals and the heat storage body being twistable relative to each other. In order to prevent the occurrence of oscillations which are caused by the pressure differences prevailing in the heat storage body between the individual gas areas, the radial seals are arranged in such a way that of the heat storage chambers of a sector which are arranged behind one another they cover at most partly the opening of at least one heat storage chamber in any rotational position.

Description

Regenerative heat exchanger, radial seal therefor and method for separating gaseous media

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a regenerative heat exchanger, and a radial seal for use with a regenerative heat exchanger. The invention further relates to a method for separating a gaseous medium in a regenerative heat exchanger.

In this known type of heat exchanger, a cylindrical heat storage body is usually provided, which is arranged to allow a circulation of the gaseous medium. The heat storage body is divided into sectors by radially extending walls, which are referred to as sector walls in the following. The sector-shaped walls extend substantially continuously from the longitudinal axis of the heat storage body to the edge of the heat storage body and are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis or lie in a plane with the longitudinal axis. For reasons of construction and cost effectiveness, the sector walls are usually evenly distributed in the heat storage body in order to obtain sectors of the same form and the same volume. Since the heat storage body has in part a diameter of 20m and more, for constructional reasons the sector is subdivided by introducing further walls into several heat storage chambers through which the gaseous medium flows. Several heat storage chambers are usually arranged one behind the other in the radial direction of the heat storage body in a sector.

In general, there are regenerative or regenerative heat exchanger systems for heat exchange between gaseous media. In the case of a recuperative heat exchanger, the flow of the heat-emitting medium is applied directly to the flow of one or several heat-absorbing media, and the heat is transferred directly through the partition wall. In the case of a regenerator, heat is transferred by means of a heat storage intermediate medium. Such a heat storage intermediate medium is arranged in a regenerative heat exchanger in the heat storage chamber of the heat storage body. These often involve stacked steel layers which may be glazed if necessary. They are often provided as basket systems (baskets) which can be inserted in their entirety in the heat storage chamber and fill it. As an alternative, the ceramic body or the heating surface made of plastic is used in part as a heat storage intermediate medium.

In the case of the known heat exchanger, the heat storage body is arranged fixedly or rotatably with respect to its longitudinal axis. The first housing is referred to as the "stator" and the following housing as the "rotor". In a heat exchanger with a rotor, the rotor housing, which comprises a gas line connection fixed to the rotor housing, is arranged in a fixed manner so that the rotor rotates when passing different gas flows. However, in heat exchangers with stators, the rotating gas duct connections are so-called rotating shrouds, provided on both front faces of the stator. In both variations, all the existing gas flows through different regions of the thermal storage body in an alternating manner.

The heat-emitting gaseous medium flows through the heat storage body from one side to the other and thereby heats the heating elements, which are arranged in separate heat storage chambers and store this heat. Furthermore, one or several heat absorbing gaseous media flow through the heat storage body, which also takes place from one side to the other. Due to the rotation of the rotor or the rotating housing, the heated heating element passes the cold gas flow and thereby heats the cold gas flow.

In the field of power plants, hot, exothermic exhaust gas flows and cold, endothermic gas flows are often guided through heat storage bodies. This involves a process of air preheating. The heated air is then ignited and then correspondingly becomes combustion air. The combustion air, which is increased in heat by the heat exchanger, becomes part of the energy in the fuel, thereby reducing the amount of fuel required for ignition. Thus reducing CO released during ignition₂The amount of (c).

In addition, the heat exchanger can also be used for preheating gas. In the case of a heat exchanger provided as a so-called SOx plant, for example, a hot natural gas body having a high SOx content is cooled, and a clean gas having a low SOx content is heated. In the case of a so-called DeNOx power plant, hot clean gas with a low NOx content is cooled and natural gas with a high NOx content is heated.

The exothermic and endothermic gas flows are generally directed to flow through the thermal storage body opposite each other in a route according to the counter-flow principle. The heat-absorbing gas is guided out of the heat storage body on the side where the heat-releasing gas is guided into the heat storage body. This is considered the hot side of the heat exchanger. On the opposite side of the hot side, cooled exothermic gas is exhausted and cold endothermic gas is injected. This is the respective cold side. In case of a regenerative heat exchanger, for example for air preheating, it comprises a gas inlet and an air outlet on the hot side and a gas outlet and an air inlet on the cold side. The exhaust gas flows from the hot side of the heat exchanger to the exhaust gas zone on the cold side, while the combustion air flows through the combustion air zone extending from the cold side to the hot side.

A subdivision (subdivision) of the heat exchanger body is provided in the heat storage chamber to avoid mixing of the different gas streams with each other. The exothermic and endothermic gases are simultaneously directed through different chambers separated from each other. In order to ensure a through-flow or a circumferential flow of the heat storage intermediate medium in the heat storage chamber, the heat storage chamber has an opening in the front side of the heat storage body.

In order to separate the different gas flows from each other, one or several radial seals are arranged on the front side of the heat storage body. The radial seals are often provided as strips or beams (beams) and extend perpendicularly across the diameter of the heat storage body to the axis of rotation or longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger body. Which is usually arranged in a planar manner and runs through the center point of the heat storage body. It is usually made of metal or other material, such as plastic, and may be provided integrally or made of several parts.

The radial seal may be arranged adjustable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the heat storage body, which means away from or towards the heat storage body. Usually, the radial seal is arranged in a manner to compensate for heating induced deformations of the heat storage body. The sealing gap between the radial seal and the front face of the heat storage body can be kept as small as possible in order to reduce leakage between the various gas flows. It is necessary to maintain a minimum sealing gap in order to ensure the rotatability (twistability) of the heat storage bodies and the radial sealing between each other.

Typically the radial seal is made up of two or more sealing arms, one extending substantially from the axis of rotation to the outer edge of the heat storage body. The number of seal arms is generally dependent on the various existing airflows. For example, if a rotor is used as the heat reservoir in a heat exchanger, two gas flows flow through the rotor, two sealing arms are provided on both the cold side and the hot side, and three sealing arms are provided in the case of three gas flows, and so on. Since the radial seal is arranged in a fixed manner with respect to the rotational movement of the rotor, the opening of the heat storage chamber rotates below the radial seal. With the rotor fully rotating, every point on the rotor surface was under and above each seal arm.

In the known regenerative heat exchanger, the radial seals are arranged in such a way that in any rotational position a sector wall is located below and above the sealing arm, i.e. in any random position of the heat storage body and the radial seals relative to each other. Thus, different gas areas, such as combustion air areas and exhaust gas areas, are always separated by a sector wall extending radially from the axis of rotation to the edge of the heat storage body.

In order to further reduce leakage between different gas zones, regenerative heat exchangers have been proposed in which radial seals are provided such that two sector walls are arranged at least temporarily above and below the rotating arm during operation of the heat exchanger. In this way, the sectors and the heat storage chambers provided therein are completely covered by the sealing arms when the rotor rotates or the rotating housing rotates. This helps to reduce leakage and improve heat exchanger efficiency. Such a heat exchanger is found in DE 4420131C 2, in which at least two adjacent sector walls are arranged below the sealing arms even in each rotational position.

Permanent mechanical vibrations are obtained by the successive closing and opening of the heat storage chamber. They are caused by the different pressure conditions caused by the opening and closing of the heat storage chamber and act in a vibrating manner on the radial seal. This process is called "pumping" of the seal. The strength of the pumping and the strength of the action on the radial seal depends on the pressure difference between the different gas flows and the surface area of the seal. Because this process is repeated over and over, the average seal gap height is increased. Moreover, the wear and tear on the radial seals and the running surface of the heat exchanger body will increase significantly. These factors lead to increased leakage. Greater leakage means that the power requirements for driving the fans used to transport the flue gas or air are higher, which indicates a decrease in the efficiency of the regenerative heat exchanger. In addition to this reduction, higher leakage results in increased pollutant emissions, such as CO₂，NOx，SO₂And dust, any of which is desirably kept as low as possible. Furthermore, exhaust gas residues may become entrained in the leakage flow extending under the radial seal between the different gas zones,exhaust gas residue can erode the surface of the radial seal, thereby further reducing the tightness of the radial seal.

Disclosure of Invention

In accordance with this object, the invention therefore provides a regenerative heat exchanger, as well as a radial seal for use in a regenerative heat exchanger, and a method for separating a gaseous medium in a regenerative heat exchanger, whereby the pumping of the seal and the resulting leakage of different gas regions and wear between the radial seal and the surface of the heat storage body are both reduced.

This object is achieved according to the regenerative heat exchanger of claim 1. Advantageous examples are shown in the dependent claims dependent on claim 1.

Regenerative heat exchangers comprise a cylindrical heat storage body which is subdivided into sectors by a plurality of radial sector walls, each sector comprising at least two heat storage chambers arranged radially one behind the other. The heat storage chamber is provided for the passage of a gaseous medium and is therefore provided with openings in the surface region of the heat storage body. Furthermore, at least one radial seal is located on a surface, preferably on both surfaces, of the heat storage body, the radial seal being provided as a covering surface for the opening of the heat storage chamber. The radial seal is arranged in such a way that it completely covers each heat storage chamber opening in an alternating manner when the rotor or the rotating housing rotates. During operation, the openings of the heat storage chamber are completely closed and opened again, each opening being covered at least once by each radial seal when the rotor or rotating cap is fully rotated. When the heating chambers are arranged in succession from one side to the other, it is suitable to form and arrange radial seals on both sides in such a way that both openings of the chamber are closed and opened substantially simultaneously, so that this chamber is completely sealed in each rotational position. This is advantageously achieved in such a way that the radial seals arranged on both surfaces and opposite each other are arranged substantially similarly and in line with each other.

According to the invention, the radial seal is arranged in such a way that the heat storage chambers of the sectors are arranged radially one behind the other, the radial seal at least partially covering the opening of at least one heat storage chamber in any rotational position, i.e. in any random position in which the heat storage chambers and the radial seal are opposite one another. The essential idea of the invention is to provide the open surfaces of the heat storage chambers which are arranged behind one another within the sectors and the mutually diametrically opposite cover surfaces in such a way that not all heat storage chambers of the sectors arranged radially behind one another are covered by a radial seal at the same time and are therefore not covered at the same time in any rotational angle position of the rotor or of the rotating housing. This relative arrangement can be achieved substantially by a corresponding arrangement of the radial seals and a corresponding arrangement of the heat storage chamber geometry. For reasons of construction and cost effectiveness, the geometry of the sector wall and the heat storage chamber is maintained and adjusted by means of radial seals. Substantially all geometries can be used for the radial seal that produces the above-described effect.

In fact, at most a partial covering is present in at least one heat storage chamber of the heat storage chambers of the sectors arranged radially one behind the other, in other words the heat storage chamber is not completely covered by a radial seal or not covered at all by a radial seal. In contrast to previously known heat exchangers, not all heat storage chambers of adjacent sectors are completely covered at the same time. In the present invention, therefore, the covering of at least one chamber is temporarily separated from the covering of another chamber disposed behind one another, whereas in the particular rotor or rotating cap position in the regenerative heat exchangers of the prior art, all these chambers are covered simultaneously. Due to the "temporary extraction" of these covering processes, the vibrations that occur, which occur during the opening and closing of the thermal storage chamber by means of different pressure conditions, are significantly reduced. Thus, the interaction of vibrations on the radial seal is reduced. The "pumping" of the seal is prevented or significantly reduced. These result in lower wear and tear and thus lower leakage and longer service life of the radial seal. Moreover, the efficiency of the corresponding overall power plant is improved.

In the prior art, simultaneous coverage of all heat exchanger chambers of sectors arranged one behind the other is obtained, on the one hand, since the sectors are formed by straight radial sectors, and the heat storage chambers arranged in the sectors and the sectors are arranged in a uniformly distributed manner in the heat storage body. This arrangement is inevitable from a constructional aspect and cost effect. On the other hand, the individual sealing limbs of the radial seal are always arranged in a straight line for the same reason and are partially provided with a dove-tail-like expansion in the region of the heat storage body edge. It is now only seen in the present invention that the change in radial seal geometry relative to the heat storage chamber geometry and the rotational speed of the rotor or rotating shroud produces the desired effect, which reduces vibration.

In order to further reduce the amount of vibrations, it is preferred that in each rotational position more than one of the heat storage chambers of the sectors arranged radially behind each other is partially open. In a preferred embodiment, the radial seal is arranged in such a way that at any given time it completely covers at most one of the heat storage chambers of the sectors arranged radially behind one another, which means at any rotational angle position of the rotor or of the rotating housing. Thus, the interaction of the vibrations resulting from the opening and closing of the several heat storage chambers is avoided and the pumping of the seal is further reduced.

In a further preferred embodiment, each radial seal comprises at least two seal arms. At least one of the at least two sealing arms of the radial seal is arranged asymmetrically, extending substantially radially from the longitudinal axis to the outside towards the heat storage body rim. This means that the geometry of at least one of the sealing arms is arranged in such a way that the surface area of the sealing arm is asymmetrical when seen in plan view. This excludes axial and point symmetry. It is not possible to find any axis or point about which the seal arm surface can be mirrored. This arrangement enables time-staggered time coverage of the individual thermal storage chambers.

In a further preferred embodiment, the individual sealing arms of the radial seal are divided into sealing arm segments (sealing arm segments). The individual segments are arranged radially one behind the other and directly adjacent to each other so that they are connected as sealing arms. The two outer edges of the arc segments are arranged in a substantially straight manner. Moreover, the outer edges of adjacent seal arm segments are offset from each other or otherwise at an angle relative to their adjacent outer edges. In this case, however, the outer edge on the same sealing arm side needs to be considered. Due to the offset of the outer edges relative to one another or the angled arrangement of the outer edges, it can be avoided that all heat storage chambers arranged one behind the other within the sector are covered simultaneously by the sealing arms.

The heat storage bodies are often arranged in such a way that they have several concentric annular walls. These annular walls are often arranged in a cylindrical manner and have the longitudinal axis of the heat reservoir as a common axis. The circumferential wall thus intersects the individual sectors and radially divides these sectors into sub-sectors. The sub-sectors may conform to the dimensions of the heat storage chamber. It is also possible in principle to subdivide the sub-sectors into several heat storage chambers. When the heat storage volume is subdivided by such a circumferential wall into sub-sectors, individual sealing arm segments, preferably sealing arms, are arranged in such a way that they extend substantially radially across one sub-sector or several adjacent sub-sectors. If the sub-sectors coincide with the heat storage chamber, it is appropriate to arrange the sealing arm arc extending across these sub-sectors to cover the chamber. This ensures that the edge offset between two sealing arm segments, or the intersection between two mutually angled outer edges of two adjacent sealing elements, is essentially arranged to span the adjoining regions of two heat storage chambers or two abutting partitions. This embodiment ensures that the arrangement of the individual sealing arm segments can be better adjusted to the individual sub-sectors, so that the covering sequence of the individual sub-sectors or heat storage chambers can be optimized during operation, which therefore further reduces the occurrence of total vibrations.

In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one sealing arm is divided into three sealing arm segments, the inner segment closest to the axis of rotation being arranged conically. The conical inner arc section is arranged in such a way that it expands essentially in the radial direction. Adjacent intermediate arc segments taper radially and preferably at least one edge of an intermediate arc segment is arranged offset in circumferential direction of the heat storage body to an adjacent edge of an inner arc segment. Since the intermediate arc section tapers radially, the edges of the intermediate arc section are angled to the inner arc section, which conically widens to the outside. The cross-sectional surface area of the outer arc segments is further enlarged in the radial direction and its edges are thereby arranged in an angular manner against those intermediate arc segments. Calculations and tests by the applicant have shown that such a geometric arrangement of the sealing arms is particularly beneficial in using standard thermal storage bodies and further minimises the occurrence of vibrations.

In order to simplify the production of the radial seal and to make the production and installation of the radial seal more cost-effective, it is advantageous to provide all the sealing arms similarly. This is also expedient since the heat storage chambers are usually arranged evenly distributed in the heat storage body and thus an optimum arrangement of the sealing arms is possible for all sealing arms.

It is further preferred that the radial seal is arranged in such a way that the inflow and outflow surfaces for the respective gaseous media are substantially the same size. The inflow and outflow surfaces of different gaseous media may further differ in their size and may be adjusted to the respective current specific needs, such as maximum allowable pressure loss.

The object according to the invention is further achieved with a radial seal according to claim 8. Further advantageous developments are shown in the dependent claims dependent on claim 8.

The radial seal consisting of at least two sealing arms comprises at least one asymmetrically arranged sealing arm. This arrangement ensures that the degree of pumping acting on the seal is reduced.

The solution according to the object of the invention is further achieved by a method for separating a gaseous medium in a regenerative heat exchanger according to claim 11. Further advantageous developments are shown in the dependent claims dependent on claim 11.

The method is used for separating different gas flows, and in the heat exchanger body of the regenerative heat exchanger with sub-sectors and heat storage chambers which can be circulated and are arranged in series, the openings of the different heat storage chambers are completely covered in an alternating manner during the operation of the heat exchanger body. This means that the heat storage chamber is closed and opened again unchanged. This achieves separation between the individual gas streams. In order to reduce the occurrence of vibrations which have an adverse effect on the vibrations occurring in the radial direction and are caused by the pressure difference in the heat storage volume, the heat storage volume is covered in such a way that, in the case of heat storage volumes arranged radially one behind the other in the sector, the opening of at least one heat storage volume is at most partially covered in each operating state of the heat exchanger. Preferably, the opening of at most one of the heat storage chambers is completely covered in each operating state.

Drawings

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which schematically show:

fig. 1 shows a top view of a heat storage body of a regenerative heat exchanger arranged as a rotor, comprising a radial seal with two sealing arms, one arm being arranged according to the prior art and the other arm being arranged according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of the rotor of FIG. 1, an

Fig. 3 shows a top view of a part of a heat storage body of a regenerative heat exchanger with radial seals, which heat storage body is provided as a stator.

Detailed Description

In the different embodiments of the invention described herein, like parts have like reference numerals in the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a top view of a rotor 10 of a regenerative heat exchanger. The shaft 11 is arranged at a centre point 14 of the rotor 10, about which the rotor 10 rotates. The rotor can be arranged in such a way that it rotates in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise direction. Rotation of the rotor 10 is effected by means of a motive drive (not shown). The rotor 10 comprises a circumferentially arranged sector wall 12 inside it, the sector wall 12 extending radially from the shaft 11 to an outer edge 13 of the rotor 10. The sector walls 12 are arranged in a straight line and extend from one face of the rotor 10 to the other. All the sector walls 12 are uniformly and circumferentially distributed in the rotor 10 so that two adjacent sector walls 12 form sectors 15 of the same size. In summary, the rotor 10 is subdivided into twenty sectors 15 of equal size. A sector 15 is delimited on both sides by each sector wall 12, whose inner wall is delimited by the shaft 11 and whose outer part is delimited by the edge 13 of the rotor 10, which is provided as a cylindrical outer sleeve.

Furthermore, several annular walls 16 are provided within the rotor, which is arranged in an annular manner and which is otherwise closed. The annular walls 16 are arranged coaxially with each other, the common axis being the axis of rotation through the central point 14. The annular walls 16 are arranged in an approximately cylindrical shape, with the portion of each annular wall 16 between two sector walls 12 being arranged in a straight line and at a slight angle with respect to the adjacent annular wall portion. The annular wall 16 also extends through the entire rotor 10 from one face of the rotor 10 to the other. The circumferential wall 16 further subdivides the sector 15 into sub-sectors 17. Each of the four outer subsections 17 of each sector 15 is subdivided by a radially extending intermediate wall 18 into two heat storage chambers 19, of which four outer subsections 17 two heat storage chambers 19 of approximately the same size are obtained from the intermediate wall 18 of each subsection 17, each intermediate wall extending approximately in the middle. The use of intermediate wall 18 is not necessary, but is present in this example for construction reasons. The inner two sub-sectors 17 are not further subdivided so that each of these two sub-sectors 17 forms a heat storage chamber 19. There are thus a total of ten heat storage chambers 19 per sector 15. The number of heat storage chambers per sector can generally vary and is generally obtained according to the size of the respective heat storage body.

Due to the intermediate wall 18, the heat storage chambers 19 are not only arranged one behind the other in the rotor radial direction, but also partially adjoin one another. The separate heat storage chamber 19 is filled with a heating element (not shown), such as a steel plate.

A radial seal 20 is arranged above the rotor, the radial seal 20 extending from side to side in the radial direction of the rotor 10. The radial seal 20 is enclosed in a circumferential seal 21, the circumferential seal 21 also being arranged on the rotor front face and following the course of the rim 13 of the rotor 10. The radial seal 20 consists of an upper seal arm 201 and a lower seal arm 202, which adjoin one another in the region of a horizontal center line 23 running through the center point 14 of the rotor 10. The radial seal 20, which consists of two seal arms 201 and 202, subdivides the rotor 10 into two gas regions, one on the right and one on the left of the radial seal 20. Heat can thus be transferred from the gaseous medium to the other using the rotor 10 here. The radial seal 20 and the circumferential seal 21 closing the radial seal 20 are arranged in a fixed manner with respect to the rotational movement of the rotor 10, so that the rotor 10 moves under the radial seal 20.

The radial seal according to the prior art is provided with an upper sealing arm 201, while the lower sealing arm 202 is provided according to the invention. To clearly illustrate the differences between the radial seals according to the present invention and the prior art, the seal arm 201 is shown as an embodiment according to the prior art. In the regenerative heat exchanger according to the invention, all the sealing arms are obviously arranged according to the sealing arms 202.

Each of the two sealing arms 201, 202 has an inner semicircular part 2011, 2021, the semicircular parts 2011, 2021 resting on each other and thus forming a complete ring with a circular base. A recess for the shaft 11 is provided in the middle of the ring. Adjacent to the semicircular ring 2011 of the sealing arm 201 there is a sealing web 2012 which extends linearly and radially to the outside and from the semicircular ring 2011 to the rotor rim 13. The sealing mesh 2012 has a constant width throughout its course. The seal arms 201 are symmetrically arranged, the centre line 22 extending perpendicularly through the centre point 14 of the rotor 10 and at the same time forming a mirror image axis thereof.

In the rotor position shown in fig. 1, the sealing arm 201 covers the front and rear of the four outer sections 17 of the sector 15, providing the right heat storage chamber 19 and the two inner heat storage chambers 19. Therefore, all the heat storage chambers 19 of the sectors disposed back and forth in the rotor radial direction are covered by the seal arm 201. The vibrations caused by the opening and closing of the individual heat storage chambers 19 are amplified by the pressure difference spread over the two gas sides of the rotor 10.

In connection with the invention, the sealing arms are arranged in such a way that at a given time they do not cover all the heat storage chambers 19 of the arrangement sector 15, which are arranged one behind the other in the rotor radial direction. Regardless of whether so connected, as shown in this embodiment, in addition to the arrangement of the heat storage chambers 19 arranged one behind the other in the rotor radial direction, a number of the heat storage chambers 19 within the sector 15 are also arranged partially next to one another. In the example shown, the right-hand heat storage chambers 19 of the outer four sub-sectors 17 of the sector 15 are arranged one behind the other, the two inner heat storage chambers 19 or sub-sectors 17 of the sector 15 are likewise arranged, and the left-hand heat storage chambers 19 of the other four outer sub-sectors 17 are arranged together with the two inner heat storage chambers 19.

In contrast to seal arm 201, on lower seal arm 202 according to the present invention, inner arm arc 2022 is proximate to semi-circular ring 2021. It is provided with a conical shape, the narrow side resting on a semicircular ring 2021, so that the inner arc 2022 expands in the radial direction. In the radial direction, the seal arm arc 2022 extends to the second annular wall 16 when viewed from the inside to the outside. The inner seal arm arc 2022 is thus arranged to cover the portion of the first and second sub-sectors 17, 17 (seen from the inside towards the outside) of each ring sector 15 not covered by the semi-circular ring 2021 in the corresponding rotor position.

Intermediate seal arm segment 2023 radially abuts inner seal arm segment 2022. Which tapers slightly in the radial direction and extends substantially in the radial direction between the second and third annular walls 16. Each of its two outer edges is arranged in a straight line. The left outer edge directly abuts the outer edge of inner seal arm arc 2022 and is slightly angled relative to the outer edge of inner seal arm arc 2022. On the other hand, the right outer edge of middle seal arc segment 2023 is disposed slightly offset from the right outer edge of inner seal arm arc segment 2022.

Outer and end seal arm segments 2024 abut middle seal arm segment 2023, with the outer seal arm segments extending to rotor rim 13. In this case, the outer edge is also arranged in a straight line, as in the other sealing arm arc 2022, 2023. They directly abut the outer edge of the middle seal arm 2023 and are slightly angled to the left relative to the outer edge of the middle seal arm 2023. The cross-sectional surface of the outer sealing arm 2024 is slightly enlarged, viewed in the radial direction of the rotor, so that its maximum width is in the region of the rotor rim 13. The outer sealing arm arc 2024 extends substantially from the third ring wall 16 to the rotor rim 13 and thereby extends radially across approximately three sub-sectors 17.

The seal arms 202 are generally asymmetrically disposed. The geometry of the sealing arms 202 is such that in each position of the rotor 10 at least one of the heat storage chambers 19 of the adjacent sectors 15 is not covered or only partially covered by the sealing arms 202. For example, in the position shown in fig. 1, the two outer heat storage chambers 19 arranged one behind the other and located below the sealing arm 202 are only partially covered. On the other hand, the other four heat storage chambers 19 also located below the arm 202 are completely covered. For example, if the rotor 10 is rotated clockwise, two of the covered heat storage chambers 19 will open first before the two outer heat storage chambers, and the partially covered heat storage chambers 19 will be completely covered. However, each heat storage chamber 19 is completely covered once by the sealing arm 202 during each rotation of the rotor, in order to always ensure that the two gas areas are separated from each other.

Fig. 2 shows the rotor of fig. 1 in a perspective side view. All the walls, i.e. the sector wall 12, the annular wall 16 and the intermediate wall 18, extend axially through the entire rotor 10 from one face to the other.

Fig. 3 shows a top view of a part of the heat storage body 10 of the regenerative heat exchanger. The thermal storage body 10 shown here is provided as a stator in contrast to the thermal storage bodies of fig. 1 and 2. Which means that it is stationary and thus fixed. The arrangement of the stator 10, i.e. its subdivision into sectors, partitions and heat storage chambers, is substantially similar to the arrangement of the rotor of figures 1 and 2. Furthermore, two radial sealing arms 202 are provided, arranged according to the invention, and which are arranged higher or lower than the stator 10 and against the stator 10. Seal arm 202 also has an inner arm arc segment 2022, an intermediate arm arc segment 2033, and an outer arm arc segment 2024, similar to seal arms according to the present invention when viewed from fig. 1 and 2. In contrast to the seal arm of fig. 1 and 2, the outer edge of the arm arc segment in the embodiment shown in fig. 3 abuts the outer edge of the corresponding adjoining arc segment and is not disposed in the same offset manner with respect to the outer edge of the corresponding adjoining arc segment. The seal arm 202 is connected to the bottom of the outer edge of the rotating mask (not shown) and rotates with the bottom about the center point 14. At least one rotating housing is provided on each face of the stator 10. The central axes 2025 of the two seal arms 202 intersect at the center point 14 of the stator 10 at an angle of about 90 °. The area enclosed by this angle is covered by a rotating cover. Because each of the seal arms 202 is disposed at an outer edge of the rotating mask, the area outside the rotating mask is sealed against the area enclosed by the rotating mask. For embodiments with a stator as the thermal storage body 10, it is preferred that the sealing arms 202 are arranged at an angle of 90 ° with respect to each other, as this configuration conforms to the dimensions of commonly used rotating enclosures. In the known embodiment, two rotating shrouds are arranged in an axially symmetrical manner with respect to one another at each front face, so that in this embodiment a total of four sealing arms 202 according to the invention are arranged on each front face.

Claims (12)

1. Regenerative heat exchanger for heat exchange of a gaseous medium, having a substantially cylindrical heat storage body (10), the heat storage body (10) comprising a plurality of substantially radially extending sector walls (12), two respectively adjoining sector walls (12) defining sectors (15), and at least two heat storage chambers (19) being provided in each sector (15) arranged radially behind one another in the heat storage body (10), which heat storage chambers (19) are capable of flowing through the gaseous medium and comprise openings for inflow and outflow of the gaseous medium in the region of a front face of the heat storage body (10), and at least one radial seal (20) being provided on the front face of the heat storage body (10), which radial seal (20) is provided to separate a flow of the gaseous medium and to form a cover surface for the openings of the heat storage chambers (19), the radial seal (20) and the heat storage body (10) being rotatable relative to one another, and the radial seals (20) are arranged such that the opening of each heat storage chamber (19) is completely covered once by the radial seal (20) during each rotation, characterized in that the radial seals (20) are arranged in such a way that, in the heat storage chambers (19) arranged radially one behind the other in the sector (15), the opening of at least one heat storage chamber (19) in any rotational position of the heat storage body and the radial seal relative to each other is at most partially covered by said radial seal (20).

2. Regenerative heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial seal (20) is arranged in such a way that in the heat storage chambers (19) arranged one behind the other in the sector (15) at most one heat storage chamber (19) is completely covered in each rotational position.

3. Regenerative heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, the radial seal (20) comprising at least two sealing arms (202), each sealing arm (202) extending radially outwards from the longitudinal axis of the thermal storage body to the edge (13) of the thermal storage body, characterized in that at least one sealing arm (202) is arranged asymmetrically.

4. The regenerative heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, the radial seal (20) comprising at least two seal arms (202), each seal arm (202) extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the heat storage body to the edge (13) of the heat storage body, characterized in that the seal arms (202) are radially subdivided into mutually adjoining seal arm arc sections (2022, 2023, 2024), each of the outer edges of the seal arm arc sections (2022, 2023, 2024) being straight and angled and/or offset with respect to the outer edge where the adjoining seal arm arc sections (2022, 2023, 2024) adjoin.

5. Regenerative heat exchanger according to claim 4, the heat storage body (10) comprising several coaxial ring walls (16), the ring walls (16) subdividing the sectors (15) into sub-sectors (17), characterized in that the sealing arm arcs (2022, 2023, 2024) extend in the heat storage body radial direction across one or several mutually adjoining sub-sectors (17).

6. The regenerative heat exchanger according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one sealing arm (202) comprises three sealing arm arc sections (2022, 2023, 2024), the inner arc section (2022) located closest to the longitudinal axis of the heat storage body being arranged in a conical manner and being radially enlarged, the middle arc section (2023) being radially tapered, and the outer arc section (2024) being radially enlarged and being arranged in an angled manner with respect to the middle arc section (2023).

7. Regenerative heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, the radial seal (20) comprising at least two sealing arms (202), each sealing arm (202) extending radially outwards from the longitudinal axis of the thermal storage body to the edge (13) of the thermal storage body, characterized in that the geometry of each sealing arm (202) is arranged in the same way.

8. Radial seal for use in a regenerative heat exchanger according to one of the preceding claims, the radial seal (20) comprising at least two sealing arms (202), characterized in that at least one sealing arm (202) is arranged asymmetrically.

9. The radial seal of claim 8, characterized in that at least one seal arm (202) comprises three seal arm segments (2022, 2023, 2024) which adjoin one another and are arranged one behind the other in the axial direction of the seal arm, the outer segment (2022) being arranged in a conical manner and expanding axially inwardly, the middle segment (2023) tapering axially, and the outer segment (2024) further expanding axially outwardly and being arranged in an angled manner relative to the middle segment (2023).

10. The radial seal of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the geometry of each sealing arm (202) is arranged in the same way.

11. A method for separating a gaseous medium in a regenerative heat exchanger, comprising a substantially cylindrical heat storage body (10) with a plurality of substantially radially extending sector walls (12), each of two adjacent sector walls (12) defining a sector (15), and at least two heat storage chambers (19) arranged one behind the other in a radial direction being provided in each sector (15), which heat storage chambers (19) can be flowed through by the gaseous medium and comprise openings for the inflow and outflow of the gaseous medium in the region of the front face of the heat storage body (10), the openings of each heat storage chamber (19) being completely covered by a radial seal (20) during each rotation by means of at least one radial seal (20) arranged on the front face of the heat storage body (10) during operation in order to separate the flow of the gaseous medium, characterized in that in the heat storage chambers (19) arranged one behind the other in a radial direction of the sectors (15), the opening of the at least one heat storage chamber (19) is at most partially covered by the radial seal (20) in each operating state.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the opening of no more than one heat storage chamber (19) of the heat storage chambers (19) arranged one behind the other of the sectors (15) is completely covered in each operating state.