Modular gas steam generating device

Abstract

This application provides a modular gas-fired steam generator, including an integrated cabinet and a steam generating module disposed inside the integrated cabinet. The steam generating module includes a combustion chamber, a water tank, a smoke collection chamber, and a condenser arranged vertically in sequence. The combustion chamber is located below the water tank and heats it. This modular gas-fired steam generator, by arranging multiple heat exchangers axially spaced inside the water tank, creates water flow gaps with controlled width between adjacent heat exchangers. These gaps divide the water area inside the water tank into multiple relatively independent interlayer spaces, preventing the water from forming large surges in local areas. This not only suppresses water droplet splashing at the source but also causes water droplets carried during the ascent to be blocked and naturally settle in the narrow gaps. This achieves the separation of steam and water without the need for an additional independent steam-water separation device, improving the dryness of the output steam.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application provides a modular gas-fired steam generator. Background Technology

[0002] Modular gas-fired steam generators are widely used in catering steaming, food processing, laundry and ironing, and small-scale industrial steam applications. Compared to traditional single large-capacity steam boilers, modular designs allow for flexible adjustment of the number of operating modules based on steam load, reducing energy waste under low-load conditions. These units typically employ multiple independent steam generation units arranged in parallel, with each unit supplying steam to the outside via a unified piping system. In a single-module design, the heat generated in the combustion chamber must be transferred to the water in the water tank via heat exchange elements, causing it to absorb heat, heat up, and generate steam. The structure of the heat exchange elements and their arrangement within the water tank directly affect heat transfer efficiency and steam output quality.

[0003] Existing modular steam generators offer several technical solutions. For example, Chinese patent CN209026788U discloses an energy-saving modular steam furnace, which uses multiple steam furnace modules connected in parallel inside a frame. Each module has a condensation device above it, which recovers waste heat from the high-temperature flue gas generated by combustion through condenser pipes and sends preheated water into the steam generating mechanism. This solution improves thermal energy utilization, but its internal heat exchange structure in the water tank is not specifically optimized. Chinese patent CN217131222U discloses a cavity-type steam generator, which uses a partition plate in the shell chamber to divide the chamber into a boiling zone and a non-boiling zone. The non-boiling zone stores steam and prevents water splashed from the boiling zone from being directly ejected from the outlet. However, this partition plate only serves a physical isolation function and does not participate in heat exchange itself. Its placement also occupies internal space within the chamber, which limits the arrangement of heat exchange elements. Chinese patent CN103575137A discloses a heat exchanger that uses two mirror-symmetrical stamped plates welded together to form a closed S-shaped channel. This solution improves the manufacturing efficiency and heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger itself, but its technical content is limited to the individual heat exchanger level and does not involve the combination and arrangement of multiple heat exchangers inside the container and their role in regulating the boiling behavior of water.

[0004] Based on the above, there is currently a lack of a steam generator structure that can improve steam quality while ensuring heat exchange area and thermal efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the deficiencies of the existing technology, this application provides a modular gas-fired steam generator that can effectively solve the related technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0007] This application discloses a modular gas-fired steam generator, including an integrated cabinet and a steam generating module disposed inside the integrated cabinet. The steam generating module includes a combustion chamber, a water tank, a smoke collection chamber and a condenser arranged vertically in sequence. The combustion chamber is located below the water tank and heats it. The smoke collection chamber is located between the water tank and the condenser. A steam outlet pipe is connected to one side of the water tank.

[0008] The water tank is equipped with multiple heat exchangers. Each heat exchanger has an inner cavity through which flue gas passes. The inlet of the inner cavity is connected to the bottom of the water tank, and the outlet is connected to the smoke collection chamber. The top of the smoke collection chamber is connected to the bottom of the condenser.

[0009] Multiple heat exchangers are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the water tank, and a water flow gap is formed between two adjacent heat exchangers that communicates with the interior of the water tank. The water flow gap divides the interior of the water tank into multiple regions. The water flow gap is used to limit the amplitude of water agitation and separate steam from water droplets when the water in the water tank boils.

[0010] In summary, the technical solution provided in this application has at least one of the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0011] This modular gas-fired steam generator arranges multiple heat exchangers axially spaced inside a water tank, creating controlled-width water flow gaps between adjacent heat exchangers. These gaps divide the water area inside the tank into multiple relatively independent interlayer spaces. A common problem with existing steam generators is that the water surface fluctuates violently and widely during boiling, causing water droplets to be easily ejected with the steam, resulting in high water content and reduced quality of the output steam. This application utilizes the aforementioned interlayer spaces to spatially confine the boiling water, preventing large-scale surging within localized areas. This suppresses water droplet splashing at the source and allows water droplets carried during the ascent to be naturally settled after being obstructed in the narrow gaps. This achieves steam-water separation without the need for an additional independent steam-water separation device, improving the dryness of the output steam.

[0012] Specifically:

[0013] Multiple heat exchangers are arranged in a staggered array, resulting in a more uniform distribution of flue gas inlets entering each heat exchanger from the bottom of the water tank. This avoids localized overheating or uneven flue gas distribution caused by flue gas flow deviation. The water flow gaps between each heat exchanger are evenly distributed in space, making the heat exchange conditions in different areas of the water tank more consistent and the overall boiling state more stable and orderly.

[0014] The heat exchanger penetrates the water tank wall at both ends and is sealed and fixed by welding, making the water tank a complete pressure vessel. Compared with detachable connections, the welded structure has better temperature resistance and pressure resistance, and can adapt to temperature changes and pressure fluctuations during the operation of the steam generator. It will not leak at the connection point during long-term operation, thus improving the reliability and service life of the whole machine.

[0015] The water flow direction in the internal water supply pipes of the condenser is perpendicular to the flue gas flow direction. The water enters from one end and flows horizontally through the entire condenser, while the flue gas flows upward through the gaps between the water supply pipes. This cross-flow arrangement allows the feedwater to form sufficient heat exchange contact with the high-temperature flue gas inside the condenser. The heat from the flue gas is effectively recovered and used to preheat the feedwater. The recovered heat directly reduces the gas consumption required for heating the feedwater in the water tank, and the temperature of the flue gas discharged into the environment is also correspondingly reduced.

[0016] The outer protective box encloses the combustion chamber and water tank, providing physical isolation and thermal protection. On the one hand, it avoids the risk of burns and ignition caused by exposed high-temperature components, and on the other hand, it reduces the heat radiation of high-temperature components to the external environment, lowers the ambient temperature around the equipment, and also helps to reduce the heat loss of the whole machine. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a front-view stereoscopic structural diagram of this application;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the relevant components inside the integrated cabinet in this application;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the relevant components at the outer protective box in this application;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the relevant components inside the outer protective box in this application;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a partial front view of the relevant components at the water tank in this application;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the water tank and related components at the heat exchanger in this application;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the relevant components inside the water tank in this application;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a partial bottom-view perspective view of the internal components of the water tank in this application;

[0025] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram showing the distribution of the heat exchanger in this application;

[0026] Figure 10 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the heat exchanger in the separated state of the first and second covers in this application.

[0027] The labels in the diagram represent:

[0028] 1. Integrated cabinet; 11. Smoke exhaust system; 12. Water supply system;

[0029] 2. Steam generating module; 21. Ignition assembly; 22. Outer protective box; 23. Combustion chamber; 24. Water tank; 241. Steam outlet pipe; 25. Smoke collection chamber; 26. Condenser; 261. Water inlet pipe; 262. Water outlet pipe;

[0030] 3. Heat exchanger; 31. Protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present application will be further described below with reference to embodiments.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] like Figures 1 to 9 As shown, a modular gas-fired steam generator includes an integrated cabinet 1 and a steam generation module 2 disposed inside the integrated cabinet 1. One or more steam generation modules 2 can be installed inside the integrated cabinet 1; each module is independent of the others and can operate individually or in parallel.

[0034] The integrated cabinet 1 is equipped with a water supply assembly 12 and a smoke exhaust assembly 11. The water supply assembly 12 includes a water pump, which pressurizes external water and delivers it to each steam generating module 2. The smoke exhaust assembly 11 is equipped with an exhaust fan, which extracts the flue gas generated by each steam generating module 2 and discharges it outdoors. Both the water supply assembly 12 and the smoke exhaust assembly 11 are located at the bottom of the integrated cabinet 1, which facilitates connection to external pipelines and also lowers the center of gravity of the entire unit, contributing to the stable placement of the equipment.

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, the steam generating module 2 includes a combustion chamber 23, a water tank 24, a smoke collection chamber 25, and a condenser 26 arranged vertically from bottom to top. The combustion chamber 23 is located below the water tank 24, and an ignition assembly 21 is installed at the bottom of the combustion chamber 23. The ignition assembly 21 includes an ignition needle and a burner, which are used to ignite the gas in the combustion chamber 23. The combustion chamber 23 is connected to an external gas pipeline, and the gas burns in the combustion chamber 23 to produce high-temperature flue gas, which heats the water tank 24.

[0036] Furthermore, the steam generating module 2 also includes an outer protective box 22, with the combustion chamber 23 and water tank 24 located inside the outer protective box 22. The outer protective box 22 is made of metal sheet, which provides heat insulation and protection for the internal combustion chamber 23 and water tank 24, preventing high-temperature components from causing heat radiation damage to the external environment, and also preventing external debris from coming into contact with the high-temperature components.

[0037] Specifically, the water tank 24 is a closed container structure used to hold water to be heated. A steam outlet pipe 241 is connected to one side of the water tank 24. The steam outlet pipe 241 is located on the upper part of the side wall of the water tank 24 and is used to output the steam generated inside the water tank 24 to external steam-using equipment. The inlet end of the steam outlet pipe 241 is located at the highest point of the internal space of the water tank 24 to ensure that the output steam is the steam from the uppermost layer inside the water tank 24, reducing the moisture entrained in the steam.

[0038] A water inlet is located at the bottom of the water tank 24 to receive feedwater preheated by the condenser 26. The water level inside the water tank 24 is controlled at a predetermined height, so that approximately two-thirds of the volume of the water tank 24 is filled with liquid water and one-third of the volume is a steam space. This water level control ensures that the water tank 24 has sufficient thermal buffering capacity to prevent local overheating, and also provides sufficient space for the rise and accumulation of steam, which is conducive to the natural settling and separation of steam.

[0039] Furthermore, the water tank 24 is equipped with multiple heat exchangers 3. The number of heat exchangers 3 is determined according to design requirements. In this embodiment, fourteen heat exchangers 3 are arranged in two rows of seven. Each heat exchanger 3 has an inner cavity for flue gas to pass through. The inlet of the inner cavity connects to the bottom of the water tank 24, and the outlet of the inner cavity connects to the smoke collection chamber 25. Specifically, both the upper and lower ends of the heat exchanger 3 are open structures. The lower opening passes through the bottom wall of the water tank 24 and connects to the combustion chamber 23, while the upper opening passes through the top wall of the water tank 24 and connects to the smoke collection chamber 25. The lower opening of the heat exchanger 3 is the inlet of the inner cavity, used to receive the high-temperature flue gas generated by the combustion chamber 23; the upper opening of the heat exchanger 3 is the outlet of the inner cavity, used to discharge the heat-exchanged flue gas into the smoke collection chamber 25.

[0040] The high-temperature flue gas generated in the combustion chamber 23 enters the inner cavity of the heat exchanger 3 through the lower opening. As it flows through the inner cavity, it comes into contact with the outer wall of the heat exchanger 3, transferring heat to the water in the water tank 24. The flue gas after heat exchange is discharged from the upper opening of the heat exchanger 3 and enters the smoke collection chamber 25.

[0041] Multiple heat exchangers 3 are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the water tank 24, with water flow gaps forming between adjacent heat exchangers 3 that communicate with the interior of the water tank 24. The width of the water flow gaps is set to allow water to flow smoothly within the gaps and make full contact with the surface of the heat exchangers 3, while also limiting violent water agitation during boiling. The water flow gaps divide the interior of the water tank 24 into multiple regions; that is, the interior of the water tank 24 is divided into multiple relatively independent subspaces by the multiple heat exchangers 3 and the water flow gaps between them. The water in each subspace directly contacts the surface of the heat exchangers 3 for heat exchange.

[0042] During the process of heating the water in the water tank 24 to boiling, due to the relatively small volume of each sub-space, the movement of bubbles and water generated during boiling is restricted by the walls of adjacent heat exchangers 3, preventing the formation of large-scale, violent fluctuations. This spatial restriction makes it difficult for the water droplets generated during boiling to gain sufficient kinetic energy to splash upwards into the steam outlet pipe 241, thereby effectively reducing the water content of the output steam. At the same time, as the water droplets rise, they encounter the walls of the heat exchangers 3 or are obstructed in narrow water flow gaps, and fall back to the bottom of the water tank 24 due to gravity, achieving natural separation of steam and water droplets.

[0043] The smoke collection chamber 25 is located between the water tank 24 and the condenser 26. The bottom of the smoke collection chamber 25 is connected to the top of the water tank 24, and it is used to receive the flue gas discharged from the upper openings of each heat exchanger 3. The top of the smoke collection chamber 25 is connected to the bottom of the condenser 26, and it is used to send the collected flue gas into the condenser 26. The smoke collection chamber 25 is a hollow collecting cavity, and its internal space is larger than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the inner cavities of each heat exchanger 3. This allows the flue gas discharged from each heat exchanger 3 to be fully mixed and slowed down within the smoke collection chamber 25, which is beneficial for the settling of water droplets entrained in the flue gas. A water collection box is also provided inside the smoke collection chamber 25 to collect water droplets and prevent them from entering the condenser 26.

[0044] The condenser 26 has an internal water supply pipeline, with an inlet pipe 261 and an outlet pipe 262 located at one end. The inlet pipe 261 connects to the water supply assembly 12 to introduce external water. The outlet pipe 262 connects to the inlet of the water tank 24 to deliver preheated water from the condenser 26 to the water tank 24. The water supply pipeline extends horizontally inside the condenser 26. After entering the pipeline through the inlet pipe 261, the external water flows horizontally through the condenser 26, exchanging heat with the high-temperature flue gas flowing upwards through the condenser 26. The water flow direction in the condenser 26 is perpendicular to the flue gas flow direction, i.e., the water flows horizontally and the flue gas flows vertically, creating cross-heat exchange in space. This arrangement ensures sufficient heat exchange contact between the water and the flue gas within the condenser 26, facilitating efficient heat recovery from the flue gas.

[0045] The feedwater temperature is increased after preheating in condenser 26, and then sent into water tank 24 through outlet pipe 262, which reduces the heat required for water tank 24 to heat the feedwater and improves the overall thermal energy utilization efficiency. At the same time, the high-temperature flue gas is cooled in condenser 26, and the temperature is significantly reduced, which reduces the heat loss of flue gas and also reduces thermal pollution to the environment.

[0046] The flue gas outlet of condenser 26 is connected to exhaust assembly 11. The flue gas outlets of condensers 26 of each steam generating module 2 are collected through pipelines to exhaust assembly 11. The exhaust fan in exhaust assembly 11 draws out the flue gas from each module and discharges it outdoors. Since the flue gas has fully released heat during its flow through heat exchanger 3 and condenser 26, the discharged flue gas temperature is low, resulting in minimal environmental impact.

[0047] Example 2

[0048] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 lies in the specific structure and arrangement of the heat exchanger 3:

[0049] like Figures 6 to 9 , Figure 10 As shown, in this embodiment, multiple heat exchangers 3 are arranged in a staggered array within the water tank 24. Specifically, the multiple heat exchangers 3 are divided into two rows in the horizontal direction, and the two rows of heat exchangers 3 are staggered relative to each other in the circumferential direction of the water tank 24. That is to say, the first row of heat exchangers 3 and the second row of heat exchangers 3 are not arranged directly opposite each other, but rather in a staggered arrangement along the width of the water tank 24; that is, the upper and lower openings of adjacent heat exchangers 3 are horizontally staggered.

[0050] This staggered arrangement has the following advantages: First, the flue gas inlets entering each heat exchanger 3 from the combustion chamber 23 are evenly distributed at the bottom of the water tank 24, avoiding the problem of local overheating or uneven flue gas distribution caused by flue gas concentrating in a certain area; Second, the staggered arrangement makes the water flow gaps formed between adjacent heat exchangers 3 evenly distributed inside the water tank 24, and the width of each gap is basically the same, so that the water in each area of ​​the water tank 24 is subject to a similar degree of restriction when boiling, which is conducive to the overall stability of the boiling state inside the water tank 24; Third, when the flue gas is discharged from the opening at the top of each heat exchanger 3, it can be mixed more evenly in the smoke collection chamber 25, which is conducive to the uniformity of the flue gas temperature entering the condenser 26 later.

[0051] The heat exchanger 3 has its upper and lower ends penetrating the top and bottom walls of the water tank 24, respectively, and is welded and sealed to the top and bottom walls of the water tank 24. Specifically, the upper end of the heat exchanger 3 passes through a through-hole in the top wall of the water tank 24 and is welded to the top wall, while the lower end passes through a through-hole in the bottom wall of the water tank 24 and is welded to the bottom wall. This welded connection ensures the airtightness of the water tank 24, preventing water leakage from the connection between the heat exchanger 3 and the walls of the water tank 24, and also ensures that the water tank 24 can withstand a certain internal pressure. Compared with detachable connections, welded connections have better temperature resistance and pressure resistance, making them suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure operating environments in steam generators.

[0052] In this embodiment, the spacing between two adjacent heat exchangers 3 is configured to suppress the agitation amplitude of the water boiling in the water tank 24, while preventing scale buildup in the water flow gap. Specifically, the selection of this spacing needs to consider several factors: if the spacing is too small, although the agitation of the water in the water flow gap can be effectively limited when boiling, scale precipitated in the water after long-term operation is prone to accumulate in the gap, causing blockage and affecting the normal flow of water and heat exchange effect, which may lead to local dry burning in severe cases; if the spacing is too large, the limiting effect of the water flow gap on the boiling water is weakened, the agitation amplitude of the water increases, and water droplets are easily caused to enter the steam outlet pipe 241 with the steam, reducing the quality of the output steam.

[0053] In this embodiment, the spacing between two adjacent heat exchangers 3 is in the range of 6 mm to 12 mm, so as to achieve a better balance between suppressing boiling water agitation and preventing scale blockage.

[0054] Example 3

[0055] The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment lies in the specific structural composition of the heat exchanger 3.

[0056] like Figure 9 As shown, the heat exchanger 3 includes a first cover and a second cover. Both the first cover and the second cover are formed by stamping metal sheets, and protrusions 31 arranged along the inner cavity are formed on the sides of the two covers that are close to each other. After the first cover and the second cover are closed together, they are sealed and welded together to form an inner cavity for flue gas to pass through.

[0057] Specifically, this structural method, which uses two stamped plates butt-welded to form the inner cavity, has the following advantages compared to traditional pipe bending or pipe cutting and welding methods: First, the stamping process has high production efficiency and good dimensional consistency, which helps to ensure the stability of product quality; second, the thickness and material of the plates can be flexibly selected as needed, which helps to optimize heat exchange performance and corrosion resistance; third, the shape and orientation of the protrusion 31 can be precisely controlled by the mold, enabling complex channel orientation designs to meet different heat exchange requirements.

[0058] In this embodiment, the protrusion 31 curves along the first and second covers, creating a multi-segment flow channel structure with connecting turns in the vertical direction within the inner cavity. Specifically, the protrusion 31 extends in a serpentine pattern along the plate, and after the first and second covers are joined, the resulting inner cavity extends in a reciprocating manner in the vertical direction. After the flue gas enters the inner cavity through the lower opening of the heat exchanger 3, it changes its flow direction multiple times in the vertical direction along the inner cavity, increasing the flow path length of the flue gas within a limited height and prolonging the contact time between the flue gas and the wall of the heat exchanger 3, which is beneficial for the full release of heat from the flue gas.

[0059] Furthermore, the surface of the protrusion 31 has a turbulence pattern, which is integrally formed with the protrusion 31. Specifically, while stamping the protrusion 31, fine undulations are simultaneously stamped on its surface. These patterns can turbulently move the flue gas as it flows along the surface of the protrusion 31, disrupting the laminar flow of the flue gas within the channel, promoting mixing within the flue gas, and allowing heat from the flue gas in the central area of ​​the channel to be transferred to the channel wall, thus improving heat exchange efficiency. Since the turbulence pattern is integrally formed with the protrusion 31, there is no need for additional independent turbulence components, simplifying the structure and assembly process of the heat exchanger 3.

[0060] The heat exchanger 3 is made of 304L stainless steel. 304L stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance, resisting corrosion from high-temperature water and steam inside the water tank 24, as well as from acidic condensates that may be present in the flue gas. 304L stainless steel has a low carbon content, making it less prone to intergranular corrosion during welding, and is suitable for welding connections and seals. Furthermore, 304L stainless steel has good stamping and forming properties, making it suitable for manufacturing heat exchangers 3 with stamped sheet metal structures.

[0061] Example 4

[0062] The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment lies in the specific structure and working principle of the condenser 26.

[0063] like Figure 4As shown, the condenser 26 has multiple parallel water supply pipes inside. These pipes converge at the inlet pipe 261 and the outlet pipe 262 of the condenser 26. External water enters through the inlet pipe 261 and is distributed to each water supply pipe. It flows horizontally through the interior of the condenser 26 and converges at the outlet pipe 262 before flowing out.

[0064] After the high-temperature flue gas enters the bottom of the condenser 26 from the smoke collection chamber 25, it flows upward inside the condenser 26 and exchanges heat with the water flowing horizontally in the water supply pipe. As the flue gas rises, it gradually cools down. When the water vapor in the flue gas comes into contact with the cooler outer wall of the water supply pipe, it condenses and releases its latent heat of vaporization. This heat is also absorbed by the water in the water supply pipe, further improving the heat recovery efficiency.

[0065] The bottom of the condenser 26 is equipped with a condensate collection structure to collect condensate formed by the condensation of water vapor in the flue gas. The condensate collection structure has a drain outlet through which the condensate is discharged from the condenser 26, preventing condensate from accumulating inside the condenser 26 and affecting heat exchange efficiency. Because the condensate is weakly acidic, the condensate collection structure is made of corrosion-resistant material.

[0066] Example 5

[0067] The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment is that the integrated cabinet 1 is equipped with multiple steam generating modules 2.

[0068] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, multiple steam generating modules 2 are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction inside the integrated cabinet 1. Each steam generating module 2 has the same structure, including a combustion chamber 23, a water tank 24, a smoke collection chamber 25, a condenser 26, and an internal heat exchanger 3. Each steam generating module 2 is independent of each other, with its own independent combustion system and water circuit system, and can be started or stopped individually without interfering with each other.

[0069] The water supply assembly 12 installed on the integrated cabinet 1 includes multiple water pumps and water supply pipelines. Each water pump pressurizes the external water source and then connects to the inlet pipe 261 of each steam generating module 2 through the water supply pipelines, distributing the water supply to the condenser 26 of each module. The outlet pipe 262 of each module's condenser 26 is connected to its respective water tank 24, realizing independent water supply for each module.

[0070] The smoke exhaust assembly 11 installed on the integrated cabinet 1 includes multiple exhaust fans and a flue gas collection pipeline. The flue gas outlet of the condenser 26 of each steam generating module 2 is connected to the smoke exhaust assembly 11 through the flue gas collection pipeline, and each exhaust fan extracts and discharges the flue gas from each module.

[0071] The integrated cabinet 1 is also equipped with a centralized steam output pipeline. The steam output pipes 241 of each steam generating module 2 are connected to the centralized steam output pipeline. The steam generated by each module is collected through the centralized steam output pipeline and then transported to external steam-using equipment.

[0072] The parallel configuration of multiple steam generating modules 2 provides excellent scalability for the entire unit's steam supply capacity. Users can select and activate an appropriate number of modules based on actual steam demand, operating only some modules when steam consumption is low, thus avoiding energy waste from high-power equipment operating at low loads. Simultaneously, the modules serve as backups for each other; when one module requires maintenance or repair, the others can continue operating normally, ensuring continuous steam supply.

[0073] Working principle:

[0074] The working process of the modular gas-fired steam generator of this application is described below.

[0075] Water supply process: After being pressurized by the water pump of the water supply component 12, the external water source enters the water supply pipeline inside the condenser 26 through the water inlet pipe 261. The water flows horizontally inside the condenser 26 and exchanges heat with the high-temperature flue gas flowing from bottom to top through the condenser 26. After being preheated to a certain temperature, the water flows out from the water outlet pipe 262 and enters the water tank 24.

[0076] Combustion and heating process: Gas is introduced into combustion chamber 23 through an external pipeline. Ignition component 21 ignites the gas, which burns in combustion chamber 23 to produce high-temperature flue gas. The high-temperature flue gas enters the inner cavity of heat exchanger 3 through the lower opening and flows upward along the inner cavity. During its flow through the inner cavity, heat is transferred to the water in water tank 24 through the wall of heat exchanger 3. The water in water tank 24 is heated to boiling, producing steam.

[0077] Steam output process: The steam generated inside the water tank 24 moves upward. When it passes through the water flow gap between multiple heat exchangers 3, the water droplets entrained in the steam are restricted and blocked by the water flow gap. Under the action of gravity, they fall back to the bottom of the water tank 24, while the steam continues to rise to the top space of the water tank 24 and is output to the external steam-using equipment through the steam outlet pipe 241.

[0078] Flue gas emission process: After heat exchange in heat exchanger 3, the flue gas is discharged from the upper opening of heat exchanger 3 and enters the smoke collection chamber 25 for collection. The flue gas enters the condenser 26 from the smoke collection chamber 25, where it exchanges heat with the horizontally flowing feed water and its temperature decreases. Finally, it is extracted and discharged by the exhaust fan of the smoke exhaust assembly 11.

[0079] Through the above-described process, this application achieves the tiered recovery and utilization of flue gas waste heat—the high-temperature flue gas is used to heat the water in the water tank 24 to boil and generate steam, while the low-temperature flue gas is used to preheat the feedwater entering the condenser 26. Simultaneously, the array arrangement of multiple heat exchangers 3 ensures sufficient heat exchange area and, through the gaps in the water flow, spatially confines the boiling water, achieving the dual effects of suppressing boiling water agitation and steam-water separation, effectively improving the quality of the output steam.

[0080] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions will not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A modular gas-fired steam generator, comprising an integrated cabinet (1) and a steam generating module (2) disposed inside the integrated cabinet (1), characterized in that: The steam generating module (2) includes a combustion chamber (23), a water tank (24), a smoke collection chamber (25), and a condenser (26) arranged vertically from bottom to top. The combustion chamber (23) is located below the water tank (24) and heats it. The smoke collection chamber (25) is located between the water tank (24) and the condenser (26). A steam outlet pipe (241) is connected to one side of the water tank (24). The water tank (24) is provided with multiple heat exchangers (3). The heat exchangers (3) have an inner cavity for flue gas to pass through. The inlet of the inner cavity is connected to the bottom of the water tank (24), the outlet of the inner cavity is connected to the smoke collection chamber (25), and the top of the smoke collection chamber (25) is connected to the bottom of the condenser (26). Multiple heat exchangers (3) are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the water tank (24). A water flow gap is formed between two adjacent heat exchangers (3) that communicates with the interior of the water tank (24). The water flow gap divides the interior of the water tank (24) into multiple regions. The water flow gap is used to limit the amplitude of water agitation and separate steam from water droplets when the water in the water tank (24) boils.

2. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple heat exchangers (3) are arranged in an alternating array within the water tank (24). The multiple heat exchangers (3) are divided into two rows along the axial direction of the water tank (24). The two rows of heat exchangers (3) are staggered in the circumferential direction of the water tank (24) to form the water flow gap between adjacent heat exchangers (3) and to suppress the water agitation amplitude through the water flow gap.

3. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water flow gap also serves as a steam-water separation space. Water droplets generated by boiling inside the water tank (24) fall back to the bottom of the water tank (24) in the water flow gap before entering the steam outlet pipe (241).

4. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper and lower ends of the heat exchanger (3) penetrate the top and bottom walls of the water tank (24) respectively, and the upper and lower ends of the heat exchanger (3) are welded and sealed to the top and bottom walls of the water tank (24) respectively.

5. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (3) includes a first cover and a second cover, which are sealed and welded together to form an inner cavity for flue gas to pass through; the first cover and the second cover are respectively formed with protrusions (31) arranged along the inner cavity on their respective sides.

6. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The protrusion (31) is curved on the first cover and the second cover, so that the inner cavity forms a multi-segment flow channel structure with turning connections in the vertical direction.

7. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The surface of the protrusion (31) has a turbulence pattern, and the turbulence pattern and the protrusion (31) are integrally formed.

8. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The condenser (26) is equipped with a water supply pipeline. The condenser (26) has an inlet pipe (261) and an outlet pipe (262) on one side. The inlet pipe (261) is used to introduce external water supply, and the outlet pipe (262) is used to send the water supply that has been preheated by the condenser (26) to the water tank (24). The water flow direction in the condenser (26) is arranged perpendicularly to the flue gas flow direction.

9. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The integrated cabinet (1) is equipped with multiple steam generating modules (2). The integrated cabinet (1) is equipped with a water supply component (12) and a smoke exhaust component (11). The water supply component (12) includes multiple water pumps, which are respectively connected to the water inlet pipe (261) of each steam generating module (2). The smoke exhaust component (11) is equipped with multiple exhaust fans, which are respectively connected to the flue gas outlet of each steam generating module (2). The integrated cabinet (1) is also equipped with a centralized steam output pipeline that is connected to the steam delivery pipe (241) of each steam generating module (2).

10. The modular gas-fired steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steam generating module (2) also includes an outer protective box (22), the combustion chamber (23) and the water tank (24) are located inside the outer protective box (22), and an ignition assembly (21) is provided at the bottom of the combustion chamber (23).

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