High-temperature low-pressure fluidized bed for extracting vanadium and removing carbon from stone coal
By designing a high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed, the entrainment of fine particles is suppressed and recycling is achieved, solving the problems of fine particle loss and increased dust removal system load in existing fluidized beds, and improving the efficiency and stability of vanadium extraction from coal shale.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- 湖南常兴能源环保工程科技有限公司
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-21
AI Technical Summary
In the existing fluidized bed process for vanadium extraction from coal shale, the high airflow velocity causes fine particles to be entrained by the flue gas, resulting in raw material loss and increased load on the dust removal system, affecting equipment stability and energy consumption.
A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed was designed. Through the synergistic effect of particle stabilization components and flue gas circulation components, fine particle entrainment was suppressed and recycling was achieved. Combined with support components and slag drain pipes, the stability of the equipment and the continuity of the reaction were ensured. The coal particle metering component achieved stable feeding.
It effectively reduced the loss of fine particles, lowered the load on the dust removal system, improved the vanadium resource recovery rate and equipment operation stability, and reduced energy consumption.
Smart Images

Figure CN224534257U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of vanadium extraction and decarbonization technology in coal shale, and more specifically, to a high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization in coal shale. Background Technology
[0002] As an important vanadium-containing resource, vanadium extraction technology from coal is crucial for the development of the vanadium industry. Currently, fluidized bed roasting technology is widely used in the decarbonization and vanadium extraction of coal due to its advantages such as high heat transfer efficiency and uniform reaction. This technology achieves efficient contact and reaction between the gas and solid phases by controlling the airflow to suspend and fluidize solid particles, making it suitable for pretreatment stages such as decarbonization and oxidative roasting of coal. However, existing fluidized beds face significant technical bottlenecks in actual operation. On the one hand, to maintain sufficient fluidization of particles, the airflow velocity within the bed is usually set high, especially in high-speed bed designs, where the airflow velocity far exceeds the critical fluidizing air volume (i.e., the minimum air volume required for the bed to transition from a static to a fluidized state). While this high-speed airflow can improve thermal efficiency (generally greater than 85%) and reaction rate, it also leads to fine coal particles being easily entrained and escaped by the flue gas. On the other hand, fine particle entrainment directly causes two major problems: first, raw material loss, reducing the vanadium resource recovery rate; and second, a large amount of dust entering the subsequent dust removal system, significantly increasing its operating load. During long-term operation, dust collector filter bags are prone to clogging due to dust accumulation, leading to an abnormal increase in system negative pressure, which further deteriorates the equipment's operational stability and energy consumption. Utility Model Content
[0003] To overcome the above deficiencies, this application provides a high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale, which solves the problem mentioned in the background art that the high airflow velocity in the existing fluidized bed makes it easy for some fine coal shale particles to be entrained by the flue gas, resulting in raw material loss and increased load on the subsequent dust removal system.
[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is as follows:
[0005] A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of shale coal includes a gasifying agent output mechanism. The gasifying agent output mechanism is characterized by: a flange connecting the gas supply end of the gasifying agent output mechanism to the fluidized bed body; a particle stabilizing component is provided inside the fluidized bed body; a flue gas circulation component is provided on the side wall; and a supporting component is integrally formed at the bottom. A slag drain pipe is provided at the bottom of the fluidized bed body, and a gas pipe is integrally formed at the top, equipped with a coal particle regulating component. The interior of the gas pipe is interconnected with the interior of the particle stabilizing component.
[0006] Furthermore, the fluidized bed body has a flange joint on its side wall, and the inner bottom is conical, and it is integrally formed with the slag drain pipe. The outer end of the flange joint is connected to the gas delivery flange of the gasifying agent output mechanism.
[0007] Furthermore, the particle stabilizing component consists of a sluice plate and a venting cylinder. The outer ring of the sluice plate is welded to the inner wall of the fluidized bed body and is located on the flange joint. The bottom end of the venting cylinder is integrally formed with the surface of the sluice plate, and the top end is seamlessly fitted with the inner top of the fluidized bed body. Moreover, the interior of the venting cylinder is interconnected with the interior of the gas pipe through a through hole on the surface of the fluidized bed body.
[0008] Furthermore, the flue gas recirculation component includes two connecting pipes and a bend. The two connecting pipes are respectively welded to the top and side wall of the fluidized bed body, and are equipped with one-way valves inside and communicate with the interior of the fluidized bed body. The two ends of the bend are integrally formed with the outer ends of the two connecting pipes.
[0009] Furthermore, the support component consists of four support legs and four anti-slip irons. The tops of the four support legs are connected to each other and welded to the bottom of the fluidized bed body. The tops of the four anti-slip irons are respectively welded to the four support legs.
[0010] Furthermore, the coal particle regulating component comprises a fixed frame, a support, a circular frame, a drive motor, a rotator, a drive wheel, a driven wheel, a protective cover, and a coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder. The bottom end of the fixed frame is fixedly connected to a notch on the surface of the fluidized bed body, and the top end is bolted to the bottom end of the circular frame. The support is connected to the side wall studs. The drive motor is mounted on the surface of the support, and the rotator is mounted on the outer side wall. The coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder is installed inside the circular frame. The output shaft of the drive motor is shaft-connected to one end of the rotator, and the drive wheel is shaft-connected to the other end of the rotator. The driven wheel is fixedly connected to the side wall of the coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder. The drive wheel and the driven wheel are connected by a belt, and the protective cover is installed on the outer wall. The protective cover is fixedly connected to the side wall of the circular frame.
[0011] Furthermore, the vaporizing agent output mechanism consists of a blower and an air heater. The blower's air delivery end is connected to the flange of the flange joint, and its air extraction end is connected to the flange of the air heater.
[0012] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0013] 1. This utility model addresses existing technical bottlenecks from two dimensions: "suppression of entrainment" and "recycling recovery," through the synergistic design of a particle stabilization component and a flue gas recirculation component. The funnel in the fluidized bed ensures that mainstream particles fall stably above it and participate in fluidization, preventing fine particles from directly entering the high-speed airflow zone. Simultaneously, micropores on the surface of the vent guide the airflow to a specific area, reducing the impact of the airflow on fine particles and decreasing the probability of direct entrainment. Furthermore, the vent is connected to the gas pipe, which reduces the internal air pressure of the fluidized bed, allowing the flue gas recirculation component to enable fine particles to participate in the decarbonization reaction a second time. Additionally, the flue gas recirculation component, through two connecting pipes and bends with one-way valves, guides the flue gas containing fine particles from the top of the fluidized bed back to the lower part of the side wall, allowing uncaptured ultrafine particles to fall back into the bed and participate in the reaction, further reducing the amount of fine particles entering the subsequent dust removal system. Simultaneously, the above design reduces the amount of dust entering the dust removal system. Attached Figure Description
[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.
[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed structure for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of shale provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0016] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed tilting structure for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of shale provided in this application.
[0017] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the bottom structure of a high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of shale provided in this application embodiment;
[0018] Figure 4 A partial cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of a high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of shale provided for the embodiments of this application;
[0019] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the front structure of the coal particle regulating component provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0020] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the reverse side structure of the coal particle regulating component provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0021] In the diagram: 1-Gasifying agent output mechanism; 2-Fluidized bed body; 3-Particle stabilizing component; 4-Fluorescence circulation component; 5-Support component; 6-Slag drain pipe; 7-Gas pipe; 8-Coal particle regulating component; 21-Flange joint; 31-Drain plate; 32-Ventilator; 41-Connecting pipe; 42-Bend; 51-Support leg; 52-Anti-slip iron; 81-Fixing frame; 82-Bracket; 83-Circular frame; 84-Drive motor; 85-Rotator; 86-Driving wheel; 87-Driven wheel; 88-Protective cover; 89-Coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder; 11-Blower; 12-Air heater. Detailed Implementation
[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.
[0023] Example:
[0024] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal stone includes a gasifying agent output mechanism 1, which consists of a blower 11 and an air heater 12.
[0025] The gasifying agent output mechanism 1 is used to introduce a gasifying agent, such as a mixture of air or oxygen and water vapor, into the fluidized bed body 2. After entering the fluidized bed body 2, the gasifying agent flows upward, generating power and causing the coal particles between the fluidized bed body 2 and the ventilation cylinder 32 to be in a suspended boiling state. The gasifying agent is injected upward from the venting plate 31, making the friction between the coal particles and the airflow equal to their own weight, forming a fluidized boiling state. In this state, the coal particles and the gasifying agent are fully mixed, realizing the drying, dry distillation, gasification, and combustion processes, thereby removing carbonaceous material from the coal. Additionally, the gas supply end of the gasifying agent output mechanism 1 can also be inclined and connected to the flange of the flange joint 21.
[0026] In the gasifying agent output mechanism 1, the air heater 12 and the blower 11 form a highly efficient and coordinated supply system. First, the air heater 12 precisely heats the incoming air to the target temperature range. Then, the blower 11's extraction end connects to the flange of the air heater 12, directly extracting the heated air. Subsequently, the blower 11's delivery end is sealed to the flange joint 21 of the fluidized bed body 2 via a flange, uniformly delivering the stable-temperature hot air, i.e., the core component of the gasifying agent, into the fluidized bed body 2. This coordinated design avoids the energy loss of "directly introducing cold air and then heating it," ensuring that the gasifying agent reaches the optimal reaction temperature upon entering the bed. Simultaneously, the cooperation between the flange joint 21 and the conical structure at the bottom of the fluidized bed body 2 guides the hot air to form a uniformly distributed airflow field at the bottom of the bed, effectively preventing local short-circuiting of the airflow and the formation of "channeling," allowing the coal particles to fully contact and react with the hot air.
[0027] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale includes a gasifying agent output mechanism 1 with a gas delivery flange connected to a fluidized bed body 2. The fluidized bed body 2 has a particle stabilizing component 3 inside, a flue gas circulation component 4 on its sidewalls, and a support component 5 integrally formed at the bottom. The fluidized bed body 2 has a slag drain pipe 6 at its bottom and a gas pipe 7 integrally formed at its top, and is equipped with a coal particle regulating component 8. The gas pipe 7 is internally connected to the particle stabilizing component 3. The fluidized bed body 2 has a flange joint 21 on its sidewalls; the particle stabilizing component 3 consists of a drain plate 31 and a venting cylinder 32; the flue gas circulation component 4 includes two connecting pipes 41 and a bend 42; the support component 5 consists of four support legs 51 and four anti-slip irons 52; the coal particle regulating component 8 consists of a fixed frame 81, a bracket 82, a circular frame 83, a drive motor 84, a rotor 85, a driving wheel 86, a driven wheel 87, a protective cover 88, and a coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder 89.
[0028] The particle stabilizing component 3 is used to suppress fine particle entrainment and improve decarbonization stability. The venting disc 31 and the ventilation cylinder 32 are made of high-temperature resistant material and are integrally molded. The venting disc 31, along with the ventilation cylinder 32, is installed inside the fluidized bed body 2 and welded to the flange joint 21, which can suppress fine particles from being entrained by the flue gas. The gasifying agent is introduced into the bottom of the fluidized bed body 2 through the flange joint 21. A large amount of gasifying agent flows upward through the holes on the surface of the venting disc 31, generating momentum and causing the coal particles on the surface of the venting disc 31 to be in a suspended boiling state. A small amount of gasifying agent enters the ventilation cylinder 32 and flows towards the gas pipe 7. Simultaneously, the gasifying agent entering the ventilation cylinder 32 further suspends and boils the coal particles through the micropores on the surface of the ventilation cylinder 32.
[0029] The core function of the flue gas recirculation component 4 is to achieve the "recycling of flue gas carrying fine particles". By reintroducing the particulate-containing flue gas that has not been completely separated in the fluidized bed into the bed, it reduces the loss of fine particles and optimizes the bed reaction environment. Its structural design and working process are highly adapted to the high temperature and low pressure decarbonization conditions. From a functional design perspective, both connecting pipes 41 are equipped with high temperature one-way valves. These one-way valves have a simple structure and high reliability. They can accurately control the flow direction of flue gas and only allow the flue gas to circulate along the path of "fluidized bed body 2 → connecting pipe 41 → bend pipe 42 → another connecting pipe 41 → fluidized bed body 2". This effectively prevents the high temperature airflow in the bed from flowing back into the circulation pipeline and prevents fine particles from accumulating and clogging the pipeline. From the perspective of the actual circulation process, when the fluidized bed generates flue gas containing fine particles, some of the flue gas carrying fine particles first enters the bend pipe 42 through one of the connecting pipes 41, which connects to the top of the fluidized bed. The bend pipe 42, with its arc-shaped structure, achieves smooth flow of flue gas, avoiding sudden changes in flue gas velocity that could lead to fine particle deposition. Subsequently, the particulate-containing flue gas flowing through the bend pipe 42 is reinjected into the fluidized bed body 2 through another connecting pipe 41, which connects to the lower side wall of the fluidized bed. The flue gas re-entering the bed can, on the one hand, send the carried fine particles back to the fluidization zone, allowing them to participate in the decarbonization reaction a second time, reducing raw material loss; on the other hand, the inert components in the flue gas, such as CO2 and water vapor, can help optimize the oxygen concentration in the bed, avoiding local over-oxidation and further improving decarbonization stability. The entire circulation process requires no additional power drive; the low-pressure environment inside the fluidized bed creates a pressure difference that enables the flue gas to flow naturally. This simplifies the system structure and reduces operating energy consumption, perfectly meeting the high-efficiency and energy-saving requirements of vanadium extraction and decarbonization from coal shale.
[0030] Among them, the support component 5 is the basic structure that ensures the stable operation of the fluidized bed body 2. Its core function is to balance the weight of the fluidized bed body 2 through rigid support and anti-slip design, so as to prevent the equipment from shifting or tilting due to vibration and load changes during high temperature and low pressure operation, and to provide a stable equipment operating environment for decarbonization reaction. In terms of functional implementation, the four support legs 51 of the support component 5 can be flexibly selected according to the actual specifications of the fluidized bed body 2, such as diameter, height, total weight and installation site conditions, to ensure that the support strength is sufficient to bear the overall load of the equipment. The bottom end of each support leg 51 is welded with an anti-slip iron 52. The side of the anti-slip iron 52 that contacts the ground can be roughened to greatly increase the friction with the ground, prevent the equipment from sliding during operation vibration or slight unevenness of the ground, and further enhance the support stability.
[0031] Among them, the slag drain pipe 6 is a key structure for achieving "efficient removal of slag from the bed". Its design directly serves the continuity and stability of the decarbonization reaction within the fluidized bed body 2: After the coal particles complete carbonaceous combustion and decarbonization within the fluidized bed body 2, non-combustible slag is produced. If the slag accumulates at the bottom of the bed for a long time, it will occupy the fluidization space, hinder the uniform distribution of the gasifying agent, and even lead to the expansion of the "dead zone" in the bed and a decline in fluidization quality. The slag drain pipe 6 is integrally formed with the conical structure at the bottom of the fluidized bed body 2. It can use gravity to guide the slag deposited at the bottom of the bed in a directional manner and discharge it outside the equipment. This design does not require additional power, which can avoid the interference of slag accumulation on the bed flow field and reduce the frequency of equipment shutdown for cleaning, ensuring the continuous decarbonization reaction.
[0032] Among them, the gas pipe 7 plays a dual crucial role in "directionally discharging flue gas" and "stabilizing the internal pressure of the fluidized bed." Its design works precisely in synergy with the ventilation cylinder 32 of the particle stabilization component 3: On the one hand, the gas pipe 7 is integrally formed with the top of the fluidized bed body 2 and is connected to the inside of the ventilation cylinder 32 through a through hole on the surface of the fluidized bed body 1. When the gasifying agent enters the ventilation cylinder 32, the flue gas, which has been circulated by the flue gas circulation component 4, flows to the gas pipe 7. The gas pipe 7 can then directionally discharge this flue gas to the outside of the fluidized bed body 2, preventing flue gas from accumulating inside the ventilation cylinder 32 and causing airflow obstruction. On the other hand, the gas pipe 7 can balance the pressure by increasing the flue gas discharge rate; if the pressure is too low, it can also be adjusted by the valves in the subsequent pipelines to slow down the flue gas discharge rate and prevent excessive pressure fluctuations within the bed from affecting fluidization stability. This dual role of "discharging flue gas + stabilizing pressure" provides a key guarantee for the full fluidization and efficient decarbonization of coal particles under a stable low-pressure environment.
[0033] Among them, the coal particle regulating component 8 is the core structure for realizing the "stable and controllable delivery of coal particles to the fluidized bed body 2". Through the coordinated design of "power transmission - quantitative delivery - structural support", it ensures that the feed rate is precisely matched with the fluidization requirements of the bed. From the perspective of functional positioning, the core role of the component is realized through a complete power transmission chain: the drive motor 84 serves as the power source, and its start-up, shutdown and speed can be adjusted in real time according to the density of the fluidized bed. After starting, the rotational force of the output shaft of the drive motor 84 is smoothly transmitted to the drive wheel 86 through the rotator 85, avoiding wear of transmission components caused by power impact. Subsequently, the drive wheel 86 transmits rotational force to the driven wheel 87 via a belt. A 1:3 transmission ratio reduces the rotational speed, preventing the coal particles from breaking due to excessive rotation or feeding too quickly. Finally, the driven wheel 87 drives the coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder 89 inside the circular frame 83 to rotate synchronously. The evenly distributed blades on the multi-blade cylinder form independent cavities, quantitatively accommodating coal particles during rotation and stably conveying the particles between the blades to the fixed frame 81 below. The guiding structure of the fixed frame 81 then precisely guides the particles, ensuring they evenly leak into the fluidized bed body 2, preventing particle accumulation or localized overfeeding. Furthermore, the support 82, as the core structural support, is fixed to the side wall of the fixed frame 81 with studs. It stably supports the drive motor 84, the rotor 85, and the drive wheel 86, ensuring the alignment of the axes of each component during power transmission and preventing transmission misalignment caused by vibration, further guaranteeing the stability and continuity of the feeding and conveying process.
[0034] It should be noted that the specific model specifications of the camera 211, notebook computer 212, and servo motor 131 need to be selected and determined according to the actual specifications of the device. The specific selection calculation method adopts the existing technology in this field, so it will not be described in detail.
[0035] The power supply and working principle of the camera 211, the laptop 212, and the servo motor 131 are clear to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.
[0036] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this application is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that this application can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this application. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this application is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within this application. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale, comprising a gasifying agent output mechanism (1), characterized in that: The gasifying agent output mechanism (1) is connected to the fluidized bed body (2) by the gas delivery flange. The fluidized bed body (2) is equipped with a particle stabilizing component (3) inside, a flue gas circulation component (4) on the side wall, and a support component (5) integrally formed at the bottom. The fluidized bed body (2) is equipped with a slag drain pipe (6) at the bottom and a gas pipe (7) integrally formed at the top, and is equipped with a coal particle regulating component (8). The gas pipe (7) is interconnected with the particle stabilizing component (3).
2. The high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fluidized bed body (2) has a flange joint (21) on its side wall, and the bottom of the inner part is conical. It is integrally formed with the slag drain pipe (6). The outer end of the flange joint (21) is connected to the gas delivery flange of the gasifying agent output mechanism (1).
3. A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale according to claim 2, characterized in that, The particle stabilizing component (3) consists of a sluice plate (31) and a venting cylinder (32). The outer ring of the sluice plate (31) is welded to the inner wall of the fluidized bed body (2) and is located on the flange joint (21). The bottom end of the venting cylinder (32) is integrally formed with the surface of the sluice plate (31), and the top end is seamlessly fitted with the inner top of the fluidized bed body (2). The interior of the venting cylinder (32) is connected to the interior of the gas pipe (7) through a through hole on the surface of the fluidized bed body (2).
4. A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale according to claim 3, characterized in that, The flue gas circulation component (4) includes two connecting pipes (41) and a bend (42). The two connecting pipes (41) are welded to the top and side wall of the fluidized bed body (2) respectively, and are equipped with a one-way valve inside and communicate with the inside of the fluidized bed body (2). The two ends of the bend (42) are integrally formed with the outer ends of the two connecting pipes (41).
5. A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale according to claim 4, characterized in that, The support component (5) consists of four support legs (51) and four anti-slip irons (52). The tops of the four support legs (51) are connected to each other and welded to the bottom of the fluidized bed body (2). The tops of the four anti-slip irons (52) are respectively welded to the four support legs (51).
6. A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale according to claim 5, characterized in that, The coal particle regulating component (8) consists of a fixed frame (81), a support (82), a circular frame (83), a drive motor (84), a rotator (85), a drive wheel (86), a driven wheel (87), a protective cover (88), and a coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder (89). The bottom end of the fixed frame (81) is fixedly connected to a notch on the surface of the fluidized bed body (2), and the top end is bolted to the bottom end of the circular frame (83). The support (82) is connected to the side wall studs. The drive motor (84) is installed on the surface of the support (82), and the outer side wall is equipped with a... The rotating device (85) is equipped with the coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder (89) inside the circular frame (83). The output shaft of the drive motor (84) is shaft-connected to one end of the rotating device (85), and the driving wheel (86) is shaft-connected to the other end of the rotating device (85). The driven wheel (87) is fixedly connected to the side wall of the coal particle regulating multi-blade cylinder (89). The driving wheel (86) and the driven wheel (87) are connected by a belt, and the outer wall is equipped with the protective cover (88). The protective cover (88) is fixedly connected to the side wall of the circular frame (83).
7. A high-temperature, low-pressure fluidized bed for vanadium extraction and decarbonization of coal shale according to claim 6, characterized in that, The vaporizing agent output mechanism (1) consists of a blower (11) and an air heater (12). The blower (11) is connected to the flange of the flange joint (21) at the air supply end and to the flange of the air heater (12) at the air extraction end.