Helical Enhanced Boiler Conduit for Compact High-Pressure Steam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boilers, both direct-fired and indirect-fired, face inefficiencies in heat transfer due to the reliance on numerous small tubes for heat exchange, leading to larger and more expensive devices, with limitations in generating superheated steam and handling high steam pressures.
Innovation Solution
The High-Efficiency Enhanced Boiler (HEEB) employs a continuous enhanced conduit with fins or internal tubes to increase heat transfer surface area and efficiency, allowing for direct-fire or indirect-fire heat transfer to molten metals, and is configurable for waste heat recovery, enabling the generation of superheated steam and handling high steam pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional small tubes are used for heat exchange, then heat transfer can occur, but the device becomes larger and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends heat transfer from a two-dimensional tube surface to a three-dimensional volume by filling the conduit with heat transfer medium that contacts the hot fluid directly, creating volumetric heat transfer rather than surface-based heat transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the hot fluid conduit with the heat transfer medium by allowing direct contact between them, eliminating the need for separate tube walls and creating a unified heat transfer path
2Loss of energy
If numerous small tubes are used for heat exchange, then heat transfer surface area can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates numerous separate tube elements into a single continuous conduit, reducing the number of components from many individual tubes to one integrated structure while maintaining heat transfer effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional tube flow to three-dimensional volumetric heat transfer by filling the conduit interior with heat transfer medium, creating a volume-based heat exchange system
3Temperature
If conventional firetube boilers are used, then radiation heat transfer can occur, but superheated steam generation and high-pressure handling are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of heat transfer by transitioning from surface-based tube heat exchange to volumetric heat transfer with direct fluid contact, enabling higher temperatures and pressures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional system that can handle various steam pressures and temperatures, as well as different hot fluids, making it adaptable to diverse applications including superheated steam generation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The HEEB achieves improved heat transfer efficiency, reduces device size and cost, and enables the generation of superheated steam and efficient heat transfer to molten metals, while being capable of handling high steam pressures and turndown ratios.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing convection/conduction couples
Implementation Method 2
enhancing convection/conduction couples
Implementation Method 3
capable of angularly directing a flow of the heat transfer medium along the first surface of the conduit
Implementation Method 4
capable of directing at least a portion of the heat transfer medium to an area within a radius of the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides high-efficiency heat transfer devices and apparatuses In one embodiment, the invention includes a vessel capable of containing the heat transfer medium, a conduit extending through a wall of the vessel, the conduit having a first surface for contacting the heat transfer medium and a second surface for contacting a fluid within the conduit, a helical member residing around and along a length of the first surface of the conduit capable of angularly directing a flow of the heat transfer medium along the first surface of the conduit; and a plurality of fins helically arranged adjacent the helical member, each fin extending through a wall of the conduit and being capable of directing at least a portion of the heat transfer medium to an area within a radius of the conduit.