Furnace Exhaust Heat Pipe Array for Flow and Thermal Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pipes positioned in the exhaust flue of furnaces can reduce exhaust gas flow rate, disrupting the thermal equilibrium and affecting the glass melting process due to low-pressure drop and low gas flow conditions.
Innovation Solution
An array of elongated heat pipes is mounted in the furnace wall with one end in the exhaust system and the opposite end outside, allowing exhaust gases to heat the outer end and transfer heat to heat conversion equipment without impeding gas flow, using a heat pipe arrangement with a capillary structure and a thermodynamic working fluid to maintain efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If heat pipes are positioned in the exhaust flue to transfer heat from exhaust gas, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but exhaust gas flow rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe array is divided into multiple individual heat pipes (typically 3-7 pipes) spaced apart within the exhaust flue, rather than using a single large heat exchanger. This segmentation allows exhaust gases to flow between and around the pipes, maintaining flow rate while providing sufficient surface area for effective heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat pipes are positioned vertically or at angles within the flue cross-section, utilizing the radial dimension rather than blocking the axial flow path. This dimensional arrangement allows heat extraction without significantly impeding the primary exhaust gas flow direction.
2Loss of energy
If heat pipes are positioned in the exhaust flue to transfer heat, then heat recovery is improved, but thermal equilibrium of the heating chamber is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe system allows control of heat extraction parameters (number of pipes, pipe diameter, positioning, working fluid selection) to optimize heat recovery while maintaining the thermal balance required for proper exhaust gas temperature and flow characteristics through the flue system.
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 solution effectively transfers heat from the furnace exhaust to external heat conversion equipment without disturbing the thermal equilibrium, enhancing the glass melting process by maintaining a constant temperature along the heat pipes and optimizing gas flow through the flue.
Implementation Method 1
an array of a plurality of heat pipes mounted in the flue, each heat pipe comprising a capillary structure and a thermodynamic working fluid
Implementation Method 2
each heat pipe comprising a capillary structure and a thermodynamic working fluid
Implementation Method 3
each heat pipe comprising a capillary structure and a thermodynamic working fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An array of a plurality of heat pipe are mounted in spaced relationship to one another with the hot end of the heat pipes in a heated environment, e.g. the exhaust flue of a furnace, and the cold end outside the furnace. Heat conversion equipment is connected to the cold end of the heat pipes.