Gas Buffer Drum with Inclined Nozzles for Heat Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for handling exhaust gases from heating systems are inefficient in recovering heat and filtering contaminants, leading to environmental pollution and high operational costs due to excessive steam formation, clogging, and high power demands.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a gas buffer drum and suction duct system, utilizing nozzles with inclined blow directions to create a whirl in the gas handling liquid, combined with a turbine-driven suction mechanism to enhance heat exchange and filtration efficiency while minimizing power consumption and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If exhaust gas is bubbled through liquid to recover heat, then heat recovery efficiency is improved, but excessive steam formation occurs when liquid temperature reaches about 40°C, limiting further heat recovery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat recovery efficiencyVSAvoidliquid temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The bubbling process is divided into two distinct phases: a first bubbling phase that operates below the critical temperature threshold to avoid excessive steam formation, and a second bubbling phase that operates after steam separation. This segmentation allows the system to recover heat efficiently without exceeding the temperature limit that causes problematic steam generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Steam separation is performed as a preliminary action before the second bubbling phase. By removing steam from the gas stream beforehand, the system prevents excessive steam formation during continued heat recovery bubbling, enabling sustained heat recovery at efficient temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of moving object

If multiple bubbling heat exchanger units are connected in series to extend heat exchange time, then heat recovery is improved, but steam development becomes even more extensive in subsequent tanks due to high steam content from preceding tanks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange timeVSAvoidsteam development
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Steam separation is implemented as a preliminary action between bubbling phases. This prevents the accumulation and transmission of excessive steam through the system, allowing extended heat exchange time without compounding steam development problems in subsequent processing stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If electric pumps are used to circulate liquid and establish pressure difference for bubbling, then bubbling and heat exchange are maintained, but production and operating costs become considerable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebubbling operation stabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the energy already present in the exhaust gas stream itself to drive the bubbling process. The gas pressure and flow characteristics are harnessed to naturally circulate the liquid and maintain bubbling without requiring external electric pumps, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating additional energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Electric mechanical pump systems are replaced with a gas-driven natural circulation system. The exhaust gas flow itself provides the driving force for liquid circulation and bubbling, substituting electrically-powered mechanical systems with a passive gas-driven mechanism that utilizes the inherent energy of the process stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If solid filters are used to filter contaminants, then filtration is achieved, but filter efficiency continuously decreases due to rapid impregnation with contaminants and cleaning is complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidfilter maintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Solid mechanical filters are replaced with a liquid-based filtration system. The liquid phase absorbs and carries away contaminants through the bubbling process, eliminating the need for solid filter media that become clogged and require complex cleaning or replacement procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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 apparatus effectively recovers usable heat from gases, filters solids and liquids, and reduces contaminant deposition, achieving high efficiency and low operational costs by extending heat exchange time and using a low-power suction system.

Implementation Method 1

nozzles with inclined blow directions to create a whirl in the gas handling liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWhirl flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

enhance heat exchange and filtration efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

suction duct submerged in gas handling liquid situated in the tank, and having a gas outlet duct connected into the gas room of the tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 4

turbine-driven suction mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbine: Turbine

Implementation Method 5

bubbling said gas into the gas handling liquid through perforations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 6

effectively recovers usable heat from gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 7

filters solids and liquids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 8

enhance heat exchange and filtration efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2507570B1Method and apparatus for handling gases
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 SZENTIVANYI PETER
  • EP2507570B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2507570B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2507570B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for handling gases, the apparatus comprising an inlet gas duct (2) leading said gas to a bubbling tank (21), and a gas buffer drum (3) opening into the tank (21) via perforations formed on a plate (3a) of the drum (3), and a suction duct (5) submerged in gas handling liquid (7) situated in the tank (21 ), and having a gas outlet duct (8) connected into the gas room (3b) of the tank (21). Said perforations formed on the plate (3a) of the drum (3) are shaped as nozzles (4) having a blow direction (J) inclined by an acute angle relating to the plate (3a). The apparatus further comprising a valve (31) for draining the liquid (7) and a turbine house (22) divided into two chambers (22a, 22b) by a plate (27), the first chamber (22a) housing an air turbine (43) driven by a liquid turbine (23) housed in the second chamber (22b) and operated by a liquid jet nozzle (26). The first chamber (22a) is connected to the tank (21) by means of the gas outlet duct (8), and the suction duct (5) is connected to the liquid jet nozzle (26) via pump (29a), and the second chamber (22b) is connected to the tank (21).