Flue gas heat exchanger and fin therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is a heat exchanger including a plurality of fins, each having a first aperture and a second aperture. A first aperture of a downstream one of the plurality of fins decreases relative to a first aperture of an upstream one of the plurality of fins. A first fluid from the first aperture of the upstream one of the plurality of fins is received partially in the first aperture of the downstream one of the plurality of fins and the remainder of the first fluid is diverted along the downstream one of the plurality of fins and received in the second aperture of the downstream one of the plurality of fins. An inner jacket contacts each of the plurality of fins. An outer jacket surrounds the inner jacket defining a chamber for containing a second fluid therein. The first aperture and the second aperture each define sectors of a circle extending from a central part to an outer periphery for conducting the first fluid toward the inner jacket. The inner jacket is configured to transfer heat to the second fluid via said plurality of fins. Other embodiments also are disclosed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . Heat exchanger comprising: 
 a plurality of fins, each having a first aperture and a second aperture;    wherein a first aperture of a downstream one of said plurality of fins decreases relative to a first aperture of an upstream one of said plurality of fins;    whereby a first fluid from said first aperture of said upstream one of said plurality of fins is received partially in said first aperture of said downstream one of said plurality of fins and the remainder of the first fluid is diverted along said downstream one of said plurality of fins and received in the second aperture of said downstream one of said plurality of fins;    an inner jacket contacting each of said plurality of fins; and    an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket defining a chamber for containing a second fluid therein;    wherein said first aperture and said second aperture each define sectors of a circle extending from a central part to an outer periphery for conducting the first fluid toward said inner jacket;    wherein said inner jacket is configured to transfer heat to the second fluid via said plurality of fins.    
     
     
         2 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of fins comprises a disk having an outer annular flange for engaging said inner jacket.  
     
     
         3 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fins are assembled into blocks, a first one of said blocks comprising an initial fin with an opening forming an inlet, and at least one of said blocks comprising a last fin with an opening forming an outlet.  
     
     
         4 . Heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein one to five blocks extend along the inner jacket.  
     
     
         5 . Heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein each of said blocks comprises eight fins.  
     
     
         6 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said first aperture and said second aperture define sectors of a circle extending from a central part to an outer periphery so that the first fluid is conducted toward the inner jacket.  
     
     
         7 . Heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein a smallest sector ranges between 1° and 22.5°.  
     
     
         8 . Heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the sectors are about 12.5° apart.  
     
     
         9 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fins are mounted on a guiding element that extends through openings in a central part of each of said plurality of fins that have a mutual cross section that is non-circular.  
     
     
         10 . Heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the openings have flange portions engaging the guiding element.  
     
     
         11 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising: an inlet fin having an inlet aperture and an outlet fin having an outlet aperture.  
     
     
         12 . Heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein said inlet aperture is larger than a first aperture of a downstream one of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         13 . Heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein said inlet aperture defines an area substantially equal to an open area defined by said first aperture and said second aperture.  
     
     
         14 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are annularly offset by 90°.  
     
     
         15 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of fins has two said first apertures and two said second apertures.  
     
     
         16 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fins defines an inner passage for delivering fluid to one or both of a first aperture and a second aperture of a first of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         17 . Heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said first aperture and said second aperture define an open area that is substantially constant among said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         18 . Heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein said open area is a multiple of 1.1 of a distance between adjacent ones of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         19 . Heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein said open area is a multiple ranging from 1 to 1.5 of a distance between adjacent ones of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         20 . Heat exchanger comprising: 
 a plurality of fins, each having a first aperture and a second aperture that define an open area for receiving a first fluid;    wherein said open area is substantially constant among said plurality of fins;    an inner jacket contacting each of said plurality of fins; and    an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket defining a chamber for containing a second fluid therein;    wherein said first aperture and said second aperture each define sectors of a circle extending from a central part to an outer periphery for conducting the first fluid toward said inner jacket;    wherein said inner jacket is configured to transfer heat to the second fluid via said plurality of fins.    
     
     
         21 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein a first aperture of a downstream one of said plurality of fins decreases relative to a first aperture of an upstream one of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         22 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are annularly offset by 90°.  
     
     
         23 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein each of said plurality of fins has two said first apertures and two said second apertures.  
     
     
         24 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of fins defines an inner passage for delivering fluid to an open area of a first of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         25 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein each of said plurality of fins comprises a disk having an outer annular flange for engaging said interior jacket.  
     
     
         26 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein said open area is a multiple ranging from 1 to 1.5 of a distance between adjacent ones of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         27 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein said open area is a multiple of 1.1 of a distance between adjacent ones of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         28 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein said first aperture and said second aperture define sectors of a circle extending from a central part to an outer periphery so that the first fluid is conducted toward the inner jacket.  
     
     
         29 . Heat exchanger of  claim 28 , wherein a smallest sector ranges between 1° and 22.5°.  
     
     
         30 . Heat exchanger of  claim 28 , wherein the sectors are about 12.5° apart.  
     
     
         31 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 an inlet fin having an inlet aperture, and    an outlet fin having an outlet aperture.    
     
     
         32 . Heat exchanger of  claim 31 , wherein said inlet aperture is larger than a first aperture of a downstream one of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         33 . Heat exchanger of  claim 31 , wherein said inlet aperture defines an area substantially equal to the open area.  
     
     
         34 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of fins are assembled into blocks comprising an initial fin with an opening forming an inlet, and of said blocks a last block also comprising a last fin with an opening forming an outlet.  
     
     
         35 . Heat exchanger of  claim 34 , wherein one to five blocks extend along said inner jacket.  
     
     
         36 . Heat exchanger of  claim 34 , wherein each of said blocks comprises eight fins.  
     
     
         37 . Heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of fins are mounted on a guiding element that extends through openings in a central part of each of said plurality of fins that have a mutual cross section that is non-circular.  
     
     
         38 . Heat exchanger of  claim 37 , wherein the openings have flange portions engaging the guiding element.  
     
     
         39 . Heat exchanger comprising: 
 a plurality of fins, each having open area for receiving a first fluid;    an inner jacket contacting each of said plurality of fins along a heat transfer area substantially constant for each of said plurality of fins; and    an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket defining a chamber for containing a second fluid therein;    wherein said open area defines a sector of a circle extending from a central part to an outer periphery for conducting the first fluid toward said inner jacket;    wherein said inner jacket is configured to transfer heat to the second fluid via said plurality of fins.    
     
     
         40 . Heat exchanger of  claim 39 , wherein said plurality of fins defines an inner passage for delivering fluid to an open area of a first of said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         41 . Heat exchanger of  claim 39 , wherein said open area is substantially constant among said plurality of fins.  
     
     
         42 . Heat exchanger of  claim 39 , wherein said open area defines a sector of a circle extending from a central part to an outer periphery so that the first fluid is conducted toward the inner jacket.  
     
     
         43 . Heat exchanger of  claim 39 , wherein each of said plurality of fins comprises a disk having an outer annular flange for engaging said interior jacket.  
     
     
         44 . Heat exchanger of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 an inlet fin having an inlet aperture; and    an outlet fin having an outlet aperture.    
     
     
         45 . Heat exchanger of  claim 44 , wherein said inlet aperture defines an area substantially equal to the open area.  
     
     
         46 . Heat exchanger of  claim 39 , wherein each said open area defines a sector of a circle extending from a central part to an outer periphery.  
     
     
         47 . Heat exchanger of  claim 46 , wherein a smallest sector ranges between 1° and 22.5°.  
     
     
         48 . Heat exchanger of  claim 46 , wherein the sectors are about 12.5° apart.  
     
     
         49 . Heat exchanger of  claim 39 , wherein said plurality of fins are assembled into blocks comprising an initial fin with an opening forming an inlet, and of said blocks a last block also comprising a last fin with an opening forming an outlet.  
     
     
         50 . Heat exchanger of  claim 49 , wherein one to five blocks extend along said inner jacket.  
     
     
         51 . Heat exchanger of  claim 49 , wherein each of said blocks comprises eight fins.  
     
     
         52 . Heat exchanger of  claim 39 , wherein said plurality of fins are mounted on a guiding element that extends through openings in a central part of each of said plurality of fins that have a mutual cross section that is non-circular.  
     
     
         53 . Heat exchanger of claim  52 , wherein the openings have flange portions engaging the guiding element.