Energy recovery apparatus

Abstract

An energy recovery apparatus for heating or industrial systems that entail the combustion of products, comprises a tubular element, which is arranged at a portion of a stack or flue and is provided with a delivery for feeding water for scrubbing exhaust gases. The tubular element has an outlet for collecting the treated water that can be conveyed to a heat exchanger. The apparatus allows reduction of the emission of particulates and pollutants into the environment and makes it possible to achieve a reduction in the temperature of the exhaust gases as well as heat energy recovery.

1 . An energy recovery apparatus, comprising: at least one tubular element, which is arranged at a portion of a stack or flue and is provided with a delivery for feeding treatment water for scrubbing exhaust gases, said at least one tubular element having an outlet for collecting the treatment water for conveyance to a recuperator or heat exchanger. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , having a first hollow said tubular element, which is elongated and has a substantially cylindrical cross-section with a flat top, said tubular element having, proximate to a first and a second end thereof, a frustum-shaped tapering portion for connection to a first inflow opening and a second outflow opening that have a circular cross-section, said first and second openings being connected at portions of the flue or stack so that a flow of exhaust gases that enters through said first opening passes through all of said first tubular element and exits through said second opening, as processed exhaust gases. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising: at least one first coil provided within said first tubular element, said coil consisting of at least one single tube that is arranged on a horizontal plane proximate to the coil top, said first coil having a third closed coil end, which is arranged proximate to said first opening, and a fourth coil end, which is arranged proximate to said second opening; and a delivery tube that constitutes said delivery and is connected to the first tubular element for feeding the treatment water used to scrub exhaust gases that pass through said first tubular element; a series of first holes that are formed along an entire surface directed at least toward a bottom of said tubular element; the treatment water fed inside said first coil exiting from said series of first holes, said delivery tube having a first portion that protrudes axially with respect to said first tubular element through said second opening. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a heat exchanger, wherein said first tubular element has, at said bottom and in a region that is adjacent to said second opening, a second hole with which a first drain is associated which is adjacent to said delivery tube, so as to be able to convey the treatment water, heated by scrubbing of the exhaust gases, to the heat exchanger, said heat exchanger consisting of a box-shaped tank and receiving water from said first drain that reaches near a lower end of the tank, said tank being provided internally with a set of tubes and in a lower region with a valve for selective discharge of treatment water into a sewage system, and wherein an overflow duct is provided above said tank for overflow and for selective discharge of treatment water into the sewage system. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , comprising a second tubular element that is provided connected sequentially downstream of said first tubular element, is arranged vertically and is interposed between flue or stack portions, in an external part of a building, a further part of the flue that is adjacent to a third lower drain opening of the second tubular element being arranged along an inclined axis that is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of said second tubular element, said second tubular element being provided internally with at least one second coil, said second coil consisting of at least one single tube that is extractable from said second tubular element, the third and/or fourth ends whereof are provided removable. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said second coil is provided so as to extend within said second tubular element until skims an inner lateral surface thereof, said second coil comprising a tube forming a series of circular turns which are provided with and are supported by a locking means of a double comb shape, said locking means being composed of two pairs of linear flanges, which are opposite each other and have a series of seats for positioning and supporting portions of the tube that form the second coil, said locking means being provided with a handle arranged transversely at an upper end of the locking means and being fixed to said second tubular element through screws, which pass through suitable holes formed in said second tubular element, said screws allowing, upon unscrewing thereof, simultaneous extraction of said locking means and of said second coil by means of said handle that can be gripped by a user. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said second coil is closed at an upper end thereof and has second holes that are formed both on a surface of the second coil directed toward said upper end and on a surface of the second coil directed toward the inner lateral surface of said second tubular element, a lower end of said second coil being connected to said first portion of said delivery tube, said second tubular element having a second outlet for treatment water that filters exhaust gases in countercurrent, said second outlet being arranged below and adjacent to a portion of the flue that is connected, along an inclined axis, to said third opening, said second outlet being in axial alignment with said second tubular element. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , comprising a container which is arranged downstream of said first tubular element and is interposed between portions of the stack or flue, in a portion that is in an external part of a building, said container having a box shape that is open in an upper region and has a closed bottom, an open top, and a body that is interposed between the bottom and top and is shaped substantially like two different frustums which are arranged opposite to each other and in contact at their larger end faces, treatment water being storable within said container at a desired level, said container further having, laterally to said body, at least one first duct for conveying exhaust gases, which enter through a contiguous opening of said body, a fan being further located at said contiguous opening for conveying the exhaust gases in the first duct, to the flue or stack. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said first duct has an end located within said container shaped so as to arrange itself below a level of treatment water contained therein, said container having, laterally to said body, in a region above the water level, a second duct for feeding treatment water, recirculated for cooling, that arrives from a heat recovery, said container further having, laterally to said body in a region that approximately corresponds to the water level, a third drain outlet for the treatment water for setting and maintaining said water level, said drain outlet forming a treatment water overflow for water return to a heat recovery or to the recuperator/heat exchanger. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , comprising a third tubular element, which is interposed between portions of a flue or stack, said third tubular element being provided internally with at least one third extractable coil, which is provided with a first connector conducting treatment water to a boiler, and with a second delivery connector, for receiving treatment water from the heat exchanger, a fourth outlet connection that interconnects said first drain which leads to said heat exchanger and said third tubular element, being provided for conveyance of condensation that might form outside said third coil to the heat exchanger.