Integrated Air-Separating And Water-Heating Apparatus Intended For A Boiler

Abstract

An integrated air-separating and water-heating apparatus intended for a boiler is presented.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An integrated apparatus comprising
 an air compressor,   a steam turbine coupled to the air compressor,   a first heat exchanger,   a means for feeding water to the first heat exchanger and from there to a boiler,   a means for feeding compressed air from the compressor to the first heat exchanger,   an air-separating device supplied with air compressed in the compressor,   a heating means for heating the water downstream from the first exchanger,   a second exchanger,   a means for feeding water from the first exchanger to the heating means, from the heating means to the second exchanger, and from the second exchanger to the boiler,   a means for feeding air from the air compressor directly to the second exchanger upstream from the first exchanger, without passing the air through a preheating means, and   a means for feeding the air from the second exchanger to the first exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the heating means are formed by a direct contact heating device. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heating device is supplied with steam from the boiler. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heating device is also used to separate gases dissolved in the water. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a means for pressurizing the water downstream from the first exchanger and upstream from the second exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising;
 an air purification device upstream from the air-separating device, 
 an auxiliary vaporizer for vaporizing a liquid produced by the air-separating device, 
 a means for feeding air from the first exchanger to the air purification device, 
 a means for feeding air purified in the purification device to the air-separating device, and 
 a means for feeding the water vapor from the boiler to an exchanger for heating regeneration gas to be sent to the purification device and/or to the auxiliary vaporizer and/or to an absorption cooling system of the separating device. 
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising;
 an air purification device, 
 an air-separating device, 
 an auxiliary vaporizer for vaporizing a liquid produced by the air-separating device, 
 a means for feeding air from the first exchanger to the air purification device, 
 a means for feeding air purified in the purification device to the air-separating device, and 
 a means for feeding the water vapor from the heating means to an exchanger for heating regeneration gas to be sent to the purification device and/or to the auxiliary vaporizer and/or to an absorption cooling system of the separating device. 
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising;
 a means for feeding water vapor from the boiler to the steam turbine, and 
 a means for condensing the steam from the turbine and for feeding at least part of the water formed in this way to the first exchanger. 
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the air is not compressed by any compressor means between the air compressor and the air-separating device. 
     
     
         20 . A method of heating water intended for a boiler, comprising;
 heating water in a first heat exchanger by an exchange of heat with air from a compressor driven by a steam turbine,   feeding the air cooled in this first exchanger to an air-separating device,   
       wherein the water from the first exchanger is reheated and fed to a second exchanger, where it exchanges heat with air from the compressor, the air from the compressor not being preheated between the compressor and the second exchanger, the air cooled in the second exchanger is fed to the first exchanger, and the water heated in the second exchanger is fed to the boiler.