Heat recovery apparatus

Abstract

The subject of the disclosed invention is a heat generator ( 3 ) for thermal energy production connected through a conveyor ( 4; 41, 4101, 42, 43, 4201, 4202, 4203, 4204, 4205 ) to one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ). The hot gases (F 1 , F 2 ) generated by said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) are carried through said conveyor ( 4 ) to said heat generator ( 3 ) for recovery of their enthalpy content.

1 . Heat generator ( 3 ) for production of thermal energy including:
 at least one furnace ( 31 ), where combustion occurs,   one heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ), where combustion products are cooled, and   a flue ( 36 ) for their discharge into the atmosphere, characterized in that   it is connected via a conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ) to one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ), said conveyor ( 4 ) carrying hot gases (F 1 , F 2 ) discharged by said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) to said heat generator ( 3 ) to recover enthalpic content.   
     
     
         2 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to the previous claim
 characterized in that   said hot gases (F 1 , F 2 ) discharged by said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) are combustion gases (F 1 ), said combustion gases (F 1 ) being sent via said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ) to transfer heat to a part ( 3201 ) of said exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) that is therefore capable to be used only for cooling said combustion gases (F 1 ).   
     
     
         3 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any previous claim
 characterized in that   it is a fire-tube boiler ( 3 ) for production of steam and/or hot water and/or diathermic oil, said heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) thus being a multi-pipe type ( 33 ), arranged in one or multiple fume circuits ( 3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) and designed to transfer heat to water (A) contained in the outer container ( 38 ), with each extremity of said container ( 38 ) being fitted with a pipe plate ( 3801 ) for insertion of said pipes ( 33 ) and said furnace ( 31 ).   
     
     
         4 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to the previous claim
 characterized in that   said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ), designed to carry said combustion gases (F 1 ) from said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) to said heat generator ( 3 ), comprises:
 an outer part ( 41 ) connected to said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) designed to collect said combustion gases (F 1 ) 
 an inner part ( 42 ) devised to couple, at its opening ( 4201 ), to said pipe plate ( 3801 ) so as to intercept one or more pipes ( 33 ) of said heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ), said one or more pipes ( 33 ) identifying the part ( 3201 ) of said heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) dedicated to cooling said combustion gases (F 1 ) 
   
     
     
         5 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to the previous claim
 characterized in that   said inner part ( 42 ) is capable of being shifted towards said pipe plate ( 3801 ), so as to intercept said one or more pipes ( 33 ), thus identifying the part ( 3201 ) of said heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) dedicated to cooling said combustion gases (F 1 ), or is capable of being moved away from said pipe plate ( 3801 ), so that all fume pipes ( 33 ) of said heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) convey exclusively the products of the combustion occurring in said furnace ( 31 ) of said generator ( 3 ).   
     
     
         6 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to the previous claim
 characterized in that   said inner part ( 42 ) translates axially with respect to said external part ( 41 ) in which it is partially inserted, said internal ( 42 ) and external parts ( 41 ) being joined through a telescopic coupling ( 5 ;  4101 ,  4205 ).   
     
     
         7 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to the previous claim
 characterized in that   said telescopic coupling ( 5 ;  4101 ,  4205 ) has circular sections ( 4101 ,  4205 ), said inner part ( 42 ) thus being capable of rotation with respect to said external part ( 41 ), in which it is partially inserted.   
     
     
         8 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any previous claim
 characterized in that   the centre of said opening ( 4201 ) is on the same axis as said external part ( 41 ), said opening ( 4201 ) having such a section as to define, by effect of its rotation, said part ( 3201 ) of the heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) dedicated to cooling said combustion gases (F 1 ).   
     
     
         9 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any one of the previous claims excepting  claim 8 ,
 characterized in that   the centre of said opening ( 4201 ) of said inner part ( 42 ) is offset with respect to said external part ( 41 ), said opening ( 4201 ) defining, by effect of its rotation, said part ( 3201 ) of the heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) dedicated to cooling said combustion gases (F 1 ).   
     
     
         10 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any previous claim
 characterized in that   said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ) is housed in and passes through the inspection hatch ( 37 ) of said heat generator ( 3 ), said external part ( 41 ) of said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ) being hermetically coupled to said inspection hatch ( 37 ).   
     
     
         11 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any previous claim
 characterized in that   said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ) also comprises an interception organ ( 43 ) designed to exclude said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) from said heat generator ( 3 ), said interception organ ( 43 ) being specifically a butterfly valve located on said external part ( 41 ).   
     
     
         12 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any previous claim
 characterized in that   said part ( 3201 ) of the heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ), intercepted and defined by said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ), includes one or more pipes ( 33 ) of the second ( 3302 ) and/or third ( 3303 ) fumes circuit.   
     
     
         13 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any previous claim
 characterized by   being installed and in operation or already on the market, said inspection hatch ( 37 ), in which said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ) is housed and passes being an auxiliary hatch to replace the standard hatch on said heat generator ( 3 ).   
     
     
         14 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any previous claim
 characterized in that   said hot gases (F 1 , F 2 ) discharged by said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) also include cooling and/or ventilation air (F 2 ) heated by cooling of various devices of said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ), said cooling air (F 2 ) being used to support combustion in said furnace ( 31 ).   
     
     
         15 . Heat generator ( 3 ) according to any previous claim
 characterized in that   said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) consist in engines and/or low efficiency heat generators and/or cooling batteries.   
     
     
         16 . A conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ) for transport of hot gases (F 1 , F 2 ) from one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) to a heat generator ( 3 ) for recovery of enthalpic content, according to one or more of the previous claims. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for heat recovery ( 1 ) including a heat generator ( 3 ) and one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ), said generator ( 3 ) and said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) being interconnected by a conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ), according to one or more of the previous claims. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for heat recovery ( 1 ) according to the previous claim characterized in that it is a cogeneration apparatus ( 1 ), said one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ) being an engine ( 2 ) for electrical and/or mechanical power production. 
     
     
         19 . Recovery method for a heat generator ( 3 ) of the enthalpic content of hot gases (F 1 , F 2 ) discharged by one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ), according to any of the previous claims
 characterized in that   said one or more pipes ( 33 ), which are designed to be intercepted by said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ), and which define said part ( 3201 ) of said heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) dedicated to cooling said combustion gases (F 1 ), are selected manually, the physical parameters characterizing said combustion gases (F 1 ) being essentially stable over time, said physical parameters being specifically flow rate and/or temperature.   
     
     
         20 . Recovery method for a heat generator ( 3 ) of the enthalpic content of hot gases (F 1 , F 2 ) discharged by one or multiple heat sources ( 2 ), according to any one of the previous claims excluding  claim 19   characterized in that   said one or more pipes ( 33 ), which are designed to be intercepted by said conveyor ( 4 ;  41 ,  4101 ,  42 ,  43 ,  4201 ,  4202 ,  4203 ,  4204 ,  4205 ) and which define part ( 3201 ) of said heat exchanger ( 32 ;  3201 ,  3101 ,  3302 ,  3303 ) dedicated to cooling said combustion gases (F 1 ), are automatically selected through special sensors by an electronic control unit based on the variation, instant for instant, of the physical parameters of combustion gases (F 1 ), said physical parameters being specifically flow rate and/or temperature.