Method and device for recovering heat from intermittently and briefly released blow-off steam charge

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recovering heat from intermittently and instantaneously released blow-off steam charges. The method is carried out using a container ( 6 ) with an internal volume ( 2 ), provided with an inlet ( 7 ) and an outlet ( 10 ). The method comprises the steps of supplying a blow-off steam charge (Sh) via the inlet ( 7 ) to the container ( 6 ) and collecting the latter in the internal volume ( 2 ) of the container. In this case, the charge (Sh) may be held in a gravitational field. It is possible to recover energy from a portion of the blow-off steam charge (Sh) by condensation thereof. The condensation results in a stream from said portion to an outlet ( 10 ) which is at a lower gravitational potential. Via the outlet ( 10 ), it is possible to discharge a portion of the charge (Sh) from the internal volume ( 2 ) of the container ( 6 ) at a lower gravitational potential. This can be effected by supplying a subsequent blow-off steam charge (Sh) to the internal volume ( 2 ), thereby expelling the charge (Sh) which is present via the outlet ( 10 ). During heat recovery air is drawn in via the outlet ( 10 ).

1 . A method of recovering heat from intermittently and instantaneously released blow-off steam charges, wherein the method is carried out using a container with an internal volume, provided with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 supplying to the container via the inlet and collecting in the internal volume of the container a blow-off steam charge (S h ), wherein the charge is held in a gravitational field;   recovering energy from a portion of the blow-off steam charge (S h ) by condensation thereof, wherein condensation results in a stream from said portion to an outlet which is at a lower gravitational potential;   discharging a portion of the charge from the internal volume of the container via the outlet at a lower gravitational potential by supplying a subsequent blow-off steam charge (S h ) to the internal volume and thus expelling the charge which is present via the outlet;   drawing in air via the outlet during heat recovery.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the supplied blow-off steam charge (S h ) is smaller than the volume of the container which is at a higher gravitational potential than the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the volume of the supplied blow-off steam charge (S h ) is between 70% and 90% of the internal volume of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of exchanging heat from the blow-off steam charge at least partly coincides with the step of supplying the next blow-off steam charge. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of recovering heat from the blow-off steam comprises bringing the blow-off steam into contact with a heat exchanger provided in the container. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein a steam/air layer is formed in the container, wherein the steam is at a higher gravitational potential than the air, and wherein the energy recovery takes place by condensation at said higher gravitational potential. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein, after the introduction of a blow-off steam charge, the steam/air layer is at a vertical distance from the heat exchanger, and wherein the steam/air layer is at a smaller vertical distance just before the step of supplying the next charge, wherein a height difference between the steam/air layer after the introduction and before the supply corresponds to a buffer volume of blow-off steam in the container. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein recovering heat takes place in a heat-exchanging volume, wherein the heat-exchanging volume is between 10% and 30% of the volume of the blow-off steam charge, and wherein the remaining portion of the blow-off steam charge forms the buffer volume. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the blow-off steam is supplied at a top side of the container, and wherein the blow-off steam is discharged via a bottom side of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply of blow-off steam takes place during a first time period, and wherein heat recovery from the blow-off steam takes place during a second time period, wherein the first time period is less than 10% of the second time period. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply of blow-off steam takes place independently from the heat recovery. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises providing a substantially instantaneous and intermittent blow-off steam charge. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the blow-off steam is supplied to the internal volume in a tangential direction. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the supplied blow-off steam is directed at the heat exchange zone. 
     
     
         15 . A device which recovers energy from intermittently and instantaneously released blow-off steam charges (S h ), comprising a container with an internal volume, wherein the container is provided with an inlet which introduces blow-off steam (S h ) into the container, with an outlet which discharges blow-off steam, and with a heat-exchange element which recovers energy from the blow-off steam, wherein the heat-exchange element, in a position of use of the container, is placed at a vertical distance above the outlet, wherein the outlet is configured to be open during the recovery of energy from the blow-off steam in order to introduce air via the outlet during heat recovery. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the heat-exchange element comprises a heat exchanger which is provided in the internal volume of the container. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the inlet is placed near the heat-exchange element. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the container comprises an inlet for drawing in a gas, such as air. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are the same. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the inlet is provided in an upper part of the container. 
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the inlet is provided tangentially to a wall of the container. 
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the container is provided with a tube having a first and a second nozzle orifice, wherein the first nozzle orifice is provided in the internal volume of the container, and wherein the second nozzle orifice is placed at a vertical distance above the first nozzle orifice and outside the internal volume of the container, and wherein the outlet comprises the first nozzle orifice. 
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the outlet is placed at a vertical distance from a bottom of the container. 
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the inlet is provided with an air-distributing element in order that the blow-off steam flows evenly into the container. 
     
     
         25 . An assembly comprising a steam-peeling device and a device according to  claim 15  connected to the steam-peeling device.