Patent ID: 6263958
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: F28D

Abstract:
A heat exchanger, comprising:a plurality of spaced-apart passages positioned in an array within a bed of said heat exchanger while confining and separately conveying a first fluid through said heat exchanger, neighboring pairs of said spaced-apart passages dividing said bed into intermediate volumes, each of said passages having a plurality of flat surfaces and any one of either a rectangular cross-section, a trapezoidal cross-section, or a triangular cross-section;a grid plate attached on a bottom side of said heat exchanger and perforated by a plurality of orifices conveying a second fluid through said volumes formed between neighboring pairs of said spaced-apart passages, to fluidize a plurality of solid particles disposed within said volumes;any one of either a perforated sheet or a woven wire mesh being attached to a top side of said passages to prevent said solid particles from exiting said heat exchanger;any one of a second woven wire mesh or a second perforated sheet being attached to an inlet side of said grid plate to prevent particles from draining out of said heat exchanger through said orifices; andsaid particles having a second plurality of fat surfaces forming any one of either a cubic shape, a prism shape with rectangular ends, a prism shape with triangular ends, a prism shape with square ends, a prism shape with more than four sides, or a prism shape with ends of any geometric shape that can be made using straight lines, said second plurality of flat surfaces of said solid particles contactable with said first plurality of flat surfaces of said passages to transfer heat between said first fluid and said second fluid.