Patent ID: 8318370
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: F02C,F05D,F28D,F28F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A heat exchanger comprising: a first regenerator core including a first cold section and a first hot section; a second regenerator core including a second cold section and a second hot section; a four-way valve coupled to the first cold section and to the second cold section, the four-way valve including an input port and an exhaust port, the four-way valve configured to direct air from the input port to the first regenerator core and to direct air received from the second regenerator core to the exhaust port during a first time interval, the four-way valve also configured to direct air from the input port to the second regenerator core and to direct air received from the first regenerator core to the exhaust port during a second time interval; a first high-temperature check valve coupled to the first hot section, the first high-temperature check valve configured to receive heated air from the first regenerator core during the first time interval and to direct the heated air to a process inlet port during the first time interval; a second high-temperature check valve coupled to the process inlet port and to the second hot section, the second high-temperature check valve configured to block air from the process inlet port from entering the second regenerator core during the first time interval; a third high-temperature check valve coupled to a process exhaust port and to the first hot section, the third high-temperature check valve configured to block air from the first regenerator core from entering the process exhaust port during the first time interval; and a fourth high-temperature check valve coupled to the process exhaust port and to the second hot section, the fourth high-temperature check valve configured to receive heated air from the process exhaust port during the first time interval and to direct the heated air from the process exhaust port to the second regenerator core during the first time interval.