Patent GB-719660-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in rotary heat exchange apparatus
IPC: F28D19/04
Filed: 1952-05-14
Abstract: 719,660. Centrifugal fans. SVENSKA ROTOR MASKINER AKTIEBOLAG. May 14, 1952 [May 16, 1951], No. 12211/52. Class 110(1) [Also in Group XIII] Rotary heat exchange apparatus which functions as a fan comprises a rotor having a plurality of parallel ribs concentric with its axis and defining open continuous annular groove-like flow channels, a stationary structure spaced from the ribs and arranged to direct a heat exchanging fluid through the said channels from an inlet to an outlet of said structure, said structure including baffles extending into and obstructing said channels and means forming heat transfer passages interconnecting parts of successive channels adjacent to said baffles to cause said fluid to flow progressively through the said parts of successive channels. In the form shown the rotor comprises a cylindrical wall 18, and end walls 16, 20 the cylindrical wall being provided externally with axially spaced radial ribs 22 defining a plurality of channels 24 and internally with similar ribs 26 defining channels 28. A stationary casing associated with the rotor includes inner and outer walls 32, 38 radially spaced from the respective channels 28, or 24. Peripherally spaced comblike baffle members 70 having fingers extending into the grooves are carried by the casing walls and divide the grooves into arcuate segments (see Fig. 4). Cover members 74 extend axially of the rotor close to the crests of the external ribs 22 and are supported by partitions 76 which extend peripherally from one baffle 70 to the next and have oblique central portions 78 overlying the cover plates 74. Similar structure is provided internally of the casing for the inner ribs 26. This arrangement provides on each side of the cylindrical wall 18 two series of ports (e.g. 82, 82a and 84, 84a) interconnecting groups of arcuate channel segments or alternatively single channel segments in series throughout the axial length of the rotor so that one fluid e.g. hot gas entering at one end of the rotor through an inlet port 46 flows circumferentially through the channel segments but generally axially of the rotor to an outlet port 50 and exchanges heat through the wall 18 with another fluid e.g. air which enters the casing by way of duct 34 and flows through the heat exchanger in contra-flow to the heating gases to an outlet duct 58. The baffle members may be made in sections peripherally offset from one another to provide a generally helical flow of the fluids through the apparatus. (Figs. 8-11 not shown). A further form of apparatus is described in which the fluid flow is radial (Figs. 12-13 not shown). It is stated that when used particularly as an air preheater the apparatus acts as a compound fan enabling the usual separate forced draught and exhaust fans to be eliminated or reduced in power. The apparatus may be also used for heat exchange between a liquid and a gas or between two liquids. The width of successive channels may be varied to compensate for changes in volume of the respective fluids in their passage through the heat exchanger. The direction of flow of the fluids may be reversed in selected channel segments.