Patent Publication Number: US-11035588-B2

Title: Boiler with heating blower

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2018/009733 filed on Aug. 23, 2018, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0133715 filed on Oct. 16, 2017. The entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a boiler with a heating blower and, more particularly, to a boiler with a heating blower, the boiler being able to improve heat exchange efficiency without additional burner. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, industrial boilers have large capacity and high thermal efficiency, so they are widely used in industry for a factory, heating of large building or central heating type apartments, and public baths. High-temperature vapor or hot water should be supplied in large quantity to central heating facilities of large buildings or apartment complexes or industrial facilities such as a factory, so a high-capacity high-efficiency industrial boiler is required in this case. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a boiler of the related art. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a boiler of the related art includes: a body  10  having a water chamber  10   a  therein; a general flue tube  16  disposed in the body  10 ; a burner  30  having a first side disposed on a side of the body  10  and a second side disposed in the flue tube  16  to generate a flame in the flue tube  16 ; a plurality of smoke tubes  20  disposed outside the flue tube  16  and communicating with the flue tube  16 ; and an exit  22  coupled to second ends of the smoke tube  20 . An inlet  12  through which water flows inside and an outlet  114  through which water is discharged are formed on a first side and a second side, respectively, of the body  10 . 
     According to this boiler of the related art, as the flue tube  16  is increased in temperature by a flame generated from the burner  30 , primary heat exchange occurs between the flue tube  16  and water in the water chamber  10   a . Further, as combustion gas produced from the flame flows through the smoke tubes  20 , the smoke tubes  20  are heated and secondary heat exchange with the water in the water chamber  10   a  occurs. The water heated by exchanging heat with the flue tube  16  and the smoke tubes  20  is supplied to a hot water demander outside through the outlet  114 . 
     It is required to install more burners and increase the sizes of the flue tube and the smoke tubes, but this increases the entire volume, so there is a need for a separate installation space. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems of the related art and an object of the present invention is to provide a boiler with a heating blower to be able improve heat exchange efficiency without an additional burner. 
     Technical Solution 
     In order to achieve the objects, the present invention provides a boiler with a heating blower, the boiler including: a housing including a storage tub storing water therein, a first space formed at a first end of the storage tub, a first barrier insulating the storage tub and the first space, a second space formed at a second end of the storage tub, a second barrier insulating the storage tub and the second space, and an inlet and an outlet formed on both sides of the storage tub; a burner unit including a flame guide tube elongated in the storage tub, with a first end connected with the first space through the first barrier and a second end connected with the second space through the second barrier, and a burner disposed in the flame guide tube; a plurality of flue tubes disposed between an inner surface of the storage tub and the flame guide tube, with an end connected with the first space through the first barrier and a second end connected with the second space through the second barrier; and a heating blower having a first end mounted on the storage tub and a second end passing through the storage tub, and generating hot wind toward the flame guide tube, in which a flame generated by the burner moves toward the first end of the flame tube and is then supplied to the flue tubes through the first space, and hot wind generated by the heating blower moves to the flame guide tube and is then supplied to the flue tubes through the first space. 
     A plurality of heating blowers may be arranged in parallel in a longitudinal direction of the storage tub. 
     A mounting hole may be formed through an outer surface of the storage tub and an intake hole is formed at a position of the flame guide tube which corresponds to the mounting hole, the flue tubes may be disposed between the inner surface of the storage tub and the flame guide tube without overlapping the mounting hole and the intake hole, and the heating blower may include: an external tube connecting the mounting hole and the intake hole to each other; an external extension covering an end connected with the mounting hole of the external tube; and a heating blower assembly generating hot wind to the external tube through the external extension. 
     A mounting hole may be formed through an outer surface of the storage tub and an intake hole is formed at a position of the flame guide tube which corresponds to the mounting hole, the flue tubes may be disposed between the storage tub and the flame guide tube without overlapping the mounting hole and the intake hole, and the heating blower may include: an external tube connecting the mounting hole and the intake hole to each other; an external extension covering an end connected with the mounting hole of the external tube; an internal tube having a diameter smaller than the external tube and accommodated in the external tube; a dead-end closing a first end, which faces the flame guide tube, of the internal tube; and a heating blower assembly generating hot wind to the internal tube through the external extension. 
     The boiler may further include: an internal extension extending along an outer surface of a second end of the internal tube spaced apart from the external extension to be connected to an inner surface of the external tube, and having a plurality of through-holes; and heat tubes extending respectively in the through-holes toward the intake hole, in which hot air discharged toward the internal tube from the heating blower assembly primarily turns toward the external extension after hitting against the dead-end, secondarily turns toward the heat tubes after hitting against the external extension, and then flows into the flame guide tube through the heat tubes and the intake hole. 
     The heating blower assembly may include: a coupler coupled to a coupling hole formed in the external extension to face the internal tube; a protrusive tube protruding toward the internal tube from a first side facing the internal tube of the coupler; and a hot wind supplier supplying hot wind from a second side of the coupler to the protrusive tube. 
     The boiler may include first heat exchange fins protruding perpendicular to an imaginary center line passing through a center of an inner surface of the flue tube on a first side of the inner surface of the flue tube from the center line, and second heat exchange fins protruding perpendicular to the center line on a second side of the inner surface of the flue tube to face the first heat exchange fins, in which a plurality of first convex portions and first concave portions may be alternately arranged on longitudinal first sides of the first heat exchange fins and the second heat exchange fins and a plurality of second convex portions and second concave portions may be alternately arranged on longitudinal second sides of the first heat exchange fins and the second heat exchange fins such that the first convex portions and the second concave portions are arranged to face each other and the first concave portions and the second convex portions are arranged to face each other, and a gap between the first convex portions and the second concave portions and a gap between the first concave portions and the second convex portions may be the same. 
     The first heat exchange fins and the second heat exchange fins that face each other may be spaced apart from each other, and a pair of adjacent first heat exchange fins may be the same or different in length. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a heating blower that supplies high-temperature hot wind to a flame guide tube outside a storage tub, so it is possible to improve heat exchange efficiency of the flame guide tube and flue tube without an additional boiler. Further, the heating blower does not occupy a large volume, so there is no need for a large installation space. 
     Further, since the water stored in the storage tub exchanges heat with the external tube of the flame guide tube, heat exchange efficiency is improved. 
     Further, since hot wind discharged from the heating blower assembly turns several times while traveling through the internal tube and the external tube, and then flows into the flame guide tube, the hot wind remains longer in the internal tube and the external tube, thereby heating the internal tube and the external tube more. Accordingly, the water of the storage tub that comes in direct contact with the external tube is improved in efficiency of heat exchange with the external tube, so the entire heat exchange efficiency is improved. 
     Further, the first and second heat exchange fins of the flue tube have uniform widths, so heat exchange efficiency of the first and second fins is increased. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a boiler of the related art; 
         FIG. 2  is a view schematically showing a boiler with a heating blower according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a view schematically showing the inside of the boiler with a heating blower according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an A-A′ cross-section of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view schematically showing a heating blower of the boiler with a heating blower according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are views showing the inside of a flue tube of a boiler of the related art; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views schematically showing the inside of a flue tube of the boiler with a heating blower according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a view schematically showing the inside of a boiler with a heating blower according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an B-B′ cross-section of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a view schematically showing a heating blower of the boiler with a heating blower according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
         
           
             
                 
               
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   &lt;Description of the Reference Numerals in the Drawings&gt; 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
              
                 
                     
                 
              
             
             
                 
                 
                 
              
                 
                     
                   50, 52: boiler 
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   100: housing 
                   110: storage tub 
                 
                 
                     
                   110a: mounting hole 
                   112: inlet 
                 
                 
                     
                   114: outlet 
                   120: first space 
                 
                 
                     
                   122: first barrier 
                   130: second space 
                 
                 
                     
                   132: second barrier 
                   140: discharge unit 
                 
                 
                     
                   140a: discharge space 
                   142: discharge hole 
                 
                 
                     
                   200: burner unit 
                   210: flame guide tube 
                 
                 
                     
                   212: intake hole 
                   220: burner 
                 
                 
                     
                   300: flue tube 
                   L: center line 
                 
                 
                     
                   310: first heat exchange fin 
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   320: second heat exchange fin 
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   330: first convex portion 
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   332: first concave portion 
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   334: first concave portion 
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   336: second convex portion 
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   400: heating blower 
                   410: external tube 
                 
                 
                     
                   412: external extension 
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   420: heating blower assembly 
                   422: coupler 
                 
                 
                     
                   424: protrusive tube 
                   426: hot wind supplier 
                 
                 
                     
                   450: heating blower 
                   460: external tube 
                 
                 
                     
                   462: external extension 
                   464: coupling hole 
                 
                 
                     
                   470: internal tube 
                   472: dead-end 
                 
                 
                     
                   474: internal extension 
                   474a: through-hole 
                 
                 
                     
                   480: heat tube 
                   490: heating blower assembly 
                 
                 
                     
                   492: coupler 
                   494: protrusive tube 
                 
                 
                     
                   496: hot wind suppiler 
                 
                 
                     
                 
              
             
           
         
       
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, boilers with a heating blower according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is a view schematically showing a boiler with a heating blower according to a first embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 3  is a view schematically showing the inside of the boiler with a heating blower according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a boiler  50  with a heating blower according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  100 , a burner unit  200 , a flue tube  300 , and a heating blower  400 . 
     The housing  100  is longitudinally elongated and has an empty internal space, for example, is formed in a cylindrical shape. The housing  100  includes, therein, a storage tub  110  disposed in the longitudinal center empty space, a first space  120  integrally provided on the top of the storage tub  110 , a first barrier  122  physically insulating the top of the storage tub  110  and the first space  120 ; a second space  130  integrally provided under the storage tub  110 , and a second barrier  132  physically insulating the bottom of the storage tub  110  and the second space  130 . The storage tub  110  is larger in volume than the first and second spaces  120  and  130  to be able to keep as much water as possible. An inlet  112  and an outlet  114  are formed respectively on a first side and a second side between the top and the bottom of the storage tub  110 . Cold water flowing in the storage tub  110  through the inlet  112  is heated into hot water through the flue tube  300  and a flame guide tube  210  and the heated hot water is discharged out of the housing  100  through the outlet  114 . The inlet  112  and the outlet  114  may be formed in opposite directions, depending on cases. 
     A discharge unit  140  may be further provided at the second space  130 . The discharge unit  140 , which is provided for discharging heat such as a flame moving to the second space  130 , integrally extends outward from a side of the second space  130 . The inside of the discharge unit  140  is a discharge space  140   a  communicating with the second space  130 . When a first side of the discharge unit  140  is connected with the second space  130 , a discharge hole  142  is formed at a second side of the discharge unit  140 , so heat such as a flame moving to the second space  130  is discharged outside through the discharge space  140   a  and the discharge hole  142 . 
     The burner unit  200  includes the flame guide tube  210  elongated longitudinally in the storage tub  110  and a burner  220  disposed on at the lower end of the flame guide tube  210 . The flame guide tube  210 , for example, is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter smaller than the storage tub  110  and a length the same as the storage tub  110 . The upper end of the flame guide tube  210  is connected with the first barrier  122  and the lower end of the flame guide tube  210  is connected with the second barrier  132 . The upper end of the flame guide tube  210  is connected with the first space  120  through the first barrier  122  and the lower end of the flame guide tube  210  is connected with the second space  130  through the second barrier  132 . The burner  220  has a normal structure that generates a flame by burning fuel. The burner  220  is mounted at the lower end of the flame guide tube  210  and generates a flame toward the upper end of the flame guide tube  210  and the first space  120 . 
     The flue tube  300  is composed of a plurality of long tubes and is disposed between the inner surface of the storage tub  110  and the flame guide tube  210 . The upper end of the flue tube  300  is connected with the first barrier  122  and the lower end of the flue tube  132  is connected with the second barrier  132 . Similar to the flame guide tube  210 , the upper end of the flue tube  300  is connected with the first space  120  through the first barrier  122  and the lower end of the flame guide tube  300  is connected with the second space  130  through the second barrier  132 . Accordingly, a flame moving to the first space  120  through the flame guide tube  210  moves to the second space  130  through the flue tube  300 . In this process, the flue tube  300  is heated to high temperature by the heat of the flame, so the water stored in the storage tub  110  is heated into hot water through heat exchange by coming in contact with the flue tube  300  and the flame guide tube  210 . 
     The heating blower  400  is mounted on the outer surface of the storage tub  110  and blows hot wind into the flame guide tube  210  through the storage tub  110 . A plurality of heating blowers may be arranged in parallel longitudinally on both sides of the storage tub  110 . When a plurality of heating blowers  400  is mounted on the storage tub  110 , high-temperature hot wind can be blown to the flame guide tube  210 , so heat exchange efficiency of the flue tube  300  is increased. Further, the heating blower  400  does not occupy a large volume, so there is no need for a large installation space. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an A-A′ cross-section of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  is a view schematically showing a heating blower of the boiler with a heating blower according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , a mounting hole  110   a  is formed through the outer surface of the storage tub  110  to install the heating blower  400  and an intake hole  212  is formed at a position of the flame guide tube  210  which corresponds to the mounting hole  110   a . The flue tube  300  is disposed between the inner surface of the storage tub  110  and the flame guide tube  210  without overlapping the mounting hole  110   a  and the intake hole  212 . 
     The heating blower  400  includes an external tube  410 , an external extension  412 , and a heating blower assembly  420 . The external pipe  410  is, for example, formed in a cylindrical shape and elongated across the space between the inner surface of the storage tub  110  and the flame guide tube  210  with a first end connected to the mounting hole  110  and a second end connected to the intake hole  211 . The external extension  412  covers the first end connected to the mounting hole  110   a  of the external tube  410 . A coupling hole is formed through the center of the external extension  412  to couple a coupler  422  to be described below. 
     The heating blower assembly  420  includes: a coupler  422  coupled to the coupling hole of the external extension  412 ; a protrusive tube  424  protruding toward the intake hole  213  from a first side of the coupler  422  facing the intake hole  212 ; and a hot wind supplier  426  mounted on the second side of the coupler  422  opposite the intake hole  212  and supplying hot wind to the protrusive tube  424 . The hot wind supplier  426  has a general structure for supplying hot wind, and for example, includes a fan to which air is supplied and a heating coil heating the air into hot wind. 
     Hot wind generated by the heating blower assembly  420  is supplied to the external tube  410  through the protrusive tube  424  and then moves to the flame guide tube  210  through the intake hole  212  connected to the external tube  410 . In this process, since a flame is passing through the flame guide tube  210 , the flame and the hot wind are mixed in the flame guide tube  210 , so the flame guide tube  210  is increased in temperature more than when only a flame passes through it. Further, the flame and hot wind passing out of the flame guide tube  210  move to the first space  120  and then moves to the flue tube  300 . In this process, the flue tube  300  is also increased in temperature more than when only a flame passes through it, similar to the flame guide tube  210 . 
     The water stored in the storage tub  110  primarily exchanges heat with the flame guide tube  210  and the flue tube  300  heated by the flame and secondarily exchanges heat with the flame guide tube  210  and the flue tube  300  heated by the hot wind, whereby heat exchange efficiency is more improved. 
     Further, since the external tube  410  is disposed in the storage tub  110  to be heated by hot wind, the water stored in the storage tub  110  thirdly exchanges heat with the external tube  410 , so the heat exchange efficiency is further improved. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are views showing the inside of a flue tube of a boiler of the related art and  FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views schematically showing the inside of a flue tube of the boiler with a heating blower according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     First, referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a plurality of first fins  22  and second fins  24  are provided longitudinally in a flue tube  20  of the related art. The first fins  22  protrude perpendicular to an imaginary center line L passing through the center of the inner surface of the flue tube  20  on a first side of the inner surface of the flue tube  20  from the center line L, and the second fins  24  protrude perpendicular to the center line L on a second side of the inner surface of the flue tube  20 . A flame moving through the flue tube  20  increases in contact area by coming in contact with the first and second fins  22  and  24 , so the first and second fins  22  and  24  are heated and the heated first and second fins  22  and  24  heat the flue tube  20 , whereby the flue tube  20  is heated more. 
     A plurality of first convex portions  26  and first concave portions  27  are alternately arranged on longitudinal first sides of the first fins  22  and the second fins  24 . A plurality of second convex portions  28  and second concave portions  29  are alternately arranged on longitudinal second sides of the first fins  22  and the second fins  24 . The first convex portions  26  and the second convex portions  28  are arranged to face each other, and the first concave portions  27  and the second concave portions  29  are arranged to face each other, so the width d 1  between the first convex portions  26  and the second convex portions  28  is larger than the width d 2  between the first concave portions  27  and the second concave portions  29 . However, a heat transfer rate is in inverse proportion to a heat conductive thickness. Accordingly, since the first width d 1  between the first convex portions  26  and the second convex portions  28  is larger than the second width d 2  between the first concave portions  27  and the second concave portions  29 , the heat transfer rate of the first and second convex portions  26  and  28  is lower than that of the first and second concave portions  27  and  29 . 
     Further, some of the first and second fins  22  and  24  are connected to each other and the connected first and second fins  22  and  24  block the flame moving through the flue tube  20 , thereby limiting movement of the flame. 
     Next, referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a plurality of first heat exchange fins  310  and second heat exchange fins  320  are protruded and arranged in the longitudinal direction of a flue tube  300  in the flue tube  300  of the present invention. The first heat exchange fins  310  protrude perpendicular to an imaginary center line L passing through the center of the inner surface of the flue tube  300  on a first side of the inner surface of the flue tube  300  from the center line L, and the second heat exchange fins  320  protrude perpendicular to the center line L on a second side of the inner surface of the flue tube  300 . A flame and hot wind moving through the flue tube  300  increase in contact area by coming in contact with the first and second heat exchange fins  310  and  320 , so the first and second heat exchange fins  310  and  320  are heated and the heated first and second heat exchange fins  310  and  320  heat the flue tube  300 , whereby the flue tube  300  is heated more. 
     A plurality of first convex portions  330  and first concave portions  332  are alternately arranged on longitudinal first sides of the first heat exchange fins  310  and the second heat exchange fins  320 . A plurality of second convex portions  336  and second concave portions  334  are alternately arranged on longitudinal second sides of the first heat exchange fins  310  and the second heat exchange fins  320 . The first convex portions  330  and the second concave portions  334  are arranged to face each other, and the first concave portions  332  and the second convex portions  336  are arranged to face each other, so a third width d 3  between the first convex portions  330  and the second concave portions  334  is larger than a fourth width d 4  between the first concave portions  332  and the second convex portions  336 . As described above, since the first convex portions  330  and the second convex portions  336  do not face each other, the third width and the fourth width are the same, so the first and second heat exchange fins  310  and  320  are formed thinly with a generally constant width. Accordingly, the heat transfer rate of the first and second heat exchange fins  310  and  320  is kept constant, so the heat exchange efficiency of the first and second heat exchange fins  310  and  320  is improved. 
     Further, the first heat exchange fins  310  and the second heat exchange fins  320  that face each other are spaced apart from each other and a pair of adjacent first heat exchange fins  310  are the same or different in length, so a flame and hot water passing through the flue tube  300  pass through between the first and second heat exchange fins  310  and  320  without being blocked. Accordingly, the flame and hot wind can easily move, so the heat exchange efficiency is improved. 
       FIG. 8  is a view schematically showing the inside of a boiler with a heating blower according to a second embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an B-B′ cross-section of  FIG. 8 , and FIG. is a view schematically showing a heating blower of the boiler with a heating blower according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 to 10 , a boiler  52  with a heating blower according to a second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the first embodiment except for having a heating blower  450  that is different from that of the first embodiment. That is, the boiler  52  with the heating blower  450  according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  100 , a burner unit  200 , a flue tube  300 , and a heating blower  450 . 
     The heating blower  450  includes an external tube  460 , an external extension  462 , an internal tube  470 , a dead-end  472 , an internal extension  474 , heat tubes  480 , and a heating blower assembly  490 . The external pipe  460 , for example, is formed in a cylindrical shape with a first end connected to the mounting hole  110   a  and a second end connected to the intake hole  212 . The external extension  462  covers the first end connected to the mounting hole  110   a  of the external tube  460 . A coupling hole  464  is formed at the center of the external extension  462  facing the internal tube  470  to be described below to couple a coupler  492  of the heating blower assembly  490 . 
     The internal tube  470 , for example, is formed in a cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than the external tube  460 . The internal tube  470  is smaller in length than the external tube  460 , so the internal tube  470  is accommodated in the external tube  460 . The dead-end  472  closes a first end, which faces the flame guide tube  210 , of the internal tube  470 . The internal extension  474  extends along the outer surface of a second end of the internal tube  470  spaced apart from the external extension  462  to be connected to the inner surface of the external tube  460 . A plurality of through-holes  474   a  is formed at a side of the internal extension  474  to connect heat pipes  480  to be described below around the internal extension  474 . 
     The heat tubes  480  are formed in cylindrical shapes and arranged in parallel between the internal tube  470  and the external tube  460 . The heat tubes  480  have first ends connected to the through-holes  474   a  and second ends extending toward the intake hole  212 . The heating blower assembly  490  includes: a coupler  492  coupled to the coupling hole  464  of the external extension  462 ; a protrusive tube  494  protruding toward the internal tube  470  from a first side of the coupler  492  facing the internal tube  470 ; and a hot wind supplier  496  mounted on the second side of the coupler  492  opposite the internal tube  470  and supplying hot wind to the protrusive tube  494 . 
     The hot wind discharged toward the internal tube  470  from the heating blower assembly  490  primarily turns toward the external extension  462  after hitting against the dead-end  472 , secondarily turns toward the heat tubes  480  after hitting against the external extension  462 , and then flows into the flame guide tube  210  through the heat tubes  480  and the intake hole  212 . As described above, since the hot air discharged from the heating blower assembly  490  turns twice and then flows into the flame guide tube  210 , the hot water remain longer in the internal tube  470  and the external tube  460  and comes in contact with the internal tube  470  and the external tube  460  in more areas, so the internal tube  470  and the external tube  460  are heated more by the hot air. Therefore, the water stored in the storage tub  110  and coming in direct contact with the external tube  460  exchanges more heat with the external tube  460 , so the entire heat exchange rate is improved. 
     Although the present invention was described above with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be changed and modified in various ways within the scope of the present invention. Further, the changes and modifications should be construed as being included in the present invention if they belong to the claims.