Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Recovering and Utilising Waste Heat.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Recovering and
Utilising Waste Heat.
We, ALEXANDER MEYER of 339 Ferdinand & Shul Strasse, Paderborn,
Brewery Expert, and HEINRICH GEHRKE of 25 Louisenstrasse, Berlin, Engineer,
both in the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for recovering and utilising
the heat contained in such commonly wasted sources of heat as the products of
combustion from boiler furnaces, exhaust steam from engines, or warm condensation
water. The heat recovered according to this invention is particularly adapted for
utilisation in the brewing and distilling industries, and may be employed for heating
or boiling liquids such as mash or wort or for drying or desiccating the malt, and
for drying generally.
By our improved method of recovering and utilising heat not only is there a
great reduction in the quantity of fuel used and in the wear and tear of the furnaces,
but the burning of the pans and of the boiler bottom plates is almost entirely
prevented as the intense direct firing is no longer necessary.
The products of combustion, the exhaust steam the water of condensation or
other waste product containing heat are not themselves directly applicable to the
purposes indicated owing to the impurities they contain. It is therefore necessary
to cause them to impart their heat to some other medium which can be easily and
cheaply introduced into and fitted at the place where the heat is required.
According to this invention, the heated waste products impart their heat to air
which is caused to circulate through a suitable system of pipes exposed therein, by
means of a fan or pump. Owing to the air thus heated being free from impurities
and easily filtered without cooling it is eminently adapted for boiling mash and
wort in breweries and distilleries, and for drying malt in malt houses. The air is
also completely free from bacteria.
So as to give to the air the necessary low temperature for the initial heating of
mash or for drying malt any required amount of cold air may be admitted to the
system of circulating pipes and mixed with the heated air.
A further advantage of this method of utilising waste heat is that when employed
in the drying rooms of dyeworks, brickworks, paintworks, or powder mills, the
source of the heat may be so far removed as to practically obviate all risk of fire.
In order that this invention may be more fully understood we have hereto
appended a sheet of drawings to which reference is hereinafter made.
As illustrated by Figure 1 the air is passed through a suitable pipe or system of
pipes a, situated in the lower part of the chimney b. The products of combustion
on their way from the furnace to the shaft pass through and around the system of
pipes the contained air being heated by convection without any interference with
the draught of the chimney. The hot air is then conducted through suitable pipes
or conduits to any place where it is desired to be utilised. The system of pipes a
may be otherwise suitably arranged in a flue or special chamber through which the
heated gases pass on their way from the furnace to the chimney.
An alternative method of carrying this invention into effect is illustrated by
Figure 2. In this modification the pipe or system of pipes a is contained within
a tank c into which the exhaust steam or the water of condensation is allowed to
pass and thus heat the air.
It will be obvious that the system of pipes a may be arranged in any situation or
position where they will be exposed to a source of heat which is at present wasted,

page_text: as for example in and alongside of. the walls of ovens, stoves, flues, and the like,
and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the spirit
of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,-
1. The recovery of heat from sources which are at present usually wasted, by
passing air through a system of pipes exposed to the source of heat, the air being
thus heated by convection and rendered capable of use for drying, for heating fluids,
and for other purposes, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The method of utilising heat in sources which are at present usually wasted,
substantially as and by the means hereinbefore described.
Dated this 14th day of Jule A D 1899
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.