Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Phase filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/IB2009/053860 filed on Sep. 4, 2009; and this application claims priority to Application No. 0804970 filed in France on Sep. 10, 2008 under 35 U.S.C. §119, and claims priority to Application No. 0805016 filed in France on Sep. 12, 2008 under 35 U.S.C. §119; the entire contents of all are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a recuperator for a radiant tube burner having a burner pipe and an exhaust pipe, the burner being positioned at the inlet of the burner pipe, the recuperator being positioned at the outlet of the exhaust pipe. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The recuperator at which the invention is aimed is of the kind which comprises a heat exchanger positioned inside a connecting pipe designed to be connected to the exhaust pipe so as to perform counter-current preheating of the combustion air by part of the flue gases, the exchanger comprising:
         an outbound section for directing the air that is to be preheated toward a ferrule positioned at the end of the recuperator at the flue gas inlet end,   and a return section opening toward a line supplying the burner with air, the ferrule defining a path for reversing the direction of flow of the combustion air and directing it toward the return section,
 
the assembly being designed so that part of the flue gases is entrained by and mixed with the combustion air so as to reduce the level of nitrogen oxides in the products of combustion.
       

     A heat recuperator of this kind is disclosed in FR-A-2 780 770. In general, the radiant tubes with burner are equipped with a system for recuperating heat from the flue gases, this system being of the finned exchanger type. 
     WO 2008/022722 also discloses a heat recuperator in which the outbound section is surrounded by the return section. The combustion air is heated by the flue gases only during the return path. 
     Recuperators proposed hitherto need to be improved in order:
         to improve their thermal performance and the transfer of heat between the flue gases and the combustion air,   to increase the level of recirculation of flue gases in the combustion air so as to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and improve the temperature uniformity of the radiant tube,   to limit pressure drops so as to reduce the required pressure for the combustion air and the extraction needed to carry away the flue gases,   to gain control over pressure drops,   to make the cold ignition of the burner more reliable,   and to reduce the cost of manufacture.       

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, a heat recuperator for a radiant tube burner having a burner pipe and an exhaust pipe, the burner being positioned at the inlet of the burner pipe, the recuperator being positioned at the outlet of the exhaust pipe, and comprising a heat exchanger positioned inside a connecting pipe designed to be connected to the exhaust pipe so as to perform counter-current preheating of the combustion air by part of the flue gases, the exchanger comprising:
         an outbound section for directing the air that is to be preheated toward a ferrule positioned at the end of the recuperator at the flue gas inlet end,   and a return section opening toward a line supplying the burner with air, the ferrule defining a path for reversing the direction of flow of the combustion air and directing it toward the return section,
 
the heat exchanger occupying just part of the cross section of the connecting pipe, the other part remaining free for the passage of the flue gases toward a discharge,
 
the assembly being designed so that part of the flue gases is entrained by and mixed with the combustion air,
 
is characterized in that:
   the outbound section of the exchanger comprises a plurality of exchanger tubes which are parallel to the axis of the connecting pipe, for the passage of the combustion air, the flue gases exchanging heat with the air across the exchanger tubes, the two fluids having parallel flows in opposite directions,   the exchanger tubes open to the inside of the ferrule,   the air circuit is configured in a “hairpin” shape, the return section being radially offset in relation to the tubes of the outbound section and the cross sections of the exchanger tubes and of the return section being situated on the outside of one another.       

     The preheating of the air by the flue gases continues in this return section through a direct exchange of heat resulting from the mixing of the air with hotter flue gases and through an indirect exchange of heat with the flue gases circulating around the return section. 
     Advantageously, the exchanger tubes are grouped together in a region of the space contained between the return section and the connecting pipe or the exhaust pipe. The return section may be formed of a tube of a cross section large enough for the flow of the air from the exchanger tubes and of the recirculated part of the flue gases. 
     According to one first possibility, the tube of the return section is connected fluidtightly to the ferrule, the other axial end of the tube being closed, the return section opening out transversely by an ejector positioned facing the line supplying the burner with air. 
     According to another possibility, the tube of the return section is opened at the flue gas inlet end and the ferrule has a curved crook-shaped outlet nozzle that combines the flows of the collecting tubes and opens into the open end of the return section, in which the air and part of the flue gases become mixed. The return section may be curved, particularly at a right angle, where it leaves the connecting pipe. 
     The recuperator may comprise an air inlet line surrounded by a tubular jacket closed at its inner end and open at its other end into an air inlet chamber for the exchanger tubes, the tubular jacket being surrounded by flue gases so that the combustion air makes a first, preheating, outward and return trip before entering the exchanger tubes. 
     The ferrule may comprise a cylindrical part extended upstream by a funnel which is connected to the mixing tube, the funnel in its central part comprising a tubular extension that forms an injector for the combustion air, this extension being supported by radially directed cuffs placing an annular space into which the exchanger tubes open in communication with the inside of the tubular extension. 
     The recuperator is advantageously of all-welded construction with tubular elements and sheet metal components made of stainless steel. A helicoid may be positioned in at least one exchanger tube. 
     The exchanger tubes may be surrounded by jacket tubes, the combustion air flowing through the exchanger tubes while the flue gases flow through the annular passages contained between the exchanger tubes and the jacket tubes. A partition through which the jacket tubes pass in a fluidtight manner may be provided for the purposes of delimiting, at the end of the connecting pipe or the exhaust pipe, a chamber connected to the flue gas discharge, the jacket tubes opening into this chamber. 
     The recuperator may comprise a bypass pipe for short-circuiting part of the cold air directly to the burner without passing via the recuperator as long as the radiant tube has not reached the self-ignition temperature of the fuel, with a shut-off member provided on the air intended for igniting the burner. 
     The exchanger tubes may have different diameters with, for example, a larger diameter in the upper part and a smaller diameter in the lower part. For preference, the exchanger tubes are welded at just one end, the hot end connected to the ferrule, while at the other end they are engaged with a fluidtight sliding fit in a wall. 
     The exchanger tubes are carefully set out to optimize the bore sections through which the fluids pass, for example in an arc of a circle centered on the axis of the exhaust pipe, and so as to reduce the pressure drop in the flue gases flowing through the free section. 
     In an alternative form, the collection of exchanger tubes is surrounded by a jacket wall and the flue gases flow through the region contained between the exterior surface of the exchanger tubes and the jacket wall. This alternative form is better suited to operation with gas of the steel plant type (the type with gases from a coke-fired furnace and gases from blast furnaces) because of the enormous volumes of flue gases created. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Apart from the provisions set out hereinabove, the invention consists of a certain number of other provisions that will be tackled more fully hereinafter with regard to some exemplary embodiments described with reference to the appended drawings, but which are not in any way limiting. In these drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic partial vertical section through a furnace equipped with a heat recuperator burner. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic vertical axial section, with parts shown in exterior view, of a heat recuperator according to the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view from the right in relation to  FIG. 2 , on a larger scale. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view in section through the injector  18  according to  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  of an alternative form of embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  of another alternative form of embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic vertical axial section on VII-VII of  FIG. 8  of an alternative form of the heat recuperator according to the invention, with partial cut-away. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross section, on a larger scale, on VIII-VIII of  FIG. 7 , and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view, in vertical axial section, of another alternative form of recuperator according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The drawings, notably  FIG. 1 , show a burner B of the radiant tube T type. The tube T comprises a burner pipe Tb at the inlet of which the burner B is installed. The tube T passes through a wall P of a furnace, extends into the chamber of the furnace and emerges through the wall via an exhaust pipe  1 . The burner B is supplied with fuel by a pipe Bc. The flame of the burner B develops in the radiant tube T and the flue gases (combustion gases) pass through this tube to heat the furnace. The flue gases are directed, in the tube T, toward the pipe  1 . 
     A heat recuperator R is positioned at the outlet of the exhaust pipe  1 . As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the recuperator R comprises a heat exchanger E positioned inside a connecting pipe  1   b  designed to be connected by a flange (not depicted in  FIG. 2 ) to the exhaust pipe so as to perform counter-current preheating of the combustion air by a part  2  of the flue gases leaving via the exhaust. 
     The cold combustion air enters the exchanger E via one end  3  in the direction of the arrow  4  and is directed, by an outbound section  5  of the exchanger, toward a ferrule  6  positioned at the end of the recuperator that is the flue gas inlet end. The exchanger E comprises a return section  7  opening toward a line  8  that supplies the burner with air. The ferrule  6  defines a path for reversing the direction of flow of the combustion air from the outbound section  5  and for directing it toward the return section  7 . 
     The assembly is designed so that a part  9  of the combustion flue gases is entrained by the air with which the burner is supplied and becomes mixed with this air in the line  8 . 
     The heat exchanger E occupies just part of the cross section of the connecting pipe  1   b , or of the exhaust pipe  1 , as is clearly visible in  FIG. 2 . The other part  1   a  of the cross section remains free. The return section  7  of the exchanger is radially offset in relation to the outbound section  5 . The outbound  5  and return  7  sections are respectively on the outside of one another. The return section  7  is bathed in the part  9  of the flue gases. 
     The combustion air is heated up, in the outbound path  5 , by the flue gases across the wall of the outbound section  5  surrounded by the flue gases. The heating-up of the air by the flue gases continues during the return path through the wall of the return section  7 . 
     The upstream part of the recuperator situated in the region of the ferrule  6  is designed to separate the flue gases into the part  2  that will be discharged by an outlet  10  and the part  9  which will be mixed with the combustion air. The outlet  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , is equipped with a connecting flange B 2  for connection to a chimney (not depicted). The part  9  of the flue gases flows through the free section  1   a  between the exchanger E and the internal surface of the connecting pipe  1   b  or of the exhaust pipe  1 . 
     The recuperator comprises a passage D for guiding the part  2  of the flue gases from upstream of the exchanger E to the outlet  10 . 
     As shown by  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the outbound section  5  of the exchanger comprises a plurality of exchanger tubes  11  which are parallel to the geometric axis of the pipe  1   b  and of the pipe  1 . The centers of the cross sections of the tubes  11 , in a first exemplary embodiment, are positioned on an arc of a circle centered on the axis of the pipe  1  as may be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , this arc of a circle extending over a little more than 180°. The exchanger tubes  11  are designed for the passage of one of the fluids: combustion air or flue gases. In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the exchanger tubes  11  are designed for the passage of the combustion air and pass fluidtightly through a transverse end wall  12  closing off the downstream (in the direction of flow of the flue gases) part of the pipe  1   b . The combustion air inlet comprises a distributor box (not depicted) communicating with the various ends  3  of the tubes  11  projecting out of the wall  12 . At this location sealing is provided against the tubes  11  in a sliding manner so that thermal expansion is not impeded. That then allows the tubes to become elongated independently of one another. 
     In  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the exchanger tubes  11  are surrounded individually by coaxial jacket tubes  13  which fluidtightly pass through a partition  14  that closes off the pipe  1   b  upstream of the outlet  10 . A discharge chamber  15  is formed between the partition  14  and the wall  12 , this chamber  15  communicating with the outlet  10 . The jacket tubes  13  are positioned a certain radial distance away from the internal surface of the pipe  1 , and stop short of the wall  12  so as to open out into the chamber  15 . At their other end, the jacket tubes  13  stop some distance from a transverse end wall  6   a  of the ferrule  6  so that an annular space  16  is created between the upstream end of each tube  13  and the ferrule  6 , allowing the part  2  of the flue gases to enter the annular passages D contained between the exterior surface of the exchanger tubes  11  and the interior surface of the jacket tubes  13 . The discharged part  2  of the flue gases leaves the tubes  13  at the downstream end and is exhausted by the outlet  10 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the ferrule  6  has an outline in the form of an arc of a circle, a radial distance from the internal surface of the pipe  1   b . The exchanger tubes  11  open into the ferrule  6 . The ends of the tubes  11  are preferably welded against the wall  6   a  pierced with holes one in line with each tube  11 . 
     The return section  7  is formed of a cylindrical tube  17  the axis of which runs parallel to the axis of the pipe  1   b . The cross section of the tube  17  is preferably at least equal to the sum of the cross sections of the exchanger tubes  11 . The wall  6   a  comprises a port communicating with the tube  17  connected fluidtightly, preferably by welding, to this wall  6   a . The other axial end of the tube  17  is closed off by a wall  17   a  near the partition  14 . 
     At its end near the wall  17   a , the tube  17  is equipped with a transverse ejector  18  of preheated air. This ejector is formed by a frustoconical nozzle the cross section of which decreases toward the outside, and the purpose of which is to blow preheated air toward the burner via the line  8 . The ejector  18  stops a certain distance short of the pipe  1   b  or of the pipe  1  so that there is an annular region  19  left between the outlet of the ejector  18  and the inlet of the line  8 . The air leaving the ejector  18  creates a suction effect aspirating the part  9  of the flue gases and entraining it along the supply line  8 . 
     The exchanger E may be produced completely out of tubes and sheet metal panels made of stainless steel. 
     The way in which the recuperator R works is as follows. 
     The cold air for combustion flows and is heated up in the exchanger tubes  11  counter-currentwise in relation to the part  2  of the hot flue gases which flow along the passages D between the tubes  11  and the jacket tubes  13 . The direction in which the preheated air flows is reversed in the ferrule  6  and the air returns to the ejector  18  along the return section  7  lying in the part  9  of the hot flue gases. The preheating of the air continues in this return section  7 . The preheated air leaves via the ejector  18  and becomes mixed with the part  9  of the flue gases that have been carried along the pipe  8 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternative form of embodiment in which the collection of exchanger tubes  11 , through which the combustion air that is to be preheated flows, is surrounded by a communal outer jacket  20 . The flue gases flow through the passage D contained between the outer jacket  20  and the exterior surface of the tubes  11 . The return section  7  is equipped with the ejector  18 . The entire exchanger assembly E of  FIG. 5  is installed in the connecting pipe  1   b  or the exhaust pipe  1 . This configuration allows greater volumes of flue gases because of its low pressure drop and therefore lends itself well to use with lean steelworks fuels. 
       FIG. 6  shows another alternative form of embodiment with a different arrangement of exchanger tubes, the purpose of this being to increase the exchange area without increasing the pressure drop of the recirculated flue gases. The exchanger tubes  11 ,  13  are grouped together in a region of the space contained between the section  7  and the pipe  1 . This configuration makes it possible to increase the number of exchanger tubes in the exhaust pipe and allows greater preheating of the combustion air without reducing the proportion of flue gases that is recirculated. 
     The flow rates of flue gases and of combustion air flowing through the exchanger tubes are constant for all the alternative forms of embodiment according to the invention because they are dependent solely on the way in which the burner is operating. With an additional tube according to the alternative form of  FIG. 6 , the rate of flow of the gases through the tubes is slightly lower but the exchange area is higher. Because area is of greater importance in the amount of heat exchanged by convection than speed, in our operating range, this results in greater thermal efficiency for the exchanger according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6  in spite of a lower speed at which the flue gases and combustion air flow. 
     It will be readily understood that it is necessary to optimize in order to achieve the best compromise between exchange area (number, diameter and length of tubes) and flow rates so as to obtain a good balance between size and pressure drop. 
     In the alternative form of embodiment according to  FIG. 6 , the return section  7  is no longer centered in the exhaust pipe but is offset downward so that the exchanger tubes lie in the upper part. 
     The way in which the exchangers of  FIGS. 5 and 6  work is similar to the operation of the exchanger of  FIGS. 2 to 4 . 
     Advantageously, provision is made for part of the cold air to be short-circuited (bypassed) directly to the burner without passing via the recuperator as long as the radiant tube has not yet reached the self-ignition temperature of the fuel. This short-circuit (bypass) system requires the use of a shut-off member  21  ( FIG. 1 ) for shutting off the air intended for igniting the burner. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show another alternative form of embodiment of the recuperator according to the invention. Elements which perform the same function to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by the same numerical references, possibly followed by an apostrophe &#39;. 
     These will not be described again or will be described again only briefly. The exchanger tubes  11  extend, in the connecting pipe  1   b , from an end wall  12 ′ situated to the left in  FIG. 7 , through which they pass fluidtightly with the possibility of sliding, to open into an air inlet chamber G for the tubes  11 . These exchanger tubes  11  are not surrounded by coaxial jacket tubes. According to  FIG. 7 , the pipe  1   b  is equipped with a flange B 1  for connection to the pipe  1 . The exchanger E projects partly beyond the flange B 1  and this projecting part is engaged in the pipe  1  coaxial with the pipe  1   b . As may be seen in  FIG. 8 , the tubes  11  are grouped in a crescent-shaped space contained between the wall of the pipe  1  or, as the case may be, of the pipe  1   b , and the tube  17 ′ that forms the return section  7 . 
     The ferrule  6 ′ is in the shape of a cone frustum with a large base consisting of the plate  6 ′ a  which has openings corresponding to the cross sections of the tubes  11 . These tubes  11  are welded to the plate  6 ′ a  to open fluidtightly into the ferrule  6 ′. The small base of the ferrule  6 ′ is connected to a crook-shaped nozzle  22  constituting a 180°-bend outlet which combines the flows of air from the various tubes  11 . 
     The end  23  of the return section  7  (tube  17 ′) is open facing the end  24  of the crook  22 . Air leaving the crook  22  enters the tube  17 ′ and becomes mixed with the part  9  of flue gases, coming from upstream, which enters this tube  17 ′. The mixing of the air with part of the flue gases makes it possible to lower the oxygen content in the oxidant and this has the effect of reducing the NOx formed at the time of combustion. This mixing also plays a part in heating up the air. 
     Part of the flue gases enters the empty space  2  situated around the ferrule  6 ′, between this ferrule and the internal surface of the pipe  1  or of the pipe  1   b . This part of the flue gases flows around the tubes  11 , notably in the space  1   a , in the direction of the outlet  10 , counter-current in relation to the air in the tubes  11 . The tube  17 ′ is also surrounded by flue gases heading toward the outlet  10 . 
     The tube  17 ′ emerges laterally from the connecting pipe, being bent over at a right angle into a bend  25  extended by an outlet nozzle  26  fitted, at its free end, with a flange  27  for connecting to the air nozzle (not depicted) of the burner. 
     Air may enter the tubes  11  directly by the chamber G. However, in the exemplary embodiment depicted, air inlet is via a line  28  passing through the wall  12 ′ and surrounded, in the space in which the flue gases are to be found, by a tubular jacket  29 , closed at its inner end, near the elbow  25 . The line  28  stops short of the interior end of the tubular jacket  29  and is open so as to allow the air that has entered to change direction by 180° to return toward an opening in the wall  12 ′ around which the tubular jacket  29  is fluidtightly attached. 
     Because the jacket  29  is surrounded by flue gases, the air circulating in return between the line  28  and the interior wall of the jacket  29  experiences a first preheating before arriving in the chamber G. 
     This outbound and return trip performed by the air entering the double tube consisting of the line  28  and the tubular jacket  29  is optional. When present, it offers an energy saving and an improvement in efficiency at the expense of an increase in pressure drop. 
     To improve efficiency and encourage exchanges of heat, strips of metal twisted into helicoids  30  may be provided inside the tubes  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     The operation of the heater of  FIGS. 7 and 8  is similar to that described with reference to the preceding figures. 
     The arrows drawn in  FIG. 7  embody the paths followed by the air and by the flue gases. 
     According to the optional alternative form, the air entering by the line  28 , having made an outbound and return trip, returns to the chamber G and enters the exchanger tubes  11 , of which there are thirteen in the example of  FIG. 8 . The air is heated up in these tubes  11  by exchange of heat with the flue gases licking the exterior surface of the tubes  11 , counter-currentwise. 
     The air thus heated up is collected in the ferrule  6 ′ and makes an about-turn in the part  22  to enter the tube  17 ′. It is at this point that the recirculation of flue gases takes place. By thus shifting the injector formed by the crook  22  to the end of the recuperator, maximum recirculation effect efficiency can be had. 
     The thirteen tubes  11  are bathed in the flue gases which naturally pass rather in the lower part which constitutes a preferred path. In order to limit the preferred paths of the flue gases and better fill the available space, the tubes  11  may have different diameters, for example a larger diameter in the upper part and a smaller diameter in the lower part of the cross section. The number of tubes  11  will also be adapted to suit the dimensions of the recuperator. 
     Differential expansions between tubes  11  may occur because these tubes are welded only at the hot end, corresponding to the plate  6 ′ a . At the other end, the tubes  11  are slidingly engaged in the wall  12 ′ which preferably consists of three plates separated by an insulator. 
       FIG. 9  shows another exemplary embodiment of a heat recuperator according to the invention. Elements which are identical or similar to elements already described before are denoted by the same references, possibly followed by ″ and these will not be described again or will be described again only briefly. 
       FIG. 9  shows that the recuperator R comprises a cylindrical body  31  coaxial with the exhaust pipe  1  connected to this body. The inlet for combustion air  3 , provided on the non-visible part of the body situated on the other side of the vertical plane of section, has a horizontal axis orthogonal to the axis of the body  31  and of the pipe  1 . The outlet  10  of the remainder of the products of combustion has a vertical axis and is directed downward while the outlet  8  of the mixture consisting of the combustion air and part of the products of combustion is directly opposite the outlet  10 . The inlet  3  and the outlets  8  and  10  are equipped with a collar that forms a flange for connection to a line. 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 9 , the body  31  comprises internal partitions separating various regions which communicate with the inlet  3  and the outlets  8  and  10 . The inlet  3  communicates with an interior chamber  3   a  determined by a cylindrical partition  32  that has a transverse end wall  32   a  through which the return section  7 ″, formed by the mixing tube  17  extending downstream beyond the end wall  32   a , passes in a sufficiently fluidtight fashion. A cap  33  coaxial with the tube  17  is fixed to the body  31 , notably by a flange, not depicted, to cap the downstream end of the tube  17 . The annular space contained between the exterior surface of the tube  17  and the interior surface of the cap  33  communicates with the outlet orifice  8  for the mixture of combustion air and products of combustion. The direction in which this mixture flows is reversed through 180° at the outlet of the tube  17  to head toward the outlet  8 . 
     The ferrule  6 ″ ( FIG. 9 ) comprises a cylindrical part  34 . The downstream end of this part  34  is formed by a circular ring  35  fitted tightly onto the tube  17  and tightly surrounded by the part  34 . The exchanger tubes  11  are distributed around the mixing tube  17 , parallel thereto, and open into the ferrule  6 ″ via openings provided in the ring  35 . At their other end, the tubes  11  open through a circular ring  36  into the air inlet chamber  3   a . The upstream end of the cylindrical part  34  is equipped with a funnel  37  the upstream peripheral edge  37   a  of which is bent over at 180°. The wall of the funnel  37  forms a substantially frustoconical skirt starting from the bent-over edge  37   a  and provides a connection between the upstream edge of the part  34  and the smaller-diameter mixing tube  17 . The tube  17  that constitutes the return section is radially offset toward the inside in relation to the tubes  11  surrounding it. 
     An injector-forming tubular extension  38 , projecting into the tube  17 , is coaxial with the funnel  37  to which it is secured by hollow cuffs  39 , directed radially, open at each end. The cuffs  39  open toward the outside into the space into which the tubes  11  open and, toward the inside, into the extension  38  via openings of elongate shape. The tubular extension  38  is shut off, at the upstream end, by an ogee shape  40  which directs the recirculated part of the products of combustion toward the tube  17  via passages surrounding the cuffs  39  and contained between the internal surface of the funnel  37  and the external surface of the tubular element  38 . 
     It is possible for the exchanger tubes  11  to be welded only at their cold end, it being possible for the ferrule  6 ″ to be held in position by the inner tube  17 . 
     The operation of the recuperator of  FIG. 9  is similar to that described for the preceding figures. 
     The combustion air flows counter-currentwise through the tubes  11  parallel to the tube  17 , enters the cylindrical part  34  then flows radially inward via the cuffs  39  into the tubular element  38  and is injected axially into the tube  17  in the opposite direction to the direction of flow in the tubes  11 . 
     The products of combustion pass, in part, through the annular space  2  toward the outlet  10  and, for another part, directly into the passages between the cuffs  39 , with a minimum pressure drop, to mix in the tube  17  with the combustion air. In the example of  FIG. 9 , the ferrule  6 ″ comprises three cuffs  39  positioned 120° apart. 
     A narrowing in cross section at the end of the injector  38  leads to an increase in the velocity of the air which causes it to aspirate the products of combustion. 
     The combustion air flows through the tubes  11  in the opposite direction to the products of combustion flowing through the section  2  and thereby improves the exchanges of heat between the two fluids and the temperature profile of the recuperator by decreasing the differences in temperature between one end and the opposite end. 
     The risks of breakage encountered in conventional recuperators are logically reduced because of the counter-current mode of recuperation which gives rise to less violent thermal shocks. 
     Finally, not using a casting makes it possible to reduce the risk of breakage. 
     The recuperator/burner can be thermally insulated at the time of its manufacture, so that no thermal insulation has to be provided on site. On-site assembly is reduced to three connecting flanges  27 , B 1 , B 2 . 
     The recuperator according to the invention makes it possible simultaneously to improve the exchange of heat between air and flue gases and the level of flue gases recirculated, passing through the supply line  8 . The use of straight tubes in the exchanger gives rise to limited and well controlled pressure drops. 
     The choice of the various diameters for the tubes is governed both by mechanical performance and by in-line pressure drops (tube thickness) but is also dictated by the ease with which the tubes can be sourced. As a result, it is appropriate to opt for standard commercially available tube sizes. 
     The part  9  of the flue gases enjoys a large free cross section  1   a  so that the speed of the flue gases remains low therein. Although the overall pressure drop in the combustion flue gases varies little, whatever the geometry of the return circuit, it does have a direct influence on the level of recirculation of the flue gases by altering the pressure drop on that part of the flue gases that is circulating through the free section  1   a.    
     The greater the volume of recirculated flue gases, the higher the speed of the gases in the radiant tube. This increase in speed nonetheless leads to only a small variation in the pressure drop in the tube. 
     The design according to the invention makes it possible to separate the flue gases upstream of the exchanger, and this:
         means the flue gases can have their speed increased in the passages around the exchanger tubes  11 , so as to increase the efficiency of the heat exchangers;   leads to a limiting of the pressure drops in the flue gases recirculated with an increase in the effectiveness of the ejector  18 .       

     The use of tubes  11 ,  13 ,  17 ,  17 ′ according to the invention makes it possible to gain control over the speeds of the fluids and therefore fix the heat exchanges and pressure drop so that they are repeatable, something which generally cannot be done with conventional recuperators which are produced from castings with appreciable differences in bore sections as a result of manufacturing tolerances. 
     Counter-current circulation improves the exchange of heat between the fluids while at the same time reducing the mechanical stresses by reducing the temperature gradient between the flue gases and the combustion air on the inlet side of the recuperator. 
     The tubular design also allows the recuperator to be lengthened, resulting in a larger area for heat exchange and better recuperation of heat. 
     The recuperator of the invention, which is of all-welded construction, is more lightweight than a recuperator produced from castings. In addition, the quality of the refractory stainless steel can be tailored to each component of the recuperator assembly according to the level of temperature to which it is subjected, making it possible to achieve an overall reduction in the material cost of the recuperator.

Technology Category: 2