U.S. patent application number 11/280918 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for non-condensing exhaust system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Honeywell International Inc.. Invention is credited to Gus W. Cutting, Nicholas A. Hartney, Winston S. Webb.
Application Number | 20070110414 11/280918 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38040912 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070110414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cutting; Gus W. ; et
al. |
May 17, 2007 |
Non-condensing exhaust system
Abstract
An exhaust system for relatively cooled gases. The exhaust
system includes an exhaust pipe and a heater. The exhaust pipe is
adapted to contain a flow of cold exhaust gas and the heater is
adapted to heat the flow of cold exhaust gas.
Inventors: |
Cutting; Gus W.; (Palm
Harbor, FL) ; Hartney; Nicholas A.; (St. Petersburg,
FL) ; Webb; Winston S.; (Key Largo, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
101 COLUMBIA ROAD
P O BOX 2245
MORRISTOWN
NJ
07962-2245
US
|
Assignee: |
Honeywell International
Inc.
Morristown
NJ
|
Family ID: |
38040912 |
Appl. No.: |
11/280918 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
392/473 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23J 15/08 20130101;
F23J 2900/15081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
392/473 |
International
Class: |
F24H 1/10 20060101
F24H001/10 |
Claims
1. An exhaust system comprising: an exhaust pipe coupled to pass a
flow of cold exhaust gas; and a heater adapted to heat the flow of
cold exhaust gas.
2. The exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising: the exhaust
pipe having a first end adapted to receive the cold exhaust
gas.
3. The exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising: the exhaust
pipe having a second end adapted to expel the cold exhaust gas.
4. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust pipe is made
from a thermally conductive material.
5. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust pipe is made
from one of stainless steel and copper.
6. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the heater is a wire
heater that is wrapped around the exhaust pipe.
7. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust pipe is
coupled to pass a flow of GN.sub.2 exhaust.
8. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust pipe has a
bend.
9. A method of preventing condensation on an exhaust pipe having
cooled exhaust flowing there through, the method comprising:
directing a flow of cold exhaust into the exhaust pipe; and heating
the exhaust pipe with a heater embedded with the exhaust pipe.
10. (canceled)
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: outputting the flow
of exhaust.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: transferring thermal
energy from the pipe to the flow of cold exhaust.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the flow of cold exhaust is
GN.sub.2 exhaust.
14. A method of forming an exhaust system, the method comprising:
integrating a heater with an exhaust pipe that is coupled to
receive a cold exhaust flow.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: adapting a first
end of the exhaust pipe to receive the flow of cold exhaust.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: adapting a second
end of the exhaust pipe to expel the flow of cold exhaust.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein integrating the heater with the
exhaust pipe further comprises: wrapping the heater around the
exhaust pipe.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising: forming a bend in
the exhaust pipe.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to exhaust systems
and in particular to exhaust systems for relatively cold exhaust
gases.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Exhaust systems that expel cold exhaust gases are
susceptible to the production of condensation. An example of a
system that produces cold exhaust fumes is a heat exchange system.
In a heat exchanger system, thermal energy is transferred between a
fluid like LN.sub.2 in a first thermally conductive container and a
working fluid in a second thermally conductive container. The
LN.sub.2 when placed in the confined space of a thermally
conductive container of a heat exchanger will turn into gas
(GN.sub.2) that is expelled as an exhaust flow. As a result of the
cold GN.sub.2 exhaust flow, pipes that direct the exhaust flow can
freeze and the formation of condensation will occur. This results
in moisture accumulating in areas next to the system expelling the
cold exhaust gas.
[0003] In the past, the moisture problem has been addressed by
insulating cold exhaust pipes. However, the insulation needed to
wrap the pipe is expensive. Moreover, the insulation can takes up a
lot of room. For example, a thickness of insulation of 6 inches or
more is common. This is an issue when the space in limited or the
system producing the exhaust is portable. Moreover, another problem
associated with insulation is that over time mold will develop in
and on the insulation creating a health concern. If mold develops,
the insulation will have to be replaced.
[0004] For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated
below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon
reading and understanding the present specification, there is a
need in the art for a method of effectively in inexpensively
dealing with the effects of cold exhaust gas through an exhaust
pipe.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] The above-mentioned problems of current systems are
addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be
understood by reading and studying the following specification.
[0006] In one embodiment an exhaust system is provided. The exhaust
system includes an exhaust pipe and a heater. The exhaust pipe is
adapted to contain a flow of cold exhaust gas and the heater is
adapted to heat the flow of cold exhaust gas.
[0007] In another embodiment, a method of preventing condensation
on an exhaust pipe having cooled exhaust flowing there through is
provided. The method comprises heating the exhaust pipe with a
heater embedded with the exhaust pipe.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, a method of forming an exhaust
system is provided. The method comprises integrating a heater with
an exhaust pipe that is adapted to contain a cold exhaust flow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention can be more easily understood and
further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when
considered in view of the description of the preferred embodiments
and the following figures in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exhausting system of one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the processing of a
cold exhaust flow of one embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of
manufacturing of one embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] In accordance with common practice, the various described
features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific
features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters
denote like elements throughout Figures and text.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which
is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the
inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments
may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes
may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention. The following detailed description is,
therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of
the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents
thereof.
[0015] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of
processing the flow of cold exhaust through an exhaust pipe to
prevent or at least reduce the formation of condensation on the
exhaust pipe. In one embodiment, a heater is embedded with the
exhaust pipe to heat up the cold exhaust flow as it passes through
the pipe thereby preventing condensation from forming on the
exhaust pipe.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention
is illustrated. As illustrated, this embodiment includes an exhaust
pipe 102 and an exhaust heater 104. The exhaust pipe 102 has a
first end 108 that is designed to receive a flow of cold exhaust
such as a flow of GN.sub.2. The flow of cold exhaust is general
designated as 106. The flow of cold exhaust 106 is not limited to
GN.sub.2. The present invention applies to any type of cold exhaust
that could produce condensation on the exhaust pipe 102. The
exhaust pipe 102 has a second end 110 that is designed to expel the
exhaust 106 after it has been heated. Moreover, as illustrated in
FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the exhaust pipe as a bend to direct
the flow of gas away from a working area or away from the system
producing the cold exhausts flow. Other embodiments of the exhaust
pipe do not have a bend. Still in other embodiments, the exhaust
pipe has more than one bend. Moreover, in some embodiments of the
present invention, the exhaust pipe 102 is made from thermally
conductive material such as stainless steal, copper and the like.
In other embodiments the exhaust pipe is made from non-conductive
material.
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heater 104 is embedded with
the exhaust pipe 102. In particular, in the embodiment of FIG. 1,
the heater 104 is wrapped around the exhaust pipe 102. In one
embodiment, the heater 104 is a relatively inexpensive rope or wire
heater 104. Other types of heaters embedded with the exhaust pipe
102 can also be used with embodiments of the present invention and
the present invention is not limited to rope or wire heaters.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram 200 illustrating the processing of
exhaust with an exhaust system of the present invention to reduce
or prevent the formation of condensation on an exhaust pipe. The
process begins by directing a flow of cold exhaust into a first end
of the exhaust pipe (202). The flow of cold exhaust is then heated
(204). As illustrated in FIG. 1, this is done with a heater that is
embedded with the exhaust pipe such as an electric wire heater
wrapped around the exhaust pipe. In particular, the heater
transfers thermal energy through the thermally conductive exhaust
pipe to the cold exhaust flow thereby preventing condensation from
forming on the exhaust pipe. The heated exhaust flow is then
directed out of a second end of the exhaust pipe (206).
[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, a flow diagram 300 illustrating the
formation of an exhaust system of one embodiment of the present
invention is provided. As illustrated, in this embodiment, a bend
is formed in an exhaust pipe (302). As mentioned above, the bend
directs the exhaust flow away from a working area or away from the
system that is producing the exhaust gas. A first end of a
thermally conductive exhaust pipe is designed receive a flow of
cold exhaust (302). The flow of cold exhaust can come from any type
of system that outputs an exhaust. A heater is embedded with the
exhaust pipe to heat up a flow of cold exhaust (304). In one
embodiment, the heater is a wire heater that is wrapped around the
exhaust pipe. A second end of the exhaust pipe is adapted to expel
the exhaust flow out of the exhaust pipe (306).
[0020] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill
in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the
same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown.
This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations
of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that
this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents
thereof.
* * * * *