U.S. patent application number 13/351065 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-19 for heat exchanger with highly flexible use.
Invention is credited to Gian-Luca ANGIOLINI.
Application Number | 20120181006 13/351065 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44260917 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120181006 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ANGIOLINI; Gian-Luca |
July 19, 2012 |
HEAT EXCHANGER WITH HIGHLY FLEXIBLE USE
Abstract
A heat exchanger, comprising a box-like body which delimits
inside it at least one heat exchange chamber and has at least one
inlet and at least one outlet for the passage through the chamber
of combustion products along a preferred path. The box-like body
defines at least partly in its side walls at least one duct for
feeding a fluid and inside the heat exchange chamber elements are
provided and are associated with the supply duct in order to
increase the thermal efficiency of the heat exchanger. The heat
exchanger comprises a plurality of distinct modular elements which
are mutually to interconnected in order to define the box-like
body. Each modular element may comprise at least one portion of the
heat exchange elements, of the supply duct and of the chamber.
Inventors: |
ANGIOLINI; Gian-Luca;
(Piacenza, IT) |
Family ID: |
44260917 |
Appl. No.: |
13/351065 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 2215/06 20130101;
Y02B 30/108 20130101; F28F 2255/14 20130101; F24D 2220/06 20130101;
F28F 3/022 20130101; F28F 7/02 20130101; Y02B 30/00 20130101; F24H
1/32 20130101; F24H 1/46 20130101; F28D 7/1615 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/173 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20060101
F28F009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 17, 2011 |
EP |
11425007. |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger with highly flexible use, comprising a box-like
body which delimits inside it at least one heat exchange chamber
and has at least one inlet and at least one outlet for the passage
through said at least one heat exchange chamber of combustion
products along a preferred path, said box-like body defining at
least partly in its side walls at least one duct for feeding a
fluid to be heated and inside said at least one heat exchange
chamber heat exchange elements being provided and being associated
with said at least one supply duct in order to increase the thermal
efficiency of said heat exchanger, further comprising a plurality
of distinct modular elements which are mutually interconnected in
order to define said box-like body, each one of said modular
elements comprising at least one portion of said heat exchange
elements, at least one portion of said supply duct and at least one
portion of said at least one heat exchange chamber.
2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said modular
elements comprise two modular end elements which are distinct and
associable.
3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said modular
elements comprise at least one additional modular element, which is
distinct and interposed between said two modular end elements or
between one of said modular end elements and another additional
modular element or between two other additional modular
elements.
4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein said modular
end elements and said at least one additional modular element are
each provided by two distinct and interconnected half-elements.
5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said modular
elements comprise a modular end element and at least one additional
modular element, which are distinct and mutually associable, said
modular end element having a closed profile in order to delimit
inside it a first heat exchange chamber and said at least one
additional modular element having an open profile with an open face
in order to delimit inside it a second heat exchange chamber when
associated with said modular end element or with another additional
modular element.
6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of heat exchange chambers, one for each pair of said
modular elements, said heat exchange chambers being independent of
each other and being each delimited by said pair of modular
elements.
7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, further comprising a
plurality of inlets and one for each one of said heat exchange
chambers.
8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein each one of
said inlets is designed to accommodate at least one burner.
9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said heat
exchange elements comprise hollow pins, which are arranged inside
said at least one heat exchange chamber and can be crossed
internally by said fluid to be heated, said hollow pins running
parallel to each other and substantially at right angles to the
direction of crossing of said combustion products in said at least
one heat exchange chamber.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein each one of
said modular elements defines inside it a winding channel which
runs substantially parallel to said direction of crossing, said
winding channel comprising a plurality of straight portions and of
curved portions which are mutually interleaved and formed
respectively, by said hollow pins and in said side walls of said
box-like body.
11. The heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein each one of
said winding channels is connected at one end to a delivery
manifold of said fluid to be heated and at the other end to a
return manifold of said fluid to be heated, each one of said
delivery manifolds and each one of said return manifolds associated
with the same one of said winding channels being defined by a
single one of said modular elements and being connected
respectively to the delivery manifold and to the return manifold of
the adjacent modular element, said portions, said delivery
manifolds and said return manifolds thus defining said supply
duct.
12. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein said hollow
pins cross said at least one heat exchange chamber from side to
side.
13. The heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein each one of
said winding channels is defined partly by one of said
half-elements and partly by the other one of said
half-elements.
14. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein said hollow
pins are spaced from said inlets in order to define a combustion
chamber and to prevent their combustion caused by the flame
generated by said at least one burner.
15. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said heat
exchange elements comprise solid pins which are connected to the
inside walls of said box-like body and are interposed between said
hollow pins for a further increase in the thermal efficiency of
said heat exchanger, said solid pins extending substantially
parallel to said hollow pins.
16. The heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein said solid
pins have an axial extension that increases as it extends away from
said inlets until they cross said at least one heat exchange
chamber from side to side in order to define said combustion
chamber and to prevent their combustion caused by the flame
generated by said at least one burner.
17. A heat exchange station, comprising a plurality of heat
exchangers, according to claim 1, which are mutually arranged, said
fluid to be heated passing through all of said heat exchangers.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from European Patent
Application No. 11425007, filed Jan. 17, 2011, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger with
highly flexible use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Nowadays heat exchangers are known which are adopted in
boilers designed to heat a fluid which is generally constituted by
water or diathermic oil.
[0004] Such heat exchangers are generally constituted by a
monolithic box-like structure which is often made of aluminum and
is such as to define inside it at least one heat exchange chamber
that can be crossed by hot combustion gases.
[0005] The duct for feeding the fluid to be heated, which by
convection and conduction absorbs the heat carried by the
combustion gases, is provided in the side walls of such box-like
structure.
[0006] In order to improve the thermal efficiency of such heat
exchangers, it is known to provide inside the heat exchange chamber
a plurality of solid pins, which are integral with the box-like
structure and are adapted to increase the surface for heat exchange
between the burned gases and the inside walls of the box-like
structure.
[0007] A known evolution of such solid pins consists in making them
hollow and in making the fluid to be heated pass through them. This
last solution is such as to further increase the thermal efficiency
of the exchanger but suffers the drawback that, in order to provide
the hollow pins, such pins must have a large cross-section so as to
allow circulation of the fluid to be heated inside them.
[0008] This fact leads to an increase in the dimensions of the
voids between one pin and the next, thus allowing the combustion
gases to pass through the heat exchange chamber without adequately
flowing over the pins that are present inside it.
[0009] In practice, this increase in size does not allow optimum
utilization of the heat of the combustion gases that circulate in
the heat exchanger.
[0010] In the particular case in which the heat exchanger is
adopted in condensation gas boilers, the exchanger is provided with
a burner located at the upper head of the heat exchanger and the
combustion products are conveyed into a portion of space that
extends from the head to the bottom of the exchanger, where a duct
for evacuation to the flue is provided.
[0011] Such conventional heat exchangers are not devoid of
drawbacks, which include the fact that, depending on the design
specifications and therefore on the boiler in which installation is
to occur, they must be sized appropriately and obtained by
providing a dedicated manufacturing process for each type of heat
exchanger manufactured, with an obvious economical impact.
[0012] More specifically, this drawback is felt even more strongly
when it is not possible to achieve economies of scale during
manufacture, i.e., when the number of heat exchangers to be
manufactured is limited to a few units and, especially, when the
design specifications have particular nonstandard requirements.
[0013] Among the variables to be considered during the design of a
heat exchanger, in addition to a simple size factor which is
correlated to the space occupation and spaces available inside the
boiler, and to the thermal power to be exchanged, the desired
number of burners and the number of heat exchange chambers can be
particularly important, for example if one wishes to obtain a heat
exchanger with exchangeable thermal power that is variable.
[0014] Another drawback of conventional exchangers consists in
that, since they are generally provided by means of a monolithic
structure obtained by casting, the provision of the internal hollow
pins is an operation which is difficult and expensive to
perform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The aim of the present invention is to provide a heat
exchanger with highly flexible use which solves and overcomes,
respectively, the above mentioned drawbacks and limitations of
conventional heat exchangers.
[0016] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to
provide a heat exchanger with highly flexible use which, thanks to
its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving
the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat
exchanger with highly flexible use that is competitive from a
merely economical standpoint.
[0018] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will
become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a heat
exchanger with highly flexible use, comprising a box-like body
which delimits inside it at least one heat exchange chamber and has
at least one inlet and at least one outlet for the passage through
said at least one heat exchange chamber of combustion products
along a preferred path, said box-like body defining at least partly
in its side walls at least one duct for feeding a fluid to be
heated and inside said at least one heat exchange chamber heat
exchange elements being provided and associated with said at least
one supply duct in order to increase the thermal efficiency of said
heat exchanger, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of
distinct modular elements which are mutually interconnected in
order to define said box-like body, each one of said modular
elements comprising at least one portion of said heat exchange
elements, at least one portion of said supply duct and at least one
portion of said at least one heat exchange chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Further characteristics and advantages will become better
apparent from the description of four preferred, but not exclusive,
embodiments of a heat exchanger with highly flexible use,
illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a heat
exchanger with highly flexible use, according to the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger
shown in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component of the heat
exchanger shown in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the
component shown in FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a plan view from above of the heat exchanger shown
in FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the heat exchanger shown in
FIG. 5, taken along the line VI-VI;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the heat exchanger shown in
FIG. 5, taken along the line VII-VII;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a variation of the heat
exchanger shown in FIG. 5, taken along the line VI-VI;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
heat exchanger with highly flexible use, according to the
invention;
[0029] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the heat
exchanger shown in FIG. 9;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a component of the heat
exchanger shown in FIG. 9;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a plan view from above of the heat exchanger
shown in FIG. 9;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the heat exchanger shown in
FIG. 12, taken along the line XIII-XIII;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the heat exchanger shown in
FIG. 12, taken along the line XIV-XIV;
[0034] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a variation of the heat
exchanger shown in FIG. 12, taken along the line XIV-XIV;
[0035] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a third
embodiment of a heat exchanger with highly flexible use, according
to the invention;
[0036] FIG. 17 is a plan view from above of the heat exchanger
shown in FIG. 16;
[0037] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the heat exchanger shown in
FIG. 17, taken along the line XVIII-XVIII;
[0038] FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the heat exchanger shown in
FIG. 17, taken along the line XIX-XIX;
[0039] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth
embodiment of two heat exchangers with highly flexible use,
according to the invention;
[0040] FIG. 21 is a plan view from above of the heat exchanger
shown in FIG. 20;
[0041] FIG. 22 is a sectional view of one of the two heat
exchangers shown in FIG. 21, taken along the line XXII-XXII;
[0042] FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the two heat exchangers shown
in FIG. 21, taken along the line XXIII-XXIII;
[0043] FIGS. 24 and 25 are two perspective views of a plurality of
heat exchangers such as the ones shown in FIG. 20 and composed
together according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] With reference to the figures, the heat exchanger with
highly flexible use, generally designated in the four embodiments
by the reference numeral 1 followed by the subscripts "a", "b", "c"
and "d" in order to identify in sequence the four proposed
embodiments, generally comprises a box-like body 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d,
which delimits inside it at least one heat exchange chamber 3 and
has at least one inlet 4 and at least one outlet 5 for the passage
through the heat exchange chamber 3 of combustion products along a
preferred path which, once installed, is substantially and
preferably parallel to the vertical direction.
[0045] In greater detail, as will be described further hereinafter,
each box-like body 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d defines, in its side walls, at
least one duct for feeding a fluid to be heated, and inside the
heat exchange chamber 3 heat exchange elements 7 are provided which
are associated with the supply duct in order to increase the
thermal efficiency of the heat exchanger 1a, 1b, 1c or 1d, by
increasing the heat exchange surface.
[0046] According to the invention, there is a plurality of distinct
modular elements which are mutually interconnected in order to
define the box-like body 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.
[0047] With reference to the first and second embodiments, shown
respectively in FIGS. 1 to 8 and in FIGS. 9 to 15, the heat
exchangers 1a and 1b comprise two modular end elements 8a or 8b
which are mutually distinct and mutually associable.
[0048] More precisely, an additional modular element 9a or 9b is
interposed between each pair of modular end elements 8a or 8b.
[0049] Depending on the design specifications, for example
depending on the thermal power required for the heat exchanger and
on the intended space occupations, it is possible to provide a
plurality of additional modular elements 9a or 9b, which are thus
interposed between one of the modular end elements 8a or 8b and
another additional modular element 9a or 9b or between two other
additional modular elements 9a or 9b.
[0050] Moreover, in order to simplify the operations for forming
said modular elements, each one is provided by two distinct and
mutually interconnected half-elements.
[0051] With reference to the first embodiment, the additional
modular element 9a of the heat exchanger 1a does not have
partitions, so as to define, with the modular end elements 8a, a
single heat exchange chamber 3 with a single inlet 4 and a single
evacuation duct which ends with the outlet 5.
[0052] Differently, in the second embodiment each additional
modular element 9b of the heat exchanger 1b has a partition 10
which is such as to divide the inner volume of the heat exchanger
1b into a plurality of heat exchange chambers 3, one for each pair
of modular elements.
[0053] More specifically, in this embodiment each heat exchange
chamber 3 is independent of the other heat exchange chambers 3, it
being delimited laterally by a pair of modular elements, and has a
dedicated inlet 4. Despite this, the heat exchange chambers 3 are
connected to a single evacuation duct which ends with the outlet
5.
[0054] With reference to the third embodiment, shown in FIGS. 16 to
19, the heat exchanger 1c in its minimum configuration can comprise
a single modular end element 8c with a closed profile, which is
provided in a monolithic structure and delimits inside it a first
heat exchange chamber 3 which is provided with a single inlet 4 and
with a single outlet 5.
[0055] Advantageously, in this embodiment, in order to increase the
thermal power that can be exchanged by the heat exchanger 1c, one
or more additional modular elements 9c are provided which can be
mutually associated laterally with the modular end element 8c or
with another additional modular element 9c along at least one first
plane which is substantially parallel to the vertical
direction.
[0056] Each additional modular element 9c has an open profile with
a face 34 which is open in order to delimit inside it a second heat
exchange chamber 23 and in order to define a dedicated inlet 4 when
associated with the modular end element 8c or with another
additional modular element 9c.
[0057] With reference to the fourth embodiment, shown in FIGS. 22
to 25, the heat exchanger 1d is structured similarly to the heat
exchanger 1a of the first embodiment.
[0058] The heat exchanger 1d in fact comprises two modular end
elements 8d, which are distinct and mutually associable.
[0059] More precisely, one or more additional modular elements 9d
are interposed between the modular end elements 8d.
[0060] Depending on the design specifications, for example
depending on the thermal power required for the heat exchanger and
on the intended space occupations, it is possible to provide a
plurality of additional modular elements 9d, which are thus
interposed between one of the modular end elements 8d and another
additional modular element 9d or between two other additional
modular elements 9d.
[0061] Moreover, in order to simplify the operations for forming
the modular elements, in this embodiment as well, each one of these
modular elements is provided by two distinct half-elements which
are mutually interconnected along a second plane which is
substantially parallel to the vertical direction and is
substantially perpendicular to the interface plane between one
modular element and the next.
[0062] The peculiarity of the heat exchanger 1d consists in that it
can be assembled as a module together with other heat exchangers 1d
of the same type in order to provide a large heat exchange station
in which the fluid to be heated passes through all the heat
exchangers 1d provided.
[0063] With reference to all four proposed embodiments,
advantageously each modular element comprises at least one portion
of the heat exchange elements 7 and at least one portion of the
heat exchange chamber 3, 13 or 23 in order to obtain a heat
exchanger 1a, 1b, 1c or 1d having different dimensions and
technical characteristics according to the requirements.
[0064] More specifically, the heat exchange elements 7 comprise
hollow pins 14, which extend through the heat exchange chamber or
chambers 3 with a cross-section that is, for example,
diamond-shaped or the like.
[0065] Conveniently, the hollow pins 14 run parallel to each other
and substantially at right angles to the vertical direction.
[0066] Moreover, the hollow pins 14 can be crossed internally by
the fluid to be heated since they are an integral part of a winding
channel which is defined inside each modular element.
[0067] More precisely, the winding channel extends substantially
along the direction of crossing of the combustion products and
comprises a plurality of straight portions 15 and of curvilinear
portions 16 which are mutually interleaved and are defined
respectively by the hollow pins 14 and by the side walls of the
box-like body 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d.
[0068] As can clearly be seen from the figures, for the first three
embodiments the winding channel of an individual modular element is
defined partly by one of the half-elements and partly by the other
half-element.
[0069] Moreover, each one of the winding channels is connected at
one end to a manifold 17 for the delivery of the fluid to be heated
and, at the other end, to a manifold 18 for the return of the fluid
to be heated, both manifolds being defined by the same modular
element.
[0070] As a consequence of the assembly of the several modular
elements of the heat exchanger 1a, 1b, 1c or 1d, each delivery
manifold 17 and each return manifold 18 is connected respectively
to the delivery manifold 17 and to the return manifold 18 of the
adjacent modular element, so as to mutually connect the winding
channels in parallel to each other.
[0071] In this manner, the set of winding ducts, i.e. of the
straight portions 15 and of the curvilinear portions 16, of the
delivery manifolds 17 and of the return manifolds 18, define the
previously mentioned supply duct.
[0072] Moreover, since each one of the inlets 4 is designed to
accommodate at least one burner 20, shown schematically in dashed
lines, the hollow pins 14, which cross the corresponding heat
exchange chamber 3, 13 or 23 from side to side, can be spaced from
the respective inlets 4 in order to define a combustion chamber 21
and to prevent their combustion caused by the flame generated by
the corresponding burner 20, as shown in the variations of the heat
exchangers 1a and 1b of FIGS. 8 and 15.
[0073] In order to obtain a further increase in the thermal
efficiency of the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, the heat
exchange elements 7 comprise solid pins 19, which are connected to
the inside walls of the box-like body 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, are
interposed between the hollow pins 14, and run substantially
parallel to the hollow pins 14.
[0074] In this manner, the combustion gases are forced to flow
completely over both the hollow pins 14 and the solid pins 19, thus
increasing the efficiency of the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c and
1d.
[0075] For the same reason for which the hollow pins 14 are spaced
from the respective inlet 4, the solid pins 19, which can also
consist of a radially extended finning of the hollow pins 14, can
have an axial extension that increases as it extends away from the
respective inlet 4 until they cross the respective heat exchange
chamber 3, 13 or 23 from side to side, so as to contribute to
delimiting the combustion chamber 21 and to prevent their
combustion caused by the flame generated by the respective burner
20.
[0076] Operation of the heat exchanger 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d is clear
and evident from the foregoing description.
[0077] More precisely, by varying the number of additional modular
elements 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d it is possible to vary the dimensions of
the corresponding heat exchanger 1a, 1b, 1c or 1d and, if provided,
it is possible to vary the number of burners 20 with the
corresponding heat exchange chambers 3, 13 and 23.
[0078] In practice it has been found that the heat exchangers with
highly flexible use, according to the present invention, achieve
the intended aim and objects, since they make it possible to adapt
to any design context, i.e., by adapting to the dimensions and
space occupations of the boilers and to the design specifications,
thanks to the fact that they are provided in standardized
modules.
[0079] In this manner it is possible to perform large-scale
manufacture and at the same time, with the manufactured parts,
provide heat exchangers to measure, with considerable economical
saving with respect to the background art.
[0080] Another advantage of the heat exchangers according to the
invention consists in that they have an assembly step which is
simpler, faster and more intuitive than the background art, thanks
to the presence of winding ducts which are obtained in each
individual modular element and can be connected to each other.
[0081] A further advantage of the heat exchangers according to the
invention consists in that they are structurally simple, reliable
and safe in use.
[0082] Another advantage of the heat exchangers according to the
invention consists in that, thanks to the shape of the hollow pins
and of the solid pins, the volumes of the burned gases are
optimized, since the passage of the gases through each heat
exchange chamber is adequately obstructed.
[0083] A further advantage of the heat exchangers according to the
invention consists in that there is greater freedom during the
design phase as regards the placement and sizing of the hollow pins
thanks to the presence of the solid pins, which can be placed where
a void is created and which in any case contribute to the exchange
of heat.
[0084] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the appended claims.
[0085] All the details may further be replaced with other,
technically equivalent elements.
[0086] In practice, the materials used, so long as they are
compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes
and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
[0087] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed
by reference numerals and/or signs, those reference numerals and/or
signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the
intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference
numerals and/or signs do not have any limiting effect on the
interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such
reference numerals and/or signs.
* * * * *