GB1511045A - Rotary disc thermal transfer machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1511045 Rotary disc heat transfer machine D A H HILTON 10 Aug 1976 [15 May 1975] 20753/75 Heading F4K A rotary disc heat transfer machine comprises one or more discs 1 mounted on a hub or drum 2 incorporating a central shaft 3. The discs rotate within a close fitting, partly cylindrical chamber 4 divided into two compartments by radial separators 5. Fluid streams A and B, one heated and the other unheated, flow in opposite directions to each other and counter to the rotation of the discs. The term "fluid" includes gases and fluidized materials. The heat transfer may be from gas to gas, liquid to liquid, gas to liquid or liquid to gas. The fluid streams may be horizontal or vertical and the discs may be in vertical or horizontal planes. The machine may recover heat from exhaust gases from heating, drying or combustion processes. The discs may be impermeable; have plain or grooved surfaces; be of metal, asbestos, plastics or alloys; and be made of, or faced with, hygroscopic materials. In further alternatives, the discs (1A), Fig. 3 (not shown), are perforated or made of permeable material (such as knitted wire mesh or honeycomb structured materials) and have radially extending baffles (9) therebetween which compel the fluids to pass through the discs from sideto-side in a zig-zag course. Separators 5 (or 5A, Fig. 4, not shown) are comb shaped with the discs extending between the comb teeth. Sealing between the separators and discs may be attained by fine clearances, labyrinths or flexible sealing attachments. Fluid may be supplied through passages in the comb teeth to the sides of the discs for sealing purposes or (where the discs are pervious) for purging, cleaning or sterilizing purposes. The shaft 3 may be driven by a geared electric motor at a fixed or variable speed. To prevent cross contamination of one of the fluid streams, this stream may be at a higher pressure than the other.