Cylindrical heat exchanger using heat pipes

Abstract

This invention relates to an improvement in a heat exchanger of the type using heat pipes which permits reduction in size of the heat exchanger and enhancement in heat exchange efficiency and more particularly to a cylindrical heat exchanger principally comprising a cylindrical or polygonal tubular casing provided with openings in the middle parts of its upper and lower sides and in its circumferential side, a transverse partition plate which divides the inside of the casing into upper and lower parts and a group of vertical heat pipes arranged to pierce through the peripheral portion of the partition plate in an annular plan configuration as a whole.

Description

Claims

1. A cylindrical heat exchanger comprising:

a tubular casing provided with openings in middle portions of both an upper side and a lower side and in its circumferential side;

a transverse partition plate dividing the inside of the casing into an upper part and a lower part; and

a plurality of heat pipe group units vertically arranged to pierce through the peripheral area of the transverse partition plate and arranged into a polygonal annular configuration as viewed in a plan view, each unit being formed by arranging a plurality of heat pipes into a rectangular sectional configuration, the units being separated from each other by a radial array of vertical partition walls, the heat pipes in each unit being equally spaced;

the upper and lower parts of the inside of the casing being formed to serve as gas flow passages in a counter flowing manner above and below the transverse partition plate;

the upper part of the plurality of heat pipe group units being arranged to function as a radiating portion which allows air to be heated to come into contact therewith flowing therethrough while the lower part of the plurality of heat pipe group units below the partition plate is arranged to function as a heat receiving portion which allows a high temperature gas to come in contact therewith flowing therethrough;

the opening provided in the circumferential side of the casing on the side of the radiating portion being arranged to serve as an intake part for taking in air;

the opening provided in the middle portion of the upper side of the casing being arranged to serve as an exhaust part for the air;

the opening provided in the middle portion of the lower side of the casing being arranged to serve as an intake part for a high temperature gas; and

a flat helical duct having an open end is formed to surround the opening provided in the circumferential side of the casing on the side of the heat receiving portion, the open end of the helical duct being arranged to serve as an exhaust port for the high temperature gas.

2. A cylindrical heat exchanger as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said heat pipe group units is a prefabrication type being prefabricated into a form of an independent block by arranging heat pipes to pierce through a horizontal rectangular partition plate with vertical partition walls provided on two opposite sides of the horizontal rectangular partition plate; and the heat exchanger can be assembled by connecting the prefabricated heat pipe group units to said transverse partition plate which is disposed in or around the middle part of said casing.