Method for the temperature-dependent setting of a sealing gap in a regenerative heat exchange, and the respective actuating apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for temperature-dependent setting of a sealing gap between an adjustable seal and a revolving rotor of a regenerative heat exchanger by means of at least one actuating apparatus which comprises at least one rod body which is thermally influenced in an alternating manner and whose temperature-dependent change in axial length is converted into an actuating movement for the seal. It is provided in accordance with the invention that this rod bod is arranged at least in sections in a chamber and a control medium flows through or about this chamber at least in part, which medium acts in a direct or indirect manner in a thermally alternating fashion on said rod body, with the temperature level of the control medium corresponding to a temperature level of a gas volume flow flowing through the rotor, so that a change in axial length of this rod body is produced depending on a temperature change of this gas volume flow and a respective actuating movement for the seal is brought about.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for temperature-dependent setting of the sealing gap between an adjustable seal and a revolving rotor of a regenerative heat exchanger by means of at least one actuating apparatus which comprises at least one rod body which is thermally influenced in an alternating manner and whose temperature-dependent change in axial length is converted into an actuating movement for the seal, with this rod body being arranged at least in sections in at least one chamber and a control medium flows through or about this chamber at least in sections, which medium acts in a direct or indirect manner in a thermally alternating fashion on said rod body, and with the temperature level of the control medium corresponding to a temperature level of a gas volume flow flowing through the rotor, so that a change in axial length of this rod body is produced depending on a temperature change of this gas volume flow and a respective actuating movement for the seal is brought about, wherein at least one actuating apparatus comprises several such rod bodies which, by cooperation, produce an actuating motion for the seal, with at least two of these rod bodies being separately controllable via respective chambers by means of the control medium in a thermally alternating manner, such that these rod bodies can also be subjected to different temperatures. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a partial volume flow is branched off as a control medium from a gas volume flow flowing through the rotor and is supplied to at least one such rod body, for which purpose this rod body is arranged at least in sections in at least one chamber, with the branched-off partial volume flow flowing at least partly through and/or around said chamber, so that depending on a change in temperature this gas volume flow produces a change in axial length of the rod bodies and a respective actuating motion for the seal. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the partial volume flow is recirculated to the same gas volume flow after having flowed through and/or about the chamber or is introduced into another gas volume flow flowing through the rotor. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein additionally a sealing gap measurement is performed by means of at least one sensor, on the basis of which at least one relevant property of the control medium or partial volume flow is changed by determination of a control unit in order to bring about a required change in axial length of this rod body and a respective actuating motion for the seal. 
     
     
         5 . A thermally controlled actuating apparatus for a regenerative heat exchanger for setting a sealing gap between an adjustable seal and a revolving rotor, with the actuating apparatus comprising an actuating section with at least one rod body that can be influenced in a thermally alternating manner and a mechanical actuating drive in order to convert a temperature-dependent change in axial length of the rod body into an actuating movement for the seal, with at least one rod body that is influenced in a thermally alternating manner being arranged at least in sections in at least one chamber and this chamber being supplied directly or indirectly with a control medium in order to produce an influence on this rod body in a thermally alternating manner, wherein several cooperating rod bodies are comprised which are arranged at least in sections in separate chambers, such that a different temperature application of these rod bodies is enabled. 
     
     
         6 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the control medium can flow through the chambers at least in part, for which they comprise at least one inlet and at least one outlet. 
     
     
         7 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the control medium can flow about the chambers at least in part, for which their walls are arranged with double walls and/or with a line jacket. 
     
     
         8 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein a relative movement between the rod bodies and the chambers is enabled. 
     
     
         9 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein these rod bodies are arranged in a tubular way. 
     
     
         10 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the chambers are placed on the rod bodies. 
     
     
         11 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the walls of the chambers are provided with at least one bellows-like section in order to enable a temperature-induced volume compensation. 
     
     
         12 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one first chamber is provided with an inlet for a non-heated or cool control medium and at least one second chamber with an inlet for a heated control medium, so that the rod bodies that are each arranged in said chambers can be subjected to a defined temperature difference by a respective supply of a control medium. 
     
     
         13 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are in flow connection and the first chamber is upstream of the second chamber with respect to a preferred direction of flow of the control medium. 
     
     
         14 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein a heating device for auxiliary heating of the control medium is arranged between an outlet of the first chamber and the inlet of the downstream second chamber. 
     
     
         15 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein a fan device for auxiliary conveyance of the control medium is arranged between the outlet of the first chamber and the inlet of the downstream second chamber. 
     
     
         16 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein at least one valve device is comprised for controlling the volume flow of the control medium. 
     
     
         17 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one sensor is comprised for measuring the sealing gap. 
     
     
         18 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein a control unit is comprised which controls a heating device, a fan device and/or a valve device on the basis of the sensor measurement signal of the sensor. 
     
     
         19 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein at least two rod bodies are made of the same material. 
     
     
         20 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein at least two rod bodies are made of different materials. 
     
     
         21 . An actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one filter device is comprised. 
     
     
         22 . A regenerative heat exchanger comprising at least one thermally controlled actuating apparatus according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         23 . A regenerative heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein the seal which can be adjusted by means of the actuating apparatus is a radial seal, a circumferential seal and/or a jacket seal. 
     
     
         24 . A regenerative heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein the seal which can be adjusted by means of the actuating apparatus is a radial seal and/or a circumferential seal on the cold rotor side and/or on the hot rotor side. 
     
     
         25 . A regenerative heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein it is operated with a method for temperature-dependent setting of the sealing gap between an adjustable seal and a revolving rotor of a regenerative heat exchanger by means of at least one actuating apparatus which comprises at least one rod body which is thermally influenced in an alternating manner and whose temperature-dependent change in axial length is converted into an actuating movement for the seal, with this rod body being arranged at least in sections in at least one chamber and a control medium flows through or about this chamber at least in sections, which medium acts in a direct or indirect manner in a thermally alternating fashion on said rod body, and with the temperature level of the control medium corresponding to a temperature level of a gas volume flow flowing through the rotor, so that a change in axial length of this rod body is produced depending on a temperature change of this gas volume flow and a respective actuating movement for the seal is brought about, wherein at least one actuating apparatus comprises several such rod bodies which, by cooperation, produce an actuating motion for the seal, with at least two of these rod bodies being separately controllable via respective chambers by means of the control medium in a thermally alternating manner, such that these rod bodies can also be subjected to different temperatures.