Bulk solids heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger has a housing that includes an inlet for receiving bulk solids, and an outlet for discharging the bulk solids. A plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed between the inlet and the outlet and extend generally transversely in the housing, and are arranged in rows such that the heat transfer tubes in a row of the rows are generally parallel and are spaced apart to facilitate the flow of bulk solids through the spaces between the heat transfer tubes. Supports are disposed in the housing, between the plurality of heat transfer tubes and the outlet, for supporting the plurality of heat transfer tubes thereon. The rows of heat transfer tubes are stacked in contact with adjacent rows of heat transfer tubes such that heat transfer tubes of a first row of the stack are in contact with and are supported by the supports and heat transfer tubes of each subsequent row of the stack are in contact with and supported by a previous row of the stack.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a housing including an inlet for receiving bulk solids, and an outlet for discharging the bulk solids;   a plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed between the inlet and the outlet and extending generally transversely in the housing;   supports disposed in the housing, between the plurality of heat transfer tubes and the outlet, for supporting the plurality of heat transfer tubes thereon;   wherein heat transfer tubes of the plurality of heat transfer tubes are in contact with adjacent heat transfer tubes such that a first heat transfer tube is supported on at least one of the supports, a second heat transfer tube is in contact with and supported by the first heat transfer tube, and a third heat transfer tube is in contact with and supported by the second heat transfer tube.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat transfer tube is supported by more than one of the plurality of heat transfer tubes, including the first heat transfer tube. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the second heat transfer tube is supported at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the length of the second heat transfer tube. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat transfer tube extends generally perpendicular to the first heat transfer tube. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the third heat transfer tube extends generally parallel to the first heat transfer tube. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third heat transfer tubes are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes includes a passage for the flow of a heat exchange fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of manifolds coupled to the plurality of heat transfer tubes. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a housing including an inlet for receiving bulk solids, and an outlet for discharging the bulk solids;   a plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed between the inlet and the outlet and extending generally transversely in the housing, and arranged in rows such that the heat transfer tubes in a row are generally parallel and are spaced apart to facilitate the flow of bulk solids through the spaces between the heat transfer tubes;   supports disposed in the housing, between the plurality of heat transfer tubes and the outlet, for supporting the plurality of heat transfer tubes thereon;   wherein rows of heat transfer tubes are stacked in contact with adjacent rows of heat transfer tubes such that heat transfer tubes of a first row of the stack are in contact with and are supported by the supports and heat transfer tubes of each subsequent row of the stack are in contact with and supported by a previous row of the stack.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the rows of heat transfer tubes are arranged such that the heat transfer tubes of each row of the stack extend generally transversely to the heat transfer tubes of the adjacent row of the stack. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the heat transfer tubes of the subsequent row are supported at multiple, spaced apart locations along the lengths of the heat transfer tubes, by the heat transfer tubes of the previous row. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein each heat transfer tube of the subsequent row is supported by each of the heat transfer tubes of the previous row. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the heat transfer tubes of each row extend generally parallel to the heat transfer tubes of the adjacent row. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes includes a passage for the flow of a heat exchange fluid through the plurality of heat transfer tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , comprising a plurality of manifolds coupled to the plurality of heat transfer tubes to distribute flow of heat exchange fluid into the heat transfer tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein the heat transfer tubes of rows in the stack are in fluid communication with the heat transfer tubes of other rows of the stack. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of inlet manifolds and a plurality of outlet manifolds coupled to the heat transfer tubes for flow of heat exchange fluid from the inlet manifolds, through the heat transfer tubes, and to the outlet manifold. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , comprising a withdrawal system disposed between the supports and the outlet for controlling the flow of bulk solids in the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 18 , wherein the withdrawal system provides a closed heat exchange system.