Heat Exchanger Elevated Temperature Protection Sleeve

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may include a furnace having at least one heat exchanger tube with a temperature protection sleeve at least partially disposed in the heat exchanger tube. The temperature protection sleeve includes a flange, an elongated tubular portion extending from the flange, and a plurality of perforations disposed about the elongated tubular portion. The temperature protection sleeve protects the heat exchanger tube from high flame temperatures or elevated temperature flue products caused by rapidly combusting a pre-mixed air-fuel mixture within a burner of the furnace, thereby allowing the heat exchanger tube to comply with ANSI Z21.47. The furnace provides less than 14 Nanograms of oxides of nitrogen per Joule (Ng/J) of heat delivered to a temperature conditioned area and complies with SCAQMD Rule 1111.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for a furnace, comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger tube; and   a temperature protection sleeve disposed at least partially within the heat exchanger tube.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature protection sleeve comprises a flange and an elongated tube extending from the flange. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature protection sleeve comprises a plurality of perforations disposed about the elongated tube of the temperature protection sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature protection sleeve is configured to shield at least a portion of the heat exchanger tube from at least one of a flame and an elevated temperature flue product produced from combusting a pre-mixed air-fuel mixture within the furnace. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature protection sleeve is configured to dissipate heat generated from combusting a pre-mixed air-fuel mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the flange of the temperature protection sleeve is disposed between a burner of the furnace and an inlet of the at least one heat exchanger tube. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the flange of the temperature protection sleeve is mounted to a partition panel of the furnace. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the inlet of the at least one heat exchanger tube is captured by the flange of the temperature protection sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger tube complies with ANSI Z21.47. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the furnace is configured to emit less than 14 Nanograms of oxides of nitrogen per Joule (Ng/J) of heat delivered to a temperature conditioned area. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the furnace complies with SCAQMD Rule 1111. 
     
     
         12 . A furnace, comprising:
 at least one burner; and   a heat exchanger, comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger tube; and 
 a temperature protection sleeve disposed at least partially within the heat exchanger tube. 
   
     
     
         13 . The furnace of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature protection sleeve comprises a flange and an elongated tube extending from the flange. 
     
     
         14 . The furnace of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature protection sleeve comprises a plurality of perforations disposed about the elongated tube of the temperature protection sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The furnace of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature protection sleeve is configured to shield at least a portion of the heat exchanger tube from at least one of a flame and an elevated temperature flue product produced from combusting a pre-mixed air-fuel mixture within the furnace. 
     
     
         16 . The furnace of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature protection sleeve is configured to dissipate heat generated from combusting a pre-mixed air-fuel mixture with the at least one burner. 
     
     
         17 . The furnace of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the inlet of the at least one heat exchanger tube is captured by the flange of the temperature protection sleeve, and wherein the flange of the temperature protection sleeve is disposed between the at least one burner of the furnace and an inlet of the at least one heat exchanger tube. 
     
     
         18 . The furnace of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger tube complies with ANSI Z21.47. 
     
     
         19 . The furnace of  claim 18 , wherein the furnace is configured to emit less than 14 Nanograms of oxides of nitrogen per Joule (Ng/J) of heat delivered to a temperature conditioned area and wherein the furnace complies with SCAQMD Rule 1111. 
     
     
         20 . The furnace of  claim 19 , wherein the furnace is a component of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system.