Patent · US Expired

Polymeric heat exchanger with ceramic material insert

US5623988A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
19References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 1995
Grant dateApr 29, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 25, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B30/00
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A heat exchanger for use as a condensing heat exchanger in a gas-fired hot air furnace has a ceramic pipe forming an initial portion of a fluid flow path through the heat exchanger. The ceramic pipe receives the combustion gases from a primary heat exchanger and reduces the temperature of the combustion gases to below a certain temperature. A polymer-based structure is connected to the ceramic pipe and forms the remaining portion of the fluid flow path through the heat exchanger. The geometry and orientation of the ceramic pipe is selected so that the certain temperature of the combustion gases exiting the ceramic pipe is less than the softening temperature of the polymer-based structure. The resultant heat exchanger combines the high temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials with the low cost and high corrosion resistance of polymer materials. As a result, a low cost heat exchanger can be produced which can withstand both the high temperatures of the combustion gases as well as the corrosive properties of the condensates from the combustion gases.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.