July 2, 1957

w. H. FUNK EIALw

2,797,399

ROTATING DOUBLE SHELL HEAT EXCHANGE DRUM MEANS

AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME

Filed Dec. 11. 1952

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INVENTORE
WILLIAM H. FUNK .

GEORGE L. SNYDER_
- ROBERT E._ WHITE

BYYEQWLA
ATTORNEY

July 2, 1957

w. H. FUNK ETAL

2,797,899

ROTATING DOUBLE SHELL HEAT EXCHANGE DRUM MEANS

AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME

2 Sheets-Sheet 2

Filed Dec. 11. 1952

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States Patent O?lice

2,797,899
Patented July 2, 1957

1
2,797,899
ROTATING DUUBLE SHELL HEAT EXCHANGE

lg)

MEANS AND METHOD OF OPERATING

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l, of another form

of the invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus shown
thereby includes a rotary drum 1 consisting of outer and
inner shells 2 land 3, respectively. Said shells are con
nected to each other in any suitable manner so as to

William H. Funk, Glen Moore, George L. Snyder, Down

ingtown, and Robert E. White, Havertown, Pen, assign
ors to Lukens Steel Company, Coatesville, Pa., a cor

poration of Pennsylvania
Application December 11, 1952, Serial No. 325,462

'

3 Claims.

(c1. 257-95)

rotate in unison and are provided with hubs 4 which

rotate in bearings in the supports 5. The drum will be
driven by suitable means such as the pulley 24 and belt
10 25 driven from an electric motor, not shown. The space
6 between the shells is substantially annular, and this
space is connected at each end of the drum to the interior
of the hubs 4 by hollow spokes 9. These hubs have caps
10 having stuffing boxes and are connected with the inlet
15 and outlet 11 and 12, respectively.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cooling or

heating which includes a rotary power driven double
walled drum means and the method of operating the same.

Usually drums are continuously driven at uniform speed

and a liquid, such as water, is caused to pass between
the cylindrical walls or shells of the drum from one end
to the other of the same. Difficulties have been en

countered in obtaining a rapid heat exchange between

the liquid and the outer shell of the drum due to the
fact that when the space or chamber between the inner

and outer shells is completely ?lled with liquid and

the drum is rotated, the liquid is carried around with
the drum. In such a case, the heat transfer liquid forms
a continuous ring between the inner and outer shells

of the rotating drum, the said liquid rotating at approxi

mately the speed of the drum. This liquid rotation is

A heat exchange liquid is introduced from a suitable

source into the conduit 13.

Air or other gas is forced

into the conduit 13 through pipe 14 by means of a blower

15 from an inlet pipe 16. In substitution of the pipes
14 and 16, and blower 15, or supplemental thereto, there
is provided a venturi 17 having an air inlet pipe 18 and
a valve 19. The venturi includes ?uid inlet and exit
pipes 20 and 21. When the venturi is used, air will be

pulled in from the atmosphere through the pipe 18 and

discharged with liquid by means of inlet 11 and hub 4
through spokes 9 into space 6 and from this space through
spokes 9 at the other end of the drum, into hub 4 through
the outlet 12. Both liquid and gas such as air are forced
into outlet 12 by the head of pressure from conduit 13.
30 The amount of liquid is so proportioned with the air or

other gas in order that the upper level of liquid will be

below the top of the inner shell, as shown in Figure 2.
due to the drag of the two shells and is also caused by
This is accomplished by the regulation of the proportional
the absence of any hydrostatic head e?ect.
amounts of liquid and gas entering between the shells
An important object of the invention is to provide a
method and apparatus for the formation and maintenance 35 in any suitable manner as regulating the speed of blower
15, or adjusting the valve 19 or the amount of liquid
of two free liquid surfaces forming a gas pocket between
them within the annular space of a double shell heat

entering conduit 13, or a combination of these means.

exchange drum during the rotation thereof, thereby great

During the rotation of the drum, therefore, the upper

ly increasing the heat transfer co-e?icient between the

heat exchange liquid and the outer shell of the drum.
An additional object of the invention is the method
and apparatus for maintaining said gas pocket as stated
in the next penultimate paragraph, whereby to continu
ously or substantially continuously introduce a gas phase

level of the liquid indicated at 22 is such that there is a

gas space or pocket 23 that extends between the upper

cylindrical portions of the shells.

In Figure 3 is represented a modi?cation of the ap

paratus shown in Figure l, in which a closed circuit for
both heat exchange liquid and gas is maintained. In this
within said annular space, and the maintenance of the 45 ?gure, the rotating drum 50 consists of outer and inner
connected shells 51 and 52, respectively. The drum is pro
liquid surface level of said free liquid surfaces, below
vided with hubs 53 which rotate in bearings in the sup
the top of the inner shell during the rotation of said
ports 54. The drum may be rotated by any suitable
drum.
drive means such as pulley 55 and belt 56 from a motor,
A further object of the invention is to provide a method
and means for continuously introducing a mixture of 50 not shown. The space between the shells is annular
and either end of said space is connected to the interior
heat exchange liquid and a gas entrained therein between
of spokes 58 whose inner ends connect to the interior
the shells of a rotating drum and continuously withdraw
of the hubs 53. These hubs have caps 59 provided with
ing said liquid and gas.
stu?ing boxes that are connected to the inlet and outlet
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
method and apparatus for introducing a heat transfer 55 60 and 61, respectively.
As indicated in Figure 3, liquid from separating tank
liquid into which a gas has been injected between the
62 is withdrawn through conduit 63 to pump 64. Tank
shells of a drum and withdrawing the heat transfer liquid
62 is of conventional type having a transparent sight
and gas, and following the withdrawal of the liquid and
gauge. Such ?uid is forced through the heat exchanger
gas reconditioning the liquid, i. e., recooling or reheating
said liquid, and reintroducing said liqud with fresh or 60 unit 66 which functions to heat or cool the liquid, de
pending on the circumstances. The liquid is forced
recirculated gas to the space between said drum shells.
through the conduit 69, a part of the liquid being bypassed
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be
through pipes 70 and '71 which connect the venturi 72
come more apparent during the course of the following
to the conduit 69. The liquid with entrained gas now
description taken in connection with the accompanying
65 enters through inlet 60, the hub 5 and after passing
drawings.
through spokes 58 at the right in Figure 3, enters be
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof:
tween the annular space 57 between the peripheries of
Figure l is a central longitudinal vertical sectional
shells 51 and 52. As shown in Figure 2, the liquid only
view partly broken away and partly in full lines of one
partially ?lls this space, there being a gas pocket 23
form of the apparatus;
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the drum with 70 between the inner and outer shells adjacent the top por
tions thereof. The exhausted liquid and gas ?nds its
the pumping spokes shown in dotted lines, taken sub
way out of the space between the peripheral portions of
stantially medially of the drum; and,

2,797,899
the shells through the spokes 58 at the left of Figure
3 and into left hub 53, and exits through conduit 61
to the tank 62. As stated above, the liquid is withdrawn
from this tank through conduit 63. The gas rising
through the liquid, and which collects above the same

in the tank, is drawn upwardly through the pipe 73

to the three-way valve 75. This valve may be alternately
connected to the pipe 73 or to the atmospheric inlet

4
may be used as shown in the several ?gures of the draw
ings. The air stream before mixture with the heat trans
fer liquid may be metered and proportioned to the liquid
stream.

The venturi-type injector utilizes the heat transfer liquid

as the primary ?uid and the entrapped ambient air as the

secondary ?uid.

This method has the advantage that

over a fairly wide range of rate of ?ow of the primary

74, or a mixture of gas from pipes 73 and 74 may be

?uid the quantity of secondary ?uid entrained is propor
obtained by proper adjustment of the valve 75. From 10 tional to the ?ow of the primary ?uid. The air or other
the valve 75, the gas passes through the short length
gas which is discharged at the outlet 12 in Figure 1 and
of pipe 76 to the venturi 72.
outlet 61 of the structure shown in Figure 3 has small
It will be understood that air or any other suitable gas
bubbles entrained in the heat transfer liquid. If the liquid
may be used, and that the liquid may be of any of the
is not to be used again, such as would be the case in
15 the structure shown in Figure 1, the air then passes
known types of cooling or heating liquids.
In either of the forms shown and described, the heat
from the system with no di?iculty. However, in those
transfer liquid cannot rotate with the drum and, because
cases where the heat exchange liquid is a coolant which
of this, the mean velocity difference between the shells
is to be recirculated, such as when a refrigerated brine
and the heat transfer liquid is substantially equal to the
is used as the coolant, the entrained air must be sepa
peripheral speed of the drum. In the present construc 20 rated and removed from the brine. This can best be
tion and method, drag forces of the shells on the liquid,
accomplished through the use of the separating chamber
when rotating, tend to pull therewith the adjacent layers
or tank 62 in which the air is separated from the coolant,
of heat transfer liquid, but since the overall body of
as shown in Figure 3 herein.
heat transfer liquid cannot move from its relative posi
The above description and drawings disclose several
tion, due to the gas pocket, this results in a great deal
embodiments of the invention as speci?c language has
of turbulence in the body of the heat transfer liquid.
been employed in describing the several ?gures. It will
Heat transfer drums of the type shown herein yield a
nevertheless be understood that no limitations of the scope
heat transfer coefficient between the heat transfer liquid
of the invention is hereby contemplated, and that various
and the shells that is much higher than would be ob
alterations and modi?cations may be made such as would
30
tained if the liquid were permitted to rotate with the
occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
drum as is the case where no air pocket is provided and
relates.
where the entire space is ?lled with heat transfer liquid.
As shown in both modi?cations, the inlet means is
The heat transfer coefficient on the inside of the outer

provided at one end of the drum and the outlet means at

shell might be expected to increase ad in?nitum With

the other end. It is to be understood that the inlet and
corresponding drum speeds. This is not the case, how 35 outlet means may be constructed in several different ways,
ever, since other factors, such as terminal temperatures,
such as by having both at one end of the drum, as shown
speed, and heat transfer liquid-shell contact areas, must
in U. S. Patent 2,538,985, issued to G. L. Snyder on.
all be taken into account. The vigorous mixing and
January 23, 1951.
recirculation existing in the partially complete annulus
Heretofore reference has been made to the maintenance
of heat transfer liquid, insures a relatively uniform tem
and formation of two liquid free surfaces as shown in
perature around the shell. This is not the case with prior
Figure 2. This is provided by maintaining the gas in
art structures where the entire interior of the space be
space 23, such functioning to depress the liquid level to
tween the shells is ?lled with the heat transfer liquid,
such a point that there is formed the two free liquid
for in such case there would exist temperature variations
surfaces 22 separated by a portion of the inner shell 3.
circumferentially around the outer peripheral surface of 45 Under these conditions, rotation of the liquid with the
the drum. The utilization of the present method, even
shells is deterred by a hydrostatic head equal to the
with an apparatus which includes a manifold type heat
height between the liquid surface and the zenith of the
inner shell.
transfer liquid feed at both ends of the drum and the con
tinuous feeding of a gas to and from the drum admixed
As to the rotational speed of the drum, there are many
with said liquid, insures the substantial elimination of 50 factors which must be considered such as the size of the
circumferential temperature variations as well as varia
drum, the thickness, density and moisture content of the
tions across the outside peripheral surface of the outer
material being treated, the ability of the material to
shell.
respond to treatment, and the temperature of the heat
exchange medium. Generally, however, the speed may
In both forms of the invention, it is preferred that
the air or other gas be supplied continuously along with 55 be varied to provide optimum operating conditions, the
only limitation being that speed should be maintained
the heat transfer liquid, rather than introducing a ?xed
below a point where the drag forces between the shells
quantity of air or gas at one time and entrapping that
and the ?uid and the centrifugal forces will cause the
air for a prolonged period of time. If the air is not
liquid to be carried around by the drum shells.
supplied continuously, it is impossible to maintain a
In the claims, the term gas is intended to cover
su?icient entrapped air pocket for any length of time. 60
atmosphericair as well as other gaseous mixtures.
This is particularly the case because of the entraining

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as

effect of the heat transfer liquid as well as the pumping
new, and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent
action of the spokes of the drum. It has been found that
1s:
the rate of air removal from the drum is a function of
1. A heat exchange drum means comprising a. cylin
the heat transfer liquid ?ow between the shells of the 65
drical drum rotatable. about a horizontal axis and com
drum and also of the drum speed. Additionally, the
volume of air retained in the drum must increase with
prising inner and outer substantially uniformly spaced
increased drum speed if rotation of the heat transfer liquid
cylindrical shells, a- radially disposed wall connecting said
is to be avoided. These two factors, drum speed and
shells atfeach end of said drum to provide an annular
heat transfer liquid rate of ?ow, normally go together 70 chamber therebetween, an axially arranged cylindrical
because increased drum speed entails increased duty and
hollow hub mounted in each end of said drum, the inner
thus requires an increased amount of heat transfer liquid.
ends. of said hubs being closed and the outer endsv being
As a net results, the rate of air injection should be pro
open, a plurality of radially disposed hollow spokes at
portioned. to the rate of heat transfer liquid. ?ow. It will
each end of said drum connecting and in .?uid communi
be understood that several methods of air or gas injection
cation with said chamber and the interior of one of said

2,797,899

5
hubs, said hollow spokes and said chamber constituting
the sole means of fluid communication between said hubs,
an inlet conduit means in ?uid communication with the
open end of one of said hubs, an outlet conduit means in

?uid communication with the open end of the other of

said hubs; said inlet conduit means, said one of said
hubs, and said spokes at the inlet end of said drum con
stituting a means for continuously feeding a heat transfer
liquid and a gas admixed therewith to said chamber; said
feeding means including means for regulating the propor 10
tions of said heat transfer liquid and said gas fed to said
chamber so as to maintain therein during the rotation of

said drum two horizontally spaced heat transfer liquid

surfaces separated by a gas ?lled pocket in the top of
said chamber, the gas in said pocket serving to prevent 15
rotation of said heat transfer liquid with said drum.
2. A heat exchange drum means as de?ned in claim 1,
and a separating tank in ?uid communication with said
outlet conduit means to separate said heat transfer liquid
from said gas, a pipe for conveying liquid from said tank

6
back to said inlet conduit means, a second pipe for return
ing gas from said tank to said inlet conduit means, said
feeding means including means in ?uid communication
with said inlet conduit means to entrain gas from said

second pipe in the liquid conveyed from said tank back

to said inlet conduit means.

3. A heat exchange drum means as de?ned in claim 2,

and a pump and a means for changing the temperature of

said heat transfer liquid in said second pipe.

References Cited in the ?le of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
1,897,613

Jensen ______________ -1 Feb. 14, 1933

1,995,011
2,521,215
2,538,985
2,576,036
2,582,365
2,703,224

Qviller _____________ __ Mar. 19,

Haddeland et al ________ __ Sept. 5,
Snyder ______________ __ Jan. 23,
Ostertag et al. ________ __ Nov. 20,
Westphal ____________ __ Jan. 15,
Robinson ____________ __ Mar. 1,

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