KR20090085614A - Reduced vibrating tube bundle device with slotted baffles - Google Patents

Abstract

Slotted support baffles and blocking baffles for a tube bundle device are disclosed. The baffle includes a blocking area that redirects the flow of fluid in the tube bundle device to enhance heat transfer. Slotted support baffles include slot and rib structures that support the tubes of the tube bundle. Support baffles can be used in combination with elongated tube supports.

Description

REDUCED VIBRATION TUBE BUNDLE DEVICE HAVING SLOTTED BAFFLES}

The present invention is a heat exchange having a collection of tubular or rod-like elements within a device, such as, for example, a nuclear reactor, an electric heater, or any collection of parallel cylindrical shapes having fluid flow through a tube or other element. To tube bundle devices such as air condensers, condensers and similar fluid-handling installations. In particular, the present invention relates to a baffle structure for use in connection with a bundle to provide support to individual tubes in the bundle and to direct the flow of fluid in the heat exchanger shell towards the heat transfer tubes of the bundle.

Tube bundle installations, such as shell and tube heat exchangers, and other similar fluid handling devices, such as flow dampers and flow straighteners, utilize tubes configured in the bundle to guide fluid through the installation. In such a tube bundle, there are typically two fluid flows, a fluid flow through the inside of the tube and a fluid flow across the outside of the tube. The shape of the tube in the bundle is determined by the tube sheet in which it is placed. One common form for a tube is a rectangular or square form in which the tubes are arranged in rows aligned with the tube lanes (straight path between the tubes) between each pair or rows aligned orthogonally to each other. In this form, each tube is adjacent to eight other tubes except the perimeter of the tube bundle and directly faces the corresponding tube across the tube lane separating its row from two adjacent rows. In the form of a triangular tube, the tubes in alternating rows are aligned with each other such that each tube is adjacent to six other tubes (two adjacent tubes in the same row and four tubes in two adjacent rows).

Increasing throughput of existing exchangers is often required to reduce capital costs by reducing equipment size or to increase productivity factors. A common limiting factor experienced when evaluating speed increases in heat exchangers is the potential for flow-induced vibrational damage of the tubes. The fluid flow pattern around the tube can cause flow-induced vibrations of regular or random vibration properties within the tube bundle, and in devices such as heat exchangers where heat transfer occurs between the tube and the surrounding fluid, the fluid Changes in the velocity, temperature and density of the fluid as it circulates and flows around will increase the likelihood of vibration. If these vibrations reach a certain threshold amplitude, damage to the bundle will occur. If the heat exchanger installation is retubered with a tube of a different material than the original tube, for example if the relatively rigid material is replaced with a lighter weight tube, the tube vibration problem will worsen. Flow-induced vibrations will also occur when the plant is in a more severe operational demand, for example when the other satisfactory installation is upgraded, the old satisfactory heat exchanger will be subjected to flow-induced vibrations under new circumstances. Vibration may even occur in certain situations, not only when the heat exchanger is still in the flow stream but no heat transfer occurs, as well as in other bundle devices with rods or aggregates of rod-like elements in the heat stream with or without heat transfer.

Many different plant designs have been devised to address the problem of tube vibration. One example is a rod baffle design. Rod baffle heat exchangers are shell and tube type heat exchangers that use rod baffles to support the tubes and make them stable against vibration. The term "baffle" refers to a cage located every 15 cm along the length of the tube bundle, and the ends of the plurality of support rods are connected to form a caged tube support structure, and thus the term "rod baffle". Rod baffle heat exchangers however tend to be approximately 30 to 40% more expensive than conventional shell and tube heat exchangers, and there are situations in which this kind of tube bundle device fails due to flow-induced vibrations. Rod baffles should have very precise dimensions. If the load in the rod baffle is even small, a tube chatter will occur. If the load is a bit too big, tube loading will be very difficult and expensive. Rod baffle heat exchangers are described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 4,342,360, 5,388,638, 5,553,665, and 5,642,778.

As described in US Pat. No. 5,553,665, certain applications of rod baffle designs, such as gas-compression applications, will benefit from longitudinal-flow where shell-side pressure losses are minimized. The reduction in shell-side pressure loss increases the number of rod baffles by increasing the rod baffle spacing, or by increasing the tube pitch dimension, ie the distance between two adjacent rows of tubes as measured from the center of the tube. Can be achieved by reducing Since increased baffle spacing increases the likelihood of generating flow-induced tube vibration, increasing the baffle spacing is usually not an attractive option. The rod baffle design described in US Pat. No. 5,553,665 represents an attempt to address the pressure drop problem of rod baffle configurations.

An alternative design is an "eggrate" support design. This is however more expensive than the rod baffle design. Like rod baffles, egg crate is also susceptible to tube chatter, which can lead to tube failure. The chatter is the motion of the tube hitting the tube support because of the gap between the support and the tube outer diameter. The gap is necessary to allow insertion of the tube through the egg support when the bundle is constructed.

In addition to good plant design, other measures can also be taken to reduce tube vibration. As these support devices are commonly known (and referred to herein), a tube support device or tube stake is placed in the tube bundle to control the flow-induced vibration and to prevent excessive movement of the tube. Can be installed. Multiple tube supports or tube stakes have been proposed and are commercially available. For example, U.S. Patent 4,648,442 to Williams, U.S. Patent 4,919,199 to Hahn, U.S. Patent 5,213,155 to Hahn, and U.S. Patent 6,401,803 to Hahn are vibrations. It describes various types of tube stakes or tube supports that can be inserted into the tube bundles to reduce this. Improved tube steaks are also disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,032,655, issued to Weni et al. And entitled “Semi-vibration tube support,” the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference.

It is an embodiment of the present invention to provide a tube bundle device (eg, a heat exchanger) having at least one baffle supporting a tube in the bundle device. At least one baffle supports at least one slotted support baffle that supports the tube in the tube bundle device while also controlling the flow of fluid in the tube bundle device and at least one blocking baffle that controls the flow of fluid in the tube bundle device. baffle).

The tube bundle device includes a housing or shell and a tube bundle located within the housing or shell. The tube bundle has a plurality of tubes arranged parallel to each other in the tube row. The tube bundle may include at least one compartment lane that separates one group of tubes in the tube bundle from another group of tubes in the tube bundle. The number of compartment lanes in the tube bundle depends on the number of passes the tube makes through the tube bundle. In the case of a single-pass tube bundle device, the compartment lanes can be omitted. When multiple passes are considered through the tube bundle device, the tube bundle device will include one or more compartment lanes to divide the tube bundle into sections.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tube bundle device comprises at least one slotted support baffle. Slotted support baffles provide support to individual tubes within a tube bundle. Each support baffle includes a plurality of spaced slots formed therein. Each slot is sized to receive through at least one of the tubes of the tube bundle. The cross section of each slot is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tube for easy insertion of the tube into the tube bundle device. Each slotted support baffle has an outer perimeter and a blocking area formed between the outer perimeter and the plurality of spaced slots. The blocking area prevents the flow of fluid through the blocking area. As a result, the fluid flowing through the tube bundle device is directed inwardly towards the tube bundle when the fluid contacts the blocking area. The blocking area is sized to be located in the gap between the housing and the outer tube of the tube bundle device. Each slotted support baffle may also include at least one compartment lane blocking area formed therein. The compartment lane blocking area (s) is sized to be received within the compartment lane or lanes of the tube bundle. The compartment lane blocking area prevents flow of fluid through the compartment lane. As a result, the fluid flowing through the compartment lane is directed towards the tube of the tube bundle when the fluid contacts the compartment lane blocking area. In the case of a single-pass tube bundle device, it is contemplated that the compartment lanes will be omitted. Each slotted support baffle may include a plurality of blocking regions corresponding to the compartment lanes in the tube bundle.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each support baffle includes a first group of a plurality of slots located on one side of the partition lane blocking area between a portion of the blocking area and the partition lane blocking area, and a different portion of the blocking area. And a second group of a plurality of slots located on the other side of the partition lane blocking area between the central blocking area. The slot may extend in a direction substantially parallel to the partition lane blocking area. Alternatively, the slot may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the partition lane blocking area. The support ribs extend between the slots. In some situations (ie, a larger baffle size), the ribs may require reinforcement. According to another embodiment of the present invention, each slotted support baffle includes at least one extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the support ribs and the slots, with each rib intersecting with the at least one rib and the at least one slot. It may further include a reinforcing rib.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the tube bundle device comprises at least two slotted support baffles. In particular, it is contemplated that the tube bundle device comprises a slotted support baffle of at least one first orientation and a slotted support baffle of at least one second orientation. Each of the slotted support baffles of the first orientation is spaced apart from the slotted support baffles of the adjacent second orientation. With such an arrangement, the plurality of spaced slots on the slotted support baffle of the first orientation have a first orientation, and the plurality of spaced slots on the slotted support baffle of the second orientation have a second orientation that is different from the first orientation. Have The partition lane blocking area for the slotted support baffle of the first orientation and the slotted support baffle of the second orientation may have the same orientation. Each of the slotted baffles of the first orientation and the slotted support baffles of the at least one second orientation each comprise a first group of slots located on one side of the compartment lane blocking area and a slot located on the other side of the compartment lane blocking area. The second group of. Each slot of the first group and each slot of the second group for the slotted support baffle of the first orientation may extend in a direction substantially parallel to the compartment lane blocking area. Each slot of the first group and each slot of the second group for the slotted support baffle of the second orientation extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the compartment lane blocking area.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the tube bundle device comprises at least one blocking baffle. Unlike support baffles, blocking baffles do not support tubes. Instead, the blocking baffle functions to control the flow of fluid in the tube bundle device. Each blocking baffle includes a blocking plate having an outer perimeter and at least one plate opening sized to receive through the tube of the tube bundle device. A blocking plate blocking area is formed between the outer circumference of the blocking plate and the at least one plate opening. The blocking plate blocking area prevents the flow of fluid through it. As a result, the fluid flowing through the tube bundle device is directed inwardly toward the tube bundle when the fluid contacts the blocking plate blocking area. The blocking plate blocking area is sized to be located in the gap between the housing and the outer tube of the tube bundle. The blocking plate baffle may further include at least one compartment lane blocking plate blocking region formed therein. The number of compartment lane obstruction plate blocking regions depends on the number of compartment lanes in the tube bundle. As mentioned above, the tube bundle may not include a compartment lane (eg, a single-pass heat exchanger typically does not include a compartment lane). As such, the compartment lane blocking plate blocking region can be omitted. Each compartment lane blocking plate blocking area is sized to be received within a corresponding compartment lane of the tube bundle device. The compartment lane blocking plate blocking area may extend from opposite sides of the blocking plate blocking area between two openings in the plate, for example when the blocking plate baffle is used in a U-bend tube bundle device having two passes therethrough. have. The compartment lane plate blocking area prevents the flow of fluid through it. As a result, fluid flowing through the compartment lane is directed towards the tube of the tube bundle when the fluid contacts the compartment lane blocking plate blocking area.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the blocking baffles are located between adjacent slotted support baffles.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, at least one elongated tube support member is provided to support the tubes of the tube bundle to reduce vibration. Each elongated tube support member is selectively positioned in a space formed between adjacent rows of tubes. An elongated tube support can be inserted between the tubes between the blocking and slotted support baffles.

It is another embodiment of the present invention to provide a method for controlling fluid flow in a tube bundle device. The method includes redirecting at least a portion of the flow of fluid in the gap to the tube bundle. The method further includes redirecting at least a portion of the flow of fluid in the compartment lane to the tube bundle. The redirection of the fluid flow can be accomplished by placing the baffle at selected locations along the tube bundle. The blocking area and blocking plate blocking area on the slotted support baffle and the blocking baffle redirect the flow of fluid into the tube bundle away from the gap between the housing or shell and the tube bundle to improve heat transfer. The compartment lane blocking area redirects the flow of fluid away from the compartment lanes to improve heat transfer.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like elements.

1 is a schematic diagram of a tube bundle having a tube supported using a baffle according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 is an end view of a slotted baffle with vertical slots in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an end view of a slotted baffle having a horizontal slot in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is an end view of a variant of a slotted baffle having a horizontal slot as shown in FIG. 3;

5 is an end view of a blocking baffle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a schematic diagram of a tube steak used in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,

7 is a schematic representation of another tube steak used in accordance with the present invention.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic diagram of a tube bundle 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The tube bundle 10 is part of the tube bundle device 1 (eg, a heat exchanger or suitable heat transfer component). The tube bundle 10 includes a plurality of parallel tubes 11. The invention is not limited to tubes, but rather rods and other heat transfer or fluid flow elements may be used and are considered to be within the scope of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the parallel tube 11 extends between a pair of tube sheets 13, 14. The tube sheet 13 may be a fixed tube sheet welded to the housing or shell 20. The tube sheet 13 may be a stationary tube sheet that is fixed but not welded to the housing 20. The tube sheet 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a floating tube sheet. The tubes 11 may be arranged in a rectangular shape. The invention is however not intended to be limited to parallel tubes extending between a pair of tube sheets 13, 14, but rather it is contemplated that a single tube sheet may be used. In such an arrangement, the parallel tube extends through the U-bend along one side of the bundle and returns along the opposite side of the bundle. It is contemplated that the tube bundle 10 fits into the surrounding shell or housing 20 of the bundle device 1 in a conventional manner.

The tube bundle device 1 comprises a shell or housing 20 surrounding the tube bundle 10. There is typically fluid flow in the shell 20 through the inside of the tube 11 and across the outside of the tube 11. As described above, it is necessary to reduce the flow-induced vibrations in the tube bundle 10 to avoid damage to the bundle 10. In order to reduce vibrations in the tube bundle, it is also desirable to provide an assembly that directs the flow of fluid inward toward the tube bundle 10 toward the tube 11 away from the shell 20 of the tube bundle device. Do. Flow of fluid away from the shell 20 towards the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10 and away from the partition lane (s) of the bundle that does not include any tubes towards the tube 11. By directing the fork, heat transfer is improved.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided at least one slotted baffle 30 having a vertical slot in the tube bundle 10 of the heat exchanger 1. Slotted baffles 30 with vertical slots provide support to the tubes 11 in the bundle 10 to reduce vibration. The blocking area of the slotted baffle 30 is configured to direct all bypass flow inwards towards the tube 11 from between the outermost tube 11 and the inner diameter of the shell 20. A slotted baffle 30 having a vertical slot according to an embodiment according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. Slotted baffle 30 with vertical slots is constructed from a plate having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of shell 20 (the outer diameter of the plate is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the shell). The plate includes a plurality of notches 32, 33 formed therein. Notches 32 and 33 are formed by any one of several means capable of forming a notch in a plate, including but not limited to laser cutting, grinding, water cutting, stamping and punching. It may be considered that. Notches 32 are sized to receive a tie bar 5 therein. It is contemplated that the tie bar 5 may include complementary notches to receive the notches 32 therein. Notches 33 are sized to receive a skid bar 6 therein. Skid bar 6 is provided to ensure support during insertion of tube bundle 10 into shell 20. Notches 32 and 33 ensure that slotted baffle 30, slotted baffles 40 and 50 (described below) with horizontal slots, and blocking baffle 60 (described below) are maintained in proper orientation. The tie bar 5, skid bar 6 and baffles 30, 40, 60 together form a rigid cage that facilitates insertion of the tube 11 of the bundle 10. The tie bar 5 and the skid bar 6 are preferably welded or otherwise secured to the notches 32, 33 in the baffles 30, 40, 50. It is contemplated that the tie bar 5 is sized so that the tie bar 5 does not extend beyond the perimeter of the plate. However, skid bar 6 preferably extends about 1/32 inch or 0.8 mm outward beyond the perimeter of the plate. The skid bar 6 forms a rail on which the tube bundle 10 rides as it slides into position in the shell 20.

The blocking area 34 extends inward from the perimeter of the plate toward the center of the plate. The blocking area 34 is sized to generally occupy an area between the tube bundle 10 and the inner surface of the shell 20. It is contemplated that a small gap will remain between the inner surface of the shell 20 and the outer perimeter of the baffle 30 to allow insertion of the bundle 10 into the shell or housing 20. The blocking area 34 is provided to block the flow of fluid flowing in the space between the tube bundle 10 and the shell 20. The blocking area 34 redirects the flow in the tube bundle device 1 away from the shell 20 toward the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10 to minimize the flow of fluid bypassing the bundle 10. . This improves the efficiency of the heat exchanger by directing more fluid across the heat exchange surface of the tube 11.

Typically, the tube bundle 10 includes at least one compartment lane that separates the tubes 11 in the tube bundle 10 into discrete groups. The compartment lane does not contain any tube 11. The compartment lanes can have horizontal and vertical orientations. The fluid flowing through the compartment lanes does not contact the heat transfer surface of the tube 11. As such, it is desirable to divert the flow of fluid in the bundle 10 towards the tube 11 away from the compartment lanes to improve heat transfer. The baffle 30 includes at least one compartment lane blocking area 35. At least one compartment lane blocking area 35 is sized to be received within the compartment lane of the tube bundle 10. Similar to the blocking area 34, the compartment lane blocking area 35 redirects the flow of fluid in the shell of the heat exchanger 1 towards the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10. The compartment lane blocking area 35 redirects the flow of fluid in the compartment lane towards the tube 11 of the bundle 10 to minimize the amount of fluid that bypasses the tube 11. It also improves the efficiency of the heat exchanger by directing more fluid across the heat exchange surface of the tube 11. The presence of this crossflow across the tube 11 in the bundle 10 improves heat transfer as compared to the forward axial flow that would otherwise be present in this type of exchanger without a baffle according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slotted baffle 30 includes a plurality of vertical slots 36 located on opposite sides of the partition lane blocking area 35. The slotted baffle 30 shown in FIG. 2 is configured for use in a tube bundle with a central compartment lane (ie, for use in a U-bend tube bundle with two passes through the tube bundle device). do. In the case of a single-pass tube bundle, the compartment lanes are omitted. As such, the slot 36 extends across the slotted baffle 30. The slot 36 is sized to receive and support the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10. For purposes of illustration, several tubes 11 of the tube bundle 10 are illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated, the vertical slot 36 extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the partition lane blocking area 35. As discussed above, it is contemplated that the partition lanes may have horizontal orientation, vertical orientation and / or vertical orientation fragments and horizontal orientation fragments. As such, the partition lane blocking area 35 can have a vertical orientation fragment with a horizontal orientation, a vertical orientation, or a horizontal orientation fragment. The vertical slot 36 is perpendicular to the horizontal partition lane or the horizontal partition fragment and parallel to the vertical partition lane or the vertical partition fragment. Slot 36 is arranged to correspond to a row of tubes 11 in bundle 10. A plurality of ribs 37 extending vertically are provided on the baffle 30. Each rib 37 extends vertically between the slots 36 as shown in FIG. 2. Each rib 37 preferably has a thickness that is slightly less than the spacing between adjacent tubes 11 in the tube bundle 10. As will be explained in more detail below, this spacing aids the assembly process since the tube 11 can be easily loaded into the bundle.

According to the invention, the slot 36 may be formed by cutting, laser or water cutting, drilling and stamping. If such a technique can form a slot 36 sized to receive at least one tube 11 therein, other manufacturing techniques are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. It is also desirable for the fabrication technique to be suitable for the formation of multiple baffles 30.

The size of the baffle 30 is based on the size of the exchanger 1. In some situations, the length of slot 36 may be sufficient such that rib 37 may require additional reinforcement for stability and strength. This can be accomplished in one of several ways, including increasing the thickness of the plate. It is also possible to include at least one reinforcing rib extending generally orthogonal to the rib 37. The rib may interconnect the ribs 37 for stability. The reinforcing ribs will have a width similar to or greater than the width of the ribs 37. An example of a reinforcing rib is illustrated as rib 48 in FIG. 4.

At least one slotted baffle 40 having a horizontal slot is provided in the tube bundle 10 of the heat exchanger 1. 3 illustrates a slotted baffle 40 having horizontal slots that provide support to the tubes 11 in the bundle 10 to reduce vibration. Similar to the baffle 30, the baffle 40 allows flow of fluid within the bundle 10 away from the shell 20 from a gap between the outer tube 11 of the tube bundle 10 and the inner surface of the shell 20. And inward toward the tube 11 and outward away from the compartment lane towards the tube 11. The slotted baffle 40 is constructed from a plate having an outer circumference corresponding to the schematic circumference of the shell 20. The plate is formed therein and includes a plurality of notches 32, 33 described above in connection with the baffle 30.

The blocking area 44 extends inward from the perimeter of the plate toward the center of the plate. The blocking area 44 has a configuration similar to the blocking area 34. The blocking area 44 is configured to direct the flow in the tube bundle device away from the shell 20 toward the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10 to minimize the flow of fluid bypassing the bundle 10. . This improves the efficiency of the heat exchanger by directing more fluid across the heat exchange surface. The baffle 40 may also include at least one compartment lane blocking area 45. Similar to the partition lane blocking area 35, the partition lane blocking area 45 is sized to be received within the partition lane of the tube bundle 10. Similar to the blocking area 44, the compartment lane blocking area 45 redirects the flow of fluid in the tube bundle device 1 towards the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10. The compartment lane blocking area 45 redirects the flow of fluid in the compartment lane towards the tube 11 of the bundle 10 to minimize the amount of fluid that bypasses the tube 11. In single-tube-pass heat exchangers, there may be no compartment lanes.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slotted baffle 40 includes a plurality of horizontal slots 46. As shown in the two-pass tube bundle device of FIG. 3, the slot 46 is located on opposite sides of the compartment lane blocking area 35. The slot 46 is sized to receive and support the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10. For purposes of illustration, several tubes 11 of the tube bundle 10 are illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown, the horizontal slot 46 extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the partition lane blocking area 35. As discussed above, it is contemplated that the partition lanes may have horizontal orientation, vertical orientation and / or vertical orientation fragments and horizontal orientation fragments. As such, the partition lane blocking area 35 can have a vertical orientation fragment with a horizontal orientation, a vertical orientation, or a horizontal orientation fragment. The horizontal slot 37 is parallel to the horizontal partition lane or the horizontal partition fragment and is perpendicular to the vertical partition lane or the vertical partition fragment. A plurality of horizontally extending ribs 47 are provided on the baffle 40. Each rib 47 extends between the slots 46 as shown in FIG. 3. Each rib 47 preferably has a thickness slightly less than the spacing between adjacent tubes 11 in the tube bundle 10.

According to the present invention, similar to slot 36, slot 46 may be formed by cutting, laser or water cutting, drilling and stamping. If such a technique can form a slot 46 sized to receive at least one tube 11 therein, other fabrication techniques are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. It is also desirable for the manufacturing technique to be suitable for the formation of multiple baffles 40.

A variant of baffle 40 is shown in FIG. 4. Slotted baffle 50 includes a horizontal slot with at least one vertical rib 48. Vertical ribs 48 reinforce the ribs 47 by interconnecting the ribs 47. The rib 48 will have a width similar to or greater than the width of the rib 47. Although a single vertical rib 48 is shown, it is contemplated that additional ribs 47 may be provided to provide additional stability. This is particularly useful for larger size baffles used in larger exchangers.

Applicants mean that the terms horizontal and vertical, when used in connection with the present invention, are intended as a reference point to describe the orientation of the individual components of the baffle relative to the other components of the baffle. The term is not intended to describe the orientation of the baffles or other components that make up the baffle in the heat exchanger. It is contemplated that the tube bundle device 1 may have one of several orientations in use. The tube bundle device can thus be oriented generally at any angle with respect to the horizontal, vertical or horizontal.

The tube bundle 10 of the heat exchanger 1 is preferably provided with at least one blocking baffle 60. The blocking baffle 60 is configured to direct the flow of fluid away from the shell 20 toward the tube 11 in the bundle 10 and outward from the compartment lanes of the bundle. A blocking baffle 60 according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. The blocking baffle 60 is constructed from a plate having an outer circumference corresponding to the schematic circumference of the shell 20.

The blocking area 64 extends inward from the perimeter of the plate toward the center of the plate. The blocking area 64 is sized to approximately occupy an area between the tube bundle 10 and the inner surface of the shell 20. A small gap will remain between the baffle 60 and the inner surface of the shell 20 to allow insertion of the tube bundle 10 into the shell 20. The blocking area 64 is provided for diverting the flow of fluid flowing in the gap between the outer tube of the tube bundle 10 and the inner surface of the shell 20. The blocking region 64 redirects the flow in the heat exchanger away from the shell 20 toward the tube bundle 10 to minimize the flow of fluid bypassing the bundle 10. This improves the efficiency of the heat exchanger by directing more fluid across the heat exchanger surface.

As described above, the tube bundle 10 may include at least one compartment lane. Similar to the baffles 30 and 40, the baffle 60 includes a compartment lane blocking area 65. The partition lane blocking area 65 is sized to be received within the partition lane of the tube bundle 20 in the manner described above with respect to the blocking areas 35 and 45. Similar to the blocking area 64, the compartment lane blocking area 65 redirects the flow of fluid in the heat exchanger 1 toward the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10. Openings 66 and 67 are formed on opposite sides of the partition lane blocking area 35. The openings 66, 67 are sized to receive the tube 10 of the bundle 11 through it. If the tube bundle 10 includes a plurality of compartment lanes, the number of openings in the baffle 60 will increase to correspond to the groups of tubes 11 in the bundle 10. In addition, when the tube bundle device 1 is a single-pass device, there is generally no compartment lane. In such form, the baffle 60 will comprise a single opening.

The assembly of the tube bundle device 1 will now be described in more detail. A rigid cage for the tube bundle 10 is constructed using tie bars 5, skid bars 6 and baffles 30, 40, 60. Rigid cages are formed by securing tie bars 5 and skid bars 6 in respective slots 32, 33 in baffles 30, 40, 60. As mentioned above, the tie bar 5 and the skid bar 6 are preferably secured in the slots 32, 33 by welding or other suitable attachment mechanism. Slotted baffles 30 and slotted baffles 40 and 50 are spaced two to five feet apart in an alternating pattern as shown in FIG. At least one blocking baffle 60 may be located between the vertical baffle and the horizontal baffle as shown in FIG. 1.

Once the rigid cage is assembled, the tube 11 of the tube bundle 10 can be inserted into the cage. The tube 11 is loaded into the bundle 10 by inserting the tube 11 through the slots 36, 46 in the baffles 30, 40 and the openings 66, 67 in the baffle 60. Ribs 37 and 47 of baffles 30 and 40 cooperate to form a support structure for tube 11. Ribs 37 and 47 support the tube 11 and prevent the tube 11 from contacting the adjacent tube 11. After the tube 11 is positioned in the cage, the tube sheets 13, 14 can be secured to the ends of the bundle 10. This is accomplished by welding or otherwise securing the end of each tube 11 to the tube sheet. As mentioned above, at least one tube sheet is stationary. When the U-tube is used, the end of the tube is fixed to the pair of tube sheets 13, one stationary tube sheet 13 and one floating tube sheet 14 or one stationary tube sheet 13, so that the tube It is contemplated that both ends of can be fixed to the same tube sheet 13. The assembled tube bundle 10 is inserted into the shell 20 by sliding the bundle 10 along the skid bar 6 into the shell. Once the bundle 10 is properly oriented in the shell 20, the tube sheet 13 is secured to the shell 20.

 As mentioned above, there is a gap between the bundle 10 and the shell 20. When the fluid flows in the shell 20, some of the fluid will move toward the gap and flow through the gap region of the exchanger. This lowers the heat transfer efficiency of the exchanger. Slotted baffles 30, 40, 60 are provided to redirect the flow of fluid inwards towards the tube 11 of the bundle 10. Fluid flowing in the gap is brought into contact with the slotted baffles 30, 40, 60. Blocking zones 34, 44, 54, and 64 block and redirect the flow of fluid within the gap zone. As such, the fluid is redirected inward to flow through the slots 36, 46 and the open areas 66, 67. Flow of fluid through the slots 36, 46 and open areas 66, 67 allows the fluid to flow past the tube 11 that receives the heat transfer surface. Compartment lane blocking regions 35, 45, 55, and 65 block or block the flow of fluid within the compartment lanes in bundle 10. When the fluid flows in the compartment lanes, the compartment lane blocking regions 35, 45, 65 redirect the fluid flow away from the compartment lane into the tube bundle 10 so that the fluid contacts the tube 11. The placement of the baffles 30, 40, 60 in spaced positions along the tube bundle 20 directs the flow of fluid to those regions having heat transfer capability away from the region in the heat exchanger 1 that does not include heat transfer elements. Enough to change direction.

In addition to redirecting the flow of fluid within the shell 20, the baffles 30, 40, 50 also function to reduce tube vibration. The ribs 37, 47 on the baffles 30, 40 have different orientations with respect to each other. Peripheral blocking regions 34, 35 on rib 37 and baffle 30 limit the relative motion of tube 11. Depending on their position within the bundle 10, each tube 11 is located on one side of the ribs 37, the opposite sides of the tube 11, located on opposite sides of the tube 11. It has one rib with a blocking area 34 and one rib 37 or a compartment lane blocking area 35 located on an opposite side of the tube 11. Ribs and blocking regions 34, 35 are coplanar with plate 31 and limit the movement of tube 11 in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to ribs 37. When the tube 11 starts to oscillate, such oscillation is reduced through contact with adjacent ribs 37 and / or blocking regions 34, 35.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the peripheral blocking regions 44, 54, 45, 55 and ribs 47 on the baffle 40 limit the relative motion of the tube 11. Depending on their position in the bundle 10, each tube 11 is located on opposite ribs of the tube 11, one rib 47 located on opposite sides of the tube 11. It has a blocking area 44, 54 and one rib 47, or a compartment lane blocking area 45, 55 and one rib located on the opposite side of the tube 11. The ribs and blocking regions 44, 54, 45, 55 are coplanar with the plate 41 and substantially perpendicular to the ribs 47 and limit the movement of the tube 11 in a direction parallel to the ribs 37. do. When the tube 11 starts to oscillate, such oscillation is reduced through contact with the adjacent ribs 47 and / or the blocking regions 44, 54, 45, 55.

Using baffles 30 and 40, or 30 and 50 in concert, effectively reduces vibration of tube 11 within bundle 10, but is not sufficient to prevent vibration. The tube 11 may still be deflected by flow, and for this reason it may be desirable to use at least one tube support stake 70, 80 between the tubes 11 of the bundle 10, which is more Results in large axial strength and minimizes vibration. Stakes 70, 80 may be located at spaced positions between baffles 30, 40, 50, 60 within tube bundle 10 as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the use of a tube support deflects each tube in a sinusoidal manner. This tends to disrupt the axial shell lateral flow, providing a cross-flow component to enhance heat transfer. In other words, a tube support mainly used for the purpose of ensuring a robust tube bundle will also lead to increased heat transfer.

However, the absence of full support from the stakes 70, 80 does not reduce the effectiveness of the baffles 30, 40, 60 that support the tube 11 and direct fluid flow in the exchanger 1. In a rectangular tube arrangement, the alternating vertical / horizontal arrangement of ribs 37, 47 results in a stake 70 in each set parallel to ribs 37, 47 of one of the adjacent baffles 30, 40, Tube 11 will be held by stake 70 firmly against ribs in which stake 70 is parallel. Similarly, in a triangular tube arrangement, the orientation of the stake at a given position is preferably parallel to the rib of one of the baffles 30, 40 to hold the tube 11 firmly against the rib of that baffle.

Tube stakes 70 and 80 that can be used are provided for that purpose if they are dimensioned to give increased tube separation upon insertion into the tube bundle and always maintain their position within the bundle. It may be of any type commonly used. Thus, for example, the tube stakes disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,648,442 to Williams, US Pat. No. 4,919,199 to Han, US Pat. No. 5,213,155 to Han, and US Pat. No. 6,401,803 to Han They may be used if their dimensions are satisfactory for the purpose. However, preferred types of tube steaks are disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 7,032,655 to Weni et al. And US Patent Application Nos. 11 / 128,884 to Wenni et al. Is specifically incorporated herein by reference.

The tube stake 70 is inserted to reinforce the tube bundle 10 with the stake 70 inserted into the bundle 10 around the midpoint between the adjacent baffles 30, 40. With such an arrangement, it is possible for the stake 70 to be positioned proximate to the blocking baffle 60. Since the tube 10 is supported by the baffles 30 and 40 as described above, the stake 70 is inserted into each tube lane (ie, lanes between adjacent rows of the tube 11). Is not necessary. Although insertion of the tube support stake into the same tube lane in successive positions will make the bundle stronger, it is possible to insert the stake only into alternating tube lanes with the insertion lanes alternating in each successive position. For example, the stake may be inserted into the odd tube lane at the first position, into the even lane at the second position, and so forth along the length of the tube bundle at the continuous stake placement positions. The insertion (alignment) direction of the stakes 70 is made to alternate in the same way as the baffles 30 and 40, ie the stakes 70 are inserted in different directions at each place or location where they are inserted into the bundle. It is also possible to insert additional stakes at the bundle inlet or outlet area, or any other location required to tighten the loose tube.

6 shows an example of a tube stake or support 70. This type of tube stake or support includes a corrugation along the inside (in the tube bundle) that slightly deflects the tube to provide elastic support to the tube while at the same time allowing the stake to be easily inserted into the bundle, At the outer end, each stake slightly deflects the tube in the same way as the corrugation, but a dimple that secures more tightly onto the outermost tube to minimize the likelihood of undesirable dislocation of the stake strip during handling or operation. Has

The tube support or stake 70 is formed of metal strips that extend into the tube lanes formed by the tubes 11 on both sides of the lanes. In a complete tube bundle, there will be additional tubes extending into the rows formed by the continuation of the tube rows, with other tube rows arranged in a similar conventional manner constituting the tube bundle. The tube lane between these two adjacent rows of tubes and the other adjacent rows will be similarly wide across the tube bundle. Each tube stake 70 has a transverse row of raised tube-engagement zones. The tube-engaging zone may be formed as a row of alternating dimples 71 or pleats 72 or a combination 73 thereof. In such an arrangement, the dimples 71 and / or the pleats 72 and / or the combinations 73 extend from opposite sides of the stake 70.

7 shows another example of a tube support 80 for use in connection with the present invention. The tube support 80 comprises an elongated flat member consisting of two flat strips of metals 81 and 82 fixed together. Tube support 80 includes at least one tube-engaging zone 83.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and / or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of the apparatus and methods herein provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (25)

In the tube bundle device, Housings, A tube bundle located within the housing, the tube bundle having a plurality of tubes arranged parallel to one another in a tube row; At least one slotted support baffle having a plurality of spaced slots formed therein, Each of the plurality of spaced slots is sized to receive through at least one of the tubes, Each slotted support baffle has an outer perimeter and a blocking area formed between the outer perimeter and the plurality of spaced slots, The blocking area is sized to be located in the gap between the housing and the outer tube of the tube bundle. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 1, Further comprising at least one blocking baffle, Each blocking baffle A blocking plate having an outer periphery, At least one plate opening sized to receive and receive a tube of the tube bundle, A blocking plate blocking region formed between an outer circumference of the blocking plate and the at least one plate opening, The blocking plate blocking area is sized to be substantially positioned in the gap between the housing and the outer tube of the tube bundle. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 2, The tube bundle has at least one compartment lane separating a portion of the tube of the tube bundle and another portion of the tube of the tube bundle, Each of the at least one blocking baffles has at least one compartment lane blocking plate blocking region formed therein; Each of the at least one compartment lane blocking plate blocking regions is sized to be received within a corresponding at least one compartment lane of the tube bundle. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 1, The tube bundle has at least one compartment lane separating a portion of the tube of the tube bundle and another portion of the tube of the tube bundle, Each of the at least one slotted support baffles has at least one compartment lane blocking area formed therein; Each compartment lane blocking area is sized to be received within a corresponding compartment lane of the tube bundle. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 4, wherein Each support baffle, A first group of the plurality of slots located on one side of the at least one compartment lane blocking area between a portion of the blocking area and the partition lane blocking area; A second group of the plurality of slots located on the other side of the partition lane blocking area between the other portion of the blocking area and the partition lane blocking area; Tube bundle device. The method of claim 5, wherein Each slotted support baffle further comprising a plurality of support ribs, each support rib extending substantially parallel to the plurality of slots. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 6, Each slotted support baffle further comprises at least one reinforcing rib extending in the direction substantially perpendicular to the support rib and the slot, wherein each rib intersects the at least one rib and at least one slot. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 1, A slotted support baffle of at least one first orientation and a slotted support baffle of at least one second orientation, Each slotted support baffle of a first orientation is spaced apart from an adjacent slotted support baffle of a second orientation, Wherein the plurality of spaced slots on the slotted support baffle of the first orientation has a first orientation, and the plurality of spaced slots on the slotted support baffle of the second orientation has a second orientation that is different from the first orientation. Having Tube bundle device. The method of claim 8, The tube bundle has at least one compartment lane separating a portion of the tube of the tube bundle from another portion of the tube of the tube bundle, Each of the slotted support baffles of the first orientation and the slotted support baffles of the at least one second orientation each have at least one compartment lane blocking region formed therein, Each of the at least one compartment lane blocking regions is sized to be received within a corresponding compartment lane of the tube bundle. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 9, Each of the slotted baffles of the first orientation and the slotted support baffles of the at least one second orientation comprise slots of a first group and slots of a second group, the slots of the second group being the first group Spaced apart from slots of the first and separated by a partition lane blocking area between the slots of the first group and the slots of the second group Tube bundle device. The method of claim 8, Further comprising at least one blocking baffle, Each blocking baffle A blocking plate having an outer periphery, At least one plate opening sized to receive and receive a tube of the tube bundle, A blocking plate blocking region formed between an outer circumference of the blocking plate and the at least one plate opening, The blocking plate blocking area is sized to be substantially positioned in the gap between the housing and the outer tube of the tube bundle. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 11, One of the at least one blocking baffles is located between a slotted baffle of an adjacent first orientation and a slotted baffle of a second orientation. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 1, Further comprising at least one elongated tube support member, The at least one elongated tube support member is selectively positioned in a space formed between adjacent rows of tubes, Each elongated tube support member has a tube engagement area that engages an adjacent tube in the tube bundle. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 8, Further comprising at least one elongated tube support member, The at least one elongated tube support member is selectively positioned in a space formed between adjacent rows of tubes, Each elongated tube support member has a tube engagement area that engages an adjacent tube in the tube bundle, The at least one elongated tube support member is positioned between the support baffles of the adjacent first and second orientations. Tube bundle device. The method of claim 12, Further comprising at least one elongated tube support member, The at least one elongated tube support member is selectively positioned in a space formed between adjacent rows of tubes, Each elongated tube support member has a tube engagement area that engages an adjacent tube in the tube bundle. Tube bundle device. A slotted support baffle for use in supporting a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle, comprising: A plate having an outer periphery, A plurality of spaced slots formed in the plate, the plurality of spaced slots each sized to receive at least one of the tubes in the tube bundle; A blocking region formed between the outer circumference and the plurality of spaced slots Slotted support baffle. The method of claim 16, At least one compartment lane blocking plate blocking region formed therein, interconnecting a portion of the blocking region with another portion of the blocking region, A first group of the plurality of slots is located on one side of the at least one partition lane blocking area between the portion of the blocking area and the partition lane blocking area, A second group of the plurality of slots is located on the other side of one of the at least one compartment lane blocking area between another portion of the blocking area and the compartment lane blocking area Slotted support baffle. The method of claim 17, Further comprising a plurality of support ribs, each support rib extending substantially parallel to said plurality of slots. Slotted support baffle. The method of claim 18, Each slotted support baffle further comprises at least one reinforcing rib extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the support rib and the slot, wherein each rib intersects at least one rib and at least one slot. Slotted support baffle. The method of claim 19, Further comprising a plurality of ribs, each rib extending from one portion of the blocking region to another portion of the blocking region, each rib extending substantially parallel to the plurality of slots and the partition lane blocking portion. Slotted support baffle. In a blocking baffle for use with a tube bundle device having a plurality of tubes, A plate having an outer periphery, A pair of openings formed in the plate, the pair of openings each sized to receive a portion of a tube of the tube bundle device; A blocking region formed between the outer circumference and the pair of openings Blocking baffle. The method of claim 21, And at least one compartment lane blocking plate blocking region formed therein that interconnects a portion of the blocking region with another portion of the blocking region. Blocking baffle. A method of controlling the flow of fluid in a tube bundle device, the tube bundle device having a housing and a tube bundle located inside the housing, the tube bundle having a plurality of spaced parallel tubes, the housing and the tube bundle A gap therebetween, the tube bundle having a partition lane separating the first group of spaced parallel tubes from the second group of spaced parallel tubes. In Redirecting at least a portion of the flow of fluid in the gap to the tube bundle, Redirecting at least a portion of the flow of fluid in the compartment lane to the tube bundle; A method of controlling the flow of fluid in a tube bundle device. The method of claim 23, Redirecting at least a portion of the flow of fluid in the gap to the tube bundle includes providing at least one slotted support baffle at a predetermined location on the tube bundle having a plurality of spaced slots formed therein. and, Each of the plurality of spaced slots is sized to receive through at least one of the tubes, each slotted support baffle has an outer circumference and a blocking area formed between the outer circumference and the plurality of spaced slots, The blocking region is sized to be substantially positioned in a gap between the housing and an outer tube of the tube bundle device, the blocking region redirecting flow of fluid from the gap toward the plurality of spaced slots. A method of controlling the flow of fluid in a tube bundle device. The method of claim 24, Redirecting at least a portion of the flow of fluid in the gap to the tube bundle comprises providing at least one blocking baffle at a predetermined location along the tube bundle, A blocking plate having an outer circumference and at least one plate opening sized to receive each tube through the tube of the tube bundle device, the blocking plate blocking area being at least one of the outer circumference of the blocking plate. Formed between the plate openings, The blocking plate blocking region is sized to be located in a gap between the housing and the outer tube of the tube bundle device, the blocking plate blocking region redirecting flow of fluid from the gap toward the plurality of spaced slots. A method of controlling the flow of fluid in a tube bundle device.

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