Anti-vibration spacers used in tubular type heat exchangers
US5570739A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28F2255/04
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Anti-vibration spacer elements are located between adjacent elongated heat exchanger tubes for operation at temperatures above ambient in a tubular type heat exchanger. The spacer elements are formed of metal alloys having a shape-memory characteristic and are placed between adjacent rows of elongated tubes in the heat exchanger, such as a steam generator or feed water heater, and are supported from a girth ring in the casing of the heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger operating temperature is increased above a transition temperature (TT) for the spacer metal, such as a temperature between -100.degree. F. and 1000.degree. F., the spacer element increases in its overall effective thickness dimension so as to provide a lateral loading force against the adjacent tube pairs, and thereby dampen and prevent undesired vibrations of the elongated tubes. The invention also provides a method for providing vibration dampening for elongated tubes in heat exchangers operating at -100.degree. to 1000.degree. F.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.