Heat exchanger with floating head
US6736199B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 18, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28F9/182
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat exchanger in which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or eliminated. The heat exchanger includes at least one floating tubesheet which is movable in a longitudinal direction in response to tube expansion and contraction relative to the heat exchanger shell. The shell is joined to the ends by conical members which preferably join onto the shell at a distance along its length to provide shell extensions which promote better flow patterns in the regions of the tube ends. Tube erosion may be addressed by providing a sacrificial portion of tube length extending beyond the tube sheets so as to make repair and replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier and with minimal process interruption. Because axial or longitudinal flow is employed with respect to the shell-side fluid, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated and fouling is minimized through the use of high fluid velocities. Multiple heat exchangers may be combined in a modular fashion by placing individual exchangers either in series, in parallel or both in order to satisfy various process requirements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.