EP2299231B1 - Holder module for heat exchange tubes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a holding module for heat exchanger tubes, according to claim 1, a frame for heat exchanger tubes with a plurality of holding modules according to claim 5 and a method for setting up a frame for heat exchanger tubes. According to claim 10 heat exchangers, in particular tubular heat exchangers, are widely used for the transfer of heat energy from a medium to a second medium. Depending on the application, several tube heat exchangers are combined into individual sections. The tubular heat exchangers include z. B., as will be explained in more detail below, a heat exchanger tube, d. h., A jacket tube, in which a plurality of inner tubes are arranged, but at least an inner tube. The heat exchanger tubes are held by means of frames and shelves.

However, the conventional racks have a high space requirement and, moreover, the production of such racks and their assembly is complicated and expensive. The known racks are set to a certain size and not flexibly expandable.

The document JP S62 94796 A describes a holding module according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for setting up a frame for heat exchanger tubes with a holding module. Proceeding from this, the object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method by means of which heat exchanger tubes can be kept simpler, more space-saving and less expensive, wherein the device is in particular flexibly expandable.

According to the invention, this object is solved by the features of claims 1 to 13.

According to the present invention, individual holding modules are used for the modular structure of the heat exchanger tubes. A holding module has a lower module half with a plurality of recesses, in each of which a heat exchanger tube can be inserted, and an upper holding module half, which also has a plurality of recesses and which can be placed on the lower holding module half such that their recesses lie opposite the recesses of the lower holding module half, in such a way in that the heat exchanger tubes are held in the recesses.

A connecting element connects the upper and the lower half. Thus, in the holding module, the heat exchanger tube can be easily inserted and then the second half are placed on top. The structure of the frame takes place gradually along with the layering the heat exchanger tubes. It is layered layer by layer until a certain frame height is reached.

According to the present invention, a very compact construction can be achieved. Due to the modular structure, the height can be flexibly adapted to specific requirements. The system can also be flexibly upgraded later on. The system can be expanded as required. The frame according to the invention is significantly cheaper than the known frame racks. The assembly of the individual modules is very simple and fast. In addition, there is an improved design.

According to the invention, the connecting element which connects the upper and lower holding module half, a plug-in element which can be plugged onto the lower holding module half, wherein the upper holding module half is plugged onto the plug-in element. Such a connecting element is inexpensive and moreover, it allows easy installation.

The plug element preferably runs in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger tubes and ensures a stable connection.

Advantageously, the upper and lower holding module half are identical. Thus, the entire holding module can be made very inexpensive.

According to the invention, the upper and / or lower holding module half of the holding module is formed so that it has a substantially U-shaped cross section with two opposite side walls and an intermediate bottom, wherein the recesses are formed in the side walls. Thus, each module half has two bearing surfaces for the heat exchanger tube and allows the heat exchanger tube rests well. Due to the U-shaped design, the weight of the holding module can be substantially reduced.

The plug element can, for. Example, be constructed so that it has at least two upper and / or at least two lower openings into which the side walls of the upper and lower holding module half can be inserted or the lower holding module half and / or the upper holding module half is constructed so that they have in the side walls openings into which the plug element can be inserted.

A frame for the heat exchanger tubes has at least a first and a second unit, in each of which a plurality of modules are arranged one above the other, in which case the mutually parallel heat exchanger tubes of the first and the at least second unit. Depending on the length of the tubes, different numbers of units can be used. Likewise, depending on the diameter and number of heat exchanger tubes each level can be equipped differently. The units do not have to be completely filled. The modules arranged one above the other in the units can be fixed together by a fixing device. For fixing the modules in a respective unit, the modules z. B. have arranged through openings, into which then a fixing rod can be inserted from above. Thus, the individual modules arranged one above the other remain correctly aligned with each other. For even better fixing, lateral cross struts for clamping can be arranged between the holding element units.

The lowermost holding module half of each holding module unit may be fixedly connected to a floor frame. Thus, the lowermost holding module half has a firm hold and allows a safe construction of the modules to be arranged above it.

In the method according to the invention a plurality of mutually spaced holding module halves are provided (step a). Then, the heat exchanger tubes are inserted into the recesses of the lower holding module halves (step b). Finally, the plurality of upper holding module halves are placed on the tubes, such that the recesses are turned towards and receive the tubes (step c). On the upper side of the upper half of the holding module, which has already been installed, a lower holding module half can then be placed in turn to produce a further module (step d). The steps d, b, c can be repeated until a desired frame height is reached.

After step a or b, the holding module halves are fixed. For this purpose, after step a or b, at least one plug-in element can be inserted into the lower holding module half and the upper holding module half can be plugged onto the at least one plug-in element in step c. This results in a simple self-supporting modular system. Also, the modules arranged one above the other in a unit can then be fixed again to each other in order to obtain an overall stable system.

Fig. 1

zeigt in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Haltemodul gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 2

zeigt in perspektivischer Darstellung eine untere Haltemodulhälfte mit eingestecktem Steckelement;

Fig. 3

zeigt schematisch eine Vorderansicht eines Steckelements gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 4

zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung von drei übereinander angeordneten Haltemodulen gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 5

zeigt eine teilweise aufgerissene schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines Gestells gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung, wobei die Wärmetauscherrohre nicht dargestellt sind;

Fig. 6

zeigt schematisch ein Beispiel für ein Wärmetauscherrohr;

Fig. 7

zeigt ein Gestell gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung in perspektivischer Darstellung

The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the following figures:

Fig. 1

shows in perspective a holding module according to the present invention;

Fig. 2

shows a perspective view of a lower holding module half with inserted plug-in element;

Fig. 3

shows schematically a front view of a plug-in element according to the present invention;

Fig. 4

shows a perspective view of three superposed holding modules according to the present invention;

Fig. 5

shows a partially broken schematic perspective view of a frame according to the present invention, wherein the heat exchanger tubes are not shown;

Fig. 6

schematically shows an example of a heat exchanger tube;

Fig. 7

shows a frame according to the present invention in perspective view

FIG. 6 shows the basic structure of a heat exchanger tube 12. The heat exchanger tube 12 here comprises a jacket or outer tube 18 with a secondary inlet 13 and a secondary outlet 14. In the casing tube 18 a plurality of inner tubes, but at least one inner tube or tube bundle 17 are arranged which have a corresponding primary-side inlet 15 and outlet 16. The individual heat exchanger tubes 12 can be interconnected in series with each other in series, ie, that then, for example, the outlet 16 of a first heat exchanger tube with the inlet 15 of a subsequent, z. B. arranged parallel to it, heat exchanger tube is connected and the drain 14 with the inlet 13 of a subsequent tube. The interconnection of the inlets 15 and 16 operations can be done for example via pipe bends. The connection of the processes 14 with the inlets 13 can also be done by appropriate pipe connections.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a holding module for holding a plurality of mutually parallel heat exchanger tubes 12, which are not shown here for simplicity. A holding module 1 in this case comprises a lower holding module half 1 b, which has a plurality of recesses 3 b, in each of which a heat exchanger tube 12 can be inserted and an upper holding module half 1 a, which has a plurality of recesses 3a, and which can be placed on the lower holding module half 1 b, that the recesses 3a are opposed to the recesses 3b, such that the heat exchanger tube can be held firmly in the recesses 3a, b. The inner diameter of the substantially circular Recess 3a, b corresponds substantially to the outer diameter of the heat exchanger tube 12, such that the tube is held against slipping.

In general, the holding modules are designed such that one of the units 30, 31, 32, 33 serve as a fixed and the other as a loose bearing, so that the different thermal expansion of the individual heat exchanger tubes is compensated relative to the frame.

As in particular from FIG. 2 As can be seen, each holding module half is formed so that it has a U-shaped cross section, so that the holding module 1 is hollow inside and has a low weight. The openings 3a, b are formed in the opposite side walls 5a, b and 6a, b of the module halves 1 a, b. Between the side walls 5a, b and 6a, b is in each case a bottom 7a, b. In this example, six recesses 3a, b are provided for six heat exchanger tubes arranged parallel to one another in a plane. Advantageously, about two to ten such openings are provided side by side. At the front and end side of the holding module 1 angles 8a, b are formed so that after the construction of the individual holding modules cross struts and / or a panel, as will be explained in more detail below, can be arranged. Opposing openings 9a, b are provided in the two floors 7a, b, into which a fixing rod 20 (see FIG. 2) for fixing holding modules arranged one above the other is provided FIG. 5 ) can be inserted.

In order to connect the two holding module halves 1 a, b with each other, a connecting element, preferably a plug-in element 11, is provided. The plug-in element can be plugged onto the lower holding module half 1 b, with the holding module half 1 a being pushed onto the plug-in element 1. Here, a holding module 3 comprises such plug-in elements 11. The number of plug-in elements 11 depends on the size of the holding module.

As in particular from the FIG. 2 As can be seen, the plug-in element extends in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger tubes 12. Here, the plug-in element has two openings 19a at the top and two openings 19b at the bottom. In these openings, the side walls 6a, b and 5a, b are inserted. Alternatively, the lower holding module half 1 b and the upper holding module half 1 a in the side walls have openings into which the plug-in element 11, which then requires no corresponding openings, can be inserted. Thus, a secure hold of the two holding module halves is guaranteed. Several holding modules 1 can be arranged one above the other, as shown FIG. 4 evident.

FIG. 4 shows, for example, 3 holding modules 1 which are arranged one above the other, wherein in the construction of 3 heat exchanger tubes 12 were inserted and the individual halves were connected to each other via the plug-in elements 11. This results in a self-supporting unit.

In FIG. 5 is a frame for heat exchanger tubes with a plurality of holding modules 1, as described above, shown. The holding modules 1 correspond to the holding modules described above. For the sake of simplicity, in FIG. 5 the heat exchanger tubes 12 are not shown. The frame has a plurality of units 30, 31, 32, in which a plurality of holding modules 1 are arranged one above the other. In this embodiment, four units are provided. The heat exchanger tubes 12 arranged in parallel are held by the holding modules in the respective units 30, 31, 32, 33. The lowermost holding module half 1b of each holding module unit 30-33 can be firmly fixed to a frame 27 which can stand on corresponding feet. Then, as many heat module halves and heat exchanger tubes are layered layer by layer until a desired height is reached. When a desired height is reached, the superimposed modules 1 of each unit can be fixed together by a fixing device 9, 20. For this purpose, as already described above, in each module 1 a passage opening 9 (openings 9a, b in the bottom of the holding module halves) is provided. A fixing rod 20 is pushed through the openings and fastened for example by screwing. There are two fixing devices 20, 9 per unit. The stacked holding modules 1 can then, for. B. with cross braces 23 between the units 30, 31, 32, 33 are braced. The cross struts 23 can either (not shown) attach directly to the modules or with frame members 26 which are fastened between the units. In addition, side trim parts 21, 22 can be attached to the open sides of the frame. Also, an upper panel 24 may be disposed between the individual units. Here, the upper panels 24, the openings 25 have above the corresponding openings 9, also held by the fixing rod 20. FIG. 7 shows a frame with fairing.

The system according to the invention has the advantage that the number of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a plane can be varied, ie that, for example, not all recesses of tubes have to be occupied. Also, the number of stacked modules or tubes can be easily varied by stacking the desired number of modules one above the other.

At the end faces of the frame, the heat exchanger tubes 12 via (not shown) and can be connected to each other depending on the interconnection via corresponding pipe bends or connecting elements, as well as in connection with FIG. 6 has been described. In this case, a connection can be made both vertically and horizontally. The center distance of the openings is the same for the same units.

In the inventive method for setting up the in FIG. 5 shown frames are first provided in a step a more spaced apart lower holding module halves 1 b. Here, the holding module halves 1 b are attached to the frame 27. In a next step b, the heat exchanger tubes 12 in the lowest heat exchanger half 1 b of each unit 30, 31, 32, 33 inserted (step b). An upper holding module half 1a is now placed on the tubes in each unit 30, 31, 32, 33 so that the recesses 3a are turned towards the tubes 12 and receive and hold them. After step a or b here the plug element 11 is inserted into the lower holding module half 1 b, wherein the upper holding module half 1 a is plugged into the plug element 11 in step c.

Then, on the upper side of the upper holding module half 1a, a lower holding module half 1b of another module can be placed so that the bottom 7b comes to rest on the bottom 7a.

The steps a, b, c can be repeated until a predetermined frame height is reached. Then, the modules arranged one above the other in the individual units 30, 31, 32, 33, as explained above, can be fixed to one another via the fixing device 20, 9 by guiding and screwing the rod 20 through the openings 9. Finally, cross braces can still be arranged and, as desired, the elongate trim elements 21, the upper trim elements 24 and the lateral trim elements 22 are arranged. Frame parts 26 can be arranged between the individual units.

In this way, the heat exchanger tubes can be mounted very easily. It results in a very appealing design. The modular structure is flexibly expandable in height. The compact design is extremely space-saving.

Claims (13)

1. Holding module (1) for heat exchanger tubes (12) with
   a lower holding module half (1 b) which comprises several recesses (3b) into each of which one heat exchanger tube (12) can be placed,
   an upper holding module half (1 a) which comprises several recesses (3a) and can be placed onto the lower holding module half (1 b) such that its recesses (3a) are lying opposite to the recesses (3b) of the lower holding module half (3b), such that the heat exchanger tubes (12) are held in the recesses (3a, b), and
   at least one connecting element (11) which connects the upper and the lower holding module half (1b, a),characterized in that, the connecting element (11) is a plug-in element which can be plugged onto the lower holding module half (1 b), where the upper holding module half is plugged onto the plug-in element (11), wherein the upper and lower holding module half (1 b, a) comprise a U-shaped cross-section with two opposite side walls (5a, b; 6a, b) and an intermediate bottom (7a, b), where the recesses (3a, b) are embodied in the side walls (5a, b).
2. Holding module according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug-in element (11) extends in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger tubes (12).
3. Holding module according to at least one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the upper and the lower holding module half (1 a, b) are constructed in the same way.
4. Holding module according to at least claim 2, characterized in that the plug-in element (11) comprises at least two upper and/or at least two lower openings (19a, b) into which the side walls (5a, b; 6a, b) of the upper or lower holding module half (1 b, a) can be inserted, or the lower holding module half (1b) and/or the upper holding module half (1 a) comprise openings in the side walls into which the plug-in element (11) can be inserted.
5. Rack for heat exchanger tubes (12) with several holding modules (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by
   a first unit (30) in which several modules (1) are arranged one upon the other, and
   at least one second unit (31, 32, 33) in which several modules (1) are arranged one upon the other, wherein the heat exchanger tubes (12) are each held by the modules (1) of the first and the at least one second unit.
6. Rack according to claim 5, characterized in that the modules (1) arranged one upon the other are fixed in a respective unit (30, 31, 32, 33) by a fixing means (20, 9).
7. Rack according to claim 6, characterized in that for fixing the modules (1) of a respective unit (30, 31, 32, 33), the modules (1) comprise through openings (9) arranged one upon the other into which a fixing rod (20) can be inserted.
8. Rack according to at least one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that lateral crossbars (23) are arranged between the units (30, 31, 32, 33).
9. Rack according to at least one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the lowermost holding module half (1 b) of each holding module unit (30 to 33) is firmly connected to a floor frame (27).
10. Method for setting up a rack for heat exchanger tubes with a holding module according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:

    a) providing several lower holding module halves (1 b) spaced apart, wherein the upper and lower holding module half (1 b, a) comprise a U-shaped cross-section with two opposite side walls (5a, b; 6a, b) and an intermediate bottom (7a, b), where the recesses (3a, b) are embodied in the side walls (5a, b) and the connecting element (11) is a plug-in element which can be plugged onto the lower holding module half (1b), where the upper holding module half is plugged onto the plug-in element (11),

    b) inserting the heat exchanger tubes (12) into the recesses (3b) of the lower holding module half (1b),

    c) placing several upper holding module halves (1 a) onto the tubes (12), such that the recesses (3a) are facing the tubes (12) and receive the same, and

    d) placing a lower holding module half (1 b) onto the upper side of the upper holding module half (1a),

    wherein the steps d), b), c) can be repeated as often as desired until a certain rack height is reached.
11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the holding module halves (1a, b) are fixed to each other.
12. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that after step a) or b), at least one plug-in element (11) is inserted into the lower holding module half (1b), and the upper holding module half (1 a) is plugged onto the at least one plug-in element (11) in step c).
13. Method according to at least one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the modules (1) arranged one upon the other in one unit (30 - 33) are fixed to each other.

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