EP2762822B1 - Heat exchanger element and heat exchanger assembly - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a heat exchanger assembly comprising a heat exchanger element with a jacket tube and an inner tube, the jacket tube and the inner tube provide two fluidically separate channels, the inflow and outflow of the inner tube are formed on mutually longitudinally opposite end faces of the heat exchanger element and the inflow and the Outflow of the jacket tube are formed as spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger element openings in the lateral surface of the jacket tube.

Heat exchanger assemblies with such a heat exchanger element are known from US 4,497,365 A , of the EP 0 686 822 A1 , of the DE 10 2005 059463 B1 , of the EP 1 742 006 B1 and the US 4,729,425 A known. These are devices which effect an indirect heat exchange between two fluids flowing through the two fluidically separated channels. A first channel is formed between the jacket tube and the inner tube. A second channel is formed in the inner tube. The two channels are fluidly separated by the inner tube wall.

Generic heat exchanger arrangements with a heat exchanger element are used for example in the food industry. As an application, the pasteurization of milk should be mentioned. In such a method, on the one hand milk is passed through the inner tube and on the other hand, a heat exchange medium, such as water, through the channel formed between the jacket tube and the inner tube.

From the prior art, it is also known to form a plurality of heat exchanger elements, a heat exchanger assembly. By suitable interconnection of a plurality of heat exchanger elements, a desired treatment intensity, that is to say a desired degree of heat exchange, can be realized.

The individual heat exchanger elements are fluidically linked to one another by suitable connecting means. It has been found that the leadership of the heat exchange medium in a heat exchanger assembly in particular is critical in the region of the joints between the individual heat exchanger elements, as it comes to large temperature fluctuations and thus thermal stresses and possibly stress cracks in the components used.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger assembly with a heat exchanger element, which counteracts the disadvantages mentioned above and also brings improvements in terms of assembly with it.

The object is achieved by a heat exchanger assembly of the type mentioned above with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

According to the invention, a multiplicity of previously described heat exchanger elements is used. The heat exchanger elements of a heat exchanger arrangement are coupled together. Thus, in each case the outflow of the inner tube of a first heat exchanger element can be connected to the inflow of the inner tube of a second, downstream heat exchanger element. The outflow of the jacket tube of a first heat exchanger element can be connected to the inflow of the jacket tube of a second, downstream heat exchanger element. Connecting elements such as pipe sections, hoses and / or the like serve the fluidic connection of the individual heat exchanger elements.

The heat exchanger arrangement in this case has two connecting tubes, which run transversely to the heat exchanger elements and are each fluidically connected to one of the openings in the lateral surface of each of the heat exchanger elements. The connecting tubes may be circular in cross section. The connecting pipes are preferably cylindrical. The connecting pipes are at least partially hollow. They have a serving as a flow channel interior. The interior of each connecting tube is connected to one of the openings in the lateral surface of the heat exchanger elements. This means that there is a fluidic connection between the interior of the connecting tube and the channel of the heat exchanger element formed between the jacket tube and the inner tube. By means of the connecting pipe, two heat exchanger elements can be fluidly connected with each other. The channel formed between the jacket tube and the inner tube of a first heat exchanger element is connected through the openings in the lateral surface with the interior of the connecting tube. This in turn is connected via the opening in the lateral surface of the other heat exchanger element with its channel formed between the jacket tube and the inner tube. The heat exchanger elements can be aligned parallel to one another. The connecting pipes and the heat exchanger elements form a grid.

According to the invention, the connecting tubes have radial through-holes into which through-holes the heat exchanger elements are inserted. The inner cross section of the through holes preferably corresponds to the basic cross section of the heat exchanger elements. In this way, the heat exchanger elements can be easily inserted into the through holes of the connecting pipes. The mutually corresponding cross-sections ensure that the transition region between the connecting tubes and the heat exchanger elements by itself is already sufficiently leakproof against the escape of fluids conducted in the heat exchanger. Of course, additional measures such as seals, cohesive connections and / or the like may be provided to make the connection even denser.

The advantage of this embodiment is, in particular, the very simple possibility for mounting the heat exchanger arrangement. The individual heat exchanger elements need only be inserted into the through holes of the connecting pipes. Optionally, no further measures for connecting the connecting pipes to the heat exchanger elements are required.

The inflow and outflow of the inner tube of the heat exchanger elements are formed on mutually longitudinally opposite end faces of the heat exchanger element. The inflow and outflow of the jacket tube are formed as spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger element openings in the lateral surface of the jacket tube.

The heat exchanger elements are limited to the outside by the jacket tube providing a lateral surface on the one hand and on the other hand with respect to the lateral surface serving as base surfaces end sides. The inflow or outflow is a fluidic access to the inner tube or casing tube. The inflow and outflow of the inner tube are formed in the region of the end faces of the heat exchanger element. The front sides extend radially to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger element. Through the formation of the inflow and outflow at the two end faces of the heat exchanger element, the inner tube can be traversed in a straight line over its entire length. A flowing through the inner tube fluid is not deflected, not even in the area of the inflow and outflow.

In contrast, the inflow and outflow of the jacket tube, that is, the channel formed between the inner surface of the jacket tube, on the one hand, and the outer surface of the inner tube, on the other hand, is formed in the lateral surface of the jacket tube. This means that the fluid, which otherwise also flows in the longitudinal direction through the heat exchanger element, is deflected at the inflow and outflow, in particular by 90 degrees.

The inflow and outflow of the jacket tube are formed as openings in the lateral surface. Opening means a through-hole, a recess, a breakthrough or the like in the pipe wall of the jacket tube. Opening means that the casing tube lacks material at these points. The openings are preferably formed at least in one of the heat exchanger elements material removal in otherwise uniform tubular casing. In the area of an opening no material is added to the jacket tube.

Preferably, at least one of the heat exchanger elements is designed such that the jacket tube has one and the same basic cross-section over its entire longitudinal extent. Only the areas in which the openings are formed in the lateral surface, have an alternative cross-section. In a projection of the jacket tube in plan view of an end face, the jacket tube always has the basic cross-section, i. the cross section of a not lying in the region of an opening cross-sectional plane of the jacket tube. In such a projection, the alternative cross section thus in no case projects beyond the basic cross section in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger element. The alternative cross section lies completely within the basic cross section. The basic cross section defines the maximum contour of the alternative cross section. The openings are formed solely by omitting material of the tube wall of the jacket tube, but not by adding material.

Due to this design, the heat exchanger element according to the invention can be pushed through a through hole, which through-hole Having an inner cross section corresponding to the basic cross section of the jacket tube. As will be shown with reference to the heat exchanger assembly according to the invention, the heat exchanger element according to the invention allows insertion into a connecting tube, wherein in the openings of the lateral surface of the jacket tube is then completely within the connecting tube. A fluid passed through the connecting tube can then flow through the opening into the channel of the heat exchanger element formed between the jacket tube and the inner tube. At the same time, the cross-section of the through-hole of the connecting pipe on the one hand and the basic cross-section of the jacket pipe on the other hand, that between the connecting pipe and the jacket pipe a kind of fit can be formed, so that this compound is tight and there is no fluid can escape.

The advantage of such a heat exchanger element is therefore in a particularly simple way to assemble this when used in the heat exchanger assembly according to the invention, namely by mere insertion into a corresponding counterpart. With reaching an end position then a fluidic connection between the jacket tube and the counterpart is already made. By the direct insertion of the heat exchanger element in a through hole of a connecting pipe can be dispensed with additional connecting means, which could tend to stress cracks during operation of a heat exchanger assembly due to thermal stresses.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, at least in one of the heat exchanger elements, the inflow and the outflow of the jacket tube face each other in the radial direction of the heat exchanger element. In a horizontally oriented heat exchanger element can thus be provided that the inflow of the jacket tube from above and the outflow of the jacket tube takes place below. In this way, for example, a flow through the heat exchanger element solely by gravity effect on the flowing in the channel between the jacket tube and the inner tube fluid.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the openings are formed by material removal in the jacket tube at least in one of the heat exchanger elements. As a basic body for the jacket tube to be produced, for example, a commercially available and equipped with a continuous tube wall pipe can be used. The openings can then be formed by material removal in this tube. The openings can be milled, for example, in the pipe or be bored. It is crucial that the openings in the jacket tube are formed only by a removal of material compared to a continuous tube, but not by adding material.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one further inner tube is provided at least in one of the heat exchanger elements, wherein the inner tubes are arranged as a tube bundle. Such a heat exchanger element is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The advantage is that due to the plurality of inner tubes arranged in the jacket tube, the surface on which a heat transfer takes place between the two fluidically separated channels is increased. The inner tubes can all be arranged parallel to each other. The inner tubes can also be arranged parallel to the jacket tube. An inner tube may be arranged coaxially with the jacket tube.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the jacket tube is circular in cross-section at least in one of the heat exchanger elements. The jacket tube is preferably designed as a circular cylinder. The circular cross section has the advantage that the loads occurring during operation of the heat exchanger element are ideally distributed to the surface of the jacket tube by pressures, thermal stresses and / or the like. Also, the or the inner tube (s) may be circular in cross-section.

The advantage of a heat exchanger arrangement according to the invention consists in a particularly simple installation. The individual heat exchanger elements need only be connected to the connecting pipes. This makes it possible to produce a heat exchanger arrangement with the reason of any size. The heat exchanger assembly according to the invention is also particularly stable, since only in cross-section circular components can be used. These have the advantage already described above that the pressures and loads occurring during operation, in particular by thermal stresses, can be optimally absorbed by the components.

The heat exchanger assembly according to the invention can be produced according to the modular principle. There is a system with a variety of heat exchanger elements and connecting pipes available, all components can be combined with each other on the modular principle. It can also be several units each of two connecting tubes and a plurality of heat exchanger elements are coupled together. For each application, an optimal heat exchanger assembly can be formed.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the connecting tubes are formed from individual tube elements which can be joined together in the longitudinal direction. The connecting pipes can be modular. Depending on the required number of heat exchanger elements, a corresponding number of pipe elements can be joined together, so as to create a total of a connecting pipe. The installation is very simple, since the individual connecting pipes, for example, only have to be inserted into one another.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tube elements of a connecting tube are held together with a clamping means. It can be provided that the individual pipe elements are merely inserted into one another. The secure cohesion is then produced by the clamping device. The clamping means serves to form a tensile force which holds together the respective outer elements of a connecting tube. The tensioning means may be a threaded rod. The threaded rod is fixed in the region of the respective outer tube elements of a connecting tube with nuts. By tightening the nuts, the force acting in the threaded rod tensile force can be increased to the pipe elements.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the inflow of the inner tube of the one heat exchanger element is fluidically connected to the outflow of the inner tube of the other heat exchanger element. The channels of the inner tubes can be connected in series serially in this way. Such a heat exchanger arrangement comprises, on the one hand, a multiplicity of channels connected in series between the jacket tube and the inner tube and, on the other hand, a series connection of the fluidic ducts of the inner tubes of the heat exchanger elements. The effective transmission path of the heat exchanger assembly can be set arbitrarily in this way. to

(continue on page 8 of the original description)

Compound may be used suitable bonding agents. It can be used, for example, U-shaped tube elements.

Figur 1:

perspektivische Darstellung einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Wärmetauscheranordnung;

Figur 2:

schematisch eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Wärmetauscherelements;

Figur 3:

eine Detailansicht eines Rohrverbinders der Wärmetauscheranordnung gemäß Figur 1 mit transparenten Mantelrohren;

Figur 4:

die Darstellung gemäß Figur 3 mit intransparenten Mantelrohren;

Figur 5:

die Darstellung gemäß Figur 3 mit einem durchgehenden Verbindungsrohr;

Figur 6:

der Gegenstand gemäß Figur 3 in einer alternativen Darstellung;

Figur 7:

eine Draufsicht auf ein Verbindungsrohr der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1;

Figur 8:

eine Frontalansicht auf die miteinander verbundenen Wärmetauscherelemente der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1;

Figur 9:

eine Detailansicht auf die unteren Rohrverbinder der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1; und

Figur 10:

eine Detailansicht auf die oberen Rohrverbinder der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1.

Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of the figures. Show it:

FIG. 1:

perspective view of an embodiment of a heat exchanger assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2:

schematically an embodiment of a heat exchanger element according to the invention;

FIG. 3:

a detailed view of a pipe connector of the heat exchanger assembly according to FIG. 1 with transparent jacket pipes;

FIG. 4:

the representation according to FIG. 3 with non-transparent casing pipes;

FIG. 5:

the representation according to FIG. 3 with a continuous connecting pipe;

FIG. 6:

the object according to FIG. 3 in an alternative representation;

FIG. 7:

a plan view of a connecting pipe of the device according to FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8:

a frontal view of the interconnected heat exchanger elements of the device according to FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 9:

a detailed view of the lower tube connector of the device according to FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 10:

a detailed view of the upper pipe connector of the device according to FIG. 1 ,

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a heat exchanger assembly 10 according to the invention. This has a plurality of heat exchanger elements 1. The heat exchanger elements 1 are aligned parallel to one another. The Heat exchanger elements 1 are each connected at the end to connecting tubes 11. The two connecting pipes 11 extend at right angles to the heat exchanger elements 1.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a heat exchanger element according to the invention 1. This has a jacket tube 2 and inside the jacket tube 2 located inner tubes 3. The jacket tube 2 is circular in cross section. The jacket tube 1 has a lateral surface and two serving as end faces 5 base surfaces.

The inner tube 3 has at the two end faces 5 an inlet or outlet. The inner tube 3 can be traversed in a straight line in the longitudinal direction 6 of the heat exchanger element 1.

In the casing tube 2, two openings 7 are formed. The openings 7 are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction 6. The openings 7 are also opposite to each other with respect to the radial direction 9 of the heat exchanger element 1. The openings 7 represent the inlet or the outlet of a formed between the casing tube 2 and the inner tube 3 flow channel.

The jacket tube 2 has a diameter 8. The diameter 8 is constant over the entire longitudinal extent of the jacket tube 2. Only in the region of the openings 7, the jacket tube 2 is interrupted in its otherwise circular base cross-section. The openings 7 are characterized in that they are formed exclusively by omitting material. This means that the diameter 8 is never greater in the region of the openings 7 than the diameter 8 of the other regions of the jacket tube 2.

At the two end faces 5 flanges 4 can be attached. The flanges 4 can be materially connected to the jacket tube 2 and / or the inner tube 3. The flanges 4 serve to connect the heat exchanger element 1 to other components of the heat exchanger arrangement 10.

Also on the other FIGS. 3 to 10 It is clear that the heat exchanger elements 1 in a simple manner in through holes 19 of the Connecting pipes 11 can be inserted. Subsequently, the flanges 4 can be arranged on the end faces 5 of the heat exchanger elements 1. The inner tubes 3 of the individual heat exchanger elements 1 can be fluidly connected to one another, for example, by using pipe connectors 15. In this way, the inner tubes 3 of the individual heat exchanger elements 1 can be connected in series.

The connecting tubes 11 consist of individual, mutually connectable tube elements 12. The connecting tubes 11 can be formed by any number of tubular elements 12 in any length.

The connecting pipes 11 are hollow inside. The heat exchanger elements 1 are inserted into the connecting tubes 11 in such a way that the openings 7 in the jacket tube 2 are arranged completely inside the respective connecting tube 11. This follows, for example, from the presentation FIG. 4 out. The hollow interior of the connecting pipes 11 thus provides for a fluidic connection between two heat exchanger elements 1, namely the ducts of the two heat exchanger elements 1 formed between the jacket pipe 2 and the inner pipe 3. In this way, a fluid, for example the heat exchanger medium, from a heat exchanger element 1 next stream.

The flow channels provided by the inner tubes 3 of the heat exchanger element 1 are separated from the channel between the jacket tube 2 and the inner tube 3. In the inner tubes 3, the process medium, for example, to be pasteurized milk, are performed. The inner tubes 3 are accessible in the region of the flanges 4. Each adjacent heat exchanger elements 1 can be fluidly connected to each other by means of a pipe connector 15. For this purpose, the pipe connector 15 has two flanges 18. The flanges 18 can be connected to the respective flanges 4 of the heat exchanger elements 1.

In this way, a heat exchanger assembly 10 is provided, in which on the one hand the respectively formed between the jacket tube 2 and the inner tube 3 channels of the heat exchanger elements 1 are connected in series and on the other hand, the inner tubes 3 of the corresponding heat exchanger elements 1 are also connected in series with each other. In this way, heat exchanger assemblies 10 in of any dimension, ie of any capacity.

The connecting tubes 11, or the respective outer tube elements 12, can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of covers 14. In addition, the individual tube elements 12 can be connected to each other by means of threaded rods 13 and nuts 25. For this purpose, the respective outer tubular elements 12 a flange 24 through which the threaded rod 13 is guided and which serves as an abutment. By tightening screwed onto the threaded rod nuts 25, the individual tube elements 12 cohesive tensile force can be varied.

The connecting pipes 11 may have flanges 22. At these flanges 22, the inlets or outlets can be applied to the heat exchanger assembly 10 to be flowed through media.

The entire heat exchanger assembly 10 can be arranged on a frame 17. On the frame 17, a mounting plate 23 may be provided, on which the connecting pipes 11 and optionally other components can be mounted.

FIG. 6 shows the connection of two tubular elements 12 of a connecting tube 11. The two tube elements 12 are arranged with the interposition of a non-illustrated in the figures seal assembly together. This seal arrangement can be, for example, a flat gasket which is arranged between flanges 20, 21 of adjacent tube elements 12. In the final assembled state, the sealing arrangement between the flanges 20 and 21 of adjacent tube elements 12 is compressed, so that an exchange medium-side seal is ensured.

At a lower end in the direction of gravity of the heat exchanger assembly 10, a deflecting element 16 may be provided. This deflects the fluid flow flowing perpendicularly through the connecting pipe 11 by 90 degrees. On a flange of the deflecting element 16, a corresponding outflow, for example in the form of a hose, can be arranged.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Heat exchanger element

2

casing pipe

3

inner tube

4

flange

5

front

6

longitudinal direction

7

opening

8th

diameter

9

radial direction

10

The heat exchanger assembly

11

connecting pipe

12

tube element

13

threaded rod

14

cover

15

pipe connectors

16

deflecting

17

frame

18

flange

19

Through Hole

20

flange

21

flange

22

flange

23

mounting plate

24

flange

25

mother

Claims (10)

1. Heat exchanger assembly, comprising a heat exchanger element (1) having a casing pipe (2) and an inner pipe (3), the casing pipe (2) and the inner pipe (3) providing two channels that are separated from one another in terms of flow, the inlet and the outlet of the inner pipe being at ends (5) of the heat exchanger element that are opposite one another in the longitudinal direction, and the inlet and outlet of the casing pipe being in the form of openings (7) in the lateral surface of the casing pipe (2) that are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger element, characterised by a plurality of the above-mentioned heat exchanger elements and by two connecting pipes (11) which extend transversely to the heat exchanger elements and are in flow connection in each case with one of the openings (7) in the lateral surface of each of the heat exchanger elements, the connecting pipes (11) comprising radial through-holes (19) into which through-holes the heat exchanger elements are pushed.
2. Heat exchanger assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that, at least for one of the heat exchanger elements (1), the inlet and the outlet of the casing pipe are opposite one another in the radial direction of the heat exchanger element.
3. Heat exchanger assembly according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that, at least for one of the heat exchanger elements, the openings (7) are formed in the casing pipe by removing material.
4. Heat exchanger assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one additional inner pipe (3) for at least one of the heat exchanger elements (1), the inner pipes being arranged in a pipe bundle.
5. Heat exchanger assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, at least for one of the heat exchanger elements, the casing pipe (2) has a circular cross section.
6. Heat exchanger assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting pipes (11) are formed of individual pipe elements (12) that can be joined together in the longitudinal direction.
7. Heat exchanger assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the pipe elements (12) of a connecting pipe are held together using a clamping means (13).
8. Heat exchanger assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the heat exchanger elements (1) are oriented in parallel with one another.
9. Heat exchanger assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inlet of the inner pipe (3) of one heat exchanger element is in flow connection with the outlet of the inner pipe of the other heat exchanger element.
10. Heat exchanger assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting pipes (11) have a circular cross section.

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