MXPA01005225A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger which includes a plurality of heat exchanger elements (1) which are interconnected to form a flow system, partly for the product and partly for a heat transfer medium. The heat exchanger elements (1) are supported on a frame. Each heat exchanger element (1) consists of one or more heat transfer tubes (3) interconnectedin each end with tube plates (4) to a product flow insert (5). The heat transfer tubes (3) are surrounded by a casing tube (2). Two adjacent product flow inserts (5) are interconnected by means of a product pipe bend (6) and two adjacent casing tubes are in turn interconnected by means of a connection member (10). The tube plates (4) constitute a part of the frame of the heat exchanger, flexibly interconnected with adjacent tube plates (4).

Description

EXCHANGED! * OE HEAT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a heat exchanger of the type including a plurality of heat exchange elements carried by a frame and interconnected to each other in a flow system with a product flow and flow for a heat transfer medium , each heat exchanger element shows, on the one hand, one or more heat transfer tubes interconnected by means of tubular plates to form product flow inserts, and, on the other hand, a receiving tube that surrounds the transfer tubes of heat, two adjacent product flow inserts that are interconnected with one another by means of product tube bends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heat exchangers, which exist in a plurality of types, are used when the intention is to heat or cool a liquid product, for example, with the help of steam, water or other liquid at different temperatures. The heat exchangers REF: 129944 come into use within various process industries and are also of common occurrence in the food industries, such as dairy products. A well-known type of heat exchanger is the so-called tubular heat exchanger consisting of one or more heat exchange elements that are interconnected with one another in a flow system, with a product flow for a heat transfer medium. . A heat exchanger element substantially consists of one or more heat transfer tubes surrounded by a housing tube or outer shell. The heat transfer tubes are interconnected by means of a tubular plate to form a unit, a product flow insert. Two adjacent product flow inserts are in turn interconnected by means of the product tube bends to form a product flow in order to make it possible to circulate the product to be heated or cooled in the process. The outer housing tubes are also interconnected so as to be able to circulate a heat transfer medium, such as water or another liquid, or steam or alternatively other gases. Recently, attempts have been made to modulate the tubular heat exchangers of the type described above in order to perform a simpler assembly and to prevent each tubular heat exchanger from becoming one built according to "specifications". Such a tubular heat exchanger is described in the Swedish patent specification SE 501 908.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to further simplify the tubular heat exchanger into modules, in order to create the possibility of competing with the plate heat exchanger, which are common in the market and are considerably cheaper. A further object of the present invention is to produce a tubular heat exchanger, which, despite its compact construction, is capable of collecting the thermal expansions that always occur in heat exchangers. A further objective of the present invention is to realize a tubular heat exchanger which is economical to manufacture and which is simple to install and maintain.

SOLUTION These and other objects have been achieved according to the present invention since the heat exchanger of the type described by way of introduction has been provided with the characterizing feature that two adjacent housing tubes are interconnected by means of a connecting member and because the tubular plates constitute a part of the structure or frame, flexibly interconnected with the adjacent tubular plates. Preferred embodiments of the heat exchanger according to the present invention have furthermore been provided with the characterizing features as described in the appended dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the heat exchanger according to the present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinafter, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a heat exchanger according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a part of a heat exchanger; Figure 3 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a tubular product curvature; Figure 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a part of a heat exchanger element; Figure 5 is a plan view of a tubular plate; Figure 6 is a plan view of a connection profile; and Figures 7-9 show different extreme elevations of the heat exchangers. The accompanying drawings show only those parts and details essential for an understanding of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figures 2 and 3 show the construction of the heat exchanger. A tubular heat exchanger according to the present invention substantially consists of one or more heat exchanger elements 1. The heat exchanger normally consists of a number of these heat exchanger elements, interconnected with one another in a flow system. A heat exchanger element 1 consists of an outer housing tube 2 which surrounds one or more heat transfer tubes 3. The heat transfer tubes 3 are interconnected to each other at each end of the tubes 3, by means of a tubular plate 4. A number of heat transfer tubes 3 with a tubular plate 4 at each end constitutes an insert 5 of product flow. The receiving tube 2 is, at both ends, welded to each respective tubular plate 4. Figure 1 shows a number of interconnected heat exchanger elements 1 to form a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a flow for the product, which is shown by means of white arrows, and a flow for a heat transfer medium, which is shown by black arrows. The heat transfer medium is for heating or cooling the product, depending on the process desired. The heat transfer medium may consist of water or another liquid of different temperature, or alternatively of vapor or other gas. A heat exchanger according to the present invention can also be used regeneratively, for example the product is used in both of the flows, so that a hot product heats the incoming cold product, and vice versa. The flow of the product is circulated in the heat transfer tubes 3 which constitute the main part of the product flow inserts 5. Two adjacent product flow inserts 5 are interconnected by means of a product tube curvature 6, since the curvature of the product tube is secured with a flange connection in two adjacent tubular plates 4. The product tube curvature 6 is preferably of elliptical cross-section, centrally between two product tube inserts 5, at point 7, and of circular cross-section at both ends thereof. Alternatively, the product tube curvature 6 may be circular in cross section throughout its entire length. A curvature 6 of product tube, elliptical, according to the above is described in detail in the Swedish patent application SE 9703865-7. The flow for the heat transfer medium is circulated through the housing tubes 2. In the vicinity of both of their ends, the housing tubes 2 have a circular opening 8 in the housing surface with a collar 9. The collar 9 corresponds to a connecting member 10. The connecting member 10 which consists substantially of a straight tubular length, is bevelled at both ends and provided with a package or O-ring 11. The collars 9 border against the O-rings 11 at both ends of the connecting member 10, and constitute a tight and, to some extent, flexible connection. A tubular plate 4 constituting a part of a product flow insert 5 is shown in Figure 5. The plate 4 has adapted, modular exterior dimensions and, at its four corners, is provided with notches 12. The notches 12 correspond with a coupling profile 13, which is shown in Figure 6. The coupling profile 13 is substantially cruciform. A coupling profile 13 can join two, three or four tubular plates 4. Since the tubular plates 4 in a heat exchanger are placed closely adjacent to each other unified by coupling profiles 13, a stable unit constituting a part of the structure or frame of the heat exchanger. In Figures 7-9 various shapes for placing four elements 1 heat exchangers are shown. The heat exchanger elements 1 are placed on a lower frame section 14 with the adjustable legs 15. The lower structural section 14 has notches 16 corresponding to the notches 12 in the tubular plates 4. The tubular plates 4 are secured against the section structural element 14 by means of coupling profiles 13. As a result of the design and thickness of the coupling profiles 13, each individual heat exchanger element 1 can move in its longitudinal direction. This is a necessity, since the heat exchange elements are subject to powerful thermal expansion. The connecting members 10 can also move laterally to a certain degree and tests have shown that a tight connection will be obtained in spite of the oblique inclination against the O-rings 11. The corresponding oblique inclination might not be possible in, for example, a joint of tab. As a result of the shape of the product tube curvature 5 with an elliptical cross section, centrally in the tube curvature 6, an additional portion of the heat exchanger will be obtained, which is able to absorb the thermal stresses since the curvature 6 of the product tube is somewhat flexible in its form. A corresponding tube curvature - of circular cross-section along its entire length is not completely flexible.

By using the tubular, adapted, modular plates 4, to which different housing tubes 2 can be connected, and by using the connecting members 10 of different heights, a series of tubular heat exchangers with different capacities will be obtained, that can be manufactured with a few simple parts. The heat exchanger will be simple to assemble, and the service is simplified since it is not necessary to dismantle more than the heat exchanger element 1, which needs to be replaced. The connecting member 10 can be easily dismantled anywhere in a complete heat exchanger, which provides a certain possibility for inspection. This is particularly important when the heat exchanger is used regeneratively, for example when the product is run against the product. The connecting member 10 is easy to maintain since this usually involves that only the o-rings 11 should be replaced. The connecting member 10 is also relatively simple to manufacture since the flexibility in the member 10 gives room for greater tolerances. In the case of possible crack formation, due to stress corrosion which is a common occurrence in tubular heat exchangers, with fixed connections between housing tubes 2, two housing tubes 2 must be replaced. the formation of cracks in a heat exchanger according to the present invention is reduced, since the connecting member 10 can pick up a part of the thermal expansion. If, however, the formation of cracks were to occur, only a housing tube 2 would need to be replaced. As will be apparent from the above description, the present invention performs a heat exchanger which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which has greater possibilities to collect the thermal expansion that occurs in a heat exchanger.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A heat exchanger of the type that includes a plurality of heat exchange elements, carried by a frame or structure and interconnected to each other in a flow system, with a product flow and flow for a heat transfer medium, each The heat exchanger element shows, on the one hand, one or more heat transfer tubes interconnected by means of tubular plates to form the product flow inserts, and, on the other hand, a receiving tube which surrounds the transfer tubes of the heat transfer tubes. heat, two adjacent product flow inserts that are interconnected with one another by means of product tube bends, characterized in that two adjacent receiving tubes are interconnected by means of a connecting member; and in that the tubular plates constitute a part of the structure or frame, flexibly interconnected with the adjacent tubular plates.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the product tube curvature is of elliptical cross section at the center of the curvature.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular plates have notches at their four corners, the notches correspond substantially with the cruciform coupling profiles.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that the coupling profiles are of a thickness that gives the heat exchange elements the possibility of moving in their longitudinal direction.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting member consists of a straight tubular section with an O-ring at each end. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular plates, together with a lower structural section, constitute the structure of the heat exchanger.