US1600013A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Description

Spt. 14 1926.

J. PRICE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed A rii 12', 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVIENTOR Sept. 14,1926. 1,60 13 J. PRICE HEAT EXCHANGER I Filed April 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INYENTOR M ATTORNEY Sept. 14,1926. 0 1,600,013

JJJJJ cE PM ..;i 000% IQ-WK If Sept. 14 1926. 1,600,013

J. PRICE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed April 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IJN VENTOR BY Km; 6, %%M

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH PRICE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE GRISCOM-RUSSELL COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HEAT EXGHANGER.

Application filed April12, 1924. Serial No. 705,982.

The present invention relates to heat exchange apparatus and has to do particularly with the transfer of heat between a gas and a liquid.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 645,735 filed June 16, 1923, there is described a heat exchanger particularly adapted to accomplish transfer of heat between two fluid mediums one of which is a gas. For the purpose of securing effective heat transfer, the apparatus is provided with extended heat transferring members along which the gas in its passage thru the apparatus is filmed for the purpose of effecting an intimatecontact between the entire volume of gas being treated and the heat transferring surfaces 'of the apparatus. This extended heat transferring surface is provided in the form of fins of heat conducting metal fitted over the heat transferring tubes and assembled in closelyadj acent relation on the tubes. The heating element of the apparatus comprises a plurality of tube elements comprising a pair of tubes interconnected at one end and opening at their other ends into suitable distributing chambers which serve to properly direct the flow of fluid thru the tubes.

The present invention constitutes an improvement and further development over the apparatus disclosed in my above mentioned co-pending application, and contemplates a number of structural improvements which add to the commercial utility of the apparatus. Among these features is an improved means of supporting the tube ele:

ments in the apparatus. The, invention also A involves certain improvements in the structure employed to direct the flow of fluid thru the tubes of the heating element whereby by means of a water head capable of ready manufacture a. marked flexibility of design is secured with the result that the apparatus may be readily adapted to any conditions and requirements which may be encountered in practice.

A feature of the present invention which is of considerable importance in the manufacture and operation of the apparatus is the employment of tube elements which consist of more than two tubes and which at the same time are provided with fins closely grouped in adjacent relation on the tubes, ea hfin spanning all of the tu s of the element. This feature is of particular importance in increasing the amount of active heat transferring surface which can be rovided in an apparatus of given size. 1 ith this arrangement it is possible to provide as much as 80 square feet of heating surface per cubic foot, of volume of apparatus, which amount of heatingsurface is far in excess of that, offered by other apparatus which is available on the market at the present time for accomplishing heat transfer in industrial applications wherein one of the heat transferring fluids is a gas. It is the intent in the production of a heat exchanger of this type to accomplish an effective heat transfer between the working fluid and the gas under treatment, and this effort is aided by the structure of. the present invention in which each of the single fins spans the considerable number of tubes constituting each individual heating element of the apparatus. This construction permits the heat transferring fins to extend in substantially continuous fashion throughout the apparatus, the space lost, between fins of adjacent elements being reatly reduced due to the fact that each spans all of the tubes of the element on which it is mounted.

A further important constructional feature in securing an effective heat transfer is the provision of tube elements each comprising a plurality of tubes all spanned by each of the fins mounted thereon and arranged so that there are, a different number of tubes in the two passes .of the heating element. This effect may be attained by admitting working fluid to more than half of the tubes of the element whereupon the tubes available for conveying the fluid on its return passage'thru the apparatus will be less than half of the total number of tubes in the element. The velocity of fluid flow thru the return tubes of the elementwill therefore be the greater, which feature is of advan tage due to the fact that the temperature Either an odd or even number of tubes may be used in each pass of the heating element ments of the heating unit and are also maintained in proper alignment with respect to their end supports. This result is accomplished by special members of simple and inexpensive construction so arranged as to both support and align the tube elements,'

and also facilitate removal of the individual elements from the heating unit without damage to the fins or tubes of that element or of adjacent elements. L

The'invention also contemplates the dis tribution of Working fiuid to the heating tubes in independent sections so that two or more independent sources of fluid supply may be utilized in the same apparatus.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings'in which Figure 1 is a sectional View taken longitudinally of a fin tube heat exchanger embodying my invention; F igure 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally of the apparatus and at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 to 6 are detail views illustrating portions of the individual elements of the heating unit; Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 1 and showing the construction of the water head; Figure 8 1s a transverse sectional view taken thru the apparatus on line 88 of Figure 1; Flgure 9 is a transverse sectional View taken thru the apparatus near the end of the tube bundle as indicated at 9-9 of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a detail view showing a modified form of'support for the heating elements; Figures 11 to 14 are detail views showing modified forms of heating elements and a manner of supporting the elements.

Referring to the drawings, particularly F lgures 1 and 2, 1 indicates the supporting structure constituting the frame Work of the apparatus and which houses the heat exchanging element. The tubes 2 of the element extend longitudinally of the apparatus and are suitabl secured at one end in a tube sheet 3. he tubes are grouped into a plurality of individual elements, each element consisting of a pair of tubes interconnected at one end of the'element by means of a cast header or chamber 4. A water head is provided at the other end of the apparatus having suitable partitions 5 so arranged as to pass the working fluid in.one direction along the len th of the apparatus thru one tube of each e ement and return it in the o posite direction thru the other tube of the e ement.

The interconnected ends of the tube elements are each provided with a projection or prong 6 cast as a part of the header 4.. These prongs 6 pass thru suitable holes provided in supporting strips 7 which are carried by the frame of the apparatus, extending transversely of the tube bundle. Each prong 6 has a sliding fit in the supporting strip 7, thus permitting longitudinal expansion of the tube elements. As here shown, a separate supporting strip 7 is provided for each transverse row of the heating elements so that, if it is desired to remove an element of the heating unit, it will merely be necessary to remove one of the supporting strips 7, whereupon the tube element may 'be withdrawn without disturbing the other elements of the unit. The various supporting strips 7 are arranged in predetermined position on the apparatus frame and the holes in the strips which receive the prongs 6 of the tube elements are located to properly position the respective tube elements in the apparatus. By supporting the tube elements at one end in the tube sheet 3 and supporting them at the other end by means of the supporting'strips 7, a compact and rugged tube bundle is provided which will give satisfactory service under all conditions to which this class of apparatus is subjected in practice.

For .the purpose of increasing the heat transferring area of the heating unit, each of the individual tube elements is provided with a large number of heat conducting fins 8 as indicated in Figure l, threaded over the tubes constituting the element and arrangedin closely adjacent relation throughout substantially the entire length of the element. These fins 8 lie in parallel relation to the flow of gas thru the apparatus and serve to repeatedly film the entire volume of gas into intimate contact with the heat transferring surfaces to thereby accom plish an effective transfer of heat between the gas and the working fluid traversing the tubes. For the purpose of facilitating the heat transfer, the tubes 2 are arranged in staggered relation with respect to the flow of as thru the apparatus. This is accomplis ed by slanting the tube elements, as shown in Figure 8, so that the tubes of alternate rows lie opposite the spaces between the ,tubes of the remaining rows. In the apparatus here shown the elements. are slanted at about 30 to the vertical to accomplish this staggered arran ement.

The water head provided in the apparatus of this invention permits admission of the workin fluid to a number of heat transferring tubes in parallel and also provides for connecting certain of the elements of the heatin unit in series. This arrangement is carried sion of the apparatus is fixed by the number out in such manner that no dimen; i

of tubes which must be connected in parallel to accom lish the requisite heat. transfer,

7 rows of elements in This resultsinaa flexi le design which perand this is accomplished by arranging for the connection of all of the elements of eachtransverse row in parallel and also for connecting as many different transverse 'arallel as is desired.

7 mits adaptation of the heat exchanger to any desired use without in anyway limiting the heat transferring capability of the apparatus. The water head of the present invention providesa structure which accomplishes these results and which is particularly advantageous from the standpoint of manufacture. The partitions of the water head which determine the distribution of fluid to the heating tubes are cast ascontinuous partitions traversing the length of the water head several tlmes after the fashidn shown in Fi re 7. In this figure the workin fluid 1s admitted at the inlet 9 and the fluidthus admitted finds its way into chambers 10 formed by the contlnuous partition 5. The tubes opening into these chambers 10 receive the working fluid admitted at the inlet 9 and convey it in one 4 direction thru the length ofthe apparatus,

whereupon it is redirected by means of the interconnected headers 41 provided on the.

individual elements and passed in the reversedirection back thru the apparatus and discharged into the chambers 11 formed upon the other side ofthelpartition 5. It W111 be noted that all of the chambers 10 and all of the chambers 11 are in communication with each other so that the tortuous parti tign 5 actually, divides the space in the water head into onl two separate chambers 10 and 11. Wit this arrangement all "of the elements of each transverse row are connected in'parallel and, additionally, three diiferent transverse rows of elements are connected in parallel. In the arrangement shown, the water head is provided with two partitions 5 thus providing a fourmany different rows as desired. This arrangement permits an apparatus of any desired width irres ctive of the heat transfer requirements which must be met. The par-.

titions 5 of the water head abut at their inner edgesagainst the tube sheet 3; The chambers 10 andv11 formed by these partitions are open chambers andare closed by a separate plate 13' bolted against the outer ends of the water head partitions in the manner shown in Figure 2. i

In addition to supporting the tube ele ments at each end, one or more points of support are rovided along the length of the elements; blocks 14, best shown in Figures 3 and 5, are provided on the tube elements intermediate the ends of the element. These supporting blocks. 14 consists of a pair of identical block sections provided with holes to receive the tubes of the heating element. The blocks are secured onto the element by suitable means such as a connecting rivet 15, indicated in Figure 5. At points along the length of the tube elements corresponding to the positioning of the supporting blocks 14, frame members 16 (Figure 8) extending around the entire periphery of the tube bundle are provided. The faces of these frame members which lie adjacent or this purpose the supporting the tube bundle are notched as indicated at 17 in Figure 8, for the purpose of receiving the supporting block 14 and thus supporting and locating in proper position those tube elements constituting the outer row of elements around the periphery of the tube bundle. The supporting blocks 14 ,are dimensioned exteriorly to exactly those dimensions intended to be occupied by each 'of the individual tube elements in the apparatus. 'As successive elements are assembled in the bundle, the supporting blocks 14 of each element rest upon the corresponding supporting blocks on adjacent elements and due to the accurate dimensioning of these blocks serve not only to support each element at one or more points along 'its length but also to locate it properly 1n the apparatus with respect to the frame of the apparatus and the other elements of the heating unit. This construction insures that every element in the tube bundle wilL be properly positioned and aligned. The supportin blocks 14 also serve the function of protecting the fins of the. elements from damage durlng assembly or during removal and replacement of any element.

. In Figures 11 to 14 I have shown a structureembodying individual tube elements consisting of more than two tubes. The tube element of Figures 1-1 to 13 comprises eight tubesinterconnected at one end of the element by a header 4 constituting a chamber in communication with all of the tubes of the element. with a plurality of heat conducting fins 8. Each fin is passed overall of the tubes of the element, and theflfinsare arranged in closely-adjacent relationthr ughout the en tire len th of the tubes. T e header 4-is provid with a single prong 6 fittinginto' a suitable hole formed, in the supporting strip 7 With this construction a single strlp 7 supports an entire traILSYQISe row of The element is provided 'the idea of the strip supports.

titions in the water head. In structure of Figures 11 to 13, for instance, sixof the tubes may constitute the initial pass and the remaining two tubes constitute the return pass. In Figure 14 I have illustrated a design of tube elements employin an odd number of tubes, namely seven. ith this element the upper four tubes may con-' veniently serve to convey fluid in one direc tion while the remaing three tubes convey it on its passage along the length of the apparatus in the other direction. Multitube elements of this type are of advantage in that they afford an arrangement which is especially fitted for adaptation to difi'erent operating conditions and thus by providing an apparatus of one general class which may be used throughout a wide range of operating conditions, give to the apparatus a unique flexibility of designwhich greatly enhances its commercial utility. It Will be understood that the matter of distributing the fluid so that the two passes of'a single element consist of different numbers of tubes depends merely upon the arrangement of the distributing partitions in the water head and any desired fluid distribution may be effected by so locating the partitions of the water head that a desired number of the tubes of the elements are in communication with the inlet chambers, While the remaining tubes of the elements open into the outlet. chambers.

It may be of advantage in certain instances to arrange the supporting strip 7 to su port more than one transverse row of tu e elements while at the same time retaining In Figure 10 I have illustrated an apparatus wherein each sup orting strip 7 carries two rows of tube e ements. In this construction the strip 7 1s provlded with two rows of holes to receive the prongs 6 provided on the respective elements, whereby all of the elements in each of the two rows are properly supptorted and located by a single supporting s rip.

I have illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention. The invention contemplates chiefly improvements over the apparatus disclosed in my above mentioned co-p'ending application and therefore the present apparatus is in its general features similar to the apparatus of that appllcation. Particularly is this true of the structure of the heat conducting fins and the manner of .attachingthese fins to the tubes toeffect a connection of good heat transferring qualities. The features of the present apparatus which are different from those of the above mentioned co-pending application and which constitute the present invention are described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passage for the gas being treated, a plurality of fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus to collectively constitute the heat transferring unit of the apparatus, each of said elements comprising a number of tubes greater than two interconnected at one end of the element and having a plurality of heat transferring fins, each ,fin spanning all .of the tubes of an element and means for dividing the tubes of the element into two passes containing respectively an even and an odd number of tubes.

2.'Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passage for the gas being treated, a heating unit consisting of a plurality of fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus, said elements comprising a number of tubes greater than two interconnected at one end of the element, and further defined as separate elements by having a plurality of heat transferring fins, each spanningall of the tubes of the element and means for dividing the tubes of the elements into two passes. containing a different number of tubes.

3.'Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passage for the gas elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus, said elements comprising a number of tubes greater than two interconnected at one end of the element, means for dividing the tubes of the element into two passes containing a different number of tubes, and a plurality of heat conducting fins threaded over thetubesof the respective elements and lying in closely adjacent relation along substantially the entire length of the element to thereby provide a large heat'transferring surface contacting with the gas traversing the apparatus, each of said heat conducting fins surrounding all of the tubes of an element and contacting with each tube over a substantial area.

4. Heat exchange apparatus of-the class ends ofsaid tubes, partitions adjacent said tube sheet and separate therefrom forming open chambers in communication with said tube ends, said chambers serving to connect the elements of each of said transverse rowsin parallel and additionally to connect certaln difl'erent transverse rows of elements in parallel, and removable means for covermg said open chambers.

i the element, a tube sheet for supporting the other ends of said tubes, a water head abutting against said tube sheet comprising a continuous partition separate from said tube sheet traversing the length of the water head several times to thereby constitiite chambers for connecting the tubes of each of said transverse rows of elements in parallel and connecting certain different transverse rows of elements in parallel, the chambers formed bysaid partitions being open at both the front and rear of the water head, and a removable cover plate for closing the front" end of said water head.

6. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passage for the gas being treated, aplurality of fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging re-- lation with the gas traversing the apparatus, means for delivering a working fluid to said fluid conveying elements and collecting it therefrom each of said elements comprising a plurality oftubes interconnected at one end of the element and members associ-' ated with the respective elements intermediate the ends thereof adapted to rest against adjacent elements to thereby support and locate each of said respective elements.

7. Heat exchange apparatus of'the class described, comprising a passage for the gas being treated, a plurality of fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus, meansfor delivering a working fluid to said fluid conveying elements and collecting it therefrom, each of said, elements comprisone en of the element, and members associated with the res ective tube elements intermediate the en s thereof of dimensions identical with the dimensions of the space to be occupied in the apparatus by each element, whereby said members on each tube element lie adjacent corresponding members provided on. adjacent elements and thereby serve to support and align the respective elements. v

8. Heat exchange apparatus of the class lurality of tubes interconnected at being treated, a plurality of separate fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus, means for delivering 5 workingfiuid to said fluid conveying elements and collecting it therefrom, each of said elements comprising a plurality of tubes interconnected at one end of the element, and members comprising, two sections clamped about the respective tube elements and dimensioned accuratel to correspond with the dimensions of t 0 space to be occupied in the apparatus by each element, whereby saidmembers lie adjacent corresponding members of adjacent elementsa nd thereby properly support and align therespective elements.

9. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passage for the gas being treated, a heating unit consisting of a plurality of separate fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus,

means for delivering a working fluid to said.

fluid conveying elements and collecting it therefrom, each of said elements comprising a plurality of tubes interconnected at one end of the element, a plurality of heat conducting fins threaded over the tubes of the respective elements and lying in closely adjacent' relation along substantially the entire'length of the elements and members associated with the respective tube elements at at least one point intermediate the ends thereof of dimensions identical with the dimensions of the space to be occupied in the apparatus by each element, whereby said members of each tube element lie adjacent corresponding members of adja'centele ments and thereby support and properly align the respective elements.

10. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passage for the gas being treated, a plurality of fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchangmg relation with the gas traversing the apparatus, means for delivering a working fluid to said fluid conveying elements and collecting it therefrom, each of said elements comprising a plurality of tubes mterconnected at one end of the element, means for supporting said tube elements at each end and members associated with the respective elements adapted to rest against ad acent elements to thereby support said elements along intermediate portions of their length and locate said elements properly in the apparatus.

11. Heat exchange apparatus of theclass elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus means for delivering a working-fluid described, comprising a passage for the gas to said fluid conveying elements and collecting it therefrom, said elements comprising a plurality of tubes'interc'onnected at one end of the element, a tube sheet for supporting'one end of the tube element, a prong provided at the interconnected end of each of said elements, and members associated with the respective elements adapted to rest against adjacent elements to thereby support said elements at intermediate portions of their length and locate said elements properly in the apparatus.

12. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passage for the gas being treated, a plurality of fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the ap paratus, means for delivering a Working fluid to said fluid conveying elements, said elements comprising a plurality of tubes interconnected at one end of the tube element, a tube sheet for supporting the tube elements, at one end, a prong provided at the interconnected end of each element, removable strips" having holes for receiving said prong and thereby supporting the interconnected ends of said elements, and

members associated with the respective elements adapted to rest against adjacent elements to thereby support said elements at intermediate portions of their length and locate said elements properly in the appa ratus.

13. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passage for the gas being treated, a plurality of separate fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus, means for delivering a working fluid to said fluid conveyin elements and collecting it therefrom, sai elements comprising a number of tubes greater than two interconnected at one end of the element and positioned in staggered relation to the flow of gas thru the apparatus, a plurality of heat conducting members associated with said tubes for increasingv the heat transferring surface of the apparatus, each of said members being in heat conducting relation with all of the tubes of one element, and members associated with the respective elements intermediate the ends thereof to rest against adjacent similar members and thereby locate and support said elements.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH PRICE.

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