US3120868A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1964 J. 5. BALLANTINE 3,120,868

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Sept. 28, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO i 73 if ORNEYS.

1964 J. s. BALLANTINE HEAT EXCHANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1959 INVENTOR (fame; d3 64/Zzmfw'u/ 1964 J. 5. BALLANTINE HEAT EXCHANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 28, 1959 F am lNV TOR Jkmes a? gaizmrme United States Patent 3,12%,868 HEAT EXCHANGER James S. Bailantine, 121 North Shore Road, Ahseeon, Nd. Filed Sept. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 843,099 1 Claim. (Cl. 165-155) The present invention relates to heat exchangers.

A purpose of the invention is to produce a heat exchanger which can be more readily cleaned on both sides of the heat exchanger surfaces.

A further purpose is to produce a more compact heat exchanger.

A further purpose is to produce a heat exchanger which will be more effective when one set of heat transfer pas sages is exposed to sea water.

A further purpose is to construct a heat exchanger from spaced buckets, one surrounding another and sealed at the ends suitably by rings which are clamped together and capable of ready disassembly.

A further purpose is to promote heat transfer by during the side walls of the buckets longitudinally.

A further purpose is to provide an annular nonfiuted area in the side wall of the buckets at the end of a line of flutes and preferably between lines of flutes to reduce the compliance of the side wall of the bucket under pres sure.

A further purpose is to extend the flutes on the buckets toward one another.

A further purpose is to flange the ends of the buckets and to clamp them between sealing rings.

A further purpose is to provide batlles extending longitudinally between the buckets and preferably through the flutes to prevent short circuiting of fluid.

A further purpose is to obtain a larger prime heat transfer surface in a heat exchanger for a given bulk.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claim.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which the invention may appear, selecting the form shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the heat exchanger of the invention.

l IGURE 2 is a fragmentary axial section on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an axial section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively are transverse sections on the lines 4-4, 55, 66, 7-7, 88 and 9-9 of FEGURE 2.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary section on the line Iii-1t? of FEGURE 1.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary section on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 8.

escribing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to the drawings:

In the prior art, heat exchangers such as condensers, engine radiators and the like are frequently constructed from tubes extending through tube sheets, one fluid passing through the tubes and another fluid passing around the tubes.

There are some applications in which one or both of the fluids has such a great tendency to contaminate or deposit foreign matter on the heat transfer surfaces that operation is often rendered ineifective.

An example of the problem is a heat exchanger for motor boats, especially those which operate in inland waterways and in which mud, seaweed and other foreign matter is very likely to deposit on the side of the heat exchanger through which sea water fiows. While the inice side of a tube and tube sheet type of heat exchanger can readily be cleaned, the cleaning of the outside of the tubes is very diflicult, and permanent loss of heat transfer elliciency is likely to occur, since outsides of the tubes in a nest of tubes are relatively inaccessible. Usually in the design of heat exchangers of the tube and tube sheet type for this character of service, a great excess in heat transfer capacity is provided to meet this problem, but even so, the results are often very inadequate.

The present invention otters the advantage of providing heat transfer surfaces which can be readily disassembled and both sides of which are readily accessible for cleaning, using standard cleaning techniques such as brushing, scraping, scrubbing and the like.

The invention makes it possible to provide greatly increased heat transfer surfaces by fluting the walls, which are of increased effectiveness not only because of the large prime heat transfer surface, but also because of the promotion of turbulent flow.

It is possible in accordance with the invention to make a very compact structure which is most effective from a heat transfer standpoint.

One of the great advantages of the invention is that minute inspection of parts can be made when the structure is disassembled and replacement of defective parts can be readily accomplished. There is no necessity to cut out defective parts like defective heat transfer tubes, but instead parts can be exchanged bodily to insert replacement parts. The number of different sizes of parts required is in any case small.

The invention lends itself to production or". heat transfe surfaces from a wide variety of materials, including stainless steel, and nonferrous metals like admirably metal, naval brass, bronze, Monel, zirconium and titanium. The manufacture of the component parts is relatively inexpensive.

While the example of a heat exchanger for a motor boat has been given, it will be understood that heat exchangers for air conditioning, for chemical process work, for heat transfer between gases, for refrigeration, and other suitable purposes may be produced in accordance with the invention.

Considering now the structure in detail, the heat exchanger of the invention has a suitably circular head 2t) which is provided with a piping connection 21 near the center, piping connections 22?. and 23 near opposite edges and a bridging passage 24- between a connection 25 through the bottom of the head and a connection 26 through the bottom of the head.

The head has a series of openings 27 distributed around its rim which receive tightening bolts 28 as later explained.

A stack of rings 36, 31, 32 and 33 are lined up concentric with the head in sequence, provided with bolt holes through which the bolts 2% pass, so as to pull up and clamp together the stack as later explained. The ring 39 at one side has a passage 34 in line with connec tion 22 and sealed to the head 2% by a gasket 35 extending annularly between the head it} and the ring 3t} and provided with a suitable opening. The ring 3d also has, in line with the connection 23, a passage 36 which extends generally inwardly and in the direction parallel to the axis and is sealed by the gasket 35 and has a hole in line with the opening in the connection 23. The ring 3d also has a passage 37 extending parallel to the axis and sealed by the gasket 35 which has an appropriate opening in line with the passage 26 and the passage 37.

The ring 3% likewise has a bottom connection 3 3 which connects with a radial passage 4t? and an inner and bottom connection 51. The ring 30 has a central opening 3b which receives a bucket as later described.

The ring 31 as best seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 has a passage 42 parallel with the axis which seals and connects to the passage 38 in the ring 39 by a suitable opening in a gasket 43 between the ring 3% and the ring Ell.

The ring 31 also has a passage 44 which extends in wardly and in the direction parallel to the axis and which communicates at one end with the passage 37 and is sealed by a suitable opening through the gasket 43 between the rings 3i} and 31.

The ring 31 also has a suitable passage 45' which extends inwardly and parallel to the axis and communicates at one end with the passage 34 and is sealed by a suitable opening in the gasket .3 between the rings 3% and 31. The ring 301 has a central opening 31 larger than opening 39 which receives a bucket as later explained.

The ring 32 best seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 6, is pro vided with a passage 45 extending inwardly and parallel to the axis and which connects at one end to passage -2 and is sealed to the passage 42 by a gasket 47 between the ring 311 and the ring 32 and having a suitable opening. The ring 32 has a central opening 32 larger than the opening 31' which receives a bucket as later explained.

The ring 33 does not require any passages, but has a central opening 36 larger than the opening 32 which receives a bucket as later explained.

The heat transfer surfaces are provided with a series or" buckets &3, Sit, 51 and 52, each of which has a bottom 53, generally tubular side walls 54 and flanges 55 at the open end of the bucket. The side walls fit through openings 3d, 31 and 32' and 33' of rings 3%, 31, 32 and 33 respectively.

The flanges 55 have recess gaskets ss surrounding the flanges and the gaskets and flanges are clamped between the head and the next ring or between the rings for sealing purposes as shown. The gaskets may suitably be of rubber, neoprene, or the like.

Each of the buckets at its side walls has an upper set of longitudinal flutes 57 and at its lower end has a separate set of longitudinal flutes 58 which are circumferentially aligned with the first set. The flutes are formed integral from the buckets and in horizontal sectional are serpentine.

In between the sets of flutes 57 and there is on each bucket a nonfluted annular portion ss which provides a stilfening rib and prevents the bucket side wall from exhibiting Bourdon tube efiect and also from exhibiting bellows effect, which otherwise would make the side walls of the tube respond to pressure difiierential to a flex inwardly and outwardly.

While the drawings show only one nonfluted ring as on each bucket, it will be evident that the number of nonfluted rings provided will vary with the lengths of the buckets and the pressure differentials.

The flutes S7 and 58 on the adjoining buckets extends toward one another 180 degrees out of phase, so that the passages formed between adjoining buckets in the flutes have relatively little lateral communication space wher the flutes exist, thus tending to make and maintain separate longitudinal flow passages with a limited cross connection. The question of whether the flutes actually touch adjoining buckets or merely come close together will depend upon whether or not the installation involves the problem of vibration, which may make actual engage ment of flutes undesirable.

in order that the flutes of each successive bucket may conveniently be 188 degrees out of phase it will be evident that the flutes will be steeper in the inner bucket and less steep in the outer bucket in the preferred embodiment.

The head of the heat exchanger has a boss 61 extending across the portion in line with the inner bucket which has a slot 62 which receives a baflle as which is best seen in FZGURES 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, which suitably engages in flute recesses and separates the inner bucket into sides and 6S, cross connecting at the bottom by a passage 66.

Between the buckets 43 and 5 at diametrally spaced points are longitudinally extending baffies 67 engaged in recesses in the flutes, tending to separate the space between buckets :8 and 5d longitudinally into spaces 63 and '79 between the side flutes, cross connected by the space 71 at the bottom.

At diametrally spaced points between the buckets 5d and 51 are placed longitudinally extending baifles 72 de-' sirably extending through the flutes, dividing the space heween the buckets 5t) and 51 into a series of longitudinal passages 73 at one side and a series of longitudinal passages 74 at the other side, cross connected by a passage 75 between the bottoms of the buckets.

Between the outer buckets 51 and 52 at diametrally spaced points there are baffles 76 at the sides, best seen in FIGURES 8 and 9, which separate the space between the buckets 51 and 52 into longitudinal passages 77 at one side and longitudinal passages 78 at the other side, cross connected by a passage 39 between the bottoms of the buckets El and 52.

The outer bucket 52 is provided with a pipe connection 81 at the side near the top, best seen in FIGURES 8 and 11.

In operation, the device of the invention is assembled as shown in the drawings, tightening the bolts 28 to seal the buckets to the head and the rings.

Considering first one of the fluids which flows through the heat exchanger and which for the purpose of convenience in illustration in the case of the motor boat heat exchanger, may be fresh water, this fluid enters through inlet 2 3i in the head 26, and flows through passage 64 in bucket 48 on one side of baffle 63 and then across through passage 66 to the other side of bucket 48 and thence through passage up the other side of bucket 48, and then through cross connecting passagw 25, 24 and 2 6 and passage 37 of ring 3d and passage 44 of ring 31, as best seen in FIGURE 2, into the space 74 between the flutes of buckets 5i) and 51 and then through cross connection '75 between the bottoms of these buckets and then through passages 73 on the opposite sides of these buckets and finally out passages 45 and 34 and pipe connection 22 in the head it The other fluid, which in the specific example of the motor boat heat exchanger may be sea water, enters through inlet pipe connection 81 in outer bucket 52 and thence flows through longitudinal passages 78 between outer bucket 52 and the next bucket 51 and then through cross connection 89 at the bottom and next through longitudinal passages 77 between outer bucket 52 and the next bucket 51. The salt water then passes through passages 4-6, 42, 38, 4d and 41 in rings 32, 3E, and 30 respectivcly, best seen in FIGURE 2, and then travels through longitudinal passage 68 between the flutes of buckets 4S and 59, then through cross connection 71 at the bottom between these buckets, and then through longitudinal passages between the same buckets. The salt water then discharges through passage 36 in ring 30 and fitting 23 in the head.

It will thus be seen that in the flow through the heat exchanger the flutes as well as the baffles tend to direct the fluid longitudinally along the side walls of the buckets.

It will be evident that disassembly of the construction just described for cleaning or replacement or" components can be accomplished readily by releasing the bolts 28 ahd pulling apart the buckets and rings longitudinally, the bafiles also sliding out longitudinally. The device can be reassembled by the reverse process.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claim.

new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a heat exchanger,

a plurality of buckets, including an inner and outer bucket, of progressively different diameters,

each of said buckets having, a bottom, an open end, a tubular sidewall, and a flange extending radially outward from the sidewall at the open end,

said buckets arranged one within another whereby spaces are formed between the sides and bottoms of the buckets and Within the inner bucket,

said sidewall having longitudinally extending flutes formed integral therein whereby said tubular wall in transverse section through said flutes is serpentine,

said sidewalls having an annular non-fluted area between lines of flutes to reduce the compliance of the said walls under pressure,

a bafile extending longitudinally inside the inner bucket whereby flow in the inner bucket is directed longitudinally back and forth in the bucket, bafiles extending longitudinally between the sidewalls of the buckets whereby flow in the spaces between the sidewalls is directed longitudinally back and forth,

a plurality of stacked rings sealing between one bucket and another at the open end and adapted to clamp said flanges on the buckets whereby the buckets are held in spaced relationship,

a head closure at the open end of the buckets,

a first inlet and outlet for a first circulating fluid connected to one of the spaces,

a second inlet and outlet for a second circulating fluid connected to the other of the spaces,

and passage means in the head closure and in the rings for conducting the fluids between the spaces between the buckets and in the inner bucket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,491 Sterne et al. July 18, 1882 705,614 Rogers July 29, 1902 1,005,442 Lovekin Oct. 10, 1911 1,307,728 Davis June 24, 1919 2,428,066 Ellis Sept. 30, 1947 2,521,369 Holm et al Sept. 5, 1950 2,576,309 Ruemelin Nov. 27, 1951 2,861,781 Cohen w NOV. 25, 1958

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