Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/005—Other auxiliary members within casings, e.g. internal filling means or sealing means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F7/00—Elements not covered by group F28F1/00, F28F3/00 or F28F5/00
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/22—Arrangements for directing heat-exchange media into successive compartments, e.g. arrangements of guide plates
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J5/00—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants
  • F25J5/002—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger
  • F25J5/005—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger in a reboiler-condenser, e.g. within a column
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D21/0017—Flooded core heat exchangers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
  • F17C2260/016—Preventing slosh
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
  • F25J2250/02—Bath type boiler-condenser using thermo-siphon effect, e.g. with natural or forced circulation or pool boiling, i.e. core-in-kettle heat exchanger
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
  • F25J2250/20—Boiler-condenser with multiple exchanger cores in parallel or with multiple re-boiling or condensing streams
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
  • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
  • F25J2290/72—Processing device is used off-shore, e.g. on a platform or floating on a ship or barge
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0033—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for cryogenic applications
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0061—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for phase-change applications
  • F28D2021/0066—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for phase-change applications with combined condensation and evaporation
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/4935—Heat exchanger or boiler making

Definitions

• This invention relates to a baffle for suppressing slosh in a core-in-shell type heat exchanger.
• Natural gas in its native form must be concentrated before it can be transported economically.
• the use of natural gas has increased significantly in the recent past due to its environmentally-friendly, clean burning characteristics. Burning natural gas produces less carbon dioxide than any other fossil fuel, which is important since carbon dioxide emissions have been recognized as a significant factor in causing the greenhouse effect.
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is likely to be used more and more in densely-populated urban areas with the increased concern over environmental issues.
• Floating liquefaction plants provide an off-shore alternative to on-shore liquefaction plants and alternative to costly subsea pipeline for stranded offshore reserves.
• a floating liquefaction plant can be moored off the coast, or close to or at a gas field. It also represents a moveable asset, which can be relocated to a new site when the gas field is nearing the end of its production life, or when required by economic, environmental or political conditions.
• a heat exchanger includes: (a) an internal volume defined within a shell; (b) a plurality of spaced apart cores disposed within the internal volume of the shell, and (c) slosh suppressing baffles disposed within the internal volume to separate the plurality of spaced apart cores, wherein each core is partially submerged in a liquid shell-side fluid, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles allow limited distribution of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand cryogenic temperatures, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand and divert the flow of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core.
• a method for reducing the impact of motion in a heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger includes an internal volume defined within a shell, wherein the internal volume within the shell includes a plurality of spaced apart cores, said method includes: (a) installing slosh suppressing baffles within the internal volume within the shell, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles separate the plurality of cores in the internal volume; (b) partially submerging each core in a liquid shell-side fluid, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles allow limited distribution of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core; (c) introducing a core-side fluid into each core; (d) cooling the core-side fluid thereby producing a cooled stream in each core; and (e)withdrawing the cooled stream from each core.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic of a core-in-shell type heat exchanger.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic of a core-in-shell type heat exchanger, according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic of a core-in-shell type heat exchanger, according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic of a core-in-shell type heat exchanger, according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic of a core-in-shell type heat exchanger, according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic of a core-in-shell type heat exchanger, according to one embodiment of the invention.
• a heat exchanger 10 is illustrated generally comprising a shell
• the shell 12 is substantially cylindrical with an internal volume 14 and is defined by an upper sidewall 22, a lower sidewall 24, and a pair of end caps 26.
• the heat exchanger is horizontally disposed; however, the heat exchanger can be positioned in any commercially operable manner, such as vertically, for example.
• the first core 16, the second core 18, the third core 20 are disposed within the internal volume 14 of the shell and are partially submerged in the liquid shell-side fluid.
• the liquid shell-side fluid is a vaporizing fluid, i.e., a refrigerant.
• the liquid shell- side fluid and the core-side fluid flow in a counter-current or cross-current manner through each core.
• the plurality of spaced apart cores each receives a separate core-side fluid, allowing for simultaneous indirect heat transfer between the liquid shell-side fluid and the separate core side-fluid.
• the core-in-shell heat exchanger is the cross exchange of core-side fluid against a liquid shell-side fluid.
• the liquid shell-side fluid resides in a pressure vessel where brazed aluminum compact exchanger cores are mounted and submerged into the liquid shell-side fluid which is at or near its boiling point.
• the liquid is drawn into the bottom face of the exchanger where it contacts the hotter surfaces within the core.
• the liquid shell-side fluid then transfers heat through the exchanger core channels. The majority of the heat transfer is from the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid shell-side fluid.
• the core-side fluid is cooled or condensed as it passes through the opposite side of the channels in the exchanger cores.
• thermosiphon effect is a passive fluid transfer phenomenon resulting from natural convective thermal forces. As the vaporization of the fluid occurs, the fluid is heated and the fluid density decreases to become lighter. As it naturally flows upward in the channels, fresh liquid is drawn in. This results in a natural circulation of the liquid shell-side fluid into the core channels induced by the thermal gradient inside the core. Not all liquid in the channel is vaporized and a mixture of liquid and vapors are transported up through the exchanger core channels and expelled through the top of the core.
• thermosiphon circulation effect in the core is enhanced or impaired by the external hydraulic pressure (level differences) between the effective liquid level inside the core versus the liquid level outside the core.
• the driving force for the transfer of the liquid into the exchanger core is decreased, and the effective heat transfer is reduced.
• the liquid shell-side fluid circulation stops due to the loss of the thermosiphon effect which results in the loss of heat transfer. If the heat exchanger is operated with a liquid level higher than the core (flooded) the heat transferred is impaired further as the vapor produced in the core has to overcome the additional head to escape from the core. The more severe of the conditions is having a liquid level below the exchanger cores as this reduces the heat transfer to near zero.
• the slosh suppressing baffles of the present invention reduce the impact of motion on the core-in-shell heat exchanger.
• the slosh suppressing baffles are located within the internal volume of the shell to separate the plurality of spaced apart cores.
• Each slosh suppressing baffle allows for limited distribution of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core.
• the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand cryogenic temperatures.
• the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand and divert the flow of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core.
• the slosh suppressing baffle 28 is a solid plate to provide for reduced sloshing of the liquid shell-side fluid within the heat exchanger 10.
• the solid plate slosh suppressing baffle 28 includes an opening at the bottom of the baffle to allow for limited distribution of the liquid shell-side fluid between the cores.
• the height of the solid plate slosh suppressing baffle 28 depends on the extent of motion anticipated. In an embodiment, the height of the solid plate motion suppressing baffle is at or near the top of the core assembly. Placement and sizing of the baffle is critical due to the added motion in the bottom of the core and the resultant potential impact to the thermo-siphon effect. Critical to the sizing of the opening is to ensure that the thermo siphon effect is not impaired.
• the slosh suppressing baffle 30 is a perforated plate located at the midsection of the core to dampen the motion effect.
• the perforated plate slosh suppressing baffle is a single plate.
• the perforated plate slosh suppressing is a double plate with congruent holes. With double plates, the vaporizing liquid has to change direction and slow down further to pass through the second plate.
• a solid plate slosh suppressing baffle 28 is also depicted between each core. This embodiment more evenly distributes the liquid and has a lesser impact to the motion underneath the core and minimal impact on the thermo siphon.
• the slosh suppressing baffles, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 are located at the edge of each core assembly.
• the slosh suppressing baffles can be solid plates, perforated plates, or combinations thereof.
• the area between each core assembly is left open. In another embodiment, the area between each core assembly is filled with a packing material to dampen the flow movement.
• the slosh suppressing baffles are installed between the cores horizontally to ensure that the upward momentum is reduced.
• the slosh suppressing baffles can be solid plate, perforated plates, or combinations thereof.
• angled or rounded slosh suppressing baffles are placed at or near the top of the core assemblies to re-direct the liquid away from the top of the core assemblies.
• any individual or combination of slosh suppressing baffles described can be utilized to effectively and efficiently reduce the effect of motion on the heat exchanger.
• certain types of packing material suitable for cryogenic services such as stainless steel structured or random packing material could also be added to the void spaces in the shell in order to suppress motion. It is unlikely that structured or random packing alone will provide sufficient pressure drop to slow the momentum of the moving fluid but can be used in conjunction with the baffle plates to provide motion dampening.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Details Of Heat-Exchange And Heat-Transfer (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

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Citations (4)

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• 2012
  • 2012-12-18 AP AP2014007704A patent/AP2014007704A0/xx unknown
  • 2012-12-18 RU RU2014129906A patent/RU2612242C2/ru active
  • 2012-12-18 JP JP2014549205A patent/JP6270734B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-12-18 US US13/718,240 patent/US20130153179A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-12-18 EP EP12859035.3A patent/EP2795232B1/en active Active
  • 2012-12-18 ES ES12859035.3T patent/ES2668789T3/es active Active
  • 2012-12-18 AU AU2012355357A patent/AU2012355357B2/en active Active
  • 2012-12-18 CN CN201280063623.2A patent/CN104024783B/zh active Active
  • 2012-12-18 WO PCT/US2012/070374 patent/WO2013096323A1/en not_active Ceased
• 2017
  • 2017-09-08 JP JP2017172817A patent/JP2018013328A/ja active Pending

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