GB2451848A - Multiple circuit heat exchanger comprising tube bundles - Google Patents

Multiple circuit heat exchanger comprising tube bundles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2451848A
GB2451848A GB0715832A GB0715832A GB2451848A GB 2451848 A GB2451848 A GB 2451848A GB 0715832 A GB0715832 A GB 0715832A GB 0715832 A GB0715832 A GB 0715832A GB 2451848 A GB2451848 A GB 2451848A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
body portion
fluid
heat exchanger
tubes
outlet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0715832A
Other versions
GB0715832D0 (en
Inventor
Peter Keith Jackson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arctic Circle Ltd
Original Assignee
Arctic Circle Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arctic Circle Ltd filed Critical Arctic Circle Ltd
Priority to GB0715832A priority Critical patent/GB2451848A/en
Publication of GB0715832D0 publication Critical patent/GB0715832D0/en
Publication of GB2451848A publication Critical patent/GB2451848A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/06—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits having a single U-bend
    • 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
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/0066—Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids
    • 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
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/16—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation
    • F28D7/163—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation with conduit assemblies having a particular shape, e.g. square or annular; with assemblies of conduits having different geometrical features; with multiple groups of conduits connected in series or parallel and arranged inside common casing
    • 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
    • F28F2009/222—Particular guide plates, baffles or deflectors, e.g. having particular orientation relative to an elongated casing or conduit
    • F28F2009/226—Transversal partitions

Landscapes

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

Abstract

A heat exchanger 2 is presented in which a first fluid is used to cool a second fluid. The heat exchanger comprises a body portion 4 provided with a bore 6, where a plurality of tube bundles 12 are positioned within the body portion. The body portion comprises an inlet 8 and an outlet 10, both in communication with the bore. Each tube bundle comprises a plurality of tubes 14 with an inlet 16 and an outlet 18. The first fluid, in liquid form, enters the tubes through the tubes' inlet and vapour or liquid from the first fluid exits the tubes through the tubes' outlet. The second fluid enters the body portion through the body inlet and exits the body portion through the body outlet. The second fluid is cooled by the first fluid as the second fluid passes through the body portion. All of the tube bundles are designed to be in contact with the second fluid passing through the body portion such that each of the tube bundles contributes to the cooling of the second fluid. Preferably, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of plate-type baffles 30 located in the bore which support the tube bundles and/or direct the flow of the second fluid over the tube bundles in a helical flow pattern.

Description

A POLY-CIRCUIT HEAT EXCHANGER
This invention relates to a heat exchanger and, more especially, this invention relates to a heat exchanger in which a first fluid is used to cool a second fluid.
Heat exchangers are well known. The known heat exchangers may be used in refrigeration systems. In the known heat exchangers there is a risk that the use of a fluid such for example as a refrigerant may leak from the system. The leaking fluid may be hazardous, either to persons or to the environment.
It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.
Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a heat exchanger in which a first fluid is used to cool a second fluid, which heat exchanger comprises a body portion, a bore in the body portion, an inlet in the body portion and communicating with the bore, an outlet in the body portion and communicating with the bore, and a plurality of tube bundles positioned in the body portion: each tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes, an inlet for the tubes, and an outlet for the tubes; and the heat exchanger being such that in use the first fluid in liquid form enters the tubes through the inlet for the tubes, vapour or liquid from the first fluid exits the tubes through the outlet for the tubes, the second fluid enters the body portion through the inlet in the body portion, the second fluid exits the body portion through the outlet in the body portion, the second fluid is cooled by the first fluid as the second fluid passes through the body portion, and all of the tube bundles are in contact with the second fluid passing through the body portion whereby each of the tube bundles contributes to the cooling of the second fluid.
The use of the plurality of tube bundles means that each tube bundle only contains a proportion of the entire first fluid within all the tube bundles.
Thus, if a leak should occur in any one tube of bundle, then the amount of the first fluid lost is smaller than in the known heat exchangers. Also, the individual tube bundles are able to be removed for repair or replacement, without having to remove the remaining tube bundles. Still further, the cooling effect of each tube bundle is able to be transferred to the entire volume of the second fluid flowing through the body portion. The apparatus of the invention uses a large number of fluid circuits each having a low internal volume, whilst having the capability of a high heat exchange capacity.
The heat exchanger will usually be one in which the body portion is a tubular body portion. The tubular body portion will usually be of circular cross section. Other types of body portion and other cross sectional shapes may be employed.
The body portion may have a flange at each of its ends for enabling the body portion to be connected to others of the body portions.
The heat exchanger may be one in which some of the tube bundles extend into the bore from one end of the body portion, and some of the tube bundles extend into the bore from the other end of the body portion. If desired, in an alternative construction, all of the tube of bundles may extend into the bore from the same end of the body portion.
The inlet for the tubes may communicate with the tubes via an inlet manifold. Similarly, the outlet for the tubes may communicate with the tubes via an outlet manifold.
The heat exchanger may include a plurality of baffles in the bore.
The baffles may support the tube bundles and/or may direct the flow of the second fluid over the tube bundles in a helical flow along a longitudinal axis of the body portion.
The first fluid may be, for example, a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant, ammonia, a hydrocarbon, or any suitable and appropriate volatile coolant.
The first fluid may be a liquid or a gas. The second fluid may be water, a glycol solution, or any suitable and appropriate gas or liquid to be cooled.
The body portion is preferably made of carbon steel. Other materials may however be employed. The tubes are preferably made of copper, a copper-nickel alloy, titanium or stainless steel. Other materials may however be employed.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view through a heat exchanger; Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the heat exchanger shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end view of the heat exchanger as shown in Figure 2.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a heat exchanger 2 in which a first fluid is used to cool a second fluid. The heat exchanger 2 comprises a body portion 4, a bore 6 in the body portion 4, an inlet 8 in the body portion 4 and communicating with the bore 6, and an outlet 10 in the body portion 4 and communicating with the bore 6.
The heat exchanger 2 also comprises a plurality of tube of bundles 12 positioned in the body portion 4. Each tube bundle 12 comprises a plurality of tubes 14, an inlet 16 for the tubes 14, and an outlet 18 for the tubes 14.
The heat exchanger 2 is such that in use the first fluid in liquid form enters the tubes 14 through the inlet 16 for the tubes 14. Vapour from the first fluid in liquid form exits the tubes 14 through the outlet 18 for the tubes 14.
The second fluid enters the body portion 4 through the inlet 8 in the body portion 4. The second fluid exits the body portion 4 through the outlet in the body portion 4. The second fluid is cooled by the first fluid as the second fluid passes through the body portion 4. All of the tube bundles 12 are in contact with the second fluid passing through the body portion 4 whereby each of the tube bundles 12 contributes to the cooling of the second fluid.
The body portion 4 is a tubular body portion 4. The tubular body portion 4 is of circular cross section.
The body portion 4 has a flange 20 at each of its ends for enabling the body portion 4 to be connected to others of the body portions 4.
As can be seen from Figure 1, some of the tube bundles 12 extend into the bore 6 from one end 22 of the body portion 4. Some of the tube bundles 12 extend into the bore 6 from the other end 24 of the body portion 4.
The inlet 16 for the tubes 14 communicates with the tubes 14 via an inlet manifold 26. The outlet 18 for the tubes 14 communicates with the tubes 14 via an outlet manifold 28.
The heat exchanger 2 includes a plurality of baffles 30 in the bore 6.
The baffles 30 support the tube bundles 12 and also direct the flow of the second fluid over the tube bundles 12 in a helical flow along a longitudinal axis of the body portion 4.
The first fluid may be a liquid or a vapour. Preferably the first fluid is a hyrdrofluorocarbon refrigerant, ammonia or a hydrocarbon. The second fluid may be a liquid or a vapour. Preferably the second fluid is water or a glycol solution. In the event that a leak should develop in one of the tube bundles 12, only first fluid from the fluid circuit supplying the leaking tube bundle 12 will be lost. This reduces on the amount of fluid that would be lost as compared with a known heat exchanger where all of the fluid would be passing through a single or twin circuit tube arrangement of much greater capacity than the capacity of the individual tube bundles 12 employed in the heat exchanger 2 of the present invention. The evaporation of the first fluid from liquid form to vapour form provides the cooling required for cooling the second fluid.
The heat exchanger 2 is such that the body portion 4 is made of carbon steel. The tubes 14 in the tube bundles 12 may be made of copper, a copper-nickel alloy, titanium or stainless steel.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the shape of the body portion 4, the inlet 8, the outlet 10 and the tube bundles 12 may be varied. The heat exchanger of the present invention may be used as an evaporator or as a condenser. Alternatively, some tube bundles may be used as an evaporator section simultaneously with some tube bundles being used as a condenser section, thus transferring heat from one refrigeration circuit to another refrigeration circuit with minimal heat transfer to the fluid. * * 7

Claims (10)

1. A heat exchanger in which a first fluid is used to cool a second fluid, which heat exchanger comprises a body portion, a bore in the body portion, an inlet in the body portion and communicating with the bore, an outlet in the body portion and communicating with the bore, and a plurality of tube bundles positioned in the body portion: each tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes, an inlet for the tubes, and an outlet for the tubes; and the heat exchanger being such that in use the first fluid in liquid form enters the tubes through the inlet for the tubes, vapour or liquid from the first fluid exits the tubes through the outlet for the tubes, the second fluid enters the body portion through the inlet in the body portion, the second fluid exits the body portion through the outlet in the body portion, the second fluid is cooled by the first *:::* fluid as the second fluid passes through the body portion, and all of the tube *::: bundles are in contact with the second fluid passing through the body portion whereby each of the tube bundles contributes to the cooling of the second *. fluid. * ** * . * ****
2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1 in which the body portion is a tubular body portion.
3. A heat exchanger according to claim 2 in which the tubular body portion is of circular cross section.
4. A heat exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion has a flange at each of its ends for enabling the body portion to be connected to others of the body portions.
5. A heat exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims in which some of the tube bundles extend into the bore from one end of the body portion, and some of the tube bundles extend into the bore from the other end of the body portion.
6. A heat exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims in which the inlet for the tubes communicates with the tubes via an inlet manifold. * *S
7. A heat exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims in **** which the outlet for the tubes communicates with the tubes via an outlet S. * S * : manifold. S..
S * S. * * * *SSe
8. A heat exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims and *. . S. * S including a plurality of baffles in the bore.
9. A heat exchanger according to claim 8 in which the baffles support the tube bundles and/or direct the flow of the second fluid over the tube of bundles in a helical flow along a longitudinal axis of the body.
10. A heat exchanger according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the baffles are plates.
II. A heat exchanger in which a first fluid is used to cool a second fluid, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * ** S. * * ** **.* * . S... * * * I.. * **.
S * SS * S * *.S.
S *S..
GB0715832A 2007-08-14 2007-08-14 Multiple circuit heat exchanger comprising tube bundles Withdrawn GB2451848A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0715832A GB2451848A (en) 2007-08-14 2007-08-14 Multiple circuit heat exchanger comprising tube bundles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0715832A GB2451848A (en) 2007-08-14 2007-08-14 Multiple circuit heat exchanger comprising tube bundles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0715832D0 GB0715832D0 (en) 2007-09-26
GB2451848A true GB2451848A (en) 2009-02-18

Family

ID=38566358

Family Applications (1)

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GB0715832A Withdrawn GB2451848A (en) 2007-08-14 2007-08-14 Multiple circuit heat exchanger comprising tube bundles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2451848A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010105613A2 (en) * 2009-03-20 2010-09-23 Technische Universitaet Berlin Heat exchanger unit and thermotechnical system
EP3114421A4 (en) * 2014-03-04 2017-09-13 Conoco Phillips Company Heat exchanger for a liquefied natural gas facility
WO2021160612A1 (en) 2020-02-10 2021-08-19 Heatmatrix Group B.V. Gas-gas shell and tube heat exchanger

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB557671A (en) * 1941-11-08 1943-11-30 Tech Studien Ag Tubular heat exchanger
DE2422168A1 (en) * 1974-05-08 1975-11-20 Artemow Heat exchanger with finned pipe clusters - has stabilising corrugated pipe spacers and pipe cluster straps
DE2729526A1 (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-01-11 Hochtemperatur Reaktorbau Gmbh VERTICAL HEAT EXCHANGER CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION
EP0080742A2 (en) * 1981-11-27 1983-06-08 BBC Aktiengesellschaft Brown, Boveri & Cie. Heat exchanger with several pipe bundles
DE3238586A1 (en) * 1982-10-19 1984-04-19 Dr. C. Otto & Co Gmbh, 4630 Bochum Cross-tube cooler
US5277247A (en) * 1992-06-29 1994-01-11 Cameron Gordon M Heat exchanger having improved tube layout
US20010045273A1 (en) * 2000-03-29 2001-11-29 Alfred Langl Multiple tube bundle heat exchanger
GB2409825A (en) * 2004-01-08 2005-07-13 Statoil Asa Slurry bubble column reactor, heat exchange system

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB557671A (en) * 1941-11-08 1943-11-30 Tech Studien Ag Tubular heat exchanger
DE2422168A1 (en) * 1974-05-08 1975-11-20 Artemow Heat exchanger with finned pipe clusters - has stabilising corrugated pipe spacers and pipe cluster straps
DE2729526A1 (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-01-11 Hochtemperatur Reaktorbau Gmbh VERTICAL HEAT EXCHANGER CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION
EP0080742A2 (en) * 1981-11-27 1983-06-08 BBC Aktiengesellschaft Brown, Boveri & Cie. Heat exchanger with several pipe bundles
DE3238586A1 (en) * 1982-10-19 1984-04-19 Dr. C. Otto & Co Gmbh, 4630 Bochum Cross-tube cooler
US5277247A (en) * 1992-06-29 1994-01-11 Cameron Gordon M Heat exchanger having improved tube layout
US20010045273A1 (en) * 2000-03-29 2001-11-29 Alfred Langl Multiple tube bundle heat exchanger
GB2409825A (en) * 2004-01-08 2005-07-13 Statoil Asa Slurry bubble column reactor, heat exchange system

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010105613A2 (en) * 2009-03-20 2010-09-23 Technische Universitaet Berlin Heat exchanger unit and thermotechnical system
WO2010105613A3 (en) * 2009-03-20 2011-03-10 Technische Universitaet Berlin Heat exchanger unit and thermotechnical system
US10801782B2 (en) 2009-03-20 2020-10-13 Technische Universität Berlin Heat exchanger unit and thermotechnical system
EP3114421A4 (en) * 2014-03-04 2017-09-13 Conoco Phillips Company Heat exchanger for a liquefied natural gas facility
US11435138B2 (en) 2014-03-04 2022-09-06 Conocophillips Company Heat exchanger for a liquefied natural gas facility
WO2021160612A1 (en) 2020-02-10 2021-08-19 Heatmatrix Group B.V. Gas-gas shell and tube heat exchanger
NL2024869B1 (en) * 2020-02-10 2021-10-05 Heatmatrix Group B V Gas-gas shell and tube heat exchanger

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0715832D0 (en) 2007-09-26

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)