Static mixer-heat exchanger

Abstract

A device for effecting heat transfer from a first fluid medium to a second fluid medium and for enhancing mixing and uniform distribution of the second fluid medium within the confines of a conduit. The device includes providing a core pipe for receiving the first fluid medium and a series of helically wound tubes in fluid communication with the core pipe along the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The second fluid passes within the conduit and is mixed by virtue of the static mixing effect of the helically wound tubes and engages in heat transfer as a result of the intimate contact between the second fluid, the core pipe and the helically wound tubes.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a device for effecting heat transfer from a first fluid medium to a second fluid medium and for enhancing mixing and uniform distribution of the second fluid within the confines of a conduit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is notoriously well known in the processing of fluid streams to employ static mixers and heat exchangers as enhancements in promoting product uniformity and adjusting product temperature. Mixers can contain active elements such as paddles and rotors although it is quite common to provide static elements whereby the turbulent flow of the fluids in and around these elements enhance fluid mixing without the need for moving parts which inherently add to the cost of the mixing operation both in terms of power requirements and labor intensive maintenance procedures. Many static mixers rely on a mixing element configuration that presents a set of interstices to the product flow. Elements of this type...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a device that can transfer heat from one fluid to another in a conduit. It consists of a core pipe and a series of tubular members. Each tubular member is helically wound upon the core pipe and is in fluid communication with it. The tubular members are arranged in a way that their windings are evenly spaced and form interstices with each other. The device is designed so that the ratio of the diameter of the core pipe to the diameters of the tubular members is a whole number and the spacing between the starts of all tubular members is equal. The technical effect of this design is that it allows for efficient heat transfer between the two fluids passing through the conduit."

Problems solved by technology

Mixers can contain active elements such as paddles and rotors although it is quite common to provide static elements whereby the turbulent flow of the fluids in and around these elements enhance fluid mixing without the need for moving parts which inherently add to the cost of the mixing operation both in terms of power requirements and labor intensive maintenance procedures.

It has been determined that the improvement in heat transfer obtained by tube inserts for laminar flow applications is usually in the range of two to five times. However, the use of such devices significantly increases the pressure drop experienced and thus one using such expedients must pay a price.

However, it has been determined that the device shown in FIG. 2 does not provide a good utilization of the exchanger shell available volume, less, in fact, than the conventional tube and shell heat exchanger.

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