Temperature moderated supports for flow tubes

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method that allows use of the same or similar material as the flow tubes for the supports and without requiring more expensive stainless or higher alloy supports. The disclosure provides one or more temperature moderated support tubes that allow the process fluid in the flow tubes to also pass through the support tubes. The benefit is that the process fluid moderates the temperature of the support tubes and hence the thermal expansion of the support tubes to be relatively consistent with the expansion of the flow tubes of the coil, and further benefits from additional heat transfer area using the support tubes. Thus, the support tubes can be made from the same or similar material as the flow tubes. The ledges / brackets could be also of the same material as the coil material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.REFERENCE TO APPENDIX[0003]Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The invention disclosed and taught herein relates generally to temperature controlled supports for flow tubes; and more specifically relates to a system and method of controlling the temperature of supports for flow tubes in environments such as a furnace.[0006]2. Description of the Related Art[0007]Conduits and tubes in which fluid can flow, referred to herein as “flow tubes”, are typically used to transfer heat between a surrounding environment and the fluid inside the flow tubes by transferring energy from a higher temperature to a lower temperature either from the environment to the flow tubes, such as in a furnace, or from the tubes to the environment, such as a heater. The same principles of heating apply with cooling by transferri...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention offers a system and method that allows people to use the same material for the supports without requiring expensive stainless or higher alloy supports. The system includes temperature-moderated support tubes that allow the process fluid to pass through them. This results in consistent thermal expansion of the support tubes with the flow tubes, so the supports can be made from the same material. The system also allows for additional heat transfer area using the support tubes. This means that the supports and coil can be made from the same materials, which simplifies the manufacturing process.

Problems solved by technology

Also, the coil typically thermally expands radially more than the supports and can cause radial stress.

Without special design allowances and flexibility, the differential expansion can cause failure of the supports, the coil, or both.

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