Tube sheet apparatus and heat exchanger

Abstract

An apparatus (e.g., tube sheet) includes a plate piece, a sleeve piece, and a tube piece. The plate piece defines a hole. The sleeve piece has first and second ends; the second end is shaped to fit through the hole for attachment of the sleeve piece to the plate piece. The tube piece also has first and second ends. Inner and outer cross-sectional geometries of the tube piece and the sleeve piece (e.g., in the case of round tubes, inner and outer diameters) are shaped for the first end of the tube piece to fit in the first end of the sleeve piece and to form a continuous interior fluid flow path from the second end of the tube piece through the plate piece when the sleeve piece is disposed in the hole and attached to the plate piece and the tube piece is disposed in the sleeve piece.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 425,187 filed 22 Nov. 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD[0002]Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for the joining of tubes to plates or sheets in general. Other embodiments relate to heat exchangers.BACKGROUND[0003]Tubes are frequently joined to plates during the construction of shell-and-tube heat exchangers. In such exchangers, it is common for thermal stress to occur at the joint where a tube joins a plate often due to differences in material composition and mass. Tubes are commonly joined by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, or by roller expansion.[0004]In another method, sidewalls of holes drilled in plates to accommodate tubes have a series of grooves reamed into the walls; the tube wall is then mechanically or explosively expanded into the grooves for forming a mechanical joint and seal. This often ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The sleeve pieces effectively reduce thermal stress and maintain fluid flow continuity, enhancing the durability and performance of the joint by acting as a buffer between the tube and plate, preventing deformation and failure.

Problems solved by technology

In such exchangers, it is common for thermal stress to occur at the joint where a tube joins a plate often due to differences in material composition and mass.

This often creates a deformation in the interior-wall of the tube where undesired materials can accumulate and flow through the tube is disrupted.

In the often-harsh environment of a heat exchange system, thermal gradients and materials with differing coefficients of thermal expansion often result in differential thermal expansion of tube and plate pieces.

Increased stress often results in deformation or early failure of the joint.

Images