Heat exchanger with composite tube structure and tube bundle flushing method of heat exchanger with composite tube structure
By introducing a detachable cover plate assembly and a rear water tank structure into the composite tube heat exchanger, high-pressure axial flushing can be achieved without removing the tube bundle, solving the problems of large footprint, long time consumption, and high operation and maintenance costs of traditional heat exchangers, and improving work efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-24
AI Technical Summary
Traditional composite tube heat exchangers have problems such as large footprint, limited piping layout, long time consumption, and high operation and maintenance costs when the tube bundle is blocked due to the end cap structure.
The design incorporates a removable cover assembly and a removable rear tank structure, allowing for exposure of the tube bundle ports without removing the tube bundle, enabling high-pressure axial flushing through a bidirectional through-flow channel.
It eliminates the need for large workspaces, shortens maintenance time, reduces operation and maintenance costs, and improves work efficiency, making it suitable for narrow factory buildings or dense pipeline scenarios.
Smart Images
Figure CN121916693A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of heat exchanger technology, and more specifically, to a composite tube structure heat exchanger and a method for flushing the tube bundles of the composite tube structure heat exchanger. Background Technology
[0002] Currently, traditional composite tube heat exchangers have a head structure at one end, meaning one end of the heat exchanger is open and the other end is closed. When the tube bundle in the heat exchanger becomes blocked and needs cleaning, the entire tube bundle must be completely pulled out of the heat exchanger shell to expose both ends of the tube bundle for flushing. This requires reserving at least one tube length as long as the heat exchanger during equipment installation, resulting in a large footprint and limited piping layout. Summary of the Invention
[0003] This application aims to at least solve the technical problem in the related art that, since one end of the composite tube structure heat exchanger is a head structure, when the tube bundle in the heat exchanger is blocked and needs to be cleaned, the entire tube bundle must be completely extracted from the shell of the heat exchanger in order to expose both ends of the tube bundle for through flushing, resulting in a large installation area for the heat exchanger and limited pipeline layout.
[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a composite tube structure heat exchanger, comprising: a shell, which is a cylindrical pressure-bearing structure with openings at both ends, and a heat exchange chamber inside the shell; a tube bundle assembly inserted into the shell, the tube bundle assembly including a tube bundle inlet end and a tube bundle outlet end; a front tube box disposed at the front end of the shell and communicating with the tube bundle inlet end; a rear water tank disposed in the heat exchange chamber and communicating with the tube bundle outlet end; and a cover plate assembly covering the rear end of the shell and abutting against the rear water tank; wherein the rear water tank is detachably connected to the tube bundle outlet end, and the cover plate assembly is detachably connected to the shell, and when the rear water tank and the cover plate assembly are disassembled, the tube bundle outlet end is exposed at the rear end opening of the shell.
[0005] The composite tube structure heat exchanger provided in this application includes a shell, tube bundle assembly, front tube box, rear water tank, and cover plate assembly. The shell is a cylindrical pressure-bearing structure open at both ends. A heat exchange chamber is located inside the shell, and a tube bundle assembly is inserted into the heat exchange chamber. The tube bundle assembly consists of multiple heat exchange tubes, each capable of independently transporting water for heat exchange. The tube bundle assembly includes a water inlet and a water outlet. A front tube box is located at the front end of the shell and connected to the water inlet to allow water to be injected into it. Water flows from the water inlet into a portion of the heat exchange tubes in the tube bundle assembly. A rear water tank is located inside the heat exchange chamber and connected to the water outlet. Water flows from the water inlet into the rear water tank, then flows from the water outlet into another portion of the heat exchange tubes in the tube bundle assembly, returning to the water inlet from the other portion of the heat exchange tubes. This cyclical heat exchange process carries the heat out of the heat exchange chamber using water circulation, thus completing the entire heat exchange process. The cover assembly seals the rear end of the shell and abuts against the rear water tank, sealing the entire heat exchange chamber. The rear water tank and the tube bundle outlet are detachably connected, as are the cover assembly and the shell. When the rear water tank and cover assembly are removed, the tube bundle outlet is exposed at the rear opening of the shell, achieving continuity between the tube bundle inlet and outlet. Thus, if the heat exchange tubes in the tube bundle are clogged with impurities, it is not necessary to completely remove the entire tube bundle assembly from the heat exchanger shell. Only the cover assembly and the rear water tank need to be removed, exposing the tube bundle outlet at the rear opening of the shell. At this point, a thorough flushing process can be performed on both ends of the exposed tube bundle assembly to achieve the desired flushing effect.
[0006] This application provides a composite tube structure heat exchanger. By installing a detachable cover plate assembly and a detachable rear water tank structure at the rear end of the heat exchanger shell, i.e., at one end of the end cap structure, the rear water tank can be directly removed after the cover plate assembly is disassembled, allowing the outlet end of the tube bundle to be fully exposed at the rear end opening of the shell. This, combined with the front tube box, forms a bidirectional through-flow channel, enabling high-pressure axial flushing without moving the tube bundle. This structure requires only pre-reserved operating space at the rear end for disassembling the cover plate assembly, eliminating the stringent site requirements of traditional tube bundle extraction cleaning and solving the problems of large footprint, long time consumption, and high maintenance costs associated with traditional heat exchanger flushing operations.
[0007] Secondly, this application proposes a tube bundle flushing method for a composite tube structure heat exchanger, which is used in the composite tube structure heat exchanger described above.
[0008] The tube bundle flushing method for the composite tube structure heat exchanger provided in this application, since it is used in the composite tube structure heat exchanger in the above technical solution, has all the beneficial effects of the composite tube structure heat exchanger, and will not be repeated here.
[0009] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent in the following description or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description
[0010] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a composite tube heat exchanger according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the composite tube heat exchanger in the embodiment shown from direction A; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the composite tube heat exchanger in the embodiment shown from direction B. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cover plate assembly in a composite tube heat exchanger according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the cover plate assembly in the C-direction of the embodiment shown; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly between the cover plate assembly and the rear water tank according to one embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a flowchart of a tube bundle flushing method for a composite tube structure heat exchanger according to an embodiment of this application.
[0011] in, Figures 1 to 6 The correspondence between the reference numerals and component names in the attached drawings is as follows: 100 Composite tube structure heat exchanger, 110 Shell, 120 Heat exchange chamber, 130 Tube bundle assembly, 132 Tube bundle inlet, 134 Tube bundle outlet, 136 Heat exchange tube, 140 Front tube box, 150 Rear water tank, 160 Cover plate assembly, 162 Rear sealing plate, 164 Rear baffle, 166 Seal, 170 End plate, 180 Air inlet pipe, 190 Air outlet pipe. Detailed Implementation
[0012] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other.
[0013] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this application. However, this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0014] The following reference Figures 1 to 7 This application describes a composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 and a tube bundle flushing method for the composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 according to some embodiments of the present application.
[0015] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a composite tube heat exchanger 100 according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 of the illustrated embodiment from direction A. Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 in the embodiment shown from direction B. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cover plate assembly 160 in a composite tube heat exchanger 100 according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the cover plate assembly 160 in the embodiment shown in the figure, along the C-direction. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly between the cover plate assembly 160 and the rear water tank 150 according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a flowchart of a tube bundle flushing method for a composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 according to an embodiment of this application.
[0016] According to the first aspect of this application, Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, an embodiment of this application provides a composite tube structure heat exchanger 100, comprising: a shell 110, which is a cylindrical pressure-bearing structure open at both ends, and a heat exchange chamber 120 inside the shell 110; a tube bundle assembly 130 inserted into the shell 110, the tube bundle assembly 130 including a tube bundle inlet end 132 and a tube bundle outlet end 134; a front tube box 140 disposed at the front end of the shell 110 and communicating with the tube bundle inlet end 132; and a rear water tank. 150 is disposed in the heat exchange chamber 120 and communicates with the tube bundle outlet 134; cover plate assembly 160 covers the rear end of the housing 110 and abuts against the rear water tank 150; wherein, the rear water tank 150 is detachably connected to the tube bundle outlet 134, and the cover plate assembly 160 is detachably connected to the housing 110. When the rear water tank 150 and the cover plate assembly 160 are disassembled, the tube bundle outlet 134 is exposed at the rear end opening of the housing 110.
[0017] like Figure 1As shown, the composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 provided in this application includes a shell 110, a tube bundle assembly 130, a front tube box 140, a rear water tank 150, and a cover plate assembly 160. The shell 110 is a cylindrical pressure-bearing structure open at both ends. A heat exchange chamber 120 is provided inside the shell 110. The tube bundle assembly 130 is inserted into the heat exchange chamber 120 of the shell 110. The tube bundle assembly 130 consists of multiple heat exchange tubes 136, each of which can independently transport water for heat exchange. The tube bundle assembly 130 includes a tube bundle inlet end 132 and a tube bundle outlet end 134, i.e., the tube bundle assembly 130 includes a tube bundle inlet end 132 for water intake and a tube bundle outlet end 134 for water return. The front tube box 140 is located at the front end of the shell 110 and communicates with the tube bundle inlet end 132 to achieve… Water is injected into the front tube box 140, flowing from the tube bundle inlet 132 into a portion of the heat exchange tubes 136 within the tube bundle assembly 130. The rear water tank 150 is located within the heat exchange chamber 120 and communicates with the tube bundle outlet 134. Water flows in from the tube bundle inlet 132, merges in the rear water tank 150, and then flows from the tube bundle outlet 134 into another portion of the heat exchange tubes 136 within the tube bundle assembly 130. From there, the water returns to the tube bundle inlet 132, thus circulating heat exchange and carrying the heat out of the heat exchange chamber 120 using water circulation, completing the entire heat exchange process. The cover plate assembly 160 seals the rear end of the housing 110 and abuts against the rear water tank 150, sealing the entire heat exchange chamber 120. The rear water tank 150 is detachably connected to the tube bundle outlet 134, and the cover plate assembly 160 is detachably connected to the shell 110. When the rear water tank 150 and the cover plate assembly 160 are detached, the tube bundle outlet 134 is exposed at the rear end opening of the shell 110, achieving communication between the tube bundle inlet 132 and the tube bundle outlet 134 of the tube bundle assembly 130. Thus, if the heat exchange tubes 136 in the tube bundle assembly 130 are blocked by impurities, it is not necessary to completely remove the entire tube bundle assembly 130 from the shell 110 of the heat exchanger. Only the cover plate assembly 160 needs to be removed, and then the rear water tank 150 needs to be removed. The tube bundle outlet 134 will then be exposed at the rear end opening of the shell 110. At this time, the two ends of the exposed tube bundle assembly 130 can be flushed to achieve the purpose of flushing.
[0018] This application provides a composite tube structure heat exchanger 100. A detachable cover plate assembly 160 and a detachable rear water tank 150 are provided at the rear end of the heat exchanger shell 110, i.e., at one end of the end cap structure. After removing the cover plate assembly 160, the rear water tank 150 can be directly removed, completely exposing the tube bundle outlet end 134 at the rear end opening of the shell 110. This, combined with the front tube box 140, forms a bidirectional through-flow channel, allowing for high-pressure axial flushing without moving the tube bundle. This structure requires only a pre-reserved operating space at the rear end for removing the cover plate assembly 160, eliminating the stringent site requirements of traditional tube bundle extraction cleaning and solving the problems of large footprint, long operation time, and high maintenance costs associated with traditional heat exchanger flushing operations.
[0019] Specifically, a heat exchanger, also known as a heat exchanger or heat exchange equipment, is a device used to transfer heat from a hot fluid to a cold fluid to meet specified process requirements. It is an industrial application of convective heat transfer and heat conduction. In engineering applications, the cold-side medium of heat exchangers is often engineering water, which contains many impurities. Prolonged use can cause blockages in the heat exchange tubes, so heat exchangers require regular maintenance, flushing, and cleaning. Currently, traditional heat exchangers have a head-type rear end. To flush the tube bundle, it must be completely removed from the front water tank side, requiring nearly twice the space of the heat exchanger itself. The total space required for the entire heat exchanger is approximately twice its volume. In other words, traditional heat exchanger flushing typically involves removing the tube bundle from the shell for cleaning. This necessitates pre-planning the distance and sufficient space for tube removal, placing certain requirements on the floor space and piping layout. Maintenance is also time-consuming and labor-intensive, reducing user productivity.
[0020] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the purpose of this application is to provide a composite tube structure heat exchanger 100, which designs the traditional welded rear end cap structure of the heat exchanger into a detachable cover plate assembly 160 and an independent rear water tank 150 structure. During maintenance, only the connecting bolts between the cover plate assembly 160 and the rear end of the shell 110 need to be removed, and the rear water tank 150 can be removed to fully expose the tube bundle outlet end 134, forming a bidirectional through flow channel in conjunction with the disassembly of the front tube box 140. The detachable structure allows the tube bundle assembly 130 to achieve high-pressure water axial through flushing without needing to be pulled out of its original position, completely eliminating the rigid requirements of the traditional solution for tube removal space, and shortening maintenance time. It effectively solves the problems of large footprint, long time consumption, and high operation and maintenance costs caused by tube blockage during flushing operations in traditional heat exchangers.
[0021] This application improves the end cap structure of traditional heat exchangers, so that during equipment maintenance, the composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 of this application only needs to have the cover plate assembly 160 removed to expose the rear water tank 150. Then, the rear water tank 150 can be removed without pulling out the tube bundle assembly 130 for flushing and cleaning, which greatly improves work efficiency, reduces maintenance difficulty and saves maintenance time, so that the equipment can better serve users and create more economic value.
[0022] In specific applications, the composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 can be a self-cleaning heat exchanger. The front tube box 140 can be a detachable or openable structure. When it is necessary to expose the tube bundle inlet 132, the tube bundle inlet 132 can be exposed simply by disassembling or opening the front tube box 140. This, together with the cover plate assembly 160 and the rear water tank 150, forms a bidirectional through flow channel for the tube bundle assembly 130.
[0023] In some embodiments, optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, it also includes: an end plate 170, which is disposed on the rear end side of the housing 110, and a cover plate assembly 160 is detachably connected to the end plate 170 by bolts.
[0024] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the composite tube heat exchanger 100 also includes an end plate 170. The end plate 170 is located on the rear end side of the shell 110, and the cover plate assembly 160 is detachably connected to the end plate 170 by bolts, thereby realizing a detachable connection between the cover plate assembly 160 and the shell 110.
[0025] In specific applications, the end plate 170 can be specifically configured as a flange structure on one side of the housing 110, and the cover plate assembly 160 can be detachably connected to the flange structure by bolts, thereby realizing a detachable connection between the cover plate assembly 160 and the housing 110. The specific choice can be made according to the actual use situation, and will not be listed here.
[0026] In some embodiments, optionally, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, it also includes: an air inlet pipe 180, which is disposed on one side of the front end of the housing 110 and is connected to the heat exchange chamber 120; and an air outlet pipe 190, which is disposed on one side of the rear end of the housing 110 and is connected to the heat exchange chamber 120. In the heat exchange state, the gas flows into the heat exchange chamber 120 from the air inlet pipe 180, and after flowing and exchanging heat with the tube bundle assembly 130 in the heat exchange chamber 120, it flows out of the heat exchange chamber 120 from the air outlet pipe 190.
[0027] Specifically, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the composite tube structure heat exchanger 100 also includes an inlet pipe 180 and an outlet pipe 190. The inlet pipe 180 is located on one side of the front end of the shell 110 and communicates with the heat exchange chamber 120; the outlet pipe 190 is located on one side of the rear end of the shell 110 and communicates with the heat exchange chamber 120. During heat exchange, gas flows into the heat exchange chamber 120 from the inlet pipe 180, exchanges heat with the tube bundle assembly 130 within the heat exchange chamber 120, and then flows out of the heat exchange chamber 120 from the outlet pipe 190. This transfers heat from the hot fluid to the cold fluid. The circulating water carries away the heat from the heat exchange chamber 120, maintaining the temperature of the heat exchange chamber 120 within a certain range.
[0028] Specifically, the internal gas path structure of the composite tube heat exchanger 100 of this application enables the heat exchanger to handle heat exchange between gaseous media such as industrial waste gas and air and liquids such as engineering water within the tube bundle assembly 130. The gas, through a front-end inlet and rear-end outlet flow channel design, forms a counter-current or cross-flow heat exchange mode with the tube bundle assembly 130, maximizing heat transfer efficiency while ensuring that heat from the heat exchange chamber 120 is continuously carried away, avoiding localized overheating.
[0029] In specific applications, the air inlet pipe 180 and the air outlet pipe 190 can be made of steel pipes. The air inlet pipe 180 and the air outlet pipe 190 are welded to the housing 110. The specific choice can be made according to the actual use situation, and will not be listed here.
[0030] In some embodiments, optionally, such as Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the cover plate assembly 160 includes: a rear sealing plate 162, which is detachably connected to the end plate 170 by bolts; a rear baffle 164, which is disposed on the rear sealing plate 162; and a sealing element 166, which is installed and fixed on the rear baffle 164. When the rear sealing plate 162 and the end plate 170 are installed and fixed, the sealing element 166 abuts against the rear water tank 150 to seal the heat exchange chamber 120.
[0031] Specifically, such as Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the cover plate assembly 160 includes a rear sealing plate 162, a rear baffle 164, and a sealing element 166. The rear sealing plate 162 is detachably connected to the end plate 170 via bolts, enabling the detachable connection between the entire cover plate assembly 160 and the housing 110. The rear baffle 164 is mounted on the rear sealing plate 162, and the sealing element 166 is fixedly installed on the rear baffle 164. With the rear sealing plate 162 and end plate 170 fixedly installed, the sealing element 166 abuts against the rear water tank 150 to seal the heat exchange chamber 120, thereby sealing the end of the heat exchange chamber 120 and preventing gas leakage from the connection between the cover plate assembly 160 and the housing 110. This prevents short-circuiting of the heat medium and ensures sufficient heat exchange with the tube bundle assembly 130.
[0032] Specifically, the rear sealing plate 162 is detachably connected to the end plate 170 at the rear end of the housing 110 via bolts, serving as the pressure-bearing body of the cover assembly 160. The rear baffle 164 is fixed inside the rear sealing plate 162, near the rear water tank 150, and supports the seal 166. The seal 166 is mounted on the rear baffle 164. When the rear sealing plate 162 is locked to the end plate 170, the seal 166 is pressurized and tightly abuts against the rear water tank 150, sealing the end of the heat exchange chamber 120. This application enables the cover plate assembly 160 to be disassembled as a whole through bolt connection, facilitating the removal of the rear water tank 150 and achieving quick disassembly and assembly; and utilizes the deformation of the sealing element 166 when the rear sealing plate 162 is pressed to form a reliable sealing interface with the rear water tank 150, effectively preventing gas leakage from the rear end of the shell 110 in the heat exchange chamber 120, ensuring the sealing of the gas circulation path, guaranteeing heat exchange efficiency and media recovery, realizing the function of dynamic sealing, and solving the defect of the non-removable traditional welded head.
[0033] In specific applications, such as Figure 6 As shown, the rear sealing plate 162 can be specifically configured as a square steel plate, the rear baffle 164 as an I-beam structure baffle, and the sealing element 166 can be specifically configured as a Y-shaped sealing strip made of silicone rubber. The rear baffle 164 and the Y-shaped sealing strip are connected by bolts to form a longitudinal sealing band. After assembly, the Y-shaped sealing strip can be tightly pressed against the surface of the rear water tank 150, forming a sealed cavity on the air inlet and outlet side inside the shell 110. That is, the Y-shaped sealing strip can be fixed to the I-beam of the rear baffle 164 by bolts, with the sealing side of the Y-shaped sealing strip facing the rear water tank 150. Thus, when the rear sealing plate 162 and the end plate 170 are installed and fixed, the sealing element 166 abuts against the rear water tank 150, thereby sealing the heat exchange cavity 120. Specific configurations can be selected according to actual usage and will not be listed here.
[0034] In some embodiments, optionally, such as Figure 1As shown, the tube bundle assembly 130 includes multiple heat exchange tubes 136, the inlet end of the multiple heat exchange tubes 136 is connected to the front tube box 140, and the outlet end of the multiple heat exchange tubes 136 is connected to the rear water tank 150.
[0035] Specifically, the tube bundle assembly 130 includes multiple heat exchange tubes 136. The inlet ends of the multiple heat exchange tubes 136 are connected to the front tube box 140, and the outlet ends of the multiple heat exchange tubes 136 are connected to the rear water tank 150. When water is added to the front tube box 140, water flows in from the inlet ends of some of the heat exchange tubes 136 and flows to the rear water tank 150 to converge. After converging, water flows in from the return ends of other heat exchange tubes 136 and flows to the front tube box 140 to converge, thus completing a water circulation. Through the circulation of cooling water, the heat in the heat exchange chamber 120 is carried out of the heat exchange chamber 120.
[0036] Specifically, the tube bundle assembly 130 consists of multiple heat exchange tubes 136, with the following water circuit connections: the inlet path connects the inlet ends of all heat exchange tubes 136 to the front tube box 140, and the water flow is distributed from the front tube box 140 to each heat exchange tube 136. The outlet path connects the outlet ends of all heat exchange tubes 136 to the rear water tank 150, and the water flow flows through the heat exchange tubes 136 and converges into the rear water tank 150. For example, if the multiple heat exchange tubes 136 in the tube bundle assembly 130 are divided into two equal parts, one part being the first group of heat exchange tubes 136 and the other part being the second group of heat exchange tubes 136, then the water flow enters the first group of heat exchange tubes 136 from the front tube box 140, flows to the rear water tank 150 to converge, then turns and enters the second group of heat exchange tubes 136 before returning to the front tube box 140, forming a closed loop. This dual-circulation design achieves efficient heat exchange. As the cooling water flows through the heat exchange tube 136, it absorbs heat from the gas inside the heat exchange chamber 120. By controlling the flow of water through the front tube box 140 and the rear water tank 150, the heat exchange tube 136 is divided into an inlet group and a return group, extending the path of the water flow within the heat exchange chamber 120 and maximizing the heat exchange efficiency. This configuration ensures that the circulating water continuously transfers heat from the heat exchange chamber 120 to the external system, maintaining a stable temperature inside the chamber.
[0037] In specific applications, the heat exchange tube 136 can be made of steel or polyester fiber, depending on the actual application, and will not be listed here.
[0038] According to the second aspect of this application, such as Figure 7 As shown, embodiments of this application also propose a tube bundle flushing method for a composite tube structure heat exchanger, used in the composite tube structure heat exchanger of the above embodiments. The tube bundle flushing method includes: Step 202: Remove the connecting bolts between the cover plate assembly and the housing, and remove the cover plate assembly; Step 204: Remove the fixing bolts of the rear water tank, remove the rear water tank, and fully expose the water outlet end of the tube bundle assembly. Step 206: While keeping the tube bundle assembly and the housing in place, flush the tube bundle assembly with water at a preset pressure for a preset duration.
[0039] Specifically, the tube bundle flushing method includes disassembling the cover plate assembly, releasing the connecting bolts between the cover plate assembly and the shell, and removing the cover plate assembly to expose the rear water tank. The rear water tank is then removed, its fixing bolts are loosened, and the tank is moved out, ensuring all outlet ends of the tube bundle assembly are fully exposed to the rear opening of the shell. With the tube bundle assembly fixed to the shell, it is axially flushed with a preset pressure water flow for a preset duration until impurities are removed. The entire process requires no movement of the tube bundle assembly, completely avoiding the need for large operating spaces required by traditional methods. Because the exposed outlet ends of the tube bundle and the front tube box form a bidirectional flow channel, the water flow can penetrate the entire heat exchange tube, achieving thorough cleaning without dead angles. Furthermore, the preset pressure and duration parameters ensure consistent flushing results, reduce human error, and shorten maintenance time by more than 60% compared to traditional tube extraction cleaning methods, reducing equipment downtime losses. This method effectively solves the flushing challenges caused by space constraints on engineering sites, and is particularly suitable for narrow workshops or dense pipeline scenarios, significantly reducing operation and maintenance costs and extending the service life of the heat exchanger.
[0040] In some embodiments, optionally, the tube bundle assembly is subjected to through flushing, specifically including: through flushing from the tube bundle inlet end or the tube bundle outlet end of the tube bundle assembly.
[0041] Specifically, depending on the blockage situation, high-pressure water can be injected from the inlet end of the tube bundle (forward flushing) or from the outlet end (reverse flushing). The water flows axially along the heat exchange tubes, removing deposited impurities through physical impact and discharging them from the opposite ends. Forward flushing is suitable for removing suspended solids accumulated on the inlet side; reverse flushing effectively solves the problem of calcification and scaling at the outlet end. Combined with the detachable design of the front tube box, it allows free access to the flushing equipment at both ends, improving the efficiency of impurity removal. The bidirectional flushing mode ensures that the entire length of each heat exchange tube is covered by high-pressure water, avoiding the flow resistance blind spots of traditional unidirectional flushing.
[0042] In some embodiments, the preset duration is optionally h, satisfying: 5min≤h≤10min.
[0043] Specifically, by setting a preset flushing time h that meets the requirement of 5min≤h≤10min, it is ensured that the high-pressure water flow fully penetrates all heat exchange tubes and thoroughly removes impurities adhering to the tube walls; this avoids localized residues caused by insufficient time, which would affect the flushing effect. In addition, it prevents water and energy waste caused by excessive flushing and reduces the potential risk of damage to the tube bundle assembly structure due to long-term impact of high-pressure water.
[0044] In practical applications, the preset rinsing time can be set to 5 minutes, 6 minutes, 7 minutes, 9 minutes or 10 minutes, which can be selected according to the actual use situation, and will not be listed here.
[0045] In some embodiments, optionally, the preset pressure is F, which satisfies: 0.8MPa≤F≤1.2MPa.
[0046] Specifically, by setting the preset pressure F of the flushing water flow to meet the condition of 0.8MPa≤F≤1.2MPa, the water flow is ensured to have sufficient kinetic energy to penetrate the entire length of the heat exchange tube, effectively stripping away deposits on the tube wall, overcoming the flow resistance attenuation of the multi-tube parallel system, and maintaining the minimum effective impact force at the end of each heat exchange tube. At the same time, it avoids overpressure impact that could cause deformation of the heat exchange tube or cracking of the weld, and prevents fatigue damage to the tube bundle assembly support structure caused by high-pressure water jets.
[0047] In specific applications, the preset flushing pressure can be set to 0.8MPa, 0.9MPa, 1.0MPa, 1.1MPa or 1.2MPa, which can be selected according to the actual use situation, and will not be listed here.
[0048] In some embodiments, the tube bundle flushing method may optionally include: after the tube bundle assembly is flushed through, installing a rear water tank in the heat exchange chamber and connecting the rear water tank to the tube bundle outlet end of the tube bundle assembly, and connecting and fixing the cover plate assembly to the housing to seal the port of the housing.
[0049] Specifically, the tube bundle flushing method also includes, after the tube bundle assembly is flushed through, installing the rear water tank in the heat exchange chamber and connecting the rear water tank with the tube bundle outlet of the tube bundle assembly, and connecting and fixing the cover plate assembly to the shell to seal the port of the shell.
[0050] Specifically, after flushing, the rear water tank is reinserted into the heat exchange chamber, and its connection to the tube bundle outlet is sealed using fixing bolts, restoring the cooling water circulation hub function. Further, the cover plate assembly is installed and secured to the rear end of the shell with bolts, driving the seal to press against the rear water tank. Finally, an airtightness test is performed according to pressure equipment specifications to confirm zero leakage in the heat exchange chamber. The tube bundle flushing method of this application can reduce equipment restart time to less than 30% of traditional solutions; the rigid sealing interface between the rear water tank and the tube bundle outlet prevents water leakage; the dynamic seal of the cover plate assembly blocks the gas leakage path; the detachable structure allows the tube bundle assembly to be flushed axially with high-pressure water without needing to be removed, completely eliminating the rigid requirements of traditional solutions for tube removal space, and shortening maintenance time. This effectively solves the problems of large footprint, long time consumption, and high maintenance costs caused by tube blockage during flushing operations in traditional heat exchangers.
[0051] In the description of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more. Unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. The terms "connection," "installation," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0052] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "specific embodiment," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.
[0053] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. A composite tube heat exchanger, characterized in that, include: The shell is a cylindrical pressure-bearing structure with openings at both ends, and a heat exchange chamber is provided inside the shell; A tube bundle assembly is inserted into the housing, and the tube bundle assembly includes a tube bundle inlet end and a tube bundle outlet end; The front pipe box is located at the front end of the housing and is connected to the water inlet end of the pipe bundle; The rear water tank is located inside the heat exchange chamber and is connected to the water outlet of the tube bundle; A cover plate assembly is attached to the rear end of the housing and abuts against the rear water tank; The rear water tank is detachably connected to the outlet end of the tube bundle, and the cover plate assembly is detachably connected to the housing. When the rear water tank and the cover plate assembly are detached, the outlet end of the tube bundle is exposed at the rear end opening of the housing.
2. The composite tube heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An end plate is disposed on the rear end side of the housing, and the cover plate assembly is detachably connected to the end plate by bolts.
3. The composite tube heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An air inlet pipe is located on one side of the front end of the housing, and the air inlet pipe is connected to the heat exchange chamber; An exhaust pipe is located on one side of the rear end of the housing, and the exhaust pipe is connected to the heat exchange chamber; In the heat exchange state, gas flows into the heat exchange chamber from the inlet pipe, exchanges heat with the tube bundle assembly in the heat exchange chamber, and then flows out of the heat exchange chamber from the outlet pipe.
4. The composite tube heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cover plate assembly includes: A rear sealing plate, which is detachably connected to the end plate by bolts; A rear baffle is disposed on the rear sealing plate; A sealing element is installed and fixed on the rear baffle. When the rear baffle is installed and fixed to the end plate, the sealing element abuts against the rear water tank to seal the heat exchange chamber.
5. The composite tube structure heat exchanger according to claim 4, characterized in that, The tube bundle assembly includes multiple heat exchange tubes, with the inlet ends of the multiple heat exchange tubes connected to the front tube box and the outlet ends of the multiple heat exchange tubes connected to the rear water tank.
6. A tube bundle flushing method for a composite tube heat exchanger, characterized in that, For a composite tube structure heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the tube bundle flushing method comprises: Remove the connecting bolts between the cover plate assembly and the housing, and remove the cover plate assembly; Remove the fixing bolts of the rear water tank and remove the rear water tank to fully expose the water outlet end of the tube bundle assembly; While the tube bundle assembly and the housing remain in place, the tube bundle assembly is flushed through with a water flow at a preset pressure for a preset duration.
7. The tube bundle flushing method for the composite tube structure heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that, The process of flushing the tube bundle assembly specifically includes: A through-flushing process is performed from either the inlet or outlet end of the tube bundle assembly.
8. The tube bundle flushing method for the composite tube structure heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that, The preset duration is h, which satisfies: 5min≤h≤10min.
9. The tube bundle flushing method for the composite tube structure heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that, The preset pressure is F, which satisfies: 0.8MPa≤F≤1.2MPa.
10. The tube bundle flushing method for the composite tube structure heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that, The tube bundle flushing method further includes: After the tube bundle assembly is flushed through, the rear water tank is installed in the heat exchange chamber, and the rear water tank is connected to the water outlet end of the tube bundle assembly. The cover plate assembly is then connected and fixed to the shell to seal the port of the shell.