Tube plate heat exchanger

Abstract

The utility model discloses a tube-sheet heat exchanger, belongs to the field of heat exchange, solves the defect that in the prior art, a box body of a heat exchanger is too high in cost, and mainly adopts the technical scheme that the tube-sheet heat exchanger comprises a lower heat exchange box, the lower heat exchange box is internally provided with a lower heat exchange cavity for circulating flue gas and a plurality of groups of heat exchange plates arranged in the lower heat exchange cavity at intervals, a plurality of upper heat exchange boxes corresponding to the heat exchange plates in position are fixed on the lower heat exchange box, upper heat exchange cavities isolated from the lower heat exchange cavity are formed in the upper heat exchange boxes, first flowing cavities are formed in the heat exchange plates, and second flowing cavities are formed in the first flowing cavities. A first flowing cavity is formed in the upper heat exchange box, a phase change material is arranged in the first flowing cavity, a plurality of heat exchange pipes with main bodies located in the upper heat exchange cavity are connected to the single heat exchange plate, second flowing cavities communicated with the first flowing cavity are formed in the heat exchange pipes, and cold side fluid flows between the heat exchange pipes and the upper heat exchange box. The heat exchanger is mainly used for reducing the cost of the box body for bearing the fluid to be subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heat exchange, and in particular to a tube sheet heat exchanger. Background Technology

[0002] A vacuum heat exchanger is a heat exchange device that operates in a vacuum environment, primarily used to transfer heat between fluids at different temperatures. Its structure typically includes a shell, tube bundle, and tube sheet. The shell ensures the internal vacuum environment, the tube bundle is the main site of heat exchange, and the tube sheet fixes the tube bundle and separates different fluid zones. Its working principle utilizes the special thermophysical properties of fluids under vacuum conditions, such as lower boiling points, allowing the low-temperature fluid to more easily evaporate and absorb heat in a vacuum environment. The high-temperature fluid then transfers heat to the low-temperature fluid through the tube bundle, achieving efficient heat transfer. Vacuum heat exchangers offer many advantages, such as achieving efficient evaporation at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption, and effectively preventing material oxidation due to the vacuum environment, making them suitable for heating or cooling heat-sensitive materials. They are widely used in industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing, and are crucial equipment for improving production efficiency and product quality.

[0003] In existing vacuum heat exchanger technology, a large enclosure typically houses all the heat exchange tubes. The fluid to be heat-exchanged flows within the enclosure, and heat is transferred to the fluid through the heat exchange tubes, thus completing the heat exchange process. However, with the continuous increase in heat exchange demand, a large number of heat exchange tubes need to be accommodated, and more fluid needs to flow within the enclosure, leading to a significant increase in pressure inside the enclosure. This high-pressure environment places extremely high demands on the thickness and material properties of the enclosure. Manufacturing such heat exchangers to meet large heat exchange demands often requires a significant investment in enclosure manufacturing to ensure the strength and stability of the enclosure. Moreover, due to the unstable pressure of the fluid to be heat-exchanged, the enclosure is also at risk of damage. Once the enclosure is damaged, it will not only affect the normal operation of the heat exchanger but may also lead to production interruption and greater economic losses. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the high cost of heat exchanger housing in the prior art, this application provides a tube sheet heat exchanger, which reduces the cost of the housing that carries the fluid to be exchanged in the heat exchanger.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution: a tube sheet heat exchanger, including a lower heat exchange box, wherein the lower heat exchange box is provided with a lower heat exchange cavity for circulating flue gas and multiple sets of heat exchange plates spaced apart in the lower heat exchange cavity, multiple upper heat exchange boxes corresponding to the positions of the heat exchange plates are fixed on the lower heat exchange box, the upper heat exchange box is provided with an upper heat exchange cavity isolated from the lower heat exchange cavity, the heat exchange plate is provided with a first flow cavity, the first flow cavity is provided with a phase change material, multiple heat exchange tubes whose main bodies are located in the upper heat exchange cavity are connected to a single heat exchange plate, the heat exchange tube is provided with a second flow cavity communicating with the first flow cavity, and a cold-side fluid flows between the heat exchange tube and the upper heat exchange box.

[0006] After adopting the above technical solution, this application has the following advantages: Compared with using a single box to house all the heat exchange tubes, this solution uses multiple upper heat exchange boxes to house all the heat exchange tubes respectively. Compared with the prior art solution that uses only one large box, this solution can reduce the pressure-bearing capacity requirements of the upper heat exchange box, thereby reducing the large amount of cost required to ensure strength and stability in the manufacturing of the upper heat exchange box, and effectively reducing the overall cost of the upper heat exchange box that carries the cold-side fluid. After absorbing the heat of the flue gas in the first flow chamber, the phase change material turns into a gaseous state. The gaseous phase change material flows into the heat exchange tubes of the upper heat exchange chamber, that is, the second flow chamber. Since the fluid outside the heat exchange tubes is the cold-side fluid, the gaseous phase change material transfers heat to the cold-side fluid. After releasing all the heat, the gaseous phase change material turns into a liquid phase change material and flows back into the first flow chamber, thus completing the heat transfer cycle. Furthermore, since the fluid in the upper heat exchange chamber of a small box exchanges heat with the heat exchange tubes therein, compared to the cold-side fluid in a large box exchanging heat with all the heat exchange tubes, the heat exchange in this scheme is more targeted, increasing the heat exchange efficiency. In addition, the fluid content in a single upper heat exchange chamber is relatively small. Compared with the original heat exchange method of a large water tank, it can avoid the existence of dead zones in the fluid in the upper heat exchange chamber and avoid the formation of a heat insulation layer on the outer wall of the heat exchange tubes, thus increasing the overall heat exchange efficiency.

[0007] Furthermore, the upper heat exchange cavities in two adjacent upper heat exchange boxes are connected to each other through a connecting part, which is located at the top or bottom of the upper heat exchange box, and the positions of two adjacent connecting parts are staggered.

[0008] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, the staggered connecting sections allow for a more uniform and orderly flow of the cold-side fluid between adjacent upper heat exchange chambers. This avoids excessive concentration or poor flow of fluid in localized areas, resulting in a more rational distribution of the cold-side fluid throughout the heat exchange system and contributing to improved consistency in overall heat exchange performance. The flow of the cold-side fluid between different upper heat exchange chambers through the connecting sections continuously refreshes the fluid in contact with the heat exchange tubes, maintaining a good temperature gradient around the tubes. This allows for the continuous and effective absorption of heat released by the phase change material, further improving heat transfer efficiency and enhancing overall heat exchange performance.

[0009] Furthermore, the heat exchange tubes in the upper heat exchange box are connected by a manifold, and the manifold is provided with an interface for connecting to an air pump, so that the air pump can reduce the air pressure in the first flow chamber and the second flow chamber through the interface.

[0010] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, all heat exchange tubes are connected together via a manifold. This allows the air pump to simultaneously reduce the air pressure in all connected flow chambers during extraction. Furthermore, the air pump lowers the air pressure in both the first and second flow chambers, enabling the phase change material (PCM) to undergo phase change more readily under lower pressure. This accelerates the PCM's transition from liquid to gaseous state, thereby more efficiently absorbing heat from the flue gas in the lower heat exchange chamber. Once the gaseous PCM enters the second flow chamber, it can more smoothly transfer heat to the cold-side fluid even at relatively lower pressure, then rapidly condense and flow back to the first flow chamber, accelerating the entire heat transfer cycle and improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0011] Furthermore, the upper heat exchange chambers in two adjacent upper heat exchange boxes are interconnected through a connecting part, and the heat exchange tubes in two adjacent upper heat exchange chambers are interconnected through a manifold, which is located within the connecting part.

[0012] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, the manifold is cleverly placed within the connecting section, utilizing the space of the connecting section and avoiding the need to occupy additional space within the upper heat exchanger box for manifold placement. This results in a more compact internal structure of the upper heat exchanger box, achieving a rational layout of multiple functional components within a limited space and improving space utilization efficiency. The manifold placement within the connecting section allows for a closer integration of the flow of cold-side fluid between different upper heat exchange chambers and the communication between heat exchange tubes. When the cold-side fluid flows through the connecting section between adjacent upper heat exchange chambers, it also exchanges heat with the phase change material within the manifold upon contact with its surface. This facilitates better heat distribution and circulation among the heat exchange tubes, further promoting a uniform distribution of heat throughout the entire heat exchange system and contributing to improved overall heat exchange efficiency.

[0013] Furthermore, the axis of the manifold is inclined to the horizontal plane.

[0014] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, the manifold axis is inclined to the horizontal plane, allowing the liquefied phase change material (PCM) within the pipe to flow more smoothly under the influence of gravity. For liquid PCM, the inclined manifold facilitates its rapid outflow, preventing fluid accumulation or stagnation within the pipe. Furthermore, when system evacuation or cleaning is required, the inclined design helps to completely drain any residual liquid, improving the convenience and thoroughness of maintenance. For the PCM's circulation within the manifold, the inclined axis enhances its flow dynamics. When the PCM condenses from a gaseous state to a liquid state, it can flow out of the manifold more rapidly with the aid of gravity, accelerating the PCM's circulation speed and making the entire heat transfer process more efficient. This helps maintain a reasonable distribution of the PCM in different flow chambers, ensuring continuous and stable heat exchange performance.

[0015] Furthermore, the lower heat exchange box is provided with an upward-facing mounting port, and the heat exchange tubes on the heat exchange plate are all located in the upper heat exchange cavity of a single upper heat exchange box. The upper heat exchange box and the corresponding heat exchange plate form a set of heat exchange units, and the heat exchange units are installed on the mounting port of the lower heat exchange box.

[0016] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the upper heat exchange box and corresponding heat exchange plates are combined into a set of heat exchange units. This modular design makes the installation and disassembly of the heat exchanger more convenient. Each heat exchange unit can be manufactured, transported, and installed independently. During on-site installation, the heat exchange units only need to be installed sequentially on the mounting port of the lower heat exchange box, greatly shortening the installation cycle and reducing installation difficulty. Moreover, if a heat exchange unit fails, it can be easily replaced without affecting the normal operation of other heat exchange units, improving the maintainability of the equipment. The heat exchange units are installed on the mounting port of the lower heat exchange box, which helps to improve the sealing between the upper and lower parts. Through reasonable sealing design (such as the use of sealing gaskets), it is possible to effectively prevent the flue gas in the lower heat exchange chamber from leaking into the upper heat exchange chamber, ensuring effective isolation between the cold-side fluid and the flue gas, and ensuring the safety and reliability of the heat exchange process. At the same time, good sealing also helps to maintain a vacuum environment in the lower heat exchange chamber (if a vacuum is required), improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0017] Furthermore, the upper heat exchange box is provided with a main water inlet and a main water outlet, the main water inlet being located downstream in the flue gas flow direction and the main water outlet being located upstream in the flue gas flow direction.

[0018] By employing the aforementioned technical solution and this counter-current heat exchange method (the cold-side fluid enters the upper heat exchanger from downstream of the flue gas flow direction and exits from upstream), a significant temperature difference can be created between the cold-side fluid and the hot-side flue gas. Throughout the heat exchange process, the cold-side fluid (lower temperature) initially entering the upper heat exchanger first comes into contact with the relatively cool flue gas after passing through the preceding heat exchange units. As the cold-side fluid flows within the heat exchanger, its temperature gradually increases, while the flue gas it comes into contact with is also at a higher temperature. This ensures a relatively constant temperature difference between the cold-side fluid and the flue gas throughout the entire heat exchange process, enabling long-term constant heat exchange between the flue gas and the cold-side fluid, effectively improving heat exchange efficiency. Compared to co-current heat exchange, co-current heat exchange results in a large temperature difference between the flue gas inlet side and the water inlet side. Although the heat exchange effect is better in this area, it may also cause damage to the heat exchange plate due to the large temperature difference. Furthermore, the temperature difference between the flue gas outlet side and the water outlet side is small, which makes it impossible to fully utilize the flue gas for heat exchange, resulting in relatively low heat exchange efficiency. In contrast, counter-current heat exchange allows the cold-side fluid to absorb more heat and fully utilize the waste heat of the flue gas.

[0019] Furthermore, the heat exchange plate and the heat exchange tube are connected by an intermediate pipe. The part of the intermediate pipe that connects to the heat exchange tube is a circular pipe, and the part of the intermediate pipe that connects to the heat exchange plate is an elliptical pipe.

[0020] Using the aforementioned technical solution, the circular pipe connected to the heat exchange tube can be well adapted to the shape of the heat exchange tube, allowing the gaseous phase change material to flow more naturally and smoothly from the heat exchange tube into the intermediate pipe, reducing flow resistance and turbulence caused by abrupt changes in pipe shape. Meanwhile, the elliptical pipe connected to the heat exchange plate can be better adapted to the shape and spatial distribution of the flow channels within the heat exchange plate, allowing the gaseous phase change material to enter the first flow chamber within the heat exchange plate more smoothly, which is beneficial for its circulation throughout the system.

[0021] Furthermore, the heat exchange tube has an elliptical shape on the upper and lower projection planes, similar to the second flow cavity, and the lower end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the heat exchange plate.

[0022] Using the aforementioned technical solution, the elliptical heat exchange tube has a larger surface area compared to other shapes such as circles, under the same cross-sectional area. A larger surface area means a greater contact area between the heat exchange tube and the surrounding cold-side fluid, enabling more efficient heat exchange and improving the efficiency of heat transfer from the gaseous phase change material to the cold-side fluid. When the gaseous phase change material flows within the second flow cavity, it can dissipate heat more quickly, accelerating its transformation from a gaseous to a liquid state, thereby promoting the entire heat transfer cycle. Furthermore, because the shape of the heat exchange tube is the same as that of the second flow cavity, the flow of the phase change material within the second flow cavity is smoother and more stable.

[0023] Furthermore, all of the aforementioned upper heat exchanger boxes are equipped with leak-proof water tanks.

[0024] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, the leak-proof water tank provides additional sealing protection for the upper heat exchanger. Even if the upper heat exchanger itself experiences seal failure or minor cracks, the leak-proof water tank can effectively prevent cold-side fluid from leaking into the external environment. This is particularly important for applications with strict requirements regarding fluid leakage (such as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries), avoiding potential environmental pollution, safety hazards, and material waste caused by fluid leakage. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, further illustrates this application:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a tube sheet heat exchanger according to this application;

[0027] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The left view;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a magnified view of point A;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a magnified view of point B;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the lower heat exchanger.

[0031] Figure descriptions: 1. Lower heat exchanger box; 11. Lower heat exchange chamber; 12. Installation port; 2. Upper heat exchanger box; 21. Upper heat exchange chamber; 22. Connecting part; 23. Main water inlet; 24. Main water outlet; 3. Heat exchange plate; 31. First flow chamber; 4. Heat exchange tube; 41. Second flow chamber; 5. Manifold; 6. Leak-proof water tank; 7. Intermediate pipe; 8. Interface. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0033] The terms "first," "second," etc. (if present) in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects, not to describe a specific order or sequence. Even if "second" is used before a technical feature for distinction, it does not necessarily imply the presence of "first." It should be understood that in this application, "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. It should be understood that in this application, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, X and / or Y can represent: X alone, X and Y simultaneously, and Y alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "Containing X, Y, and Z," "Containing X, Y, and Z" means that all three X, Y, and Z are included; "Containing X, Y, or Z" means that one of X, Y, and Z is included; "Containing X, Y, and / or Z" means that any one, two, or three of X, Y, and Z are included.

[0034] The technical solutions of this application will be described in detail below with specific embodiments. The following specific embodiments can be combined or substituted with each other according to the actual situation, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments.

[0035] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, this application provides a tube sheet heat exchanger, including a lower heat exchange box 1. The lower heat exchange box 1 is provided with a lower heat exchange cavity 11 for circulating flue gas and multiple sets of heat exchange plates 3 spaced apart in the lower heat exchange cavity 11. Multiple upper heat exchange boxes 2 are fixed on the lower heat exchange box 1, corresponding to the positions of the heat exchange plates 3. The upper heat exchange box 2 is provided with an upper heat exchange cavity 21 isolated from the lower heat exchange cavity 11. The heat exchange plate 3 is provided with a first flow cavity 31, and the first flow cavity 31 is provided with a phase change material. Multiple heat exchange tubes 4 with their main bodies located in the upper heat exchange cavity 21 are connected to a single heat exchange plate 3. The heat exchange tube 4 is provided with a second flow cavity 41 communicating with the first flow cavity 31. A cold-side fluid flows between the heat exchange tube 4 and the upper heat exchange box 2.

[0036] After adopting the above technical solution, this application has the following advantages: Compared with using a single box to house all the heat exchange tubes 4, this solution uses multiple upper heat exchange boxes 2 to house all the heat exchange tubes 4 respectively. Compared with the prior art solution that uses only one large box, this solution can reduce the pressure-bearing capacity requirements inside the upper heat exchange box 2, thereby reducing the large amount of cost required to ensure strength and stability in the manufacturing of the upper heat exchange box 2, and effectively reducing the overall cost of the upper heat exchange box 2 that carries the cold-side fluid. After absorbing the heat of the flue gas in the first flow chamber 31, the phase change material turns into a gaseous state. The gaseous phase change material flows to the heat exchange tubes 4 in the upper heat exchange chamber 21, that is, the second flow chamber 41. Since the fluid outside the heat exchange tubes 4 is the cold-side fluid, the gaseous phase change material transfers heat to the cold-side fluid. After the gaseous phase change material releases all the heat, it turns into a liquid phase change material and flows back into the first flow chamber 31, thus completing the heat transfer cycle. Furthermore, since the fluid in the upper heat exchange chamber 21 of a small box exchanges heat with the heat exchange tubes 4 therein, compared to the cold-side fluid in a large box exchanging heat with all the heat exchange tubes 4, the heat exchange in this scheme is more targeted, increasing the heat exchange efficiency. In addition, the fluid content in a single upper heat exchange chamber 21 is relatively small. Compared with the original heat exchange method of a large water tank, it can avoid the existence of dead zones in the fluid in the upper heat exchange chamber 21 and avoid the formation of a heat insulation layer on the outer wall of the heat exchange tubes 4, thus increasing the overall heat exchange efficiency.

[0037] Understandably, one upper heat exchange box 2 can be connected to a heat exchange plate 3, or multiple upper heat exchange boxes 2 can be connected to it. Therefore, the multiple heat exchange tubes 4 on it can be set in one upper heat exchange chamber 21, or multiple upper heat exchange chambers 21.

[0038] Furthermore, the upper heat exchange chambers 21 in two adjacent upper heat exchange boxes 2 are interconnected through a connecting part 22, which is located at the top or bottom of the upper heat exchange box 2, and the positions of two adjacent connecting parts 22 are staggered.

[0039] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, the staggered connecting parts 22 enable a more uniform and orderly flow of the cold-side fluid between adjacent upper heat exchange chambers 21. This avoids excessive concentration or poor flow of fluid in localized areas, resulting in a more rational distribution of the cold-side fluid throughout the heat exchange system and contributing to improved consistency in overall heat exchange performance. The flow of the cold-side fluid through the connecting parts 22 between different upper heat exchange chambers 21 continuously refreshes the fluid in contact with the heat exchange tubes 4, maintaining a good temperature gradient around the heat exchange tubes 4. This allows for the continuous and effective absorption of heat released by the phase change material, further improving heat transfer efficiency and enhancing overall heat exchange performance.

[0040] Furthermore, the heat exchange tubes 4 in the upper heat exchange box 2 are connected to each other through a manifold 5. The manifold 5 is provided with an interface 8 for connecting to an air pump, so that the air pump can reduce the air pressure in the first flow chamber 31 and the second flow chamber 41 through the interface 8.

[0041] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, all heat exchange tubes 4 are connected together through the manifold 5. This allows the air pump to simultaneously reduce the air pressure in all connected flow chambers during evacuation. Furthermore, the air pump reduces the air pressure in both the first flow chamber 31 and the second flow chamber 41, enabling the phase change material to undergo phase change more easily under lower pressure. This helps accelerate the phase change material's transition from liquid to gas, thereby more efficiently absorbing heat from the flue gas in the lower heat exchange chamber 11. After the gaseous phase change material enters the second flow chamber 41, it can more smoothly transfer heat to the cold-side fluid even under relatively lower pressure, and then quickly condense and flow back to the first flow chamber 31, accelerating the entire heat transfer cycle and improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0042] Furthermore, the upper heat exchange chambers 21 in two adjacent upper heat exchange boxes 2 are interconnected through a connecting part 22, and the heat exchange tubes 4 in two adjacent upper heat exchange chambers 21 are interconnected through a manifold 5, which is located in the connecting part 22.

[0043] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the manifold 5 is placed within the connecting portion 22, cleverly utilizing the space of the connecting portion 22 and avoiding the need to occupy additional space within the upper heat exchange box 2 to arrange the manifold 5. This makes the internal structure of the upper heat exchange box 2 more compact, achieving a reasonable layout of multiple functional components within a limited space and improving space utilization efficiency. The placement of the manifold 5 within the connecting portion 22 allows for a closer integration of the flow of the cold-side fluid between different upper heat exchange chambers 21 and the communication between the heat exchange tubes 4. When the cold-side fluid flows through the connecting portion 22 between adjacent upper heat exchange chambers 21, it can also exchange heat with the phase change material within the manifold 5 upon contact with its surface. This results in better heat distribution and circulation among the heat exchange tubes 4, further promoting the uniform distribution of heat throughout the entire heat exchange system and contributing to improved overall heat exchange efficiency.

[0044] Specifically, the manifold is located at the top or bottom, and the positions of two adjacent manifolds 5 are staggered.

[0045] Furthermore, the axis of the manifold 5 is inclined to the horizontal plane.

[0046] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, the axis of the manifold 5 is inclined to the horizontal plane, allowing the liquefied phase change material (PCM) within the pipe to flow more smoothly under the influence of gravity. For liquid PCM, the inclined manifold 5 facilitates its rapid outflow, preventing fluid accumulation or stagnation within the manifold 5. Simultaneously, when system evacuation or cleaning is required, the inclined design facilitates the complete removal of residual liquid from the pipe, improving the convenience and thoroughness of maintenance. For the circulating flow of the PCM within the manifold 5, the inclined axis enhances its flow dynamics. When the PCM condenses from a gaseous state to a liquid state, it can flow out of the manifold 5 more rapidly with the aid of gravity, accelerating the PCM circulation speed and making the entire heat transfer process more efficient. This helps maintain a reasonable distribution of the PCM in different flow chambers, ensuring continuous and stable heat exchange performance.

[0047] Furthermore, the lower heat exchange box 1 is provided with an upward-facing mounting port 12, and the heat exchange tubes 4 on the heat exchange plate 3 are all located in the upper heat exchange cavity 21 of a single upper heat exchange box 2. The upper heat exchange box 2 and the corresponding heat exchange plate 3 form a set of heat exchange units, and the heat exchange units are installed on the mounting port 12 of the lower heat exchange box 1.

[0048] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the upper heat exchange box 2 and the corresponding heat exchange plate 3 are combined into a heat exchange unit. This modular design makes the installation and disassembly of the heat exchanger more convenient. Each heat exchange unit can be manufactured, transported, and installed independently. During on-site installation, the heat exchange units only need to be installed sequentially on the mounting port 12 of the lower heat exchange box 1, which greatly shortens the installation cycle and reduces the installation difficulty. Moreover, if a heat exchange unit fails, it can be easily replaced without affecting the normal operation of other heat exchange units, thus improving the maintainability of the equipment. The heat exchange units are installed on the mounting port 12 of the lower heat exchange box 1. This structure helps to improve the sealing between the upper and lower parts. Through reasonable sealing design (such as the use of sealing gaskets), it is possible to effectively prevent the flue gas in the lower heat exchange chamber 11 from leaking into the upper heat exchange chamber 21, ensuring effective isolation between the cold-side fluid and the flue gas, and ensuring the safety and reliability of the heat exchange process. At the same time, good sealing also helps to maintain a vacuum environment in the lower heat exchange chamber 11 (if a vacuum is required), improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0049] Specifically, the mounting port 12 and the bottom wall of the upper heat exchange box 2 are connected together by welding.

[0050] Furthermore, the upper heat exchange box 2 is provided with a total water inlet 23 and a total water outlet 24. The total water inlet 23 is located downstream in the flue gas flow direction, and the total water outlet 24 is located upstream in the flue gas flow direction.

[0051] By employing the aforementioned technical solution and this counter-current heat exchange method (the cold-side fluid enters the upper heat exchange box 2 from the downstream of the flue gas flow direction and flows out from the upstream), a large temperature difference can be formed between the cold-side fluid and the hot-side flue gas. Throughout the heat exchange process, the cold-side fluid (lower temperature) initially entering the upper heat exchange box 2 first comes into contact with the relatively lower-temperature flue gas after passing through the preceding heat exchange unit. As the cold-side fluid flows within the heat exchange box, its temperature gradually increases, and the flue gas it comes into contact with is also at a higher temperature. This ensures a relatively constant temperature difference between the cold-side fluid and the flue gas throughout the entire heat exchange process, enabling long-term constant heat exchange between the flue gas and the cold-side fluid, effectively improving heat exchange efficiency. Compared to co-current heat exchange, co-current heat exchange results in a large temperature difference between the flue gas inlet side and the water inlet side. Although the heat exchange effect is better in this area, it may also cause damage to the heat exchange plate due to the large temperature difference. Furthermore, the temperature difference between the flue gas outlet side and the water outlet side is small, which makes it impossible to fully utilize the flue gas for heat exchange, resulting in relatively low heat exchange efficiency. In contrast, counter-current heat exchange allows the cold-side fluid to absorb more heat and fully utilize the waste heat of the flue gas.

[0052] Furthermore, the heat exchange plate 3 and the heat exchange tube 4 are connected by an intermediate pipe 7. The part of the intermediate pipe 7 that connects to the heat exchange tube 4 is a circular pipe, and the part of the intermediate pipe 7 that connects to the heat exchange plate 3 is an elliptical pipe.

[0053] Using the aforementioned technical solution, the circular pipe connected to the heat exchange tube 4 can be well adapted to the shape of the heat exchange tube 4, allowing the gaseous phase change material to flow more naturally and smoothly from the heat exchange tube 4 into the intermediate pipe 7, reducing flow resistance and turbulence caused by abrupt changes in pipe shape. Meanwhile, the elliptical pipe connected to the heat exchange plate 3 can be better adapted to the shape and spatial distribution of the flow channels within the heat exchange plate 3, allowing the gaseous phase change material to enter the first flow cavity 31 within the heat exchange plate 3 more smoothly, which is beneficial for its circulation throughout the system.

[0054] Furthermore, the heat exchange tube 4 has an elliptical shape on the upper and lower projection planes, similar to the second flow cavity 41, and the lower end of the heat exchange tube 4 is connected to the heat exchange plate 3.

[0055] Using the aforementioned technical solution, the elliptical heat exchange tube 4, under the same cross-sectional area, has a larger surface area compared to other shapes such as circles. A larger surface area means an increased contact area between the heat exchange tube 4 and the surrounding cold-side fluid, thus enabling more efficient heat exchange and improving the efficiency of heat transfer from the gaseous phase change material to the cold-side fluid. When the gaseous phase change material flows within the second flow cavity 41, it can dissipate heat more quickly, accelerating its transformation from a gaseous to a liquid state, thereby promoting the entire heat transfer cycle. Furthermore, because the shape of the heat exchange tube 4 is the same as that of the second flow cavity 41, the flow of the phase change material within the second flow cavity 41 is smoother and more stable.

[0056] Furthermore, all of the aforementioned upper heat exchanger boxes 2 are equipped with a leak-proof water tank 6.

[0057] By employing the aforementioned technical solution, the leak-proof water tank 6 provides additional sealing protection for the upper heat exchanger 2. Even if the upper heat exchanger 2 itself experiences sealing failure or minor cracks, the leak-proof water tank 6 can effectively prevent cold-side fluid from leaking into the external environment. This is particularly important for applications with strict requirements regarding fluid leakage (such as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries), avoiding potential environmental pollution, safety hazards, and material waste caused by fluid leakage.

[0058] In addition to the preferred embodiments described above, this application has other implementation methods. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

Claims

1. A tube sheet heat exchanger, characterized in that, The device includes a lower heat exchange box, which contains a lower heat exchange cavity for circulating flue gas and multiple sets of heat exchange plates spaced apart within the lower heat exchange cavity. Multiple upper heat exchange boxes, corresponding to the positions of the heat exchange plates, are fixed on the lower heat exchange box. Each upper heat exchange box contains an upper heat exchange cavity isolated from the lower heat exchange cavity. Each heat exchange plate contains a first flow cavity containing a phase change material. Multiple heat exchange tubes, whose main bodies are located within the upper heat exchange cavities, are connected to a single heat exchange plate. Each heat exchange tube contains a second flow cavity communicating with the first flow cavity. A cold-side fluid flows between the heat exchange tubes and the upper heat exchange box.

2. The tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper heat exchange chambers in two adjacent upper heat exchange boxes are connected to each other through a connecting part, which is located at the top or bottom of the upper heat exchange box, and the positions of two adjacent connecting parts are staggered.

3. A tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange tubes in the upper heat exchange box are connected by a manifold. The manifold is provided with an interface for connecting to an air pump, so that the air pump can reduce the air pressure in the first flow chamber and the second flow chamber through the interface.

4. A tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that, The upper heat exchange chambers in two adjacent upper heat exchange boxes are connected to each other through a connecting part, and the heat exchange tubes in two adjacent upper heat exchange chambers are connected to each other through a manifold, which is located inside the connecting part.

5. A tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The axis of the manifold is inclined to the horizontal plane.

6. A tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower heat exchange box is provided with an upward-facing mounting port. The heat exchange tubes on the heat exchange plate are all located in the upper heat exchange cavity of a single upper heat exchange box. The upper heat exchange box and the corresponding heat exchange plate form a set of heat exchange units. The heat exchange units are installed on the mounting port of the lower heat exchange box.

7. A tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper heat exchanger box is provided with a main water inlet and a main water outlet. The main water inlet is located downstream in the direction of flue gas flow, and the main water outlet is located upstream in the direction of flue gas flow.

8. A tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange plate and the heat exchange tube are connected by an intermediate pipe. The part of the intermediate pipe that connects to the heat exchange tube is a circular pipe, and the part of the intermediate pipe that connects to the heat exchange plate is an elliptical pipe.

9. A tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange tube has an elliptical shape on the upper and lower projection planes, similar to the second flow cavity, and the lower end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the heat exchange plate.

10. A tube sheet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, All of the aforementioned upper heat exchanger boxes are equipped with leak-proof water tanks.

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