Heat exchanger

Abstract

The application discloses a heat exchange device and relates to the technical field of heat exchange pipe structure equipment. The heat exchange device comprises a plurality of heat exchange pipe sections which are sequentially detachably connected, each heat exchange pipe section comprises a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel which can exchange heat with each other, the plurality of first heat exchange channels are communicated, and the plurality of second heat exchange channels are communicated; and a plurality of heat conduction members are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the first heat exchange channel and are detachably connected to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel. The device disassembles the traditional integrated long heat exchange pipe into a modular short pipe section structure, and on the other hand, through the plurality of heat conduction members which are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the first heat exchange channel and are detachably connected, workers can conveniently disassemble the plurality of heat exchange pipe sections one by one according to cleaning requirements, without the need of complicated disassembly and carrying of the whole long pipe, so that the heat conduction member surface and the heat conduction member can be completely cleaned, and the overall cleaning efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In the low-temperature Bayer process of alumina production, cooling the slurry in the decomposition tank is a key process step, typically achieved using an external heat exchanger. The commonly used method is to use a centrifugal pump to extract a portion of the slurry from the decomposition tank and transport it to a heat exchanger for heat exchange with low-temperature circulating water, thus lowering the slurry temperature. The cooled slurry is then returned to the decomposition tank, where an in-tank stirring device ensures uniform cooling of the entire system. While this process effectively controls the reaction temperature, the slurry, being a supersaturated sodium aluminate solution containing a large number of solid particles, is highly susceptible to deposition and scaling on the heat exchanger surfaces as it flows through.

[0003] As operating time increases, these solid particles and impurities in the water (such as calcium and magnesium salts, rust, etc.) gradually accumulate on the inner wall of the heat exchange tubes, forming a dense fouling layer. This not only significantly reduces heat transfer efficiency but may also cause local blockages or even equipment corrosion. Conventional heat exchangers typically have long and compact heat exchange tubes, making manual or mechanical cleaning difficult, resulting in low cleaning efficiency and high maintenance costs.

[0004] Therefore, developing a heat exchanger that is easy to disassemble and clean is an urgent problem to be solved. Utility Model Content

[0005] A first aspect of this application provides a heat exchange device, comprising: a plurality of heat exchange tube segments that are detachably connected in sequence, each heat exchange tube segment including a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel that can exchange heat with each other, the plurality of first heat exchange channels being interconnected, and the plurality of second heat exchange channels being interconnected; and a plurality of heat-conducting elements that are spaced apart along the circumference of the first heat exchange channel and are detachably connected to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel.

[0006] In some embodiments, the heat exchange device further includes a connecting sleeve, which is fitted onto the ends of two adjacent heat exchange tube sections to detachably connect and fix the two adjacent heat exchange tube sections.

[0007] In some embodiments, the ends of two adjacent heat exchange tube sections are connected by a butt joint, and a positioning structure is provided between their butt joint surfaces. The positioning structure includes positioning posts that are circumferentially spaced on one of the butt joint surfaces and positioning holes that are provided at corresponding positions on the other butt joint surface.

[0008] In some embodiments, a sealing element is provided on the mating end face to seal the gap between adjacent first heat exchange channels and the gap between adjacent second heat exchange channels.

[0009] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting element extends axially along the heat exchange tube section, and a plurality of grooves are provided in the first heat exchange channel, the grooves extending axially along the heat exchange tube section, and the heat-conducting element is slidably connected to the grooves.

[0010] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting element is a flexible heat-conducting fin, and the extension direction of the groove extends in a wavy shape along the axial direction of the first heat exchange channel.

[0011] In some embodiments, along the axial direction of the heat exchange tube section, the thickness at both ends of the heat-conducting element is less than the thickness of its middle section.

[0012] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting element has a connecting surface and a flow-guiding surface adjacent to the connecting surface, the connecting surface being connected to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel, and the flow-guiding surface being an arc-shaped surface.

[0013] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting element is provided with a flow-guiding hole, which penetrates the heat-conducting element along its thickness direction.

[0014] In some embodiments, multiple heat exchange tube segments are connected in sequence to form a heat exchange device. The heat exchange device has a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other. A first inlet and a second outlet are located at the first end, and a second inlet and a first outlet are located at the second end. The first inlet and the first outlet are both connected to a first heat exchange channel, and the second inlet and the second outlet are both connected to a second heat exchange channel.

[0015] This device disassembles the traditional integrated long heat exchange tube into a modular short tube structure. Workers can easily separate multiple heat exchange tube segments according to cleaning needs, eliminating the need for complex disassembly and handling of the entire long tube. Furthermore, by using multiple detachably connected heat-conducting components spaced circumferentially along the first heat exchange channel, when scale adheres to the surface of these components, workers can individually remove them from the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel. This allows for thorough cleaning of the component surface and also enables comprehensive cleaning of the exposed inner wall area of ​​the channel after component removal. This avoids the cleaning dead zones and scale accumulation problems inherent in traditional fixed heat-conducting components, improving overall cleaning efficiency, reducing maintenance costs due to scale blockage or decreased heat transfer efficiency, and minimizing the risk of equipment corrosion caused by long-term scale buildup. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a heat exchange device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 An exploded view of a heat exchange device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of point A; Figure 4A top view of a heat-conducting component of a heat exchange device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A top view of the heat-conducting element of another heat exchange device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 A side view of the heat-conducting element of another heat exchange device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure label: 1. Heat exchange device; 11. Heat exchange tube section; 111. First heat exchange channel; 112. Second heat exchange channel; 12. Heat-conducting component; 121. Guide surface; 122. Connecting surface; 123. Guide hole; 13. Connecting sleeve; 14. Positioning post; 15. Positioning hole; 16. Sealing component; 17. First inlet; 18. First outlet; 19. Second inlet; 20. Second outlet; 1a. First end; 1b. Second end; X. Axial direction of heat exchange tube section; Y. Axial direction of guide hole; α. Included angle. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To better understand the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this specification, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this specification will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments of this specification and the specific features in the embodiments are detailed descriptions of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this specification, rather than limitations on the technical solutions of this specification. In the absence of conflict, the embodiments of this specification and the technical features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0019] In this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, without necessarily requiring or implying any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element. The term "two or more" includes two or more cases.

[0020] In the low-temperature Bayer process for alumina production, cooling the slurry in the decomposition tank is a critical process step, typically achieved through an external heat exchanger: a centrifugal pump extracts a portion of the high-temperature slurry from the decomposition tank and sends it to the heat exchanger to exchange heat with low-temperature circulating water. After cooling, the slurry is returned to the tank, and a stirring device ensures uniform overall temperature. However, this slurry is a supersaturated sodium aluminate solution containing a large number of solid particles, which easily deposits and forms scale on the heat exchanger surface as it flows through. Simultaneously, impurities such as calcium and magnesium salts and rust in the circulating water accumulate over time on the inner wall of the heat exchange tubes, forming a dense scale layer. This not only significantly reduces heat transfer efficiency but can also cause localized blockages and even equipment corrosion. Conventional heat exchangers often employ long and compact heat exchange tube structures, making manual or mechanical cleaning extremely difficult, resulting in low cleaning efficiency, high maintenance costs, and severely impacting the long-term stable operation of the system.

[0021] To solve the above technical problems, such as Figures 1-6 As shown, a first aspect of the present application provides a heat exchange device 1, which includes a plurality of heat exchange tube segments 11 and a plurality of heat-conducting elements 12 that are detachably connected in sequence. Each heat exchange tube segment 11 includes a first heat exchange channel 111 and a second heat exchange channel 112 that can exchange heat with each other. The plurality of first heat exchange channels 111 are connected and the plurality of second heat exchange channels 112 are connected. The plurality of heat-conducting elements 12 are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the first heat exchange channel 111 and the heat-conducting elements 12 are detachably connected to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111.

[0022] In one possible scenario, multiple heat exchanger tube segments 11 are joined end-to-end along the axial direction X of the heat exchanger tube segment, and can be detachably connected via flanges or quick-release clamps. The first heat exchange channels 111 of adjacent heat exchanger tube segments 11 can be sealed together to form a continuous slurry flow channel; similarly, each second heat exchange channel 112 can also be sealed together to form a continuous coolant flow channel. In this application, the first heat exchange channels 111 and second heat exchange channels 112 of the heat exchanger tube segments 11 can be formed by coaxially nesting two tubes of different diameters. That is, the inner tube has the first heat exchange channel 111 for slurry flow, and the annular cavity between the inner wall of the inner tube and the outer wall of the outer tube forms the second heat exchange channel 112 for cooling medium flow. The types of slurry include, but are not limited to, supersaturated sodium aluminate solution, alkaline slurry containing silica slag, aluminoferrite, or other insoluble impurities, etc., and the cooling medium includes, but is not limited to, low-temperature industrial circulating water, softened water, and a mixture of ethylene glycol and water as antifreeze. Heat is transferred from the slurry in the first heat exchange channel 111 through the wall of the inner tube to the cooling water in the annular channel. The outer wall of the inner tube (i.e., the common sidewall adjacent to the inner wall of the outer tube) is the heat transfer interface. Alternatively, the first heat exchange channel 111 and the second heat exchange channel 112 can both be two independent pipes, arranged side by side. The outer walls of the two pipes can be machined with matching pipe surfaces, and clamped together by a clamp to form a planar common sidewall. Heat exchange is achieved through this tightly fitted plane.

[0023] Multiple heat-conducting elements 12 can be installed circumferentially on the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111 of each heat exchange tube section 11. These heat-conducting elements 12 can be made of high thermal conductivity metals, such as copper alloys or nickel-plated stainless steel. The heat-conducting elements 12 can be detachably fixed to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111 via threaded connections, snap-fit ​​connections, or magnetic connections. The heat-conducting elements 12 can be strip-shaped protrusions extending axially (X) along the heat exchange tube section, with the same length as the heat exchange tube section 11, and a cross-section that can be rectangular, trapezoidal, or arc-shaped. The heat-conducting elements 12 not only increase the heat exchange area on the slurry side but also act as turbulence breaker, generating localized turbulence in the slurry during flow and effectively suppressing the deposition of solid particles on the tube wall.

[0024] This device disassembles the traditional integrated long heat exchange tube into a modular short tube segment structure. Workers can easily disassemble multiple heat exchange tube segments 11 one by one according to cleaning needs, eliminating the need for complex disassembly and handling of the entire long tube. Furthermore, by using multiple heat-conducting elements 12 that are detachably connected and spaced circumferentially along the first heat exchange channel 111, when scale adheres to the surface of the heat-conducting elements 12, workers can individually remove the heat-conducting elements 12 from the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111. This allows for thorough cleaning of the surface of the heat-conducting elements 12 and also enables comprehensive cleaning of the exposed inner wall area of ​​the channel after the heat-conducting elements 12 are removed. This avoids the problem of cleaning dead zones and scale accumulation caused by the traditional fixed heat-conducting elements 12 and the inner wall of the channel, improving overall cleaning efficiency, reducing maintenance costs due to scale blockage or decreased heat transfer efficiency, and reducing the risk of equipment corrosion caused by long-term fouling.

[0025] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the heat exchange device 1 further includes a connecting sleeve 13, which is sleeved on the ends of two adjacent heat exchange tube sections 11 to detachably connect and fix the two adjacent heat exchange tube sections 11.

[0026] In one possible scenario, the connecting sleeve 13 can be a hollow cylindrical or flanged sleeve structure, with its inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the end of the heat exchange tube section 11. It can be fitted onto the outside of the mating ends of two adjacent heat exchange tube sections 11. The outer circumference of the end of the heat exchange tube section 11 may be provided with an annular flange or external threads, and the inner wall of the connecting sleeve 13 may be provided with corresponding matching grooves or internal threads. The connecting sleeve 13 can coaxially align and seal the ends of the two heat exchange tube sections 11 by means of rotation, axial compression, or clamp locking.

[0027] The connecting sleeve 13 aligns two adjacent heat exchanger tube segments 11 simultaneously in the axial and radial directions, avoiding flow channel misalignment or abrupt step changes caused by assembly deviations. This ensures a smooth and continuous fluid transition at the joint between the first heat exchange channel 111 and the second heat exchange channel 112, reducing local eddies and pressure drop losses while maintaining the structural integrity and heat conduction uniformity of the shared heat exchange sidewall at the tube segment connection interface. It also prevents heat transfer cold spots or thermal stress concentration caused by gaps or misalignments. Furthermore, the connecting sleeve 13 has a detachable structure, allowing operators to quickly and non-destructively separate multiple heat exchanger tube segments 11 one by one when cleaning or maintenance is required. After disassembly, the first heat exchange channel 111, the second heat exchange channel 112, and the heat-conducting components 12 attached to the inner wall of each channel are fully exposed, facilitating thorough descaling using high-pressure water jetting, mechanical cleaning, or chemical cleaning. The entire process does not require cutting pipes or damaging the sealing structure, improving cleaning efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.

[0028] like Figures 2-3 As shown, in some embodiments, the ends of two adjacent heat exchange tube sections 11 are connected by a butt joint, and a positioning structure is provided between their butt joint surfaces. The positioning structure includes positioning posts 14 that are circumferentially spaced on one of the butt joint surfaces, and positioning holes 15 that are provided at corresponding positions on the other butt joint surface.

[0029] In one possible scenario, the ends of two adjacent heat exchanger tube sections 11 can be connected by a butt joint. The butt joint surfaces are equipped with mutually cooperating positioning structures to achieve rapid alignment and prevent misassembly during assembly, ensuring precise alignment of the flow channel and the heat exchange interface. The positioning structure includes positioning posts 14 and positioning holes 15. One of the two adjacent butt joint surfaces has multiple positioning posts 14, which can be spaced circumferentially along the butt joint surface. The other butt joint surface has multiple positioning holes 15 corresponding to the positioning posts 14, with the position, number, and cross-sectional shape of the positioning holes 15 matching the positioning posts 14. The positioning posts 14 can be cylindrical, frustum-shaped, or pin-shaped protrusions with guide bevels, and the positioning holes 15 can be blind holes. The number of positioning posts 14 and positioning holes 15 can be set according to actual needs, such as 3, 4, or 6. When two heat exchanger tube sections 11 are assembled, the positioning posts 14 on the butt joint surface are first inserted into the positioning holes 15 on their adjacent butt joint surfaces to achieve axial guidance and precise circumferential positioning. Based on this, the two heat exchange tube sections 11 are then locked together using the connecting sleeve 13. The positioning post 14 and the positioning hole 15 enable the first heat exchange channel 111 and the second heat exchange channel 112 inside the two heat exchange tube sections 11 to be precisely aligned at the docking interface during the splicing process, avoiding misalignment of the flow channel, abrupt change of cross section or local blockage caused by rotational offset or radial misalignment.

[0030] like Figure 3As shown, in some embodiments, a sealing element 16 is provided on the mating end face to seal the gap between adjacent first heat exchange channels 111 and the gap between adjacent second heat exchange channels 112.

[0031] In one possible scenario, the first sealing element 16 is disposed within the annular groove on the end face of the first heat exchange channel 111 to seal the butt joint gap of the slurry flow channels between adjacent pipe sections. The second sealing element 16 is disposed in the corresponding end face area of ​​the second heat exchange channel 112, such as the outer edge of the annular cavity or around the cooling water interface of parallel pipes, to seal the butt joint gap of the cooling medium flow channels. The sealing element 16 can be an elastic sealing element resistant to strong alkalis and high temperatures, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene-coated O-ring, a perfluoroether rubber gasket, or a graphite composite sealing ring. During assembly, when adjacent heat exchange pipe sections 11 are pressed together by the connecting sleeve 13 or the threaded connector, the sealing element 16 is axially compressed, filling the microscopic unevenness of the end face and forming a reliable liquid-tight seal. The heat exchange device 1 of this application, by setting up multi-stage sealing rings, can avoid equipment corrosion and environmental pollution caused by slurry leakage, and can also prevent cooling water from seeping into the slurry side, causing local dilution or abnormal crystallization.

[0032] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting element 12 extends axially along the heat exchange tube section 11, and the first heat exchange channel 111 is provided with a plurality of sliding grooves, which extend axially along the heat exchange tube section 11, and the heat-conducting element 12 is slidably connected to the sliding grooves.

[0033] In one possible scenario, the heat-conducting element 12 can extend along the axial direction X of the heat exchange tube segment, and its length can be the entire length of the heat exchange tube segment 11. Alternatively, the heat-conducting element 12 can be segmented along the axial direction X of the heat exchange tube segment to continuously turbulent the slurry and enhance heat transfer as it flows through the first heat exchange channel 111. Multiple grooves can be provided on the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111, extending along the axial direction X of the heat exchange tube segment, i.e., penetrating from one end of the heat exchange tube segment 11 to the other end, or extending at least long enough to accommodate the heat-conducting element 12. The number of grooves corresponds to the number of heat-conducting elements 12, and can be 2, 3, or 8, etc. Multiple grooves can be evenly distributed or spaced as needed along the circumference of the first channel on the inner wall circumference. One edge of each heat-conducting element 12 may be provided with a slide rail structure that matches the slide groove, such as a rib or a T-shaped head. The slide groove cross-section may be T-shaped, dovetail-shaped, or a rectangular structure with an inwardly tapered opening, to prevent the heat-conducting element 12 from accidentally coming off due to the impact of the slurry during operation. This slide rail structure can be inserted axially into the corresponding slide groove from the port of the heat exchange tube section 11 and slide along the slide groove to the predetermined installation position. When fully in place, the heat-conducting element 12 protrudes from the inner wall surface of the first heat exchange channel 111 and extends into the slurry flow channel. By providing an axially extending slide groove on the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111 and forming a sliding connection with the axially extending heat-conducting element 12, it is convenient for the operator to easily disassemble the heat-conducting element 12 and clean it one by one when cleaning the heat exchange device 1. Furthermore, the heat-conducting element 12 extends into the slurry flow channel, which can create turbulence in the slurry during flow, disturbing the slurry and preventing slurry from depositing in the first heat exchange channel 111.

[0034] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the heat-conducting element 12 is a flexible heat-conducting fin, and the extension direction of the groove extends in a wavy shape along the axial direction of the first heat exchange channel 111.

[0035] In one possible scenario, the heat-conducting element 12 is a flexible heat-conducting fin capable of elastic deformation. The fin is made of a material with high thermal conductivity and good flexibility, such as annealed stainless steel strip, titanium alloy foil, or a metal-based composite elastomer, capable of controlled bending or torsion under external constraints without causing plastic damage. A groove is provided on the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111. The groove extends axially along the heat exchange tube section 11, but its trajectory is wavy, such as a sine wave, sawtooth wave, or spiral undulation; that is, the groove has a periodic radial offset along its axial path. During installation, the flexible heat-conducting fin is inserted axially into the groove from the end of the heat exchange tube section 11. Because the groove itself has a wavy structure, the heat-conducting fin is guided by the sidewall of the groove during insertion, undergoing elastic deformation to adapt to the wavy profile of the groove. Once the heat-conducting fin is in place, it is constrained by the groove and maintains an overall wavy configuration consistent with the groove. After the corrugated heat-conducting fins extend into the slurry channel, they continuously disturb the flow field as the slurry flows axially: the crests encourage fluid diffusion towards the pipe wall, enhancing radial mixing; the troughs create localized backflow micro-vortices, suppressing solid particle settling; and the overall undulating structure disrupts the thermal boundary layer, improving the convective heat transfer coefficient. Simultaneously, due to the surface contact constraint between the heat-conducting fins and the groove, their flexibility effectively absorbs stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction or vibration, avoiding the cracking or detachment problems common with traditional rigid fins. For cleaning, the heat-conducting fins can be easily removed without damage by simply pulling them out along the corrugated groove. Scale such as silica deposits adhering to the fin surface can be removed along with the fins for thorough external cleaning.

[0036] like Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, along the axial direction of the heat exchange tube section 11, the thickness at both ends of the heat conductor 12 is less than the thickness of its middle section.

[0037] In one possible scenario, the thickness at both ends of the heat-conducting element 12 is less than the thickness in its middle section, resulting in a wedge-shaped or spindle-shaped cross-sectional profile that is raised in the middle and narrowed at both ends. This thickness change can be a linear transition or a smooth curve transition to avoid stress concentration. During the cleaning process, multiple heat-conducting elements 12 are arranged circumferentially along the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111, forming axial gaps between adjacent heat-conducting elements 12 for slurry flow and the passage of cleaning tools. Due to the thickness gradient of the heat-conducting element 12 itself, the gaps it forms also exhibit corresponding spatial changes: at both ends of the heat-conducting element 12, the gaps are wider due to the smaller thickness; while in the middle region, the gaps are relatively narrower due to the increased thickness, thus forming a gradually changing channel that is wide at both ends and narrow in the middle. This provides ample entry space for cleaning tools (such as soft brushes, flexible pipe cleaners, high-pressure water gun nozzles, or endoscope-guided cleaning heads), allowing operators to easily guide tools into the beginning of the gap without forcibly squeezing them or repeatedly adjusting the incident angle. The tapered transition avoids the abrupt structure of narrow inlet and even narrower interior common in traditional uniform-thickness heat conductors 12. This prevents cleaning tools from getting stuck or scratched at the ends, allowing them to slide smoothly into the narrowest middle section and achieve full coverage from end to center. This ensures that the sides, roots, and dead corners of the heat conductor 12 can be effectively rinsed or scrubbed, achieving a residue-free and blind-spot-free cleaning effect. Furthermore, the thicker middle section provides a larger turbulence area and heat conduction cross-section while maintaining structural strength, which is beneficial for improving heat transfer performance. The thinning at both ends reduces local flow resistance and the risk of particle accumulation at the ends.

[0038] like Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the heat-conducting element 12 has a connecting surface 122 and a flow-guiding surface 121 adjacent to the connecting surface 122. The connecting surface 122 is connected to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111, and the flow-guiding surface 121 is an arc-shaped surface.

[0039] In one possible scenario, the heat-conducting element 12 includes a connecting surface 122 and an adjacent flow-guiding surface 121. The connecting surface 122 is used for fixed or detachable connection to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111; the flow-guiding surface 121 extends in the direction of slurry flow and is designed as a continuous, smooth arcuate surface. The connecting surface 122 can be planar; when the first heat exchange channel 111 is a cylindrical pipe, the connecting surface 122 can be arcuate to ensure it fits tightly against the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111. The flow-guiding surface 121 consists of the two surfaces adjacent to the connecting surface 122 and can be arcuate, such as a "C" shape, or the flow-guiding surface 121 can be a semi-enclosed arcuate convex surface at both ends of the connecting surface 122, forming an outline like the letter "D".

[0040] When cleaning scale buildup on the surface of the heat-conducting component 12, such as aluminum hydroxide crystals, silicon slag, or calcium and magnesium deposits, operators can use a soft brush, cloth, sponge head, or low-pressure water spray nozzle to smoothly glide along the guide surface 121, eliminating the need for repeated scraping or angle adjustments to corners, crevices, or dead angles. The guide surface has no right angles or sharp edges, making it difficult for dirt to embed in microscopic depressions, ensuring a continuous and smooth cleaning path, and reducing the complexity and labor intensity of the cleaning operation.

[0041] On the other hand, in a highly alkaline, high-solids slurry environment, tiny particles are prone to depositing and gradually hardening at geometric abrupt changes, forming stubborn scale layers that are difficult to remove. The transition area between the connecting surface 122 and the guiding surface 121 adopts a smooth arc connection, and the integrated curved surface design avoids the dirt hiding areas commonly found in traditional right-angle or stepped structures.

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the heat-conducting element 12 is provided with a flow guide hole 123, which penetrates the heat-conducting element 12 along the thickness direction of the heat-conducting element 12.

[0043] In one possible scenario, the heat-conducting element 12 is provided with a flow-guiding hole 123 extending along its thickness direction to form an open channel from one surface to the other. The heat-conducting element 12 can be installed on the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel 111, with its main body extending into the mainstream region of the slurry. The flow-guiding hole 123 can be configured such that when the high-temperature, high-solids-content sodium aluminate slurry flows through the heat-conducting element 12, some fluid will flow through the flow-guiding hole 123 from one side of the heat-conducting element 12 to the other, thereby breaking the continuity of the boundary layer and promoting the mixing of the fluid in the radial and circumferential directions. This flow-through effect weakens the tendency of particles to deposit on the surface and back of the heat-conducting element 12 and can enhance the local convective heat transfer coefficient, thereby improving the overall heat exchange efficiency. Meanwhile, since the guide hole 123 is a through-hole structure, when cleaning is required after the equipment has been running for a period of time, operators can use a soft brush, a needle nozzle of a high-pressure water gun, a flexible cleaning rod, or an endoscopic guided flushing device to insert the tool into the hole from either side of the heat-conducting component 12 to directly and thoroughly rinse or brush the inner surface of the hole wall. This avoids the problem of dirt accumulating and being difficult to clean in traditional closed structures or blind holes, ensuring that even after long-term operation, the guide hole 123 can remain unobstructed and maintain its fluid regulation and heat dissipation functions.

[0044] Furthermore, the axial direction Y of the guide holes can be arranged at an acute angle to the axial direction of the heat exchange tube section 11, with the included angle α less than 90°, such as 30° or 45°. Multiple such inclined guide holes 123 are spaced along the surface of the wavy, flexible heat-conducting fins. When the slurry flows through the heat-conducting element 12, some fluid passes through the inclined guide holes 123, forming a transverse jet that merges with the main flow, breaking the boundary layer continuity. Simultaneously, because the guide holes 123 are arranged at a non-perpendicular angle, the jet direction forms a shearing effect with the main flow, inducing local vortices and secondary flows, significantly enhancing fluid mixing and heat transfer. Especially on the wavy heat-conducting fins, the guide holes 123 and the fin undulations work synergistically to construct complex turbulent structures in the axial, radial, and circumferential dimensions, effectively suppressing solid particle sedimentation and delaying the scaling process.

[0045] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, multiple heat exchange tube segments 11 are connected in sequence to form a heat exchange device 1. The heat exchange device 1 has a first end 1a and a second end 1b arranged opposite to each other. A first inlet 17 and a second outlet 20 are provided at the first end 1a, and a second inlet 19 and a first outlet 18 are provided at the second end 1b. The first inlet 17 and the first outlet 18 are both connected to the first heat exchange channel 111, and the second inlet 19 and the second outlet 20 are both connected to the second heat exchange channel 112.

[0046] In one possible scenario, multiple heat exchange tube segments 11 can be detachably connected in sequence to form a complete heat exchange device 1. The heat exchange device 1 has a first end 1a and a second end 1b arranged opposite to each other, with fluid inlets and outlets at both ends to achieve efficient counter-current convection heat exchange. The first end 1a may have a first inlet 17 for introducing high-temperature slurry, and a second outlet 20 for discharging the cooled medium that has absorbed heat and increased in temperature. The second end 1b has a second inlet 19 for introducing low-temperature cooling medium, and a first outlet 18 for discharging the cooled slurry. Both the first inlet 17 and the first outlet 18 are connected to the first heat exchange channel 111 in all heat exchange tube segments 11, forming a continuous slurry flow path. Both the second inlet 19 and the second outlet 20 are connected to the second heat exchange channel 112 in all heat exchange tube segments 11, forming a continuous cooling medium flow path. The high-temperature slurry enters the first heat exchange channel 111 from the first end 1a and flows axially towards the second end 1b, while the low-temperature cooling medium enters the second heat exchange channel 112 from the second end 1b and flows in the opposite direction towards the first end 1a. The two fluids flow in complete countercurrent within the heat exchange device 1. Throughout the entire heat exchange length, the hot and cold fluids maintain a large temperature gradient, thereby maximizing the efficiency per unit heat exchange area. Ultimately, under the same equipment conditions, this results in a higher total heat exchange capacity, better cooling effect for the same heat exchange area, or a more compact and lower-cost device to achieve the same effect.

[0047] It should be noted that the descriptions of each embodiment in the above embodiments have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0048] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0049] Although preferred embodiments have been described in this specification, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this specification.

[0050] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this specification without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, this specification is also intended to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A heat exchange device, characterized in that, include: Multiple heat exchange tube segments are detachably connected in sequence. Each heat exchange tube segment includes a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel that can exchange heat with each other. The multiple first heat exchange channels are connected, and the multiple second heat exchange channels are connected. Multiple heat-conducting components are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the first heat exchange channel, and the heat-conducting components are detachably connected to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel.

2. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange device further includes: A connecting sleeve is fitted onto the ends of two adjacent heat exchange tube sections to detachably connect and fix the two adjacent heat exchange tube sections.

3. The heat exchange device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The ends of two adjacent heat exchange tube sections are connected by a butt joint, and a positioning structure is provided between their butt joint surfaces. The positioning structure includes positioning posts that are circumferentially spaced on one of the butt joint surfaces, and positioning holes that are located at corresponding positions on the other butt joint surface.

4. The heat exchange device according to claim 3, characterized in that, A sealing element is provided on the mating end face to seal the gap between adjacent first heat exchange channels and the gap between adjacent second heat exchange channels.

5. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat-conducting element extends axially along the heat exchange tube section, and the first heat exchange channel is provided with a plurality of sliding grooves. The sliding grooves extend axially along the heat exchange tube section, and the heat-conducting element is slidably connected to the sliding grooves.

6. The heat exchange device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heat-conducting element is a flexible heat-conducting fin, and the extension direction of the groove extends in a wavy shape along the axial direction of the first heat exchange channel.

7. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the axial direction of the heat exchange tube section, the thickness at both ends of the heat-conducting element is less than the thickness of its middle section.

8. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat-conducting component has a connecting surface and a flow-guiding surface adjacent to the connecting surface. The connecting surface is connected to the inner wall of the first heat exchange channel, and the flow-guiding surface is an arc-shaped surface.

9. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat-conducting component is provided with a flow-guiding hole, which penetrates the heat-conducting component along its thickness direction.

10. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple heat exchange tube segments are connected in sequence to form the heat exchange device. The heat exchange device has a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other. A first inlet and a second outlet are located at the first end, and a second inlet and a first outlet are located at the second end. The first inlet and the first outlet are both connected to the first heat exchange channel, and the second inlet and the second outlet are both connected to the second heat exchange channel.

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