Baffle plate segment and baffle plate arrangement for a heat exchanger, method for manufacturing a baffle plate arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a guide plate segment (1a, 1b) for a heat exchanger. The guide plate segment (1a, 1b) is helically shaped and has at least one end face a receiving section (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) for a further guide plate segment (1a, 1b). The invention further relates to a guide plate arrangement (100) and a method (400) for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement.

Description

AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a heat exchanger and in particular to a guide plate or guide plate arrangement of a tube bundle heat exchanger and to a method for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tube bundle heat exchangers are commonly known to include baffles (or "deflection plates") to guide the fluid flow within the heat exchanger. For example, continuous helical baffles can be used, which enable lower pressure loss, reduced bypass flow, an increased heat transfer coefficient, etc., for the fluid flow within the heat exchanger.

[0003] One challenge in manufacturing such continuous helical baffles lies in creating the holes for the heat exchanger tube bundle. If the holes are drilled into a flat sheet, they deform into elliptical holes when the sheet is stretched to form the helical shape, making them unsuitable for the tubes. Therefore, a drilling template has traditionally been used to manufacture continuous helical baffles. The template holds the sheet in the desired helical shape, allowing the holes to be drilled.

[0004] Using a drilling template requires its prior fabrication. This process is time-consuming and costly. Furthermore, using a drilling template increases the number of work steps.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved guide plate segment, an improved guide plate arrangement and an improved method for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0006] This problem is solved by a guide plate segment according to claim 1, a guide plate arrangement according to claim 6 and a method according to claim 8. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a guide plate segment for a heat exchanger according to claim 1. The guide plate segment is helically shaped and has at least one end face a receiving section for a further guide plate segment.

[0008] The heat exchanger is designed as a shell and tube heat exchanger, and the baffle segment is part of a baffle plate intended to guide a fluid flow within the heat exchanger. This means that several baffle segments can be connected to form the baffle plate or a baffle plate assembly.

[0009] The guide vane segment is helically shaped. This means that the guide vane segment (or its longitudinal axis) follows a helical or screw-like path. In some examples, "helical shape" can also mean that the guide vane segment has fewer than one complete turn. The pitch or angle of the helix can range from 15° to 50°, for example. In some examples, the angle of pitch can be between 20° and 45°.

[0010] Furthermore, the guide plate segment includes mounting holes for a tube bundle of the heat exchanger.

[0011] In a conventional heat exchanger with segmented baffles, flow paths vary, particularly between longitudinal and transverse flows to the tubes of the tube bundle. The longitudinal flow in the heat exchanger leads to increased pressure losses with relatively low heat transfer. With a helical baffle segment, the flow is essentially uniform along the entire flow path.

[0012] The end faces of the guide plate segment correspond to the two ends of the (imaginary) longitudinal axes of the guide plate segment.

[0013] To connect the guide plate segment to another guide plate segment, a receiving section is provided at least at one end face of the guide plate segment. The second guide plate segment also has a further receiving section, which is designed accordingly to the receiving section of the first guide plate. The receiving section and the further receiving section together form the positive-locking connection.

[0014] The receiving section allows for easy arrangement and alignment of the guide plate segment with the other guide plate segment.

[0015] In some embodiments, the receiving section can be designed for a positive-locking connection. Consequently, the further guide plate segment can include a correspondingly designed receiving section for forming the positive-locking connection. In some examples, the positive-locking connection can be designed to be detachable. The positive-locking connection is designed to prevent relative movement between the guide plate segment and the further guide plate segment in a direction tangential to the centerline of the connected guide plate segments.

[0016] In some embodiments, the positive-locking connection can be designed as a tongue and groove joint or a tongue-and-groove joint. These types of connections are relatively easy to manufacture.

[0017] In some embodiments, the receiving section (of the guide plate segment) is designed as a receiving shoulder. This receiving shoulder is configured to receive the correspondingly designed receiving shoulder of the next guide plate segment. These receiving shoulders allow the guide plate segments to be arranged end-to-end relatively easily.

[0018] In some embodiments, the guide plate segment can be made of a material comprising stainless steel or a temperature-resistant plastic. In some examples, the material is used in an additive manufacturing process. For example, stainless steel 1.4404 can be used.

[0019] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a guide vane arrangement for a heat exchanger according to claim 6. The guide vane arrangement comprises several guide vane segments as described above. For example, the guide vane arrangement can comprise the (first) guide vane segment and the subsequent guide vane segment.

[0020] The guide plate segments are arranged in a row. This means that the guide plate segments are arranged one behind the other along their longitudinal axes, so that the longitudinal axes of the guide plate segments form the longitudinal axis of the guide plate.

[0021] Furthermore, the guide vane segments are connected to each other at their ends. In other words, the guide vane segments are connected to each other at their longitudinal ends.

[0022] In some embodiments, the end-to-end guide plate segments of several guide plate segments can be bonded together. For example, the bonded connection can be an adhesive bond or a welded joint.

[0023] In some examples, the welded joint can be a tack weld. In this case, the weld points can be arranged alternately on opposite sides / surfaces of the guide plate segment (or guide plate), thus creating a relatively stable tack weld.

[0024] According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement for a heat exchanger according to claim 8. The method comprises: - additive manufacturing of multiple (as described above) guide plate segments, - Arranging the guide plate segments so that the receiving sections of second guide plate segments abut each other; and - material-bonded joining of the guide plate segments in the area of ​​the receiving sections.

[0025] The guide plate arrangement can be formed from at least two identically designed guide plates.

[0026] Additive manufacturing allows the guide plate segments to be produced in such a way that they already include the mounting holes for the heat exchanger tube bundle. This eliminates an additional, complex manufacturing step for creating the mounting holes.

[0027] Additive manufacturing makes it particularly easy to produce helical shapes for guide vane segments, especially double helix shapes. Such a shape is difficult and expensive to manufacture using conventional methods.

[0028] Additive manufacturing is also known as 3D printing and can be done using various materials, such as stainless steel and plastics.

[0029] The manufactured guide plate segments are arranged end-to-end and abutting each other using the receiving sections provided on the guide plate segments, so that the guide plate segments are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the guide plate assembly (or the heat exchanger). In other words, the longitudinal axes of the guide plate segments are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the guide plate assembly (or the heat exchanger). The receiving sections on the guide plate segments simplify the arrangement and alignment of the guide plate segments.

[0030] The guide plate segments, arranged in a row and butting end-to-end, are joined together in the area of ​​their receiving sections by means of a material bond. As described above, the material bond can be formed as an adhesive bond or a welded joint.

[0031] Further aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the accompanying drawing and the following description of preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0032] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing. This shows: Fig. 1a a perspective view of a guide plate with guide plate segments according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1b another perspective view of the guide plate from Fig. 1a; Fig. 1c a guide vane arrangement consisting of two guide vanes; Fig. 2 a recording section of a guide plate segment from Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b; Fig. 3 different examples of intake sections of guide vane segments; and Fig. 4 a method for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention Fig. 5 a method for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS

[0033] Fig. Figure 1a shows a guide plate 100 for a (not shown) shell-and-tube heat exchanger, which is formed using an additive manufacturing process. The guide plate 100 can be formed in one piece. The guide plate 100 is designed as a double continuous helical guide plate (double helix guide plate) and comprises a first and second guide plate segment 1a, 1b. In other words, the guide plate 100 is designed as a double-start screw.

[0034] The first guide vane segment 1a forms part of a first strand of the double helix, and the second guide vane segment 1b forms part of a second strand. The two strands of the double helix orbit a central tube 2. A longitudinal axis L of the central tube 2 corresponds to a longitudinal axis of the guide vane 100. The longitudinal axis L is also the axis around which the first and second guide vane segments 1a, 1b wind helically. The central tube 2 encompasses a (in Fig. 1a shown above) first end with a first pipe-side connection section 2a and a (in Fig. 1a (shown below) second end with a second pipe-side connection section 2b.

[0035] Fig. Figure 1b shows the guide plate 100 from below, with the second pipe-side connection section 2b being more clearly visible.

[0036] The first and second guide plate segments 1a, 1b are identical, so that the following description of the first guide plate segment 1a applies accordingly to the second guide plate segment 1b.

[0037] The first guide plate segment 1a includes a plurality of receiving holes 5 for receiving tube bundles of the (not shown) heat exchanger. The plurality of receiving holes 5 can be formed during the additive manufacturing of the first guide plate segment 1a. In the example shown, the first guide plate segment 1a has one complete turn. In other examples, any number of turns can be provided.

[0038] At a first end face, the first guide vane segment 1a includes a first receiving section (or “first segment-side connection section”) 3a. The first end face of the guide vane segment 1a is located on the same side of the heat exchanger as the first end of the central tube 2, which includes the first tube-side connection section 2a.

[0039] In Fig. Figure 1b shows that the first guide vane segment 1a includes a second receiving section (or "second segment-side connection section") 4a at its second end face. The second end face of the guide vane segment 1a is located on the same side of the heat exchanger as the second end of the central tube 2, which includes the second tube-side connection section 2b.

[0040] Accordingly, the second guide plate segment 1b also includes a first end face with a first receiving section 3b and a second end face with a second receiving section 4b.

[0041] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1c, the guide plate 100 can be connected to another guide plate 100' to form a guide plate assembly, as indicated by the arrow. The guide plate 100 and the other guide plate 100' are identical in design. For clarity in the following description, the reference symbols for elements of the other guide plate 100' are supplemented with an apostrophe ('), so that an element with a reference symbol x' of the guide plate 100' is identical to an element with the reference symbol x of the guide plate 100.

[0042] To connect the guide plate 100 with the further guide plate 100', the first receiving section 3a of the guide plate segment 1a of the guide plate 100 is designed in accordance with the second receiving section 4b' of the guide plate segment 1a' of the further guide plate 100'.

[0043] Furthermore, the first pipe-side connection section 2a of the central tube 2 of the guide plate 100 is designed in accordance with the second pipe-side connection section 2b' of the central tube 2' of the further guide plate 100'.

[0044] In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in 1a-c, the second pipe-side connecting section 2b of the guide plate 100 (and thus also the second pipe-side connecting section 2b' of the further guide plate 100') is designed as a receiving opening that receives the first pipe-side connecting section 2a of the guide plate 100.

[0045] The first pipe-side connection section 2a has a shoulder and an outer diameter that is smaller than the remaining outer diameter of the central pipe 2. The outer diameter of the first pipe-side connection section 2a and the inner diameter of the second connection section 2b' (designed as a receiving opening) are shaped to correspond with each other, so that the first pipe-side connection section 2a of the guide plate 100 can be inserted into the second pipe-side connection section 2b' of the guide plate 100'. This allows the guide plate 100 to be inserted into the second guide plate 100'. The connection can be made using a push-fit socket connection. Other connection methods are also conceivable.

[0046] Furthermore, the guide plate 100 and the additional guide plate 100' are connected to each other via the first receiving section 3a (on the side of the guide plate 100) and the second receiving section 4a' (on the side of the additional guide plate 100'). For this purpose, the first receiving section 3a and the second receiving section 4a' are arranged end-to-end and butted together and then joined with a tack weld.

[0047] Fig. Figure 2 shows an enlarged section in the area of ​​the recording section 3a of the first guide vane segment 1a. In the Fig. In example 2, the recording section 3a is designed as a recording paragraph. The second recording section 4a' is designed as a correspondingly structured recording paragraph to receive recording section 3a.

[0048] Fig. Figures 3a to 3c show various examples and arrangements for the receiving section 3a of the guide plate segment 1a of the guide plate 100 and the second receiving section 4a' of the guide plate segment 1a' of the further guide plate 100', as well as an exemplary arrangement of weld points 7, 7' of the tack weld. The first guide plate segment 1a of the guide plate 100 and the first guide plate segment 1a' of the further guide plate 100' are only partially shown.

[0049] Fig. Figure 3a shows an embodiment of the first recording section 3a and the second recording section 4a' according to the design in Fig. 2, in which the first recording section 3a and the second recording section 4a' are designed as corresponding recording paragraphs.

[0050] In Fig. 3b, the first receiving section 3a and the second receiving section 4a' are designed to form a tongue and groove joint. The first receiving section 3a is designed as a spring that is integrally formed with the first guide plate segment 1a of the guide plate 100. The second receiving section 4a' is designed as a groove in the guide plate segment 1a' of the further guide plate 100', which is designed to receive the spring.

[0051] In Fig. 3c, the first receiving section 3a and the second receiving section 4a' are designed to form a tongue-and-groove connection. For this purpose, the first receiving section 3a and the second receiving section 4a' are designed as grooves that accommodate a spring 9.

[0052] In the Fig. The arrangements shown in Figures 3a to 3c depict a first plurality of weld points 7 and a second plurality of weld points 7' for the positive-locking connection of the first guide plate segment 1a of the guide plate 100 to the first guide plate segment 1a of the further light sheet 100'. The first plurality of weld points 7 is arranged on one side of the first guide plate segment 1a (here, above) along a joint area between the first receiving section 3a and the second receiving section 4a'. Furthermore, the second plurality of weld points 7' is arranged on an opposite side of the first guide plate segment 1a (here, below) along the joint area.The weld points of the first plurality of weld points 7 and the weld points of the second plurality of weld points 7' can each be arranged alternately in a direction that runs along the joint area between the first guide plate segment 1a of the guide plate 100 and the further guide plate 100' and radially to the longitudinal axis L of the guide plates 100, 100' (or perpendicular to the plane of the image). The alternating arrangement of the weld points 7, 7' can at least partially reduce component distortion caused by tack welding.

[0053] Fig. Figure 4 schematically shows a method 400 for manufacturing a baffle arrangement for a heat exchanger, comprising the baffle 100 and the further baffle 100'. In method 400, the baffles 100, 100' can be configured with or without a central tube 2, 2'. The manufacturing of the first strand of the double-helix baffle arrangement 100, 100' is described below. Method 400 applies accordingly to the second strand.

[0054] In block 401, several guide plate segments 1a and 1a' are additively manufactured. Specifically, the first guide plate segment 1a and the second guide plate segment 1a' are additively manufactured in block 401. During the additive manufacturing of the first guide plate segment 1a, the multiple receiving holes 5 and the receiving section 3a are formed. The same applies to the formation of the multiple receiving holes 5' and the second receiving section 4a' during the additive manufacturing of the second guide plate segment 1a'.

[0055] In block 403, the first guide plate segment 1a and the further guide plate segment 1a' are arranged along the longitudinal axis L of the guide plate 100 and the further guide plate 100, so that the receiving section 3a and the second receiving section 4a' are abutting each other.

[0056] In block 405, a material-bonded connection, e.g., a tack welding, is made between the first guide plate segment 1a and the guide plate segment 1a' in the area of ​​the receiving sections, in particular along the joint area between the first receiving section 3a and the second receiving section 4a'.

[0057] Fig. Figure 5 schematically shows another method 500 for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement 100, 100' for a heat exchanger.

[0058] In block 501, guide plate 100 and further guide plate 100' are provided, each of which can be formed by additive manufacturing. Here, guide plates 100 and 100' each encompass the central tube 2 and 2', respectively.

[0059] In block 503, the guide plate 100 and the additional guide plate 100' are arranged. The first connecting section 2a of the guide plate 100 is connected to the second connecting section 2b' of the additional guide plate. Furthermore, the guide plate 100 and the additional guide plate 100' are arranged such that the first receiving sections 3a, 3b of the guide plate 100 are connected to or abut the second receiving sections 4a', 4b' of the additional guide plate.

[0060] In block 505, a material-bonded connection, e.g., a tack welding, is made between the guide plate 100 and the further guide plate in the area of ​​the receiving sections 3a, 3b, 4a', 4b', in particular along the joint area between the first receiving sections 3a, 3b of the guide plate 100 and the second receiving sections 4a', 4b' of the further guide plate 100'. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1a, 1a` first guide plate segment 1b, 1b' second guide vane segment 2, 2' central tube 2a, 2a' first pipe-side connection section 2b, 2b' second pipe-side connection section 3a, 3a' first recording section of the first guide vane segment 3b, 3b' first recording section of the second guide vane segment 4a, 4a' second recording section of the first guide vane segment 4b, 4b' second recording section of the second guide vane segment 5.5' Variety of recording holes 7 first multitude of welding points 7' second multitude of weld points 9 spring 100, 100' guide plate 400 methods for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement 401 Additive manufacturing of guide plate segments 403 Arranging guide plate segments 405 material-bonded joining of guide plate segments 500 methods for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement 501 Providing guide plates 503 Arranging guide plates 505 material-bonded joining of guide plates L, L' longitudinal axis

Claims

[1] Guide plate segment (1a, 1b) for a heat exchanger, wherein the guide plate segment (1a, 1b) is helically shaped and has at least one end face a receiving section (3a, 3b, 4b, 4b) for a further guide plate segment (1a', 1b'). [2] Guide plate segment (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving section (3a, 3b) is designed for a positive locking connection. [3] Guide plate segment (1a, 1b) according to claim 2, wherein the positive locking connection is a tongue and groove joint. [4] Guide plate segment (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving section (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) is designed as a receiving shoulder. [5] Guide plate segment (1a, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide plate segment (1a, 1b) is formed from a material comprising stainless steel or a temperature-resistant plastic. [6] Guide plate arrangement (100) for a heat exchanger comprising several guide plate segments (1a, 1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, arranged in series and connected to each other at the end face. [7] Guide plate arrangement (100) according to claim 6, wherein end-face abutting guide plate segments (1a, 1b) of the several guide plate segments (1a, 1b) are materially bonded to one another. [8] Method (400) for manufacturing a guide plate arrangement (100) for a heat exchanger, the method comprising: - (401) additive manufacturing of multiple guide plate segments (1a, 1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, - (403) Arrange the guide plate segments (1a, 1b) so that the receiving sections (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) of two guide plate segments (1a, 1b) are abutting; and - (405) joining the guide plate segments (1a, 1b) in the area of ​​the receiving sections (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b). [9] Method (400) according to claim 8, wherein the material joining comprises welding, in particular tack welding.

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