Improved compacity heat exchanger

Abstract

Tube bundle heat exchanger (1) comprising: a shell (2) which defines an internal volume (3); a tube bundle extending into the internal volume along a first axis (01), the shell (2) comprising: an inlet port (4) of a cooling fluid arranged so that the cooling fluid enters the internal volume along a second axis (O2), an outlet port (7) of the cooling fluid arranged so that the cooling fluid leaves the internal volume along a third axis, the first axis (01) and the second axis (O2) and / or the first axis (01) and the third axis (O3) are non-coplanar.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, and more particularly to the field of tube bundle heat exchangers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, a tube bundle heat exchanger comprises a shell that defines an interior volume inside which a tube bundle extends in a first longitudinal direction. A fluid to be cooled circulates in the tubes of the bundle in a first direction of the first direction. The shell comprises an inlet port for a cooling fluid arranged so that the cooling fluid enters the interior volume in a second direction of a second direction and an outlet port for the cooling fluid arranged so that the cooling fluid leaves the interior volume in a third direction of a third direction. Heat exchangers made according to the TEMA standards for "Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association" define that the second direction and the third direction are located in the same plane and that the second direction and the third direction are identical or opposite.A heat exchanger comprising the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1 is known from FR 889 400.

[0003] When significant cooling is required, for example in cryogenic cycle applications, it is common to connect several heat exchangers in parallel, i.e. the flow of coolant supplied is shared between the different exchangers. This requires the implementation of a large volume of coolant distribution pipes between the different exchangers and therefore a large footprint of the cooling device thus created. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention aims in particular to reduce the size of a cooling device comprising several tube bundle heat exchangers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] For this purpose, a tube bundle heat exchanger is provided comprising a shell which defines an interior volume and a tube bundle having a first axis extending into the interior volume in a first direction. The shell comprises a cooling fluid inlet port arranged such that the cooling fluid enters the interior volume along a second axis arranged in a second direction and a cooling fluid outlet port arranged such that the cooling fluid leaves the interior volume along a third axis arranged in a third direction. According to the invention, the first axis and the second axis are non-coplanar and / or the first axis and the third axis are non-coplanar.

[0006] Such a configuration facilitates the fluid connection of exchangers and improves the compactness of a cooling device comprising such an exchanger.

[0007] According to the invention, the second direction and / or the third direction are substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

[0008] Advantageously, the second axis and a first plane comprising the first axis and parallel to the second direction are separated by a first distance of between ten percent and forty percent of the diameter of the calender, and preferably between twenty percent and thirty percent. For example, for a calender with a diameter of five hundred millimeters, this distance is preferably between fifty millimeters and two hundred millimeters, for example one hundred and twenty-five millimeters. According to a preferred embodiment, the second direction and the third direction form a first angle equal to approximately ninety degrees.

[0009] Turbulence and wear of the exchanger are reduced when, according to the invention, the exchanger is of the "No Tube In Window" type (with no tube in the fluid collection and / or distribution zone), and in which the tube bundle comprises a first row of tubes delimiting, with an inner face of the shell, a free portion of the inner volume which is devoid of tube, the first row of tubes being arranged so that a first straight line tangent to at least two tubes of the first row forms a second angle with the second direction and / or the third direction, the second angle being between twenty and seventy degrees, and preferably equal to forty-five degrees.

[0010] The invention also relates to a cooling device comprising a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger connected together such that a first outlet port of the first exchanger is in fluid connection with a second inlet port of the second exchanger, the first exchanger and the second exchanger being of the type previously described. According to a particular embodiment, the cooling device may comprise a third tube bundle heat exchanger comprising a third inlet port fluidly connected to the first outlet port and a third outlet port fluidly connected to the second inlet port.

[0011] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the following description of a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Reference will be made to the attached drawings, including: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a first embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a schematic representation in section according to a plan II-II of the exchanger of the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 is a schematic representation in section according to a plan III-III of the exchanger of the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 4 ] there figure 4 is a schematic representation in front view of the exchanger of the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 5 ] there figure 5 is a schematic perspective representation of a second embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 6 ] there figure 6 is a schematic representation in section according to a VI-VI plan of the exchanger of the figure 5 ; [ Fig. 7 ] there figure 7 is a schematic perspective representation of a third embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 8 ] there figure 8 is a schematic perspective representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In reference to the figures 1 à 4 , the tube bundle heat exchanger according to the invention, and generally designated 1, comprises a shell 2 which defines an interior volume 3. A bundle 20 of tubes 21 extends into the interior volume 3 with a first axis O1 arranged in a first longitudinal direction. The shell 2 comprises, at a first end 2.1, a first inlet port 4 for a cooling fluid arranged so that the cooling fluid penetrates the volume 3 along a second axis O2 arranged in a second direction. The inlet port 4 is here a tapping 5 added by welding to the shell 2. The tapping 5 is for example in the form of a straight cylinder with an axis coinciding with the second axis O2 of penetration of the cooling fluid into the volume 3, in the second direction, and the free end 5.1 of which comprises a flange 6. The shell 2 also comprises, at its second end 2.2 opposite the end 2.1, a first outlet port 7 for the cooling fluid arranged so that the cooling fluid leaves the interior volume 3 along a third axis O3 in a third direction. The outlet port 7 is here a connection 8 added by welding to the shell 2. The connection 8 is for example in the form of a straight cylinder with an axis coincident with the third axis O3 of the cooling fluid outlet from the volume 3, in the third direction, and the free end 8.1 of which comprises a flange 9.

[0014] As visible in figure 1 , the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction and to the third direction. The first axis O1, second axis O2 and third axis O3 are non-coplanar. More precisely, the second axis and a first plane P1 comprising the first axis and which is parallel to the direction O2 are separated by a first distance d1 of between ten percent and forty percent of the diameter of the calender, and preferably between twenty percent and thirty percent. For example, for a calender with a diameter of five hundred millimeters, this distance is preferably between fifty millimeters and two hundred millimeters, for example one hundred and twenty-five millimeters.

[0015] Similarly, the third axis O3 and a second plane P2 comprising the first axis O1 and which is parallel to the third direction are separated by a second distance d2 of between ten percent and forty percent of the diameter of the calender, and preferably between twenty percent and thirty percent. For example, for a calender with a diameter of five hundred millimeters, this distance is preferably between fifty millimeters and two hundred millimeters, for example one hundred and twenty-five millimeters.

[0016] As visible in figure 4 , the direction O2 and the direction O3 form a first angle α preferably equal to ninety degrees.

[0017] The exchanger 1 also comprises a first pierced support 10 and a second pierced support 11 welded to the grille 2.

[0018] As visible to the figures 2 And 3, the exchanger 1 is of the "No Tube In Window" type, which means that the interior volume 3 comprises a first portion 12 for fluid distribution without a tube 21. More particularly in the embodiment of the figures 1 à 4 , the grille 2 comprises a first portion 12 and a second portion 13 devoid of tube 21.

[0019] The bundle 20 comprises a first row 22 of tubes 21 which delimits, with an inner face 14 of the calender 2, the portion 12. The first row 22 is arranged so that a first straight line D1 tangent to the tubes 21 of the row 22, and perpendicular to the generator of these, forms a second angle β with the direction O2. The second angle β is, here, equal to forty-five degrees. The bundle 20 also comprises a second row 23 of tubes 21 which delimits, with the face 14, the portion 13.

[0020] The second row 23 is arranged so that a second straight line D2 tangent to the tubes 21 of the row 23, and perpendicular to the generator of these, forms a third angle y with the direction O3. The third angle y is, here, equal to forty-five degrees.

[0021] The bundle 20 comprises a fluid inlet 24 and a fluid outlet 25 respectively provided with a flange 26 and 27.

[0022] Elements identical or similar to those previously described will bear a numerical reference increased by one hundred in the following description of the second embodiment of the invention.

[0023] In reference to the figures 5 And 6, a cooling device 50 comprises a first heat exchanger 1 and a second heat exchanger 101. The second heat exchanger 101 corresponds to an image of the first exchanger 1 obtained by plane symmetry carried out with respect to a plane parallel to the first axis of the shell and orthogonal to the third outlet axis of the cooling fluid.

[0024] The exchanger 1 is connected to the exchanger 101 by bolting the support plates 10 and 11 respectively onto the supports 110 and 111.

[0025] The first exchanger 1 and the second exchanger 101 are also connected to each other so that the outlet port 7 of the exchanger 1 is in fluid connection with the second inlet port 104 of the exchanger 101. A joint tightened by bolting between the flanges 9 and 106 can ensure the sealed connection of the ports 7 and 104.

[0026] A compact cooling device 50 is then obtained comprising two exchangers 1 and 101 whose cooling fluid circulation circuits are connected in series. Such a device 50 can be used to cool a single fluid flow, in this case the first outlet 25 of the exchanger 1 will be connected to the second inlet 124 of the second exchanger 101. The device 50 can also be used to cool two different fluid flows using the same cooling fluid flow.

[0027] According to a third embodiment shown in figure 7 , the device 50 comprises a third heat exchanger 201 with a tube bundle. The third heat exchanger 201 is an exchanger of known type whose shell 202 comprises a third inlet port 204 for cooling fluid and a third outlet port 207 for cooling fluid. The inlet port 204 and the outlet port 207 extend on either side of the shell 202 and are aligned. The third heat exchanger 201 comprises an inlet 205 for fluid to be cooled and an outlet 206 for fluid to be cooled. The third heat exchanger 201 comprises an axial longitudinal wall 203 which forces the circulation of the cooling fluid in the third heat exchanger 201. Thus, the cooling fluid enters the third heat exchanger 201 through the inlet port 204, circulates longitudinally in the shell 202 in a first direction of a fourth direction D4 which extends from the inlet 205 to the outlet 206.The coolant then circulates in the shell 202 in a fifth direction D5 which extends from the outlet 206 to the inlet 205.

[0028] The inlet port 204 is fluidly connected to the outlet port 7 and the outlet port 207 is fluidly connected to the inlet port 104. It is then possible to use a known heat exchanger 201 to produce a cooling device 50 with increased cooling capacity and improved compactness.

[0029] According to a fourth embodiment shown in figure 8 , the device 50 comprises, in addition to the first heat exchanger 1, a fourth heat exchanger 301 with a tube bundle and a fifth heat exchanger 401. The fourth heat exchanger 301 is an exchanger of known type whose shell 302 comprises a fourth inlet port 304 for cooling fluid and a fourth outlet port 307 for cooling fluid. The inlet port 304 and the outlet port 307 extend on either side of the shell 302 and are located at two opposite ends 302.1 and 302.2 of the shell 302. The fourth heat exchanger 301 comprises an inlet 305 for fluid to be cooled and an outlet 306 for fluid to be cooled.

[0030] The fifth heat exchanger 401 is identical to the first heat exchanger 1. According to the representation of the figure 8, the fifth heat exchanger 401 corresponds to an image of the first exchanger 1 after it has undergone a rotation of ninety degrees around its axis O1. The fifth heat exchanger 401 comprises a fifth coolant inlet port 404 and a fifth coolant outlet port 407.

[0031] The inlet port 304 is fluidly connected to the outlet port 7 and the outlet port 307 is fluidly connected to the inlet port 404. It is then possible to use a known heat exchanger 301 to produce a cooling device 50 with increased cooling capacity and improved compactness.

[0032] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0033] Especially, although here the first axis and the second axis as well as the first axis and the third axis are non-coplanar, the invention also applies to other relative implantations of the first, second and third axes, such as for example a first axis and a second axis not coplanar and a first and a third axis coplanar, or a first axis and a second axis coplanar and a first and a third axis not coplanar; although here the first angle is equal to approximately ninety degrees, the invention also applies to other non-zero values of the first angle and different from one hundred and eighty degrees, for example any value between ten and one hundred and seventy degrees;although here the first straight line is tangent to all the tubes of the first row, the invention also applies to a first straight line tangent to a different number of tubes of the first row, such as for example a first straight line tangent to at least two tubes of the first row; although here the second angle is equal to forty-five degrees, the invention also applies to other values of the second angle different from zero and ninety degrees, such as for example between twenty degrees and seventy degrees, or between thirty and sixty degrees or any other intermediate value; although here the third angle is equal to forty-five degrees, the invention also applies to other values of the second angle different from zero and ninety degrees, such as for example between twenty degrees and seventy degrees, or between thirty and sixty degrees or any other intermediate value;although here the tube bundle is arranged so as to have a row of tubes which makes an angle of forty-five degrees with the second direction and the third direction, the invention also applies to a tube bundle comprising a row which defines an angle of forty-five degrees with only one of the second or third directions; although here we speak of a cooling fluid, the invention also applies to a heating fluid.;

Claims

1. Heat exchanger (1, 101) with a bundle (20) of tubes (21) comprising: a shell (2, 102) that defines an interior volume (3); a bundle (20) of tubes (21) extending in the interior volume (3) along a first axis (01) arranged in a first longitudinal direction, the bundle (20) comprising a fluid inlet (24) and a fluid outlet (25) respectively provided with a flange (26, 27), the first axis (01) passing through the fluid inlet (24) and outlet (25), the shell (2) comprising, at a first longitudinal end: an inlet port (4, 104) for a coolant, said inlet port being arranged such that the coolant enters the interior volume (3) along a second axis (O2), the shell comprising, at a second longitudinal end, an outlet port (7, 107) for the coolant, said outlet port being arranged such that the coolant leaves the interior volume (2) along a third axis (O3), wherein the second axis (O2) and / or the third axis (O3) are substantially orthogonal to the first axis (01), wherein the second axis (O2) and the third axis (O3) form a first angle (α) equal to approximately ninety degrees, characterized in that the first axis (01) and the second axis (O2) are non-coplanar and / or the first axis (01) and the third axis (O3) are non-coplanar, wherein the heat exchanger (1, 101) is of the "no tube in window" type, and wherein the bundle (20) of tubes (21) comprises a first row (22, 23) of tubes delimiting, with an interior face (14) of the shell (2), a free portion (12, 13) of the interior volume (3) that has no tubes (21), the first row (22, 23) of tubes being arranged such that a first straight line (D1) tangent to at least two tubes (21) of the first row (22) forms a second angle (β) with the second direction (O2) and / or the third direction (O3), the second angle (β) being between twenty degrees and seventy degrees, and preferably equal to forty-five degrees.

2. Heat exchanger (1, 101) according to Claim 1, wherein the second axis (O2) and a first plane (P1) comprising the first axis (01) and parallel to the second axis (O2) are separated by a first distance (d1) of between ten percent and forty percent of a diameter of the shell, preferably twenty percent and thirty percent.

3. Cooling device (50) comprising a first heat exchanger (1) and a second heat exchanger (101) that are connected to one another such that a first outlet port (7) of the first exchanger (1) is fluidically connected to a second inlet port (104) of the second exchanger (101), the first exchanger (1) and the second exchanger (101) being in accordance with either one of the preceding claims.

4. Cooling device (50) according to Claim 3, comprising a third tube-bundle heat exchanger (201) comprising a third inlet port (204, 304) fluidically connected to the first outlet port (7) and a third outlet port (207, 307) fluidically connected to the second inlet port (104, 404) .

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