Shell-and-tube heat exchanger
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023762421
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-16
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Conventional tube-and-shell heat exchangers face challenges in achieving minimal pressure losses on the tube side while maintaining maximum sealing, particularly when a removable tube bundle is required.
A tube-and-shell heat exchanger design featuring a removable tubular assembly that slides relative to the grille, allowing easy insertion and extraction, with a configuration that minimizes pressure losses and ensures maximum sealing by ensuring the fluid circulates only once through the tubular bundle, using a sealing device with gaskets and clamping rings to prevent fluid escape.
The design achieves minimal pressure losses and maximum sealing, enabling efficient cooling of gases like helium with minimal leakage, facilitating easy maintenance and operation.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
Shell and tube heat exchanger
[0001] The present invention relates to a shell-and-tube heat exchanger.
[0002] There are several types of shell-and-tube heat exchangers used to cool gas with water. This type of exchanger can be used to cool helium, especially when the gas has been heated by a compressor. The TEMA standard, which was established and maintained by the Tubular Exchanger Manufacturer's Association, is also known. This standard defines the main types of exchangers used in industry.
[0003] A problem with these known types of exchangers is that it is impossible to use a removable tube bundle while providing minimal pressure losses on the tube side and while providing maximum sealing on the tube side.
[0004] The present invention aims to effectively overcome these drawbacks by proposing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger extending along a first longitudinal axis between a front part and a rear part, the exchanger comprising: a shell defining an interior volume intended to be traversed by a first fluid; and a removable tubular assembly extending along the first longitudinal axis and defining a circuit for the circulation of a second fluid, the removable tubular assembly comprising: a front head defining a front chamber for the second fluid, the front head comprising a front box, a front bottom in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box, a front orifice for the inlet or outlet of the second fluid, a front pipe opening into the front orifice and being in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box, and a front tubular plate secured to the front box;a rear head, defining a rear chamber for the second fluid, the rear head comprising a rear box, a rear orifice for the inlet or outlet of the second fluid, a rear pipe opening into the rear orifice and being in one piece or assembled by welding with the rear box, and a rear tube plate secured to the rear box; a tube bundle comprising a set of tubes for the passage of the second fluid and being configured so that the second fluid only passes through the shell once between the front orifice and the rear orifice, the front tube plate being in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box, the rear tube plate being in one piece or assembled by welding with the rear box, the tube bundle being in one piece or assembled by welding with the front tube plate and with the rear tube plate.;
[0005] This allows the tubular assembly to slide relative to the shell and thus be easily removable, i.e. to allow its extraction / insertion into the shell. Although the tubular assembly is removable relative to the shell, such an exchanger offers minimal pressure losses at the level of the tubular assembly. Indeed, the fluid to be cooled only circulates once inside the tubes of the bundle, from the front part to the rear part of the exchanger. Such an exchanger also offers maximum sealing at the level of the tubular assembly. Indeed, the fluid which circulates inside the tubes of the bundle cannot escape into the atmosphere.
[0006] According to one embodiment, the first fluid is a cooling fluid.
[0007] According to one embodiment, the first fluid comprises a liquid, in particular water.
[0008] According to one embodiment, the second fluid is intended to be cooled during its passage through the exchanger.
[0009] According to one embodiment, the second fluid comprises a gas, in particular helium.
[0010] According to one embodiment, the front bottom is curved.
[0011] According to one embodiment, the front bottom extends substantially in a plane orthogonal to the first axis and is intersected by the first axis.
[0012] According to one embodiment, the front head comprising a front head flange, in particular a single-piece or assembled by welding with the front box or with the front tube plate, to allow the front head to be fixed to a front grille flange, the front head flange in particular having substantially the same internal diameter as that of the front grille flange.
[0013] According to one embodiment, the exchanger comprises a front seal interposed between the front grille flange and the front head flange, to provide sealing with respect to the first fluid.
[0014] According to one embodiment, the rear head comprises a convergent profile, the convergent profile being convergent when moving along the first longitudinal axis in the direction from the front part towards the rear part, over at least a portion of the first longitudinal axis, the portion being in particular between the rear tube plate and the rear orifice, the rear box being in particular conical.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the front head comprises a gripping member for the passage of lifting tools allowing the disassembly of the removable tubular assembly relative to the grille.
[0016] According to one embodiment, the exchanger comprises a sealing device with respect to the first fluid, the sealing device being in particular arranged between a rear opening of the grille and the rear head.
[0017] According to one embodiment, the sealing device comprises a gasket, in particular mounted tightly between the internal wall of the calender and the rear tubular plate, the sealing device comprising in particular a clamping ring mounted integral with a shoulder of the calender.
[0018] Alternatively, the sealing device comprises a bellows fixed, in particular screwed, to the grille with the interposition of a first O-ring between the grille and the bellows, the bellows being further fixed, in particular screwed, to the rear head, with the interposition of a second seal, in particular O-ring, between the bellows and the rear head.
[0019] Alternatively, the sealing device comprises a single-piece bellows or one assembled by welding with the calender, the bellows being further screwed onto the rear head, with the interposition of a second seal, in particular an O-ring, between the bellows and the rear head.
[0020] According to one embodiment, the front pipe extends along a second axis forming an angle greater than 45° relative to the first axis, in particular forming an angle substantially equal to 90°.
[0021] According to one embodiment, the rear pipe extends substantially along the first axis.
[0022] According to one embodiment, the grille is without a baffle.
[0023] According to one embodiment, the tubular bundle comprises baffles, in particular fixed to the external wall of at least one of the tubes.
[0024] According to one embodiment, the front head is without a removable cover.
[0025] According to one embodiment, the calender is of the “single pass” type, in particular of the “E” type according to the “TEMA” standard.
[0026] According to one embodiment, the front head is of type “C” according to the “TEMA” standard, the front head being without a removable cover.
[0027] According to one embodiment, the rear head is of type “P” according to the “TEMA” standard, the rear head being without a removable cover.
[0028] According to one embodiment, the tubular assembly has no seal between the front box and the front tubular plate.
[0029] According to one embodiment, the tubular assembly has no seal between the rear box and the rear tube plate.
[0030] According to one embodiment, the largest external diameter of the rear head is less than the smallest internal diameter of the grille.
[0031] According to one embodiment, the rear head is sized to allow the rear head to slide relative to the grille, along the first axis.
[0032] According to one embodiment, the tubular assembly is arranged to be removable relative to the grille, the assembly being in particular mounted to slide relative to the grille, for example by the front part.
[0033] According to one embodiment, the grille comprises a front grille flange intended to receive, in abutment, the front head flange, when the tubular assembly is mounted inside the grille, to allow the front head to be fixed to the grille, in particular by at least one removable fixing system.
[0034] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given only for illustrative purposes but in no way limit the invention.
[0035] This is a schematic representation of an exchanger according to the invention;
[0036] This is a schematic representation of the exchanger, in the intermediate disassembly position;
[0037] This is a schematic representation of a first example of the embodiment of a sealing device;
[0038] This is a schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of a sealing device; and
[0039] This is a schematic representation of a third example of the embodiment of a sealing device.
[0040] Identical, similar, or analogous elements retain the same reference from one figure to another.
[0041] As illustrated in the, a shell-tube heat exchanger 100 is shown which extends along a first longitudinal axis 40 between a front portion, for receiving a second fluid and a rear portion for delivering the second fluid once cooled. The exchanger 100 comprises a shell 2 defining an internal volume intended to be crossed by a first fluid, such as a cooling fluid, for example a liquid such as water.
[0042] The exchanger 100 further comprises a removable tubular assembly 1 extending along the first longitudinal axis 40 and defining a circuit for the circulation of the second fluid, such as a gas, for example helium or neon or nitrogen or a mixture comprising at least one of helium, neon, nitrogen, or any other suitable mixture.
[0043] The assembly 1 comprises: a front head 11 defining a front chamber which here acts as a distribution chamber for the second fluid, the front head 11 comprising a front box 18, a front bottom 19 in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box 18, a front orifice for the inlet of the second fluid into the front chamber, a front pipe 10 opening into the front orifice and being in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box 18, and a front tubular plate 14 secured to the front box 18; a rear head 12, defining a rear chamber which here acts as an outlet chamber for the second fluid, the rear head 12 comprising a rear box 20, a rear orifice for the outlet of the second fluid, a rear pipe 21 opening into the rear orifice and being in one piece or assembled by welding with the rear box 20, and a rear tubular plate 15 secured to the rear box 20;a tubular bundle 13 comprising a set of tubes for the passage of the second fluid and being configured so that the second fluid only passes through the calender 2 once between the front orifice and the rear orifice.;
[0044] The front tube plate 14 is in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box 18. The rear tube plate 15 is in one piece or assembled by welding with the rear box 20. The tube bundle 13 is in one piece or assembled by welding with the front tube plate 14. The tube bundle 13 is in one piece or assembled by welding with the rear tube plate 15.
[0045] The front pipe 10 is an inlet pipe for the second fluid. It has a front pipe flange 16 to allow attachment with a front connecting flange 30 of an inlet for the second fluid. A gasket is interposed between the front pipe flange 16 and the front connecting flange 30.
[0046] The front pipe 10 extends along a second axis 41, perpendicular to the first axis 40.
[0047] The rear conduit 21 is an outlet conduit for the second fluid (i.e., the cooled gas in the example considered). It has a rear port flange 17 to allow attachment with a rear connection flange of a rear connection channel 31 with an outlet for the second fluid. A seal such as an O-ring or a crushed seal is interposed between the rear port flange 17 and the rear connection flange 31.
[0048] The grille 2 comprises a tubular wall 51 comprising a front opening configured to allow the passage of the rear head 12 and the tubular bundle 13 through the grille 2, during assembly or disassembly of the removable tubular assembly 1 relative to the grille 2.
[0049] This allows the removable tubular assembly 1 to slide into the grille 2, relative to the grille 2.
[0050] The front head 11 has a front head flange 22. The front head flange 22 is integral or welded to the front box 18 or to the front tube plate 14, to enable the front head 11 to be attached to a front shell flange 56.
[0051] The front head flange 22 has substantially the same internal diameter as that of the front grille flange 56.
[0052] A front seal is interposed between the front grille flange 56 and the front head flange 22, to provide sealing against the first fluid.
[0053] The rear head 12 has a converging profile, the converging profile being converging when moving along the first longitudinal axis 40 in the direction from the front portion to the rear portion, over at least a portion between the rear tube plate 15 and the rear orifice.
[0054] In the example considered, the rear box 20 is conical.
[0055] The front head 11 comprises a gripping member 60 for the passage of lifting tools allowing the disassembly of the removable tubular assembly 1 relative to the calender 2.
[0056] The exchanger 100 is devoid of a flange for tightening the rear head 12 relative to the grille 2.
[0057] The figure represents the exchanger of the, in an intermediate disassembly position. In this intermediate disassembly position, the tubular assembly 1 has slid partially relative to the shell 2.
[0058] To mount the tubular assembly 1 in the grille 2, the tubular assembly 1 is slid along the first longitudinal axis 40, from the front part to the rear part, until the rear orifice flange 17 comes into abutment against the rear connection flange 31.
[0059] To secure the tubular assembly 1 to the shell 2, each flange as described above is secured to the flange on which it is positioned, by a nut or any other type of connecting device. A seal such as an O-ring or a crushed seal is interposed between the two flanges to prevent leaks of the second fluid to the atmosphere or to prevent leaks of the first fluid to the outside of the shell 2.
[0060] More precisely, the following are fixed together: the front head flange 22 with the front grille flange 56; the rear port flange 17 with the rear connecting flange 31; the front duct flange 16 with the front connecting flange 30.
[0061] Finally, a sealing device 70, 72, 73 is added with respect to the first fluid, between a rear opening of the grille 2 and the rear head 12.
[0062] To dismantle the tubular assembly 1 from the calender 2, each flange is first separated from the flange against which it is positioned, then the sealing device 70 is removed. Finally, the tubular assembly 1 is slid relative to the calender 2, so as to extract it from the calender 2.
[0063] The figure represents a first embodiment of the sealing device 70, 72.
[0064] The sealing device comprises a gasket 72, in particular mounted tightly between the internal wall of the calender 2 and the rear tubular plate 15. The sealing device further comprises a clamping ring 70 mounted integrally with a shoulder 50 of the calender 2.
[0065] A nut 71 makes it possible to secure the clamping ring 70 of the grille 2.
[0066] The figure represents a second embodiment of the sealing device 70, 72, 73.
[0067] The sealing device comprises a bellows 70 fixed by a nut 71 on the grille 2 with the interposition of a first O-ring 72 between the grille 2 and the bellows 70, the bellows 70 being further fixed by a nut 74 on the rear head 12, with the interposition of a second seal 73, in particular an O-ring, between the bellows 70 and the rear head 12.
[0068] This represents a third embodiment of the sealing device 70, 73.
[0069] The sealing device comprises a bellows 70 in one piece or assembled by welding with the calender 2, the bellows 70 being further fixed by a nut 74 on the rear head 12, with the interposition of a second seal 73, in particular an O-ring, between the bellows 70 and the rear head 12.
Claims
Shell-tube heat exchanger (100) extending along a first longitudinal axis (40) between a front part and a rear part, the exchanger (100) comprising: a shell (2) defining an interior volume intended to be crossed by a first fluid, the first fluid being in particular a cooling fluid; anda removable tubular assembly (1) extending along the first longitudinal axis (40) and defining a circuit for the circulation of a second fluid, the removable tubular assembly (1) comprising:a front head (11) defining a front chamber for the second fluid, the front head (11) comprising a front box (18), a front bottom (19) in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box (18), a front orifice for the inlet or outlet of the second fluid, a front pipe (10) opening into the front orifice and being in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box (18), and a front tubular plate (14) secured to the front box (18);a rear head (12), defining a rear chamber for the second fluid, the rear head (12) comprising a rear box (20), a rear orifice for the inlet or outlet of the second fluid, a rear pipe (21) opening into the rear orifice and being in one piece or assembled by welding with the rear box (20), and a rear tube plate (15) secured to the rear box (20); a tube bundle (13) comprising a set of tubes for the passage of the second fluid and being configured so that the second fluid only passes through the shell (2) once between the front orifice and the rear orifice, the front tube plate (14) being in one piece or assembled by welding with the front box (18), the rear tube plate (15) being in one piece or assembled by welding with the rear box (20), the tube bundle (13) being in one piece or assembled by welding with the front tube plate (14) and with the rear tube plate (15).; Exchanger (100) according to the preceding claim, the tubular assembly (1) being arranged to be removable relative to the grille (2), the assembly (1) being in particular mounted to slide relative to the grille (2), for example by the front part. Exchanger (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the front head (11) comprising a front head flange (22), in particular a single piece or assembled by welding with the front box (18) or with the front tube plate (14), to allow the front head (11) to be fixed to a front shell flange (56), the front head flange (22) having in particular substantially the same internal diameter as that of the front shell flange (56). Exchanger (100) according to the preceding claim, comprising a front seal interposed between the front shell flange (56) and the front head flange (22), to allow sealing with respect to the first fluid. Exchanger (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the rear head (12) comprising a convergent profile, the convergent profile being convergent when moving along the first longitudinal axis (40) in the direction going from the front part towards the rear part, on at least a portion of the first longitudinal axis (40), the portion being in particular between the rear tube plate (15) and the rear orifice, the rear box (20) being in particular conical. Exchanger (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the front head (11) comprising a gripping member (60) for the passage of lifting tools allowing the disassembly of the removable tubular assembly (1) relative to the calender (2). Exchanger (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a sealing device (70, 72, 73) with respect to the first fluid, the sealing device being in particular arranged between a rear opening of the grille (2) and the rear head (12). Exchanger (100) according to the preceding claim, the sealing device comprising a gasket (72), in particular mounted tightly between the internal wall of the shell (2) and the rear tube plate (15), the sealing device comprising in particular a clamping ring (70) mounted integral with a shoulder (50) of the shell (2). Exchanger (100) according to claim 7, the sealing device comprising a bellows (70) fixed on the calender (2) with the interposition of a first O-ring (72) between the calender (2) and the bellows (70), the bellows (70) being further fixed on the rear head (12), with the interposition of a second seal (73), in particular an O-ring, between the bellows (70) and the rear head (12). Exchanger (100) according to claim 7, the sealing device comprising a bellows (70) in one piece or assembled by welding with the shell (2), the bellows (70) being further screwed onto the rear head (12), with the interposition of a second seal (73), in particular an O-ring, between the bellows (70) and the rear head (12).