Compressor gas cooler

Abstract

The utility model relates to mechanical engineering, heat engineering, refrigeration, pump engineering, or compressor engineering, and can be used, in particular, in floating grate gas coolers. A compressor gas cooler with a floating grate comprises a housing consisting of a cylindrical shell and flanges on both sides, and an insertable tubular assembly located within the housing. The inserted tubular assembly is secured between a fixed grate and a floating grate on the cooled medium outlet side. Additionally, grounding bosses with threads for fastening the grounding element are installed on the outer surface of the housing and serve to securely connect the gas cooler to the grounding system, thereby increasing electrical safety and reliability during operation. The preferred embodiment utilizes at least two bosses, which are installed in a mirror-image position relative to the coolant inlet and outlet fittings.The technical result is to increase the reliability of the gas cooler by eliminating galvanic corrosion. 2 clauses, 3 figs.

Description

[0001] Technical field

[0002] The utility model relates to the field of mechanical engineering, heat engineering, refrigeration industry, pump engineering or compressor engineering, in particular, it can be used in gas coolers with a floating grate.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] A gas cooler is known as part of NEUMAN & ESSER compressors type 2TES30 - 330170 with a heat exchange surface of 3.2 m 2 , access mode: https: / / www.christianberner.se / globalassets / leverantorer / nea--neumann--esser / dokument / processgas-en.pdf, in which the installation of rubber seals of the movable grate is carried out on the hot gas supply side, which leads to wear of the rubber seals and a general decrease in the wear resistance and reliability of the gas cooler.

[0005] Public patent SU 1721412 is known for a two-stage refrigeration turbocompressor comprising an annular cooling jacket encircling the housing. The communication line is designed as a spiral gas pipeline, externally encircling the cooling jacket, creating contact between them. A disadvantage of this solution is the spiral design of the gas pipeline and the lack of a floating grate.

[0006] A shell-and-tube heat exchanger is known from the prior art according to patent RU 2306515 for heating and cooling with a floating head, which is located in the casing cover on the side opposite the distribution chamber.

[0007] Also known from the prior art is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger according to patent RU 2614266, copyright holder PJSC Cryogenmash, with a movable lower grate to compensate for temperature stresses.

[0008] Also known is patent CN 203202218 for a flange seal with a groove for the flanges of a compressor cooler, owned by Bengbu Zhengbu Compressor Co Ltd. This patent discloses a flange connection in a gas cooler that includes a tongue-and-groove connection with a rubber seal located in the groove. This solution is widely known—seals in tongue-and-groove joints are used not only in compressor gas coolers.

[0009] The closest solution adopted is the solution based on international application WO 2016008675, patent RU 2675966 of Casale SA for a heat exchanger in which two shell layers protect the tube bundle, a system of longitudinal baffles forms counter-directional through flows for the fluid, and the tube bundle is a bundle of straight tubes with a floating head, with four embodiments disclosed. The third embodiment is closest to the proposed solution, in which the heat exchanger contains straight tubes, one end of which is fixed in the tube sheet, and the opposite end is fixed in the floating head. In this case, the hot fluid entering through the docking unit passes along the annular space along a longitudinal trajectory and then returns to the outlet docking unit, passing through the discharge gap. The cold fluid passes counter-currently through the tubes from the feed chamber to the collection chamber.A significant problem with the prototype is the complexity of the design with the implementation of several internal casings, the possibility of using a floating grid on the hot side, which leads to wear of its rubber seals, and the lack of designated places for grounding the structure.

[0010] The disadvantage of prototype RU 2675966 is the installation on the hot gas inlet side, which leads to heating of the grate itself and the adjacent rubber seal to a maximum temperature of 180°. In this operating mode, rubber seals, even when using high-quality materials, will last no more than 300 hours according to the simulation results, after which they will begin to deteriorate and reduce their sealing qualities, which can lead to depressurization of the compressor.

[0011] A common technical problem with floating head analogs is that the rubber seals of the moving grate are installed on the hot gas supply side, which leads to wear of the rubber seals.

[0012] The technical result is an increase in the reliability of the gas cooler, which is achieved by using an optimized design of the gas cooler, contributing to an increase in the service life and a reduction in the frequency of replacement of consumable parts due to the fact that threaded bosses are added for connecting grounding fasteners on two different sides, which allows for convenient grounding of the unit and eliminates galvanic corrosion.

[0013] Essence Revealed

[0014] A floating grate compressor gas cooler comprises a casing consisting of a cylindrical shell with flanges on both sides, and an insertable tube bundle housed within the casing, consisting of tubes secured between a fixed grate and a floating grate. Grounding studs are installed on the outer surface of the casing and serve to securely connect the gas cooler to the grounding system, improving electrical safety during operation. Each grounding stud is threaded for fastening a grounding element. In a preferred embodiment, at least two studs are used to enhance the reliability of the gas cooler, installed in a mirror-image position relative to the coolant inlet and outlet connections.

[0015] Installing threaded grounding studs on the outer surface of the gas cooler housing significantly improves the reliability and electrical safety of the gas cooler. The studs provide a secure and convenient connection to the grounding system (not shown), allowing for the rapid discharge of hazardous currents and potentials in the event of potential insulation faults.

[0016] The studs direct currents to the ground, reducing the risk of electric shock and preventing static buildup, allowing for convenient grounding of the unit and eliminating galvanic corrosion. This minimizes the risk of sparking or overheating of the enclosure, especially in high-humidity or dusty conditions typical of gas coolers. Furthermore, grounding protects against faults caused by induced voltages.

[0017] Brief description of drawings

[0018] Fig. 1 - Gas cooler design in longitudinal section.

[0019] Fig. 2 - Sealing elements and boss.

[0020] Fig. 3 - Grounding block, where:

[0021] 1 - Body shell;

[0022] 2 - Housing flange;

[0023] 3 - Coolant outlet fitting;

[0024] 4 - Coolant supply nipple;

[0025] 5 - Grounding boss;

[0026] 5a - Grounding boss thread;

[0027] 6 - Floating body grille;

[0028] 7 - Fixed body grille;

[0029] 8 - Tube bundle tube;

[0030] 9 - Guide ring with groove for installation of rubber seal;

[0031] 10 - Sealing gasket;

[0032] 11 - Rubber seal;

[0033] 12 - Hot gas supply pipe flange;

[0034] 13 - Cooled gas outlet pipe flange.

[0035] Implementation

[0036] The compressor gas cooler is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger (tube-in-tube type) used to reduce the temperature of compressed hot gas using a cooling liquid, ensuring minimal pressure loss. It consists of a welded casing and a tube bundle insert, where the gas flows through the tubes and the liquid flows through the annular space. The tube bundle is installed so that the fixed grate faces the hot gas inlet.

[0037] The gas cooler body consists of a cylindrical shell 1, to which flanges 2 are welded on both ends. A hot gas supply flange 12 and a cooled gas outlet flange 13 are mounted on the ends for connection to the compressor.

[0038] Shell 1 together with flanges 2 forms a sealed casing, inside which a tube bundle is placed and heat exchange between gas and coolant is realized.

[0039] The tube bundle consists of thin tubes (8) and is welded to a floating grate (6) and a fixed grate (7) before being inserted into the casing. Fixed grate (7) is rigidly fixed at the hot gas inlet, ensuring stability, while floating grate (6) is installed at the cooled gas outlet, compensating for thermal expansion of the tubes and preventing deformation. Floating grate (6) is sealed with a guide ring with a groove for installing a rubber seal (9), sealing gaskets (10), and a rubber seal (11) to prevent leakage.

[0040] Nipples for supplying 4 and discharging 3 coolant are welded into the shell, providing for the supply and discharge of the cooling medium to the inter-tube space, while the nipples are located on opposite sides of the body to organize the directed movement of the flow.

[0041] Grounding studs 5 are installed on the outer surface of the housing. Each stud has a 5a thread for fastening a grounding element and serves to securely connect the gas cooler to the grounding system, thereby increasing electrical safety during operation. In a preferred embodiment, to enhance the reliability of the gas cooler, at least two studs are used, installed in a mirror-image position relative to the coolant inlet 4 and outlet 3 connections.

[0042] A pre-assembled tube bundle is inserted into the welded casing, which is a bundle of tubes 8 fixed in two tube sheets - fixed 7 and floating 6. The fixed sheet 7 is structurally connected to the casing through a flange joint and provides rigid fixation of one end of the tube bundle, while separating the gas and water environments.

[0043] Floating grate 6 is not welded to the housing, but is mounted with axial movement within the casing, which compensates for thermal expansion of tubes 8 due to changes in the temperature of the hot gas and coolant. This design prevents excessive thermal stress in the tubes and their flared areas within the grates, increasing the service life of the tube assembly and reducing the risk of leaks.

[0044] The tubes 8 of the tube bundle connect the floating 6 and fixed 7 grids and form an intra-tube space through which hot gas flows from the supply flange 12 to the cooled gas outlet flange 13. Between the outer surface of the tubes and the inner surface of the shell 1, an inter-tube space is formed through which the cooling liquid circulates, supplied through the nozzle 4 and discharged through the nozzle 3.

[0045] The design ensures separate movement of the media: gas moves through the pipes, and liquid through the intertube space, while heat is transferred between them through the walls of the tubes 8. This flow organization allows for efficient cooling of the gas to the required temperature while maintaining tightness and preventing their mixing.

[0046] Hot gas supply pipe flange 12 is located on the gas inlet side of the tube manifold and connects to the compressor discharge port, providing superheated gas into the internal space of the tube. Cooled gas outlet pipe flange 13 is installed at the opposite end, where the gas, after passing through tubes 8 and giving up heat, is discharged into the next-stage gas pipeline or process line.

[0047] Flange connections 12 and 13 provide a detachable connection of the gas cooler to pipelines, which simplifies the installation, dismantling and maintenance of the equipment, and also allows the installation of standard fittings and compensators on gas lines.

[0048] A sealing gasket 10 is installed between the flanges of housing 2 and the mating elements of the tubular unit, ensuring a tight separation between the gas and liquid cavities and preventing leakage of working fluids. To seal and compensate for installation and temperature deformations on the side of floating grate 6, a rubber seal 11 is used, located in the groove of guide ring 9 on the cooled gas outlet side.

[0049] Guide ring 9 with a groove for installing rubber seal 11 is oriented toward the end of the cooled gas outlet, allowing the seal to be positioned in an area of ​​lower temperatures and reduced thermal loads. This design reduces aging and cracking of the rubber seal, increasing the durability of the seal and the overall tightness of the gas cooler.

[0050] Installing rubber seal 11 on the cooled gas outlet side 13 allows for the use of an already cooled gas flow, which has a lower temperature than the hot inlet gas. Consequently, the seal material is subjected to lower thermal and chemical stress. This reduces the rate of rubber aging, the likelihood of loss of elasticity, and crack formation, which directly improves the service life of the sealing unit and positively impacts the overall reliability of the gas cooler.

[0051] The design works as follows.

[0052] The compressor gas cooler is a tube-in-tube heat exchanger, where hot compressed gas is cooled by liquid as it passes through a tube located inside the housing. Gas enters through the hot gas inlet flange, passes through the inner tube, transferring heat to the cooling liquid in the annular space, and exits cooled through the corresponding flange. The moving side of the gas cooler and the rubber seals are located on the cooled gas outlet side.

[0053] The welded housing is assembled from a shell 1, housing flanges 2 welded on both sides, coolant inlet 3 and coolant outlet 4. Grounding bosses 5 are installed on the outer surface of the housing, which are used to connect the gas cooler to the grounding system, which allows for convenient grounding of the unit and eliminates galvanic corrosion.

[0054] A pre-welded tube bundle consisting of a floating grid 6, a fixed grid 7 and tubes 8 connecting them is inserted into the welded body.

[0055] The choice of the installation direction of the pipe manifold is determined by the direction of gas flow in the consumer complex: fixed grate 7 should be located on the side of the hot gas inlet. Tubes 8 pass through the shell of housing 1, and floating grate 6 is located on the side of the housing opposite the hot gas inlet. Ring 9 with annular rubber seals 11 pre-threaded into grooves is placed on floating grate 6. Ring 9 installed on floating grate 6 is also sealed on both sides using gaskets 10, after which it is clamped by cooled gas outlet flange 13. Flanges of housing 2 and flanges of gas pipes 12 and 13 are pulled together using fasteners in the form of a stud, washer, and nut, forming a hermetic connection.

[0056] Hot gas passes from the pipe indicated in the drawing as flange 12, enters the heat exchange space of the tube bundle, passing through tubes 8 and exiting into the pipe indicated in the drawing as flange 13. At the same time, a cooling liquid (preferably water) is supplied counter-currently through nozzle 4 under pressure, which flows through the inter-tube space and exits through nozzle 3.

[0057] Water takes the energy of the hot gas, effectively cooling the gas passing through the tubes, which by the time it leaves the heat exchange space through the floating grate 6 is cooled to the required operating temperatures.

[0058] Installing grounding studs (5), each with a 5a thread for fastening a grounding element, on the outer surface of the gas cooler housing (1) significantly improves the reliability and electrical safety of the gas cooler, allowing for convenient grounding of the unit and preventing galvanic corrosion. The thread on stud (5a) is used for bolting or stud-mounting the grounding cable to locknuts and washers, preventing loosening due to compressor vibration. This thread ensures independent connection of each part of the gas cooler without disrupting the overall grounding circuit and creates a contact surface free of paint or oxidation. Using this type of stud allows for grounding of the unit and prevents galvanic corrosion, which improves the reliability of the gas cooler as a whole.

[0059] Bosses 5, welded on the opposite side from fittings 3 and 4, provide a reliable connection to the grounding system (not shown), allowing hazardous currents and potentials to be discharged in the event of insulation faults. Installing bosses 5 symmetrically relative to the coolant inlet and outlet fittings is a preferred installation option, as symmetrical installation of the grounding bosses relative to the coolant inlet and outlet fittings on the compressor gas cooler body improves electrical potential distribution and reduces the risk of corrosion. This arrangement minimizes static electricity buildup and ensures uniform discharge of electromagnetic field interference.

[0060] Installing at least two studs 5 is for the user's convenience, allowing the most preferred stud to be used. Uniform grounding with at least two studs reduces the risk of insulation breakdown in areas with coolant. This is especially critical for gas coolers, where heat exchange with the liquid increases electrical risks.

[0061] The 5-pin grounding pins direct currents to ground, reducing the risk of electric shock and preventing static buildup. This minimizes the risk of sparking or enclosure overheating, especially in humid or dusty conditions typical of gas coolers. Grounding also protects against faults caused by induced voltages and galvanic corrosion.

[0062] Thus, the use of a gas cooler in which grounding bosses are additionally installed on the outer surface of the housing, and each grounding boss has a thread for fastening the grounding element, increases the reliability and electrical safety of the gas cooler as a whole.

Claims

1. A compressor gas cooler with a floating grate, comprising a housing consisting of a cylindrical shell and flanges on both sides, and an insertable tube bundle located in the housing, consisting of tubes of a tube bundle secured between a fixed grate and a floating grate, characterized in that grounding bosses are installed on the outer surface of the housing, wherein each grounding boss has a thread for fastening a grounding element.

2. A gas cooler according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the grounding bosses are installed symmetrically from the coolant supply and discharge fittings.

3. A gas cooler according to paragraph 1, characterized in that at least two grounding bosses are installed on the outer surface of the housing.

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