Heat Exchanger Tube Bundle Support System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for servicing heat exchangers, such as removing and repositioning bundles of tubes, require specialized equipment like cranes or aerial tube bundle extractors, which can be cumbersome and inefficient due to the large and heavy nature of heat exchangers.
Innovation Solution
A support system comprising a cradle with movable carriage and lifts, along with rollers and ground-engaging wheels, designed to securely engage and lift bundles of exchanger tubes, allowing for efficient withdrawal and repositioning without the need for heavy machinery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a crane or aerial tube bundle extractor is used to remove and reposition the bundle of tubes, then the bundle can be handled, but the equipment becomes cumbersome and operationally complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support system with a cradle, carriage, and lifts as an intermediary device between the heat exchanger housing and the bundle of tubes. This mediator enables the bundle to be supported, withdrawn, and repositioned without requiring complex external equipment like cranes. The support system acts as a bridge that simplifies the handling operation while managing the weight and size of the tube bundle.
2Productivity
If specialized equipment like cranes is used to handle the bundle, then the heavy weight can be managed, but the operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support system segments the handling function into distinct components: the cradle provides base support, the carriage moves along the cradle, and the lifts provide vertical motion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the system to handle the heavy bundle weight efficiently without requiring a single complex piece of equipment like a crane, thereby improving productivity.
3Ease of repair
If the bundle is withdrawn from the housing for servicing, then cleaning and repairs can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support system incorporates dynamic elements including a movable carriage that travels along the cradle and lifts that extend and retract to raise and lower the bundle. This dynamic design allows the bundle to be smoothly withdrawn from the housing, positioned for servicing, and reinserted efficiently. The dynamic movement capabilities reduce the time required for service operations compared to static handling methods.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a support for supporting a bundle of exchanger tubes that has plurality of tubes and support plates that engage and support the plurality of tubes. The support has a cradle with a plurality of support surfaces spaced along the length of the cradle to support the bundle of exchanger tubes, a carriage that is movably mounted to a track extending along the length of the cradle such that the carriage traverses at least a portion of the cradle as it moves along the track. The carriage has a receiver portion that moves along the cradle above the support surface and is sized to receive a support plate of the bundle of exchanger tubes, and one or more lifts positioned along the cradle length, the lifts moving vertically between an extended position above the carriage relative to the cradle and a refracted position below the support surfaces.