EP1139055B1 - Heat exchanger with multiple tube bundles - Google Patents

Abstract

The multiple pipe bundle heat exchanger has a housing (1,2,3) in which a multiplicity of pipe bundles (5A,5B,5C) are installed between axially opposing pipe bases. The housing is divided by walls (14) into chambers (10A,10B,10C) corresponding in number to the quantity of pipe bundles. The pipe bundles are formed as independent assembly groups comprising the heat exchange pipes (51) and pipes bases (52) fixed at their two axial ends. The housing consists of the cover part (1) and the dividing walls (14) forming the chambers. At both axial ends it has flanges (13) to which are fixed head pieces (2,3).

Description

The invention relates to a multiple tube bundle heat exchanger, that is, a heat exchanger arrangement that has a plurality of fluidically interconnected heat exchange tube bundles includes. The fluidic interconnection can affect both the flow through the tube bundle Medium, as well as on the medium flowing around the tube bundle, or refer to both.

Such multiple tube bundle heat exchangers are already known. For example, CH 586 882 describes a countercurrent tube bundle heat exchanger in the form of a series tube bundle heat exchanger, in which in a common Housing several tube bundles are arranged, the fluidic are connected in series and successively from Flow through the primary medium. All tube bundles run between two tube sheets common to all tube bundles, and the head chambers above each of the tube sheets are thus in partial chambers divided that an entry distribution chamber for the Primary medium for distribution to the tubes of the first tube bundle, then a series of one over the other Tube plate arranged connecting chambers for connecting the Outlet ends of a tube bundle with the inlet ends of an adjacent tube bundle and finally an outlet plenum over the outlet ends of the last tube bundle in the fluidic series connection are formed. Between The individual tube bundles are partitions in the housing arranged, each close to one or the other. Rchrboden Have transfer openings so that the secondary medium enters a tube bundle chamber and then through the Transfer openings from tube bundle chamber to tube bundle chamber and finally from the last tube bundle chamber into one Outlet.

In contrast, the object of the invention is to provide an arrangement create the economic on a modular basis Construction of various tube bundle heat exchanger arrangements enables both in terms of size and also with regard to the fluidic arrangement or Management of primary medium and secondary medium in the largest possible Ways are variable.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the in claim 1 specified arrangement solved. Advantageous configurations the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The concept according to the invention provides that standard Heat exchanger tube bundles together with standard housing assemblies used a variety of combinations and of course also different enable large heat exchanger arrangements.

Further details of the invention are set out below Reference to the accompanying drawings, some concrete Exemplary embodiments show, explained in more detail.

Fig. 1 einen aus einer Mehrfachanordnung von Rohrbündeln aufgebauten Gegenstrom-Wärmeaustauscher mit strömungstechnischer Parallelschaltung der Rohrbündel,

Fig. 2 einen Gegenstrom-Wärmeaustauscher mit einer Mehrzahl von strömungstechnisch in Reihe geschalteten Rohrbündeln,

Fig. 3 einen Gegenstrom-Wärmeaustauscher mit einer Mehrzahl von strömungstechnisch parallel geschalteten Rohrbündeln, aber gegenüber der Anordnung in Fig. 1 abgewandelter Gehäusekonstruktion,

Fig. 4 einen Gegenstrom-Wärmeaustauscher mit einer Mehrzahl von strömungstechnisch in Reihe geschalteten Rohrbündeln, aber mit gegenüber der Anordnung nach Fig. 2 weitergebildeter Gehäusekonstruktion, und

The drawings show the respective embodiment in a schematic axial section in all figures. The individual shows:

1 shows a countercurrent heat exchanger constructed from a multiple arrangement of tube bundles with a fluidic parallel connection of the tube bundles,

2 shows a countercurrent heat exchanger with a plurality of tube bundles connected in series in terms of flow technology,

3 shows a countercurrent heat exchanger with a plurality of tube bundles connected in parallel in terms of flow technology, but a housing construction modified in relation to the arrangement in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a countercurrent heat exchanger with a plurality of tube bundles connected in series in terms of flow technology, but with a housing construction which is further developed compared to the arrangement according to FIG. 2, and

The heat exchanger shown in Fig. 1 has a housing and a plurality of tube bundles arranged therein.

The housing consists of a jacket 1, on which an inlet connector 11 and an outlet nozzle 12 for introduction or Discharge of a secondary medium into or from the jacket spaces are arranged, and on its mutual axial Ends flanges 13 are formed, further from two head pieces 2 and 3, which are on the two ends of the jacket 1 are then arranged and each have an inlet or Outlet port 21 or 31 for a to be passed through the tube bundle Have primary medium, and each a cover plate 22 or 32 is assigned, which via screws or threaded rods 23 or 33 with the flanges 13 of the jacket 1 can be put together.

A plurality of tube bundles 5 is installed in the housing, namely in the illustrated embodiment three tube bundles, designated 5A, 5B and 5C. Every tube bundle consists of a number of parallel and with mutual distances arranged heat exchanger tubes 51 and each an associated tube sheet 52 on the two axial Ends of the tube bundle.

Each of the heat exchanger tubes 51 and the two associated tube sheets 52 existing tube bundle forms a Assembly in the form of an integral unit and is as such built into the housing. The seal between the Sheath 1, the head pieces 2 and 3 and the tube sheets 52 used Seals are shown schematically in the drawing and easily recognizable as stylized O-ring seals, where of course the specific type of used Seals can be selected as required.

The housing space inside the jacket 1 is built-in Partitions 14 in a number 5 corresponding to the tube bundle Divide the number of shell spaces 10A, 10B and 10C. These partitions 14 are at the top and bottom with through openings 15 provided, through which the individual jacket rooms are interconnected.

As you can see, the head chambers that are in the head pieces 2 and 3 are formed, not divided, but extend over all three tube bundles, so that a parallel flow of the three tube bundles 5A, 5B and 5C takes place. The three tube bundles are therefore connected in parallel in terms of flow.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement, which in turn consists of a housing with three tube bundles 5A, 5B and 5C installed therein. The structure of the housing with jacket 1, head pieces 2 and 3 as well the connecting piece 11, 12, 21 and 31 for the heat exchange involved media, and the subdivision of the coat interior through partitions 14 in three jacket spaces 10A, 10B and 10C corresponds to the arrangement according to FIG. 1.

The three tube bundles are the same as those in Fig. 1 constructed and in turn each consist of heat exchanger tubes 51 and a tube sheet 52 on each of the two opposite axial ends, each again Pipe bundle is an integral unit consisting of these parts or assembly.

However, in the arrangement of FIG. 2 compared to that 1, the head pieces 2 and 3 and the partitions 14th modified in the jacket 1 so that the three tube bundles at the arrangement in Fig. 2 fluidically connected in series are and the entering through the nozzle 11 and the Nozzle 12 escaping secondary medium in all three tube bundles is carried in counterflow to the primary medium, which by the nozzle 21 enters and the nozzle 31 exits and the Flows through heat exchanger tubes 51 of the three tube bundles in succession. For this purpose, the head pieces 2 and 3 are modified so that above the inlet end of the, in the flow direction of the primary medium seen, first tube bundle 5C an inlet chamber 24 is formed is further in the head piece 3 or in the head piece 2 in each case a transfer chamber 35 or 25 for transferring the primary medium fluidically between the adjacent ends of two successive tube bundles (from 5C to 5B through the transfer chamber 35 or from 5B to 5A through the transfer chamber 25), and above the exit end of the last Tube bundle, seen in the flow direction of the primary medium, 5A, an outlet chamber 36 is formed. In the headers 2 and 3 are thus partitions 27 and 37 respectively Subdivision of the header space into the corresponding Chambers formed.

There is only one transition opening in each of the partitions 14 15 provided, each close to the respective tube sheets is located so that the secondary medium in each case in countercurrent to the medium flowing through the tube bundle by essentially the total axial length of the jacket chamber in question must flow until it passes through the respective transition opening 15 can pass into the adjacent jacket chamber.

To build arrangements according to FIGS. 1 and 2, standard Partitions 14 are used which, as in FIG. 1 shown, transition openings at both axial ends may have, one of which is locked in order to produce an arrangement according to FIG. 2.

Likewise, different head pieces with and without partitions 27 and 37 are kept ready, so that from such Elements according to the modular arrangement according to the 1 and 2 can be produced.

3 and 4 show arrangements analogous to those after Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, namely a multiple tube bundle heat exchanger with parallel flow technology Pipe bundles (Fig. 3) or connected in series in terms of flow technology Pipe bundles (Fig. 4). Same or corresponding Parts are again provided with the same reference numbers as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The tube bundles 5A, 5B (each again, for example, three) and 5C correspond to those of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The headers 2 and 3 correspond to those after 1 and 2.

The same applies to the jacket 1 with the connection supports 11 and 12th

The arrangements according to FIGS. 3 and 4 differ, however through a modification or further development of the housing structure of the arrangements according to FIGS. 1 and 2. Because in the Arrangements according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the partitions 14 without Transition openings are formed, that is to say completely closed. Instead, in the arrangements according to FIGS. 3 and 4 the head pieces 2 and 3 each supplemented by a between the respective head piece and the flange 13 of the jacket 1 arranged Intermediate piece 4 the extensions of the partitions 14 forms or wherever crossings between adjacent jacket spaces are provided, have a transition opening 41.

This allows the casing part 1 of the housing together with the partitions 14 be designed as a standard part, while different Intermediate pieces 4 to be used as a modular system Parts for making transfer openings between the Shell rooms can be kept available as needed.

With arrangements according to FIGS. 3 and 4 can be sufficient great axial length of the intermediate pieces 4 the connecting piece for the jacket space (in the illustrated embodiments designated 11 and 12 and arranged on the jacket 1) also the intermediate pieces 4 may be arranged. It is possible one or both connecting pieces not only on the side of the to attach the respective intermediate piece 4, but also it to be arranged axially and through the respective head piece 2 or 3 pass therethrough.

The above embodiments were based on the in the Drawings indicated arrows as a countercurrent heat exchanger described. It is understood that these are the same Way also be operated as a direct current heat exchanger can, for which purpose only the flow direction of one of the two media needs to be reversed.

The concept according to the invention enables the construction of any Heat exchangers using standard components. In particular, the tube bundles can be used as standard components be trained, from which regardless of the intended Operation as a cocurrent or countercurrent heat exchanger any multiple tube bundle heat exchanger arrangements different sizes can be built. For heat exchangers different size can be different Housing components, namely coats and head pieces, kept ready be used to record a certain number of tube bundles are formed, or it can be variable Block arrangements of such housing components are provided his. By using appropriate headers, namely one for parallel operation or one for Series connection of the tube bundle can be made of relatively little Basic components as required, modular heat exchanger arrangements and thus be built very economically.

Claims (4)

1. Multiple pipe bundle heat exchanger with a housing (1, 2, 3) in which is fitted a multiplicity of pipe bundles (5A, 5B, 5C) between axially opposing pipe bases and the housing is divided by partition walls (14) into a number of chambers or casing chambers (10A, 10B, 10C) corresponding to the number of pipe bundles and each holding a pipe bundle,
   characterised in that

   a) the pipe bundles (5A, 5B, 5C) are formed as independent assemblies each forming an integral unit and each consisting of the heat exchanger pipes concerned (51) and the associated pipe bases (52) attached to their two axial ends,

   b) the housing consists of a casing part (1) with the partition walls (14) dividing or limiting the chambers or casing chambers (10A, 10B, 10C) and flanges (13) arranged at their two axial ends, and headers (2, 3) on both ends designed as separate components which can be attached to the flanges of the casing part,

   c) the pipe bundle assemblies placed in the chambers of the casing part (1) with their pipe bases (2) co-operate closely with the headers (2, 3) and with their pipe bases border distribution or collection or transfer chambers (24, 25, 35, 36) formed in the headers.
2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterised in that the partition walls (14) close to the two axial ends of the casing part (1) are fitted with optionally closable overflow openings (15) for the overflow between adjacent casing chambers of the medium flowing through the casing chambers.
3. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterised in that to extend the casing part (1) between this and the adjacent header (2, 3) is arranged an intermediate piece (4) formed as a separate component which forms axial extensions of the partition walls (14) and can optionally have overflow openings (41) between adjacent casing chambers.
4. Heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterised in that the inlet and/or outlet to or from a casing chamber is arranged on the intermediate piece concerned and the inlet or outlet is arranged on the side of the intermediate piece or arranged axially on the intermediate piece and is guided through the header concerned.

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