U.S. patent application number 11/696871 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for heat exchanger with telescoping expansion joint.
Invention is credited to Keith Agee.
Application Number | 20080245507 11/696871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39542566 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080245507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Agee; Keith |
October 9, 2008 |
Heat Exchanger with Telescoping Expansion Joint
Abstract
A heat exchanger comprises a shell comprising a hollow shell
body and separate shell end members attached thereto. A number of
tubes is disposed within the shell body which is sized to permit
both ends of the tubes to project outwardly therefrom to facilitate
access for attaching the tubes ends to respective tube header
plates, after which time the shell end members are slid over the
shell body towards the shell body ends for attachment to respective
header plates. The heat exchanger can include an expansion element
attached between a shell end member and the shell body, wherein the
expansion element is positioned adjacent a slidable joint formed by
an overlapping section of the shell body and shell end member.
Together, the expansion element accommodates axial movement and the
slidable joint carries vibration loads between the shell body and
shell end member.
Inventors: |
Agee; Keith; (Torrance,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HONEYWELL TURBO TECHNOLOGIES
23326 HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD, SUITE #200
TORRANCE
CA
90505
US
|
Family ID: |
39542566 |
Appl. No.: |
11/696871 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/83 ; 165/158;
29/890.046 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49378 20150115;
F28F 9/0236 20130101; F28F 9/0219 20130101; F28D 21/0003 20130101;
Y10T 29/49375 20150115; F28F 2265/26 20130101; F28D 7/1684
20130101; F02M 26/32 20160201; F28F 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/83 ; 165/158;
29/890.046 |
International
Class: |
F28F 7/00 20060101
F28F007/00 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger comprising: a shell comprising: a shell body
having a hollow inner chamber defined by a wall structure, the
inner chamber having opposed ends; and a pair of shell end members
attached to adjacent respective shell body ends; a tube stack
disposed within the inner chamber and comprising a plurality of
tubes, the tubes having opposed ends that are positioned adjacent
the shell body opposed ends; and a pair of tube header plates
comprising a number of openings that are attached to adjacent
respective tube ends, and that are attached to respective shell end
members to form a leak-tight seal between the tubes and the shell
inner chamber; wherein the shell body is sized having a length that
is sufficiently less than that of the tube stack so that both of
the tube ends project axially outwardly a distance therefrom.
2. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 wherein each shell end
member includes a first end that is configured for attachment over
an outside surface of the body, and a second end that is configured
for accommodating the tube header plate therein, and wherein the
first end is sized smaller than the second end.
3. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2 wherein the shell end
member first end is fixedly attached to the shell body outside
surface, wherein the shell end member second end projects axially a
distance from the shell body end, and wherein shell end member is
attached to the tube header plate an axial distance from the end of
the shell body.
4. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 further comprising an
expansion element that extends around the shell and that is
interposed between the shell body and one of the shell end
members.
5. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2 wherein the expansion
element comprises: a first end that is attached to an end of the
shell end member; and an opposite second end that is attached to
the shell body.
6. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 5 wherein an axial length
of the shell body end is positioned within the shell end member so
that the shell member end overlaps the shell body a determined
length to allow axial movement between the shell end member and
shell body.
7. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 4 wherein the expansion
element has an accordion construction to facilitate axial expansion
between the shell end member and the shell body.
8. A heat exchanger comprising: a shell including: a shell body
having a hollow an inner chamber defined by a wall structure, the
inner chamber having opposed ends; a pair of shell end members
attached to adjacent respective shell body ends; and an expansion
element positioned around an outside surface of the shell, the
expansion element having a first end attached to a portion of the
shell body adjacent to one of its ends, and having a second end
attached to an end of a respective shell end member, wherein the
end of the shell end member body attached to the expansion element
is disposed over a section of the shell body, and wherein the
expansion element accommodates axial movement between the shell end
member and the shell body; a tube stack disposed within the inner
chamber and comprising a plurality of tubes, the tubes having
opposed ends positioned adjacent the shell body opposed ends; and a
pair of tube header plates each comprising a number of openings
attached to adjacent respective tube ends, and including an outer
edge that is attached to respective shell end members to form a
leak-tight seal between the tubes and the shell inner chamber.
9. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8 wherein the shell end
member attached to the expansion element is not directly fixedly
attached to the shell body.
10. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8 wherein the section of
the shell body disposed within the shell end member that is
attached to the expansion element is sufficient to carry a
vibration load of the heat exchanger during operation.
11. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 10 wherein the shell
body is disposed within the shell end member a distance in the
range of from about 10 to 40 millimeters.
12. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8 wherein the shell end
member includes a first end sized for slidable placement over the
shell body, and a second opposed end that is sized to accommodate
attachment of a respective tube header place therein, and wherein
the second end is sized larger than the first end.
13. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 12 wherein the tolerance
between the shell end member first end and shell body is in the
range of from about 0.15 to 0.8 millimeters.
14. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8 wherein the remaining
shell end member that is not attached to the expansion element is
fixedly attached adjacent to the opposed end of the shell body.
15. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8 wherein the expansion
element comprises an accordion shape having one or more outwardly
projecting features to accommodate a desired degree of axial
movement between the shell body and shell end member.
16. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8 wherein the shell body
has an axial length that is sufficiently less than that of the tube
stack to allow both of the tube ends to project a distance axially
outwardly from each end before attachment of the shell end
members.
17. A method for making a shell and tube heat exchanger comprising
a plurality of tubes disposed within a shell, the method comprising
the steps of: placing a number of tubes within a body of the shell,
wherein the body has an axial length sized to permit opposed ends
of the tubes to project outwardly a distance from opposed shell
body ends, the shell including a pair of shell end members slidably
disposed along an outside surface of the shell body away of the
shell body ends to provide access to the tube ends; fixedly
attaching tube header plates to the opposed tube ends; moving the
shell end members along the shell body towards the tube header
plates; and fixedly attaching the shell end members to respective
tube header plates and attaching the shell end members to the shell
body.
18. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising before the
step of attaching the shell end members to the body, attaching an
expansion element that is positioned around the shell body, wherein
the expansion element is attached at one end to an end of one of
the shell end members opposite the respective tube header plate,
and is attached an opposite end to a surface of the shell body, and
wherein the expansion element facilitates expansion movement
between the shell body and respective shell end member.
19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein before the step of
attaching the expansion element, the end of the shell end member to
be attached thereto overlaps a desired section of the shell body to
provide a desired degree of load carrying therebetween, and wherein
the shell member that is attached to the expansion element is not
directly fixedly attached to the shell body.
20. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the shell body
section is disposed within the shell end member a distance in the
range of from about 10 to 40 millimeters.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of heat
exchangers and, more particularly, to heat exchangers that are
specially designed to accommodate the thermal expansion and
contraction characteristics as well as minimize thermal stresses
associated therewith that are known to occur in conventional shell
and tube type heat exchangers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to heat exchangers that are
generally configured comprising a number of internal fluid or gas
passages disposed within a surrounding body. In an example
embodiment, the internal passages are designed to accommodate
passage of a particular fluid or gas in need of cooling, and the
body is configured to accommodate passage of a particular cooling
fluid or gas used to reduce the temperature of the fluid or gas in
the internal passages by heat transfer through the structure of the
internal passages. A specific example of such a heat exchanger is
one referred to as a shell and tube exchanger, which can be used in
such applications as exhaust gas cooling for internal combustion
engines, e.g., for use in exhaust gas recirculation systems or the
like.
[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a known shell and tube type heat
exchanger 10 that is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No.
2004/0182547 and that generally includes a tube bundle 12 formed
from a number of individual tubes 14, i.e., internal passages, that
are aligned together, positioned next to one another, and that have
one or both openings at the tube ends 16 positioned adjacent one
another. The tube bundle 12 is disposed within a surrounding body
or jacket 18. The body is configured having an inlet and outlet
(not shown) to facilitate the passage of a cooling medium such as a
fluid or gas into and out of the shell.
[0004] In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the body
or jacket is of a one-piece construction that has enlarged or
flared-out end portions 20 that are sized and shaped to extend over
tube plates 22 that are disposed within and attached to respective
end portions 20, and which tube plates are used to join the tubes
together adjacent axial tube ends.
[0005] A problem known to exist with such shell and tube type heat
exchanges is that the tubes and tube bundle, being subjected to
relatively hotter fluids or gasses than that of the heat exchange
body or jacket, tends to undergo a degree of thermal expansion that
is greater than that of the body or jacket, which if not addressed
is known to cause thermal stresses to occur within the heat
exchanger that can lead to a mechanical failure, thereby reducing
the exchanger service life.
[0006] Attempts have been made to address the presence of such
unwanted thermal stresses in shell and tube heat exchangers. For
example, the heat exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1 has been
configured having a body or jacket that includes an expansion bead
24 extending around the body or jacket. In this embodiment, the
expansion bead 4 basically comprises a section of the body or
jacket that has been deformed outwardly in the form of rounded
surface feature that, moving axially along the section, projects
outwardly 90 degrees to a rounded closed end that projects inwardly
to the body. The expansion bead is designed to permit the body to
expand and/or contract as needed to accommodate thermal expansion
and/or contraction of the tube bundle disposed therein.
[0007] An issue that exists with this design is that the expansion
bead, while being configured to address axial-directed thermal
expansion of the body, the expansion bead (like the remaining
portion of the heat exchanger body) is also subject to vibration
loads. To best function as a thermal expansion joint, the expansion
bead material thickness should be minimized. However, a thinner
material thickness weakens the structural integrity of the heat
exchanger and its related ability to carry vibration loads during
heat exchanger operation, thereby making such heat exchangers
comprising the same subject to mechanical failure and reduced
service life.
[0008] Additionally, heat exchangers such as that illustrated in
FIG. 1 make assembly and/or connection of the tubes and tube plates
difficult because at least one of the tube plates have to be
attached to the respective tube ends while the tube plate and tube
ends are disposed within the end of the body or jacket. The need to
attach the tubes to the tube plate while both elements are disposed
within the end of the body or jacket increases assembly time and
makes accurate leak-tight attachment between the tubes and tube
plate a challenge.
[0009] It is, therefore, desired that a shell and tube heat
exchanger be constructed in a manner that addresses the need to
accommodate thermal expansion issues that are known to occur in
such heat exchangers in a manner that reduces or eliminates thermal
stresses from developing therein. It is desired that such
construction accommodates the presence of such thermal expansion in
a manner that does not otherwise impact the ability of the heat
exchanger to carry the vibration loads known to exist for heat
exchangers. It is further desired that such heat exchanger
construction is configured to facilitate assembly of the heat
exchanger elements, such as the tubes and tube plates relative to
the heat exchanger body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A heat exchanger constructed in accordance with principles
of this invention generally comprises a shell including a shell
body having a hollow inner chamber that is defined by an inside
wall surface and opposed ends. In an example embodiment, the shell
body is a one-piece configuration, i.e., made from a single piece
of material. The shell further includes a pair of shell end members
that are each attached to the shell body adjacent respective shell
body ends.
[0011] A number of tubes, provided in an example embodiment in the
form of a tube stack, are disposed within the shell body inner
chamber. The tubes have opposed ends that are positioned within the
shell body adjacent respective shell body ends. A pair of tube
header plates that each comprise a number of openings to
accommodate respective tube ends are positioned adjacent and to the
respective tube ends. In an example embodiment, the shell body is
sized having an axial length sized sufficiently less than that of
the tube stack so that both of the tube ends project axially
outwardly a distance therefrom to provide access thereto to
facilitate attachment of the respective tube header plates. The
tube header places are attached to respective shell end members to
form a leak-tight seal between the tubes and the shell inner
chamber.
[0012] In an example embodiment, each shell end member includes a
first end that is configured to facilitate attachment over an
outside surface of the shell body, and includes a second end that
is configured to accommodate the tube header plate therein. In such
example embodiment, the shell end member first end is sized smaller
than the second end. Further, in an example embodiment, the shell
end member second end projects axially a distance from the shell
body end, and the shell end member is attached to the tube header
plate an axial distance from the end of the shell body.
[0013] In an example embodiment, heat exchangers of this invention
may further include an expansion element that extends around the
shell and that is interposed between the shell body and one of the
shell end members. The expansion element comprises a first end that
is attached to an end of the shell end member, and an opposed
second end that is attached to the shell body. In an example
embodiment comprising such expansion element, an axial length of
the shell body end is positioned within the shell end member so
that the shell member end overlaps the shell body a determined
length. The overlapping arrangement between the end sections of the
shell body and shell end member operates to both carry any
vibration loads than may occur, as well as permit axial movement
between the shell end member and shell body, during heat exchanger
operation.
[0014] Configured in this manner, heat exchanger constructions of
this invention accommodate thermal expansion issues that are known
to occur during operation in a manner that reduces or eliminates
thermal stresses from developing therein. The overlapping joint
structure between the shell body and shell end member in
conjunction with the expansion element, that is attached between
the overlapping shell body and end member sections operates to
accommodate the presence of such thermal expansion in a manner that
does not otherwise impact the ability of the heat exchanger to
carry vibration loads known to exist during heat exchanger
operation. Further, the particular construction of the shell body
and shell end members operates to facilitate assembly of the heat
exchanger tubes and tube plates, thereby improving assembly and
manufacturing efficiency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention will be more clearly understood with reference
to the following drawings wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a prior art shell
and tube heat exchanger;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a first embodiment heat
exchanger constructed according to principles of the invention;
[0018] FIGS. 3A to 3C are cross-sectional schematic views of the
heat exchanger of this invention at different stages of
assembly;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of a header plate for use
with the heat exchanger of this invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective side view of a second embodiment
heat exchanger constructed according to principles of the
invention; and
[0021] FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional side views of sections
of the heat exchanger illustrated in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention relates to heat exchangers used for
reducing the temperature of an entering gas or fluid stream. A
particular application for the heat exchangers of this invention is
with vehicles and, more particularly, is to cool an exhaust gas
stream from an internal combustion engine. However, it will be
readily understood by those skilled in the relevant technical field
that the heat exchanger constructions of the present invention
described herein can be used in a variety of different
applications.
[0023] Generally, the invention constructed in accordance with the
principles of this invention, comprises a heat exchanger including
a three-piece construction that includes a pair of shells end
members to a shell body. The heat exchanger can further comprise an
expansion element that is attached between the shell body and a
shell end member, wherein the attachment is designed to accommodate
a desired degree of thermal expansion and/or contraction axial
movement without sacrificing the ability of the heat exchanger to
accommodate vibration stress.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment heat exchanger
construction 30 of this invention generally comprising a shell 32
that includes a shell body 34 and shell end members 36 and 38 that
are attached at opposed ends of the body 34. The shell body 34 is
generally a hollow member having a one-piece construction formed
from a structurally rigid material that is well suited for use in a
heat exchanger application, such as metals and their alloys that
are used to form shells used in conventional heat exchangers. In a
preferred embodiment, where the heat exchanger is used to reduce
the temperature of an incoming exhaust gas stream from an internal
combustion engine, the shell is formed from stainless steel. The
shell body is configured having a generally rectangular
cross-sectional geometry.
[0025] The shell body 34 is sized and configured to accommodate a
number of tubes 40 therein. The tubes can have different
cross-sectional shapes depending on the particular end-use
application. In an example embodiment, the tubes 40 are configured
having an elongate cross-sectional shape. Additionally, the tubes
may comprise one or more element disposed therein for the purpose
of providing a desired number of passages within the tube and/or
for the purpose of adding compressive strength to the tubes, e.g.,
to facilitate stacking tubes on one another to form a tube bundle
or tube stack 42.
[0026] In an example embodiment, the shell body 34 has an axial
length that is less than that of the tube length. As better
described below, the shell body is designed in this manner to
function with the shell end members to facilitate assembly of the
individual tubes 40 with respective tube or header plates 44 (shown
in FIG. 4) positioned at each of the tube ends. The shell body can
be made by molding process or the like. In a preferred embodiment,
the shell is made by hydroforming or end expanding a seam welded
rectangular tube.
[0027] The shell end members 36 and 38 each include a first axial
end 46 that is sized to over an adjacent end section of the shell
body 34, and a second axial end 48 that is sized to accommodate
placement and attachment of a respective header plate 44 therein.
In an example embodiment, the shell end member second end is sized
having an enlarged opening when compared to that of the second end.
Although the shell end members have been described in an example
embodiment and illustrated as having different sized openings at
the first and second ends, it is to be understood that heat
exchangers of this invention can be configured differently, e.g.,
having shell end members with the same or similar sized openings at
the first and second ends. The shell end members can be formed from
the same material used to form the shell body.
[0028] The shell end members 36 and 38 include ends 50 that define
opposed ends of the heat exchanger construction. These ends 50 can
be configured to includes surface features, such as flanges or the
like, that are designed to facilitate use and attachment of the
ends 50 as respective heat exchanger inlets and outlets to the
end-use device or system by appropriate connection means.
[0029] The shell includes a cooling fluid inlet (not shown) and a
cooling fluid outlet (not shown) that generally extends through a
wall section of the shell body or shell end member, and that is
used to facilitate the respective transport of a cooling medium,
e.g., a cooling fluid, into and out of the heat exchanger. Upon
entering the shell, the cooling medium contacts the external
surface of the tubes to cause a reduction in temperature of the
fluid or gas passing through the tubes.
[0030] FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate a heat exchanger construction of
this invention at different stages of assembly. FIG. 3A illustrates
an early stage of heat exchanger assembly where the tube stack 42
or number of tubes are disposed within the hollow open chamber of
the shell body 34. As illustrated, the shell body 34 is sized
axially so that a desired portion of the tube end project outwardly
therefrom. In an example embodiment, the amount that the tube ends
project from the shell body is an amount that is sufficient to
provide easy access for attaching the tube or header plates 44 to
each of the respective ends of the tubes.
[0031] As best shown in FIG. 4, the header plates 44 that are
disposed within the heat exchanger shell end members are each
configured having inside surface features 52 that are configured
and sized to extend around respective opposed ends of the tube
stack. The header plates 44 have an outside surface that is
generally rectangular in shape and that comprises a lip 54 that is
configured and sized to complement and fit within an inside wall
surface of each respective shell end member. The header plate 44
preferably includes a shoulder 56 that defines a transition between
a main body 58 of the header plate 44 comprising the surface
features or openings 52, and the lip 54. The header plate shoulder
56 is sized and configured to provide a cooperative nesting fitment
within a complementary surface feature of an inside wall surface of
the shell end member. If desired, the header plates 44 can also be
configured having a self-fixturing or registering means disposed
along an outside surface for placing it in a particular position
with respect to the shell end member during assembly and
brazing.
[0032] Before attaching the header plates 44 to the respective ends
of the tubes, the shell end members 36 and 38 are engaged with the
respective ends of the shell body and are slid inwardly towards one
another to allow free access to the shell body ends. Thus, as
illustrated in FIG. 3A, the shell end members are placed in a
retracted position along the shell body in anticipation of
attaching the tube headers to the respective ends of the tubes.
[0033] FIG. 3B illustrates a stage of heat exchanger assembly where
the tube headers 44 have been attached to the respective tube ends.
Such attachment can be provided by conventional method such as by
welding, brazing or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the
construction feature of using shell end members 36 and 38 that are
separate from the shell body 34, when placed in the retracted
position along the shell body, provides for the attachment of the
header plates onto the respective ends of the tubes without
unwanted interference, thereby helping to ensure that all needed
attachment points are thoroughly provided to result in a leak-tight
seal therebetween.
[0034] FIG. 3C illustrates a later stage of heat exchanger assembly
where the shell end members 36 and 38 have been slid outwardly away
from one another along the shell body 34 towards the now attached
respective tube headers. During this stage of assembly, the tube
header plates are attached to the inside wall surface of the
respective shell end members, e.g., by conventional method of
brazing, welding or the like. Attaching the header plates to the
inside wall surface of the shell end members, e.g., by brazing or
welding process, helps to provide a sealed coolant passage. During
this later stage of assembly, the shell end members are also
attached to the shell body, e.g., by welding, brazing or the
like.
[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment heat exchanger
construction 60 of this invention generally comprising the same
elements disclosed above for the first embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 2. Namely, the heat exchanger comprises a shell 62 formed from
a shell body 64 and shell end members 66 and 68 attached to opposed
ends of the body 64. Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 2, in this heat
exchanger embodiment the shell also includes an expansion element
70. The expansion element, its attachment configuration, and the
configuration of attachment between the shell body and at least one
of the shell end members function together to accommodate thermal
expansion movement of the shell while also not sacrificing
structural stability necessary for accommodating vibration stresses
during heat exchanger operation.
[0036] In an example embodiment, the expansion element 70 is
configured having a structure designed to accommodate a desired
degree of axially directed expansion and contraction, e.g.,
contraction from an expanded condition. In an example embodiment,
the expansion element is configured having an accordion or bellowed
structure comprising one or more outwardly projecting members that
are connected to one another by a web section. As illustrated in
FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment, the expansion element 70 has an
accordion structure comprising three outwardly projecting members
72. It is to be understood that the exact configuration of the
expansion element, and the number of members making up the same,
can and will vary depending on a number of factors such as the
amount of expansion movement needed to be accommodated as well as
the particular end use application.
[0037] As best illustrated in FIG. 6B, the expansion element 70 is
positioned along the shell 62 between the shell body 64 and one of
the shell end members 66. In an example embodiment, the expansion
element 70 extends completely around the shell 62 and includes a
first end 74 that is configured for attached to an end 76 of the
shell end member 66. The expansion element first end 74 can include
a collar sized to extend around an outside surface of the shell end
member 66, and an inside edge that is positioned to for placement
against an edge surface of the shell end member end 76. The
expansion element 70 first end 74 is attached to the shell end
member 66 by brazing, welding, or the like.
[0038] The expansion element 70 includes a second end 78 that is
configured for placement over a section of the shell body 64 and
attachment thereto. In an example embodiment, the expansion element
second end 78 is provided in the form of an axially extending
collar that extends around a section of the shell body 64 adjacent
a shell body end 80. The expansion element second end 72 attached
to the shell body by welding, brazing, or the like.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, before attaching the expansion
element, it is desired that the shell end member 66 be slid over
the end 80 of the shell body 64 so that a desired portion of the
shell body is positioned within the shell end member. This
overlapping attachment between the shell end member and shell body
is desired for the purpose of providing shell structure that is
capable of providing a desired degree of load carrying ability
independent of the expansion element, i.e., so that the expansion
element can function to provide the desired degree of thermal
expansion movement desired without having to also function to carry
loads such as those induced by vibration or the like. The presence
of such an overlapping attachment, between the shell body and shell
end member, that is provided beneath the extension element,
provides a structure capable of accommodating thermal expansion
movement without adversely impacting the load carrying, e.g., from
vibration stress or the like, of the construction.
[0040] It is desired that the tolerance between the inside surface
of the shell end member 66 and the outside surface of the shell
body 64 be as small as possible from a manufacturing and assembly
standpoint, but be sufficient to enable the shell end member and
shell body to move axially relative to one another without binding.
In an example embodiment, the tolerance between the two surfaces is
in the range of from about 0.15 to 0.8 millimeters, and preferably
in the range of from about 0.25 to 0.5 millimeters. Additionally,
the desired degree of overlap between the shell end member and
shell body should be sufficient to provide the desired degree of
structural strength and load carrying ability. In an example
embodiment the overlap is in the range of from about 10 to 40
millimeters, and preferably in the range of from about 15 to 30
millimeters.
[0041] If desired, the sections of the of the heat exchanger shell
body and/or the shell end member that are in sliding contact with
one another can be coated or otherwise treated to provide a low
friction surface, e.g., to facilitate sliding movement of the shell
body and shell end member relative to one another during heat
exchanger operation. One or both of the opposed and overlapping
adjacent shell body and/or shell end member surfaces can be
configured to include this feature depending on the particular heat
exchanger embodiment and/or end use application.
[0042] While the heat exchanger construction embodiment described
above and illustrated in FIG. 5 illustrates use of one expansion
element 70 positioned at one end of the shell, it is to be
understood that heat exchangers of this invention can comprise the
expansion element positioned at the opposite end of the shell, or
can comprise two expansion elements positioned at respective shell
ends. However, for practical purposes, only one expansion element
is useful for meeting the thermal expansion needs of most heat
exchanger applications.
[0043] In general, the entire assembly is preferably made of metals
and metal alloys, such as stainless steel of the like, and the
assembly elements are brazed using a braze material that is
compatible with the selected metal or metal allow, e.g., with a
nickel-based braze material or the like when the selected material
useful for making the heat exchanger elements is stainless
steel.
[0044] The heat exchanger as constructed in accordance with the
principles of this invention functions in the following manner. The
desired fluid or gas to be cooled is directed into the heat
exchanger via an inlet opening defined by one of the shell end
members. A coolant fluid is passed into the heat exchanger via an
inlet opening through the shell and is passed to the plurality of
tubes making up the tube stack. A coolant flow path is defined
within the shell between an inside wall surface of the shell body
and by the tube stack. The coolant operates to reduce the
temperature of the gas or fluid being passed through the tube stack
via thermal heat transfer, and the cooled gas or fluid exits the
heat exchanger via an outlet opening defined by the other shell end
member. Coolant passes out of the heat exchanger after contacting
the tube stack via an outlet in the shell.
[0045] It is to be understood that the embodiments described above
and illustrated are but examples of examples embodiments of heat
exchangers as constructed according to principles of this
invention, and that those skilled in the art will recognize
modifications and substitutions to the specific embodiments
disclosed herein. Such modifications are within the scope and
intent of the present invention.
* * * * *