U.S. patent application number 16/107096 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-28 for internals in a helically coiled heat exchanger for suppressing gas vortices.
This patent application is currently assigned to Linde Aktiengesellschaft. The applicant listed for this patent is Linde Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Konrad BRAUN, Florian DEICHSEL, Luis MATAMOROS, Jurgen SPREEMANN, Manfred STEINBAUER.
Application Number | 20190063843 16/107096 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59686717 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190063843 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STEINBAUER; Manfred ; et
al. |
February 28, 2019 |
INTERNALS IN A HELICALLY COILED HEAT EXCHANGER FOR SUPPRESSING GAS
VORTICES
Abstract
The invention relates to a heat exchanger for indirect heat
exchange between a first and second medium having: a shell,
extending along a longitudinal axis and surrounding a shell space
for receiving the first medium, and a plurality of tubes coiled
helically onto a core tube which extends along the longitudinal
axis in the shell space forming a tube bundle. The tube bundle
comprises a number of tube layers lying one on top of the other in
the radial direction. The second medium is conducted within the
tubes to exchange heat indirectly with the first medium. The at
least one distributor arm distributes a liquid phase of the first
medium to an upper side of the tube bundle. The at least one
distributor arm has, opposite from the upper side, a bottom with
through-openings, so that the liquid phase can be passed to the
upper side of the tube bundle. From an underside of the bottom of
the at least one distributor arm, and at least one directing
element projects in the direction of the upper side of the tube
bundle and extends along the longitudinal axis toward the upper
side of the tube bundle. The at least one directing element extends
in a circumferential direction of the tube bundle over at least
half the width of the bottom of the at least one distributor arm
and/or the at least one directing element projects along the
longitudinal axis into a gap of the tube bundle arranged between
two tube layers of the tube bundle.
Inventors: |
STEINBAUER; Manfred;
(Raisting, DE) ; SPREEMANN; Jurgen; (Rosenheim,
DE) ; MATAMOROS; Luis; (Munich, DE) ;
DEICHSEL; Florian; (Munich, DE) ; BRAUN; Konrad;
(Lenggries, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Linde Aktiengesellschaft |
Munich |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Linde Aktiengesellschaft
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
59686717 |
Appl. No.: |
16/107096 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 2021/0064 20130101;
F28F 25/02 20130101; F25J 5/002 20130101; F25J 2290/32 20130101;
F28D 2021/0033 20130101; F28F 9/026 20130101; F28D 3/02 20130101;
F28D 3/04 20130101; F28F 2009/224 20130101; F28F 9/0268 20130101;
F28F 27/02 20130101; F28D 7/024 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 7/02 20060101
F28D007/02; F28D 3/02 20060101 F28D003/02; F28D 3/04 20060101
F28D003/04; F28F 9/02 20060101 F28F009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 22, 2017 |
EP |
17020369.9 |
Claims
1. Heat exchanger (1) for indirect heat exchange between a first
and a second medium (M, M'), having: a shell (5), which is made to
extend along a longitudinal axis (z) and surrounds a shell space
(6), which serves for receiving the first medium (M), a plurality
of tubes (30), which are in each case coiled helically onto a core
tube (300) of the heat exchanger (1), which extends along the
longitudinal axis (z) in the shell space (6), so that the tubes
(30) form a bundle of tubes (3) of the heat exchanger (1) which is
arranged in the shell space and comprises a number of tube layers
(4) lying one on top of the other in the radial direction (R) of
the bundle of tubes (3), the second medium (M') being able to be
conducted through at least one tube (30) of the bundle of tubes
(3), so that heat is exchangeable indirectly between the first
medium (M) and the second medium (M'), and at least one distributor
arm (21) for distributing a liquid phase (F) of the first medium
(M) to an upper side (3a) of the bundle of tubes (3) facing the at
least one distributor arm (21), the at least one distributor arm
(21) having opposite from the upper side (3a) a bottom (200) with
through-openings (205), so that the liquid phase (F) can be passed
to the upper side (3a) of the bundle of tubes (3) by way of the
through-openings (205), characterized in that, from an underside
(200a) of the bottom (200) of the at least one distributor arm (21)
that is facing the upper side (3a) of the bundle of tubes (3), at
least one directing element (22) projects in the direction of the
upper side (3a) of the bundle of tubes (3), the at least one
directing element (22) extending in a circumferential direction (U)
of the bundle of tubes (3) at least over half of the respective
width (B) of the bottom (200) of the at least one distributor arm
(21) and/or the at least one directing element (22) projecting
along the longitudinal axis (z) into a gap (31) of the bundle of
tubes (3) that is arranged between two tube layers (32) of the
bundle of tubes (3).
2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
at least one directing element (22) is formed so as to prevent a
cross flow of the gaseous and/or liquid phase (F) of the first
medium (M) on the upper side (3a) of the bundle of tubes (3).
3. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
at least one directing element (22) is formed as a directing plate
(22).
4. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
at least one directing element (22) extends along the
circumferential direction (U) of the bundle of tubes.
5. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
at least one distributor arm (21) has two side walls (203, 204),
which lie opposite one another in the circumferential direction (U)
of the bundle of tubes (3), extend in each case along the radial
direction (R) of the bundle of tubes (3), the at least one
directing element (22) extending in the circumferential direction
(U) of the shell (5) from one side wall (203) to the other side
wall (204).
6. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
at least one directing element (22) has in a plane running
perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (z) a curvature, in
particular a curvature with a constant radius of curvature
(R').
7. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
heat exchanger (1) has a number of directing elements (22), which
project in each case from an underside (200a) of the bottom (200)
of the at least one distributor arm (21) that is facing the upper
side (3a) of the bundle of tubes (3) in the direction of the upper
side (3a) of the bundle of tubes (3), the directing elements (22)
in each case extending in a circumferential direction (U) of the
bundle of tubes (3) at least over half of the respective width (B)
of the bottom (200) of the at least one distributor arm (21) and/or
the at least one directing element (22) in each case projecting
along the longitudinal axis (z) into a gap (31) of the bundle of
tubes (3) that is arranged between two tube layers (32) of the
bundle of tubes (3).
8. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
directing elements (22) are arranged next to one another in a
radial direction (R), along which the at least one distributor arm
(21) extends from the core tube (300) toward the shell (5).
9. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
at least one directing element (22) forms a channel (22) that
extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis (z), with a wall
(220), the channel (22) being in flow connection with at least one
through-opening (205) of the bottom (200).
10. Heat exchanger according to claim 9, characterized in that the
channel (22) is formed by a tube (22) with in particular a circular
cross section.
11. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
at least one directing element (22) forms a plurality of channels
(22a) that extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis (z) and
have respective walls (22b), neighboring channels (22a) forming
common walls (22b) or the walls (22b) of neighboring channels (22a)
being adjacent to one another, the respective wall (22b) bounding a
region (B') of the shell space (6) between the bottom (200) of the
at least one distributor arm (21) and the upper side (3a) of the
bundle of tubes (3) into which at least one through-opening (205)
of the bottom (200) of the at least one distributor arm (21) opens
out.
12. Heat exchanger according to claim 11, characterized in that the
channels (22a) are formed in cross section in an n-gonal manner, n
being greater than or equal to 3, and in particular n being equal
to 4 or equal to 6.
13. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the
at least one directing element (22) is formed by a wall (22) which
extends along a periphery (200b) of the bottom (200) and surrounds
a region (B') of the shell space (6) between the bottom (200) of
the at least one distributor arm (21) and the upper side (3a) of
the bundle of tubes (3) into which the through-openings (205) of
the bottom (200) of the at least one distributor arm (21) open out.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a helically coiled heat
exchanger.
[0002] Such helically coiled heat exchangers are used in a wide
variety of processes, for example in ethylene or natural gas plants
(LNG plants for short).
[0003] In the case of such heat exchangers, the coolant in the
shell space of the heat exchanger is usually applied to a bundle of
tubes which is arranged in the shell space and comprises tubes
which are helically coiled on a core tube and in which the process
stream to be cooled is conducted. The coolant is in this case
introduced into the heat exchanger in a two-phase state, the liquid
phase being separated from the gaseous phase in a distributor and
distributed to the bundle of tubes by way of distributor arms.
[0004] During the operation of the heat exchanger, gas vortices may
occur in the shell space. If such vortices are in the upper portion
of the heat exchanger, in the region of the upper side of the
bundle of tubes, they may divert the liquid phase flowing out from
the distributor arms in a direction transverse to the longitudinal
axis of the shell or of the bundle of tubes, which has the
consequence that the liquid phase can longer be applied to the
bundle of tubes in an equally distributed manner. Such an uneven
distribution of the liquid phase or the coolant reduces the
effectiveness of the heat exchanger significantly.
[0005] Against this background, the present invention is therefore
based on the object of providing a heat exchanger that is improved
with regard to the aforementioned problem.
[0006] This object is achieved by a heat exchanger with the
features of claim 1.
[0007] Advantageous configurations of the invention are provided in
the corresponding subclaims and are described below.
[0008] According to claim 1, heat exchanger for indirect heat
exchange between a first and a second medium is provided, having
[0009] a shell, which is made to extend along a longitudinal axis
and surrounds a shell space, which serves for receiving the first
medium, [0010] a plurality of tubes, which are in each case coiled
helically onto a core tube of the heat exchanger, which extends
along the longitudinal axis in the shell space, so that the tubes
form a bundle of tubes of the heat exchanger which is arranged in
the shell space and comprises a number of tube layers lying one on
top of the other in the radial direction of the bundle of tubes,
the second medium being conducted in the bundle of tubes, so that
heat is exchangeable indirectly between the first medium and the
second medium, and [0011] at least one distributor arm for
distributing a liquid phase of the first medium to an upper side of
the bundle of tubes facing the at least one distributor arm, the at
least one distributor arm having opposite from the upper side a
bottom with through-openings, so that the liquid phase can be
passed to the upper side of the bundle of tubes by way of the
through-openings.
[0012] It is then provided according to the invention that, from an
underside of the bottom of the at least one distributor arm that is
facing the upper side of the bundle of tubes, at least one
directing element projects in the direction of the upper side of
the bundle of tubes or extends along the longitudinal axis toward
the upper side of the bundle of tubes, the at least one directing
element extending in a circumferential direction of the bundle of
tubes at least over half of a width of the bottom of the at least
one distributor arm and/or the at least one directing element
projecting along the longitudinal axis into a gap of the bundle of
tubes between two tube layers of the bundle of tubes.
[0013] Said upper side of the bundle of tubes is formed by the
uppermost tube portions of the tubes of the bundle of tubes that
are coiled around the core tube and extends along a horizontal
plane or along a plane that runs perpendicularly in relation to the
longitudinal axis. However, said upper side does not have to run
completely flat or parallel to this plane, but may have curvatures
and a varying height profile (with respect to the longitudinal
axis). The reason for this is in particular that the individual
tubes or tube portions on said upper side of the bundle of tubes
have a circular cross section. It is also provided in particular
that, on said upper side, upper end portions of the tubes of the
bundle of tubes are gathered into tube clusters, which project from
the upper side and are led through gaps between distributor arms
that are neighboring in the circumferential direction. The tube
clusters in this case end in each case in a tubesheet, in which the
individual tubes are anchored, the respective tubesheet being fixed
on the cylindrical shell of the heat exchanger. The upper side of
the bundle of tubes also deviates from a horizontal path due to the
tube clusters that are led away from the bundle of tubes. The tubes
of the bundle of tubes may in particular be coiled onto the core
tube or fixed thereon in such a way that the core tube can bear the
load of the bundle of tubes. As an alternative to this, the weight
of the bundle may be borne by so-called bearing webs, which are
arranged between the tube layers and are connected to them. The
bearing webs may in this case project beyond the upper side of the
bundle of tubes and may be welded on or fixed there on bearing
arms. The bearing arms may in particular be fixed both on the core
tube and on the shell; they consequently connect the core tube and
the shell above the bundle of tubes in the form of spokes. In the
case of this variant, the bearing arms ultimately bear the bundle
of tubes and the core tube by way of the shell. This upper part in
the heat exchanger forms the so-called fixed bearing, since the
shell and the core tube are fixedly connected to one another here,
while at the bottom of the heat exchanger the core tube is
connected to the shell in particular by way of a sliding
bearing.
[0014] The fact that the at least one directing element projects in
the direction of the upper side of the bundle of tubes or extends
toward the upper side of the bundle of tubes may mean in particular
that the at least one directing element ends before or at the upper
side of the bundle of tubes, there preferably being a clearance
between the directing device and the upper side, or specifically
enough clearance to avoid mechanical contact with the bundle of
tubes, in order to protect the bundle of tubes from leakages.
[0015] It may also be provided that the at least one directing
element projects into the bundle of tubes along the longitudinal
axis, in particular into a gap (or a number of gaps) between two
tube layers of the bundle of tubes. These tube layers may be for
example tube layers of the bundle of tubes that are neighboring in
the radial direction. In this case, the at least one directing
element may project into the bundle of tubes only by a certain
portion or over its entire length in a plane running perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis. A suitable gap into which the at least
one directing element can project may also be present between two
tube layers that are not directly neighboring in the radial
direction. Thus, because of the tubes being led out into the
clusters, the tube layers end at different heights along the
longitudinal axis of the shell (these differences may be for
example 100 mm to 150 mm). Thus, for example at a specific location
along the circumference, the nth tube layer may end high, but the
(n+1)th tube layer low, and the (n+2)th tube layer high again.
These gaps between every second layer (here above the (n+1)th tube
layer) may also be used.
[0016] In the embodiments described herein, in particular
concerning those embodiments in which the respective directing
element is not formed as a tube, it may be provided that the
respective directing element does not extend in the axial
direction, i.e. along the longitudinal axis, downward as far as the
upper side of the bundle of tubes or beyond (for example into a gap
of the bundle of tubes), but ends above the upper side. The
respective directing element may in this case extend over at least
70%, in particular at least 80%, in particular at least 90%, in
particular at least 95% or in particular at least 99%, of the
vertical distance between the upper side of the bundle of tubes and
the underside of the bottom of the respective distributor arm.
[0017] In all of the embodiments, the at least one directing
element is preferably formed separately from the core tube, i.e. in
other words the core tube is not understood as meaning a directing
element projecting from the bottom of the at least one distributor
arm.
[0018] The at least one directing element is formed so as to
prevent a cross flow of the gaseous and/or liquid phase of the
first medium on the upper side of the bundle of tubes (for example
because of gas vortices), or performs this function because of its
arrangement with respect to the upper side of the bundle of tubes.
Understood here as a cross flow is in particular a flow that takes
place in a direction which runs along the upper side of the bundle
of tubes or the direction of which has at least one component that
runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.
[0019] The directing element may in this case either shield the
liquid phase from gas vortices, in particular cross flows on the
upper side of the bundle of tubes, or by its arrangement between
the bottom of the at least one distributor arm and the upper side
of the bundle of tubes, suppress or at least reduce such cross
flows, so that the liquid phase can be distributed directly in the
downward direction by following gravitational force.
[0020] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the
invention, it is provided that the at least one directing element
is formed as a directing plate, in particular a baffle plate, which
is connected in particular by way of an upper peripheral region to
the bottom of the at least one distributor arm, an opposite lower
periphery extending, as described above, at least down as far as
the upper side of the bundle of tubes. The at least one directing
element or the directing plate is preferably disposed
perpendicularly on the underside of the bottom of the at least one
distributor arm. The directing plate forms in particular a closed
surface area without apertures/holes.
[0021] It is also provided according to one embodiment of the
invention that the at least one directing element extends along a
circumferential direction of the bundle of tubes and also in
particular along the longitudinal axis of the shell.
[0022] It is also provided according to one embodiment of the
invention that the at least one distributor arm has two side walls,
which lie opposite one another in the circumferential direction of
the bundle of tubes or the shell, extend in each case along the
radial direction of the bundle of tubes from the inside to the
outside toward the shell of the heat exchanger and also in each
case along the longitudinal axis from the bottom upward to a roof
of the at least one distributor arm.
[0023] It is also provided according to one embodiment of the
invention that the at least one directing element extends in the
circumferential direction of the shell or the bundle of tubes from
one side wall to the other side wall. This means in other words
that the directing element extends in the circumferential direction
over an entire width of the bottom of the respective distributor
arm.
[0024] It is also provided according to one embodiment of the
invention that the at least one directing element has in a plane
running perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis a curvature, in
particular a curvature with a constant radius of curvature, so that
in particular an inner side of the directing element that is facing
the core tube is at a constant distance overall from the
longitudinal axis. In this embodiment, the at least one directing
element therefore has at least a concavely curved inner side, which
is facing the core tube, and an outer side, facing away from the
core tube or the inner side, that has a convex curvature.
[0025] Furthermore, said radius of curvature of the at least one or
the respective directing element may lie between the radius of
curvature of the tubes of a tube layer lying further inward in the
radial direction and the radius of curvature of the tubes of a tube
layer lying further outward in the radial direction.
[0026] It is also provided according to one embodiment of the
invention that the heat exchanger has a number of directing
elements, which project in each case from the underside of the
bottom of the at least one distributor arm that is facing the upper
side of the bundle of tubes in the direction of the upper side of
the bundle of tubes or extend along the longitudinal axis toward
the upper side of the bundle of tubes (also see above), the
directing elements extending in each case in a circumferential
direction of the bundle of tubes at least over half of the width of
the bottom of the at least one distributor arm and/or the directing
elements projecting in each case along the longitudinal axis into a
gap of the bundle of tubes between two tube layers of the bundle of
tubes.
[0027] These multiple directing elements may be in particular a
number of the (in particular curved) directing plates described
above, which may in each case be disposed in particular with a
lower periphery in gaps between neighboring tube layers.
[0028] The heat exchanger may of course also have a plurality of
distributor arms, which extend in each case in a radial direction
from the core tube toward the shell, there being between every two
distributor arms that are neighboring in the circumferential
direction of the shell an intermediate space through which tubes,
or in each case a tube cluster, of the bundle of tubes are led past
the distributor arms to an assigned tubesheet, which is fixed on
the shell. In principle, at least one or more directing elements
according to the invention may be provided on all of the
distributor arms.
[0029] The at least one distributor arm or the respective
distributor arm may have--with respect to a horizontal plane or
plane made to extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis--a
cross section in the form of a sector of a circle, i.e. like a
piece of pie. Correspondingly, the respective bottom of a
distributor arm is preferably formed correspondingly in the form of
a sector of a circle.
[0030] If a number of directing elements, in particular directing
plates (see above), are provided, it is preferably provided that
the directing elements are arranged next to one another in a radial
direction along which the at least one distributor arm extends from
the core tube toward the shell. In particular, in this case all of
the directing plates may extend along the circumferential direction
of the shell, in particular along the underside of the bottom from
one side wall to the other side wall of the distributor arm
concerned. The individual directing elements or directing plates
may in this case project in each case into a gap between
neighboring tube layers of the bundle of tubes.
[0031] The directing plates that are situated further inward in the
radial direction, i.e. situated closer to the core tube, may have a
smaller length in the circumferential direction of the shell than
the peripheral plates situated further outward, for example if the
respective distributor arm has a cross-sectional form of a sector
of a circle (see above) and the respective directing plate extends
from one side wall of the distributor arm concerned to the other
side wall of the distributor arm.
[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the at least one directing
element or the number of directing elements is or are formed in
each case as a tube that is in flow connection with an assigned
through-opening of the bottom. The respective tube may in this case
adjoin an assigned through-opening of the bottom of the respective
distributor arm. In particular, each through-opening of the
respective distributor arm may be connected to such a tube in the
way described above. It is also conceivable that a number of tubes
are provided as directing elements, a number of through-openings
opening out into the same tube, which then has a correspondingly
greater diameter.
[0033] In this case, the tubes do not necessarily have to have a
circular cross section. Rather, here the directing elements may
also be formed in each case by a channel that extends in the
direction of the longitudinal axis, with a wall running around, the
channel being in flow connection with at least one through-opening
of the bottom.
[0034] According to a further alternative embodiment, it is
provided that the at least one directing element forms a plurality
of channels that extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis
and have respective walls, neighboring channels forming common
walls or the walls of neighboring channels being adjacent to one
another, the respective wall bounding a region of the shell space
between the bottom of the at least one distributor arm and the
upper side of the bundle of tubes into which at least one
through-opening of the bottom of the at least one distributor arm
opens out.
[0035] It is in this case provided according to one embodiment that
the channels are formed in cross section in an n-gonal manner, n
being greater than or equal to 3, in particular 4 or 6. The
channels may therefore be formed in particular in a rectangular
(n=4) or honeycomb (n=6) manner in cross section. It may also be
provided according to one embodiment of the invention that the at
least one directing element is formed by a wall which extends along
a periphery of the bottom and surrounds a region of the shell space
between the bottom of the at least one distributor arm and the
upper side of the bundle of tubes into which the through-opening of
the bottom of the at least one distributor arm opens out. The wall
may extend in particular from the core tube along said periphery in
the radial direction as far as the end-face wall of the distributor
arm, from there in the circumferential direction of the shell to
the opposite side wall of the distributor arm and from there along
the radial direction back to the core tube.
[0036] In other words, in the case of this embodiment, in
particular a channel that is made to extend in the direction of the
longitudinal axis is therefore bounded by the wall, it being
possible for the wall to form a continuation of the side walls of
the distributor arm in the direction of the longitudinal axis,
projecting from the bottom of the distributor arm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] Further details and advantages of the invention are to be
explained by the following description of the figures of an
exemplary embodiment by reference to the figures, in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional representation of a heat
exchanger according to the invention with directing elements in the
form of directing plates, which project from an underside of the
bottom of a distributor arm of the heat exchanger;
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the underside of the
bottom of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a perspective, partially sectional view of the
heat exchanger according to the invention of the type from FIGS. 1
and 2;
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of the underside of a
bottom of a heat exchanger according to the invention from which a
honeycomb-shaped directing element projects;
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the underside of a
bottom of a heat exchanger according to the invention from which a
directing element with rectangular cells projects;
[0043] FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of the underside of a
bottom of a heat exchanger according to the invention from which a
directing element with a wall running along the bottom
projects;
[0044] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of the heat
exchanger shown in FIG. 6;
[0045] FIG. 8 shows a schematic plan view of the underside of a
bottom of a heat exchanger according to the invention from which
tubular directing elements project; and
[0046] FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional view of the heat
exchanger shown in FIG. 8.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3 an embodiment
of a heat exchanger according to the invention for indirect heat
exchange between a first and a second medium M, M'. The heat
exchanger 1 has a shell 5, which is made to extend along a
longitudinal axis z and surrounds a shell space 6, which serves for
receiving the first medium M, and also a plurality of tubes 30,
which are in each case coiled helically onto a core tube 300 of the
heat exchanger 1, which extends along the longitudinal axis z in
the shell space 6, so that the tubes 30 form a bundle of tubes 3 of
the heat exchanger 1 which is arranged in the shell space 6 and
comprises a number of tube layers 32 lying one on top of the other
in the radial direction R of the bundle of tubes 3, the second
medium M' being conducted in the bundle of tubes 3, so that heat is
exchangeable indirectly between the first medium M and the second
medium M'. The second medium M' can be introduced into the bundle
of tubes 3 in particular through at least one nozzle provided on
the shell 5 (not shown in FIG. 3) and can be drawn off from the
bundle of tubes 3 by way of at least one nozzle 4 provided on the
shell 5. The bundle of tubes 3 may also be surrounded by a jacket
7, which serves for reducing a bypass flow in the shell space 6
(past the bundle of tubes 3).
[0048] The heat exchanger 1 also has at least one distributor arm
21, preferably a number of distributor arms 21, which serve(s) for
distributing a liquid phase F of the first medium M to an upper
side 3a of the bundle of tubes 3 facing the respective distributor
arm 21, the respective distributor arm 21 having opposite from the
upper side 3a a bottom 200 with through-openings 205, so that the
liquid phase F can be passed to the upper side 3a of the bundle of
tubes 3 by way of the through-openings 205. As a difference from
FIG. 3, for the sake of simplicity FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 only show
one distributor arm 21 in each case.
[0049] The respective distributor arm 21 projects in particular in
a radial direction R, which is disposed perpendicularly on the
longitudinal axis z, from the core tube 300 and is preferably in
flow connection with it. The core tube 300 in turn projects from a
pre-distributor 20, which is arranged above the bundle of tubes 3
and the distributor arms 21 and in which the first medium M is
collected and in particular degassed. The liquid phase F can
correspondingly flow from the pre-distributor 20 into the core tube
300 and subsequently into the respective distributor arm 21.
Instead of the core tube 100, the liquid phase F may also be fed
into the respective distributor arm 21 by way of an annular
channel, which for example runs around the inside of the shell 5.
Then, from an underside 200a of the bottom 200 of the respective
distributor arm 21 that is facing the upper side 3a of the bundle
of tubes 3, at least one directing element 22 projects in the
direction of the upper side 3a of the bundle of tubes 3 and thereby
extends in each case along the longitudinal axis z toward the upper
side 3a of the bundle of tubes 3. Preferably, the at least one
directing element 22 extends in a circumferential direction U of
the bundle of tubes 3 at least over half of the width B of the
bottom 200 of the at least one distributor arm 21 (cf. FIG. 2).
[0050] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a number
of such directing elements 22 are provided, formed in each case as
a directing plate. The respective directing plate 22 is in this
case connected by way of an upper peripheral region 221--with
respect to the vertically aligned longitudinal axis z--to the
underside 200a of the bottom 200 of the respective distributor arm
22, an opposite lower peripheral region 222 of the respective
directing plate 22 ending at the upper side 3a of the bundle of
tubes 3 or,as shown in FIG. 1, in each case projecting into a gap
31 between two tube layers 32 lying one on top of the other in the
radial direction R. As already mentioned above, this may be a gap
31 between neighboring tube layers 32 or some other depression/gap
between two tube layers 32, for example a gap above a tube layer
which lies at a lower level in comparison with the two tube layers
adjacent on both sides, therefore represents a gap. Preferably,
mechanical contact between the respective directing element 22 and
the bundle of tubes 3 is avoided, in order to reduce the risk of
leakage of the bundle of tubes 3.
[0051] The directing elements or plates 22 are preferably arranged
next to one another in the radial direction R, along which the
respective distributor arm 21 extends from the core tube 300 toward
the shell 5, one or more of the through-openings 205 in each case
opening out into an intermediate space between two directing plates
22 that are neighboring in the radial direction R, so that the
liquid phase F can be discharged into the respective intermediate
space above the upper side 3a of the bundle of tubes 3.
[0052] The directing elements 22 configured in such a way serve in
this case for preventing a cross flow of the gaseous phase G of the
first medium M on or along the upper side 3a of the bundle of tubes
3 or along the radial direction R. As a result, the liquid phase F
can be discharged undisturbed by way of the distributor arms 21
along the longitudinal axis z in the downward direction, and an
uneven distribution of the liquid phase F is prevented.
[0053] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 3, the respective directing
plate 22 preferably extends along a circumferential direction U of
the bundle of tubes 3 or the shell 5 and in this case preferably
has a curved path (in particular with a radius of curvature R'), so
that a concavely curved side of the respective directing plate 22
is facing the core tube 300, whereas the respective convexly curved
side is facing the shell 5 in the outward direction.
[0054] The respective distributor 21 has furthermore two side walls
203, 204, which lie opposite one another in the circumferential
direction U of the bundle of tubes 3 or the shell 5, extend in each
case along the radial direction R of the bundle of tubes 3 from the
inside to the outside toward the shell 5 of the heat exchanger 1
and in each case project upward along the longitudinal axis z from
a periphery 200b of the bottom 200 of the respective distributor
arm 21.
[0055] The respective distributor arm 21 has furthermore an
end-face wall 201, which lies opposite the shell 5 in the radial
direction R and connects the two side walls 203, 204 to one
another. In the upward direction, the respective distributor arm 21
is preferably closed by a roof 206, which is connected to the
respective side walls 203, 204 and the end-face wall 201 and slopes
up toward the core tube 300, so that the gaseous phase G of the
first medium M can rise up along the ridge 206 to the core tube
300.
[0056] It is preferably also provided (cf. in particular FIG. 2)
that the respective directing element 22 extends on the underside
200a of the bottom 200 of the respective distributor arm 21 in the
circumferential direction U from the one side wall 203 to the other
side wall 204 (that is to say over an entire width B of the bottom
200 in the circumferential direction U, it being possible for the
width B of the bottom 200 to vary in the radial direction R, in
particular in the case of a bottom 200 in the form of a sector of a
circle).
[0057] Between every two distributor arms 21 that are neighboring
in the circumferential direction U of the shell 5 there is a gap
through which a tube cluster 33 of the bundle of tubes 3, formed by
end portions of the tubes 3, is in each case led past the
distributor arms 21 to an assigned tubesheet 34, which in each case
is fixed on the shell 5.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the present invention,
in which a contiguous directing element 22 in each case extends
from the underside 200a of the bottom 200 of the respective
distributor arm 21 in the direction of the upper side 3a of the
bundle of tubes 3. The respective directing element 22 forms a
plurality of channels 22a, which in each case extend along the
longitudinal axis z, the respective channel 22a being surrounded by
a running-around wall 22b and in each case bounding a region B' of
the shell space 6 between the bottom 200 of the at least one
distributor arm 21 and the upper side 3a of the bundle of tubes 3
into which at least one through-opening 205 of the bottom 200 of
the at least one distributor 21 opens out.
[0059] The individual running-around walls 22b are formed in
particular hexagonally in cross section (with respect to a
cross-sectional plane made to extend parallel to the respective
bottom 200) and are connected in each case to neighboring walls
22b, so that the respective directing element 22 forms overall a
honeycomb structure, as can be seen from FIG. 4. The individual
channels 22a therefore share their respective running-around wall
22b with the neighboring channels 22a.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows a modification of the directing element 22
shown in FIG. 4, here, as a difference from FIG. 4, the individual
channels 22a having a rectangular shape with respect to the
cross-sectional plane defined above. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the channels
22a may deviate from the hexagonal or rectangular shaping at the
periphery 200b of the underside 200a of the respective bottom 200
(in particular because of the configuration of the bottoms 200 of
the distributor arms 21 preferably in the form of sectors of a
circle).
[0061] FIG. 6 shows in conjunction with FIG. 7 a further embodiment
of a directing element 22 according to the invention, in which the
at least one directing element 22 is formed by a wall 22, which
extends along an outer periphery 200b of the bottom 200 and
projects from the underside 200a of the bottom 200 of the assigned
distributor arm 21 in the direction of the upper side 3a of the
bundle of tubes 3. The wall or the directing element 22 has here a
first portion 22c, which extends in the radial direction R from the
core tube 300 outward to the end-face wall 201 of the assigned
distributor arm 21. From there, a second portion 22d of the wall 22
that is connected to the first portion 22c of the wall 22 extends
in the circumferential direction U to the opposite portion of the
periphery 200b of the bottom 200 and is connected there to a third
portion 22e of the wall 22, the third portion 22e of the wall 22
extending along the radial direction R back to the core tube 300.
The directing element 22 consequently surrounds a region B' of the
shell space 6 between the bottom 200 of the assigned distributor
and 21 and the upper side 3a of the bundle of tubes 3 into which
the through-opening 205 of the bottom 200 of the respective
distributor arm 21 opens out. In this case, the individual portions
22c, 22d, 22e of the wall 22 in particular are connected by way of
an upper peripheral region 221 to the underside 200a of the
respective bottom 200, whereas the respectively opposite lower
peripheral region 222 runs along the upper side 3a of the bundle of
tubes 3. In this case, the respectively opposite lower peripheral
region 222 may also project by a certain portion into one or more
gaps of the tube bundle 3.
[0062] According to a further embodiment, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
it is provided that the respective distributor arm 21 has a number
of directing elements 22, which are configured here in each case as
a channel 22 with a running-around wall 220, it being possible for
the respective channel 22 to be formed by a tube 22 with in
particular a circular cross section, the respective tube 22 or the
respective channel 22 projecting from the underside 200a of the
bottom 200 of the respective distributor arm 21. In this case, the
through-openings 205 of the bottom 200 of the respective
distributor arm 21 open out in each case into one of the tubes 22.
The tubes 22 extend in each case along the longitudinal axis z
downward to the upper side 3a of the bundle of tubes 3 and end at
the upper side 3a or project in each case with one end into a gap
of the tube bundle 3, for example a gap 31 that is present between
two tube layers 32.
TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals 1 Heat exchanger or
latent heat exchanger 3 Bundle of tubes 3a Upper side 4 Nozzle 5
Shell 6 Shell space 7 Jacket 10 Web 20 Pre-distributor 22 Directing
elements, wall 22a Channel 22b Wall 22c, 22d, 22e Portion 30 Tubes
31 Gap 32 Tube layer 33 Tube cluster 34 Tubesheet 200 Bottom 200a
Underside 200b Periphery 201 End-face wall 203, 204 Side wall 205
Through-opening 206 Roof 220 Wall 221 Upper peripheral region 222
Lower peripheral region 300 Core tube M First medium M' Second
medium R Radial direction U Circumferential direction z
Longitudinal axis B Width B' Region R' Radius of curvature
* * * * *