Device for closing inner tubes in a tubular heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10012452-B2
Application number	US-201314435844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2013
Priority date	Oct 17, 2012
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

A device for closing at least one inner tube in a tubular heat exchanger. The device comprises a main body provided with inner tube through holes and at least one plug configured to be inserted into the at least one inner tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tubular heat exchanger comprising:
a tube case, a bend pipe, a plurality of inner tubes and a device for closing at least one of the plurality of inner tubes in the tubular heat exchanger;
said device comprising
a main body provided with inner tube through holes and at least one plug; each plug configured to be inserted into one of said plurality of inner tubes to completely block flow through the one of said inner tubes, wherein said main body is clamped between the tube case and the bend pipe and is provided with bolt openings for fixing the device to the tube case and the bend pipe using bolts through the bolt openings.

2. The tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one plug is provided with a gasket in order to provide a tight fitting between said plug and said one of said plurality of inner tubes.

3. The tubular heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein said gasket is placed such that, when said at least one plug is inserted in said one of said plurality of inner tubes, said gasket provides for that no gap is formed between said plug and said one of said inner tubes.

4. The tubular heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein said gasket is placed such that, when said at least one plug is inserted in said one of said plurality of inner tubes, said gasket is placed next to an outer end of said one of said inner tubes.

5. The tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1 , said device further comprising at least one sensor placed on said at least one plug such that a leakage in said one of said plurality of inner tubes can be detected.

6. The tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein said device is made in one piece.

7. The tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one plug is screwed onto said main body.

8. The tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein a front side of said tube case is provided with a recess.

9. A kit of parts comprising a number of tubular heat exchangers according to claim 1 .

10. A method for evaluating the performance of a tubular heat exchanger according to claim 1 , said method comprising
closing said one of said plurality of inner tubes by installing said device between said bend pipe and said tube case, and measuring performance in terms of formation of fouling, energy consumption and/or aggregation of fibers.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Navred Jenny

Classifications

• F28F2200/00

  Prediction; Simulation; Testing · CPC title

• F28F9/26

  Arrangements for connecting different sections of heat-exchange elements, e.g. of radiators (connecting different sections in water heaters F24H9/14 {, connecting headers with inlet or outlet fittings F28F9/0246}) · CPC title

• F28F13/06

  by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media {(F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026)} · CPC title

• F28F2220/00

  Closure means, e.g. end caps on header boxes or plugs on conduits · CPC title

• F28D7/16

  the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation ({F28D7/0008 - F28D7/0058 take precedence}; F28D7/02 - F28D7/10 take precedence) · CPC title