Heat exchanger closure assemblies and methods of using and installing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11079185-B2
Application number	US-201916358932-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2019
Priority date	Mar 20, 2018
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly including an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber. A tube sheet is positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side. The interior portion is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber. An annular sleeve member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure. An annular elastic torsion member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger such that the sleeve member is positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member. The elastic torsion member has an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber;
a tube sheet positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure and separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side wherein the interior chamber is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber;
a sleeve member having an annular configuration positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure;
an elastic torsion member having an annular configuration positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger with the sleeve member positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member, the elastic torsion member having an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member; and
a partition assembly comprising the sleeve member positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure to direct fluid from a port extending through the enclosure to at least two or more tubes in a tube bundle;
a tube sheet gasket positioned between the tube sheet and a shoulder formed within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure; and
a bearing ring positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure with the elastic torsion member positioned between the sleeve member and the bearing ring.

2. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , further including at least two ports extending through the enclosure for allowing fluid to enter and exit the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure.

3. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to deflect elastically up to an elastic deflection limit and deflect plastically above the elastic deflection limit such that the elastic torsion member deflects elastically to accommodate differential thermal expansion and avoid damage to components of the heat exchanger when the heat exchanger is under preload and expected pressure and thermal loads.

4. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to pivot at a first contact area where the elastic torsion member contacts the sleeve member and at a second contact area where the elastic torsion member contacts the bearing ring.

5. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the elastic torsion member has a quadrilateral cross-section having rounded corners.

6. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 1 , further including a plurality of elastic torsion members stacked in series relative to one another.

7. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to have an outer radius “A” and an inner radius “B”, wherein the outer radius is less than an inner radius of a channel of the interior chamber configured to receive a tube bundle, wherein the ratio of “A” to “B” is less than 3.

8. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to have a height “H” that is approximately 50% of its elastic deflection limit, and has a thickness “T” such that the elastic torsion member deforms plastically above its elastic deflection limit.

9. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 5 , further including a closure assembly for sealing the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure, wherein the closure assembly includes a lock ring member and a cover member which are removably secured to the heat exchanger enclosure with a locking assembly.

10. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the locking assembly includes a plurality of spaced-apart lock ring hub sections configured to interdigitate with corresponding channel hub sections formed on a cylindrical inner surface portion of the heat exchanger enclosure.

11. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 9 , further including:
a diaphragm positioned with the channel side of the interior chamber adjacent to the lock ring and cover members; and
a diaphragm gasket compressed against the diaphragm when the lock ring member is removably secured to the heat exchanger enclosure.

12. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 11 , the closure assembly further including:
a plurality of first elongate compression members provided along an outer radius portion of the closure assembly so as to transmit a force to a first compression ring, which transmits a force to a rim portion of the diaphragm and the diaphragm gasket; and
a plurality of second elongate compression members provided along an inner radius portion of the closure assembly so as to transmit a force to a second compression ring, which transmits a force against a portion of the diaphragm causing a portion of the diaphragm to deflect distal from the cover member and towards the elastic torsion member when the closure assembly is removably secured to the heat exchanger enclosure.

13. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 12 , wherein the tube sheet, sleeve member, bearing ring, first and second compression rings, lock ring, and first and second compression members are configured to remain elastic up to or above a total axial load from preload, thermal and pressure loads when the closure assembly is secured to the heat exchanger enclosure.

14. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein when the elongate compression members are preloaded, the compression members impart the preload through a first axial load path to a first contact area of the elastic torsion member, which transmits the preload through a torsional load path through the elastic torsion member to a second contact area of the elastic torsion member, which transmits the preload through a second axial load path to a tube sheet gasket.

15. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein:
pressure loads from process fluids in the heat exchanger are within a normal prescribed threshold range, the elastic torsion member is configured to deform elastically enabling its outer circumference to axially move towards the closure assembly;
pressure loads from process fluids in the heat exchanger enclosure reduce load on the elastic torsion member by deforming the closure assembly distal from the tube sheet; and
the elastic torsion member is configured to deflect elastically up to an elastic deflection limit and deflect plastically above the elastic deflection limit such that the elastic torsion member accommodates differential thermal expansion to avoid damage to components of the heat exchanger when the heat exchanger is under preload and expected pressure and thermal loads.

Assignees

• Lummus Technology Inc

Inventors

• Jibb Richard
• Creech David Thomas
• Eberly Randy Lee
• Meacham Elizabeth Maclean
• Boekhouder Henk
• Groppi Roberto
• Brignone Vincenzo Marco
• Jaye Trevor

Classifications

• F28F2275/20

  with threaded elements · CPC title

• F28F11/00

  Arrangements for sealing leaky tubes and conduits (stopping flow from or in pipes in general F16L55/10) · CPC title

• F28F9/10 Primary

  by screw-type connections, e.g. gland · CPC title

• F16J13/08 Primary

  attached by one or more members actuated to project behind a part or parts of the frame (similar constructions for doors or windows E05C9/00) · CPC title

• F28F9/0226

  with resilient gaskets · CPC title