Shell and tube heat exchanger with compound tubesheet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11846471-B2
Application number	US-202017253004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2020
Priority date	Jul 12, 2019
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

Disclosed is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger assembly, having: a first tubesheet configured for being secured to a shell of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger assembly, the first tubesheet including: a first section and a second section; the second section configured to be secured to a first shell end of the shell; and the first section including a plurality of holes configured to support a respective plurality of aluminum tubes extending through the shell, wherein the first section is configured to limit a galvanic response of the plurality of aluminum tubes when exposed to a chiller water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shell-and-tube heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
a first tubesheet configured for being secured to a shell of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger assembly, the first tubesheet including:
a first section and a second section;
the second section configured to be secured to a first shell end of the shell; and
the first section including a plurality of holes configured to support a respective plurality of aluminum tubes extending through the shell, wherein the first section is configured to limit a galvanic response of the plurality of aluminum tubes when exposed to a chiller water,
wherein:
the first section is a radially inner section and the second section is a radially exterior section;
the first section is an insert having a rectangular surface area that is press fit or welded into a cutout in the second section, the second section being disc shaped; and
a first plenum that is a water-box secured to the first section, the first section having a surface area that is at least as large as a contact area between the first plenum and the first section.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first section comprises a cladded metal.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first section comprises a polymer.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first section is water-tight secured to the second section.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first tubesheet is formed from a polymer.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first tubesheet comprises a hub-spoke-wheel subassembly.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first section comprises a hub section of the hub-spoke-wheel subassembly, the second section comprises a wheel section of the hub-spoke-wheel subassembly, and a third section of the assembly comprises a spoke section of the hub-spoke-wheel subassembly, the third section being radially between and interconnecting the first section and the second section.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second section includes a first groove that is axially extending and configured to receive a first shell end of the shell.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the third section includes a disc member that is integral with the second section.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second section includes a plurality of spokes that are radially extending and circumferentially spaced from each other about the disc member.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first section includes a second groove that is radially extending and configured to be secured to the disc member and the plurality of spokes.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of spokes are axially forward of the disc member and have a radial outer-side secured to a radial underside of the second section.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , comprising a second tubesheet that is materially the same as the first tubesheet.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of aluminum tubes are supported by the plurality of holes in the first section, and wherein the first section comprises aluminum.

15. A method of directing fluid through shell-and-tube heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , the method comprising:
directing a first fluid through a plurality of tubes extending through a shell; and
directing a second fluid through the shell, exterior to the plurality of aluminum tubes, without causing a corrosive reaction between the aluminum tubes and the first tubesheet of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger assembly.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Avila Luis Felipe
• Covington Jefferi J
• Sienel Tobias H
• Videto Brian D

Classifications

• F28D7/16 Primary

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

• F28F9/0273

  with multiple holes · 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

• F28F19/002

  by using inserts or attachments · CPC title

• F28F21/062

  the heat-exchange apparatus employing tubular conduits · CPC title