Heat exchanger with elastic element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016370130-A1
Application number	US-201414902011-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2013
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat exchanger for indirect heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid, with a shell surrounding a shell space for receiving the first fluid, a tube bundle having a plurality of tubes arranged in the shell space for receiving the second fluid, the tubes arranged in a number of tube layers, and a jacket arranged in the shell space and enclosing an outermost tube layer in the radial direction of the tube bundle. An intermediate space is formed between the tube bundle and the jacket surrounds the tube bundle. At least one elastic element is arranged with a first region between neighboring tube portions in the outermost tube layer and a second region that protrudes out of the outermost tube layer and abuts an inner side of the jacket that is facing the tube bundle or connects the elastic element to the jacket.

First claim

1 . A heat exchanger for indirect heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid, with
a shell, which surrounds a shell space for receiving the first fluid, a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes arranged in the shell space and intended for receiving the second fluid, the tubes being coiled in a number of tube layers around a core tube of the tube bundle and a jacket, which is arranged in the shell space and encloses an outermost tube layer of the tube bundle in the radial direction of the tube bundle, so that between the tube bundle and that jacket there is formed an intermediate space surrounding the tube bundle, characterized
in that at least one elastic element is arranged with a first region between neighboring tube portion in the outermost tube layer, the at least one elastic element having a second region, which protrudes out of the outermost tube layer and is intended for abutment against an inner side of the jacket that is facing the tube bundle and/or is designed for connecting the elastic element to the jacket.

2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the core tube is made to extend along a longitudinal axis, which runs in particular along the vertical with respect to a state of the heat exchanger arranged as intended, that radial direction being oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the heat exchanger has at least one spacing element between the outermost tube layer and the tube layer neighboring in the radial direction of the tube bundle, the at least one elastic element being fixed to the at least one spacing element and/or abutting against it, in particular further spacing elements being provided between tube layers neighboring in the radial direction, these further spacing elements being arranged under the at least one spacing element to support the individual tube layers in the radial direction of the tube bundle.

4 . The heat exchanger as claimed claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one elastic element extends longitudinally in the outermost tube layer.

5 . The heat exchanger as claimed claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one elastic element is designed as a spring element.

6 . The heat exchanger as claimed claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one elastic element has two legs, which are connected by way of a base and each has an end region, those end regions belonging to the second region and abutting against the inner side of the jacket, in particular the legs diverging from the base, which belongs to the first region, and in particular the elastic element being fixed to that at least one spacing element by way of the base.

7 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one elastic element is formed in a spherical or cylindrical manner.

8 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one elastic element comprises a metal.

9 . The heat exchanger as claimed claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of elastic elements are provided, respectively arranged with a first region between neighboring tube portions in the outermost tube layer, the respective elastic element having a second region, which protrudes out of the outermost tube layer and is intended for abutment against an inner side of the jacket that is facing the tube bundle and/or is designed for connection to the jacket.

10 . The use of a heat exchanger for indirect heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid, the heat exchanger having a shell, which surrounds a shell space for receiving the first fluid, a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes arranged in the shell space and intended for receiving the second fluid, the tubes being coiled in a number of tube layers around a core tube of the tube bundle and a jacket which is arranged in the shell space and encloses an outermost tube layer of the tube bundle in the radial direction of the tube bundle, so that between the tube bundle and that jacket there is formed an intermediate space surrounding the tube bundle, the heat exchanger further having at least one elastic element arranged with a first region between neighboring tube portions in the outermost tube layer, the at least one elastic element having a second region, which protrudes out of the outermost tube layer and is intended for abutment against an inner side of the jacket that is facing the tube bundle or is designed for connecting the elastic element to the jacket;
wherein the first fluid is a refrigerant stream and the second fluid is a hydrocarbon-containing stream.

11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the at least one elastic element runs around the core tube.

12 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the at least one elastic element runs helically around the core tube.

13 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the spring element is a helical spring, a spiral spring or a leaf sprint.

14 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one elastic element is comprised of high-grade steel.

15 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one elastic element is comprised of PTFE.

16 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9 , wherein a number of elastic elements are arranged one over the other along the longitudinal axis.

17 . The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing stream is natural gas.

Assignees

• Linde Ag

Inventors

• Hammerdinger Markus
• Seeholzer Christoph

Classifications

• F28F2265/26

  for allowing differential expansion between elements · CPC title

• F28F9/0132

  formed by slats, tie-rods, articulated or expandable rods · CPC title

• F28D7/04

  the conduits being spirally coiled (F28D7/10 takes precedence){(F28D7/0016 and F28D7/0033 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F28F9/005 Primary

  Other auxiliary members within casings, e.g. internal filling means or sealing means · CPC title

• F28D7/024

  the conduits of only one medium being helically coiled tubes, the coils having a cylindrical configuration · CPC title