Helical tube bundle arrangements for heat exchangers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9541331-B2
Application number	US-83668810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2010
Priority date	Jul 16, 2009
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A heat exchanger comprising helically wound tube bundles is disclosed. The helically wound tube bundles are joined with tube sheets to define a primary working fluid system that is fluidically isolated from a secondary working fluid system. The tube sheets and tubes are formed of the same material, which facilitates their joining by means of joints that are substantially galvanic corrosion-resistant joints.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger for underwater operation comprising:
a plurality of tube bundles each being a same first length that extends from a first end of the plurality of tube bundles to a second end of the plurality of tube bundles, each tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes helically wound about a central axis, each tube configured to carry a fluid from a first tube end to a second tube end;
a plurality of tube shrouds being the same first length, each tube shroud circumferentially enclosing a respective one of the tube bundles and forming a passage about the respective one of the tube bundles that is fluidically isolated from the tubes of the respective one of the tube bundles;
a first tube sheet fixed with respect to first ends of the plurality of tube shrouds and having a plurality of first openings configured to facilitate a flow of separate fluids through the plurality of tube shrouds and the plurality of tube bundles;
a second tube sheet fixed with respect to second ends of the plurality of tube shrouds and having a plurality of second openings configured to facilitate the flow of the separate fluids through the plurality of tube shrouds and the plurality of tube bundles; and
a shell coupled to the first tube sheet and to the second tube sheet and defining a chamber in which the plurality of tube shrouds is disposed.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the first tube sheet is fixed with respect to the first ends of the plurality of tube shrouds via a friction-stir welded joint.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the second tube sheet is fixed with respect to the second ends of the plurality of tube shrouds via a friction-stir welded joint.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the plurality of tube bundles, the plurality of tube shrouds, the first tube sheet, and the second tube sheet comprise a same material.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein the same material comprises aluminum.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the tubes of the plurality of tubes in each tube bundle are attached to each other.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the plurality of shrouds is not in contact with the shell or the plurality of tube bundles.

Assignees

• Nagurny Nicholas J
• Levings Natalie
• Beckner Derek
• Maurer Scott M
• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Nagurny Nicholas J
• Levings Natalie
• Beckner Derek
• Maurer Scott M

Classifications

• F28F9/18

  by welding · CPC title

• F28F9/013

  for tubes or tube-assemblies · CPC title

• F28F21/084

  from aluminium or aluminium alloys · CPC title

• Y02E10/34

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F28F2009/226

  Transversal partitions · CPC title