Tube module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9791074-B2
Application number	US-201214355115-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2012
Priority date	Nov 8, 2011
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A tubular flow module includes at least two concentric tubes with spiral features, wherein first tube is coaxially arranged inside a second tube and each tube has a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter, wherein the maximum diameter of first tube is larger than the minimum diameter of second tube, defining a flow path for fluids between first and second tubes. A tubular flow module system and use of the tubular flow module is also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tubular flow module comprising:
at least two concentric tubes with continuous annular spiral features,
wherein a first of the concentric tubes is coaxially arranged inside a second of the concentric tubes and each of the concentric tubes has a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter,
wherein a maximum diameter of the first tube is larger than a minimum diameter of the second tube forming a first space between the first tube and the second tube,
wherein the first space defines a flow path for fluids between the first tube and the second tube,
a first end connection piece extending between the first tube and the second tube, the first end connection piece forming a first end;
a second end connection piece extending between the first tube and the second tube, the second end connection piece forming a second end;
a first inlet port to the first space, the first inlet port formed axially inward from the first end;
a first outlet port from the first space, the first outlet port formed axially inward from the second end,
a third tube coaxially arranged outside the second tube,
wherein a minimum diameter of the third tube is larger than the maximum diameter of the second tube,
wherein a second space is defined between the third tube and the second tube, the second space being for heat transfer fluids or other fluids, and
a third end connection piece extending between the third tube and the second tube, the third end connection piece forming a third end.

2. A tubular flow module comprising:
at least two concentric tubes with continuous annular spiral features,
wherein a first of the concentric tubes is coaxially arranged inside a second of the concentric tubes and each of the concentric tubes has a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter,
wherein a maximum diameter of the first tube is larger than a minimum diameter of the second tube forming a first space between the first tube and the second tube,
wherein the first space defines a flow path for fluids between the first tube and the second tube,
a first end connection piece extending between the first tube and the second tube, the first end connection piece forming a first end;
a second end connection piece extending between the first tube and the second tube, the second end connection piece forming a second end;
a first inlet port to the first space, the first inlet port formed axially inward from the first end;
a first outlet port from the first space, the first outlet port formed axially inward from the second end;
a third tube coaxially arranged inside the first tube,
wherein a maximum diameter of the third tube is smaller than the minimum diameter of the first tube,
wherein a second space is defined between the third tube and the first tube, the second space being for heat transfer fluids or other fluids,
a third end connection piece extending between the third tube and the first tube, the third end connection piece forming a third end;
a fourth end connection piece extending between the third tube and the first tube, the fourth end connection piece forming a fourth end;
a second inlet port to the second space, the second inlet port formed axially inward from the third end; and
a second outlet port from the second space, the second outlet port formed axially inward from the fourth end.

3. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , wherein the third tube is selected from the group consisting of cylindrical tubes, corrugated tubes, ribbed tubes, spiral shaped tubes, or tubes with spiral fins.

4. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular flow module comprises more than two concentric tubes with spiral features coaxially arranged with respect to each other forming more than one annular flow path for fluids.

5. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two concentric tubes having continuous annular spiral features are selected from the group consisting of spiral shaped formed walls and tubes with attached spiral fins.

6. The tubular flow module according to claim 5 , wherein the continuous annular spiral features have pitch, clearance and spiral feature heights suitable for forming each flow path.

7. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path defines an annular flow path for fluids and is limited by surfaces of the at least two concentric tubes, and the surfaces are shaped as spiral waves and act like threads when assembled.

8. A tubular flow module system comprising at least two tubular flow modules according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular flow modules are connected in series, parallel or combinations thereof to each other.

9. The tubular flow module system according to claim 8 , wherein the tubular flow module system is inside a shell forming a shell and tube system.

10. The tubular flow module according to claim 2 , wherein the third tube is selected from the group consisting of cylindrical tubes, corrugated tubes, ribbed tubes, spiral shaped tubes, or tubes with spiral fins.

11. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth tube coaxially arranged inside the first tube, wherein a maximum diameter of the fourth tube is smaller than the minimum diameter of the first tube, wherein a third space is defined between the fourth tube and the first tube, the third space being for heat transfer fluids or other fluids;
a fifth end connection piece extending between the fourth tube and the first tube, the fifth end connection piece forming a fifth end;
a sixth end connection piece extending between the fourth tube and the first tube, the sixth end connection piece forming a fourth end;
a third inlet port to the third space, the third inlet port formed axially inward from the fifth end; and
a third outlet port from the third space, the third outlet port formed axially inward from the sixth end.

12. The tubular flow module according to claim 2 , wherein a wall of the third tube is free from apertures along an entire length thereof.

13. The tubular flow module according to claim 11 , wherein a wall of the fourth tube is free from apertures along an entire length thereof.

14. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , wherein the first inlet port is formed in the first connection piece and the first outlet port is formed in the second connection piece.

15. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the first tube is greater than a length of the second tube.

16. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the third tube is less than a length of the second tube.

17. The tubular flow module according to claim 2 , wherein a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube.

18. The tubular flow module according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the first tube is greater than a length of the second tube, and
wherein each of the first connection piece and second connection piece comprises a first radially extending portion contacting an outer surface of the first tube and a second axially extending portion containing an outer surface of the second tube.

Assignees

• Alfa Laval Corp Ab

Inventors

• Höglund Kasper

Classifications

• B01J2219/00772

  in a helix · CPC title

• B01J2208/00831

  Stationary elements · CPC title

• B01J8/067 Primary

  Heating or cooling the reactor (B01J8/062 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L9/19 Primary

  Multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies · CPC title

• B01J19/2415

  Tubular reactors · CPC title