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US 10,295,265 B2Granted
Return waterbox for heat exchanger
AssigneeTrane International Inc.
InventorBrian Thomas Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A return waterbox for a heat exchanger, such as a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, is provided. The return waterbox may include an insert configured to direct a fluid flow(s) in the return waterbox. In some embodiments, such as in a two-pass heat exchanger, the insert can be configured to receive water from one portion of the heat exchanger tubes in the first pass and redirect the received water to another portion of the heat exchanger tubes in the second pass.
Claims16
A return waterbox for a heat exchanger, comprising:
- a return waterbox cover having an open end and a back end;
- and
- an insert positioned in the return waterbox cover,
- wherein the insert defines a first water flow path, and a space between the insert and the back end of the return waterbox cover defines a second water flow path,
- wherein the insert has a first portion and a second portion in fluid communication, the first portion is configured to receive water from a first portion of heat exchanger tubes of the heat exchanger, the insert is configured to direct the received water to the second portion, and the second portion is configured to direct the received water into a second portion of the heat exchanger tubes of the heat exchanger.
2 more elements
A shell-and-tube heat exchanger, comprising:
- a shell;
- heat exchanger tubes extending longitudinally in the shell;
- and
- a return waterbox cover on a first longitudinal end of the heat exchanger, the return waterbox cover having an open end and a back end;
- and
- an insert positioned in the return waterbox cover,
- wherein the insert defines a first water flow path, and a space between the insert and the back end of the return waterbox cover defines a second water flow path, and
- wherein the insert has a first portion and a second portion in fluid communication, the first portion is configured to receive water from a first portion of the heat exchanger tubes, the insert is configured to direct the received water to the second portion, and the second portion is configured to direct the received water into a second portion of the heat exchanger tubes.
5 more elements
A shell-and-tube heat exchanger, comprising:
- a shell;
- heat exchanger tubes extending longitudinally in the shell;
- and
- a return waterbox cover on a first longitudinal end of the heat exchanger, the return waterbox cover having an open end and a back end;
- and
- an insert positioned in the return waterbox cover,
- wherein the insert defines a first water flow path, and a space between the insert and the back end of the return waterbox cover defines a second water flow path, and
- wherein the insert and the open end are configured to form a first open area and a second open area, the first open area and the second open area are in fluid communication through the space between the insert and the back end of the return waterbox cover, the first open area is configured to receive water from a first portion of the heat exchanger tubes, the back end is configured to direct the water from the first open area to the second open area, and the second open area is configured to direct water out of the return waterbox cover into a second portion of the heat exchanger tubes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.