Heat exchanger with expansion joint insert for thermal expansion and external force tolerance

A multi-piece heat exchanger for transferring heat between a hot working fluid and a coolant comprising

• a multi-piece shell arranged around an axis and receiving a coolant therein, the multi-piece shell extending axially relative to an axis between a first end and a second end, and the multi-piece shell including a first shell body and a second shell body coupled with the first shell body about a circumferential joint to define a cavity for receiving the coolant therein,
• a core located within the cavity of the multi-piece shell and directing a working fluid therethrough, the core including a plurality of tubes extending axially relative to the multi-piece shell and defining a tube flow path for the hot working fluid, a first header coupled to a first end of the plurality of tubes to distribute the hot working fluid through the plurality of tubes, and a second header coupled to a second end of the plurality of tubes to receive cooled working fluid, wherein the coolant in the multi-piece shell flows around and between the plurality of tubes to cool the hot working fluid, and
• a first expansion joint and a second expansion joint, the first expansion joint coupled to the first shell body at the first end of the multi-piece shell and the first header and the second expansion joint coupled to the second shell body at the second end of the multi-piece shell and the second header to provide seals between the core and the multi-piece shell, the first and second expansion joints each including bellows configured to transmit external forces through the shell and to allow thermal expansion of the plurality of tubes relative to the multi-piece shell to minimize thermal stresses in the plurality of tubes so that the thermal stresses are blocked from damaging the plurality of tubes.