Heat exchanger with internal pin elements

A heater comprising:

• a tubular member having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end;
• a heat source producing a high-temperature fluid in fluid communication with the fluid inlet end of the tubular member;
• a plurality of closely-spaced pins having a base end bonded to the interior wall of the tubular member and a tip end facing the interior of the tubular member, the tip ends of the pins defining an interior core area of the tubular member;
• and
• a blocking member disposed in the interior core area of the tubular member.

A heater comprising:

• a tubular member having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end;
• heating means for producing hot fluid in fluid communication with the fluid inlet end of the tubular member;
• a pinned area of the tubular member, the pinned area comprising a plurality of pins having a base end bonded to the interior wall of the tubular member and a tip end facing the interior of the tubular member, the tip ends of the pins defining an interior core area of the tubular member;
• and
• blocking means disposed in the interior core area of the tubular member for obstructing at least a portion of a fluid flow in the interior core area of the tubular member.

A method for heating a fluid comprising the steps of:

• in a tubular member having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end;
• a plurality of pins secured to the interior wall of the tubular member, the pins projecting inwardly to define an interior core area of the tubular member;
• and a blocking member in the interior core area of the tubular member;
• supplying a high-temperature fluid to the fluid inlet end of the tubular member;
• permitting the high-temperature fluid to flow through the tubular member to the fluid outlet end, whereby heat from the fluid is transferred through the pins and the interior wall of the tubular member to the exterior wall of the tubular member;
• discharging the high-temperature fluid from the fluid outlet end;
• in a concentric shell disposed around the exterior of the tubular member, the concentric shell secured to the tubular member at the fluid inlet end and the fluid outlet end, and the interior of the concentric shell and the exterior of the tubular member defining an annulus for containing a fluid to be heated;
• admitting a fluid to be heated into the annulus;
• permitting the fluid to be heated to contact the exterior wall of the tubular member, the exterior wall of the tubular member transferring heat to the fluid;
• and
• discharging heated fluid from the annulus.

A method for heating a fluid, comprising:

• in a tubular member having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end;
• a plurality of pins secured to the interior wall of the tubular member, the pins projecting inwardly to define an interior core area of the tubular member;
• and a blocking member in the interior core area of the tubular member;
• supplying a high-temperature fluid to the fluid inlet end of the tubular member;
• permitting the high-temperature fluid to flow through the tubular member to the fluid outlet end, whereby heat from the fluid is transferred through the pins and the interior wall of the tubular member to the exterior wall of the tubular member;
• discharging the gas from the fluid outlet end;
• in an outer jacket tube containing the tubular member, the outer jacket shell secured to the tubular member at the fluid inlet end and the fluid outlet end, and the interior of the outer jacket tube and the exterior of the tubular member defining an annulus for containing a fluid to be heated;
• admitting a fluid to be heated into the annulus;
• directing the fluid to be heated to flow inside the annulus along a fluid flow path defined by at least one baffle element;
• permitting the fluid to be heated to contact the exterior wall of the tubular member, the exterior wall of the tubular member transferring heat to the fluid;
• and
• discharging heated fluid from the annulus.