Auxiliary supports for heat exchanger tubes

A method of modifying a bundled tube heat exchanger including a tube set and a shell, the tube set including a plurality of tubes supported on their ends by end plates having apertures corresponding to a pattern of the plurality of tubes and one or more baffles intermediate the distal ends of the tubes, the baffles including a face surface having apertures corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of tubes through which the plurality of tubes pass, the method comprising:

• removing the tube set from the shell;
• providing an elongated support member having opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces configured, positioned and dimensioned to receive in close-fitting relation the exterior surface of a portion of the tubes passing through the baffle aperture, and a face contact surface;
• positioning the elongated support member so that the face contact surface is adjacent to the face surface of the baffle and the opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces positioned adjacent the exterior surfaces of the plurality of tubes;
• attaching the elongated support member to the face surface of the baffle;
• and
• inserting the tube set in the shell.

A tube set for a heat exchanger comprising:

• a plurality of tubes supported on their ends by end plates;
• at least one baffle intermediate to distal ends of the tubes, the baffle including a face surface having apertures corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of tubes through which the plurality of tubes pass;
• at least one elongated support member attached to the baffle, the elongated support member having
• a face contact surface adjacent the baffle and
• opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces configured, positioned and dimensioned in close-fitting relation with the exterior surface of a portion of the tubes passing through baffle apertures.

A baffle assembly for a heat exchanger including a tube set, the baffle comprising:

• a plurality of apertures positioned, configured and dimensioned to allow a plurality of tubes of the tube set to pass through the baffle;
• at least one elongated support member attached to the baffle, the elongated support member having
• a face contact surface adjacent the baffle and
• opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces configured, positioned and dimensioned to be close-fitting relation with the exterior surface of a portion of the tubes to pass through baffle apertures.