US 2019/0293368 A1 · HEAT EXCHANGER CLOSURE ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF USING AND INSTALLING THE SAME

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly including an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber. A tube sheet is positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side. The interior portion is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber. An annular sleeve member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure. An annular elastic torsion member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger such that the sleeve member is positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member. The elastic torsion member has an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A heat exchanger assembly comprising:

an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber;
a tube sheet positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure and separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side wherein the interior portion is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber;
an annular sleeve member positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure;
and
an annular elastic torsion member positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger with the sleeve member positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member, the elastic torsion member having an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member.

2 more elements

A process for assembling a tube heat exchanger assembly comprising:

providing an elongated heat exchanger enclosure having an interior chamber and defining a longitudinal axis and having an open cylindrical channel end;
providing a closure assembly having a locking assembly configured to secure to the open cylindrical channel end of the elongated heat exchanger enclosure;
inserting the locking assembly of the closure assembly into the open cylindrical channel end axially along the longitudinal axis of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger such that load bearing surfaces of each of the closure assembly and an interior wall of the elongated heat exchanger enclosure do not contact one another;
and
turning the closure assembly about the longitudinal axis of the elongated heat exchanger enclosure to cause the locking assembly to removably secure to a cooperating locking assembly provided on the interior wall of the elongated heat exchanger enclosure to cause the load bearing surfaces to contact one another such that a load is transferred between the closure assembly and the elongated heat exchanger.

2 more elements

An operation method for a heat exchanger assembly comprising a tubular heat exchanger enclosure configured for accommodating differential thermal expansion of internal components in an interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure during heating and cooling sequences, the method comprising:

receiving a preload with an elastic torsion member within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure such that the elastic torsion member receives a torsional load and elastically deflects to accommodate the preload;
and
receiving a thermal load with the heat exchanger assembly to differentially thermally expand the internal components in the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure such that the torsional load received by the elastic torsion member increases and further elastically deflects to accommodate the thermal load.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heat exchanger closure assemblies and methods of using and installing the same

Life of this patent

Heat exchanger closure assemblies and methods of using and installing the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42