Apparatus for varying shell fluid flow in shell and tube heat exchanger
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorCecil C. Gentry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shell unit, for use in a shell and tube heat exchanger, includes a shell having shell ports whose flow areas are adjustable. The unit comprises an annular distributor having an annulus which surrounds the shell such that fluid may flow from the annulus into the shell ports, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the annulus for feeding shell fluid into the annulus. A means is provided in the shell unit for adjusting the fluid flow area of the ports. In one embodiment, the means for adjusting the flow area is an insert rotatably mounted within the shell which may be rotated to at least partially cover the ports a selected amount.
Claims18
A shell unit for use in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, comprising:
- a shell having at least one shell port;
- at least one annular distributor attached to said shell, said annular distributor having an annulus which surrounds said shell such that fluid communication is provided between said shell port and said annulus;
- at least one nozzle means in communication with the annulus of said annular distributor;
- means for adjusting the fluid flow area of said at least one shell port.
A shell unit for use in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, comprising:
- a shell having at least one shell port;
- at least one annular distributor attached to said shell, said annular distributor having an annulus which surrounds said shell such that fluid communication is provided between said shell port and said annulus;
- at least one nozzle means in communication with the annulus of said annular distributor;
- means for adjusting the fluid flow area of said at least one shell port, wherein said means for adjusting said flow area of said shell port comprises a flexible shell insert for at least partially covering at least one of said ports.
A shell unit suitable for use in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, comprising:
- a cylindrical shell, closed at both ends and having an inner surface;
- at least one cylindrical surface concentrically surrounding at least a portion of said shell, thus forming an annulus between said cylindrical shell and said at least one cylindrical surface, and having closing members at each end of said annulus;
- nozzle means fitted to said cylindrical surface in communication with said annulus;
- a plurality of ports through said cylindrical shell to provide communication between said annulus and said inner surface of said shell;
- means for adjusting the fluid flow area of at least one shell port by partially covering at least one of said shell ports, wherein said means is a flexible shell insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.