Vertical falling film multi-tube heat exchanger
AssigneeE. L. Nickell Co., Inc.
InventorZahid H. Ayub
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat exchanger with a multiplicity of generally vertical heat transfer tubes has an improved liquid distribution arrangement in its upper inlet head. The liquid distribution arrangement includes a flow diverting baffle disposed within the inlet head above the tubes, a plurality of flow restricting devices inserted in the upper open ends of the tubes and a dam spaced inwardly from a peripheral region of the upper head for receiving flow from the baffle and providing an overflow reservoir surrounding the upper open tube ends for evenly distributing flow to the upper open tube ends.
Claims30
In a heat exchanger having an upper generally horizontal tube sheet, a multiplicity of generally vertical heat transfer tubes having inner and outer wall surfaces attached at their open upper ends to said upper tube sheet, and an upper head having an inlet spaced above said upper tube sheet, said upper head attached to said upper tube sheet to define a cavity therewith which communicates between said inlet and said ends of said tubes opening above said upper tube sheet so as to allow flow of liquid from said inlet downwardly through said cavity to said open ends of said vertical tubes to flow along the inner surfaces of said tubes, a liquid distribution arrangement comprising:
- a baffle;
- a dam around the periphery of said upper tube sheet;
- and
- means for supporting said baffle in said cavity below said inlet and above said open ends of said tubes;
- said baffle having means for receiving flow of liquid from said inlet and substantially evenly diverting the liquid flow radially outward to an annular interior perimeter region between said dam and a wall of said upper head, said dam and annular interior region surrounding said open ends of said tubes so that the liquid then flows over said dam and inward to said open tube ends such that the liquid is prevented from flowing directly downwardly through said cavity from said inlet to said open tube ends.
In a heat exchanger having an upper generally horizontal tube sheet, a multiplicity of generally vertical heat transfer tubes having inner and outer wall surfaces attached at their open upper ends to said upper tube sheet, and an upper head having an inlet spaced above said upper tube sheet, said upper head attached to said upper tube sheet to define a cavity therewith which communicates between said inlet and said ends of said tubes opening above said upper tube sheet so as to allow flow of liquid from said inlet downwardly through said cavity to said open ends of said vertical tubes to flow along the inner surfaces of said tubes, a liquid distribution arrangement comprising:
- a baffle;
- and
- means for supporting said baffle in said cavity below said inlet and above said open ends of said tubes, said baffle supporting means including a plurality of vent members extending between and interconnecting said baffle and said upper head and providing flow communication between the exterior of said upper head and a region of said cavity beneath said baffle and above said open tube ends to vent said cavity;
- said baffle having means for receiving flow of liquid from said inlet and substantially evenly diverting the liquid flow radially outward to an annular interior perimeter region of said upper head surrounding said open ends of said tubes from which the liquid can then flow inward to said open tube ends such that the liquid is prevented from flowing directly downwardly through said cavity from said inlet to said open tube ends.
In a heat exchanger having an upper generally horizontal tube sheet, a multiplicity of generally vertical heat transfer tubes having inner and outer wall surfaces attached at their open upper ends to said upper tube sheet, and an upper head having an inlet spaced above said upper tube sheet, said upper head attached to said upper tube sheet to define a cavity therewith which communicates between said inlet and said ends of said tubes opening above said upper tube sheet so as to allow flow of liquid from said inlet downwardly through said cavity to at least one of said open ends of said vertical tubes to flow along the inner surfaces of said tubes, a liquid distribution arrangement comprising:
- a baffle;
- a plurality of liquid flow restricting devices, each device having lower and upper portions, said lower portion inserted within one of said open tube ends and having means for causing a swirling rotation of the liquid as it flows into said one open tube end to produce a flowing film of liquid through said tube on an interior wall surface thereof, said upper portion extending upwardly from said one open tube end and into a region of said cavity located beneath said baffle and having a passage which vents said one tube;
- and
- means for supporting said baffle in said cavity below said inlet and above said open ends of said tubes;
- said baffle having means for receiving flow of liquid from said inlet and substantially evenly diverting the liquid flow radially outward to an annular interior perimeter region of said upper head surrounding said open ends of said tubes from which the liquid can then flow inward to said open tube ends such that the liquid is prevented from flowing directly downwardly through said cavity from said inlet to said open tube ends, said baffle supporting means including a plurality of vent members extending between and interconnecting said baffle and said upper head and providing flow communication between the exterior of said upper head and said region of said cavity beneath said baffle and above said open tube ends to vent the region beneath said baffle.
In a heat exchanger having an upper generally horizontal tube sheet, a multiplicity of generally vertical heat transfer tubes having inner and outer surfaces attached at their open upper ends to said upper tube sheet, and an upper head having an inlet spaced above said upper tube sheet, said upper head attached to said upper tube sheet to define a cavity therewith which communicates between said inlet and said ends of said tubes opening above said upper tube sheet so as to allow flow of liquid from said inlet downwardly through said cavity to said open ends of said vertical tubes, a liquid distribution arrangement comprising:
- means disposed in said cavity below said inlet and above said open ends of said tubes for receiving flow of liquid from said inlet and substantially evenly diverting the liquid flow radially outward to an annular interior perimeter region of said upper head surrounding said open ends of said tubes;
- and
- means defining a dam spaced inwardly from the periphery of said upper head such that said annular interior perimeter region thereof is located between said dam defining means and said upper head for receiving flow from said liquid flow diverting means and providing an overflow reservoir surrounding the upper open tubes end from which the liquid then evenly flows over said dam defining means and inward to said open tube ends such that the liquid is prevented from flowing unevenly directly downwardly through said cavity from said inlet to said open tube ends.
In a heat exchanger having an upper generally horizontal tube sheet, a multiplicity of generally vertical heat transfer tubes having inner and outer surfaces attached at their open upper ends to said upper tube sheet, and an upper head having an inlet spaced above said upper tube sheet, said upper head attached to said upper tube sheet to define a cavity therewith which communicates between said inlet and said ends of said tubes opening above said upper tube sheet so as to allow flow of liquid from said inlet downwardly through said cavity to said open ends of said vertical tubes, a liquid distribution arrangement comprising:
- means disposed in said cavity below said inlet and above said open ends of said tubes for receiving flow of liquid from said inlet and substantially evenly diverting the liquid flow radially outward to an annular interior perimeter region of said upper head surrounding said open ends of said tubes;
- and
- means defining a dam spaced inwardly from the periphery of said upper head such that said annular interior perimeter region thereof is located between said dam defining means and said upper head for receiving flow from said liquid flow diverting means and providing an overflow reservoir surrounding the upper open tubes end from which the liquid then evenly flows over said dam defining means and inward to said open tube ends such that the liquid is prevented from flowing unevenly directly downwardly through said cavity from said inlet to said open tube ends;
- said dam defining means including an annular generally horizontal flange extending outwardly and defining a bottom of said reservoir and being connected at its outer periphery to peripheries of said upper head and said tube sheet;
- said dam defining means including an upstanding annular wall being attached at its lower edge to an inner periphery of said flange and spaced inwardly from said upper head.
In a heat exchanger having an upper generally horizontal tube sheet, a multiplicity of generally vertical heat transfer tubes having inner and outer surfaces attached at their open upper ends to said upper tube sheet, and an upper head having an inlet spaced above said upper tube sheet, said upper head attached to said upper tube sheet to define a cavity therewith which communicates between said inlet and said ends of said tubes opening above said upper tube sheet so as to allow flow of liquid from said inlet downwardly through said cavity to said open ends of said vertical tubes, a liquid distribution arrangement comprising:
- means disposed in said cavity below said inlet and above said open ends of said tubes for receiving flow of liquid from said inlet and substnatialy evenly diverting the liquid flow radially outward to an annular interior perimeter region of said upper head surrounding said open ends of said tubes, said flow diverting means including a baffle having a top wall and a side wall depending from an outer periphery of said top wall;
- a plurality of vent members extending between and interconnecting said baffle and said upper head and providing flow communication between the exterior of said upper head and a region of said cavity beneath said baffle and above said open tube ends;
- and
- means defining a dam spaced inwardly from the periphery of said upper head such that said annular interior perimeter region thereof is located between said dam defining means and said upper head for receiving flow from said liquid flow diverting means and providing an overflow reservoir surrounding the upper open tube ends from which the liquid then evenly flows over said dam defining means and inward to said open tube ends such that the liquid is prevented from flowing unevenly directly downwardly through said cavity from said inlet to said open tube ends.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.