Heat exchanger housing and seals

A heat exchange apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a first fluid passageway provided within said housing, said first fluid passageway being defined by an internal surface of said housing and by a baffle plate, said baffle plate having an extended portion that extends beyond said first fluid passageway;
• and
• an array of fluid conduits provided within said housing, said array of fluid conduits extending through said first fluid passageway,
• wherein said housing includes a first housing member having a first wall and a flange extending from said first wall, said housing further including a second housing member having a second wall and a flange extending from said second wall, and
• wherein said flange of said first housing member and said flange of said second housing member are joined at a flange joint to said extended portion of said baffle plate at opposite sides of said extended portion,
• wherein said heat exchange apparatus further comprises:
• a plate member provided within said first fluid passageway, said array of fluid conduits extending through said plate member, said plate member being mounted to outer surfaces of said array of fluid conduits at a predetermined distance from said baffle plate;
• and
• at least one layer of intumescent material provided between said baffle plate and said plate member, said array of fluid conduits extending through said at least one layer of intumescent material, wherein said at least one layer of intumescent material substantially entirely fills a gap between said baffle plate and said plate member.

A heat exchange apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a first fluid passageway provided within said housing, said first fluid passageway being defined by an internal surface of said housing and by a baffle plate, said baffle plate having an extended portion that extends beyond said first fluid passageway;
• and
• an array of fluid conduits provided within said housing, said array of fluid conduits extending through said first fluid passageway,
• wherein said housing includes a first housing member having a first wall and a flange extending from said first wall, said housing further including a second housing member having a second wall and a flange extending from said second wall, and
• wherein said flange of said first housing member and said flange of said second housing member are joined at a flange joint to said extended portion of said baffle plate at opposite sides of said extended portion,
• wherein said second fluid passageway is further defined by an additional baffle plate having an extended portion that extends beyond said second fluid passageway, said array of fluid conduits extending through said additional baffle plate, said extended portion of said additional baffle plate extending around an entire perimeter of said additional baffle plate,
• wherein said housing includes a third housing member having a third wall and a flange extending from said third wall,
• wherein said flange of said second housing member and said flange of said third housing member are joined to said extended portion of said additional baffle plate at opposite sides of said extended portion, and
• wherein said heat exchange apparatus further comprises:
• a refractory gasket provided between said baffle plate and said additional baffle plate, said array of fluid conduits extending through said refractory gasket;
• and
• a layer of intumescent material provided between said baffle plate and said additional baffle plate, said array of fluid conduits extending through said layer of intumescent material.

A heat exchange apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a first fluid passageway provided within said housing;
• a second fluid passageway provided within said housing;
• a baffle plate substantially separating said first fluid passageway from said second fluid passageway;
• an array of fluid conduits provided within said housing, said array of fluid conduits extending through said first fluid passageway, said baffle plate, and said second passageway;
• a plate member provided within said first fluid passageway, said array of fluid conduits extending through said plate member, said plate member being mounted to outer surfaces of said array of fluid conduits at a predetermined distance from said baffle plate;
• and
• at least one layer of intumescent material provided between said baffle plate and said plate member, said array of fluid conduits extending through said at least one layer of intumescent material,
• wherein said at least one layer of intumescent material substantially entirely fills a gap between said baffle plate and said plate member.

A heat exchange apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a first fluid passageway provided within said housing;
• a second fluid passageway provided within said housing;
• an array of fluid conduits provided within said housing, said array of fluid conduits extending through said first fluid passageway and said second passageway;
• and
• a sealing zone substantially separating said first fluid passageway from said second fluid passageway, said sealing zone comprising:
• a first baffle plate that defines a portion of said first fluid passageway, said array of fluid conduits extending through said first baffle plate;
• a second baffle plate that defines a portion of said second fluid passageway, said array of fluid conduits extending through said second baffle plate;
• a refractory gasket provided between said first baffle plate and said second baffle plate, said array of fluid conduits extending through said refractory gasket;
• and
• a layer of intumescent material provided between said first baffle plate and said second baffle plate, said array of fluid conduits extending through said layer of intumescent material.

A method of constructing a heat exchange apparatus including a fluid passageway partially defined by a baffle plate, where the baffle plate has an extended portion, the heat exchange apparatus further including an array of fluid conduits extending through the fluid passageway, said method of constructing comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of housing members each having a wall and at least one flange extending from the wall;
• joining flanges of adjacent housing members at a flange joint, wherein the flange joint fixedly receives the extended portion of the baffle plate, and wherein a final housing member is not joined in this step;
• inserting the array of fluid conduits in fluid passageway;
• providing a plurality of heat transfer fins on outer surfaces of the fluid conduits of the array of conduits;
• and
• joining flanges of the final housing member to adjacent housing members to form a closed housing.

A housing for a heat exchange apparatus including a fluid passageway partially defined by a baffle plate, the baffle plate having an extended portion, the heat exchange apparatus further including an array of fluid conduits extending through the fluid passageway, said housing comprising:

• a first housing member having a first wall;
• and
• a second housing member having a second wall,
• wherein said first housing member and said second housing member are joined by a joint that is configured to receive the extended portion of the baffle plate,
• wherein said joint comprises an expansion means for allowing a distance between said first wall and said second wall to expand and contract under elastic deformation, and
• wherein said joint is leak-tight in an elastically deformed state.