GB1422695A - Heat exchanger tube supports - Google Patents

Abstract

1422695 Heat exchange tube supports FOSTER WHEELER CORP 4 April 1973 [1 May 1972] 16071/73 Heading F4S A support structure, for a bundle of parallel spaced apart tubes 34 extending between annular tube sheets 30, 32 in a shell and tube heat exchanger 10, incorporates a plurality of segmental tube supports 55-58 each comprising a plurality of circumferential bars 60 supported on a plurality of radially extending bars 70, each bar 60 being on the circumference of one of a plurality of concentric circles and each having a plurality of recesses 72 spaced along the sides thereof so that facing recesses on adjacent bars 60 can grasp a tube therebetween. The circumferential bars 60, including the outermost bar 62, are securely fastened to the radial bars 70 by pins 80 which are welded into aligned holes 74, 76 in the bars 60 and 70, respectively. Inner and outer tie-rods 90 and 96 bolted to the tube sheet 30 extend through holes 73 at the ends of the radial bars 70 and are surrounded by vertical sleeves 94 and 100 in the region between adjacent tube supports. The uppermost tube supports 51-54 comprise solid plates formed with holes through which the tubes and tie-rods can pass. As shown, shell side fluid entering through inlet 16 flows upwardly over the top of an annular shroud 18 and then downwardly over the tubes 34 to finally leave through a bottom outlet 24. A seal 22 is provided between the shell 12 and the shroud 18. The lower portion of the tubes 34 are bent (not shown) to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction. Tube side fluid is fed through a central conduit 36 to a lower header chamber 78 containing an annular perforated distribution ring 40.