Patent ID: 9612058
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: F22B,F28D,F28F

Claim:
1. A heat exchanger apparatus for converting a shell-side liquid to a vapor comprising: a shell having an inner surface forming a cavity, the shell comprising an inlet for introducing the shell-side liquid into the cavity and an outlet for allowing the vapor to exit the cavity; a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes for carrying a tube-side fluid located in the cavity and having a longitudinal axis; a shroud circumferentially surrounding the tube bundle and positioned between the tube bundle and the inner surface of the shell so that an annular space exists between the shroud and the inner surface of the shell; an opening in a bottom portion of the shroud that forms a passageway between the annular space and the tube bundle; an opening in a top portion of the shroud that forms a passageway between the annular space and the tube bundle; and a stabilizing plate positioned within the cavity and arranged in a substantially transverse orientation, the stabilizing plate comprising a lattice structure having openings for stabilizing the tube bundle, wherein the tubes of the tube bundle extend through the openings formed by intersecting members of the lattice structure.