Patent ID: 6012514
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: F28D,F28F

Abstract:
A tube-in-tube heat exchanger for exchanging heat between two fluids, the tube-in-tube heat exchanger comprising:at least one tube pair having an inner tube disposed within and protruding from an outer tube, the inner tube and the outer tube each having open end portions;spaced apart first and second tube sheets, each tube sheet having a number of bores therein for receiving each tube pair, the number of bores is equal to the number of tube pairs; wherein each open end portion of each outer tube of each tube pair is connected to each tube sheet in flow communication with each bore and wherein each inner tube extends through each tube sheet;a first annular flow chamber, a second annular flow chamber, an annular fluid inlet and an annular fluid outlet; wherein the annular fluid inlet and the annular fluid outlet are each positioned in an operable relationship to the first annular flow chamber and the second annular flow chamber; each annular flow chamber having an inner face and an outer face spaced apart from each inner face, wherein each inner face and each outer face has a number of bores therein for receiving each inner tube, wherein the number of bores is equal to the number of inner tubes and each bore has edges; the inner face of each annular flow chamber is attached to each tube sheet on a side opposite to each tube pair, the inner face and the tube sheet have a gasket therebetween; each inner tube extends through each bore in each inner face, passes through the annular flow chamber and protrudes from each bore in each outer face;a first inner tube flow chamber, a second inner tube flow chamber, an inner tube fluid inlet and an inner tube fluid outlet; wherein the inner tube fluid inlet and the inner tube fluid outlet are each positioned in an operable relationship to the first inner tube flow chamber and the second inner tube flow chamber; each inner tube flow chamber having an inner face and an opposing outer face spaced apart from the inner face, an outer cover plate adjacent to the opposing outer face having a gasket disposed therebetween; wherein each inner face of each inner tube flow chamber is placed in flow communication with each outer face of each annular flow chamber; each inner face having a number of bores therein for receiving each inner tube and wherein the number of bores is equal to the number of inner tubes and each bore has edges; andan inner tube gasket surrounding each inner tube at each open end portion, the inner tube gasket disposed between each outer face of each annular flow chamber and each inner face of each inner tube flow chamber wherein the inner tube gasket surrounding each inner tube is compressed to form a seal between the outer face of each annular flow chamber, the inner face of each inner tube flow chamber, and each inner tube.