Patent ID: 6962193
Filing Date: 2005-11-08
Classification: B01D,B64D,F28F

Abstract:
1. A tube assembly for cooling, and removing pollutants from, an incoming fluid stream, the tube assembly comprising a plurality of tubes, each having a diameter D and further having a central tube axis, an interior surface, an entry end, and an exit end, the entry end disposed to receive the incoming fluid stream; a turbulator comprising a plurality of elongate strips, the strips aligned along a turbulator axis and axially inserted through each of the tubes so that the turbulator axis coincides with the central tube axis, each strip having a strip surface, each strip maintained at a constant angular displacement from the adjacent strips, the plurality of strips having a plurality of segments with each segment having a length I, each segment defined by a radially directed cut in each strip at a junction between each segment, each segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of each segment rotated by a twist angle about the turbulator axis with respect to the second end of the segment, each segment rotated by an offset angle about the turbulator axis with respect to an adjacent segment; the ratio of I/D having a value greater than 4.0; and a catalytic coating adhering to at least one of the strip and interior surfaces, the catalytic coating having contact with the incoming fluid stream flowing through each of the tubes; wherein the offset angle between segments disrupts the laminar flow of the incoming fluid stream along the turbulator, and wherein a selected tube has a configuration characteristic that is different from at least one tube in the plurality of tubes, the configuration characteristic chosen from a group consisting of the number of segments, the value of the twist angle, and the value of the offset angle.