Patent ID: 6772830
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: F28F

Abstract:
Fluid flow contouring apparatus for preferentially contouring the fluid path of a process fluid flowing cross-wise across and contacting a plurality of spaced-apart heat transfer conduits, said apparatus comprising a plurality of longitudinally continuous, sleeve-shaped baffle structures, each baffle structure comprising at least a paired set of fluid flow apertures which constitute the only upstream-to-downstream fluid passage through the fluid flow contouring apparatus, each of said baffle structures substantially symmetrically surrounding a heat transfer conduit to define an annular-shaped fluid flow region thereby isolating cross-wise fluid flow around that associated heat transfer conduit from cross-wise fluid flow around adjacent heat transfer conduits located transversely to the direction of fluid flow, and wherein the fluid flow apertures of a baffle structure are symmetrically located respectively upstream and downstream of the associated heat transfer conduit in at least partial upstream and downstream alignment with each other and with the associated heat transfer conduit, whereby each said baffle structure contours the flow path of said process fluid to establish a substantially uniform fluid flow pattern around the contour of the associated heat transfer conduit.