Patent ID: 6209624
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: F24H,F28D

Abstract:
A shell and tube, gas-to-gas heat exchanger for use in the manufacture of sulphuric acid by the contact process involving heat transfer between dry gases, said exchanger comprising a shell having a first shell portion defining a first shell space, a second shell portion defining a second shell space and a third shell portion defining a third shell space, said second shell space being located between said first and said third shell spaces; an annular tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes within said shell and extending longitudinally through said first shell space, said second shell space and said third shell space and defining a core space free of said tubes within said bundle and an annular space free of tubes between said shell and said annular bundle; said shell having a first gas conduit means and a second gas conduit means; each of said tubes having a tube gas input means and a tube gas output means and baffle means;the improvement wherein said first shell portion further defines a first shell aperture in communication with said first shell space and through which a first gas stream operably passes; said second shell portion further defines a second shell aperture in communication with said second shell space and through which a second gas stream operably passes; said third shell portion further defines a third shell aperture in communication with said third shell space and through which a third gas stream operably passes; said baffle means so located within said first, said second and said third shell spaces as to operatively direct said first gas, said second gas and said third gas streams, within said first shell space, said second shell space and said third shell space, respectively, in radial flow across said tube bundle; wherein said second shell space constitutes a chamber within which said second gas stream comprises a mixture of said first gas stream and said third gas stream.