Patent ID: 11512902

Abstract:
An axial flow baffle for a shell and tube heat exchanger includes a substantially planar body configured for transverse arrangement in a longitudinally elongated shell of the shell and tube heat exchanger, a plurality of axial flow tube apertures each comprising a central tube hole configured to receive a tube of the heat exchanger, and an array of peripheral primary flow holes circumferentially spaced apart around the tube hole. The primary flow holes each interrupt the central tube hole and formed a radially inward projecting tube support protrusions between the primary flow holes which engage a single tube. Each primary flow hole has a non-polygonal configuration, which may be semicircular in some embodiments. The primary flow holes create axial flow around the periphery of the tubes through the baffles. In another aspect, a hybrid cross-flow baffle includes a combination of axial flow tube apertures and circular tube support holes.