Heat exchanger

Claim 2

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of tubes passing through said chamber, header means mounted towards the upper end of said vessel, an upper ring-shaped tube sheet forming a bottom portion of said header means, a spaced lower ring-shaped tube sheet forming a drain space between said tube sheets, said tubes passing through said sheets and the ends thereof opening onto said header means, said tubes being connected to said lower tube sheet by Rolling and said tubes being connected to said upper tube sheets by rolling and welding, said lower tube sheet being fixedly connected to said vessel, means for connecting said upper tube sheet to said lower tube sheet to prevent vertical movement and to allow lateral movement therebetween.

Claim 3

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of heat exchange tubes passing through said heat exchanger chamber, an upper cover assembly for said vessel, a ring-shaped header assembly, means mounting said header assembly on said cover assembly to prevent vertical movement and to allow lateral movement therebetween, an outlet for said header assembly, said cover assembly carrying a first ring-shaped tube sheet through which said tubes pass, means for substantially limiting the leakage between said tubes and said tube sheet, said steam header assembly carrying as an integral part thereof a second ring-shaped tube sheet for receiving the upper ends of said tubes in fluid flow relation, means for substantially limiting the leakage between said tubes and said second tube sheet, said second tube sheet being spaced from said first tube sheet to provide a drain space therebetween, drain means for removing leakage from said drain space, and seal rings being interposed between the steam header and the cover assembly for preventing leakage from said drain space.

Claim 4

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of heat exchange tubes passing through said heat exchanger chamber, an upper cover assembly for said vessel, a ring-shaped header assembly, means mounting said header assembly on said cover assembly to prevent vertical movement and to allow lateral movement therebetween, an outlet for said header assembly, said cover assembly carrying a first ring-shaped tube sheet through which said tubes pass, means for substantially limiting the leakage between said tubes and said tube sheet, said steam header assembly carrying as an integral part thereof a second ring-shaped tube sheet for receiving the upper ends of said tubes in fluid flow relation, means for substantially limiting the leakage between said tubes and said second tube sheet, said second tube sheet being spaced from said first tube sheet to provide a drain space therebetween, drain means for removing leakage from said drain space, and seal rings being interposed between the steam header and the cover assembly for preventing leakage from said drain space.

Claim 5

A heat exchanger according to claim 2 wherein said vessel has upper water inlets and lower steam outlets and wherein said heat exchanger further comprises a ring-shaped water header assembly mounted on said cover assembly for receiving water from a water inlet, said tubes being connected to said water header assembly in fluid flow communication.

Claim 6

A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said tubes are connected to said first tube sheet by rolling, and wherein said tubes are connected to said second tube sheet by rolling and welding, and wherein said drain means for removing leakage from said drain space comprises a plurality of spaced drain openings disposed around the periphery of the cover assembly.

Claim 7

A heat exchanger according to claim 2 wherein said means mounting said header assembly on said cover assembly to prevent vertical movement and to allow lateral movement therebetween comprises bolts extending between said steam header assembly and said cover assembly, the bolt holes in said steam header assembly being of substantially larger diameter than the diameter of the bolts.

Claim 8

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of heat exchange tubes passing through said heat exchange chamber, said vessel having upper sodium inlets and a lower sodium outlet, an upper cover assembly for said vessel, a ring-shaped water header assembly mounted on said cover assembly for receiving water from a water inlet, said tubes being connected to said header assembly in fluid flow communication, a ring-shaped steam header assembly, means mounting said steam header assembly on said cover assembly, an outlet for said steam header assembly, said cover assembly carrying a first ring-shaped tube sheet through which said tubes pass, said tubes being connected to said first tube sheet by rolling, said means mounting said steam header assembly on said cover assembly comprising bolts mounted in enlarged bolt holes in said steam header assembly to permit radial movement of said steam header assembly with respect to said cover assembly, said steam header assembly carrying as an integral part thereof a second ring-shaped tube sheet for receiving the upper ends of said tubes in fluid flow relation, said tubes being connected to said second tube sheet by rolling and welding, a top closure plate for said steam header, said top closure plate being removable for providing access to the upper ends of said tubes, said second tube sheet being spaced from said first tube sheet to provide a drain space therebetween, a plurality of spaced drain openings being provided around the periphery of the cover assembly for removing leakage from said drain space, and seal rings being interposed between the steam header and the cover assembly for preventing leakage from said drain space.

Claim 9

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of heat exchange tubes passing through said heat exchange chamber, said vessel having upper sodium inlets and a lower sodium outlet, an upper cover assembly for said vessel, a ring-shaped water header assembly mounted on said cover assembly for receiving water from a water inlet, said tubes being connected to said header assembly in fluid flow communication, a ring-shaped steam header assembly, means mounting said steam header assembly on said cover assembly, an outlet for said steam header assembly, said cover assembly carrying a first ring-shaped tube sheet through which said tubes pass, said tubes being connected to said first tube sheet by rolling, said means mounting said steam header assembly on said cover assembly comprising bolts mounted in enlarged bolt holes in said steam header assembly to permit radial movement of said steam header assembly with respect to said cover assembly, said steam header assembly carrying as an integral part thereof a second ring-shaped tube sheet for receiving the upper ends of said tubes in fluid flow relation, said tubes being connected to said second tube sheet by rolling and welding, a top closure plate for said steam header, said top closure plate being removable for providing access to the upper ends of said tubes, said second tube sheet being spaced from said first tube sheet to provide a drain space therebetween, a plurality of spaced drain openings being provided around the periphery of the cover assembly for removing leakage from said drain space, and seal rings being interposed between the steam header and the cover assembly for preventing leakage from said drain space.

Claim 10

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of tubes passing through said chamber, a cover assembly for closing said chamber, said cover assembly having as an integral portion thereof a first ring-shaped tube sheet through which said tubes pass, means for substantially limiting the leakage between said tubes and said tube sheet, a ring-shaped header assembly having as an integral part thereof a second ring-shaped tube sheet for receiving the upper ends of said tubes in fluid flow relation, means for substantially limiting the leakage between said tubes and said second tube sheet, said second tube sheet being spaced from said first tube sheet thereby providing a drain space, drain means for removing leakage from said drain space, said header assembly being substantially free floating except for support furnished by said tubes, means for aligning said header assembly with respect to said cover assembly, sealing means interposed between the header assembly and said cover assembly.

Claim 11

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of tubes passing through said chamber, a cover assembly for closing said chamber, said cover assembly having as an integral portion thereof a first ring-shaped tube sheet through which said tubes pass, means for substantially limiting the leakage between said tubes and said tube sheet, a ring-shaped header assembly having as an integral part thereof a second ring-shaped tube sheet for receiving the upper ends of said tubes in fluid flow relation, means for substantially limiting the leakage between said tubes and said second tube sheet, said second tube sheet being spaced from said first tube sheet thereby providing a drain space, drain means for removing leakage from said drain space, said header assembly being substantially free floating except for support furnished by said tubes, means for aligning said header assembly with respect to said cover assembly, sealing means interposed between the header assembly and said cover assembly.

Claim 12

A heat exchanger according to claim 7 wherein said tubes are connected to said first tube sheet by rolling and wherein said tubes are connected to said second tube sheet by rolling and welding and wherein means are included for providing access to said drain space.

Claim 13

A heat exchanger according to claim 7 further comprising spring support means interposed between said cover assembly and said header assembly for providing support for said header assembly.

Claim 14

A heat exchanger according to claim 7 wherein said means for aligning said header assembly with respect to said cover assembly comprises four spaced vertically disposed elongated keyways in said cover assembly and said header assembly having mating keyways for receiving said keys.

Claim 15

A heat exchanger according to claim 7 wherein said sealing means comprises a first pair of sealing rings including a lower ring and an upper ring which are mounted for engagement with the header assembly, and a second pair of sealing rings including a lower ring and an upper ring which are mounted for engagement with the cover assembly, said sealing rings being in the form of segments and being provided with alignment pins for keeping said rings in horizontal alignment, said rings being provided with tapped holes for removal, a first segment retainer retaining the sealing rings in vertical position and a second segment retainer for retaining the first retainer in position whereby said sealing means may be removed without disturbing said tubes and whereby said sealing means permit free radial and vertical movement of said header assembly.

Claim 16

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of tubes passing through said chamber, a cover assembly for closing said chamber, said cover assembly having as an integral portion thereof a first ring-shaped tube sheet through which said tubes pass, said tubes being connected to said first tube sheet by rolling, said cover assembly further comprising an annular support member, a ring-shaped header assembly having as an integral part thereof a second ring-shaped tube sheet for receiving the upper ends of said tubes in fluid flow relation, said tubes being connected to said second tube sheet by rolling and welding, said second tube sheet being spaced from said first tube sheet thereby providing a drain space, half-rings being removably mounted on said cover for providing access to said drain space, said cover providing a plurality of spaced drain openings for said drain space, spring support means interposed between said cover and said annular support member, said steam header assembly being substantially free floating except for support furnished by said tubes and said external spring supports, said annular support member having four equally spaced vertically disposed elongated keys, said header assembly having mating keyways for said keys, sealing means interposed between the steam header assembly and said cover assembly, said sealing means comprising a first pair of sealing rings including a lower ring and an upper ring which are mounted for engagement with the header assembly, and a second pair of sealing rings including a lower ring and an upper ring which are mounted for engagement with the cover assembly, said sealing rings being in the form of segments and being provided with alignment pins for keeping said rings in horizontal alignment, said rings being provided with tapped holes for removal, a first segmented retainer retaining the sealing rings in vertical position and a second segmented retainer for retaining the first retainer in position whereby said sealing means may be removed without disturbing said tubes and whereby said sealing means permits free radial and vertical movement of said steam header assembly.

Claim 17

A heat exchanger comprising a vessel having an internal heat exchange chamber, a plurality of tubes passing through said chamber, a cover assembly for closing said chamber, said cover assembly having as an integral portion thereof a first ring-shaped tube sheet through which said tubes pass, said tubes being connected to said first tube sheet by rolling, said cover assembly further comprising an annular support member, a ring-shaped header assembly having as an integral part thereof a second ring-shaped tube sheet for receiving the upper ends of said tubes in fluid flow relation, said tubes being connected to said second tube sheet by rolling and welding, said second tube sheet being spaced from said first tube sheet thereby providing a drain space, half-rings being removably mounted on said cover for providing access to said drain space, said cover providing a plurality of spaced drain openings for said drain space, spring support means interposed between said cover and said annular support member, said steam header assembly being substantially free floating except for support furnished by said tubes and said external spring supports, said annular support member having four equally spaced vertically disposed elongated keys, said header assembly having mating keyways for said keys, sealing means interposed between the steam header assembly and said cover assembly, said sealing means comprising a first pair of sealing rings including a lower ring and an upper ring which are mounted for engagement with the header assembly, and a second pair of sealing rings including a lower ring and an upper ring which are mounted for engagement with the cover assembly, said sealing rings being in the form of segments and being provided with alignment pins for keeping said rings in horizontal alignment, said rings being provided with tapped holes for removal, a first segmented retainer retaining the sealing rings in vertical position and a second segmented retainer for retaining the first retainer in position whereby said sealing means may be removed without disturbing said tubes and whereby said sealing means permits free radial and vertical movement of said steam header assembly.