US3850231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lmfbr intermediate heat exchanger
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-24
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A heat exchanger of the shell and tube type and particularly adapted to employ liquid metal as the heating fluid is provided with a floating head for connecting the ends of the heat exchanger tubes whereby stresses on the tubes due to thermally induced differential movements between the tubes and the shell are prevented. A pair of mutually spaced expansion bellows are connected between the floating head and the shell to define a closed space within which an inert gas is maintained. The bellows pair provides a double barrier between the heating fluid and the fluid to be heated to prevent admixture of the two fluids while the inert gas space intermediate the bellows provides means for detecting a bellows failure enabling the ruptured bellows to be replaced without danger of mixing the two fluids.
Inventors
- 👤 R Creek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:36
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F9/00; F28F9/02; F28F9/0236; F28D; F28D7/00; F28D7/16; F28D7/1607; F28F9/0239; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/051; Y10S165/052; Y10S165/053; Y10S165/054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A heat exchanger for the indirect transfer of heat from a heating fluid to a fluid to be heated comprising: a. an elongated shell defining a pressure vessel having a heated fluid outlet nozzle adjacent one end thereof; b. a pair of axially spaced tube sheets disposed within said vessel, one of said tube sheets being fixedly attached to said shell and the other of said tube sheets cooperating with a closure cover to form a floating head defining a heated fluid outlet plenum; c. a bundle of substantially parallel tubes having their opposite ends attached to said tube sheets; d. means for circulating heating fluid through said vessel exteriorly of said tubes; e. means for passing fluid to be heated through said tubes in indirect heat transfer relation to said heating fluid; f. means establishing fluid communication between said heated fluid outlet nozzle and said plenum including a first annular bellows connected between said floating head and said shell; g. a second annular bellows connected between said floating head and said shell in spaced relation from said first bellows and cooperating therewith to define a substantially closed space therebetween; and h. means for supplying an inert gas to said closed space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A heat exchanger for the indirect transfer of heat from a heating fluid to a fluid to be heated comprising: a. an elongated shell defining a pressure vessel having a heated fluid outlet nozzle adjacent one end thereof; b. a pair of axially spaced tube sheets disposed within said vessel, one of said tube sheets being fixedly attached to said shell and the other of said tube sheets cooperating with a closure cover to form a floating head defining a heated fluid outlet plenum; c. a bundle of substantially parallel tubes having their opposite ends attached to said tube sheets; d. means for circulating heating fluid through said vessel exteriorly of said tubes; e. means for passing fluid to be heated through said tubes in indirect heat transfer relation to said heating fluid; f. means establishing fluid communication between said heated fluid outlet nozzle and said plenum including a first annular bellows connected between said floating head and said shell; g. a second annular bellows connected between said floating head and said shell in spaced relation from said first bellows and cooperating therewith to define a substantially closed space therebetween; and h. means for supplying an inert gas to said closed space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 1 in which said first bellows is interconnected between said floating head closure cover and said heated fluid outlet nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 1 in which said shell includes a removable end closure detachably secured thereto and said second bellows is interconnected between said floating head and the interface between said end closure and said shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 1 including an annular cylindrical baffle surrounding said tube bundle in concentrically spaced relation to the wall of said shell to define a pair of concentric flow paths through said shell; and means for suspendedly supporting said cylindrical baffle from the wall of said shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 1 in which said heating fluid is liquid sodium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 5 in which said heated fluid is liquid sodium maintained at a fluid pressure greater than that of said heating fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 6 in which said inert gas is maintained at a lower fluid pressure than that of either said heating fluid or said fluid to be heated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 6 in which said inert gas is maintained at a fluid pressure approximately equal to that of one of the heat transfer fluids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 3 in which said floating head includes a discharge conduit axially aligned with said heated fluid outlet; means connecting said first annular bellows between said discharge conduit; an annular plate secured between said shell and said end closure; and means connecting said second annular bEllows between said floating head and said annular plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 9 in which said second annular bellows connects to said floating head on the side of said annular plate adjacent said first annular bellows whereby oppositely directed deflections are induced in said first and second bellows by relative movements between said floating head and said shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 9 in which said second annular bellows connects to said floating head on the side of said annular plate remote from said first annular bellows whereby corresponding deflections are induced in said first and second bellows by relative movements between said floating head and said shell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 9 in which said floating head discharge conduit extends in concentrically spaced relation through said heated fluid outlet and said first and second annular bellows are connected at one end to said discharge conduit and at their other ends to said heated fluid outlet nozzle and said annular plate respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |