Baffle

Claim 2

Supporting apparatus for a plurality of tubes in the form of a tube bundle suitable for use in a shell and tube heat exchanger, said tubes positioned to form at least a first plurality of parallel tube rows and a second plurality of parallel tube rows and spaces between at least a portion of the adjacent tube rows comprising: at least one baffle set providing radial support for each tube and comprising at least three baffles, wherein each baffle comprises an outer ring surrounding said tube bundle; and a plurality of rods positioned in a portion of the spaces between adjacent tube rows in one plurality of parallel tube rows and cooperating with said outer ring to form a plurality of parallel chords with said outer ring, each said rod being of sufficient size to provide support for the tubes in the tube rows adjacent said rod, and the number of rods in each of said baffles being substantially less than the total number of rods necessary for positioning one rod in each of the spaces between all of the tube rows in the plurality of parallel tube rows and, wherein each of said baffles is positioned substantially parallel to the other baffles in the apparatus.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubes are laid out on a square pitch and each baffle set comprises at least four baffles.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the number of rods in a baffle is no more then the number sufficient for the baffle set to provide radial support for each tube in the tube bundle.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rods of the plurality of rods of each baffle are positioned in alternate spaces between adjacent tube rows in one plurality of parallel tube rows.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of baffle sets.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each outer ring surrounding the tube bundle is positioned in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each outer ring surrounding the tube bundle is positioned in a plane which forms an acute angle with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the number of baffles in a baffle set is eight.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubes are laid out on a triangular pitch.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each baffle set comprises at least four baffles.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the number of rods in a baffle is no more than the number sufficient for the baffle set to provide radial support for each tube in the tube bundle.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the outer ring surrounding the tube bundle is positioned in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each outer ring surrounding the tube bundle is positioned in a plane which forms an acute angle with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubes are laid out on a hexagonal pitch and each baffle set comprises six baffles.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubes are laid out on a square pitch and each baffle set comprises four baffles, wherein each outer ring surrounding the tube bundle is positioned in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle, and wherein the rods of the plurality of rods of each baffle are positioned in alternate spaces between adjacent tube rows in one plurality of parallel tube rows.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubes are laid out on a square pitch and each baffle set comprises four baffles, wherein each outer ring surrounding the tube bundle is positioned in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle, and wherein the rods of the plurality of rods of each baffle are positioned in the adjacent spaces between adjacent tube rows in one plurality of parallel tube rows.

Claim 18

Apparatus comprising: a plurality of tubes forming a tube bundle suitable for use in a shell and tube heat exchanger, said tubes positioned to form at least a first plurality of parallel tube rows and a second plurality of parallel tube rows and spaces between at least a portion of the adjacent tube rows: means supporting the ends of said tube bundle; and means supporting the tubes in the tube bundle intermediate their ends, said intermediate supporting means comprising at least one baffle set, each baffle set providing radial support for each tube and comprising at least four baffles wherein each baffle comprises an outer ring surrounding said tube bundle and positioned in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle; a plurality of rods positioned in a portion of the spaces between adjacent tube rows in one plurality of parallel tube rows, attached to said outer ring and forming a series of parallel chords with said outer ring, said rods of sufficient size to provide support for the tubes in the tube rows adjacent each rod, and the number of rods used in each of said baffles being substantially less than the total number of rods necessary for positioning one rod in each of the spaces between all of the tube rows in the plurality of parallel tube rows and, wherein each of said baffles is positioned substantially parallel to the other baffles in the apparatus.

Claim 19

Apparatus comprising: a plurality of tubes forming a tube bundle suitable for use in a shell and tube heat exchanger, said tubes positioned to form at least a first plurality of parallel tube rows and a second plurality of parallel tube rows and spaces between at least a portion of the adjacent tube rows: means supporting the ends of said tube bundle; and means supporting the tubes in the tube bundle intermediate their ends, said intermediate supporting means comprising at least one baffle set, each baffle set providing radial support for each tube and comprising at least four baffles wherein each baffle comprises an outer ring surrounding said tube bundle and positioned in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle; a plurality of rods positioned in a portion of the spaces between adjacent tube rows in one plurality of parallel tube rows, attached to said outer ring and forming a series of parallel chords with said outer ring, said rods of sufficient size to provide support for the tubes in the tube rows adjacent each rod, and the number of rods used in each of said baffles being substantially less than the total number of rods necessary for positioning one rod in each of the spaces between all of the tube rows in the plurality of parallel tube rows and, wherein each of said baffles is positioned substantially parallel to the other baffles in the apparatus.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a shell surrounding said tube bundle isolating the outside surface of the tubes from the inside surface of the tubes, said shell having an inlet and an outlet for a first fluid to pass over the inside surface of the tubes and an inlet and an outlet for a second fluid to pass over the outside surface of the tubes.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the inlet and outlet for the second fluid to pass over the outside surface of the tubes are nozzles of a design which minimizes the pressure drop and turbulence at or near the inlet and outlet of the second fluid of the apparatus.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each outer ring surrounding the tube bundle is positioned in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each outer ring surrounding the tube bundle is positioned in a plane which forms an acute angle with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube bundle.

Claim 24

A supporting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rods used in each baffle have a circular cross section.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the rods used in each baffle have a circular cross section.