Helical steam generator tube support

Claim 1

A support structure for a heat exchanger having helically coiled tubes being arranged generally parallel and being arranged in a plurality of concentric tube rows, comprising: a plurality of longitudinally extending generally flat support plates having support members affixed to the longitudinal edges thereof and extending perpendicular from the plane thereof, the members on one edge of a strip being in a shifted position relative to the members on the other edge thereof to accommodate the helical geometry of the tubes, the plates being arranged generally parallel to the helical axis and each plate extending between a pair of adjacent said tube rows, the support members being longitudinally spaced to accept and nest the helically coiled tubes there between, the plates being notched to mate with the support members of an adjacent plate, a plurality of spring plates each for urging a pair of corresponding tubes against a support plate, alternating successive support members having recesses to accept the edges of said spring plates, said spring plates being sized to engage said recesses of said alternating support members and having notches to accommodate remaining members and having generally flat portions separated by a corrugation, the flat portions bearing against a support strip, the corrugation running generally parallel with the tubes and bearing against adjacent pairs of tubes.