US4715433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reboiler-condenser with doubly-enhanced plates
Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
•
Filing: 1986-06-09
•
Granted: 1987-12-29
•
Expires: 2006-06-09
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a reboiler-condenser which increases the efficiency of heat transfer between boiling and condensing fluids, such as oxygen and nitrogen in air separation or similar cryogenic applications. The exchanger is built up from individual plates, the opposite sides of which have enhanced condensing and boiling surfaces. The condensing channels are inclined slightly downward so that condensate can be removed at many elevations in the exchanger.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander Schwarz
- 👤 Charles E. Kalb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:30
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F13/00; F28F13/18; F28F13/185; F28F13/187; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04406; F25J3/04412; F25J5/00; F25J5/002; F25J5/005; F28B; F28B9/00; F28B9/08; F28D; F28D9/00; F28D9/0006; F28D9/0062; F28D9/0068; F25J2250/00; F25J2250/02; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/44; F28D21/00; F28D2021/0019; F28D2021/0033; F28F2255/00; F28F2255/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/911; Y10S165/913; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/902; Y10S62/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A heat exchanger for reboiler-condenser service which comprises: a plurality of plates of a thermally conductive material; with said plates having substantially horizontal and vertical edges and, on opposite sides of each plate, means for condensate film thinning and means for promoting boiling, respectively; said sheets assembled in a stack, with the means for condensate film thinning of each pair of plates facing each other and the means for promoting boiling of each pair of plates facing each other, with a plurality of interposing support bars, thereby defining between successive plates respective flow passages; said support bars between each pair of plates with the means for condensate film thinning facing each other extending between the vertical edges of each said pair of plates and being inclined from horizontal thereby defining downward sloping condensing channels and providing a primary means for drainage of condensate, and said support bars between each pair of plates with the means for promoting boiling facing each other being vertical thereby defining vertical boiling channels; means for joining said support bars and plates; first means for closing the horizontal edges between alternating pairs of plates with the means for condensate film thinning facing each other; and second means for closing vertical edges between alternating pairs of plates with the means for promoting boiling facing each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A heat exchanger for reboiler-condenser service which comprises: a plurality of plates of a thermally conductive material; with said plates having substantially horizontal and vertical edges and, on opposite sides of each plate, means for condensate film thinning and means for promoting boiling, respectively; said sheets assembled in a stack, with the means for condensate film thinning of each pair of plates facing each other and the means for promoting boiling of each pair of plates facing each other, with a plurality of interposing support bars, thereby defining between successive plates respective flow passages; said support bars between each pair of plates with the means for condensate film thinning facing each other extending between the vertical edges of each said pair of plates and being inclined from horizontal thereby defining downward sloping condensing channels and providing a primary means for drainage of condensate, and said support bars between each pair of plates with the means for promoting boiling facing each other being vertical thereby defining vertical boiling channels; means for joining said support bars and plates; first means for closing the horizontal edges between alternating pairs of plates with the means for condensate film thinning facing each other; and second means for closing vertical edges between alternating pairs of plates with the means for promoting boiling facing each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 which further comprises a conventional corrugated fin sheet located in the lower 10 to 30% of the boiling channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein said conventional corrugated fin sheet is of the perforated type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein said conventional corrugated fin sheet is of the serrated type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said downward sloping condensing channels are at an angle of 2° to 20° from horizontal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the means for promoting boiling is a sintered porous surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the means for promoting boiling is a plasma sprayed surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the means for promoting boiling is a partially crushed saw-tooth surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the means for condensate film thinning is a finned or fluted surface with said fins or flutes oriented vertically.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the means for condensate film thinning is a finned or fluted surface with said fins or flutes at an angle of 2° to 20° from vertical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the means for condensate film thinning is comprised of randomly distributed metal bodies applied as a layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said support bars between pairs of plates with the means for condensate film thinning facing each other are hollow with perforations on the upward side of said support bar, thereby allowing for drainage of condensate from the condensing channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU252362A1
Cited
US30077A
Cited
AT123949B
Cited
GB551167A
Cited
DE1081592B
Cited
BE541415A
Cited
US3204693A
Cited
US3359616A
Cited
US3568462A
Cited
USRE30077E
Cited
US3631923A
Cited
US3720071A
Cited
US3840070A
Cited
US4060125A
Cited
US4150719A
Cited
US4153501A
Cited
US4130160A
Cited
US4216826A
Cited
DE3011011A1
Cited
US4371034A
Cited
US4383415A
Cited
GB2090651A
Cited
SU1035398A1
Cited
SU1092331A1
Cited
US4606745A
Cited
US4653572A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-28 | 1991-06-29 | 1991-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-28 | 1995-06-29 | 1995-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-28 | 1999-06-29 | 1999-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |