HEAT EXCHANGER FLOW THROUGH TUBE SUPPORTS

摘要

A tube support system for a heat exchanger that serves to replace the baffles present in typical shell-and-tube heat exchangers. A shell-and-tube heat exchanger employs helically coiled wires to form a support structure for the tubes contained within the heat exchanger shell. The elimination of baffles and the use of the coil support structure according to the present invention permits axial fluid flow for the shell side fluid and significantly minimizes fouling problems and tube damage resulting from flow-induced tube vibration.