REVERSIBLE HEAT TRANSFER ELEMENT BASKET ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED FRAME FOR USE IN A HEAT EXCHANGER

摘要

A heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly (500) for receiving heat transfer element plates (850) therein. The heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly (500) includes first and second one-piece side straps (520a, 520b), a pair of inboard corner flanges (528a, 528b), an I-shaped splitter plate (530), a pair of outboard corner flanges (522a, 522b), first and second end straps (526a, 526b), and a cap. The first and second one-piece side straps (520a, 520b) are spaced apart from one another. Each of the first and second one-piece side straps (520a, 520b) includes a center portion (625) that is positioned so as to be located along an inboard end of the heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly (500), a first extension (630) positioned so as to be located along a first side of the heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly (500), and a second extension (635) positioned so as to be located along a second side of the heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly (500). Each of the first and second extensions (630, 635) includes a flange portion that is folded over across the heat transfer element plates so as to be operative to retain the heat transfer element plates (850) in the heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly (500). The pair of inboard corner flanges (528a, 528b) connect the first one-piece side strap (520a) with the second one-piece side strap (520b). The I-shaped splitter plate (530) is positioned so as to be located within the heat transfer element plates (850) when the heat transfer element plates are emplaced within the heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly (500) and is operative to connect the first and second extensions (630, 635) to one another. The cap consists of two corner flanges (522a, 522b) and end straps (526a, 526b) that are designed to be operative to effect therewith the interconnection of the first and second extensions (630, 635) of the one-piece side straps (520a, 520b).