HEAT EXCHANGER FLOW THROUGH TUBE SUPPORTS

摘要

A tube support system for a heat exchanger that serves to replace the baffl es 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 t he coil support structure according to the present invention permits axial fluid flo w for the shell side fluid and significantly minimizes fouling problems and tube damag e resulting from flow-induced tube vibration.