Abstract: A heat exchanger shell closure utilizing a tapered split ring is disclosed. The split ring of the invention has a tapered inner surface which fits into a corresponding tapered groove in a tube sheet barrel. A backup flange fits over the split ring, forcing the split ring into the deepest and forwardmost part of the groove, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the split ring and the resulting movement and wear of a sealing ring which is held in place by the split ring as the heat exchanger undergoes load variations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat exchanger tube bundle design that eliminates the need for tube supports or baffles within a heat exchanger tube bundle. The inventive configuration uses a combination of bare tubes and longitudinally finned tubes positioned such that the longitudinal fins act as spacing and supporting means within the tube bundle. The longitudinal fins provide spacing and support substantially along the entire length of the tubes within the bundle and eliminate the need for internal spacing or supporting means. Taking advantage of this inventive design, one can economically construct a tube bundle requiring only external rings to secure the tube bundle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for supporting and spacing the tubes within a heat exchanger comprised of a plurality of V-shaped stiff wire rods. Each of the V-shaped wire rods includes a pair of leg portions and a concave intermediate section. The inside radius of the concave intermediate section is substantially equivalent to one-half of the tube outside diameter. Six of the V-shaped stiff wire rods are affixed to one another to form a spacer having a substantially hexagonal opening wherein each side of the hexagonal opening is one of the concave intermediate sections. At each apex of the substantially hexagonal opening there extends radially outward legs from two of abutting V-shaped stiff wire rods.Thus formed, the spacer of the present invention provides a structurally sound tube supporting device while limiting the obstruction to flow of shell side process fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger tube support for supporting a plurality of heat exchanger tubes in a conduit of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger tube support includes three identical elements each having a flattened W-shaped configuration defined by a central projection and two diverging leg sections. A channel is defined in the area between each leg section and the projection. The elements are secured together with a leg section of each element being welded to a leg section of each adjacent element and with the projections extending radially outward. The elements enclose an interior area through which a central heat exchanger tube passes. Six outer heat exchage tubes are supported in a radial array on the heat exchanger tube support within each channel. The leg sections of each element extend to the inside wall of the conduit to space the heat exchanger tubes from the inside wall.

Abstract: A closure for a heat exchanger of the shell and tube type in which fluid under high pressure is circulated through one or more tubes mounted in the shell. The pressure of the fluid flowing through the shell is lower than the pressure of the fluid in the tubes. The closure includes a single seal member for sealing between the tube sheet and the shell terminal member and between the tube sheet and the closure member and between the terminal member and the closure member. The tubes are bent in a hairpin shape with a separate closure at each end of the tubes. An opening in the end of the shell allows the tube and tube sheet to be inserted into and removed from the interior of the shell.