Abstract: To preheat combustion air with gasification furnace flue gas, combustion air is flowed towards an inlet of a gasification furnace. The combustion air is heated using flue gas emitted from the gasification furnace. The flue gas is generated within the gasification furnace responsive to a gasification process. The heated combustion air is flowed into the inlet of the gasification furnace.

Abstract: A replacement tube plug for sealing the threaded junction between a tube plug and a bore in a plugsheet, the tube plug including a body part having proximal and distal ends, an outer threaded surface, a central bore open at the proximal end and at least one branch bore extending from and in fluid communication with the central bore and extending radially to the outer surface of the body part, and a method for delivering fluid sealant via the central and branches to the threaded junction of the tube plug and the plugsheet.

Abstract: A header for an air cooled heat exchanger is provided. The header includes a housing having top and bottom walls and side walls and an inlet and an outlet, one of said side walls being a tube wall for connection to a plurality of heat exchanger tubes. The header includes a partition wall between the top and bottom walls defining upper and lower regions, the partition being a sheet having a higher central area which extends downward to corners of the upper region. Each corner has a drain aperture for fluid in the upper region to drain by gravity out of the upper region.

Abstract: A tube plug insertable in one end of a heat exchange tube, the tube plug formed as an shaft having a distal part and an opposite proximal part which terminates in a proximal end with an threaded hole extending axially in the proximal end in the distal direction, and a plug removal tool having a proximal handle part and a distal stem part which has external threads that match threads in the threaded hole in the plug's shaft, the stem part being threadedly insertable into the threaded hole in the proximal end of the tube plug, whereby rotation of the stem will urge the tube plug to rotate relative to the heat exchange tube and break free from being lodged in the bore thereof.

Abstract: A replacement tube plug for sealing the threaded junction between a tube plug and a bore in a plugsheet, the tube plug including a body part having proximal and distal ends, an outer threaded surface, a central bore open at the proximal end and at least one branch bore extending from and in fluid communication with the central bore and extending radially to the outer surface of the body part, and a method for delivering fluid sealant via the central and branches to the threaded junction of the tube plug and the plugsheet.

Abstract: A tube plug adapted to be driven into and then plug an open end of a heat exchange tube that extends transversely through and is secured in a tubesheet of a heat exchanger, where the tube plug includes an elongated shaft having a lead part adapted to be introduced into the open end of the heat exchange tube and an opposite rear part, and a fluid seal situated on the lead part, the seal including a set of lead and rear ring flanges fixed to the lead part, extending radially outward therefrom, and axially spaced apart from each other, and a compressible and resilient ring-shaped gasket adapted to encircle the lead part of the shaft when situated axially between the ring flanges.

Abstract: A tube plug insertable in one end of a heat exchange tube, the tube plug formed as an shaft having a distal part and an opposite proximal part which terminates in a proximal end with an threaded hole extending axially in the proximal end in the distal direction, and a plug removal tool having a proximal handle part and a distal stem part which has external threads that match threads in the threaded hole in the plug's shaft, the stem part being threadedly insertable into the threaded hole in the proximal end of the tube plug, whereby rotation of the stem will urge the tube plug to rotate relative to the heat exchange tube and break free from being lodged in the bore thereof.

Abstract: A tube plug adapted to be driven into and then plug an open end of a heat exchange tube that extends transversely through and is secured in a tubesheet of a heat exchanger, where the tube plug includes an elongated shaft having a lead part adapted to be introduced into the open end of the heat exchange tube and an opposite rear part, and a fluid seal situated on the lead part, the seal including a set of lead and rear ring flanges fixed to the lead part, extending radially outward therefrom, and axially spaced apart from each other, and a compressible and resilient ring-shaped gasket adapted to encircle the lead part of the shaft when situated axially between the ring flanges.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing or modifying a tube set for a bundled tube heat exchanger, and corresponding apparatus, is provided. An elongated support member is attached to baffles in a heat exchanger. The elongated support member has opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces and face contact surfaces. The opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces receive, in close-fitting relation, the exterior surface of a portion of adjacent rows of tubes passing through baffle apertures. The elongated support member is positioned so that its face contact surface is adjacent to a face surface of the baffle, and the opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces are adjacent to the exterior surfaces of the plurality of tubes. The elongated support member is attached, e.g., by welding, to the face surface of the baffle, in a manner that does not interfere with the operation of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Impingement plates for shell and tube heat exchangers are positioned between the inlet openings and the tubes with the surfaces of the impingement plates being normal to the flow path of the liquid entering the shell from the inlet openings and having a plurality of openings through which a portion of the liquid passes before contacting the tubes. The openings can be formed as elongated parallel slots that are positioned parallel to the tubes and function to enhance the fluid flow, especially in the area that is immediately downstream from the impingement plates, thereby reducing fluid stagnation, fouling and tube erosion and prolonging the useful life and time in service between maintenance shut downs.