Abstract: A plate heat exchanger comprising a plurality of plates (12,13) which are stacked against each other and which are of a first and second type in order to form flow channels for a first and second medium. The plates form a heat exchanger block (2) with an upper side and a lower side and with two opposite side surfaces (10) and front faces (9). The first flow channels are peripherally sealed for the first medium and are fluidically connected to distributor and collector channels which are arranged in a vertical position with respect to the plate plane and which lead into inlet and outlet connection pieces (6,7) which are respectively arranged on the upper side and/or lower side (3,11). The second flow channels are open at the front surfaces (9) thereof and are sealed at the side surfaces (10) thereof. The open sides (9) form an inlet and outlet plane for the second medium.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a shell formed from two joined-together shell members. Each shell member includes a tube plate that is integral with each respective shell member and that defines an axial end of the shell member. The shell members are joined along respective open ends. A plurality of tubes is disposed within the shell, and the tube ends are connected with the respective tube plates. A baffle is disposed within the shell and directs the path of coolant flow therein and over the tubes. One shell member includes a fluid inlet and the other a fluid outlet for directing coolant into and out of the shell. The heat exchanger includes an inlet manifold connected to one end of the shell and an outlet manifold connected to an opposite end of the shell.

Abstract: A tube 101 is constituted by a pair of plates 111a, 111b which are fitted with each other in such a manner as to put an inner fin 101b between the plate 111a and the plate 111b. Differences in level 111c are formed on the second plate 111b, which fits inside, which differences in level each protrude inwardly by a distance equal to the thickness of the first plate 111a, whereby the outer wall surface of the tube 101 is made substantially level thereover. A gap which is formed between the outer wall surface of the tube 101 and a core plate, when the tube is passed through the core plate, can be as small as possible whereby the brazing properties can be improved.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine with a 2-stage charge loading includes a connection conduit with a supercharger intercooler provided between the compressors of the low pressure stage and high pressure stage. The supercharger intercooler is configured via a cooling unit in the charge air guiding connection conduit between the compressor of the ATL-low pressure stage and the compressor of the ATL-high pressure stage having a cooling medium flowing therethrough as well as by a specially configured section of the connection conduit. The connection conduit in this section forms with its wall the outer wall of the supercharger intercooler and delimits an air through-put volume sufficient to effect, via a cooling medium flowing through the cooling unit, an acceptable cooling of charge air flowing through the cooling unit that is built into the connection conduit.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger that reduces the thermal stress in components thereof especially tube plates or tube sheets so as to enable greater temperature differences across adjacent components while reducing the temperature gradient and thus extending the life of the heat exchanger is accomplished by attaching or bonding an insulating material of low thermal conductivity such as a sheet of PTFE, a metal jacketed layer of insulating cork or nonmetallic composite such as micarta sheeting to the metal component or tube sheet or tube plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an EGR cooler that is easy to manufacture and can accelerate heat exchange. Round in section tubes are plastically deformed in one plane crossing centerlines thereof such that corrugated exhaust gas flow paths are formed inside the tubes.

Abstract: A pressure tank includes a liner separated into a cap and a main body. A shell covers the outer surface of the liner. The shell is formed of a fiber reinforced plastic. A heat exchanger is arranged in the liner. A header is connected to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is supported on the liner by fastening the header to the cap or the main body.

Abstract: A shell-and-tube type heat exchanger of the smallest possible length necessary for heat exchange is disclosed which is capable of obtaining uniform distribution of flow of a shell side fluid and substantially eliminating the structural restriction imposed on the shell side. This shell-and-tube type heat exchanger is provided with one annular conduit furnished with not less than two partitions concurrently serving as an expansion joint for introducing and discharging a shell side fluid and allowing the flow path for said shell side fluid to be separated into an introducing part and a discharging part and which comprises a place having no array of heat-transfer tubes in the flow path for said shell side fluid. It prevents the equipment from necessitating an unnecessary enlargement due to the structural restriction on the shell side and enables the shell side fluid to produce a uniform flow.

Abstract: A miniature vaporizer for effectively vaporizing a process fluid (e.g., a liquid media) in small energy system applications, such as systems employing chemical reformers and fuel cells. The vaporizer of the present invention can employ a heating medium, such as a hot exhaust generated by a power system, as the heating source for generating steam or for evaporating a fluid (e.g., liquid chemicals or fuels). The vaporizer of the invention can optionally be configured to vaporize water thereby functioning as a miniature steam generator, to evaporate a process fluid thereby functioning as a miniature evaporator or heat exchanger, or to evaporate a process fluid and mix the fluid with another medium. This evaporator/mixer configuration can be used in reformer plants where a liquid chemical or fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel, methanol, etc.) needs to be first evaporated and mixed with steam prior to the introduction of the resultant mixture to a converter (e.g., reformor or fuel cell).

Abstract: Low-energy hydrogen production is disclosed. A reforming exchanger is placed in parallel with a partial oxidation reactor in a new hydrogen plant with improved efficiency and reduced steam export, or in an existing hydrogen plant where the hydrogen capacity can be increased by as much as 20–30 percent with reduced export of steam from the hydrogen plant.

Abstract: Heat exchangers of this invention include a shell having an inner chamber defined by an inside wall surface, and having at least one opening adjacent an end of the shell. A tube bundle comprising a plurality of assembled together tubes are disposed within the inner chamber. A header plate is attached to the tubes and is positioned adjacent an end of the tube bundle. The header plate includes an outside diameter that fits within the shell inside wall surface to provide a nested attachment junction therebetween. The header plate and shell are fixedly connected to one another by use of a braze joint formed by the placement of brazing material between the interfacing header plate and the shell surface sections. A tank is attached to the shell adjacent the shell end.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a header having a plurality of header openings with rigid tubes that may be made of plastic are inserted in the openings. The tubes are sealed to the header to prevent leakage between the header and the tubes to prevent water and air leakage between the wet, scavenger air stream flowing through the tubes and a dry air stream flowing around the tubes. A method of making the heat exchanger includes providing the openings with a flange and uses an interference fit between the rigid heat exchange tubes and the header openings. A self-leveling sealant may be used to seal the heat exchanger tubes to the header using, for example, a paint roller and/or a paint sprayer.

Abstract: A heat exchanger, in particular an exhaust gas heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, has tubes through which a first fluid can flow and around which a second fluid can flow, and a headpiece. The headpiece includes a dual-walls structure in at least a part thereof and a distribution chamber that communicates with the tubes.

Abstract: A heat exchange reactor including a housing, a plurality of tubes mounted in the housing and configured to carry a first fluid, and a baffle having a plurality of holes receiving the tubes. The baffle is configured to guide a second fluid provided within the housing to flow in a direction generally perpendicular to the tubes. The reactor includes various configurations for minimizing adverse effects of thermal expansion of the baffle and the tubes. The reactor is configured to minimize mechanical interference between the baffle and the tubes in both an operational state and a non-operational state, for example, by shaping the holes in the baffle to take into account thermal expansion. The reactor also includes a thermal insulator along a length of the tubes at a large temperature gradient zone within the reactor. The reactor further includes a heat transfer fin in contact with only one of the tubes.

Abstract: A multi-tube heat exchanger capable of increasing heat exchanging performance without increasing its heat transmitting area, as well as avoiding a reduction in heat exchanging efficiency due to adhering pollutant or the like. The multi-tube heat exchanger includes an inner tube group through which a first fluid passes and an outer tube around which a second fluid passes. The heat transmitting tube is constituted of only a heat transmitting tube main body and a number of lump-like projections formed at a predetermined interval in the length direction on one or both opposing wall faces on longer sides of the heat transmitting tube main body. Longitudinal eddies are generated in high-temperature gas by the, thereby consequently increasing heat exchanging efficiency.

Abstract: A heat exchanger, comprising a shell designed as a pressure vessel, provided with shell-sided supply and discharge means with which the shell can be flowed through with a first medium under pressure. The heat exchanger further comprises a nest of tubes extending at least partly within the shell, provided with tube-sided supply and discharge means with which the tubes from the nest can be flowed through with a second medium in heat exchanging contact with the first medium under pressure. The individual tubes of the nest are each included with a supply and a discharge side in tube bores extending substantially transversely to the plane of a tube plate included in the shell. The heat exchanger has the special feature that the tubes are connected with the tube-sided supply and discharge means via connecting channels located in the plane of the tube plate and crossing the tube holes.

Abstract: A tubesheet support arrangement 11 supports a tubesheet 10 within a vessel 12, the tubesheet 10 maintaining a plurality of tubes 22 at fixed radial spacings from one another with the tubes 22 extending from the tubesheet 10 on a tube projecting side of the radial plane RP. The tubesheet support arrangement 11 comprises a fully circumferentially extending intermediary support element 24. The intermediary support element 24 is subjected to compression due its support of the weight of the tubesheet 10 and the tubes 22 on the lower portion of the vessel 12.

Abstract: A profile of the casing 20 is formed into a circular pipe shape, and the two gas coolers 10a, 10b are integrated into one body so that the longitudinal directions of the respective gas coolers can be substantially parallel with each other. Due to the above structure, it is possible to make the coolant flow smoothly in the casing 20 and stagnation of the coolant seldom occurs. Accordingly, as boiling of the coolant can be suppressed, it is possible to prevent the heat transfer coefficient from being remarkably deteriorated. Further, it is possible to suppress the generation of cracks, in the tubes 11, which are caused by heat stress.

Abstract: An exhaust gas heat exchanger comprising an external shell (20) extending between two tube plates (30, 31) and defining a coolant chamber; internal tubes (38) forming exhaust gas passages which extend between the tube plates (30, 31); an exhaust gas manifold divided by a baffle plate (29) into first and second chambers (26, 28) with an exhaust gas inlet (25) and outlet (27) respectively. The baffle plate (29) is provided with a valve (51) which can be operated between an open position, which exhaust gas flows along the cooling tubes (38), and a closed position, in which exhaust gas is diverted directly from the first chamber (26) to the second chamber (28).

Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling exhaust gas, around which liquid cooling medium flows on the outside, including a bundle of rectangular tubes provided as ducts for the exhaust gas whose ends are welded into tube bottoms. The bundle of rectangular tubes is surrounded with a sheet metal jacket which follows the contour of the bundle and which is provided with a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet. The ends of the sheet metal jacket are provided with welded-on flange plates which are each open by means of a central opening with respect to the bundle of rectangular tubes and which are provided with fastening devices for fastening onto pipe sections of an exhaust pipe.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas heat recovery appliance having a heat-exchanger line and a bypass line and a heat exchanger being arranged in the region of the heat-exchanger line. At least one valve device, for the purpose of influencing the mass flow of exhaust gas, is provided in the heat-exchanger line and the bypass line. Further, at least the heat-exchanger line has a slope in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas in the installed position.

Abstract: A support plate for retaining tube array spacing within a heat exchanger tube and shell structure. The support plate having a plurality of individual tube receiving apertures formed therein. Each aperture has at least three inwardly protruding members and bights are formed therebetween when the tube associated therewith is lodged in place to establish secondary fluid flow through the support plate. The inwardly protruding members terminate in flat lands that restrain but do not all contact the outer surface of the respective tube. These flat lands minimize fretting wear and eliminate potential gouging of the outer wall of the tube. The plate wall forming each aperture has an hourglass configuration which, inter alia, reduces pressure drop, turbulence and local deposition of magnetite and other particulates on the support plates.

Abstract: A tube bundle heat exchanger has been carried out, wherein a bearing structure (2) defines at least a primary chamber (3), which is crossed by tubes (4) made of a non-solderable material. A secondary chamber (5) is put in fluid connection with such tubes (4) and is fluid proof with respect to the main chamber (3). Furthermore a tube plate (6), showing the adequate seats (7) for housing the ends of said tubes (4) and a containing plate (9), showing respective holding seats (10) for each tube (4) and for the contemporary housing of sealing means (8), are provided. Finally a third clamping plate (11) is provided, which abuts on the containing plate (9), in order to allow deformation and to prevent blow-by through such sealing means (8).

Abstract: A shell and tube heat exchanger has two shell coolant and two tube coolant passageways communicating with a cavity in a shell. Removably received in the shell cavity is a tube bundle with tube headers. A locating screw extends through the shell to engage a locating recess in one tube header. The screw locates the tube bundle angularly about the central axis and longitudinally along the central axis, and is also used to electrically ground the tube bundle. An end cover, a flow separator, and resilient disc to take up thermal expansion are installed in each end of the shell to direct coolant through the tube bundle in multiple passes. Receivers with rotatable connectors are bonded to each shell coolant and tube coolant passageway. Angled connector nozzles can be connected to external conduits in any orientation.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack manifold system in which a flexible manifold body includes a pan having a central area, sidewall extending outward from the periphery of the central area, and at least one compound fold comprising a central area fold connecting adjacent portions of the central area and extending between opposite sides of the central area, and a sidewall fold connecting adjacent portions of the sidewall. The manifold system further includes a rail assembly for attachment to the manifold body and adapted to receive pins by which dielectric insulators are joined to the manifold assembly.

Abstract: The invention focuses on distributing the vapor/liquid flow that emerges from an inlet nozzle across the tube sheet of an alkylation reactor or heat exchanger. The flow distributor takes the two-phase flow that emerges from the inlet nozzle, turns it towards the tubesheet and delivers a uniform mixture across the tube sheet. The flow distributor is located in the channel head of the reactor or heat exchanger. In order to dislodge the liquid film from the wall of the inlet nozzle, trip rings and angular trip tabs are located internally in the flow distributor.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing a pharmaceutical composition containing a suspension of a pharmaceutical comprises rapidly heating the pharmaceutical composition from ambient temperature to an elevated temperature, maintaining it at or above the elevated temperature for a period of time, and rapidly cooling the pharmaceutical composition to ambient temperature.

Abstract: A flow distributor for mounting in an inlet of a heat exchanger includes a nose cone and one or more diverting rings. The nose cone is aerodynamically shaped to divert impingent gas flow around the nose cone. A first diverting ring is spaced outwardly from the nose cone and can be oriented such that at least a portion of the gas flow diverted by the nose cone is redirected into the wake of the nose cone. A second diverting ring can be spaced outwardly from the first diverting ring and can be oriented to divert gas flow impingent thereon. Struts connect the nose cone and one or more rings. Refractory on the wall of the inlet is shaped to reduce the recirculation at the outer perimeter thereof. The flow distributor is installed in the inlet with refractory to achieve substantially equal flow across the tube sheet of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) comprising a multi-tube bundle and a shell (2), the shell and the bundle being mutually engaged by means of an abutment inside the cavity defined by the shell, the abutment preventing or restricting movement of the bundle relative to the shell. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing such a heat exchanger (1).

Abstract: An evaporator for a refrigeration system is disclosed which includes a tube bundle with various kinds of tubes. Depending upon the size of a tube bundle, at least two different kinds of tubes are used along the height of the tube bundle. Highly efficient nucleate boiling characteristics tubes are used in the lower section and prime surface or only inside surface enhanced tubes are used in the top section to minimize the adverse effects of vapor blanketing. Tubes in the mid sections could be the same or different than the tubes in the lower and upper sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a waste gas heat exchanger comprising at least one bank of tubes (2, 3) through which waste gas can flow, the tube ends (4, 5) being respectively connected to a tube bottom (6) in a material fit, and a housing envelope (7) which surrounds the bank of tubes and through which a coolant can flow, one of the two tube bottoms being connected to the housing envelope (fixed bearing) in a fixed manner. According to the invention, the other tube bottom (6) is embodied as a movable bearing and forms a sliding seat (13) with the housing envelope (7), said sliding seat being in communication with the coolant side (8) on one side thereof and with the outer side (atmosphere) on the other side thereof.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant alloy metal tube sheet used to construct a shell and tube heat exchanger (50) for cooling fluids with sea water passing through corrosion-resistant alloy tubes (25) contained in a horizontal carbon steel outer shell (1) that are supported and sealed at each end by passing them through holes (27, 30) in a carbon steel tube sheet (28, 31) and axially aligned holes (36, 37) in alloy tube sheets (34, 35) that cover and protect the adjacent interior carbon steel tube sheets from sea water corrosion. The walls of the holes (27, 30, 36, 37) have at least one annular groove (45, 46) and the ends of each tube are radially expanded to form circumferential ridges (40, 41) on the outside of each tube at a mating location with each of said annular grooves (45, 46) where they are forcibly driven into the grooves to form a circumferential joint having good mechanical strength and water tightness, thereby eliminating the need for welding the external joint between the alloy tube sheets and alloy tubes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a shell having an open end and a closed end and defining a shell cavity. A steam inlet is located adjacent the closed end and communicates with the shell cavity to allow steam to enter the shell cavity. A flange is coupled to the shell adjacent the open end. The flange includes a first passageway communicating with the shell cavity for receiving a tube bundle, and a second passageway communicating with the shell cavity to allow condensate to drain from the shell cavity. Preferably, the shell has a longitudinal axis and the second passageway has a longitudinal axis that is oriented substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the shell. The second passageway is positioned in the flange to allow condensate to the drain from the shell cavity regardless of whether the heat exchanger is oriented vertically or horizontally.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger includes a first tube (10) of generally circular cross section having a relatively large inside diameter and being U-shaped with opposite ends (12,14) adjacent one another. A second tube having a cross section that is relatively small in relation to the cross section of the first tube (10) and helical shaped section (36) intermediate its ends (32,34) is located within the first tube (10) and extends through caps (44) at the ends (12,14) of the first tube (10) to be received in headers (38,40). The first tube (10) impales headers (26,28) and includes apertures (22,24) aligned with the headers (26,28) and in fluid communication with the interiors thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, especially a heat exchanger for motor vehicles, comprising a bank of tubes through which a gaseous medium flows and around which a liquid coolant flows. The ends of said tubes are received in tube plates and are connected to the same in a material fit. The inventive heat exchanger also comprises a housing jacket which surrounds the bank of tubes and is connected, at the end thereof, to the tube plates. A coolant flows through said housing jacket. The tubes (5), tube plates (3, 7) and housing jacket (2) are produced from a heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant metallic alloy. According to the invention, the housing jacket (2) comprises at least one surrounding expansion flange (4).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel heat exchanger configuration which preferably uses the axial flow direction for the shell-side fluid and in which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or eliminated and in which inlet region tube erosion is addressed by providing a sacrificial portion of tube length so as to make repair and replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier and with minimal process interruption. Because axial flow is employed with respect to the shell-side fluid according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a combustion intake for a boiler from inside air is provided. A method and apparatus for providing a transition piece for venting fresh air to and combusted air away from a boiler is also provided. A method of connecting a transition piece to PVC, ABS OR CPVC ductwork is also provided.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation device in accordance with the present invention has an exhaust gas recirculation valve interposed between the exhaust system and the intake system of an internal combustion engine, an exhaust gas recirculation cooler for cooling exhaust gas sent from the exhaust gas recirculation valve to the intake system, and a bypass valve that bypasses the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and sends the exhaust gas to the intake system. The exhaust gas recirculation cooler is put adjacently between the exhaust gas recirculation valve and the bypass valve.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or eliminated. The heat exchanger includes at least one floating tubesheet which is movable in a longitudinal direction in response to tube expansion and contraction relative to the heat exchanger shell. The shell is joined to the ends by conical members which preferably join onto the shell at a distance along its length to provide shell extensions which promote better flow patterns in the regions of the tube ends. Tube erosion may be addressed by providing a sacrificial portion of tube length extending beyond the tube sheets so as to make repair and replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier and with minimal process interruption. Because axial or longitudinal flow is employed with respect to the shell-side fluid, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated and fouling is minimized through the use of high fluid velocities.

Abstract: The invention creates a new type of heat exchangers—Bent-Tube Heat Exchanger. It solves thermal expansion problem, allowing airtight connections for both sides of tube connection to tube sheets instead of a sliding connection on one side. Additionally, unlike in spiral-tube heat exchangers, the use of straight tube sections allows for uniform tube spacing and having the same length for all parallel tubes.

Abstract: The exchanger is made from a number of tubes sealingly connected to a pipe plate which is further connected to an enclosure. The pipe plate is realized by positioning enclosure and tubes in a mould and pouring a ceramic slurry which is subsequently sintered.

Abstract: An EGR cooler including a flat box shell having an inlet for introducing cooling water and an outlet for discharging the cooling water, plates positioned at axial open ends of the shell to close the axial open ends thereof, hoods positioned at sides of the plates away from the shell to enclose end faces of the plates, tubes extending within the shell and having ends penetrating through the plates, the tubes for passing exhaust gas from one hood to the other for thermal exchange with the cooling water, guide plates curved away from the axial extension of the shell toward longer sides of the end face of the shell and provided in the hood on an inlet side of the exhaust gas, a bar positioned between the guide plates and extending in a direction of shorter sides of the end face of the shell for dividing a stream of the exhaust gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) comprising a multi-tube bundle and a shell (2), the shell and the bundle being mutually engaged by means of an abutment inside the cavity defined by the shell, the abutment preventing or restricting movement of the bundle relative to the shell. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing such a heat exchanger (1).

Abstract: An improved condenser system employing heat exchange tubes that are supported by rod-type baffles. The condenser system can be a reflux condenser positioned at the top of a distillation column and employing a generally upright U-tube bundle for cooling fluids exiting the top of the distillation column.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or eliminated. The heat exchanger includes at least one floating tubesheet which is movable in a longitudinal direction in response to tube expansion and contraction relative to the heat exchanger shell. The shell is joined to the ends by conical members which preferably join onto the shell at a distance along its length to provide shell extensions which promote better flow patterns in the regions of the tube ends. Tube erosion may be addressed by providing a sacrificial portion of tube length extending beyond the tube sheets so as to make repair and replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier and with minimal process interruption. Because axial or longitudinal flow is employed with respect to the shell-side fluid, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated and fouling is minimized through the use of high fluid velocities.

Abstract: The invention focuses on distributing the vapor/liquid flow that emerges from an inlet nozzle across the tube sheet of an alkylation reactor or heat exchanger. The flow distributor takes the two-phase flow that emerges from the inlet nozzle, turns it towards the tubesheet and delivers a uniform mixture across the tube sheet. The flow distributor is located in the channel head of the reactor or heat exchanger. In order to dislodge the liquid film from the wall of the inlet nozzle, trip rings and angular trip tabs are located internally in the flow distributor.

Abstract: A multi tube heat exchanger with a bundle of small tubes surrounded by one large shell tube is provided. Each small tube has a smaller tube in the center. Product flows in the multiple annular spaces between the tubes while heating or cooling medium flows in the shell side. This arrangement provides high shear rate and results into high heat transfer rates and while still resulting in lower pressure drops for thick food products like tomato paste, catsup, sugar syrups and similar products.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel tube support system for a heat exchanger that serves to replace the baffles present in typical shell-and-tube heat exchangers. The shell-and-tube heat exchanger of the present invention 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.

Abstract: A heat exchange reactor including a housing, a plurality of tubes mounted in the housing and configured to carry a first fluid, and a baffle having a plurality of holes receiving the tubes. The baffle is configured to guide a second fluid provided within the housing to flow in a direction generally perpendicular to the tubes. The reactor includes various configurations for minimizing adverse effects of thermal expansion of the baffle and the tubes. The reactor is configured to minimize mechanical interference between the baffle and the tubes in both an operational state and a non-operational state, for example, by shaping the holes in the baffle to take into account thermal expansion. The reactor also includes a thermal insulator along a length of the tubes at a large temperature gradient zone within the reactor. The reactor further includes a heat transfer fin in contact with only one of the tubes.

Abstract: A shell-and-tube heat exchanger for handling an easily polymerizable substance is disclosed, which is characterized by having no part for stagnation of said process fluid on the surfaces for contact with the process fluid. By eliminating undulations from the inner surfaces of the heat transfer tubes, it is made possible to prevent the easily polymerizable substance from polymerizing and, at the same time, prevent adhesion of a polymer to the surfaces. Thus, the efficiency of heat exchange is enhanced and the protracted continuous operation is realized.