Apparatus for multi-tube heat exchanger with turbulence promoters

Abstract

An apparatus is provided employing multi-tube heat exchangers that include turbulence promoters, which are easy to clean, thus maintaining sanitary conditions; prevent catching or trapping of product flowing or pumping through the tubes; and aid in maximizing heating and cooling efficiency of flowable or pumpable product flowing within the apparatus.

1 . A sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger comprising:
 a first tube for receiving a heating or cooling medium, the first tube comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end provides a medium inlet and the second end provides a medium outlet, an outer surface, and a plurality of turbulence inducers wherein a single turbulence inducer is a smooth raised fin disposed on the outer surface of the first tube and further wherein the plurality of turbulence inducers are disposed in rows around the outer surface of the first tube with the rows arranged perpendicular to a laminar flow direction of a flowable or pumpable product;   a second tube disposed about and concentric with the first tube for receiving a flowable or pumpable product, the second tube having a first end and a second end wherein the first end provides a product inlet and the second end provides a product outlet;   a securing clamp adjacent the first end of the second tube wherein the securing clamp secures the first end of the second tube to the first tube;   a seal assembly adjacent the second end of the second tube wherein the seal assembly seals the second end of the second tube to the first tube; and   wherein the product outlet of the second tube is in tubular form and having an angled outlet portion extending toward the securing clamp adjacent the first end of the second tube and the product inlet of the second tube is in tubular form and having an angled inlet portion extending toward the seal assembly adjacent the second end of the second tube, with each of the product inlet and the product outlet having a portion extending radially outward of the angled outlet portion and the angled inlet portion.   
   
   
       2 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of turbulence inducers are further configured in sets of adjacent rows around the outer surface of the first tube, a set comprising a first row of turbulence inducers wherein a leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer in the first row is oriented at a first angle relative to the laminar flow direction of the flowable or pumpable product and a second row of turbulence inducers adjacent the first row of turbulence inducers wherein a leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer in the second row is oriented at a second angle relative to the laminar flow direction of the flowable or pumpable product. 
   
   
       3 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein the first angle of the leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer relative to the laminar flow direction of the flowable or pumpable product is 135 degrees and the second angle of the leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer relative to the laminar flow direction of flowable or pumpable product is 225 degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein the first angle of the leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer relative to the laminar flow direction of the flowable or pumpable product is 225 degrees and the second angle of the leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer relative to the laminar flow direction of flowable or pumpable product is 135 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of turbulence inducers are forged into the outer surface of the first tube during the formation of the first tube. 
   
   
       6 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising a round o-ring protector wherein the o-ring protector receives the second end of the first tube. 
   
   
       7 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising a triangular protector with a round opening through a middle section of the triangular protector wherein the round opening receives the second end of the first tube. 
   
   
       8 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising a third tube disposed about and concentric with the second tube, the third tube having a first end and a second end, the first end providing a medium inlet and the second end providing a medium outlet, wherein the medium inlet and the medium outlet of the third tube is tubular and extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the third tube. 
   
   
       9 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the securing clamp comprises a pair of ring members having an O-ring inserted therebetween and an outer clamp member which is removable without tools for inspection or cleaning of the outer surface of the first tube and an inner surface of the second tube. 
   
   
       10 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the seal assembly permits relative movement between the first rube and the second tube to accommodate thermal effects which may occur between the first tube and the second tube. 
   
   
       11 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the seal assembly comprises an inner ring member secured to the first tube, the inner ring member having a cavity on an outer surface of the inner ring member wherein an O-ring may be installed, and an outer ring member secured to the second tube and sealingly engaged to the O-ring. 
   
   
       12 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein angles of the product inlet and the product outlet relative to a longitudinal axis of the second tube is about 45 to 60 degrees. 
   
   
       13 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the sanitary concentric tube heat exchangers are interconnected to provide a heat exchange system. 
   
   
       14 . A sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger comprising:
 a first tube for receiving a heating or cooling medium, the first tube comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end provides a medium inlet and the second end provides a medium outlet, an outer surface, and a plurality of turbulence inducers wherein a single turbulence inducer is a smooth raised fin disposed on the outer surface of the first tube and further wherein the plurality of turbulence inducers are disposed in rows around the outer surface of the first tube with the rows arranged perpendicular to a laminar flow direction of a flowable or pumpable product;   a second tube disposed about and concentric with the first tube for receiving a flowable or pumpable product, the second tube having a first end and a second end wherein the first end provide a product inlet and the second end provides a product outlet;   a third tube disposed about and concentric with the second tube, the third tube having a first end and a second end, the first end providing a medium inlet and the second end providing a medium outlet, wherein the medium inlet and the medium outlet of the third tube is tubular and extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the third tube;   a securing clamp adjacent the first end of the second tube wherein the securing clamp secures the first end of the second tube to the first tube;   a seal assembly adjacent the second end of the second tube wherein the seal assembly seals the second end of the second tube to the first tube; and   wherein the product outlet of the second tube is in tubular form and having an angled outlet portion extending toward the securing clamp adjacent the first end of the second tube and the product inlet of the second tube is in tubular form and having an angled inlet portion extending toward the seal assembly adjacent the second end of the second tube, with each of the product inlet and the product outlet having a portion extending radially outward of the angled outlet portion and the angled inlet portion, and wherein the medium inlet of the third tube and the product inlet of the second tube are located on a same side of a longitudinal axis of the sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger and with the medium outlet of the third tube and the product outlet of the second tube are located on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the concentric tube heat exchanger, thus providing a symmetrical shape to facilitate interconnection of a plurality of the sanitary concentric tube heat exchangers in series.   
   
   
       15 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of turbulence inducers are further configured in sets of adjacent rows around the outer surface of the first tube, a set comprising a first row of turbulence inducers wherein a leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer in the first row is oriented at a first angle relative to the laminar flow direction of the flowable or pumpable product and a second row of turbulence inducers adjacent the first row of turbulence inducers wherein a leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer in the second row is oriented at a second angle relative to the laminar flow direction of the flowable or pumpable product. 
   
   
       16 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the first angle of the leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer relative to the laminar flow direction of the flowable or pumpable product is 135 degrees and the second angle of the leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer relative to the laminar flow direction of flowable or pumpable product is 225 degrees. 
   
   
       17 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the first angle of the leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer relative to the laminar flow direction of the flowable or pumpable product is 225 degrees and the second angle of the leading product contact side of the fin of each turbulence inducer relative to the laminar flow direction of flowable or pumpable product is 135 degrees. 
   
   
       18 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of turbulence inducers are forged into the outer surface of the first tube during the formation of the first tube. 
   
   
       19 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  further comprising a triangular protector with a round opening through a middle section of the triangular protector wherein the round opening receives the second end of the first tube. 
   
   
       20 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the seal assembly permits relative movement between the first rube and the second tube to accommodate thermal effects which may occur between the first tube and the second tube. 
   
   
       21 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the securing clamp comprises a pair of ring members having an O-ring inserted therebetween and an outer clamp member which is removable without tools for inspection or cleaning of the outer surface of the first tube and an inner surface of the second tube. 
   
   
       22 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the seal assembly comprises an inner ring member secured to the first tube, the inner ring member having a cavity on an outer surface of the inner ring member wherein an O-ring may be installed, and an outer ring member secured to the second tube and sealingly engaged to the O-ring. 
   
   
       23 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  further comprising corrugated bellows which extend circumferentially around the third tube for accommodation of thermal effects which may occur between the second and the third tube. 
   
   
       24 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein angles of the product inlet and the product outlet relative to a longitudinal axis of the second tube is about 45 to 60 degrees. 
   
   
       25 . The sanitary concentric tube heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein a plurality of the sanitary concentric tube heat exchangers are interconnected to provide a heat exchange system.