Tubular heat exchanger

Abstract

A tubular heat exchanger preferably of a multi-pass design, has a cylindrical shell with open ends that are releasable covered and sealed by preferably two end caps. Located removably in the shell and axially between the end caps is a core having a plurality of outer tubes and preferably a plurality of inner tubes with each one of the inner tubes extending through a respective one of the outer tubes. A plurality of perforated plates disposed in the shell are sealed releasably to respective ends of the inner and outer tubes thereby forming a plurality of liquid tight chambers for the flow of a plurality of segregated mediums and the transfer of heat therebetween.

1 . A multi pass heat exchanger comprising:
 a tubular shell having an open first end and an opposite second end;   a first end cap having an outlet for flow of a first medium;   a second end cap having an inlet for flow of the first medium;   a perforated first plate located in the shell and between the first and second end caps, wherein an outlet chamber is defined between the first end cap and the first plate for flow of the first medium;   a perforated second plate located in the shell and between the first plate and the second end cap, wherein a second chamber is defined between the first and second plates for flow of a second medium;   a perforated third plate located in the shell and between the second plate and the second end cap, wherein a mid chamber is defined between the second and third plates for flow of a third medium;   a perforated fourth plate located in the shell and between the third plate and the second end cap, wherein a fourth chamber is defined between the third and fourth plates for flow of the second medium and a fifth chamber is defined between the fourth plate and the second end cap for flow of the first medium;   a first tube communicating between the second and fourth chambers for flow of the second medium between the second and fourth chambers, the first tube having opposite end portions extending through and supported by the respective second and third plates; and   a second tube communicating between the first and fifth chambers for flow of the first medium from the fifth chamber to the second chamber, the second tube having opposite end portions extending through and supported by the respective first and fourth plates.   
   
   
       2 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1  wherein the second tube coextends longitudinally with and is spaced radially inward from the first tube. 
   
   
       3 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 2  further comprising an annular channel defined between the first and second tubes for flow of the second medium. 
   
   
       4 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a centerline of the tubular shell;   the first end cap, the first plate, the second plate, the third plate and the fourth plate each have a peripheral surface facing radially outward with respect to the centerline and defining a circumferentially continuous groove; and   a resiliently flexible gasket located in each one of the grooves and sealed releasably between the respective peripheral surface and an inward face of the shell.   
   
   
       5 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 4  wherein the gasket is an o-ring. 
   
   
       6 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a first spacer member extending between the first plate and the second plate and a second spacer member extending between the third plate and the fourth plate. 
   
   
       7 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1  wherein the opposite end portions of the first tube have a diameter that is less than a diameter of a mid portion of the first tube for spacing the second plate from the third plate. 
   
   
       8 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 7  wherein the opposite end portions of the first tube have a diameter that is less than a diameter of a mid portion of the first tube for spacing the second plate from the third plate. 
   
   
       9 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a centerline of the shell;   a through bore in the first plate and through which the end portion of the second tube projects axially with respect to the centerline;   a through bore in the fourth plate and through which the opposite end portion of the second tube projects axially;   a first circumferentially continuous gasket seated in the through bore in the first plate and releasably compressed radially between the end portion of the second tube and the first plate; and   a second circumferentially continuous gasket seated in the through bore in the fourth plate and releasably compressed radially between the opposite end portion of the second tube and the fourth plate.   
   
   
       10 . The multi pass heat exchanger set forth in  claim 9  further comprising:
 a through bore in the second plate and through which the end portion of the first tube projects;   a through bore in the third plate and through which the opposite end portion of the first tube projects;   a first circumferentially continuous gasket seated in the through bore in the second plate and releasably compressed radially between the end portion of the first tube and the second plate; and   a second circumferentially continuous gasket seated in the through bore in the third plate and releasably compressed radially between the opposite end portion of the first tube and the third plate.   
   
   
       11 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an outer shell;   a perforated first plate located in and attached sealably to the shell, the first plate having an inner face;   a perforated second plate located in and attached sealably to the shell, the second plate having an inner face facing the inner face of the first plate;   a mid chamber located between the first and second plates;   a first bore in the first plate;   a second bore in the second plate;   a tube extending longitudinally through the mid chamber, the tube having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion projecting through the respective first and second bores;   a circumferentially continuous first gasket for releasably sealing the first end to the first plate; and   a circumferentially continuous second gasket for releasably sealing the second end to the second plate.   
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 11  further comprising a mid portion of the tube having a larger diameter than diameters of the first and second end portions for spacing the first and second plates apart. 
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 11  further comprising:
 first and second counter bores of the respective first and second bores;   first and second retainers press fitted in the respective first and second bores; and   wherein the first and second gaskets are located at the bottom of the respective first and second counter bores and the first and second retainers are located substantially flush with the inner face of the respective first and second plates.   
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 13  further comprising:
 a first spacer ring located adjacent to the first gasket in the first counter bore;   a circumferentially continuous third gasket located between the first spacer ring and the first retainer in the first counter bore;   a second spacer ring located adjacent to the second gasket in the second counter bore; and   a circumferentially continuous fourth gasket located between the second spacer ring and the second retainer in the second counter bore.   
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 12  further comprising:
 first and second counter bores of the respective first and second bores;   first and second retainers press fitted in the respective first and second bores; and   wherein the first and second gaskets are located at the bottom of the respective first and second counter bores and the first and second retainers are located substantially flush with the inner face of the respective first and second plates; and   opposite annular stops carried by the mid portion for abutting respective first and second retainers for maintaining a predetermined distance between the first and second plates.   
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 11  wherein the first and second plates are made of plastic and the tube is made of a copper alloy. 
   
   
       17 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 16  wherein the first and second gaskets are o-rings. 
   
   
       18 . A tubular heat exchanger comprising:
 a cylindrical outer shell extending along a centerline and having a circumferential inner face, a first end, an opposite second end, an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, wherein the first end defines a circular opening and the inlet and outlet orifices communicate radially through the shell;   a first end cap engaged removably to the first end for sealing off the opening, the end cap having a first nozzle for flow of a first fluid;   a second nozzle at the second end for flow of the first fluid,   a removable core having a perforated first plate, a perforated second plate, and a plurality of first tubes extending longitudinally between and communicating through the first and second plates, the first and second plates each having an outer peripheral surface constructed and arranged to releasably seal to the inner face;   a first end chamber defined axially between the first end cap and the first plate;   an opposite second end chamber defined axially between the second end and the second plate;   a mid chamber communicating with the first and second orifices and located axially between the first and second plates and defined radially by the inner face;   wherein either one of the first and second nozzles flows the first fluid into the adjacent first or second chamber and the other of the first and second nozzles flows the first fluid out of the adjacent first or second chamber; and   wherein a second fluid flows into the mid chamber via the inlet orifice and out of the mid chamber via the outlet orifice.   
   
   
       19 . The tubular heat exchanger set forth in  claim 18  further comprising:
 the removable core having a perforated third plate located axially between the first end cap and the first plate in the shell, a perforated fourth plate located axially between the second end and the second plate in the shell, and a plurality of second tubes communicating through and supported at opposite end portions by the third and fourth plates;   a fourth chamber defined axially between the first and third plates;   a fifth chamber defined axially between the second and fourth plates; and   first and second ports in the shell communicating radially with the respective fourth and fifth chambers for the flow of a third medium in and out of the shell.   
   
   
       20 . The tubular heat exchanger set forth in  claim 19  wherein each one of the plurality of first tubes project co-axially through a respective one of the plurality of second tubes.