Displaceable baffle for a heat exchanger and method for reducing vibration for the same

Abstract

A tube bundle device having at least one displaceable baffle which supports the tubes in the bundle device is disclosed in order to reduce tube vibration. The displaceable baffle includes at least two displaceable portions, which can be moved to installed position such that tubes in a tube bundle are deflected.

1 . A tube bundle device comprising:
 a tube bundle having a plurality of tubes arranged parallel to one another in tube rows; and   at least one displaceable support baffle having a plurality of apertures formed therein, wherein the plurality or apertures being sized to receive at least one of the tubes therethrough,   wherein each displaceable support baffle having at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein a portion of the plurality of apertures being located on the first portion and another portion of the plurality of apertures being located on the second portion,   wherein at least the first portion and the second portion being located in a first loading position to facilitate positioning of the displaceable support baffle on the tube bundle on the tube bundle and a second installed position causing deflection of the tubes passing through the plurality of apertures.   
   
   
       2 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and second portion are closer together in the second installed position as compared to the first loading position. 
   
   
       3 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one fastener for securing the first portion to the second portion in the second installed position. 
   
   
       4 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one fastener is a weld. 
   
   
       5 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one fastener is a clamp. 
   
   
       6 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one fastener is a releasable fastener. 
   
   
       7 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and second portion are closer together in the first loading position as compared to the second installed position. 
   
   
       8 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one insert positioned between the first portion and the second portion to maintain the first portion and the second portion in the second installed position. 
   
   
       9 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one fastener for securing the first portion to the second portion in the second installed position. 
   
   
       10 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fastener is a weld. 
   
   
       11 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fastener is a clamp. 
   
   
       12 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fastener is a releasable fastener. 
   
   
       13 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one fixed baffle having a plurality of apertures formed therein, wherein each of the plurality of apertures being sized to receive at least one of the tubes therethrough.   
   
   
       14 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a housing, wherein the tube bundle is received within the housing, wherein each of the fixed baffles having an outer perimeter and a blocking area formed between the outer perimeter and the plurality of apertures, wherein the blocking area being sized to be located within a gap between the housing and outer tubes of the tube bundle. 
   
   
       15 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 14 , wherein the tube bundle having at least one partition lane separating a portion of the tubes of the tube bundle with another portion of the tubes of the tube bundle, wherein each fixed baffle having partition lane blocking area formed therein, wherein each partition lane blocking area being sized to be received within the corresponding partition lane of the tube bundle. 
   
   
       16 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 13 , wherein the tube bundle having a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one displaceable support baffle and the at least one fixed baffle are spaced along the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       17 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 16 , wherein each displaceable support baffle is spaced from an adjacent fixed baffle. 
   
   
       18 . The tube bundle device according to  16 , further comprising at least one blocking baffle, wherein each blocking baffle comprising:
 a blocking plate having arm outer perimeter;   at least one plate opening sized to receive the tubes of the tube bundle therethrough; and   a blocking plate blocking area formed between the outer perimeter of the blocking plate and the at least one plate opening,   wherein the blocking plate blocking area being sized to be located substantially within a gap between the housing and outer tubes of the tube bundle.   
   
   
       19 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 18 , wherein one of the at least one blocking baffle being located between a fixed baffle and a displaceable support baffle. 
   
   
       20 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein the tube bundle is received within the housing, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion having an outer perimeter and a blocking area formed between the outer perimeter and the plurality of apertures, wherein the blocking area being sized to be located within a gap between the housing and outer tubes of the tube bundle. 
   
   
       21 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube bundle having at least one partition lane separating a portion of the tubes of the tube bundle with another portion of the tubes of the tube bundle, wherein each displaceable support baffle having partition lane blocking area formed therein, wherein each partition lane blocking area being sized to be received within the corresponding partition lane of the tube bundle, wherein the partition lane blocking area having a first part on the first portion and a second part on the second portion. 
   
   
       22 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of apertures is a plurality of spaced apart slots. 
   
   
       23 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of slots extend generally parallel to the partition lane blocking area. 
   
   
       24 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 23 , wherein each displaceable support baffle further comprising:
 a plurality of support ribs, wherein each support rib extends substantially parallel to the plurality of slots.   
   
   
       25 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 23 , wherein each displaceable support baffle further comprising:
 at least one reinforcement rib extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the support ribs and the slots, wherein each rib intersecting at least one rib and at least one slot.   
   
   
       26 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures is a plurality of spaced apart slots sized to receive at least one tube therethrough. 
   
   
       27 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 26 , wherein each displaceable support baffle further comprising:
 a plurality of support ribs, wherein each support rib extends substantially parallel to the plurality of slots.   
   
   
       28 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 27 , wherein each displaceable support baffle further comprising:
 a plurality of support rods, wherein the plurality of support rods extend in a generally parallel relationship such that the plurality of slots are formed therebetween.   
   
   
       29 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 27 , wherein each displaceable support baffle further comprising:
 at least one reinforcement rib extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the support ribs and the slots, wherein each rib intersecting at least one rib and at least one slot.   
   
   
       30 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures being sized to receive one tube therethrough. 
   
   
       31 . A displaceable support baffle for use in supporting a plurality of tubes in a tube bundles, comprising:
 a first plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein;   a second plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein;   wherein each of the first plate and the second plate having an outer perimeter and a blocking area formed between the outer perimeter and the plurality of apertures;   a first fastener assembly for securing the first plate to the second plate in a first loading position; and   a second fastener assembly for securing the first plate to the second plate in a second installed position.   
   
   
       32 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 31 , wherein the first fastener assembly is a clamp. 
   
   
       33 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 31 , wherein the second fastener assembly is a weld. 
   
   
       34 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 31 , wherein the second fastener assembly is a releasable fastener. 
   
   
       35 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 31 , wherein each of the first plate and the second plate having partition lane blocking area, wherein the partition lane blocking area being sized to be located in a partition lane in a tube bundle, wherein the partition lane blocking area on the first plate being positioned adjacent the partition lane blocking area on the second plate. 
   
   
       36 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 35 , wherein the first fastener assembly being located on the partition lane blocking area of the first plate and the second plate. 
   
   
       37 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 35 , wherein the second fastener assembly being located on the partition lane blocking area of the first plate and the second plate. 
   
   
       38 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of apertures is a plurality of parallel slots, wherein each slot being sized to locate at least one tube therein. 
   
   
       39 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 38 , wherein the plurality of slots extend generally parallel to the partition lane blocking area. 
   
   
       40 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 38 , wherein the plurality of slots extend generally perpendicular to the partition lane blocking area. 
   
   
       41 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 31 , wherein each aperture being sized to receive a tube therethrough. 
   
   
       42 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of apertures is a plurality of parallel slots, wherein each slot being sized to locate at least one tube therein. 
   
   
       43 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of parallel slots being formed by a plurality of parallel rods secured to a frame, wherein each slot being sized to locate at least one tube therein. 
   
   
       44 . A method of supporting a tube bundle having a plurality of tubes arranged parallel to one another in tube rows and longitudinal axis extending in a direction generally parallel to the plurality of tubes, the method comprising:
 locating at least one displaceable support baffle on the tube bundle along the longitudinal axis, each displaceable support baffle having a plurality of apertures formed therein, wherein each of the plurality of apertures being sized to receive at least one of the tubes therethrough, wherein each displaceable support baffle having a first portion and a second portion, wherein a portion of the plurality of apertures being located on the first portion and another portion of the plurality of apertures being located on the second portion,   displacing the first portion with respect to the second portion to an installed position; and   securing the first portion to the second portion such that the first portion and the second portion are maintained in the installed position.   
   
   
       45 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein displacing the first portion with respect to the second portion causing deflection of the tubes passing through the plurality of apertures. 
   
   
       46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein displacing the first portion with respect to the second portion comprising inserting an insert between the first portion and the second portion. 
   
   
       47 . The method according to  claim 44 , further comprising:
 locating at least one fixed baffle on the tube bundle along the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the at least one fixed baffle having a plurality of apertures formed therein, wherein each of the plurality of apertures being sized to receive at least one of the tubes therethrough.   
   
   
       48 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein each fixed baffle having spaced from an adjacent displaceable support baffle. 
   
   
       49 . The tube bundle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first portion and a second portion includes at least two portions. 
   
   
       50 . The displaceable support baffle according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a third plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein;   a third fastener assembly for securing the third plate to one of the first plate and the second plate in a first loading position; and   a fourth fastener assembly for securing the third plate to one of the first plate and the second plate in a second installed position.