Heat exchanger with accessible core

Abstract

In at least some implementations, a heat exchanger includes a core and a shell. The core may have a periphery and a plurality of plates with a plurality of passages interleaved therebetween, a portion of the passages extending and open to the periphery of the core. The shell includes a plurality of panels releasably connected together to define a pressure vessel in which the core is received in assembly, and the shell is adapted to be at least partially disassembled to provided access to the core and enable cleaning of the passages and the plates, or to enable repair or replacement of the core. The shell also is adapted to be reassembled into a pressure vessel with the core inside for further use of the heat exchanger.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a core having a periphery and a plurality of plates with a plurality of passages interleaved therebetween, a portion of the passages extending and open to the periphery of the core; and   a shell including a plurality of panels releasably connected together to define a pressure vessel in which the core is received in assembly, the shell being adapted to be at least partially disassembled to provided access to the core and enable cleaning of the passages and the plates, or to enable repair or replacement of the core, and the shell being adapted to be reassembled into a pressure vessel with the core inside for further use of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the panels are connected to another component by removable fasteners. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the shell also includes a plurality of posts coupled to the core and at least some of the panels of the shell are connected to the posts. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3  wherein panels of the shell are connected to the posts and to another panel. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the panels define a generally cylindrical shell and the plates of the heat exchanger are circular and arranged in a stack within the shell. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the panels include a plurality of side panels and a pair of end panels. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6  wherein each side panel is connected to both end panels. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4  wherein the panels include a plurality of side panels and a pair of end panels and each side panel is connected to at least one end panel and to a post. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3  which also includes a liner located between the core and the shell and sealed to the shell to prevent cross flow of working and treatment fluids flowing through the core, and wherein the liners are disposed at least partially around each of the posts. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9  which also includes a plurality of post liners with a post liner provided adjacent to each the post, and between the post and panels connected to the post. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8  which also comprises at least one flow diverter extending radially outwardly from the core to the shell to inhibit fluid flow past said at least one flow diverter and between the shell and core. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein the fasteners are capable of being removed without damaging the fasteners whereby the fasteners can be reused when the heat exchanger is reassembled. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a core having a periphery and a plurality of plates with a plurality of passages interleaved therebetween, where some of the passages define at least part of a working fluid circuit and different passages define at least part of a treatment fluid circuit; and   a shell including a plurality of panels releasably connected to another component to define a pressure vessel in which the core is received in assembly, the shell being adapted to be at least partially disassembled to provided access to the core and the shell being adapted to be reassembled into a pressure vessel with the core inside for further use of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein the panels are releasably connected together. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein the shell also includes a plurality of posts coupled to the core and at least some of the panels of the shell are connected to the posts. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the panels are releasably connected to another component by removable and reuseable fasteners.