Seg-lok baffle for heat exchanger

Abstract

A baffle system and heat-exchange apparatus generally comprising a plurality of baffles and a plurality of tubes, wherein the plurality of baffles define at least one permeable support region and at least one barrier region. The at least one permeable support region can permit shell-side fluid to pass through the baffles and flow along the lengths of the tubes generally unimpeded and thereby prevent excessive shell-side pressure drop. The at least one barrier region can create turbulence in the flow of the shell-side fluid surrounding the plurality of tubes and prevent stratification. The combination of the permeable support region and barrier region within the baffle system or heat-exchange apparatus can yield a swirl flow that can reduce excessive shell-side pressure drop, reduce stratification in the flow of the shell-side fluid, and promote the efficiency of heat transfer between tube-side fluid and shell-side fluid.

1 . A baffle system comprising:
 a plurality of baffles; and   a plurality of tubes received and supported by the plurality of baffles;   wherein:
 the baffles in the plurality of baffles are concentrically aligned; 
 at least one of the plurality of baffles defines a first permeable support region having support elements that support some of the tubes in the plurality of tubes, the support elements having regions that generally conform to a shape of the tubes in the plurality of tubes; and 
 at least one of the plurality of baffles defines a first barrier region having a solid portion that is generally impermeable and a plurality of holes through which other ones of the tubes in the plurality of tubes extend and are supported. 
   
     
     
         2 . The baffle system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of baffles comprises a first baffle; and   the first baffle defines the first permeable support region and the first barrier region.   
     
     
         3 . The baffle system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of baffles further comprises a second baffle;   the second baffle defines a second permeable support region having support elements that support some of the tubes in the plurality of tubes, the support elements having regions that generally conform to a shape of the tubes in the plurality of tubes; and   the first baffle is axially displaced from the second baffle by a baffle spacing.   
     
     
         4 . The baffle system of  claim 3 , wherein the second permeable support region is in axial alignment with the first barrier region. 
     
     
         5 . The baffle system of  claim 3 , wherein the second baffle further defines a second barrier region having a solid portion that is generally impermeable and a plurality of holes through which tubes in the plurality of tubes extend and are supported. 
     
     
         6 . The baffle system of  claim 5 , wherein the first permeable support region is in axial alignment with the second permeable support region. 
     
     
         7 . The baffle system of  claim 5 , wherein the first barrier region is in axial alignment with the second barrier region. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The baffle system of  claim 3 , wherein the baffle spacing is approximately three feet. 
     
     
         10 . The baffle system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the plurality of baffles further comprises a third baffle;   the third baffle defines a third permeable support region having support elements that tubes in the plurality of tubes, the support elements having regions that generally conform to a shape of the tubes in the plurality of tubes; and   the first baffle is axially displaced from the third baffle by a baffle spacing.   
     
     
         11 . The baffle system of  claim 10 , wherein the third permeable support region is in axial alignment with the first barrier region. 
     
     
         12 . The baffle system of  claim 11 , wherein the second permeable support region is in axial alignment with the first barrier region. 
     
     
         13 . The baffle system of  claim 10 , wherein the third baffle further defines a third barrier region having a solid portion that is generally impermeable and a plurality of holes through which tubes in the plurality of tubes extend and are supported. 
     
     
         14 . The baffle system of  claim 13 , wherein the first permeable support region is in axial alignment with the third permeable support region. 
     
     
         15 . The baffle system of  claim 13 , wherein the first barrier region is in axial alignment with the third barrier region. 
     
     
         16 . The baffle system of  claim 13 , wherein the second permeable support region is in axial alignment with the third permeable support region. 
     
     
         17 . The baffle system of  claim 13 , wherein the second permeable support region is in axial alignment with the third barrier region. 
     
     
         18 . The baffle system of  claim 13 , wherein the second baffle further defines a second barrier region having a solid portion that is generally impermeable and a plurality of holes through which tubes in the plurality of tubes extend and are supported. 
     
     
         19 . The baffle system of  claim 18 , wherein the second barrier region is in axial alignment with the third barrier region. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The baffle system of  claim 10 , wherein the baffle spacing is approximately three feet. 
     
     
         22 . A heat-exchanging apparatus comprising:
 an at least one heat exchanger;   a plurality of baffles disposed within the heat exchanger; and   a plurality of tubes disposed within the heat exchanger;   wherein
 the plurality of tubes are received and supported by the plurality of baffles; 
 the plurality of baffles are concentrically aligned; 
 at least one of the plurality of baffles defines at least one permeable support region having support elements that support some of the tubes in the plurality of tubes, the support elements having regions that generally conform to a shape of the tubes in the plurality of tubes; and 
 at least one of the plurality of baffles defines at least one barrier region having a solid portion that is generally impermeable and a plurality of holes through which other ones of the tubes in the plurality of tubes extend and are supported.