Shell-side heat transfer enhancement

Abstract

A device for distributing flow through a shell side of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, the device comprising a shell-side flow distributor configured to direct flow through all zones of a tube-bundle positioned in the shell, the shell-side flow distributor comprising an inlet flow distributor configured to direct flow from an inlet nozzle to all zones of the tube-bundle, the inlet flow distributor comprising an inlet distributor plate positioned proximate to the inlet nozzle in the shell side; and one or more window distributor plates, each window distributor plate comprising a window extending through a thickness of the window distributor plate, wherein the one or more window distributor plates are arranged in a vertical stack adjacent to the inlet distributor plate; and a flow guidance system, the flow guidance system disposed in the tube-bundle, wherein the flow guidance system comprises one or more flow guidance plates.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for distributing flow through a shell side of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of:
 introducing a fluid through an inlet nozzle on the shell side of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger;   introducing the fluid to an inlet flow distributor, wherein the inlet flow distributor is configured to disperse the fluid to each zone of a tube-bundle positioned in the shell side of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger, wherein each zone is defined by vertical support baffles arrayed perpendicular to the tube-bundle;   dispersing the fluid through the inlet flow distributor such that the fluid reaches each zone of the tube-bundle;   striking an inlet distributor plate of the inlet flow distributor with the fluid, the inlet distributor plate positioned proximate to the inlet nozzle;   dispersing the fluid around the inlet distributor plate such that a portion of the fluid hits a first window distributor plate positioned parallel to the inlet distributor plate, wherein the first window distributor plate comprises a window extending through a thickness of the first window distributor plate with an area less than the area of the inlet distributor plate;   dispersing the fluid both around the edges of the first window distributor plate and through the window of the first distributor plate such that at least a port of the fluid hits a second window distributor plate positioned parallel to the first window distributor plate, wherein the second window distributor plate comprises a window extending through a thickness of the second window distributor plate with an area greater than the area of the window in the first window distributor plate;   dispersing the fluid both around the edges of the second window distributor plate and through the window of the second window distributor plate; and   dispersing the fluid through a flow guidance system positioned in the tube-bundle parallel to the tubes such that the velocity of the fluid through each zone is equivalent.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of striking a third window distributor plate positioned parallel to the second window distributor plate with fluid dispersed around the edges of the second window distributor plate, wherein the third window distributor plate comprises a window extending through a thickness of the third window distributor plate, wherein the window in the third window distributor plate has an area greater than the area of the window in the second window distributor plate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of dispersing the fluid through the flow guidance system comprises the steps of:
 dispersing the fluid through openings in a first flow guidance plate positioned in the tube-bundle and parallel to the tubes, where at least one opening is positioned in each zone of the tube-bundle, where the first flow guidance plate is proximate to the inlet flow distributor; and   dispersing the fluid through openings in a second flow guidance plate positioned in the tube-bundle parallel to the first flow guidance plate, where at least one opening is positioned in each zone of the tube-bundle offset from the openings in the first flow guidance plate.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of dispersing the fluid through openings in a third flow guidance plate positioned in the tube-bundle parallel to the second flow guidance plate, where at least one opening is positioned in each zone of the tube-bundle offset from the openings in the second flow guidance plate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second flow guidance plate extends through the vertical support baffles positioned on either end of the tube-bundles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shell side of the shell-and-tube heat is selected from the group consisting of TEMA type G, TEMA type H, TEMA type J, and TEMA type X. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first window distributor plate is larger than the inlet distributor plate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet distributor plate is a rectangular plate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first window distributor plate and the second window distributor plate are rectangular.