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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Heat exchanger array for a step down return of condensate

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6728845

This patent describes a heat exchanger array for step down return of condensate in a vapor system having a vaporizer and vapor services of different temperature and pressure having condensate reservoirs of relatively higher and lower pressures and temperatures. The array comprises: straight tube heat exchangers each of which comprises a straight outer tubular shell with an inside wall, having a fluid inlet and a communicating fluid outlet, and, an inner conduit assembly with fluid inlet and a communicating outlet concentrically mounted within the outer tubular shell. The conduit assembly has an inner tube with an external fin structure displaced from the inside wall and a periodic baffle structure proximate to the inside wall of the tubular shell. The straight tube heat exchangers are arranged with at least one heat exchanger having an inlet connected to a reservoir of relatively higher temperature and pressure. They also have a communicating outlet connected to the inlet of at least one other heat exchanger the inlet of which is additionally connected to a condensate reservoir of relatively lower temperature and the communicating outlet of which is connected to a common return for the combined condensate. The array further has pressure control means for regulating a pressure drop between the exchangers and cooling means for cooling the condensate in the exchangers.

Assignee:
NOV; EDB-87-074009; NOV-87-051288
Patent Number(s):
US 4648355
OSTI ID:
6728845
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English