Improvement in heat exchangers for bundles of tubes which are straight or wavy, in particular to systems for supporting the tubes and advantages of these systems for supporting

摘要

The boiler with nests of tubes parallel to its axis, between the outer shell and a tube down the centre, uses tubes which curve outwards and inwards alternately from top to bottom. At each bend the tubes are supported by rectangular section strips (14) arranged on edge and forming free supports. These alternate with similar strips which are welded to the inner and outer shells forming fixed supports. Between the free supports are fitted honeycomb structures (21) with cells which enclose the tubes and support them with the whole system permitting expansion. The fixed and free supports are radial arms welded to the outer plates (20,22) enclosing the cells and between them are C-shaped rings. The gaps between their ends face in alternate directions so that circulating fluid flows along a zig-zag path past them.