HEAT EXCHANGER

1322220 Tubular heat exchangers AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES Inc 27 Aug 1970 [8 Sept 1969] 41247/70 Heading F4S In a heat exchanger of the kind having an inner U-tube 30 surrounded by an outer U- shaped shell 22, an arrangement for sealing the space between the shell 22 and tube 30 while permitting limited longitudinal movement therebetween includes a continuous seal ring 96 which is urged by means of an annular compression ring 78 and split retainer ring 84 into sealing engagement with both the bevelled surface 94 of a shell end flange 13 and the peripheral surface of a cylindrical adapter body 72 secured to and surrounding the tube 30. A groove 76 into which the inner portion 90 of the split ring 84 extends is dimensioned to permit limited longitudinal movement of the inner tube 30 relative to the shell. The fluid to be heated or cooled enters the shell at 24 and flows over the surface of the inner tube and leaves through outlet 26. A series of external fins 68 in the form of U-shaped channels are provided on the straight portions 32, 34 of the tube 30 whose inlet and outlet ends 40, 42 are connected to conduits (not shown) by couplings 44. The seal ring 96 can be formed of a suitable ductile ferrous or non-ferrous metal such as soft iron or copper, or of an elastomer material. The sealing arrangement described may be used in a heat exchanger incorporating a bundle of tubes instead of a single tube to seal the gap between the shell and each tube plate.