Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6615872
-
Patent Number
6,615,872
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, July 3, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 9, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Cooley; Charles E.
- Sorkin; David
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 366 336
- 366 337
- 366 340
- 165 1091
- 138 37
- 138 38
- 138 40
- 138 42
- 138 39
- 048 1894
- 055 441
- 055 445
- 055 446
- 261 109
- 261 113
- 181 264
- 181 265
- 181 270
- 181 281
- 454 310
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A flow translocator disposed within a conduit for transferring and separating laminar fluid flow during translocation of the fluid core to the outer perimeter of the conduit and the outer perimeter flow to the center of the conduit. The flow translocator includes a disk disposed transverse the length of a conduit and having an outer profile conforming to the inner profile of a conduit to form a sealed fit. Arrays of slots extend about the disk for simultaneously directing the fluid core to the inner profile of a conduit and the outer perimeter flow toward the fluid core. The slots are staggered to maintain separation of the fluid core and the outer perimeter fluid during translocation.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a fluid flow translocator device for improving the method of dispersing temperature gradients found in laminar flow through heat exchangers and reactors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known that heat exchangers and reactors develop temperature gradients that tend to be influenced by the direction of thermal radiation. Such gradient typically approaches a parabolic distribution of heat across the cross section of a conduit. The center or core of the laminar flow is the hottest and the last to cool. This results from isolation of the core of the laminar flow as the cooler, outer perimeter fluid confines the core. While the cooling rates of heat exchangers can often be adequate for operation, such rates do not always optimize the time required to cool the fluid. This results in oversized heat exchangers and associated increases in costs. Similarly, reactors require a specific stabilized temperature to enable proper chemical reactions. The temperature gradient and heat distribution becomes much more important in this scenario.
It is known to integrate a plurality of static mixing inserts into heat exchangers and reactors. Static mixing inserts have been employed to convert the heated core of the laminar flow to a turbulent flow with a median temperature. The result is an increase in temperature of the outer perimeter fluid juxtaposed to the conduit walls and an overall increase in heat emission. While these static fluid mixing inserts somewhat reduce the core temperature of the flow, potential heat dissipation often is not maximized, thus potentially allowing the temperature gradient to be quickly reestablished and creating a need for additional mixing inserts. The fluid experiences a pressure drop across each mixing insert. Therefore, the addition of each mixing insert generally requires additional energy necessary to achieve the desired mixing while moving the fluid through the conduit.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simple, low cost device what can dissipate heat more efficiently thereby minimizing heat gradients and creating a more stable environment for chemical reactions where required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the above needs by providing an improved apparatus for translocating higher temperature fluid as between an inner core of a fluid to a cooler conduit wall in the absence of mixing of laminar fluid.
The apparatus includes a flow translocator disposed within a conduit for transferring and separating laminar fluid flow during translocation of the fluid core to the outer perimeter of the conduit and the outer perimeter flow to the center of the conduit. The flow translocator includes a disk disposed transverse the length of a conduit and having an outer profile conforming to the inner profile of a conduit to form a sealed fit. Arrays of slots extend about the disk for simultaneously directing the fluid core to the inner profile of a conduit and the outer perimeter flow toward the fluid core. The slots are staggered to maintain separation of the fluid core and the outer perimeter fluid during translocation.
These and other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in combination with the accompanying drawings, which depict systems and components that can be used alone or in combination with each other in accordance with the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a cut-away perspective view of a tube-in-shell type catalytic reacting heat exchanger showing a series of flow translocators of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a schematic view of the temperature profile through a conduit using a typical flow static mixer of the prior art;
FIG. 3
is a schematic view of the temperature profile through a conduit using a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 8
is a perspective view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference first to
FIG. 1
, a tube-in-shell type catalytic reacting heat exchanger
10
is there shown in a cutaway view having a series of flow translocators
12
of the present invention disposed at intervals within a conduit
14
.
FIGS. 2 and 3
illustrate the difference in the temperature profile of the laminar flow fluid (points A-F) using a static mixer
16
of the prior art (
FIG. 2
) versus a flow translocator
12
of the present invention (
FIG. 3
) for dispersing the temperature gradient within a conduit
14
. In this example, the laminar fluid
18
is flowing from right to left and has a fluid core
20
temperature warmer than the outer perimeter flow
22
. Points A-C illustrate laminar flow
18
within a conduit
14
forming a typical parabolic temperature gradient from the interior wall
24
of the conduit
14
extending radially outward toward the center of the conduit
14
. After passing through the static mixer
16
, the fluid core
20
and outer perimeter flow
22
are successfully mixed to create an equal temperature within the fluid as illustrated by point D of FIG.
2
. Immediately after mixing the two fluid flows, however, the fluid begins to re-form a parabolic temperature gradient (points E and F) and requires a second static mixer at point D to remix and recreate an equal temperature flow within the conduit
14
.
FIG. 3
illustrates the temperature gradient of the laminar fluid flow
18
after passing through a flow translocator
12
. Unlike the prior art static mixer
16
, the temperature of the fluid core
20
is cooler than the outer perimeter flow
22
, forming an inverted parabolic temperature gradient at point D. Once the fluids
20
,
22
begin to mix, the temperature begins to equalize at point F. Thus, when a static mixer
16
of the prior art in
FIG. 2
is replaced with a fluid translocator
12
of the present invention, a parabolic temperature gradient does not begin to redevelopment until after point F within the conduit
14
, diminishing the amount of inserts needed to maintain a uniform temperature.
FIG. 4
illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the flow translocator
12
of the present invention disposed within a conduit
14
. A disk
26
lies transverse in the conduit
14
and has an outer profile
28
substantially conforming to (e.g. equal to) the inner profile of the conduit
14
to form a sealed fit along the interior wall
24
. A suitable structure such as a lip
30
may be provided to help ensure a tight seal. Arrays of slots
32
are arranged about the disk
26
. The arrays
32
are louvered to direct the fluid core
20
toward the outer perimeter flow
22
and vice-versa. The arrays
32
are staggered or alternated and have a partition
34
between each array
32
to prevent mixing of the flows
20
,
22
while the fluid passes through the flow translocator
12
. The arrays
32
converge toward a transversely extending central disk
36
. The central disk
36
is a solid wall that directs the core fluid
20
outwardly to be directed by the louvered arrays
32
toward the interior wall
24
of the conduit
12
.
In
FIG. 4
, the laminar fluid flow
18
is illustrated as travelling horizontally from right to left. The core fluid
20
strikes the central disc
36
and is directed to the alternating arrays
32
of outwardly angled louvered slots
38
. The outer perimeter flow
22
is directed to the alternating arrays
32
of inwardly angled louvered slots
40
. Partitions
34
maintain separation of the fluid flows
20
,
22
during the translocation process to ensure the desired temperature gradient shown in FIG.
3
. Additionally, the multiple louvered slots
38
,
40
allow for a minimal pressure loss and subsequent decrease in fluid velocity during translocation. The fluid translocator
12
may be formed by a stamping process and is preferably symmetrical along its vertical axis to allow for independence of installation orientation.
FIG. 5
illustrates a flow translocator
12
similar to that shown in
FIG. 4
but having more louvered slots
38
,
40
to aid in decreasing pressure loss and fluid velocity as the fluid
20
,
22
travels through the disk
26
.
FIG. 6
illustrates another preferred embodiment of the flow translocator
12
of the present invention. A disk
26
extends transverse in the conduit
14
and has an outer profile
28
equal to the inner profile of the conduit
14
to form a sealed fit along the interior wall
24
. A lip
30
may be provided to ensure a tight seal. A vertically transversely central disk
36
is located within disk
26
and forms a solid wall. A first slot
42
extends at an angle between the central disk
36
and the lip
30
of disk
26
. The central disk
36
directs the core fluid
20
outwardly to be directed by the first slot
42
toward the interior wall
24
of the conduit
14
.
A second slot
44
extends at an angle between the disk
26
and central disk
36
for directing the outer perimeter flow
22
toward the center of the conduit
14
to displace the core fluid
20
. Partitions
34
maintain separation of the fluid flows
20
,
22
during the translocation process to ensure the desired temperature gradient shown in FIG.
3
. The fluid translocator
12
may be formed by a stamping process and is preferably symmetrical along its vertical axis to allow for independence of installation orientation.
FIG. 7
illustrates a flow translocator
12
similar to that shown in
FIG. 6
but having less alternating first and second slots
42
,
44
and a greater partition area
34
. This configuration provides the cleanest fluid inversion during the translocation process.
FIG. 8
illustrates a flow translocator
12
having a cone-shaped insert
46
that confines the fluid core
20
(see
FIG. 3
) of a laminar fluid flow
18
and transports it to the interior wall
24
of the conduit
12
through an array of tubes
48
. The outer perimeter flow
22
is also confined through an outer cone
50
and is directed toward the fluid core
20
of the laminar fluid flow
18
. While the translocation is taking place, generally none of the fluids
20
,
22
will come in contact, thus transmitting the higher temperature fluid to the outer perimeter flow
22
along the interior wall
24
of the conduit
14
. With a plurality of these translocators located throughout the heat exchanger
10
(FIG.
1
,) it is possible to reduce the temperature of the fluid flow in a shorter period of time while reducing the number of such inserts required.
It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact embodiment or construction which has been illustrated and described but that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A flow translocator disposed within a conduit within a heat exchanger or reactor for transferring and separating laminar fluid flow during translocation of the fluid core to the outer perimeter of the conduit and the outer perimeter flow to the center of the conduit, the flow translocator comprising:an outer disk disposed transverse to the length of said conduit and having an outer profile conforming to the inner profile of said conduit to form a sealed fit; a central disk disposed within said outer disk transverse to the length of said conduit and having a solid face for redirecting said core fluid from said center of said conduit toward said outer perimeter of said conduit; a first louvered slot extending at an angle between said central disk and said outer disk for directing said core flow to said outer perimeter of said conduit to form said outer perimeter flow; a second louvered slot extending at an angle between said outer disk and said central disk for directing said outer perimeter flow toward said central disk to form said core fluid; and a solid partition extending between said first and second louvered slots for maintaining separation between said core fluid and said outer perimeter flow during said translocation of said fluids.
- 2. The flow translocator of claim 1, further comprising an array of said first and second louvered slots about said central disk.
- 3. The flow translocator of claim 2, wherein said louvered slots are staggered between said first louvered slot array and said second louvered slot array about said central disk.
- 4. The flow translocator of claim 1, said outer disk further comprising a lip extending about said outer profile for securing said sealed fit between said translocator and said conduit.
- 5. The flow translocator of claim 1, wherein said translocator is symmetrical along a vertical axis.
US Referenced Citations (31)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
808 766 |
Jul 1951 |
DE |
100 27 653 |
Dec 2001 |
DE |
0 063 729 |
Apr 1981 |
EP |
891212 |
Mar 1962 |
GB |
WO 0112960 |
Feb 2001 |
WO |