TURBULATOR INSERT

Abstract

A heat exchanger system includes a housing defining an interior volume, one or more tubes extending within the interior volume of the housing, and a turbulator disposed within one or more of the tubes. The turbulator induces turbulence in a fluid flow through the tube, and includes a cylindrical body having a first, outer surface and a second, inner surface opposite to the first, outer surface, and multiple protrusions coupled to the cylindrical body and extending at least partially inwardly from the inner surface of the body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to heat exchangers, including turbulator inserts for heat exchanger tubing.

BACKGROUND

A shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) includes a bundle of tubes extending within a pressurized vessel (or shell), where heat transfer occurs between a fluid flowing through the tubes and a fluid residing in the pressurized vessel. In STHEs, an internal surface of the tubes is usually smooth when phase change of the fluid in the tube is expected. However, if no phase change is expected, the tubes can include turbulence promoting vortex generators, referred to as turbulators, to create turbulence in the flow of fluid through the tubes to increase heat transfer between the fluid in the tubes and the fluid in the vessel.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes turbulators for agitating a fluid flow through a tube, such as tubes of STHEs.

In some aspects, a heat exchanger system includes a housing having an interior volume, at least one tube extending within the interior volume of the housing, and a turbulator disposed within the at least one tube. The turbulator induces turbulence in a fluid flow through the at least one tube, and the turbulator includes a cylindrical body having a first, outer surface and a second, inner surface opposite to the first, outer surface, and multiple protrusions coupled to the cylindrical body and extending at least partially inwardly from the inner surface of the body.

This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The turbulator can include an insert positioned within the at least one tube. The insert can be positioned within the at least one tube with a friction fit along an outer surface of the insert and an inner surface of the at least one tube. The insert can span a first longitudinal length along the at least one tube, where the first longitudinal length is less than entire longitudinal length of the at least one tube. The cylindrical body can include an inner diameter defined by the inner surface, and the first longitudinal length can be between four and six times the inner diameter. The turbulator can be integrally formed with the at least one tube. Each protrusion of the multiple protrusions includes two triangular shapes arranged side by side. The turbulator can further include multiple perforations through the cylindrical body of the turbulator, where each perforation is positioned adjacent to a respective protrusion of the multiple protrusions. The heat exchanger system can include an array of tubes disposed within the interior volume of the housing, where the array of tubes are spaced apart from each other along a length of the housing, and can include multiple turbulators disposed within the array of tubes such that at least one turbulator of the multiple turbulators is positioned within each tube of the array of tubes. The heat exchanger system can include multiple turbulators disposed within the at least one tube at spaced longitudinal intervals along a length of the at least one tube.

In certain aspects, a turbulator includes a body having a cylindrical shape and having a first, outer surface and a second, inner surface opposite to the first, outer surface. The turbulator also includes multiple protrusions coupled to the body and extending at least partially inwardly from the inner surface of the body.

These, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The plurality of protrusions can form an array of protrusions disposed along the inner surface of the body. The array of protrusions can forms a staggered pattern of the protrusions along the inner surface of the body. Each protrusion in the multiple protrusions can include a triangular shape. Each protrusion in the multiple protrusions can include two triangular shapes arranged side by side. The turbulator can further include multiple perforations through the body, each perforation being positioned adjacent to a respective protrusion in the multiple protrusions. Each protrusion in the multiple protrusions can be oriented at an offset angle from the inner surface, where the offset angle is between 15 degrees and 60 degrees. The offset angle can be about 30 degrees. The body can include a first longitudinal length and an inner diameter defined by the inner surface, where the first longitudinal length is between four and six times the inner diameter.

Certain aspects of the disclosure encompass a method for mixing tubular fluid flow. The method includes disposing a turbulator insert within a tube, where the tube directs a fluid flow along a length of the tube. The turbulator insert includes a body having a cylindrical shape, a first, outer surface, and a second, inner surface opposite to the first, outer surface. The turbulator insert also includes multiple protrusions coupled to the body and extending at least partially inwardly from the inner surface of the body. The method further includes agitating, with the turbulator insert, a portion of the fluid flow through the tube.

These, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. Disposing the turbulator insert within the tube can include positioning the turbulator insert with a friction fit along the outer surface of the body and an inner surface of the tube. The method can further include disposing a second turbulator insert within the tube, the second turbulator insert being spaced away from the first-mentioned turbulator insert, and agitating, with the second turbulator, a second portion of the fluid flow through the tube. The turbulator insert can span a first longitudinal length along the tube, where the first longitudinal length is less than the length of the tube. Agitating the portion of the fluid flow through the tube can include tripping a boundary layer of the portion of the fluid flow with the plurality of protrusions.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE).

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of a second example STHE.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an example turbulator disposed within a tube.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the example turbulator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the example turbulator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of the example turbulator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an example velocity profile of a fluid flow through the example turbulator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart describing an example method for mixing tubular fluid flow.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure describes boundary layer tripper inserts for agitating a fluid flow through a tube, such as tubes of a STHE or other heat exchanger type. Boundary layer tripper inserts, which are a type of turbulator, agitate a flow through a tubing to promote turbulence in the fluid flow and promote mixing of the fluid as it flows through the tubing. This agitation and turbulence increases a heat exchange across the tubing, for example, between the fluid flow through the tubing and a second, different fluid that resides at an exterior of the tubing, such as surrounding the tubing. In the present disclosure, a turbulator insert resides within a tube, such as within one or more tubes of an array of tubes of a STHE, and invokes turbulence in a fluid flowing through the tube using protrusions that extend radially inwardly from an inner surface of a cylindrical body of the turbulator. In some implementations, a length of the turbulator is less than the length of the tube. For example, the turbulator can be three to six inches long, whereas the tube may be significantly larger, such as several feet long. In certain instances, multiple turbulator inserts can be placed along a tube, such as at spaced intervals along a length of the tube, to continuously trip the boundary layer of the fluid flow through the tube.

In some examples, an exterior surface of the turbulator insert has a tight tolerance with an internal surface of the tube itself, such that the turbulator insert can be positioned and held in place in the tube with a friction fit between the exterior surface of the turbulator and an interior surface of the tube. The turbulator insert can be installed at the tube entry (based on the fluid flow direction through the tube), where the turbulator can provide protection against the phenomenon known as knife-edging, which is a failure mode in STHEs where a leading or trailing edge of a tube experiences greater erosion at its edge(s).

This disclosure describes turbulator inserts used in one or more tubes of a STHE, such as single-pass straight-tube heat exchangers, two-pass straight-tube heat exchangers, and U-tube heat exchangers. However, the turbulator insert(s) can be used in other STHEs, trim cooler heat exchangers, or other types of heat exchangers. For example, one or more turbulator inserts can be used in trim cooler heat exchangers at crude oil vacuum overhead locations, where a reduction in temperature of a fluid flow can generate significant increment in gasoline yield in a plant production per year. Turbulator inserts can also be used in other applications where turbulent fluid flow is desired through a tubing, such as in downstream oil and gas facilities. For example, downstream oil and gas facilities can utilize turbulator inserts to mix two or more process streams, such as with chemical corrosion inhibitors that are injected in a process piping system. In example applications such as these, a turbulator insert(s) can be installed in a main process line and located in an immediate downstream section of the injection point, for example, to enhance the dilution of the chemical corrosion inhibitor within the process stream.

In some conventional heat exchanger systems, a turbulator includes swirl inserts disposed along an entire length of a tube, where the swirl inserts can be twisted-tape, propeller, wavy surfaces, disconnected spiral windings, or helical coils. However, these swirl inserts typically are disposed along an entire length of a tube and generate a high pressure drop across the length of the swirl insert, negatively impacting heat exchanger performance. In the present disclosure, an example turbulator includes a cylindrical body with surface protrusions that extend radially inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. The example turbulator is an insert that is disposed at regular intervals inside a tube to promote continuous tripping of the boundary layer of the fluid flow through the tube. The cylindrical body is tightly fit to an interior wall of the tube, and the protrusions are arranged in a staggered array, for example, to trip an entire circumferential boundary layer of the fluid flow. In some implementations, an example turbulator of the present disclosure increases a temperature gain of a fluid through the turbulator by 5 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit, with an additional pressure drop penalty of between 2.5 and 14%. In some instances, additional turbulator inserts positioned downstream of a first turbulator insert can further increase a fluid temperature gain, a larger pressure drop (such as up to 30% increase over that of a smooth pipe). The example turbulator can protect against knife-edging, such as by reducing an amount of erosion against one or more ends of the tube when the turbulator is disposed at the end(s) of the tube.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) 100. The example STHE 100 includes a shell 102, or housing, having an interior volume 104 arranged to support an array of tubes 106 extending through the interior volume 104. The interior volume 104 is pressure sealed between a first fluid inlet 108 and a first fluid outlet 110. The shell 102 also includes baffles 112 to direct a first fluid through the interior volume 104 between the first fluid inlet 108 and first fluid outlet 110, for example, to promote multiple passes of the first fluid across the surfaces of the array of tubes 106. The array of tubes 106 are supported within the interior volume 104 by tube sheets 114 at opposite longitudinal ends of the interior volume 104. In some instances, the array of tubes 106 are also supported within the interior volume 104 by the baffles 112. The example STHE also includes a turbulator (not shown) disposed within each of the tubes of the array of tubes 106, and is described in greater detail in FIGS. 3-6. A second fluid flows from a second fluid inlet 116, through the array of tubes 106, and out of a second fluid outlet 118. The second fluid flows through the array of tubes 106, and the first fluid flows over the tubes 106 and through the interior volume 104 of the shell 102 to promote heat transfer between the two fluids.

The example STHE 100 is depicted as a straight-tube, two-pass STHE, though other STHE types can be implemented. For example, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of a second example STHE 200. The second example STHE 200 is similar to the first example STHE 100 of FIG. 1, except that the second example STHE 200 is depicted as a straight-tube, single-pass STHE where the second fluid inlet 116′ and second fluid outlet 118′ are on opposite longitudinal ends of the interior volume 104′, and the array of tubes 106′ are meant to flow the second fluid in a single pass across the interior volume 104′.

Example heat exchanger systems can include the example STHE 100, the second example STHE 200, or another type of heat exchanger. In some implementations, an example heat exchanger system includes a housing, such as the shell 102 of example STHE 100 or shell 102′ of example STHE 200, one tube or several tubes extending within the interior volume of the housing, and a turbulator disposed within one or more of the tubes to agitate a flow of fluid through the tube(s). For example, multiple turbulators can be disposed within the array of tubes of a heat exchanger system such that one (or more) turbulator is positioned within each tube in the array of tubes of the STHE. In some examples, multiple turbulators are disposed within one or more of the tubes and are spaced at longitudinal intervals along a length(s) of the one or more tubes. The configuration of the tubing within the housing can vary. For example, tubing can be configured to extend parallel to a central access of the housing, perpendicular to an interior surface of the housing, or oriented in other positions within the housing. In some instances, the array of tubes are positioned within the housing to maximize surface area contact with a fluid residing in (or flowing through) the interior volume of the housing, and the array of tubes can be positioned in a variety of orientations within the housing to promote heat transfer across the surface area of the tubing.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an example turbulator 300 disposed within an example tube 302, and can be used in a tube in the array of tubes 106 in the example STHE 100 of FIG. 1 or in a tube in the array of tubes 106′ in the second example STHE 200 of FIG. 2. The example tube 302 is cylindrical and has an inner surface 304 defining an inner diameter of the tube 302. The example turbulator 300 and example tube 302 are disposed longitudinally along a central longitudinal axis A-A.

In typical fluid flow through a cylindrical tube having a smooth inner diameter surface, the flow is laminar and the boundary layer against the inner surface of the tube experiences effects of friction forces from the wall surface. Laminar flow with typical boundary layer conditions through a heat exchanger tube is less desirable than turbulent flow, since greater turbulence disrupts the boundary layer flow and promotes more effective heat transfer through the walls of the heat exchanger tube. The example turbulator 300, when positioned within the example tube 302 and disposed in a fluid flow through the tube 302, induces turbulence in the fluid flow, for example, to promote more efficient heat transfer across the wall of the tube 302. The example turbulator 300 includes a body 306 having a cylindrical shape, a first (outer) surface 308, and a second (inner) surface 310 opposite to the first surface 308. The example turbulator 300 includes multiple protrusions 312 coupled to the cylindrical body and extending radially inwardly from the inner surface 310 of the body 306. The protrusions 312 can be attached to, integrally formed with, or otherwise connected to the inner surface 310 of the body 306. In some examples, the protrusions 312 disrupt a laminar flow into the example turbulator 300 by agitating the fluid flow, and the protrusions 312 trip (or otherwise disrupt) the boundary layer of the fluid flow against the inner surface 304 of the tube 302 to enhance mixing and heat transfer of the fluid flow.

The example turbulator 300 can include an insert within the example tube 302, and does not need to span an entire length of the tube 302 in order to induce turbulence in the fluid flow through the tube 302. For example, the turbulator 300 can extend along a first longitudinal length of the example tube 302, where the first longitudinal length is less than, or a portion of, the entire length of the tube 302, and the turbulator 300 promotes mixing of the fluid flow within the tube 302 downstream of the turbulator 300. In some examples, the turbulator 300 is positioned at or near an upstream end of the tube 302. When positioned at an upstream end of the tube 302, the example turbulator 300 can promote turbulence and mixing of the fluid flow downstream of the turbulator 300, while also protecting the upstream leading edge of the tube 302 from knife edging (described earlier). In some implementations, a tube (such as the example tube 302) includes multiple turbulator inserts spaced along a length of the tube, such as at regular intervals along the axial length (or longitudinal length) of the tube.

As depicted in the example turbulator 300 and example tube 302 of FIG. 3, the example turbulator 300 is disposed within the example tube 302, and the outer surface 308 of the body 306 of the turbulator 300 is in contact with the inner surface 304 of the tube 302. In some implementations, the turbulator 300 is press fit (or friction fit) within the example tube 302, such that the outer surface 308 of the example turbulator 300 engages a portion of the inner surface 304 of the tube 302. In some examples, the example turbulator 300 is in a tight fit with the tube 302 to reduce thermal contact resistance. Although the example turbulator 300 is shown in FIG. 3 as an insert that is positioned within the example tube 302, this construction can vary. In certain implementations, the turbulator 300 is integrally formed with the tube 302, such as formed with, or as part of, the tube 302. In other implementations, the turbulator 300 is coupled to the inner surface 304 of the tube 302 in other ways, such as with fasteners, adhesive, key-and-slot profiles, a combination of these, or other types of connection.

The example turbulator 300 can be manufactured from a variety of materials, such as metallic or non-metallic materials, and can be formed by molding, injection, or other manufacturing methods. In some instances, use of non-metallic materials can reduce manufacturing costs. For example, the example turbulator 300 can be formed of reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (RPTFE) or other polymer, Bakelite or other synthetic plastic, corrosion-resistant alloy(s) such as Duplex SS, Superduplex, Alloy 800, Alloy 825, or Super Austenitic SS 6 Mo, a combination of these materials, or other materials. In some instances, the material of the turbulator 300 can depend on the application and service of the heat exchanger where the turbulator is implemented.

The example turbulator 300 is also shown in FIGS. 4-6, where FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the example turbulator 300, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the example turbulator 300, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of the example turbulator 300. As depicted in the example turbulator 300 of FIG. 5, the body 306 has a longitudinal length L along the central axis A-A, an inner diameter D_i defined by the inner surface 310 of the body 306, an outer diameter D_o defined by the outer surface 308 of the body 306, and a thickness t of the body 306 between the outer surface 308 and the inner surface 310. The size and scale of the example turbulator 300 can vary. The thickness t of the body 306 of the turbulator 300 is large enough to provide structural integrity to the turbulator 300 in order to withstand pressures from the fluid flow through a tube and to support the protrusions 312, while also being small enough not to hinder the fluid flow as it transitions between flowing through the tube and flowing through the turbulator 300. The thickness t can vary based on the size of the turbulator 300 and respective tubing. For example, in a turbulator having a length L of 3 in (76.2 mm) to 6 in (152.4 mm), the thickness t can be less than 1 mm, such as 0.5 mm. In certain implementations, when placed within a tube of a STHE, the total length, L, of the turbulator insert 300 is between four and six times the dimension of the inner diameter D_i of the body 306. However, this length L and its scale can vary to be longer or shorter relative to the inner diameter D_i.

The protrusions 312 can take a variety of forms, shapes, and orientations to promote turbulence in the fluid flow through the example turbulator 300. In the example turbulator 300, each protrusion 312 includes a triangular shape extending radially inwardly, away from the inner surface 310 of the body 306 and toward the central axis A-A, and extends at least partially forward, such as against an incoming direction of the fluid flow through the example turbulator 300. The protrusions 312 of the example turbulator 300 of FIG. 5 are positioned at an offset angle, θ (theta), from the inner surface 310 of the body 306. In some examples, the triangular shape of the protrusions 312 includes two triangular fins aligned side by side with each other, for example, along the arcuate inner surface 310 of the body 302. The two triangular fins of each protrusion 312 form a tooth-like orientation. In certain instances, each protrusion includes a flat face that is continuous with the inner surface 310 of the body 306. In some implementations, the triangular fins are oriented such that their points are at least partially transverse to the direction of fluid flow, and the protrusions 312 are arranged in a staggered pattern along the inner surface 310 of the body 306 and positioned in the immediate inner diameter of the body 306 (or of the tube 302) to enhance heat transfer between the fluid flow through the turbulator 300 and a second fluid surrounding the turbulator 300 (or surrounding the tube 302).

In some implementations, the protrusions are 312 are formed by stamping the outer surface 308 of the body 306, in that the protrusions 312 are formed from the stamped portion(s) of the body 306 that are pushed radially inwardly so that the stamped portion(s) extend at least partially away from the inner surface 310 of the body 306 defining the inner diameter D_i of the body 306. In these implementations, the offset angle θ is a puncture angle. This offset angle θ can vary, for example, between 0 and 90 degrees, such as between 15 and 60 degrees. In some examples, such as in the example turbulator 300 of FIGS. 3-6, the offset angle θ is about 30 degrees. In some examples, “about” may constitute within 10%, within 5%, or within 1% of a provided value.

In certain implementations, the example turbulator 300 includes multiple perforations 314 (or punctures) through the body 306. In some examples, each perforation 314 is positioned adjacent to a respective protrusion 312. For example, the perforations 314 can be formed by stamping the protrusions 312, in that stamping the body 306 of the turbulator 300 pushes the material forming the protrusions 312 radially inwardly, leaving the perforations 314 where material was stamped out of the body 306. The perforations 314 can match the shape and profile of the protrusions 312, or the shape and profile can be different. In the example turbulator 300 of FIGS. 3-6, the perforations 314 have a semicircular shape and the protrusions 312 have a side-by-side triangular shape, where the widths of the protrusions 312 and perforations 314 (in the arcuate direction) are the same.

The example turbulator 300 can include an array of protrusions 312 and perforations 314 that results in a continuous tripping of the boundary layer of a fluid flow through the example turbulator 300. For example, the protrusions 312 can form a staggered pattern of protrusions 312 on the inner surface 310 of the body 306. In the example turbulator 300 of FIGS. 3-6, the turbulator 300 includes multiple rows of protrusions 312, where longitudinally adjacent rows of protrusions are angularly offset from each other at an angular pitch, α (alpha). In the example turbulator 300 of FIG. 6, the angular pitch a is about 22.5 degrees, though the angular pitch a can vary. Referring to the example turbulator 300 of FIGS. 5 and 6, the axial pitch (P) of the perforations 314 is the axial length between rows of the perforations 314. In the example turbulator 300, the axial pitch P is between about 0.4 to 0.45 times the dimension of the outer diameter D_o, and a length (k) of each perforation 314 is between about 0.2 to 0.3 times the dimension of the outer diameter D_o. However, the axial pitch P and perforation length k can vary.

FIG. 7 is an example velocity profile 700 of a fluid flow through an example turbulator, such as the example turbulator 300 of FIGS. 3-6. The velocity profile 700 indicates a disruption, or tripping, of the established boundary layer of the fluid flow through the turbulator insert 300, thus increasing the turbulence level and mixing near the inner wall of the turbulator insert 300 and the inner wall of a tube downstream of the insert. In implementations where the turbulator insert 300 is disposed within a tube of a heat exchanger, this turbulence leads to larger heat transfer into the fluid flowing through the tube and leads to better performance of the heat exchanger.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart describing an example method 800 for mixing a tubular fluid flow, for example, performed by the example turbulator 300 of FIGS. 3-6. At 802, a turbulator insert is disposed within a tube, where the tube directs a fluid flow along a length of the tube. The turbulator insert includes a body having a cylindrical shape and including a first, outer surface and a second, inner surface opposite to the first, outer surface. The turbulator also includes multiple protrusions coupled to the body and extending at least partially inwardly from the inner surface of the body. At 804, the turbulator insert agitates a portion of the fluid flow through the tube. In some instances, disposing the turbulator insert within the tube includes positioning the turbulator insert with a friction fit along the outer surface of the body and an inner surface of the tube. In certain instances, a second turbulator is disposed within the tube and spaced away from the first-mentioned turbulator insert, and the second turbulator agitates a second portion of the fluid flow through the tube. In some examples, the turbulator insert spans a first longitudinal length along the tube, and the first longitudinal length is less than the length of the entire tube. In certain instances, agitating the portion of the fluid flow through the tube includes tripping a boundary layer of the portion of the fluid flow with the plurality of protrusions of the turbulator insert.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger system, comprising: a housing comprising an interior volume;at least one tube extending within the interior volume of the housing; anda turbulator disposed within the at least one tube, the turbulator configured to induce turbulence in a fluid flow through the at least one tube, the turbulator comprising: a cylindrical body having a first, outer surface and a second, inner surface opposite to the first, outer surface, anda plurality of protrusions coupled to the cylindrical body and extending at least partially inwardly from the inner surface of the body.

2. The heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the turbulator comprises an insert positioned within the at least one tube.

3. The heat exchanger system of claim 2, wherein the insert is positioned within the at least one tube with a friction fit along an outer surface of the insert and an inner surface of the at least one tube.

4. The heat exchanger system of claim 2, wherein the insert spans a first longitudinal length along the at least one tube, the first longitudinal length being less than entire longitudinal length of the at least one tube.

5. The heat exchanger system of claim 4, wherein the cylindrical body comprises an inner diameter defined by the inner surface, and the first longitudinal length is between four and six times the inner diameter.

6. The heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the turbulator is integrally formed with the at least one tube.

7. The heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein each protrusion in the plurality of protrusions comprises two triangular shapes arranged side by side.

8. The heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the turbulator further comprises a plurality of perforations through the cylindrical body of the turbulator, each perforation in the plurality of perforations being positioned adjacent to a respective protrusion in the plurality of protrusions.

9. The heat exchanger system of claim 1, comprising: an array of tubes disposed within the interior volume of the housing, the array of tubes being spaced apart from each other along a length of the housing and comprising the at least one tube; andcomprising a plurality of turbulators including the first-mentioned turbulator, the plurality of turbulators being disposed within the array of tubes such that at least one turbulator of the plurality of turbulators is positioned within each tube of the array of tubes.

10. The heat exchanger system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of turbulators including the first-mentioned turbulator, the plurality of turbulators being disposed within the at least one tube at spaced longitudinal intervals along a length of the at least one tube.

11. A turbulator, comprising: a body having a cylindrical shape and comprising a first, outer surface and a second, inner surface opposite to the first, outer surface; anda plurality of protrusions coupled to the body and extending at least partially inwardly from the inner surface of the body.

12. The turbulator of claim 11, wherein the plurality of protrusions form an array of protrusions disposed along the inner surface of the body.

13. The turbulator of claim 12, wherein the array of protrusions forms a staggered pattern of the protrusions along the inner surface of the body.

14. The turbulator of claim 11, wherein each protrusion in the plurality of protrusions comprises a triangular shape.

15. The turbulator of claim 14, wherein each protrusion in the plurality of protrusions comprises two triangular shapes arranged side by side.

16. The turbulator of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of perforations through the body, each perforation in the plurality of perforations being positioned adjacent to a respective protrusion in the plurality of protrusions.

17. The turbulator of claim 11, wherein each protrusion in the plurality of protrusions is oriented at an offset angle from the inner surface, where the offset angle is between 15 degrees and 60 degrees.

18. The turbulator of claim 17, wherein the offset angle is about 30 degrees.

19. The turbulator of claim 11, wherein the body comprises a first longitudinal length and comprises an inner diameter defined by the inner surface, the first longitudinal length being between four and six times the inner diameter.

20. A method for mixing tubular fluid flow, the method comprising: disposing a turbulator insert within a tube, the tube configured to direct a fluid flow along a length of the tube, and the turbulator insert comprising: a body having a cylindrical shape and comprising a first, outer surface and a second, inner surface opposite to the first, outer surface; anda plurality of protrusions coupled to the body and extending at least partially inwardly from the inner surface of the body; andagitating, with the turbulator insert, a portion of the fluid flow through the tube.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein disposing the turbulator insert within the tube comprises positioning the turbulator insert with a friction fit along the outer surface of the body and an inner surface of the tube.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising: disposing a second turbulator insert within the tube, the second turbulator insert being spaced away from the first-mentioned turbulator insert; andagitating, with the second turbulator, a second portion of the fluid flow through the tube.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the turbulator insert spans a first longitudinal length along the tube, the first longitudinal length being less than the length of the tube.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein agitating the portion of the fluid flow through the tube comprises tripping a boundary layer of the portion of the fluid flow with the plurality of protrusions.