Primary Inventor: Krishna P. Singh
Contributing Inventor(s): Ranga Nadig
Date of Patent Issuance: December 10, 2013
Status: Granted
Jurisdiction: US
Assignee: Holtec International, Inc.
Equipment Type: Heat Exchange Equipment
Docket Number: HOL-015
Publication NumberUS 2008/314570 A1
Application Number: 12/127,459
Patent Number(s)US 8,602,089 B2

Related US Application Data:

  • Provisional application No. 60/942,893, filed on June 8, 2007, provisional application No. 60/940,299 filed on May 25, 2007.

Abstract:  A heat exchanger apparatus for accommodating thermal and pressure transients. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger apparatus comprises: a first outer shell having an open end and an end wall; an inner shell having a cavity, the inner shell extending through the end wall of the first outer shell; a first tube sheet having a rim portion having a design feature for allowing the rim portion to act as an expansion joint; the outer rim portion of the first tube sheet connected to the first outer shell so as to enclose the open end of the first outer shell and form a first header cavity between the first outer shell and the inner shell; a clearance existing between the inner shell and the first tube sheet; a plurality of holes in the inner shell that form passageways between the first header cavity and the cavity of the inner shell; a first end cap connected to the rim portion of the first tube sheet so as to form a first plenum on the other side of the first tube sheet; a plurality of tubes located in the cavity of the inner shell and operably connected to the first tube sheet; an opening in the first outer shell for flowing a shell-side fluid into and/or out of the first header cavity; and an opening in the first end cap for flowing a tube-side fluid into and/or out of the first plenum.