Primary Inventor: Krishna P. Singh
Contributing Inventor(s): Ranga Nadig
Date of Publication: November 11, 2010
Status: Published
Jurisdiction: US
Assignee: Holtec International, Inc.
Equipment Type: Heat Exchange Equipment
Docket Number: HOL-027
Publication Number: US 2010/0282451 A1
Application Number: 12/744,973
Related U.S. Application Data: Provisional application No. 61/175,963, filed on May 6, 2009, provisional application No. 61/175,967, filed on May 6, 2009.
Abstract: A method, system and/or apparatus for reducing the pressure drop in a heat exchanger. In one aspect, the invention can be a heat exchanger comprising: a shell forming a cavity, the shell comprising an inlet for introducing a shell-side fluid into the cavity and an outlet for allowing the shell-side fluid to exit the cavity; a tube bundle for carrying a tube-side fluid, the tube bundle located in the cavity along a longitudinal axis; at least one stabilizing plate positioned within the cavity and arranged in a substantially transverse orientation, the stabilizing plate comprising a lattice structure having openings, wherein tubes of the tube bundle extend through the openings; and wherein the openings of the lattice structure are sized and shaped so that the tubes contact the lattice structure and a portion of the openings remain unobstructed by the tubes, thereby allowing axial flow of the shell-side fluid through the stabilizing plate.