US2122256A - Heat exchange apparatus - Google Patents

Description

4 sheets-sheet 1 Ill z5 HHHH 1938. c. H. EAcH HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed March 2, 195e Jun@ 28 Y A @.H. MM 7@ A .me 28, ma n C, H, LEACH M2225@ HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed March 2 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES f /vj INVENTOR C'arlesjeach/ c. H. LEACH M2256 HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fume 1938.

` INVENTOR @hawks ff, L each ATTORNEYS f WITNESSES Fume 2, 1938; Q H, LEACH 2,122,256

HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1936 4 Sl'lee'lZS-Sheel 4 L xm v l@ -l-w m w Qi WITNESSES INVENTOR ASW* C/zczrZeshLea/cw This invention relates to heat exchange appa ratus, and has particular relation to heat exchange apparatus used `in the rening of petroleum'oil.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved heat exchange apparatus of the above character which will operate in a more emcient manner having animproved insulated construction, and which is formed so as to prevent any substantial loss in the velocity of movement of the hot gases or vapors which pass through the apparatus so as to maintain a high heat exchange ratio.

A further object is the provision of improved apparatus of the above character which is flexible in design so that it can be adapted to varying operating conditions and which is provided with a plurality of condenser or cooling elements which may be independently removed and replaced by units of diierent sizes, or which may be omitted entirely depending upon the operating conditions and the results desired.

Another object is to provide improved heat exchange apparatus especially adapted for use in association with a fractionating tower in the rening of oil which'is provided with a sturdy mounting which will not warp, thereby resisting Wear and preventing leakage; which is of exible construction and can be readily adapted to varying operating conditions; which is emcient .in operation having an improved insulated construction and arranged so as to prevent any substantial loss in velocity in the movement of the gases or hot vapors passing through the apparatus, thereby maintaining a high heat transfer y ratio; and which is constructed so that water may be used as a cooling element without any danger of it coming into contact with the oil in the lower part of the fractionating tower if a leak should develop.

For a fuller understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation in section of the upper part of a-4 bubble tower showing heat exchange apparatus applied thereto' and which embodies features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bubble tower shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view in section in the direction of the arrows on theline 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is 'a side elevation in section of the upper part of two of the banks of tubes used as cooling elements, showing the manner in which they are applied to the top of the bubble tower;

Fig. 5 is a iront elevation in section with the central portion omitted of one of the banks o tubes used as cooling elements;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 2'of a bubble tower embodying a modied form of the a of the arrows on the line iii-i0 of Fig. 8.

in the accompanying drawings the heat exchange apparatus is. illustrated as applied to a iractionating tower used in the rening of petroleum oil to which my invention has particular application. However, itis to be understood that my invention may be used in many other associations, such as making the heat exchangers in separate .units and utilizing them as such in the usual manner in the refining of petroleum oil. The particular type of iractionating tower shown is known as a bubble tower, butit is to be understood that my invention is equally applicable to other types of fractionating towers.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral i5 indicates the casing or shell for the upper end of a fractionating or bubble tower of a well known type having the usual horizontal partition it formed therein on which the bubble caps il of conventional construction are mounted. The hot gases and vapors from the lower portion of the tower thus pass upwardly through the bubble caps i1 to the upper portion of the tower. A short distance above the partition it, I provide a second partition it which is of insulated construction. such as having two spaced walls i9 and 20 closed at their edges, leaving the insulating charnber 2l therebetween which may be lined, if desired, with asbestos sheets indicated at 22 in the drawings. The partition I8 conforms in size and shape with the inside of the tower and is suitably secured along its edge to the internal surface thereof but does not extend completely across the inside or the tower, leaving a space indicated at 24 which'is above the horizontal plane of the partition I8 but communicates directly at its lower end with thespace 25 provided between the partitions IB and I8.

Above the partition i8, I provide a vapor pas- 55 25 and preferably gradually decreasing in capacity towards the end thereof, which communicates with an outlet having connection with suitable suction apparatus such as a pump. In the form of my invention shown in the rst three iigures Ao1 the drawings, the vapor passage consists of an inlet portion formed in twoparallel sections 26 and 21 positioned adjacent each other and separated by apartition 28 which may be of hollow construction as shown. Thesections 26 and 2l communicate at one end with thespace 26 and at the other end with a space orchamber 29, which in turn communicates with the outlet iportion 36 of the vapor passage extending in the opposite direction to thesections 26 and 2l, and which communicates with a plurality of outlet nozzles 3i extending through the shell or casing I5 of the bubble tower to the outside thereof. Both inlet and outlet portions of the vapor passage are formed so as to decrease in capacity in a direction from the inlet towards the outlet for the purpose of preventing any substantial decrease in the velocity of the movement of the gases passing through the passage.

'I'he decrease in the capacity of the passage may be accomplished in several ways. Thus in theoutlet portion 36 of the form shown in the rst three gures of my drawings, the side walls' 33 and 34 are made in stepped or staggered form so as togradually converge towards theoutlet nozzle 3|. In the twosections 26 and 21 of the inlet portion, however, the decrease in capacity is brought about by increasing fthe number of tubes in each bank of heat exchange tubes in a direction away from the inlet, as will be later more fully explained.

To prevent the gases from thesections 26 and 27 of the inlet portion of the passage from heating the gases in theoutlet portion 36, the partition indicated generally at 35 between the inlet and outlet sections is preferably of insulated construction, such as being formed of two spacedwalls 36 and 36 extending upwardly from the partition I8 to the top of the tower and closed at their edges so as to provide a space or chamber 37 therebetween which may be lined, if desired, with a sheet of asbestos orsimilar material 38. Since theoutlet passage 36 extends completely across the bubble tower through thevapor space 26, theside partition 35,side wall 33 andv the portion `of the horizontal partition 'I6 which underlies thepassage 36 likewise extend completely across the bubble tower, as is more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. 'I'he outlet nozzles'3l have connection by means of suitable pipes to suction apparatus such as a vacuum pump, with the result that petroleum vapors and gases pass upwardly through the bubble caps i1, into thechamber 25, and from thence proceed into thespace 24 above the horizontal plane of the partition I8 and thence proceed in a generally horizontal o direction rst through theinlet'sections 26 and 21 of the vapor passage into thechamber 29, and thence through theoutlet section 36 of the passage, and the highly volatile gases which are not condensed i311I the passage are extracted through the outlets To cause, the successive cooling of the hot petroleurn vapors and their fractional condensation, I provide a plurality of elongated cooling elements or condenser units extending transversely of both inlet and outlet portions of the vapor passage, preferably consisting of banks of engagea sage communicating at one end with the spacey heat exchange tubes such as those indicated at 66, di, 62, 63, 66, 65, 66 and dl in thesections 26 and 2l of the inlet portion and the banks are supported from adeck 53 tted over the top of the bubble tower and which is preferably of slightly larger diameter than the tower so that it not only rests upon the top of the shell I5 but also upon the top of a ange formed upon thering 56 secured around the bubble tower at the top thereof.

Thedeck 53 should be suitably secured to thering 56 as by being welded, bolted or riveted thereto. The weight of the banks` of condenser tubes supported by thedeck 53 is considerable, with the result that there is a tendency for the deck to buckle or warp, especially under the influence of the hot petroleum vapors. To prevent this buckling or warping action I preferably reinforce the decl: by securing a plurality of parallelbeamsor steel girders 55 on the under surface of the deck extending substantially across the inside of the bubble tower and a, plurality of intermediatetransverse girders 56 of smaller size extending between the larger girders. This structure prevents any warping of thedeck 53.

In the top of the deck are provided a plurality of openings indicated at 58 in the same vertical plane as thesections 26 and 2ly of the inlet portion of the passage and of theoutlet portion 36 of the passage, and through these openings y the banks of heat exchange tubesare projected.

- direction of movement of the vapors, i. e., in the direction of the. arrows in Flg.\3, and the size oi the heads and accordingly the number of, tubes in each bank decreases in the direction of vapor movement in theoutlet portion 36 of the passage. Because of the fact that the banks decrease in size in theoutlet portion 36 of the passage, theopenings 58 formed in the deck above theportion 36 will correspondingly decrease-in size.v

'Ihe construction of the banks of tubes is shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5 of. the drawings, and consists of aiixed head 59 connected by means-of a plurality of tubes 66 to a oating head 6I. The xed heads consist of a tube sheet 6.2 oi' a. size slightly larger than theopening 58 over which it is applied, in which a pluralityA of small holes are formed which receive the tubes 66, the latter being expanded in the holes so as to tightly iltv in the tube sheet. When the bank of tubes is positioned in the bubble tower as shown in the drawings, thetube sheet 62 rests directly over theopening 58. Cooperating with thetube sheet 62 is a hollowed-outcover member 63 having acentral partition 64 cast integral therewith so as to provide in association with the cover and tube sheet a. pair ofchambers 65 and 66 each communicating with the interior of substantially onevhalf of the tubes in the' bank. The lateral edges short distance above 'the partition i8 where they;

-oftubes 66, 66, 56, 5i and 52 in the outlet portion of the vapor passage. The banks of tubes aisance are secured to the floating head t i. The noating head consists of a tube sheet b9 somewhat similar to the tube sheet M which is likewise provided with a plurality of holes into which the tubes t@ project, the latter being expanded therein so as to fit tightly. y

Cooperating with the tube sheet t@ is the hollowed-out cover member lil which is fastened thereto as by the bolts 'il forming the chamber 'l2 communicating with the interior of the tubes Sil at the lower end thereof. If, desired, an opening maybe formed in the cover l@ into which a plug lb may be fitted, the opening providing a flushing outlet for cleaning the interior of the tubes and heads. The floating head di is smaller 4than the fixed head be and is of a site to-pass through the opening 5b to which the bank of tubes .is applied and the tubes converge from the fixed head to the floating head. In the cover ed are formed inlet and outlet nozzles it and ld communicating with the chambers t5 and t@ respectively.

If a fluid is introduced into either of the nozzles i3 or "lil, it passes through the chamber t5 or tt, as the case may be, through the tubes communicating with the chamber in question, to

the chamber l2 formed in the floating head, and n thence back through the other set of tubes to the opposite chamber formed in the fixed head, S5 or 66, as the case' may be, and thence out through the outlet 'i3 or "Eil,

Beneath each of the banks of. tubes in the vapor passage may be formed a separate condensate basin by providing a series of upright walls l5 secured to or formed integral with the wall t of the partition it and extending completely across the passage, and suitable means may also be4 provided to vseparately drain the condensate from each 'of the basins. 'This means consists of a drain hole it formed in the bottom of each chamber and communicating with a pipe Il extending through the insulated partition it and having connection with a nozzle ld formed outside the shell of the bubble tower. In this way the condensate from each basin can beseparately withdrawn. Instead of providing separate condensate basins under each bundle, however, a

single collection basin for the entire passage or separate condensate basins for the inlet and outlet portions may be provided.

Suitable cooling fluids are introduced into the banks of tubes and caused to circulate therethrough so as to cool the hot gases coming from the bubble tower and passing through the vapor passage, and for this purpose I have found it desirable to link the banks of tubes together as shown in Fig. 2 so that one cooling medium may be circulated through the banks of tubes in the inlet portion of the vapor passage and another cooling medium circulated through the banks of tubes in the outlet portion of the vaporpassage. Banks of. tubes l0 through dlare preferably connected in series bythe connectors Si as shown in Fig. 2. Thus the cooling fluid is introduced at til in the inlet'nozzle of the bank of tubes t3' and circulates through the tubes thereof 'out through the other nozzle and through connecting link Si into. the inlet of the banks of tubes t1, and from the outlet thereof through connector 8| to the inlet of tube bank B8, and' through the outlet thereof, through theconnector 8l, through the bank of tubes B2, and thence through connector 8i, through the banks of tubes` M, through connector 8l to the bank oftubes 15, through the bank of.tubes 45 and connector 9i, and thence through the bank of tubes lid, connector Bi, bank of tubes di, connector 8l, bank o f tubes til, and through the outlet ateEZ as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.

The movement of the cooling fluid through the banks of tubes in the sections 2li and 2l in the inlet portion of the passage is thus longitudinally of the tubes in a direction transversely of the vapor passage and progressively from bank to bank in a direction generally opposite to the movement of the vapor through the passage. I have found that satisfactory results are obtained by using as a cooling medium for this seriesof banks of tubes petroleum oil, such as a charge Oil.

The banks of tubes 45t, iid, 5b, bi and 52 in the outlet portion of the passage are preferably not linked in series as in the case `of the banks of tubes in the inlet portion because of the great discrepancy in size between some of the banks. For this reason a connector Bil isprovidcd bctween the inlets o the three banks oftubes 52, 5i and 5t, so that the three banks of tubes are hooked in parallel. The outlets of the same banks of tubes are likewise hooked together by means of a connector d@ which is connected directly to the inlets of the two banks d@ and et, which are likewise thus hooked in parallel having a single connector 9i running to both outlets thereof. The cooling uid in this series of tubes will thus travel through the inlet connector be and simultaneously through the three banks oftubes 52, ill and be, and thence through the con-1 nector t@ and simultaneously through the two banks of tubes it and tt and out through the outlet connector Qi. I have found that highly satisfactory results are obtained by using water as a cooling medium in the banks of tubes which are disposed in the outlet portion of the vapor passage. In this connection it should be observed that should any leak develop in the heat exchange tubes in the outlet portion of the vapor passage, the water can not seep back into the hot oils in the bubble tower due to the provision of horizontal prtition it,vertical partition 35, and an upright d2 extending up from the partition i8 and formed continuous with the vertical partition and extending to the shell i5 of the bubble tower. In this manner any leakage from the tubes will be confined inside the outlet portion of the vapor passage, preventing any danger of coniiagration from the intermingling of water and steam with the extremely hot oil or hot oil vapors;

It is to be understood, of course, that the path of flow of the cooling medium through the banks of tubes may be varied by changing the arrangement of thev connectors between the banks and that the cooling mediums employed may be changed. It is also to ,be understood that instead of utilizing two separate cooling mediums, three or more may be employed and also, if desired, under certain operating conditions, but a single cooling medium may be used for all of the banks.

In operation, the hot oil vapor passing through the bubble caps il enters thechamber 25 and then passes upwardlyinto thevapor space 24.

'From that point thevapor enters thesections 26 and 21 of the inlet portion of the vapor passage, traveling in a generally horizontal direction and passing between and around the tubes in the suc-.-

exchange tubes and is conned to the area around the tubes by thevertical partitions 28 and 35 and by the wall 03 secured to the side of the shell and extending upwardly from partition it adjacent section 2i of the vapor passage. As the vapor comes in contact with the successive banks of tubes it is cooled and the vapor is fractonally condensed, that portion having the highest specific gravity and highest'boiiing point being condensed when it comes into contact with the first bank of tubes and draining downwardly along the tubes into the condensate basin formed below that bank of tubes, and the vapor having the next highest boiling point or specific gravity being condensed by contact with the next bank of tubes and so forth. Thus petroleum oils oi differing specific gravities are separately condensed and collected in the successive condensate basins formed beneath the banks of tubes'. Due to the fact that each condensate basin has a separate drain, the condensates may be separately withdrawn and may be blended together or separately used.

After passing throughthevsections 20 and 2 the vapors enter chamber 2S and from that point enter the outlet portion 30 of the vapor passage where they again come in contact with successive banks of heat exchange tubes having a cooling fluid therein, with the result that the vapor will be further cooled and further fractional condensation will take place. The remaining highly volatile gases which are not condensed Aby contact with the successive banks of tubes are withdrawn through the vapor outlets 3i.

The quantity of vapor passing through the vapor passage progressively-diminishes due to the condensation of a portion thereof and also due to the contraction of the vapor as it is cooled. Any material decrease in the velocity of movement of the vapor while passing through thesections 26 and 2l of the inlet portion or the outlet portion 30 of the vapor passage is prevented because the capacity of -both portions of the vapor tion; although it is passage decreases ina direction from the inlet towardsthe outlet of the passage.

Due to the construction previously described, the individual banks of tubes can be readily removed and may be entirely omitted or may be re-l placed by banks of tubes of different sizes. In this way the apparatus can be adapted to varying operating conditions and can be adjusted to produce any desired results.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 6

and 7 of the drawings, substantially the same arrangement as that shown in the rst vthree gures is employed, with the 'exception that thesections 28 and 21 of the inlet portion of the vapor passage, instead of being disposed adjacent each other, are placed one on either side of the outlet .portion 30 of the vapor passage, as more clearly shown in Fig. 7, and a greater number of banks of tubes is shown in thesections 20 and 21 of this form than in the first form ofnmy invento be understood that the number of banks of tubes may be modified at will. In Fig. '7, for clarity, the tubes on one side of each tube bundle or bank are omitted.

In this form of my invention thesections 28 and 27 are each separated from the outlet portion 30 bymeansof partitions 95 extending between the partitionA I8 and the top of the tower and which are suitably insulated, such as being made of a pair of spaced walls closed along their edges providing an insulating air chamber or space therebetween which may be lined, ii'

aisance desired, with some insulating material such as theasbestos sheets 96. The insulatingpartitions 95 are formed with extensions 0l likewise of insulated construction, which extend to the casing 0r shell of the bubble tower and communicate with thevapor outlets 3| similar to those provided in the first form of my invention. The horizontal partition i0 is extended beneath and is suitably sealed to the lower ends of the insulating walls Sli so as to provide a completely closed passage.

In each of theinlet sections 26 and 2l of the Vapor passage are disposed six banks of heat exchange tubes indicated respectively by thenumbers 98, 99. |00, ill-l, |02 and |03 in thesection 20, and by the numbers |00, |05, |06, ill'l, |08 and |09 in the section 2l. The number of tubes in each bank progressively increases in the banks of tubes disposed in theinlet sections 26 and 2l so as to progressively decrease the capacity of the passage, the tubes increasing frombank 98 to bank |03 and from bank |00 to bank |09. In the outlet portion 30 of the vapor passage are disposed five banks of tubes indicated by the numbers H0, H2, H3 and lid, which are similar in form and arrangement to the banks of tubes d8, 9, 50, 5| and 52 in the first form of my invention. The banks of tubes are similar in construction to those previously described and particularly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, and are supported in a similar manner from thedeck 53 disposed at the top of the bubble tower so as to project downwardly in their respective portions of the vapor passage.

The deck is providedWiththe reinforcing girders 55 and 56, all as has been previously described. The banks of tubes insections 26 and -2'l are each connected in series by connectors vliti, the bank |03 having an inlet nozzle ||5 thereon through which the cooling medium is introduced entering into the fixed head traveling through one-half of the series of tubes into the floating head and back through the remaining tubes to the fixed head, and thence through connector IIS to the fixed head of bank* |02 through the tubes of this bank arid connector ||6 to the bank of' tubes |0|, which in turn is con-i nected to bank |00, the cooling fluid thus progrossing successively through each bank of tubes, each being connected byrmeans of a connector H6 to the next bank, until it is withdrawn through nozzle H1 formed on the bank oftubes 96.

The banks of tubes disposed in the section 2liv are likewise connected in series by means of connectors I i6, the cooling iiuid being introduced through the nozzle ||5 formed on the bank of tubes |09 and traveling successively through banks of tubes |08, |01, |06, |05 and |04, until it is withdrawn through nozzle Ii'l. The banks of tubes disposed in the outlet portion 30 of the vapor passage are preferably connected together in the same manner as in the first form of my in- `vention, the rst three banks being connected in parallel by means of an inlet pipe HB and having an outlet pipe I9 leading from the first three banks to the inlet nozzles of the two remaining banks, an outlet pipe |20 being-connected to the two Abanks and H0 to withdraw the cooling fluid therefrom.

As has been previously stated, satisfactory results are attained by using petroleun oil, preferably charge oil, as the cooling medium for the banks of tubes disposed in the inlet portion of the vapor passage and water as the cooling medirection towards the outlet.

aisance dium in the banks of tubes disposed in the out= let portion. It Will be seen that the cooling fluids are caused to travel transversely of the vapor passage and successively from tube bank to tube bank in a direction opposite to the direction ci movement of the hot oil vapors.

Beneath each bank of tubes is formed a condensate basin, vas in the first form of my invention, each having separate connection by means of drain pipes to the nozzles 'it disposed outside the bubble tower. The hot oil vapors enter the space 2li from the bubble tower and will then proceed in a generally horizontal direction through theinlet portions 26 and 2li into thespace 29 and thence through the outlet portion 30, the highly volatile gases being withdrawn through the outlet nozzles 3i by means oi suitable suction apparatus. The vapors are progres sively cooled and fractionally condensed by conc tact with the successive banks of tubes, and in order to maintain a substantially uniform velocity of movement of the gases through the inn let and outlet portions, the capacity of both portions of the vapor passage is decreased in the This is accomplished in thesections 26 and 2l by increasing the number of tubes in each successive bank and in thesection 3 by making the walls of thepartitions 95 in stepped formation Vso as to converge toward the outlet. The vapor is directed into contact with the.heat exchange tubes by means oi thepartitions 95 and the walls H23 se cured to the sides of the bubble tower.

As an illustration of the flexibility of appa ratus employing my invention, Figs. 6 and '7 are shown with one oi the banks of tubes in the outlet portion t@ of the vapor passage omitted, leaving' a blank space iti inside the vapor passage, while over the opening on the top of the deck is provided a cap or closure, E22 suitably secured theree to as by means of bolts.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. it, 9 and 10 of the drawings, the inlet and outlet portions, instead ci being disposed in the same horizontal plane, are arranged so that the outlet portion is above the inlet portion. and the banks of tubes, instead of being supported on a deck on top of the bubble tower, are inserted through the side of the bubble tower, but they nevertheless are arranged so as to extend transversely of the vapor passage. It is unnecessary, accordingly, to provide a reinforced decis at the top of the bubble tower as in the first two forms of my invention, and any type of closure such as shown at E26 in Fig. 8 may be employed.

rihe horizontal partition it, generally similar to that employed in the first two forms of my invention, is provided a short distance above the bubble caps il, and is arranged so as to extend only partly across the bubble tower leaving a vapor space 2t above the plane of the partition il? communicating at its lower end with thespace 25 above the bubble caps. Another partition its likewise of insulated construction, such as being formed of two spaced walls providing an air chamber tt therebetween which may be lined with insulating material such as asbestos shown at itl, is provided above the partition it and extends from the opposite side of the bubble tower almost completely across the inside thereof, leaving a space itt at the other side extending from the partition id upwardly to a horizontal wall E25 provided a short distance below 'the top of the tower.

The partitionv its is of staggered formation extending progressively downwardly from the point where it is connected to the side of the bubble tower, thereby providing a vapor passage having inlet andoutlet portions 3@ and iti respectively, each decreasing in capacity in a direction away from the inlet towards the outlet. in this way vapor lentering space 2t from the bubble caps il travels upwardly through the space tt and thence horizontally through the inlet portion itt of the vapor passage into the space itt from which it travels again in a generally horizontal direction through the outlet portion iti of the vapor passage, and the highly volatile gases which are not condensed are drawn out through the outlet nozzles di which are connected to suitable suction apparatus.

as has been previously stated, in this form of my invention the banks of tubes are inserted I horizontally through, the side of the bubble tower so as te extend transversely across both portions of the vapor passage. To support the banks of tubes so that they may be readily removed and so as to minimize the danger of warping or leakage, one side of the bubble tower in the horizontal plane of both the inlet and outlet portions i3d and iti respectively of the vapor passage is broken away as shown at G32 in Fig. l0 of the drawings. An extension ist having sealing connection with the vapor tower at its sides, top and bottom is provided over this portion of the tower and is formed so as to have a fiat outer face ist in which a series oi openings ist is provided. These openings correspond to the openings 5t in the deck it@ in the rst two forms of my invention and receive the banks of tubes which are projected inside the vapor passage.

In Figs. 8 through 10, four banks of tubes are illustrated as being'disposed in each of the inlet and outlet portions of the vaporpassage, and these are indicated by the numerals ist, itl, its and it@ in the inlet portion i3d, and by the numerals itt, tti, itis and tilt in the outlet portion iti. The banks ci tubes are preferably of such size and formation as to extend over the major portion of the vapor passage so that vapor passing therethrough will necessarily come into contact with the tubes. The banks of tubes are accordingly of progressively smaller size, the bank it@ beingsmaller than the bank it@ and the bank its being smaller than the barils itt. However,

each bank of tubes, aside from this variation in size, is preferably/of the same construction asA shown in Figs. d and E- of the drawings. The floating heads are projected inwardlyil through the openings itil so that thetubes ex- ,5b

tend substantially across the vapor passage and the iiired heads are` then bolted over the openings ist?, and in that manner providing a sealed clo sure for the openings. A. series of vertical partitions itil, corresponding to the members it in the iirst two forms of my invention and parallel to the tubes and disposed in a plane between the banks and along the outside of .the tubes oi the end banks, are secured to the upper surfaces of the insulating partitions itl and i225, thereby pror viding separate condensate basins beneath each. bank of tubes, each having connection by means of drain to pipes Mib extending through the partitions itand liti to the outside of the bubble tower. In that manner the condensate forming around each bank of tubes can be separately collected and withdrawn.

To aid in supporting the banks of tubes and to serve as guides in inserting and removing the banks of tubes, I provide the angle bars it?! in sov association with the uprights it@ positioned so as to provide a bed for the noating heads ti to rest on. In inserting and removing the banks of tubes the floating heads slide along the angle bars itil, and when the banks are in operative position as shown in Figs. 8 through 10 the angle bars serve to support the floating heads so that the tubes are in generally horizontal positions. J

The banks of tubes in both the inlet and outlet portions are connected in series by the connectors it@ as shown most clearly in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the iirst bank in each series being provided with an inlet nozzle its and the last bank being provided with an outlet nozzle itil. In thev banksdisposed in the inlet portion i3d petroleum oil, such as charge oil, may be used as the cooling medium, and it is introduced in the inlet nozzle it@ and travels successively through the banks of tubes its, its, itl and itt, and in a direction opposite to the movement ci the vapor through the vapor passage and is discharge through outlet tot.

On the other hand, water is preferably used as the cooling` medium in the banks of tubes disposed in the outlet portion itl of the vapor passage, the water being introduced in the inlet noznle tot and passing through the banks of tubes ido, M2, iol and itil, likewise in a direction opposite to the direction or" movement of the vapor through the vapor passage, and is discharged through outlet i et. The hot oil vapor passing through the vapor passage is cooled and fractionally condensed as it passes through the vapor passage, but the velocity of its movement will not substantially decrease due to the progressive diminution of the capacity of the passage in the two portions thereof i3@ and iti. The oil which is iractionally condensed by the` successive banks of tubes drips downwardly into the condensate basins formed beneath the banks and may be withdrawn through drain ifi@ and pipes tot; Highly volatile vapors which are not condensed are withdrawn through outlet (lli.

It will be seen by means of the invention herein illustrated and described that a highly eiiioient heat exchange apparatus particularly suitable for use in the refining of petroleum oils has been provided. In spite of the fact that the vapors are to' a considerable extent condensed and are caused to contract due tocooling, there is substantially no decrease in the velocity of movement of the vapors through the inlet and outlet portions of the vapor passage. The cooled vapors passing through the vapor passage are insulated from the hotter vapors and from the lower portion of the bubble tower, thereby further increasing the eihciency of the apparatus. The apparatus is also highly exible and can be modified to suit varying conditions or to produce any desired results. 'llhe construction Aalso is such as to permit ready access to the interior of the apparatus for cleaning or inspection. Furthermore it will be seen that the condensates may be separately cooled and withdrawn, permitting highly critical fractional condensation of the vapor. The heat exchange tubes are also so arranged as to permit the use of several cooling mediums and the circuit between the several banks of tubes is such as to permit of the circulation of the cooling medium successively from bank to bank in a direction opposite to the path of movement of the hot vapor. It is preferable to provide tube bundles which are rectangular in cross section, although circular and other design tube bundles may also be used, for the reason aisance that rectangular tube bundles aid in maintaining a substantially uniform velocity of movement of the vapors throughout the entire width of the vapor passage.

It is to be understood, of course, that many changes may be made in the illustrated and described embodiments of my invention without departing from the invention as dened in the accompanying claims. Thus, as previously stated, it is not necessary to provide a separate condensate basin under each tube bundle but lnstead separate condensate basins for the entire outlet portion and the entire inlet portion of the vapor passage may be provided or, at times, but a single basin for the lentire Vapor passage is needed. Also the path of i'low of the cooling medium through the tube bundles may be varied by modifying the arrangement of the connectors and the type of cooling medium employed may also be changed. Furthermore, the progressive reduction in capacity of the vapor passage may be accomplished in a number of ways, such as forming the walls of the passage so that they converge towards the vapor outlet and by increasing the number and concentration of the tubes as shown, and also by increasing the size of the individual tubes in each bundle. The tube bundles may also be modified as by changing the spacing size and gauge of the tubes.

I claim:

i. Heat exchange apparatus for exchanging heat from hot vapors or gases to a cooling medium, comprising means providing a vapor pas- 'sage having an inlet and an outlet adjacent the 'beginning and end thereof, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes disposed transversely of said passage and having means associated therewith cooperable to vdirect a cooling medium through the inside thereof and progressively from tube to tube towards the inlet, said tubes increasing in number towards the outlet so yas to decrease the capacity-of the passage and substantially maintain el uniform velocity of movement of the vapor passing through the passage.

2. Heat exchange apparatus for exchanging heat from hot vapors or gases to a cooling medium, comprising means including a plurality of walls providing a. vapor passage, means providing an inlet and an` outlet adjacent the beginning and end respectively of said passage, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes disposed transversely of the passage, said Walls converging in one portion of the passage and the number of tubes increasing in another portion of the passage from the inlet towards the outlet so as to progressively decrease the capacity of the passage.

3. Heat exchange apparatus for'exchanging heat from hot vapors or gases to a cooling medium, comprising means including a plurality of walls providing a vapor passage, means providlng an inlet and an outlet adjacent the beginning and end respectively of said passage, a plurality of heat exchange tubes disposed transversely of the passage, said walls converging in one portion of the passage and the number of tubes increasing in another portionof the passage -from the inlet towards the outlet so as progressively to decrease the capacity of the passage, and means associated withv the tubes cooperable to direct a cooling fluid therethrough so as to travel longitudinally of the tubes and progressively from tube to tube in the .direction of the inlet.`

4. Heat exchange apparatus comprising means providing a vapor passage having an inlet at one aisance f end and an outlet at the other end, a portion oi? said passage extending in one direction and a second portion disposed adjacent thereto and extending in an opposite direction, an insulated partition disposed between the two portions of the passage to prevent the exchange of heat therebetween, a pluralityl of heat exchange tubes lin each portion of the passage and extending transversely thereor", means associated with the 'said passage extending in one direction and a second portion disposed adjacent thereto and ex tending in an opposite direction, an insulated partition disposed` between the two portions of the passage to prevent the exchange of heat therebetween, a plurality of heat exchange tubes in each portion of the passage and extending transversely thereof, means associated with the tubes inthe inst-mentioned portion of the passage for directing a cooling fluid therethrough longitudinally of the tubes and progressively from tube to tube in a direction opposite to the vapor movement, and means associated with the tubes in the second-mentioned portion or the passage for directing another cooling :duid therethrough longitudinally of the tubes and progressively from tube to tube ina direction opposite to the vapor movement, both portions of said vapor passage decreasing in capacity in a direction from the inlet towards the outlet so as to maintain a substantially uniform velocity of move= ment of the vapor therethrough.

6. 4Heat exchange apparatus comprising means providing a vapor passage having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, a portion of said passage extending in one direction and` a second portion extending in an opposite direction, said portions being disposed adjacent each other, and heat exchange tubing disposed in both. of said portions, the number of tubes' in one of said portions progressively increasing and the walls of the other portion converging in the direction of the outlet so as progressively to decrease the capacity of both portions oi the passage.

V'7. Heat exchange apparatus for use with a iractionating tower, comprising a plurality vof condenser units mounted adjacent the top ci the tower, an insulated partition disposed beneath and adjacent said units, and means providing with said partition a vapor passage extending between and around said condenser units and having an inlet communicating with the interior of the tower at one end and an outlet at the other end.

8. Heat exchange apparatus for use with a fractionating tower, comprising a plurality ot condenser 'units mounted adjacent the top of the tower and depending downwardly in said tower, an insulated partition disposed beneath the lower end of the units, means providing with said insulated partition a vapor passage extending between and around said condenser units, said passage having a portion extending in one direction and another portion adjacent thereto extending in an opposite direction, and an insulated partition disposed between the two portions of the y passage so as to prevent any substantial exchange of heat therebetween.

9. Heat exchange apparatus for use with a fractionating tower, comprising an insulated substantially horizontal partition secured adjacent the top of the fractionating tower, said partition extending only partly across the tower and. leaving a vapor space above the plane of the partition communicating directly with the lower part of the tower, means providing a vapor passage above the partition having an inlet at one end communicating with the aforementioned vapor space and an outlet at the other end, and condenser units disposed in said passage.

10. Heat exchange apparatus for use with a ractionating tower, comprising an insulated substantially horizontal partition secured adjacent the top of the fractionating tower, said partition extending only partly across the tower and leaving a vapor space above the plane of the partition communicating directly with. the lower partY of the tower, means providing a vapor passage above the partition having an inlet at one end communicating with the aforementioned vapor space and an outlet at the other end, said passage lhaving one portionv extending in one direction and a second portion disposed adjacent thereto extending in an opposite direction, and said means including an insulated partition between the aforesaid two portions of the passage to prevent the exchange-of heat therebetween, and a plurality oi heat exchange elements disposed in `said passage.

ll.. Heat exchange apparatus for use with a fractionating tower, comprising an insulated substantially horizontal partition secured adjacent the top of the fractionating tower, said partition extending only partly across the tower and leaving a vapor space above the plane of thev partition communicating directly with the lower part of the tower, means providing a vapor passage above the partition having an inlet at one end communicating with the aforementioned vapor space and an outlet at the other end, a plurality of heat exchange tubes disposed transversely oi? the passage having means associated therewith cooperable to direct a cooling medium through the interior of the tubes, said` passage decreasing in capacity from the inlet towards the outlet.

l2., i-leat exchange apparatus for use with a.

fractionating tower, comprising a supporting decis across the top of the tower, reinforcing means for said deci: comprising a plurality of substantially parallel girders extending substantiall'y across said deck in one direction, and a plurality oi intermediate girders extending between the nrstmentioned girders and banks of heat exchange tubes supported from said decir.

lit. En i heat exchange apparatus, a casing, n

like for supporting tube bundles, comprising a liat member having a plurality of openings for 'receiving tube bundles, said openings being arranged in rows and some of said openings being smaller than others.

15. For use with heat exchange apparatus having a vapor passage formed therein disposed adjacent the top of a fractionating tower, a deck for the top of the fractionating tower comprising a relatively flat disk having a plurality of openings formed therein and disposed above the vapor passage, said openings being of smaller size at one end of said passage than at the other end.

16. Heat exchange apparatus for exchanging heat from hot vapors or gases to a cooling medium comprising means providing a vapor passage having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the' other end, said passage having a portion which is' of substantially uniform cross sectional area throughout its entire length, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending transversely of said passage so that the vapor passing through the passage travels between and around said tubes substantially at right angles thereto, said tubes increasing in number from the inlet towards the outlet in the aforesaid portion of the passage which is of uniform cross sectional areaso as progressively to decrease the capacity thereof and thereby maintain the velocity of the vapor particles passing through the passage.

17. Heat exchange apparatus for exchanging heat from hot vapors or gases to a cooling medium comprising means providing a vapor passage having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, said passage having a portion which is of substantially uniform cross sectional area throughout its entire length, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending transversely of said passage so that the Vapor passing through the passage travels between and around said tubes substantially at rightangles thereto, said tubes increasing in number from the inlet towards the outlet in the aforesaid portion of the passage which is of uniform cross sectional area so as progressively to decrease the capacity thereof and thereby maintain the velocity of the vapor pare ticles passing through the passage, and said tubes having means associated therewith for directing a cooling medium through the tubes and pron gressively from tube to tube in the direction of the vapor passage inlet.

18. Heat exchange apparatus for use with a fractionating tower comprising a plurality of condenser units mounted adjacent the top of the tower, and means providing a vapor passage extending between and around said condenser units, said passage having two adjacent portions, one extending in one direction and the other in the opposite direction and said means including an insulated partition between the two portions of the passage to prevent the exchange of heat therebetween.

aieaese 19. Heat exchange apparatus for use with a fractionating tower comprising afplurality of condenser units mounted adjacent the top of the tower, a partition disposed beneath and adjacent said units, and means providing with said partition a vapor passage extending between and around said condenser units and having an inlet' communicating with the interior of the tower at one end and an outlet at the other end, said passage having two adjacent portions, one extending in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction and said means including an insulated partition betweenthe two portions to prevent the exchange of heat therebetween.

20. Heat exchange apparatus for use with a fractionating tower comprising a plurality of condenser units mounted adjacent the top of thc tower, and means providing a. vapor passage extending between and around said condenser units and having an inlet communicating with the interior of the tower at one end of the passage and an outlet at the other end, said passage having two adjacent portions, one extending in one direction and the other in the opposite direction, andsaid means including an insulated partition between the two portions to prevent the exchange of heat therebetween, the number of tubes in one o said portions of the passage progressively increasing and the walls of the other portion converging in the direction of outlet so as progres sively to decrease the capacity of both portions of the passage.

21. In heat exchange apparatus, a casing, means providing a vapor passage inside said casing, a plurality of removable banks of heat exchange tubes disposed in said casing in horizontal position, and means providing a separate condensate basin beneath each of the banks of tubes, said means including a plurality of longitudinal partitions forming the sides of the basins, each partition having a laterally projecting ilange associated therewith serving as a bed for supporting the adjacent bank of tubes ,and cooperable to serve as a guide when the bank of tubes is inserted in or removed from said passage.

22. `The combination with a fractionatin'g tower having means forming a vapor passage with an inlet and an outlet adjacent the top of the tower and bundles oi heat exchange tubes disposedin\ the passage, of a decir for the top of the tower'for supporting the tube bundles, said deck comprising a relatively fiat member1 having openings for receiving the tube bundles arranged above the vapor passage so that tube vbundles projecting downwardly through the openings extend into the vapor passage, some oi the openings progressively decreasing in size towards the outlet of the passage.

CHARLES H. LEACH.

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