GB1300294A - A radial-flow heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

1300294 Tubular heat exchangers; steam generation WAAGNER-BIRO AG 24 Sept 1970 [26 Sept 1969] 45673/70 Headings F4A and F4S In a radial flow heat exchanger comprising an annular array of tubes 3, uniform through flow of a first heat exchange fluid radially across the tubes from an inlet 12 to an outlet 13 is achieved by a fluid-guide arrangement comprising inner and outer tapered tubular walls 1 which together with inner and outer perforated cylindrical walls 2 define a receiving chamber 14 and a discharge chamber 15 for the first fluid. As shown the tubes 3, which are in the form of flat spirals, are arranged in groups 4-8 disposed in chambers defined between annular baffles 9. The sizes and distribution of the openings of the perforated walls are arranged so that an equal amount of fluid flows through each of the groups 4-8. Ring shaped covering sheets can be placed around selected areas of the perforated walls if required to compensate for irregularities in the through-flow. The flat tube spirals can be replaced by a plurality of circular sections adjacent ones of which communicate with and surround each other. A plurality of supply and discharge headers 10 and 17 communicate with the tubes 3 through connecting tubes 11. In a modified embodiment (see Fig. 1, not shown) the tubes may be arranged to form inclined spirals, the baffles in this case being frusto-conical in shape. In another embodiment (Fig. 4) the several groups of tubes are arranged in sector-shaped arcuate chambers around the central axis of the heat exchanger, the tubes in each sector being of sinuous configuration and extending between supply and discharge headers (10, 17) disposed within the chambers. The heat exchanger may be used as a steam generator with the core of a gas-cooled reactor being situated at its central region 16.