US 12,435,929 B2
Ribbed tubeless heat exchanger for fluid heating systems including a rib component and methods of manufacture thereof
Carl Nicholas Nett, Sandisfield, MA (US); Richard James Snyder, Mexico, NY (US); and Keith Richard Waltz, Sandy Creek, NY (US)
Assigned to FULTON GROUP N.A., INC., Pulaski, NY (US)
Filed by Fulton Group N.A., Inc., Pulaski, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/524,443.
Application 16/298,571 is a division of application No. 14/949,948, filed on Nov. 24, 2015, granted, now 10,228,190.
Application 18/524,443 is a continuation of application No. 17/941,429, filed on Sep. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,835,302.
Application 17/941,429 is a continuation of application No. 16/298,571, filed on Mar. 11, 2019, granted, now 11,441,846.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/124,235, filed on Dec. 11, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0102740 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F28D 7/10 (2006.01); B21D 39/02 (2006.01); B21D 53/02 (2006.01); B21D 53/04 (2006.01); B21D 53/08 (2006.01); B23P 15/26 (2006.01); F28D 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC F28D 7/10 (2013.01) [B21D 39/02 (2013.01); B21D 53/02 (2013.01); B21D 53/04 (2013.01); B21D 53/08 (2013.01); B23P 15/26 (2013.01); F28D 7/026 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for heating a production fluid disposed in a vessel, comprising:
providing a tubeless heat exchanger, comprising:
a tubeless heat exchanger core disposed at least partially within the vessel, the tubeless heat exchanger core comprising an inner casing and an outer casing disposed around the inner casing, the inner and outer casings defining therebetween a flow passage for a thermal transfer fluid to flow, the tubeless heat exchanger core further comprising a core inlet arranged to receive the thermal transfer fluid and a core outlet arranged to provide the thermal transfer fluid, the core inlet and core outlet being fluidically connected to the flow passage, and at least one of the core inlet and core outlet being disposed on the inner casing; and
wherein each of the outer casing and the inner casing has an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the respective inner surfaces face each other and define therebetween the flow passage for the thermal transfer fluid to flow from the core inlet to the core outlet and wherein at least a portion of the respective outer surfaces are arranged to be contacted by the production fluid, and wherein the flow passage defines a circumferential path comprising at least one pass around a perimeter of the heat exchanger core;
providing the thermal transfer fluid into the core inlet to transfer heat from the thermal transfer fluid to the production fluid through at least a portion of both the inner and outer casings;
providing an outlet member, which penetrates the vessel and which fluidically connects the core outlet through the vessel to provide the thermal transfer fluid outside of the vessel; and
providing a conduit fluidically connected to the heat exchanger core, and arranged to provide the thermal transfer fluid to the heat exchanger core, the conduit having a conduit outlet end fluidically connected to the core inlet and a conduit inlet end arranged to receive the thermal transfer fluid,
wherein the conduit is configured to provide the thermal transfer fluid from the conduit inlet, along the conduit to the conduit outlet and the core inlet to the flow passage,
wherein the conduit comprises a conduit outer surface, at least a portion of the conduit outer surface also arranged to be contacted by the production fluid, and
wherein the flow passage comprises a flow passage guide, the flow passage guide comprising a rib to guide the flow of the thermal transfer fluid along the flow passage from the core inlet to the core outlet.