	US 12,455,123 B2
	Heat exchanger closure assemblies and methods of using and installing the same
Richard Jibb, Monroe, NY (US); David Thomas Creech, Glen Ellyn, IL (US); Randy Lee Eberly, Plainfield, IL (US); Elizabeth MacLean Meacham, Lombard, IL (US); Henk Boekhouder, Zoetermeer (NL); Roberto Groppi, Hague (NL); Vincenzo Marco Brignone, Leiden (NL); and Trevor Jaye, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Lummus Technology LLC, Bloomfield, NJ (US)
Filed by Lummus Technology LLC, Bloomfield, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/510,218.
Application 17/199,168 is a division of application No. 16/358,932, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,079,185, issued on Aug. 3, 2021.
Application 18/510,218 is a continuation of application No. 17/370,718, filed on Jul. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,852,424.
Application 18/510,218 is a continuation of application No. 17/199,168, filed on Mar. 11, 2021, granted, now 11,971,229.
Application 17/370,718 is a continuation of application No. 16/358,932, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,079,185, issued on Aug. 3, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/645,662, filed on Mar. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0085126 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. F28F 9/02 (2006.01); F28D 7/00 (2006.01); F28F 9/00 (2006.01); F28F 9/013 (2006.01); F28F 21/00 (2006.01)

CPC F28F 9/0219 (2013.01) [F28D 7/0041 (2013.01); F28F 9/005 (2013.01); F28F 9/013 (2013.01); F28F 9/0202 (2013.01); F28F 21/00 (2013.01); F28F 9/0212 (2013.01); F28F 9/0224 (2013.01); F28F 9/0226 (2013.01); F28F 9/0231 (2013.01); F28F 2220/00 (2013.01); F28F 2230/00 (2013.01); F28F 2265/26 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. An operation method for a heat exchanger assembly comprising a heat exchanger enclosure configured for accommodating differential thermal expansion of internal components in an interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure during heating and cooling sequences, the method comprising:

preloading an elastic torsion member within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure, including applying a preload to different radii of the elastic torsion member which causes the elastic torsion member to elastically deflect to accommodate the preload, wherein the different radii of the elastic torsion member correspond to a first contact area of the elastic torsion member where the elastic torsion member contacts a sleeve member and a second contact area of the elastic torsion member where the elastic torsion member contacts a bearing ring; and

thermally loading the heat exchanger assembly, including differentially thermally expanding the internal components in the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure and applying a torsional load to the preloaded elastic torsion member which causes the elastic torsion member to further elastically deflect to accommodate the torsional load.

8. An operation method for a heat exchanger assembly comprising a heat exchanger enclosure configured for accommodating differential thermal expansion of internal components in an interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure during heating and cooling sequences, the method comprising:

preloading an elastic torsion member within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure, including applying a preload to the elastic torsion member which causes the elastic torsion member to elastically deflect to accommodate the preload;

applying a pressure load within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure, including reducing the torsional load on the elastic torsion member by elastically deflecting a closure assembly removably attached to the heat exchanger enclosure and relaxing the elastic torsion member to accommodate the pressure load.

9. A method, comprising:

preloading an elastic torsion member within an interior chamber of a heat exchanger enclosure of a heat exchanger assembly; and

thermally loading the heat exchanger assembly to differentially thermally expand internal components in the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure, including applying a torsional load to the preloaded elastic torsion member,

wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to deflect elastically up to an elastic deflection limit and deflect plastically above the elastic deflection limit, and

wherein a combination of the preload and the torsional load on the elastic torsion member results in deflection of the elastic torsion member below the elastic deflection limit such that the elastic torsion member deflects elastically to accommodate the differential thermal expansion of the internal components.

13. A device, comprising:

a heat exchanger assembly, including:

a heat exchanger enclosure having an interior chamber;

a tube sheet positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure, the tube sheet configured to removably receive a tube bundle;

a sleeve member positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure; and

an elastic torsion member positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure between the sleeve member and a bearing ring, wherein the sleeve member is positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member, wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to deflect elastically up to an elastic deflection limit and deflect plastically above the elastic deflection limit,

wherein the heat exchanger assembly is configured to apply at least a preload, a thermal load, and a pressure load to the elastic torsion member that, in combination, result in deflection of the elastic torsion member below the elastic deflection limit such that the elastic torsion member deflects elastically to accommodate differential thermal expansion,

wherein the heat exchanger assembly is configured to apply the preload to different radii of the elastic torsion member, and

wherein the different radii of the elastic torsion member correspond to a first contact area of the elastic torsion member where the elastic torsion member contacts the sleeve member and a second contact area of the elastic torsion member where the elastic torsion member contacts the bearing ring.