(19)
(11) EP 2 088 371 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
19.08.2009 Bulletin 2009/34

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.08.2009 Bulletin 2009/33

(21) Application number: 07252836.7

(22) Date of filing: 18.07.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F22B 37/20(2006.01)
F22G 7/14(2006.01)
 F28F 9/013(2006.01)
F28D 7/08(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK RS

(71) Applicant: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
Barberton, OH 44203-0351 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Harth, George H., III
    Wadsworth OH 44281 (US)

(74) Representative: Meldrum, David James et al
D Young & Co 120 Holborn
London EC1N 2DY
London EC1N 2DY (GB)

   


(54) Heat exchanger framework


(57) A structural framework (39) for supporting the heat exchanger (26) of a steam generator (10), the former being comprised of serpentine tubes (28) having sloped segments (30) to facilitate the drainage of water from the heat exchanger (26) when the steam generator (10) is shutdown. The structural framework (39) includes paired groups of vertically and diagonally extending first support members (35) contiguously straddling the sloped-tube segments (30). The paired first support members (35) are rigidly connected by second support members (38) which extend between adjacent sloped-tube segments (30). The structural framework (39) preserves the spacing between the sloped-tube segments (30) and prevents direct contact between adjoining tube surfaces, but is not attached to the straddled tube segments and, thus, provides a tube supporting fit that is loose enough to permit the tubes (28) to move freely due to expansion and contraction at different rates from that of the structural framework (39).







Search report