[0001] The invention concerns a heat exchanger tube package especially intended for domestic
central heating installations.
[0002] In known tube heat exchangers the tubes are fitted in sieve bottoms.
[0003] Known from patent document
PL 219 104 B 1 is a heat exchanger which incorporates a heat-exchanging tube package made up of
a set of vertical tubular elements fitted at their ends in sieve walls.
[0004] Also, known from patent document
WO 2013/048269 A2 is a fired heat exchanger incorporating a heat-exchanging tube package in which the
tube ends are fitted in sieve bottoms.
[0005] Known from patent document
EP 3 394 522 B1 is a fired heat exchanger incorporating a set of vertical heat-exchanging tubes the
ends of which are fitted in the sieve bottom of the combustion chamber on the one
side, and in the sieve wall of the condensate accumulation container on the other
side.
[0006] In the known solutions, the tubes of the heat-exchanging package are fitted in the
sieve bottoms by welding. Because the sieve bottom is an element exposed to increased
pressure and high temperature, it has to satisfy strict requirements. The point of
connection between the sieve wall and the tube often loses its tightness or gets deformed
during the welding process. Moreover, it frequently happens that the sieves burn through
because they are insufficiently cooled. In addition, the sieve must be appropriately
thick which increases its cost.
[0007] The solution according to this invention solves the problems named above.
[0008] In accordance with this invention, a heat exchanger tube package in which the tubes
are arranged parallel to one another, is characterised in that at least some of the
tubes are bulged at one of their ends, where the rim of the bulged end of the tube
is in a shape other than circular, and where the tubes are arranged within the package
according to a pre-set pattern and the rims of the ends of all tubes on both sides
of the package are permanently connected to one another. Preferably, the rim of the
bulged end of the tube in a package is in the shape of a regular hexagon or equilateral
triangle or square with concave sides, or its shape is convex and concave.
[0009] Preferably, the rims of the tube ends are connected to one another with a weld.
[0010] The solution according to the invention makes it possible to eliminate sieve walls
from a heat exchanger package. The bulged ends of the tubes are connected to one another
by melting their rims and welding them together directly, which results in a durable,
very strong, and tight connection.
[0011] An example of the invention is shown in a drawing, where:
Fig. 1 shows the tube package in a 3D view,
Fig. 2a presents a tube with its end bulged to the shape of a regular hexagon, in
a 3D view,
Fig. 2b depicts the tube as in Fig. 2a, in an orthographic projection;
Fig. 2 shows a package of tubes as in Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b, the bulged ends of which are
given the shape of a regular hexagon, in bird's eye view,
Fig. 3a presents a tube with a bulged end in the shape of an equilateral triangle,
in 3D view,
Fig. 3b shows the tube as in Fig. 3a, in an orthographic projection;
Fig. 3, Fig. 4 present a package of the tubes as in Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b, the bulged ends
of which are given the shape of an equilateral triangle, in bird's eye view,
in various configurations,
Fig. 5a shows the tube with a bulged end in the shape of a square, in a 3D view,
Fig. 5b depicts the tube as in Fig. 5a, in an orthographic projection;
Fig. 5, Fig. 6 presents a package of the tubes as in Fig. 5a, Fig. 5b, the bulged
ends of which are given the shape of a square, in bird's eye view, in various configurations;
Fig. 7a depicts a tube with its bulged end in the concave and convex shape, in a 3D
view;
Fig. 7b presents the tube as in Fig. 7a, in an orthographic projection,
Fig. 7 show a package of the tubes as in Fig. 7a, Fig. 7b, the bulged ends of which
are in the convex and concave shape, in bird's eye view;
Fig. 8a depicts a tube with its bulged end in the concave and convex shape, in an
other version, in a 3D view;
Fig. 8b presents the tube as in Fig. 8a, in an orthographic projection,
Fig. 8 show a package of the tubes as in Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b, the bulged ends of which
are in the convex and concave shape, in bird's eye view;
Fig. 9a depicts a tube with its bulged end in the shape of a square with concave sides,
in a 3D view;
Fig. 9b shows the tube as in Fig. 9a, in an orthographic projection;
Fig. 9 presents a package of the tubes as in Fig. 9a, Fig. 9b, the bulged ends of
which are in the shape of a square with concave sides, in bird's eye view.
[0012] An embodiment of the heat exchanger tube package 1 incorporates the tubes 2 arranged
parallel to one another, as shown in Fig. 1. The tubes 2 are bulged at their both
ends, and the rim 2a of the bulged end of the tube 2 is in a shape other than circular.
The tubes 2 are arranged in the package 1 according to the pre-set pattern and their
rims 2a are connected permanently to one another, for example by way of welding.
[0013] In one embodiment of the invention the rim 2a of the bulged end of each of the tubes
2 of the package 1 is in the shape of a regular hexagon, as shown in Fig. 2a, Fig
2b. In bird's eye view, the package arrangement follows the pattern of a honeycomb,
as shown in Fig. 2.
[0014] According to another embodiment, the rim 2a of the bulged end of each tube 2 of the
package 1 is in the shape of an equilateral triangle, as shown in Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b.
The two versions of arrangement of the tubes 2 in the package 1 are shown in Fig.
3 i Fig. 4.
[0015] According to yet another embodiment, the rim 2a of the bulged end of each tube 2
of the package 1 is in the shape of a square, as shown in Fig 5a, Fig.5b. The two
versions of arrangement of the tubes 2 in the package 1 are shown in Fig. 5 and Fig.
6.
[0016] According to yet another embodiment, the rim 2a of the bulged end of each tube 2
of the package 1 is in the concave and convex shape. The two versions of the shape
of the rim 2a of the tubes 2 shown in Fig. 7a, Fig. 7b and in Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b, and
the pattern of their arrangement in the package 1 are shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8,
accordingly.
[0017] According to another embodiment the rim 2a of the bulged end of some of the tubes
2 in the package is in the shape of a square with concave sides, as shown in Fig.
9a, Fig. 9b, while ends of some of the tubes 2 are not bulged. The tubes are arranged
following the pattern shown in Fig. 9. In between the tubes with bulged ends there
are tubes with no bulging at their ends.
1. A heat exchange tube package in which the tubes are arranged parallel to one another,
characterised in that at least some of the tubes (2) are bulged at one of their ends, where the rim (2a)
of the bulged end of the tube (2) is in a shape other than circular, and where the
tubes (2) are arranged in the package (1) according to a pre-set pattern and the rims
of the ends of all tubes (2) on both sides of the package are permanently connected
to one another.
2. The package according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rim (2a) of the bulged end of the tube (2) of the package (1) is in the shape
of a regular hexagon.
3. The package according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rim (2a) of the bulged end of the tube (2) of the package (1) is in the shape
of an equilateral triangle.
4. The package according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rim (2a) of the bulged end of the tube (2) of the package (1) is in the shape
of a square.
5. The package according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rim (2a) of the bulged end of the tube (2) of the package (1) is in the concave
and convex shape.
6. The package according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rim (2a) of the bulged end of the tube (2) of the package (1) is in the shape
of a square with concave sides.
7. The package according to any of the Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the rims of the ends of the tubes (2) are connected to one another with a weld.