(19)
(11) EP 4 345 408 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
03.04.2024 Bulletin 2024/14

(21) Application number: 22460046.0

(22) Date of filing: 30.09.2022
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F28F 1/00(2006.01)
F28F 9/02(2006.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
F28F 1/006; F28F 9/0221
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME
Designated Validation States:
KH MA MD TN

(71) Applicant: AIC SpĆ³lka Akcyjna
81-577 Gdynia (PL)

(72) Inventors:
  • Siemienczuk, Tomasz
    80-351 Gdansk (PL)
  • Ronewicz, Katarzyna
    80-126 Gdansk (PL)

(74) Representative: Pomianek, Grazyna 
Kancelaria Patentowo-Prawna Grazyna Pomianek ul. Subislawa 23 C lok. 7
80-354 Gdansk
80-354 Gdansk (PL)

   


(54) A HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE PACKAGE


(57) A heat exchange tube package in which the tubes are arranged parallel to one another, is 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.
Preferably, the rim (2a) of the bulged end of each tube (2) in the package (1) is in the shape of a regular hexagon or equilateral triangle or square with concave sides, or its shape is convex and concave. Preferably, the rims 2a of the tubes (2) are connected to one another with a weld.




Description


[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.


Claims

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.
 




Drawing

























Search report









Search report




Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description