DEVICE TO REPAIR LEAKAGE IN HIGH PRESSURE SHELL-AND-TUBES HEAT EXCHANGER USING GASKET AND TENSIONING BY CASES

Abstract

The present invention refers to a device to repair leakage in high pressure shell-and-tube heat exchanger using gasket and tensioning by cases. The device aims to repair leakages in heat exchangers in flanged connections of large diameter where there is the gap or channel to allow for gasket placement. The device is fully screwed, with no risk of flash during its implantation and can be used at high temperatures and pressure, in addition to presenting an ease of manufacture/assembly, reducing implementation costs. Basically, the device comprises an adjustment screw holder, gasket compression ring, stabilizer support, and compression adjustment screws.

Claims

1. A device to repair leakages in high pressure shell-and-tube heat exchangers, the device comprising: at least one adjustment screw holder with two symmetrical parts in the shape of a semicircle, wherein each symmetrical part comprises two joining elements at their respective ends; at least one gasket compression ring comprising a set of smooth plates with a plurality of blind holes, wherein each blind hole is specially adapted to receive an end of a gasket compression adjustment screw; at least one stabilizing support, having a “T” shape and comprising a cylindrical bar, a threaded bar, and hexagonal nuts; and at least one gasket compression adjustment screw, comprising a hexagonal nut and a screw body corresponding to a threaded bar.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the two symmetrical parts have a radius of 860 mm and a thickness of ¾ inch.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the two symmetrical parts are comprised of ASTM A283 Gr. W steel.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each connection element comprises two hollow holes each having a diameter of approximately 28 mm.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment screw holder further comprises an angle bracket configured to receive the gasket compression adjustment screws.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment screw holder further comprises a plurality of reinforcing bars equally spaced in a longitudinal direction.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the gasket compression adjustment screws are secured by hexagonal nuts.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the gasket compression ring comprises a radius of at least 662 mm.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the gasket compression ring prevents leakage from the gasket.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical bar comprises a length of at least 150 mm and a diameter of ¼ inches, and is comprised of carbon steel.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the threaded bar comprises a length of at least 85 mm length and a diameter of at least ½ inches, and is comprised of A193 Gr.B7 steel.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the hexagonal nuts have a diameter of ½ inches and are comprised of A194 Gr. 2H steel.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing support stabilizes the gasket compression ring.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the hexagonal nut has a diameter of ⅝ inches.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the threaded bar comprises a length of at least 140 mm and a diameter of ⅝ inches, and is comprised of A-193 Gr. B7 steel.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the gasket compression adjustment screws impart torque to the gasket compression ring.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A method of assembling a device to repair leakages in high pressure shell-and-tube heat exchangers, the method comprising: installing a gasket in a heat exchanger gap; positioning a gasket compression ring on the gasket, wherein the gasket compression ring comprises a set of smooth plates with a plurality of blind holes, wherein each blind hole is specially adapted to receive an end of a gasket compression adjustment screw; subsequently fixing a screws adjustment holder, wherein the screws adjustment holder comprises two symmetrical parts in the shape of a semicircle, wherein each symmetrical part comprises two joining elements at their respective ends; and installing the gasket adjustment compression screw to symmetrically adjust the gasket compression ring, the gasket adjustment compression screw comprising a hexagonal nut and a screw body corresponding to a threaded bar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] In order to complement the present description and obtain a better understanding of the characteristics of the present invention, and in accordance with a preferential embodiment thereof, a set of figures is presented in annex, where in an exemplified way, although not limiting, it represents the preferred embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the device, highlighting the fact that it comprises an adjustment screw holder 1, gasket compression ring 2, stabilizer support 3, and gasket compression adjustment screws 4, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the device to repair leakages in high pressure shell-and-tube heat exchangers, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the front view and the top view of part 01, referring to the adjustment screw holder 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows the front view of part 02, referring to the compression ring of the gasket 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the front view of part 03, referring to the stabilizer support 3 which has a “T” shape, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the front view of part 04, referring to the gasket compression adjustment screws 4, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The present invention relates to a device to repair leakages in heat exchangers in large diameter flanged connections where there is the gap or channel to allow the placement of the gasket, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is described in detail, based on the attached figures.

[0029] FIG. 1 represents an exploded view of the device showing that it basically comprises at least one adjusting screw support 1, at least one gasket compression ring 2, at least one stabilizing support 3, and at least one gasket compression adjustment screw 4, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the adjustment screw holder 1 comprising a body with two symmetrical parts 1.1 and 1.2 in the shape of a semicircle with a radius of 860 mm made of a smooth plate of ASTM A283 Gr. C steel (or similar) and ¾ inch thick as shown in the top front view, each part comprising two joining members 1.3 230 mm long and 150 mm wide, at their respective ends (of greater thickness (1 inch), but of the same material).

[0031] Each connection element 1.3 is drilled with two hollow holes with approximately 28 mm diameter, as shown in the top view. An angle bracket 1.4 (circumferential element) specially adapted to receive the gasket compression adjustment screws 4 comprising at least 14 holes of ¾ inch diameter and preferably manufactured with A36 low carbon steel.

[0032] And also reinforcing bars 1.5 equally spaced in the longitudinal direction, for example, with a distance forming an arc of 39°. Said gasket compression adjustment screws 4 are fastened by hexagonal nuts 1.6 of ⅝ inches diameter being manufactured with material corresponding to A194 Gr. 2H steel and being soldered into all holes.

[0033] It can be said that the adjusting screw bracket 1 is the part that allows the positioning and fixation of the gasket compression adjustment screws 4, functioning as a stabilizing structure of the device of the present invention.

[0034] In FIG. 4, the gasket compression ring 2 is represented, which comprises at least 662 mm radius and which is preferably made of a set of smooth plates 2.1 with a plurality of blind holes 2.2, each blind hole especially adapted to receive the end of a gasket compression adjustment screw 4.

[0035] It can be said that the gasket compression ring 2 is the part that allows the tightening and compression of the gasket, which is the sealing element that stops the leakage when compressed between the faces containing the leakage.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows the stabilizing support 3 which preferably has a “T” shape and comprises a cylindrical bar 3.1 of greater length with at least 150 mm and a diameter of ¼ inch made preferably of carbon steel, a threaded bar 3.2 of at least 85 mm length and at least ½ inch diameter made preferably of the material referred to as A193 Gr.B7 steel, and also hexagonal nuts 3.3 with ½ inch diameter and preferably made of A194 Gr. 2H.

[0037] It can be said that the stabilizing support 3 is a fundamental part for the device to fulfill its function, as it allows the stabilization of the gasket compression ring 2, thus the compression transmitted from the compression adjustment screws from the gasket 4 to the gasket compression ring 2 is improved.

[0038] Thus, a decomposition of the force components is avoided. Better gasket compression is what allows the leakage to be repaired.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows the gasket compression adjustment screws 4, which comprise a hexagonal nut 4.1 on the head (A194 Gr. 2H) with a ⅝ diameter inch and a screw body 4.2 which is made of a threaded bar with a length of at least 140 mm and a ⅝ diameter inch, preferably manufactured in A 193 Gr. B7 steel.

[0040] It can be said that the gasket compression adjustment screws 4 are also fundamental for the functionality of the device of the present invention, since it is the gasket compression adjustment screws 4 that transmit the necessary tightening to the gasket compression ring 2.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device in order to better understand how the parts fit together. Firstly, the assembly of said device is done by installing a gasket in the gap, followed by the positioning of the gasket compression ring 2 over the gasket.

[0042] With the gasket compression ring 2 positioned on the gasket, the adjustment screw holder 1 is fixed on the exchanger flange, then the gasket compression adjustment screw is installed 4 in order to symmetrically adjust the gasket compression ring 2 over the gasket without tightening.

[0043] Next, the stabilizing support 3 is positioned to maintain the stability of the gasket compression ring 2, and the final tightening of the gasket compression adjustment screw 4 is carried out to eliminate leakage.

[0044] In the developed device, which can be applied in a real case (and not only in tests), and which is still installed and subjected to operating pressure and temperature, the supported pressure can be at least 56 kgf/cm.sup.2 and the operating pressure is at least 48.1 kgf/cm.sup.2. For the case of a supported temperature, it can be estimated at least 400° C. and operating inlet temperature of at least 339.1° C.

[0045] Those skilled in the art will value the knowledge presented herein and will be able to reproduce the invention in the presented embodiments and in other variants, covered in the scope of the appended claims.