Tubular heat exchanger

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide a tubular heat exchanger capable of improving heat exchange efficiency and preventing deformation and damage thereof even in a high water-pressure environment. To this end, the present invention includes an outer jacket through which a heat medium is introduced and discharged; a combustion chamber coupled to the inside of the outer jacket so that a heat medium passage is formed between the combustion chamber and the outer jacket, and configured to perform combustion of a burner; a plurality of tubes formed in a flat shape for allowing combustion gas, which is generated in the combustion chamber, to flow along the inside of the combustion chamber and exchange heat with the heat medium; and a turbulator coupled to the inside of the tubes so as to induce generation of turbulence in a flow of the combustion gas.

Claims

1. A tubular heat exchanger comprising: an outer jacket (110) through which a heat medium is introduced and discharged; a combustion chamber (120) coupled to the inside of the outer jacket (110) so that a heat medium passage is formed between the combustion chamber (120) and the outer jacket (110), and configured to perform combustion of a burner; a plurality of tubes (140) formed in a flat shape for allowing combustion gas, which is generated in the combustion chamber (120), to flow along the inside of the plurality of tubes (140) and exchange heat with the heat medium; and a turbulator (150) coupled to the inside of the tubes (140) to induce generation of turbulence in a flow of the combustion gas, wherein the tubular heat exchanger characterized by further comprising: the turbulator (150) includes an upper turbulator (150a) provided at a side into which the combustion gas is introduced, and a lower turbulator (150b) provided at a side from which the combustion gas is discharged; and an area of a path between the lower turbulator (150b) and an inner side surface of the tube (140) is formed to be smaller than an area of a path between the upper turbulator (150a) and the inner side surface of the tube (140) for corresponding to changes in temperature and volume of the combustion gas passing through the tubes (140).

2. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tubes (140) are installed in a vertical direction so that the combustion gas generated in the combustion chamber (120) flows in a downward direction and are spaced apart in a circumferential direction and radially disposed.

3. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein a plurality of tubes (140) are additionally disposed at a center between the plurality of tubes (140) which are radially disposed.

4. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein multiple-stage partitions (160, 170, and 180) configured to guide a flow of the heat medium are provided in the outer jacket (110) to be vertically spaced apart from each other so that a flowing direction of the heat medium is alternatively changed between the inside and the outside of a circumferential direction.

5. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein the plurality of tubes (140) are inserted into the multiple-stage partitions (160, 170, and 180) to be supported.

6. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein the multiple-stage partitions (160, 170, and 180) include an upper partition (160), a middle partition (170), and a lower partition (180) each having a plate shape, wherein: each of the upper partition (160) and the lower partition (180) has an opening for the flow of the heat medium at a center thereof, and an edge portion provided to be in contact with an inner side surface of the outer jacket (110); and the middle partition (170) is formed in a shape of which a center is blocked and has an edge portion provided to be spaced apart from the inner side surface of the outer jacket (110) so that the heat medium flows therebetween.

7. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein: an upper tube sheet (130) into which upper end portions of the plurality of tubes (140) are inserted is coupled to a lower end of the combustion chamber (120); and a lower tube sheet (190) into which lower end portions of the plurality of tubes (140) are inserted is coupled to a lower end of the outer jacket (110).

8. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the turbulator (150) includes a flat part (151) configured to divide an inner space of the tube (140) into two portions and disposed in a longitudinal direction of the tube (140), and a plurality of first guide portions (152) and second guide portions (153) spaced apart from both side surfaces of the flat part (151) along a longitudinal direction and formed to alternatively protrude to be inclined.

9. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein: an interval (L2) in which the plurality of first guide portions (152) and the plurality of second guide portions (153) formed in the lower turbulator (150b) are vertically spaced apart from each other is disposed at a relatively denser interval than an interval (L1) in which the plurality of first guide portions (152) and the plurality of second guide portions (153) formed in the upper turbulator (150a) are vertically spaced apart from each other.

10. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein: the first guide portion (152) is disposed on one side surface of the flat part (151) to be inclined to one side; the second guide portion (153) is disposed on the other side surface of the flat part (151) to be inclined to the other side; and each of the heat media introduced into the first guide portion (152) and the second guide portion (153) is sequentially transferred to the second guide portion (153) and the first guide portion (152) disposed adjacent to an opposite side of the flat part (151) to alternatively flow through both spaces of the flat part (151).

11. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein: a heat medium introduction end of the first guide portion (152) is connected to one side end of the flat part (151) through a first connection portion (152a), and a first communication port (152b) in which fluid communication is performed through both spaces of the flat part (151) is provided between the one side end of the flat part (151), the first connection portion (152a), and the first guide portion (152); and a heat medium introduction end of the second guide portion (153) is connected to the other side end of the flat part (151) through a second connection portion (153a), and a second communication port (153b) in which fluid communication is performed through both spaces of the flat part (151) is provided between the other side end of the flat part (151), the second connection portion (153a), and the second guide portion (153).

12. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein: the first guide portion (152) and the second guide portion (153) include parts of the flat part (151) cut to be bent to both sides of the flat part (151); and fluid communication is performed through both spaces of the flat part (151) through a cut part of each of the first guide portion (152) and the second guide portion (153).

13. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the lower turbulator (150b) is formed to have an occupying area in the tube (140) greater than that of the upper turbulator (150a).

14. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein a plurality of protrusions (141) are formed on the inner side surface of the tube (140) located at the side from which the combustion gas is discharged.

15. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein a supporter (142) configured to support water-pressure is additionally provided in the tube (140).

16. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 15, wherein the supporter (142) includes a support part of which both ends are fixed to an inner side surface of the tube (140).

17. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 15, wherein the supporter (142) includes an embossing portion formed on each of both corresponding side surfaces of the tube (140) to protrude toward the inside of the tube (140).

18. The tubular heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the outer jacket (110) is formed in a cylindrical shape.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a conventional tubular heat exchanger.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a conventional tubular heat exchanger.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is an exterior perspective view of a tubular heat exchanger according to the present invention.

(6) FIGS. 6 and 7 are exploded perspective views of the tubular heat exchanger according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line A-A of FIG. 8.

(9) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 8.

(10) FIG. 11A is a front view of a turbulator.

(11) FIG. 11B is a perspective views illustrating a flow of a combustion gas.

(12) FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shape of a tube at a discharge port of the combustion gas.

(13) FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B, FIG. 13C and FIG. 13D are a cross-sectional view illustrating various embodiments of a support structure of the tube.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(14) TABLE-US-00001 100: heat exchanger 100a: sensible heat exchange part 100b: latent heat exchange part 110: outer jacket 111: heat medium introduction port 112: heat medium discharge port 120: combustion chamber 121: combustion chamber body 122: flange part 130: upper tube sheet 131, 132: tube insertion ports 140: tube 141: protrusion 142: supporter 150: turbulator 150a: upper turbulator 150b: lower turbulator 151: flat part 152: first guide portion 152a: first connection portion 152b: first communication port 153: second guide portion 153a: second connection portion 153b: second communication port 154, 155: welding parts 160: upper partition 161: tube insertion port 162: opening 170: middle partition 171, 172: tube insertion ports 180: lower partition 181: tube insertion port 182: opening 190: lower tube sheet 191, 192: tube insertion ports

Modes of the Invention

(15) Hereinafter, a configuration and an action of a preferable embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(16) Referring to FIGS. 5 to 10, a tubular heat exchanger 100 according to the present invention includes an outer jacket 110 through which a heat medium is introduced and discharged, a combustion chamber 120 coupled to the inside of the outer jacket 110 so that a heat medium passage is formed between the combustion chamber 120 and the outer jacket 110, and configured to perform combustion of a burner, a plurality of tubes 140 formed in a flat shape for allowing combustion gas, which is generated in the combustion chamber 120, to flow along the inside of the combustion chamber 120 and exchange heat with the heat medium, and a turbulator 150 coupled to the inside of the tubes 140 to induce generation of turbulence in the flow of the combustion gas.

(17) Further, an upper tube sheet 130 into which upper end portions of the plurality of tubes 140 are inserted is coupled to a lower end of the combustion chamber 120, multiple-stage partitions 160, 170, and 180 configured to guide a flow of the heat medium are provided on an outer side surface of the tube 140 to be vertically spaced apart from each other so that a flowing direction of the heat medium is alternatively changed between the inside and the outside of a circumferential direction, and a lower tube sheet 190 into which lower end portions of the plurality of tubes 140 are inserted is coupled to a lower end of the outer jacket 110.

(18) The plurality of tubes 140 may be installed in a vertical direction so that the combustion gas which is generated in the combustion chamber 120 flows in a downward direction and may be spaced apart in a circumferential direction and radially disposed, and a plurality of tubes 140 may be additionally disposed at a center between the plurality of tubes 140 which are radially disposed.

(19) The outer jacket 110 is formed in a cylindrical shape of which an upper part and a lower part are open, a heat medium introduction port 111 is connected to one side of the lower part of the outer jacket 110, and a heat medium discharge port 112 is connected to one side of the upper part of the outer jacket 110. Since the outer jacket 110 is formed in the cylindrical shape, pressure-resistant performance may be improved.

(20) The combustion chamber 120 includes a cylindrical combustion chamber body 121 of which an upper part and a lower part are open, and a flange part 122 formed on an upper end of the combustion chamber body 121 and seated on an upper end of the outer jacket 110. Since the combustion chamber body 121 is disposed to be spaced apart from an inner side surface of outer jacket 110 to the inside, a space S4 having a pipe structure through which the heat medium flow is provided between the combustion chamber body 121 and the outer jacket 110.

(21) Referring to FIG. 7, the upper tube sheet 130 seals a lower part of the combustion chamber 120, and has a plurality of tube insertion ports 131 and 132 to which the upper end portions of the plurality of tubes 140 are insertion-coupled.

(22) The multiple-stage partitions 160, 170, and 180 are vertically spaced apart from each other to be coupled to the outer surface of the tube 140 to change a path of the heat medium and support the tubes 140.

(23) The multiple-stage partitions 160, 170, and 180 may include an upper partition 160, a middle partition 170, and a lower partition 180 each having a plate shape.

(24) A tube insertion port 161 is radially formed in the upper partition 160, an opening 162 through which the tube 140 passes for the flow of the heat medium is formed at a center of the upper partition 160, and an edge portion of the upper partition 160 is provided to be in contact with the inner side surface of the outer jacket 110.

(25) A plurality of tube insertion ports 171 and 172 are formed in the middle partition 170, and an area in which the tube insertion ports 171 and 172 are not formed is formed to be blocked, and an edge portion of the middle partition 170 is spaced apart from the inner side surface of the outer jacket 110 to have a flowing path of the heat medium in a space G therebetween.

(26) Since the lower partition 180 has the same structure as the upper partition 160, a tube insertion port 181 is radially formed in the lower partition 180, an opening 182 through which the tube 140 passes for the flow of the heat medium is formed at a center of the lower partition 180, and an edge portion of the lower partition 180 is provided to be in contact with the inner side surface of the outer jacket 110.

(27) The lower tube sheet 190 seals the lower part of the outer jacket 110 and has a plurality of tube insertion ports 191 and 192 into which the lower end portions of the plurality of tubes 140 are inserted.

(28) Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the tubular heat exchanger 100 of the present invention integrally includes a sensible heat exchange part 100a in which heat exchange is performed between combustion sensible heat generated in the combustion chamber 120 and a heat medium, and a latent heat exchange part 100b in which heat exchange is performed between latent heat of the combustion gas, which passes through the sensible heat exchange part 100a, and the heat medium.

(29) The combustion gas generated in the combustion chamber 120 flows in a downward direction along an inner space of the tube 140.

(30) As shown by an arrow in FIG. 10, a heat medium introduced into a first space S1 in the outer jacket 110 through the heat medium introduction port 111 passes through the opening 182 formed in the lower partition 180 to flow to a center of a second space S2 which is provided on the opening 182 via a space between the plurality of tubes 140. The heat medium which flows outwardly in the second space S2 passes through a space G between the middle partition 170 and the outer jacket 110 to flow to a third space S3 which is provided thereon. The heat medium which flows inwardly in the third space S3 is discharged through the heat medium discharge port 112 via a fourth space S4 provided between the combustion chamber body 121 and the outer jacket 110 after passing through the opening 162 formed at a center of the upper partition 160.

(31) As described above, since a flowing direction of the heat medium is alternatively changed inwardly and outwardly in a radial direction, a flowing path of the heat medium may be elongated and heat exchange efficiency may be improved, and since a flowing speed of the heat medium is increased, a boiling situation due to partial overheating which may be caused when the heat medium is congested may be prevented.

(32) Hereinafter, a configuration and an action of the turbulator 150 will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

(33) The turbulator 150 may include a flat part 151 configured to divide the inner space of the tube 140 into two portions and disposed in a longitudinal direction of the tube 140, and a first guide portion 152 and a second guide portion 153 spaced apart from both side surfaces of the flat part 151 along a longitudinal direction and formed to alternatively protrude to be inclined.

(34) The first guide portion 152 is disposed on one side surface of the flat part 151 to be inclined to one side, and the second guide portion 153 is disposed on the other side surface of the flat part 151 to be inclined to the other side. Accordingly, each of the heat media introduced into the first guide portion 152 and the second guide portion 153 is sequentially transferred to the second guide portion 153 and the first guide portion 152 disposed adjacent to an opposite side of the flat part (151) to alternatively flow through both spaces of the flat part 151.

(35) A heat medium introduction end of the first guide portion 152 is connected to one side end of the flat part 151 through a first connection portion 152a, and a first communication port 152b in which fluid communication is performed through both spaces of the flat part 151 is provided between the one side end of the flat part 151, the first connection portion 152a, and the first guide portion 152.

(36) A heat medium introduction end of the second guide portion 153 is connected to the other side end of the flat part 151 through a second connection portion 153a, and a second communication port 153b in which fluid communication is performed through both spaces of the flat part 151 is provided between the other side end of the flat part 151, the second connection portion 153a, and the second guide portion 153.

(37) The first guide portion 152 and the second guide portion 153 may include parts of the flat part 151 cut to be bent to both sides of the flat part 151, and fluid communication may be performed through both spaces of the flat part 151 through a cut part of the flat part 151.

(38) Further, welding parts 154 and 155 may be formed to protrude from the flat part 151 to be in contact with an inner side surface of the tube 140, and thus the welding parts 154 and 155 and the inner side surface of the tube 140 may be configured to be welding-coupled to each other. Accordingly, the number and areas of the welding parts between the turbulator 150 and the tube 140 may be reduced.

(39) According to a configuration of the above-described turbulator 150, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 11B, since a flowing direction of the combustion gas is continuously changed from one side to the other side in the inner space of the tube 140 by the first guide portion 152 and the second guide portion 153, and thus turbulence flow is expedited, heat exchange efficiency between the combustion gas and the heat medium may be improved.

(40) Meanwhile, a temperature of the combustion gradually decreases due to heat exchange between the combustion and the heat medium in a process in which the combustion gas sequentially passes through the sensible heat exchange part 100a and the latent heat exchange part 100b. Accordingly, the temperature of the combustion gas increases and thus the volume of the combustion gas increases in the sensible heat exchange part 100a into which the combustion gas is introduced, and the temperature of the combustion gas decreases, and thus volume of the combustion gas decreases in the latent heat exchange part 100b from which the combustion gas is discharged.

(41) Accordingly, in order to improve the heat exchange efficiency, it is preferable to reduce a flow resistance of the combustion gas by forming an area of a path of the combustion gas which passes through the sensible heat exchange part 100a to be large, and forming the area of the path of the combustion gas in the latent heat exchange part 100b to be relatively small.

(42) To this end, the turbulator 150 integrally includes an upper turbulator 150a provided at a side into which the combustion gas is introduced, and a lower turbulator 150b provided at a side from which the combustion gas is discharged, and the lower turbulator 150b may be formed to have an occupying area in the tube 140 greater than that of the upper turbulator 150a so that an area of a path between the lower turbulator 150b and the inner side surface of the tube 140 may be formed to be smaller than an area of a path between the upper turbulator 150a and the inner side surface of the tube 140.

(43) As an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, an interval L2 in which the plurality of first guide portions 152 and the plurality of second guide portions 153 formed in the lower turbulator 150b are vertically spaced apart from each other may be disposed at a relatively denser interval than an interval L1 in which the plurality of first guide portions 152 and the plurality of second guide portions 153 formed in the upper turbulator 150a are vertically spaced apart from each other.

(44) In this case, in the interval in which the plurality of first guide portions 152 and the plurality of second guide portions 153 formed in the turbulator 150 are vertically spaced apart from each other, an interval which becomes further spaced apart from the side into which the combustion gas is introduced to the side from which the combustion gas is discharged may be formed to be gradually narrower.

(45) In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of protrusions 141 may be formed on the inner side surface of the tube 140 located at the side from which the combustion gas is discharged to reduce an area of a path at a discharging side of the combustion gas.

(46) Referring to FIG. 13, a supporter 142 (142a, 142b, and 142c) configured to support water-pressure of the heat medium may be additionally provided in the tube 140.

(47) The supporter 142 may include a straight support part 142a having both ends fixed to the inner side surface of the tube 140 as shown in FIG. 13A, and a support part 142b having both ends bent to be fixed to the inner side surface of the tube 140 as shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C.

(48) In the case of a structure shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, one side ends of the support parts 142a and 142b are welded to a base material on which the tube 140 is formed when manufacturing the tube 140, both end portions of the base material are welded to the other side ends of the support parts 142a and 142b after rolling and processing the base material in a shape of the tube 140, and the turbulator 150 is insertion-coupled to each of both sides of the support parts 142a and 142b.

(49) In the case of a structure shown in FIG. 13C, when manufacturing the tube 140, the support part 142b and the turbulator 150 may be coupled, and then a coupled body of the support part 142b and the turbulator 150 may be pressed in the tube 140 to be coupled.

(50) In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13D, the supporter 142 may include an embossing portion 142c formed on each of both corresponding side surfaces of the tube 140 to protrude toward the inside of the tube 140. According to the above configuration, when high water-pressure is applied to the outside of the tube 140, an embossing portion 145 formed at the corresponding location may be in contact with the tube 140 to prevent deformation of the tube 140.

(51) As described above, since the supporter 142 is coupled to the inside of the tube 140, deformation of the tube 140 may be prevented even when the water-pressure of the heat medium tube 140 is strongly applied to the outer surface of tube 140. Accordingly, the tube 140 coupled to the supporter 142 may be applied to combustion apparatuses for various usage in addition to a boiler or a water heater.

(52) As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described particular embodiments. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention claimed in the claims and their equivalents, and the changes are included in the scope of the present invention.