Multiple tube bundle heat exchanger

Abstract

A multiple tube bundle heat exchanger includes axially opposite tube plates, a housing, and a plurality of tube bundles disposed between the tube plates. Each of the tube bundles is an independent tube bundle subassembly forming an integral unit having at least one heat exchanger tube with two axial tube ends. The subassembly is made from the exchanger tube and respective tube plates fastened to the two axial tube ends. The housing has a casing part defining a interior and having two axial housing ends with flanges, removable head pieces respectively disposed at the two axial housing ends to be fastened to the flanges, and partitions subdividing the interior into chambers. The number of chambers corresponds to a number of tube bundles. Each of the chambers receives one of the tube bundles. The tube plates and head pieces respectively form seals, and the tube plates delimit distributor, collecting, and/or transfer chambers formed in the head pieces.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A multiple tube bundle heat exchanger, comprising: 
 axially opposite tube plates;    a plurality of tube bundles disposed between said tube plates, each of said tube bundles including an independent tube bundle subassembly forming an integral unit having at least one heat exchanger tube with two axial tube ends, said subassembly made from said at least one heat exchanger tube and respective tube plates fastened to said two axial tube ends;    a housing having: 
 a casing part defining a interior and having two axial housing ends with flanges;  
 removable head pieces to be fastened to said flanges said head pieces respectively disposed at said two axial housing ends; and  
 partitions subdividing said interior into a number of chambers, said number of said chambers corresponding to a number of said plurality of tube bundles, each of said chambers receiving one of said tube bundles;  
   said tube plates and said head pieces respectively forming seals; and    said tube plates delimiting at least one of distributor chambers, collecting chambers, and transfer chambers formed in said head pieces.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 1   , wherein said chambers are casing spaces.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 1   , wherein said partitions have, at both of said axial housing ends, selectively closeable overflow orifices for overflow of medium flowing through said chambers between adjacent ones of said chambers.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 1   , including separate intermediate pieces disposed between said casing part and adjacent ones of said head pieces for prolonging use of said casing part.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 4   , wherein said intermediate pieces form an axial prolongation of said partitions.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 4   , wherein said intermediate pieces have selective overflow orifices between adjacent ones of said chambers.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 4   , wherein: 
 each of said chambers has an inlet and an outlet;    at least one of said inlet and said outlet is disposed at a respective one of said intermediate pieces; and    said at least one of said inlet and said outlet is at least one of: 
 disposed laterally on said respective one of said intermediate pieces; and  
 disposed axially on a respective one of said intermediate pieces and led through a respective one of said head pieces.