Deformable Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes two mutually isolated fluid circuits in close thermal contact, a first fluid circuit, or bundle ( 3 ), consisting of a helical winding of two walls and the second circuit consisting of a chamber containing the bundle ( 3 ), each circuit including its own fluid input and output elements. The heat exchanger is characterized in that the bundle is elastically deformable under the effect of excess pressure or low pressure.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A heat exchanger comprising two mutually isolated fluid circuits in intimate thermal exchange contact, a first fluid circuit, or bundle ( 3 ) being formed by a helical winding of two walls and the second circuit being formed by an chamber containing the bundle ( 3 ), each circuit including its own fluid input and output means, characterized in that the bundle is elastically deformable under the effect of excess pressure and low pressure.  
   
   
       14 . The exchanger according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said chamber is of a tubular shape and when the internal pressure of the bundle is equal to external pressure, its outer diameter is slightly less than or equal to the inner diameter of the chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The exchanger according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the diameter difference between the inner face of the chamber and the outer face of the bundle is less than at most 6% of the diameter of the latter.  
   
   
       16 . The exchanger according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the tubular casing ( 1 ) includes two bottoms ( 19 ,  25 ) at least one of which is removable and which are respectively crossed by fluid input ( 9 ) and output ( 11 ) means, and means capable of providing the seal between the bottoms and the fluid input and output means of the bundle ( 3 ).  
   
   
       17 . The exchanger according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the means capable of providing the seal between the tubes and the bottom consist of O-ring gaskets ( 23 ,  31 ) or a stuffing box.  
   
   
       18 . A device for limiting an external diameter of a bundle ( 3 ) of an exchanger according to  claim 13 , characterized in that it consists of least one calibrated component ( 20 ) the inner diameter of which is equal to the maximum outer diameter which is intended to be admissible and which is intended to be positioned around the latter after having taken it out of the casing ( 1 ) in order to control the diameter thereof when it is submitted to excess pressure and/or to a controlled rise in temperature.  
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 18 , characterized in that the aforesaid component consists of a ring or sheath ( 20 ).  
   
   
       20 . A method for intervening, such as notably for cleaning, on a bundle of a heat exchanger of the helical type including two mutually isolated fluid circuits in intimate thermal exchange contact, a first fluid circuit being formed by a helical winding of two walls, or bundle, and the second circuit being formed by a space delimited by a casing containing the bundle, each circuit including its own fluid input and output means, characterized in that it includes the steps of: 
 submitting, before its removal, the bundle to low pressure and/or cooling relatively to its casing, so as to cause it to contract,    setting back the bundle to pressure and/or room temperature once it has been extracted from its casing, in order to cause it to recover its initial dimensions,    proceeding with intervention on the bundle,    again submitting the bundle to low pressure and/or cooling relatively to its casing, in order to cause it to contract before it is placed in the casing,    setting back the bundle to pressure and/or room temperature once it has been placed back in its casing.    
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , characterized in that it includes a preliminary step consisting of disconnecting the bundle from its circuit.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20 , characterized in that it includes an intermediate step before the step for intervening on the bundle, consisting of submitting the bundle to excess pressure and/or an increase in temperature relatively to room temperature, in order to cause it to expand.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , characterized in that, before applying to the bundle ( 3 ) said excess pressure and/or said increase in temperature, a device for limiting its diameter according to any claim  4  is positioned around the latter.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 20 , characterized in that it consists of producing the bundle ( 3 ) so that it is deformable under the effect of a pressure difference between the bundle and the chamber, and of providing it with an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the casing ( 1 ) and of applying to the bundle periodical excess pressures and/or low pressures, in order to change its other diameter.