Multiple pass or multiple fluid heat exchange apparatus and method for using same

Abstract

A heat exchanger with a uniquely designed header system which allows tubes carrying independent products to exchange heat with a product in one common shell. Multiple tube sheets provide for tubes carrying different independent products to exchange heat with the product passing through the shell side of the exchanger. The design advantages to this heat exchanger system are threefold, this exchanger design eliminates the need for multiple heat exchangers that perform the same task, it greatly reduces the size and footprint of a traditionally designed multiple heat exchanger systems, which rely on multiple independent heat exchangers to perform the same task, and lastly this new designed heat exchanger reduces the high cost of having to use multiple exchangers to obtain the same results.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a shell, wherein said shell is cylindrical;   a shell interior extending inside said shell from a first aperture at a first end of said shell to a second aperture at a second end of said shell;   a shell outlet near said first end of said shell;   a shell inlet near said second end of said shell;   a tube bundle comprising a multiplicity of tube sets, said tube sets comprising a multiplicity of tubes inside said hollow portion of said shell;   a second input tube sheet coupled to said first end of said shell across said first aperture, wherein said second input tube sheet has a multiplicity of holes the number of which is corresponding with the number of said tubes in said shell;   a second input head, wherein said second input head is cylindrical and hollow creating a second input head chamber, and wherein a first end of said second input head is coupled to said second input tube sheet opposite said shell,   said second input head having a second input head inlet;   a second output tube sheet coupled to said second end of said shell across said second aperture, wherein said second output tube sheet has a multiplicity of holes the number of which is corresponding with the number of said tubes in said tube bundle;   a second output head, wherein said second output head is cylindrical and hollow creating a second output head chamber, and wherein a first end of said second output head is coupled to said second output tube sheet opposite said shell,   said second output head having a second output head inlet;   a first input tube sheet coupled to a second end of said second input head, wherein said first input tube sheet has a multiplicity of holes the number of which corresponds with the number of tubes in a first tube set;   a first input head, wherein said first input head is hemispherical and hollow creating a first input head chamber, and wherein an equatorial end of said first input head is coupled to said first input tube sheet opposite said second input head,   said first input head having a first input head inlet;   a first output tube sheet coupled to a second end of said second output head, wherein said first output tube sheet has a multiplicity of holes the number of which corresponds with the number of holes in said first input tube sheet;   a first output head, wherein said first output head is hemispherical and hollow creating a first output head chamber, and wherein an equatorial end of said first output head is coupled to said first output tube sheet opposite said second output head,   said first output head having a first output head outlet;   wherein each of said tubes pass through a unique hole of said holes in said second input tube sheet and each of said tubes pass through a unique hole of said holes in said second output tube sheet;   wherein said tubes in a second tube set are sized such that an interior of said tubes in said second tube set is open to said second input head chamber and said second output head chamber;   wherein said tubes in said first tube set are sized such that an interior of said tubes in said first tube set is open to said first input head chamber and said first output head chamber;   wherein any gaps between said tubes in said tube bundle and said holes in said second input and second output tube sheets are sealed; and   wherein any gaps between said tubes in said first tube set and said holes in said first input and first output tube sheets are sealed.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third input tube sheet coupled to said first end of said shell across said first aperture, wherein said third input tube sheet has a multiplicity of holes the number of which is corresponding with the number of said tubes in said shell;   a third input head, wherein said third input head is cylindrical and hollow creating a third input head chamber, and wherein a first end of said third input head is coupled to said third input tube sheet opposite said shell,   said third input head having a third input head inlet;   a third output tube sheet coupled to said second end of said shell across said second aperture, wherein said third output tube sheet has a multiplicity of holes the number of which is corresponding with the number of said tubes in said tube bundle;   a third output head, wherein said third output head is cylindrical and hollow creating a third output head chamber, and wherein a first end of said third output head is coupled to said third output tube sheet opposite said shell,   said third output head having a third output head inlet;   wherein said tubes in said first tube set are sized such that an interior of said tubes in said first tube set is open to said third input head chamber and said third output head chamber; and   wherein any gaps between said tubes in said tube bundle and said holes in said third input and third output tube sheets are sealed.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said tubes are mounted in said shell on one or more baffles. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein said tubes are mounted in said shell on one or more baffles. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger is mounted on a sled. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein said heat exchanger is mounted on a sled. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said first input head chamber, said second input head chamber, said shell interior, said second output head chamber, and said first output head chamber are oriented linearly relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein said first input head chamber, said second input head chamber, said third input head chamber, said shell interior, said third output head chamber, said second output head chamber, and said first output head chamber are oriented linearly relative to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein said heat exchanger is mounted on a sled. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein said heat exchanger is mounted on a sled.