Amar S Wanni

US Patent:

6779596, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Jul 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/209082

Inventors:

Amar S. Wanni - Falls Church VA
Marciano M. Calanog - Gainesville VA

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

F28F 902

US Classification:

165158, 165160, 165174

Abstract:

The present invention comprises a novel heat exchanger configuration which preferably uses the axial flow direction for the shell-side fluid and in which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or eliminated and in which inlet region tube erosion is addressed by providing a sacrificial portion of tube length so as to make repair and replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier and with minimal process interruption. Because axial flow is employed with respect to the shell-side fluid according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated.

US Patent:

6811685, Nov 2, 2004

Filed:

Aug 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/643377

Inventors:

Amar S. Wanni - Falls Church VA
Thomas M. Rudy - Warrenton VA
Marciano M. Calanog - Gainsville VA

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

B01D 3300

US Classification:

210 97, 210175, 210181, 210387, 210435, 210446, 210499, 2423961, 2425382, 242918, 96421, 96429, 55351, 55352, 55354, 55422, 55491, 55495, 55506

Abstract:

A self-cleaning strainer which may be installed upstream of a heat exchanger to prevent debris greater than a critical size from reaching the heat exchanger. The strainer is preferably mounted just upstream of a heat exchanger in order to minimize the possibility of debris reaching the heat exchanger. The strainer comprises a screen element which can be advanced across the flow path of the fluid between two rollers. The screen element is placed so that the fluid must flow across the screen element face to continue through the process pipe; the screen may be perpendicular or parallel to the fluid flow axis of the strainer body or at an intermediate angle to it. Flow blocking members are used so as to direct the flow to pass through the screen element.

US Patent:

6874572, Apr 5, 2005

Filed:

Jul 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/209126

Inventors:

Amar S. Wanni - Falls Church VA, US
Marciano M. Calanog - Gainesville VA, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

F28F001/38
F28F001/34
F28F009/013

US Classification:

165172, 165162

Abstract:

The present invention comprises a novel tube support system for a heat exchanger that serves to replace the baffles present in typical shell-and-tube heat exchangers. The shell-and-tube heat exchanger of the present invention employs helically coiled wires to form a support structure for the tubes contained within the heat exchanger shell. The elimination of baffles and the use of the coil support structure according to the present invention permits axial fluid flow for the shell side fluid and significantly minimizes fouling problems and tube damage resulting from flow-induced tube vibration.

US Patent:

7032655, Apr 25, 2006

Filed:

May 19, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/848903

Inventors:

Amar S. Wanni - Falls Church VA, US
Roberto C. Tomotaki - Humble TX, US
Thomas M. Rudy - Warrenton VA, US
Marciano M. Calanog - Stafford TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

F28D 7/00

US Classification:

165162, 248 681, 165165, 165172

Abstract:

A tube support device comprises an elongated strip inserted in a tube lane between the tubes of the tube bundle. Raised-tube-engaging zones are disposed in transverse rows across the strip at successive longitudinal locations along its length; these tube-engaging zones extend laterally outwards from both faces of the strip to engage with tubes on opposite sides of the tube lane. The tube-engaging zones may be arranged so that they extend from the two faces of the strip in an alternate manner, with the tube-engaging zones in each row alternately extending from one face and then from the other along the row.

US Patent:

7073575, Jul 11, 2006

Filed:

Sep 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/937531

Inventors:

Amar S. Wanni - Falls Church VA, US
Thomas M. Rudy - Warrenton VA, US
Louis A. Curcio - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

F28D 7/16

US Classification:

165162, 165174, 2989003

Abstract:

A tube bundle device useful in heat exchangers, condensers and other devices which has a number of tube support cages placed at extended locations along the length of the tubes. After the initial construction of the bundle in which the tubes are inserted into the support cages the tube bundle is stiffened by inserting sets of tube stakes between the tube support cages, preferably at the midpoint of the tube span between the cages. The tubes are supported by rods or bars in each tube lane at the tube support cage locations and the rods in each cage are rotated axially with respect to the rods in the next adjacent cage; in a similar manner, the stakes in each set are rotated axially with respect to the stakes in the next axially adjacent set.

US Patent:

7117935, Oct 10, 2006

Filed:

Oct 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/963041

Inventors:

Amar S. Wanni - Falls Church VA, US
Thomas M. Rudy - Warrenton VA, US
Marciano M. Calanog - Stafford TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

F28F 9/013

US Classification:

165162, 165DIG 406

Abstract:

A tube bundle device such as a heat exchanger or condenser which has parallel tubes in a triangular configuration in which tubes are adjacent and spaced from six surrounding tubes. The tubes in the tube bundle have wire spacer/support elements comprising helically wound material which surrounds at least a portion of the length of each of the tubes; each tube with a spacer/support coil being in contact only with tubes which do not have a spacer/support coil and each tube without a spacer/support coil is in contact only with tubes which have a spacer/support coil.

US Patent:

7128130, Oct 31, 2006

Filed:

Feb 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/362744

Inventors:

Amar S. Wanni - Falls Church VA, US
Roberto S. Tomotaki - Humble TX, US
Thomas M. Rudy - Warrenton VA, US
Marciano M. Calanog - Stafford TX, US

Assignee:

Exxon Mobil Research Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

F28D 7/00

US Classification:

165 69, 165162

Abstract:

A method of reducing vibration in a tube bundle includes inserting at least one elongated longitudinally extending support strip within at least one tube lane, wherein each elongated longitudinally extending support strip having a pair of opposing faces and a plurality of successive transverse tube support rows located at successive longitudinal locations along the strip, wherein each tube support row having a plurality of raised, tube-engaging zones, wherein the plurality of raised, tube-engaging zones extend laterally outwards to engage with tubes in the tube bundle on opposite sides of a tube lane, and orienting the at least one elongated longitudinally extending support strip such that each tube adjacent the tube lane contacts at least one of the transverse tube support rows.

US Patent:

7219718, May 22, 2007

Filed:

Jun 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/474266

Inventors:

Amar S. Wanni - Falls Church VA, US
Thomas M. Rudy - Warrenton VA, US
Louis A. Curcio - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company - Annandala NJ

International Classification:

F28D 7/16

US Classification:

165162, 165161, 165174, 2989003

Abstract:

A tube bundle device useful in heat exchangers, condensers and other devices which has a number of tube support cages placed at extended locations along the length of the tubes. After the initial construction of the bundle in which the tubes are inserted into the support cages the tube bundle is stiffened by inserting sets of tube stakes between the tube support cages, preferably at the midpoint of the tube span between the cages. The tubes are supported by rods or bars in each tube lane at the tube support cage locations and the rods in each cage are rotated axially with respect to the rods in the next adjacent cage; in a similar manner, the stakes in each set are rotated axially with respect to the stakes in the next axially adjacent set.