| abstract |
A method of manufacturing or modifying a tube set for a bundled tube heat exchanger, and corresponding apparatus, is provided. An elongated support member is attached to baffles in a heat exchanger. The elongated support member has opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces and face contact surfaces. The opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces receive, in close-fitting relation, the exterior surface of a portion of adjacent rows of tubes passing through baffle apertures. The elongated support member is positioned so that its face contact surface is adjacent to a face surface of the baffle, and the opposed contoured tube-contacting surfaces are adjacent to the exterior surfaces of the plurality of tubes. The elongated support member is attached, e.g., by welding, to the face surface of the baffle, in a manner that does not interfere with the operation of the heat exchanger. |