Abstract An oxygen reboiler is provided with a brazed plate fin-type heat exchanger at least partially submersed in a body of liquid oxygen. The flat vertical oxygen passages thereof are open at the top and bottom and have no fins or other separate extended heat transfer surface therein which may tend to cause accumulations of hazardous acetylene. These passages are closed at their vertical edges to promote percolator action of the liquid oxygen therein when heated by nitrogen passing through adjacent passages. The conventional closing bar or other elongated member normally brazed between plate surfaces to close these vertical edges has been substantially eliminated from the oxygen passages to thereby reduce the diffusion of molten braze metal onto the plate surfaces thereof. The vertical edges of these passages have been closed with a vertical panel spaced from the plate surfaces.
The apparatus as defined by claim 1 including a pair of side plates each disposed at one of the opposite sides of the gRoup of interleaved first and second passages in generally parallel relation to said separator plates; and means bonding vertical edges of said closing panel to said pair of side plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 1 including means bonding an upper and a lower edge of said panel to a point on each of said separator plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein said first inlet and outlet means includes an inlet header and an outlet header connected in supporting relation to said separator plates; and means bonding upper and lower edges of said closing panel between said inlet and outlet headers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 4 including means for closing the heat exchanger side of said inlet and outlet headers in the areas coextensive with said second passages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 1 where said second closing means includes a second closing panel generally parallel to said axis traversing several of said first and second passages in overlying relationship to said first closing means in spaced relationship to said second faces and disposed in remote relation to said first mentioned closing panel.