Leak detecting matrix for heat exchanges

Abstract

A heat exchanger for exchanging the heat between separate fluids has a plurality of heat exchange tubes. These tubes are alternatively divisible into a primary plurality and into an alternative plurality of mutually exclusive subsets. Each one of the primary subsets shares in common with any one of the alternative subsets, one of the tubes. The heat exchanger also has first and second tube sheets each having a plurality of tube holes. Each of the heat exchange tubes are mounted between the first and second tube sheets. Each end of each tube is sealed into a corresponding one of the tube holes. The first and second tube sheets each have a plurality of internal, isolated passageways. Each of these passageways in the first and second tube sheets communicate with the surfaces of the tubes in a different associated one of the primary and alternative subsets, respectively. By monitoring at both tube sheets the combined leakage from each of the plurality of subsets of tubes, a leak can be isolated to that tube which is common to those subsets leaking at the pair of tube sheets. This isolation is readily obtained since the subsets monitored at each of the tube sheets are organized differently but from the same tubes.