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A heat transfer apparatus for processing a liquid continuously has a positive mechanical drive for a set of vertical whip rods each disposed in a vertical heat transfer tube. Each whip rod is free-standing on its lower end and is sufficiently flexible to conform closely to the inner surface of the t

A heat transfer apparatus for processing a liquid continuously has a positive mechanical drive for a set of vertical whip rods each disposed in a vertical heat transfer tube. Each whip rod is free-standing on its lower end and is sufficiently flexible to conform closely to the inner surface of the tube as it orbits. The orbital drive propels the whip rod directly through a pair of horizontal, vertically spaced plates that engage the rods in loose openings that serve as fluid inlets from the drive plate. A motor rotates a drive shaft coupled to at least one of the drive plates through at least one eccentric crank. Each plate can be an opposed pair of plates with a separate eccentric drives 180°out of phase with one another for a self balancing. Another form of drive plate uses a rigid circular ring that mounts rod-engaging sleeves via a network of wires supported by the ring. Fluid distribution can also be from a water supply held between a fixed plate and the upper drive plate with gravity feed to each tube through a properly sized inlet opening in the upper tube end. To isolate the heat transfer process, various seals are used to transmit rotary power through a housing without conventional rotary seals.

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An orbital drive for use in a heat transfer apparatus having (i) at least one vertically oriented heat transfer tube that receives a first fluid to be processed at its upper end and has a second fluid flow over its outer surface to produce a radial heat transfer through the wall of the tubes, and (i

An orbital drive for use in a heat transfer apparatus having (i) at least one vertically oriented heat transfer tube that receives a first fluid to be processed at its upper end and has a second fluid flow over its outer surface to produce a radial heat transfer through the wall of the tubes, and (ii) a flexible whip rod disposed in each tube and extending generally the length of the tube, comprising, a motive power source, means for translating the output of said motive power into an orbital motion, means for mechanically and positively coupling said orbital motion to said whip rod to cause it to orbit over the inner surface of said tube to distribute the first fluid and to remove solids from the inner surface deposited from the first fluid as a result of the heat transfer.