Method for evaporation and/or condensation in a heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for evaporation and/or condensation of at least one fluid in a heat exchanger consisting of a stack of at least one tube ( 3 ) and of at least one folded corrugation ( 17 ), the corrugation and the tube being preferably brazed together, wherein a fluid flows inside at least one tube, and another fluid flows around the corrugation ( 17 ). The invention also concerns an installation for separating a mixture of fluids by cryogenic distillation, comprising a heat exchanger operating in accordance with such a method.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A method for the vaporization and/or condensation of at least one fluid in a heat exchanger consisting of a stack of at least one tube and of at least one corrugated fin, the fin and the tube being preferably brazed to each other and in which heat exchanger a first fluid, optionally to be condensed, flows inside at least one tube and a second fluid, optionally to be vaporized, flows around the fin, in which a) the first fluid condenses and the second fluid vaporizes or b) the first fluid vaporizes and the second fluid condenses. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , in which the corrugation of the fins is approximately parallel to the axis (X or Z in the case of  FIG. 2 ; Z 0 ) of the tubes. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tubes and the fins are made of pure or alloyed aluminum. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tubes and the fins are made of a copper-based alloy. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tubes and the fins are made of an iron-based alloy. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tubes are oblong and/or flattened. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein part of the exchange area is inside the tubes. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the exchange area inside the tubes is obtained by folding, by extrusion or by preferably brazed inserts. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fins are perforated, straight, serrated (with a partial offset), herringbone (zigzagged), and/or louvered. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 18 , in which the first fluid flows inside at least one tube along a descending vertical direction. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , in which the first fluid is a fluid that vaporizes in the at least one tube and the second fluid, optionally to be condensed, flows around the fin in a descending vertical direction. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , in which a fluid to be vaporized (the second fluid) flows around the fin in an ascending vertical direction. 
   
   
       30 . The method for vaporization of at least one liquid derived from air and optionally for condensation of at least one gas derived from air, or which is air, of  claim 18 , 
   
   
       31 . The method for vaporization of at least one liquid having methane and/or carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen as main component and optionally for condensation of at least one gas having methane and/or carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen as main component of  claim 18 . 
   
   
       32 . An installation for separating a mixture of fluids by cryogenic distillation in at least one column having at least one heat exchanger operating according to the method of  claim 18 . 
   
   
       33 . The installation of  claim 32 , in which at least one of the heat exchangers comprises:
 a) a reboiler/condenser for vaporization of a liquid by heat exchange with a gas, which condenses inside or outside a distillation column; or   b) a subcooler; or   c) a regeneration gas heater for a purification unit used for purifying the mixture to be distilled; or   d) a dephlegmator; or   e) a heat exchanger having passages for cooling the mixture to be distilled at a cryogenic temperature; or   f) an exchanger for cooling an interstage of a compressor for compressing the mixture to be distilled or a product of the distillation.   
   
   
       34 . The installation of  claim 33 , in which a reboiler/condenser located inside the distillation column consists of several exchangers, the exchangers being of different widths so as to fill the entire cross section of the column.