Heat exchanger and method for distributing a liquid phase in a heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger for indirect heat exchange between a first medium and a second medium, comprising: a shell, which surrounds a shell space of the heat exchanger, a core tube, which extends along a longitudinal axis and onto which a plurality of tubes for receiving the first medium are coiled. The tubes form a bundle and a number of end portions of the tubes are brought together and connected to a tubesheet fixed on the shell. An annular channel is provided for receiving the second medium (M2). An inlet nozzle is provided for introducing the second medium into the annular channel (100). A plurality of distributor arms in flow connection with the annular channel are provided for distributions.

1 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) for indirect heat exchange between a first medium (M 1 ) and a second medium (M 2 ), comprising:
 a shell ( 4 ), which surrounds a shell space ( 5 ) of the heat exchanger ( 1 ),   a core tube ( 3 ), which is made to extend along a longitudinal axis (Z) and onto which a plurality of tubes ( 20 ) for receiving the first medium (M 1 ) are coiled, the tubes ( 20 ) forming a bundle of tubes ( 2 ), wherein a number of upper end portions of the tubes ( 20 ) of the bundle of tubes ( 2 ) are brought together and connected to a tubesheet ( 21 ), which is fixed on the shell ( 4 ),   an annular channel ( 100 ) extending in the circumferential direction of the shell ( 4 ) and intended for receiving the second medium (M 2 ),   an inlet nozzle ( 104 ), which is provided laterally on the shell ( 4 ) and by way of which the second medium (M 2 ) can be introduced into the annular channel ( 100 ),   a plurality of distributor arms ( 201 ), which respectively have a base ( 202 ) with outlet openings ( 207 ), by way of which a liquid phase (F) of the second medium (M 2 ) can be distributed onto the bundle of tubes ( 2 ), wherein the distributor arms ( 201 ) are respectively in flow connection with the annular channel ( 100 ), and wherein the bases ( 202 ) of the distributor arms ( 201 ) are arranged below the annular channel ( 100 ) with respect to the longitudinal axis (Z),   characterized   
       in that the tubesheet ( 21 ) is fixed on the shell ( 4 ) above the bases ( 202 ) of the distributor arms ( 201 ) and below the annular channel ( 100 ) with respect to the longitudinal axis (Z). 
     
     
         2 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the core tube ( 3 ) is not in flow connection with the distributor arms ( 201 ). 
     
     
         3 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the annular channel ( 100 ) extends along an inner side ( 4   a ) of the shell ( 4 ) that is facing the shell space ( 5 ). 
     
     
         4 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the annular channel ( 100 ) is set against the inner side ( 4   a ) of the shell ( 4 ), so that in particular the shell ( 4 ) forms an outer wall ( 103 ) of the annular channel ( 100 ). 
     
     
         5 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the distributor arms ( 201 ) respectively extend along a radial direction (R), which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (z), wherein in particular the distributor arms ( 201 ) respectively extend from the shell ( 4 ) toward the core tube ( 3 ). 
     
     
         6 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the respective distributor arm ( 201 ) is flow-connected to the annular channel ( 100 ) by way of in each case a downpipe ( 10 ) that is made to extend along the longitudinal axis (Z). 
     
     
         7 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the respective distributor arm ( 201 ) has a roof ( 203 ). 
     
     
         8 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the respective roof ( 203 ) falls away inwardly in the direction of the core tube ( 3 ). 
     
     
         9 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the respective distributor ( 201 ) has a degassing flue ( 210 ). 
     
     
         10 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the respective degassing flue ( 210 ) protrudes upward from an opening ( 203   b ) in the roof ( 203 ) of the respective distributor arm ( 201 ) and extends along the longitudinal axis (Z). 
     
     
         11 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the roof ( 203 ) of the respective distributor arm ( 201 ) has a portion that rises up in the direction of the respective degassing flue ( 210 ). 
     
     
         12 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the respective distributor arm ( 201 ) is formed by a lower portion of a shaft ( 11 ) that extends downward from the annular channel ( 100 ) along the longitudinal axis (Z), wherein the respective shaft ( 11 ) has an inner wall ( 208 ) that is facing the core tube ( 3 ) and runs inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis (Z), so that the respective shaft ( 11 ) tapers upward in cross section. 
     
     
         13 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that distributor arms ( 201 ) that are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the shell ( 4 ) are in flow connection with one another by way of an equalizing line ( 209 ), so that the liquid level of the liquid phase (F) located in the distributor arms ( 201 ) can be equalized by a flow of the liquid phase (F) by way of the equalizing line ( 209 ). 
     
     
         14 . Method for distributing a liquid phase (F) to a bundle of tubes ( 2 ) of a heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the second medium (M 2 ) is directed into the annular channel ( 100 ) and from there is fed into the distributor arms ( 201 ) of the heat exchanger ( 1 ) exclusively by way of flow paths ( 10 ,  11 ) running outside the core tube ( 3 ), and from there a liquid phase (F) of the second medium (M 2 ) is passed to the bundle of tubes ( 2 ) of the heat exchanger ( 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the respective flow path is formed by a downpipe ( 10 ) or by a shaft ( 11 ).