Heat exchanger, in particular shell-and-tube heat exchanger, for arrangement in a rotor having an axis of rotation

Abstract

The application relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, for arrangement in a rotor having a axis of rotation, including: first heat-exchange channels for guiding a first heat-exchange medium, in particular a liquid; second heat-exchange channels for guiding a second heat-exchange medium, in particular a gas, preferably a noble gas, wherein the second heat-exchange channels include, in the assembled usage state, at least one inner heat-exchange channel which is closer to the axis of rotation, and an outer heat-exchange channel which is further remote from the axis of rotation; a distribution element which expands, preferably conically expands, in the direction of flow of the second heat-exchange medium for feeding the second heat-exchange medium from an entry opening in the distribution element into inflow openings in the second heat-exchange channels; a merger element which tapers, preferably tapers substantially conically, in the direction of flow of the second heat-exchange medium for discharging the second heat-exchange medium from outflow openings in the second heat-exchange channels into an exit opening in the merger element; and a device for homogenizing the flow through the second heat-exchange channels, which device includes a throttle member for throttling, to different extents, an inner flow of the second heat-exchange medium that passes through the inner heat-exchange channel, and an outer flow of the second heat-exchange medium that passes through the outer heat-exchange channel between the entry opening in the distribution element and the exit opening in the merger element.

1 . A heat exchanger ( 7 ), comprising a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, for arrangement in a rotor ( 1 ) having an axis of rotation ( 2 ), comprising:
 first heat-exchange channels ( 15 ) for guiding a first heat-exchange medium, comprising a liquid;   second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ) for guiding a second heat-exchange medium, comprising a gas, preferably a noble gas, wherein the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ) comprise, in the assembled usage state, at least one inner heat-exchange channel, which is closer to the axis of rotation ( 2 ), and an outer heat-exchange channel, which is further away from the axis of rotation ( 2 );   a distribution element ( 17 ), which expands, preferably conically expands, in the direction of flow of the second heat-exchange medium for feeding the second heat-exchange medium from an entry opening ( 17 A) in the distribution element ( 17 ) into inflow openings ( 29 ) in the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 );   a merger element ( 18 ), which tapers, preferably tapers substantially conically, in the direction of flow of the second heat-exchange medium for discharging the second heat-exchange medium from outflow openings ( 28 ) in the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ) into an exit opening ( 18 A) in the merger element ( 18 ),   wherein   a device ( 30 ) for homogenising the flow through the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ), comprising a throttle member for throttling, to different extents, an inner flow of the second heat-exchange medium that passes through the inner one of the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ), and an outer flow of the second heat-exchange medium that passes through the outer one of the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ) between the entry opening ( 17 A) in the distribution element ( 17 ) and the exit opening ( 18 A) in the merger element ( 18 ).   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the throttle member comprises a throttle orifice plate ( 31 ) having throttle openings ( 32 ), preferably upstream of the inflow openings ( 29 ) or downstream of the outflow openings ( 28 ), wherein a throttle opening ( 32 ), which is further away from the axis of rotation ( 2 ), and a throttle opening ( 32 ), which is closer to the axis of rotation ( 2 ), are of different sizes. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger ( 7 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the throttle orifice plate ( 31 ) comprises a plurality of rows each having a plurality of throttle openings ( 32 ), wherein a row, which is further away from the axis of rotation ( 2 ), and a row, which is closer to the axis of rotation ( 3 ), comprise throttle openings ( 32 ) of different sizes. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the distribution element ( 17 ) comprises a flow grid ( 21 ) having individual distribution channels ( 22 ), which expand in the direction of flow of the second heat-exchange medium, wherein the distribution channels ( 22 ) each comprise an initial portion ( 22 A) and an end portion ( 22 B). 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger ( 7 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein, in order to form the throttle member, the initial ( 22 A) and/or end portion ( 22 B) of a distribution channel ( 22 ), which is further away from the axis of rotation ( 2 ), and the initial ( 22 A) and/or end portion ( 22 B) of a distribution channel ( 22 ), which is closer to the axis of rotation ( 2 ), comprise different flow cross-sections. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein turbulators ( 33 ), comprising spiral turbulators, are provided within the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ) in order to form the throttle member, wherein a turbulator ( 33 ), which is further away from the axis of rotation ( 2 ), and a turbulator ( 33 ), which is closer to the axis of rotation ( 2 ), cause different pressure losses. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger ( 7 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the spiral turbulator ( 33 ), which is further away from the axis of rotation ( 2 ), and the spiral turbulator ( 33 ), which is closer to the axis of rotation ( 2 ), comprise different spiral lengths. 
     
     
         8 . A rotor ( 1 ), comprising a rotary heat pump, comprising:
 an axis of rotation ( 2 ),   a heat exchanger ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         9 . The rotor ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ) extend substantially parallel to the axis of rotation ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . The rotor ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 or 9 , wherein:
 a compressor unit ( 3 ) in which the second heat-exchange medium is guided away from the axis of rotation ( 2 ) in order to increase the pressure,   an expansion unit ( 4 ) in which the second heat-exchange medium is guided towards the axis of rotation ( 2 ) in order to reduce pressure.   
     
     
         11 . The rotor ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 an inner heat exchanger ( 5 ) with respect to the axis of rotation ( 2 ) and an outer heat exchanger ( 6 ) with respect to the axis of rotation ( 2 ).   
     
     
         12 . The rotor ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the throttle member is configured to throttle the inner flow of the second heat-exchange medium passing through the inner heat-exchange channel to a greater extent than the outer flow of the second heat-exchange medium passing through the outer heat-exchange channel. 
     
     
         13 . A method for exchanging heat between a first heat-exchange medium, comprising a liquid, and a second heat-exchange medium, comprising a gas, inside a rotor ( 1 ), comprising the steps of:
 rotating the rotor ( 1 ) around an axis of rotation ( 2 );   guiding the first heat-exchange medium along first heat-exchange channels ( 15 ) of a heat exchanger ( 7 );   guiding a second heat-exchange medium along second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ) of the heat exchanger ( 7 ) at different distances from the axis of rotation ( 2 ) of the rotor ( 1 ); wherein a heat exchange takes place between the first and the second heat-exchange medium along the first ( 15 ) and the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ),   wherein   homogenising the flow through the second heat-exchange channels ( 12 ) by throttling, to different extents, of an inner flow of the second heat-exchange medium, which is closer to the axis of rotation ( 2 ), and an outer flow of the second heat-exchange medium, which is further away from the axis of rotation ( 2 ).