Apparatus for evaporating and/or superheating a medium

Abstract

A device for evaporating and/or superheating a medium, in particular a hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon/water mixture for a gas generation system of a fuel-cell plant, includes a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has, in its media-side region, at least one pair of films and in each case an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice which are connected in each case to a media space between the two films of the at least one pair of films. The media-side region is in thermally conductive contact with a region located on the heat transfer medium side. The media space is formed between the two films by depressions introduced on the medium-facing side of at least one of the films. The surface, facing away from the medium, in each case of at least one of the films of the at least one pair of films is provided with heat conducting ribs, the height of the heat conducting ribs being greater than the depth of the depressions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for evaporating or superheating a medium, having a heat exchange body, comprising: 
 at least one pair of films having a media space formed therebetween in a media side region of said heat exchanger; and    at least one inlet orifice and one outlet orifice, each connected to the media space between the at least one pair of films; wherein    the media-side region is in thermally conductive contact with a region of said heat exchanger located on a heat transfer medium side of said films;    the media space between the two films is formed by depressions introduced on a medium-facing side of at least one of the films of said at least one pair of films;    a surface facing away from the medium, in each case of at least one of the films of the at least one pair of films is provided with heat conducting ribs; and    a height of the heat conducting ribs is greater than a depth of the depressions.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 the heat conducting ribs are arranged on at least one side of the respective pairs of films; and    the heat conducting ribs have a corrugated configuration.    
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 1   , further comprising means for fastening the heat exchanger in a self-supporting manner in a heat transfer medium volume flow by means of conduit elements forming inlet and outlet orifices.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 1   , further comprising a substantially cylindrical housing.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 4   , wherein the housing has guide plates.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 3   , wherein the heat exchanger body is received on one of the conduit elements by means of a fixed bearing and on the other conduit element by means of a loose bearing.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 6   , wherein the conduit element received via the loose bearing is surrounded by a further conduit element connected to the housing, this conduit element having at least one flexible conduit portion in a direction of flow, and the conduit element being fastened to the conduit element surrounding the conduit element, on that side of the flexible portion which faces away from the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to    claim 1   , wherein said medium comprises one of a hydrocarbon and a hydrocarbon/gas mixture for a gas generator for a fuel cell system.  
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger for heating of a fluid medium by thermal contact with a heat transfer medium comprising: 
 at least one pair of films;    a media space formed between said at least one pair of films on a media side thereof for accommodating a flow of said fluid medium;    a heat transfer medium space disposed on heat transfer medium sides of said at least one pair of films opposite said media side, for accommodating a flow of said heat transfer medium;    a plurality of heat conducting ribs formed on said heat transfer medium sides of said films in said heat transfer medium space; wherein    the heat transfer medium space is in thermal contact with said media space;    the media space comprises a plurality of elongate grooves formed on the media side of at least one of said at least one pair of films; and    a height of the heat conducting ribs is greater than a depth of the grooves.