Coiled Heat Exchanger Having Different Tube Diameters

Abstract

A coiled heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes which are wound around a core tube is disclosed. The heat exchanger having a casing which delimits an outer space around the tubes, where the tubes of a first tube group have a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter and the tubes of a second tube group have a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter. The second inner diameter is different from the first inner diameter and/or the second outer diameter is different from the first outer diameter.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A coiled heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes which are wound around a core tube, having a casing which delimits an outer space around the tubes, wherein the tubes of a first tube group have a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter with a resulting first wall thickness and the tubes of a second tube group have a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter with a resulting second wall thickness, wherein the second inner diameter is different from the first inner diameter and/or the second outer diameter is different from the first outer diameter and wherein the second wall thickness is different from the first wall thickness. 
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the second inner diameter is different from the first inner diameter and the second outer diameter is a same as the first outer diameter. 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second tube groups are arranged within a same tube layer. 
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second tube groups are arranged in different tube layers. 
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the tubes of the first tube group and the tubes of the second tube group are located in a same tube bundle. 
   
   
       14 . An application of the heat exchanger according to  claim 9  for executing an indirect heat exchange between a hydrocarbonaceous stream and at least one heat fluid or cold fluid. 
   
   
       15 . The application according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrocarbonaceous stream is formed by natural gas. 
   
   
       16 . The application according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrocarbonaceous stream is liquefied, cooled, heated and/or vaporized during the indirect heat exchange. 
   
   
       17 . A coiled heat exchanger, comprising:
 a core tube;   a first tube group spirally wound on the core tube, wherein a tube of the first tube group has a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter with a resulting first wall thickness;   a second tube group spirally wound on the core tube, wherein a tube of the second tube group has a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter with a resulting second wall thickness;   wherein the second inner diameter is different from the first inner diameter and/or the second outer diameter is different from the first outer diameter and wherein the second wall thickness is different from the first wall thickness; and   a casing which defines an outer space around the core tube and the first and second tube groups.   
   
   
       18 . The coiled heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second tube groups are each comprised of a plurality of tubes. 
   
   
       19 . The coiled heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the first tube group is comprised of a first material, wherein the second tube group is comprised of a second material, and wherein the first material is different from the second material. 
   
   
       20 . The coiled heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second tube groups are disposed in a same tube layer around the core tube. 
   
   
       21 . A method of liquefying a stream of natural gas, comprising the steps of:
 flowing the stream of natural gas through a first tube group of a coiled heat exchanger; and   flowing a refrigerant through a second tube group of the coiled heat exchanger;   wherein a cross-section of a tube of the first tube group is different from a cross-section of a tube of the second tube group.   
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first tube group is comprised of a first material, wherein the second tube group is comprised of a second material, and wherein the first material is different from the second material.