Shell-and-plate heat exchanger and use of a shell-and-plate heat exchanger

Abstract

Disclosed is a shell-and-plate heat exchanger ( 1 ) for cooling and condensing a circulating refrigerant. The heat exchanger ( 1 ) comprises a desuperheater ( 2 ) for lowering the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant to a temperature above the condensation temperature of the refrigerant, wherein the desuperheater ( 2 ) is formed by a stack of corrugated desuperheater heat transfer plates ( 3 ). The desuperheater ( 2 ) is connected to a condenser ( 4 ) for condensing a main part of the refrigerant, wherein the condenser ( 4 ) is formed by a stack of corrugated condenser heat transfer plates ( 5 ). The condenser ( 4 ) is connected to a subcooler ( 6 ) for further lowering the temperature of the condensed refrigerant, wherein the subcooler ( 6 ) is formed by a stack of corrugated subcooler heat transfer plates ( 7 ), and wherein the stack of corrugated desuperheater heat transfer plates ( 3 ), the stack of corrugated condenser heat transfer plates ( 5 ) and the stack of corrugated subcooler heat transfer plates ( 7 ) are arranged inside the same common continuous shell ( 8 ). The condenser ( 4 ) and the subcooler ( 6 ) are connected through a liquid refrigerant container ( 9 ) arranged bellow the stack of condenser heat transfer plates ( 5 ) and/or the stack of subcooler heat transfer plates ( 7 ), in that the condensed refrigerant is collected in the liquid refrigerant container ( 9 ) from which the liquid refrigerant continues into the subcooler ( 6 ) through a subcooler inlet conduit ( 10 ). Use of a shell-and-plate heat exchanger ( 1 ) is also disclosed.

1 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger for cooling and condensing a circulating refrigerant, said heat exchanger comprising:
 a desuperheater for lowering the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant to a temperature above the condensation temperature of said refrigerant, wherein said desuperheater is formed by a stack of corrugated desuperheater heat transfer plates, said desuperheater being connected to   a condenser for condensing said refrigerant, wherein said condenser is formed by a stack of corrugated condenser heat transfer plates, said condenser being connected to   a subcooler for further lowering the temperature of said condensed refrigerant, wherein said subcooler is formed by a stack of corrugated subcooler heat transfer plates,   wherein said stack of corrugated desuperheater heat transfer plates, said stack of corrugated condenser heat transfer plates and said stack of corrugated subcooler heat transfer plates are arranged inside the sal e common continuous shell, and   wherein said condenser and said subcooler are connected through a liquid refrigerant container arranged bellow said stack of condenser heat transfer plates and/or said stack of subcooler heat transfer plates, in that said condensed refrigerant is collected in said liquid refrigerant container from which said liquid refrigerant continues into said subcooler through a subcooler inlet conduit.   
     
     
         2 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a conduit inlet opening of said subcooler inlet conduit is arranged at the bottom of said liquid refrigerant container. 
     
     
         3 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said liquid refrigerant container is arranged outside said shell. 
     
     
         4 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said shell encircles said desuperheater, said condenser and said subcooler. 
     
     
         5 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said shell-and-plate heat exchanger comprises a refrigerant conduit through which said refrigerant is moved from said desuperheater to said condenser and wherein said refrigerant conduit is arranged inside said shell. 
     
     
         6 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said shell-and-plate heat exchanger comprises a coolant conduit extending continuously through said desuperheater, said condenser and said subcooler inside said common continuous shell. 
     
     
         7 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said desuperheater and said condenser are separated by a first separation plate arranges inside said common continuous shell and wherein said first separation plate comprises a refrigerant conduit and a coolant passage opening. 
     
     
         8 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said condenser and said subcooler are separated by a second separation plate arranged inside said common continuous shell and wherein said second separation plate comprises only a coolant passage opening. 
     
     
         9 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said continuous shell is formed as a monolithic tube. 
     
     
         10 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said continuous shell is formed by two or more connected shell parts. 
     
     
         11 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger comprises endplates welded to both ends of said shell. 
     
     
         12 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said desuperheater heat transfer plates, said condenser heat transfer plates and said subcooler heat transfer plates are substantially identical. 
     
     
         13 . A shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said common continuous shell is a pressure vessel designed and/or approved to withstand a pressure between 0.7 and 15 MPa, preferably between 1.5 and 10 and most preferred between 2.5 and 7.5 MPa. 
     
     
         14 . Use of a shell-and-plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1  for cooling and condensing a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle.