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

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger having a core tube onto which tubes forming a tube bundle are coiled, a pre-distributor having a liquid space for receiving a liquid phase (F), a centrally arranged feed for introducing the liquid phase into the liquid space and a main distributor which has a multiplicity of distributor arms for distributing the liquid phase (F) over the tube bundle, wherein the distributor arms via at least one flow path proceeding outside the core tube are in fluidic connection with the liquid space, wherein the core tube is arranged or sealed off with regard to the liquid space in such a way that the liquid phase from the liquid space is not introduceable via the core tube into the distributor arms of the main distributor.

1 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) for indirect heat exchange between a first medium and a second medium, having:
 a core tube ( 3 ) extending along a longitudinal axis (Z) onto which a multiplicity of tubes ( 20 ) for receiving the first medium is coiled, wherein the tubes ( 20 ) form a tube bundle ( 2 ),   a pre-distributor ( 100 ) having a liquid space ( 110 ) for receiving a liquid phase (F) of the second medium to be distributed over the tube bundle ( 2 ),   a feed ( 104 ) arranged centrally with regard to the longitudinal axis (Z) for introducing the liquid phase (F) into the liquid space ( 110 ),   a main distributor ( 200 ) which has a multiplicity of distributor arms ( 201 ) for distributing the liquid phase (F) over the tube bundle ( 2 ),   characterized in that   the distributor arms ( 201 ) via at least one flow path ( 30 ) proceeding outside the core tube ( 3 ) are in fluidic connection with the liquid space ( 110 ), wherein the core tube ( 3 ) is arranged or sealed off with regard to the liquid space ( 110 ) in such a way that in correct operation of the heat exchanger ( 1 ) the liquid phase (F) from the liquid space ( 110 ) is not introduceable via the core tube ( 3 ) into the distributor arms ( 201 ) of the main distributor ( 100 ).   
     
     
         2 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the core tube ( 3 ) has an outlet opening ( 31 ) arranged in the pre-distributor ( 100 ), wherein the outlet opening ( 31 ) is arranged above the liquid space ( 110 ) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (Z), so that the liquid phase (F) from the liquid space ( 110 ) is not introduceable via the core tube ( 3 ) into the distributor arms ( 201 ) of the main distributor ( 100 ). 
     
     
         3 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one flow path ( 30 ) is formed by a downtube ( 10 ) extending along the longitudinal axis (Z), so that the liquid phase (F) to be distributed is introduceable via the downtube ( 10 ) from the liquid space ( 110 ) into the distributor arms ( 201 ). 
     
     
         4 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one of the distributor arms ( 201 ) is formed by a lower section of a shaft ( 11 ) which extends from the pre-distributor ( 100 ) along the longitudinal axis (Z), so that the liquid phase (F) to be distributed is introduceable via the shaft ( 11 ) from the liquid space ( 110 ) into the respective distributor arm ( 201 ). 
     
     
         5 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the distributor arms ( 201 ) are in fluidic connection via at least one equalization conduit ( 209 ), so that the liquid level of the liquid phase (F) present in the distributor arms ( 201 ) is equalizable via a flow of the liquid phase (F) via the at least one equalization conduit ( 209 ). 
     
     
         6 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the distributor arms ( 201 ) proceed in a radial direction (R) between the core tube ( 3 ) and a shell ( 4 ) of the heat exchanger ( 1 ) and in an axial direction along the longitudinal axis (Z), wherein the distributor arms ( 201 ) each have a roof ( 202 ) which seals off the respective distributor arm ( 201 ) in the axial direction at the side facing the pre-distributor ( 100 ), wherein the respective roof ( 202 ) drops down in the radial direction (R) toward the shell ( 4 ). 
     
     
         7 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the distributor arms ( 201 ) are in fluidic connection with the core tube ( 3 ), so that the gaseous phase (G) present in the distributor arms ( 201 ) is withdrawable from the distributor arms ( 201 ) via the core tube ( 3 ). 
     
     
         8 . Heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the core tube ( 3 ) is in fluidic connection with a gas space ( 120 ) of the pre-distributor ( 100 ) via the outlet opening ( 31 ), so that the gaseous phase (G) present in the distributor arms ( 201 ) is introduceable via the core tube ( 3 ) into the gas space ( 120 ). 
     
     
         9 . Method for distributing a liquid phase (F) over a tube bundle ( 2 ) of a heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first medium is conducted through the tubes ( 20 ) of the heat exchanger ( 1 ) and wherein the liquid phase (F) is introduced into the liquid space ( 110 ) of the pre-distributor ( 100 ) and exclusively via at least one flow path ( 30 ) proceeding outside the core tube ( 3 ) is introduced into the distributor arms ( 201 ) of the main distributor ( 200 ) and from there applied onto a tube bundle ( 2 ) of the heat exchanger ( 1 ). 
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the liquid phase (F) forms a continuous liquid column (S) between the distributor arms ( 201 ) and the liquid space ( 110 ) of the pre-distributor ( 100 ). 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the liquid phase (F) forms a first liquid column (S 1 ) in the flow path ( 30 ) and a second liquid column (S 2 ) in the liquid space ( 110 ) of the pre-distributor ( 100 ), wherein the first liquid column (S 1 ) is separated from the second liquid column (S 2 ) by a gas volume (V) present in the flow path ( 30 ).