Abstract: Method and equipment for the utilization of the freezing heat contained in water as a source of heat of a heat pump. The water flow to be utilized as the source of heat is evaporated in one or several stages (4) at such a low pressure that, when the vapor that is formed binds its evaporation heat out of the water, part of the water freezes. The vapor formed is condensed in one or several heat exchangers functioning as the evaporator of the heat pump, whereat the vapor, on being condensed, delivers its heat to the heat transfer medium used in the heat pump.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method and an apparatus for the vaporization of liquid in a heat exchanger of the vertical-tube type, in which exchanger the vapor or liquid delivering the heat is passed through the tubes of the group (7) of tubes in the heat exchanger preferably from the bottom upwards. The group (7) of tubes is passed through at least one nozzle plate (18) or nozzle basin (22) so that nozzle openings (16, 20, 23) surrounding the tubes are formed between the openings in the nozzle plates and the tubes. In the heat exchanger the liquid to be vaporized is passed to the mantle side into the upper part of the heat exchanger or into each nozzle basin of the heat exchanger separately and is guided so as to flow downwards on the outer face of the group (7) of tubes as a liquid film.