Abstract: A helically coiled heat exchanger with a plurality of inlets each connected to at least one assigned tube defining a heating surface of the heat exchanger and having at least one changeover means to switch the inlet between a first operating state and a second operating state. In the first operating state, a stream of a first medium and, in the second operating state, a stream of a second medium is introduced via the inlet into the assigned tube. In the first operating state more heating surface is available to the stream of the first medium and correspondingly less heating surface is available to the stream of the second medium. In the second operating state more heating surface is available to the stream of the second medium and correspondingly less heating surface is available to the stream of the first medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the state of a heat exchanger device (10) that comprises means for transferring heat with the aid of at least one process stream. A thermohydraulic simulation of the at least one process stream through at least one passage (14) in the heat exchanger device (10) is carried out in order to determine temperature and/or heat transfer coefficient profiles of the means for transferring heat.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger for indirect heat exchange between a first medium and a second medium, comprising: a shell, which surrounds a shell space of the heat exchanger, a core tube, which extends along a longitudinal axis and onto which a plurality of tubes for receiving the first medium are coiled. The tubes form a bundle and a number of end portions of the tubes are brought together and connected to a tubesheet fixed on the shell. An annular channel is provided for receiving the second medium (M2). An inlet nozzle is provided for introducing the second medium into the annular channel (100). A plurality of distributor arms in flow connection with the annular channel are provided for distributions.

Abstract: A process for cooling a tube side stream in a main heat exchanger is described. The process comprises: a) supplying a first mass flow of a tube side stream to a first zone of individual tubes in the tube bundle; b) supplying a second mass flow of the tube side stream to a second zone of individual tubes in the tube bundle, the second zone being offset from the first zone; c) supplying a refrigerant stream on the shell side for cooling the first and second mass flows; d) removing the evaporated refrigerant stream from the warm end of the main heat exchanger; and, e) adjusting the first mass flow of the tube side stream relative to the second mass flow of the tube side stream to maximise the temperature of the removed evaporated refrigerant stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger system (1) for heat exchange between at least a first medium (M), in particular in the form of a hydrocarbon-rich phase, and a second medium (K), with at least first and second pipe space sections (101, 103; 103, 105) for accommodating the first medium (M), and with a first pipe space section connecting means (102; 104), via which the two pipe space sections (101, 103; 103, 105) are connected to one another in a flow-guiding manner. The first pipe space section (101; 103) is surrounded by a first shell space (201, 203), and the second pipe space section (103; 105) is surrounded by a second shell space (203, 205) for accommodating the second medium (K). The first shell space (201; 203) is defined by a first shell (301; 303) and the second shell space (203; 205) is defined by a second shell (303; 305).

Abstract: A process for cooling a tube side stream in a main heat exchanger is described. The process comprises: a) supplying a first mass flow of a tube side stream to a first zone of individual tubes in the tube bundle; b) supplying a second mass flow of the tube side stream to a second zone of individual tubes in the tube bundle, the second zone being offset from the first zone; c) supplying a refrigerant stream on the shell side for cooling the first and second mass flows; d) removing the evaporated refrigerant stream from the warm end of the main heat exchanger; and, e) adjusting the first mass flow of the tube side stream relative to the second mass flow of the tube side stream to maximise the temperature of the removed evaporated refrigerant stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a temperature distribution in a heat exchanger, in which an actual temperature distribution in the heat exchanger is measured by means of at least one optical waveguide arranged in the heat exchanger, in particular in the form of a glass fiber, light being launched into the optical waveguide and light that is scattered in the optical waveguide being evaluated for determining the actual temperature distribution, and at least one flow of a fluid medium that is carried in the heat exchanger being controlled in such a way that the actual temperature distribution is made to approximate a pre-defined target temperature distribution. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out a method for controlling a temperature distribution in a heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shell and tube heat exchanger (1) having a helical tube bundle (10) within a shell (20), that defines a shell space (200) surrounding the tube bundle (10). The tubes are helically coiled about a core pipe (100) in such a manner that there is formed at least one first section (11) and at least one second section (12), separate from the first section, that surrounds the first section (11). The two sections (11, 12) have in each case at least one associated inlet (E, E?) such that the two sections (11, 12) are able to be charged separately with the first medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) for indirect heat exchange comprising a tube bundle (10), formed from a plurality of tubes helically coiled around a core tube (100), for receiving a first medium, a shell (20). which encloses the tube bundle (10) and defines a shell space (200) surrounding the tube bundle (10), for receiving a second medium, and a liquid distributor (40) for distributing in the shell space (200) a stream (S), conveyed in the shell space (200), of the second medium in the form of a liquid (F). According to the invention a control device (33) for controlling distribution in the shell space (200) of an additional, further stream (S?) of liquid (F), and/or for controlling distribution of stream (S) of liquid (F) in the shell space (200).

Abstract: A heat exchanger for indirect heat transfer between a first medium and a second medium having a shell which has a shell space to accommodate a liquid phase of the first medium, and at least one heat-exchanger block having first heat-transfer passages to accommodate the first medium and second heat-transfer passages to accommodate the second medium, such that indirect heat can be transferred between the first medium and the second medium. The heat-exchanger block is arranged in the shell space so that it can be surrounded with a liquid phase of the first medium in the shell space. A plurality of cylindrical channels are provided in the shell space laterally to the heat-exchanger block and parallel to each other to conduct the liquid phase of the first medium.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for the indirect exchange of heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, the heat exchanger having a casing surrounding a casing chamber that accommodates the first fluid. A core tube may extend within the casing. A tube bundle is arranged in the casing chamber and has multiple tubes to accommodate the second fluid. The tubes are helically wound around a longitudinal axis of the chamber or around the core tube in a coil region extending from a lower coil end to an upper coil end. At least one tube is coiled only in a section of the coil region. Outside of the section of the coil region the at least one tube extends as a straight tube to the lower coil end, the upper coil end, or to both the lower coil end and the upper coil end.

Abstract: A process for liquefying a tube side stream in a main heat exchanger is described. The process comprises the steps of: a) providing a first mass flow to the warm end of a first subset of individual tubes, b) providing a second mass flow to the warm end of a second subset of individual tubes, c) evaporating a refrigerant stream on the shell side; d) measuring an exit temperature of the first mass flow; e) measuring an exit temperature of the second mass flow; and, f) comparing the exit temperature of the first mass flow measured in step d) to the exit temperature of the second mass flow measured in step e), the process characterized in that at least one of the first and second mass flows is adjusted to equalize the exit temperature of the first mass flow with the exit temperature of the second mass flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) having a tube bundle (10) with a large number of tubes wound around a central pipe (100), a shell (20) enclosing the tube bundle (10) and defining a shell space (200) surrounding the tube bundle (10), and a liquid distributor (30) having distributor arms (300) for distributing a liquid (F) into the shell space (200) and onto the tube bundle (10), and drain pipes (340) for supplying the distributor arms with liquid (F). The distributor arms (300) are connected in a flow-guiding manner to a ring channel (400) positioned along the periphery of the shell (20). For degassing liquid (F), central pipe (100) is connected in a flow-guiding manner to the distributor arms (300).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a temperature distribution in a heat exchanger, in which an actual temperature distribution in the heat exchanger is measured by means of at least one optical waveguide arranged in the heat exchanger, in particular in the form of a glass fibre, light being launched into the optical waveguide and light that is scattered in the optical waveguide being evaluated for determining the actual temperature distribution, and at least one flow of a fluid medium that is carried in the heat exchanger being controlled in such a way that the actual temperature distribution is made to approximate a pre-defined target temperature distribution. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out a method for controlling a temperature distribution in a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A helically coiled heat exchanger with a plurality of inlets each connected to at least one assigned tube defining a heating surface of the heat exchanger and having at least one changeover means to switch the inlet between a first operating state and a second operating state. In the first operating state, a stream of a first medium and, in the second operating state, a stream of a second medium is introduced via the inlet into the assigned tube. In the first operating state more heating surface is available to the stream of the first medium and correspondingly less heating surface is available to the stream of the second medium. In the second operating state more heating surface is available to the stream of the second medium and correspondingly less heating surface is available to the stream of the first medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger system comprising a jacket extending along a longitudinal axis and surrounding a jacket space. A pipe bundle is arranged in the jacket space wherein pipes are wound helically around a central pipe. At least one pre-distributor container is arranged in the jacket space for accommodating and degassing a liquid-gas mixture and designed to coat a distributing means with liquid degassed in the at least one pre-distributor container. The distributing means is designed to deliver the liquid to the pipe bundle. At the top the jacket has an inlet which is aligned with the longitudinal axis and in fluid connection with the central pipe. The central pipe has at least one lateral opening so that the liquid-gas mixture can be fed via the inlet, the central pipe, and the at least one lateral opening into the at least one pre-distributor container.

Abstract: A process for liquefying a tube side stream in a main heat exchanger is described. The process comprises the steps of: a) providing a first mass flow to the warm end of a first subset of individual tubes, b) providing a second mass flow to the warm end of a second subset of individual tubes, c) evaporating a refrigerant stream on the shell side; d) measuring an exit temperature of the first mass flow; e) measuring an exit temperature of the second mass flow; and, f) comparing the exit temperature of the first mass flow measured in step d) to the exit temperature of the second mass flow measured in step e), the process characterized in that at least one of the first and second mass flows is adjusted to equalise the exit temperature of the first mass flow with the exit temperature of the second mass flow.

Abstract: A process for cooling a tube side stream in a main heat exchanger is described. The process comprises: a) supplying a first mass flow of a tube side stream to a first zone of individual tubes in the tube bundle; b) supplying a second mass flow of the tube side stream to a second zone of individual tubes in the tube bundle, the second zone being offset from the first zone; c) supplying a refrigerant stream on the shell side for cooling the first and second mass flows; d) removing the evaporated refrigerant stream from the warm end of the main heat exchanger; and, e) adjusting the first mass flow of the tube side stream relative to the second mass flow of the tube side stream to maximise the temperature of the removed evaporated refrigerant stream.

Abstract: A wound heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes which are wound in several concentric tube layers about a central tube, and a container cover which defines an external chamber about the tube. A first anti-drumming wall is shaped as a cylinder cover or a cylinder cover segment and is arranged on the external side of a first layer of tubes.