A condensation and falling film evaporation hybrid heat exchanger is provided, including a shell, a condenser entrance pipe connected to a compressor discharge port, and an evaporator exit pipe connected to a compressor suction port being disposed respectively on the shell. A baffle plate is disposed at a position inside the shell corresponding to the condenser entrance pipe. A refrigerant distributor is disposed in the shell, a condensing tube bundle being disposed above the refrigerant distributor, and a falling film evaporating tube bundle being disposed below the refrigerant distributor. The condensation and falling film evaporation hybrid heat exchanger according to this invention can be used in concert with low-pressure refrigerant, thus efficiently solving the problem of refrigerant distribution with the falling film evaporator using low-pressure refrigerant.

The invention relates to a method for executing an alternating evaporation and condensation process of a working medium on a heat transfer surface provided simultaneously as an evaporation and condensation surface. The method is characterized in that, during a respective operating cycle from in each case an condensation process and in each case an evaporation process, a condensate film of the working medium which forms during the condensation process is stored permanently in situ on the heat transfer surface and is then evaporated from the heat transfer surface during the evaporation process. In terms of the apparatus, the heat transfer surface (2) is in the form of an in-situ store for a condensate film (6) of the working medium which covers the heat transfer surface and does not drip off and remains on the heat transfer surface during the condensation process and evaporates during the evaporation process.

Condenser-evaporator tube, in whose interior flows a vapor to be condensed and over which flows a liquid to be evaporated, where both inside and outside faces of this tube are covered with capillary structures configured for the formation of liquid menisci having a contact angle smaller than 90? where the liquid-vapor interface curves, which allows capillary condensation inside the tube and evaporation on the outside face at the upper end (25) of the liquid menisci where the liquid layer is thinnest and the evaporation most efficient.

A heat exchanger (10) of heat pipe configuration for transferring heat between a first and second process streams via a heat transfer fluid comprises: at least one first process stream passage (19); at least one second process stream passage (29); and a shell (11) enclosing the first and second process stream passages (19, 29) within a volume (55). The volume (55), as a result of a heat transfer process, is fully filled with both vapour and liquid phases of the heat transfer fluid. The first and second process stream passages (19, 29) are spaced by a disengagement zone (50) enabling gravitational separation of said vapour and liquid phases and limiting accumulation of liquid phase heat transfer fluid about the first process stream passage(s) (19). Such heat exchangers can be used, among other applications, to replace a flash cooling stage in a Bayer process plant.

A system comprising a first plurality of microchannels, a second plurality of microchannels in thermal communication with the first plurality of microchannels such that the first plurality of microchannels and second plurality of microchannels form a heat exchanger, and a phase change composite in thermal communication with the heat exchanger and methods of operating are disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to a plate heat exchanger for treatment of a feed. The plate heat exchanger includes a plate package comprising a plurality of heat exchanging plates and defining a heating volume, a cooling volume and a plurality of process volumes. Each of the process volumes includes an evaporation section for evaporation of a part of the feed, a separation section for separating a non-evaporated part from an evaporated part of the feed, and a condensation section being arranged to condense the evaporated part of the feed. Each heat exchanging plate defines a first thermal interface between the heating volume and the evaporation section of a first process volume, a second thermal interface between the cooling volume and the condensation section of a second process volume, and at least one further thermal interface between an evaporation section and a condensation section of two adjacent process volumes.

A distillation apparatus includes an evaporator-condenser heat exchanger in combination with a compressor. The heat exchanger is mounted to float in an at least partially immersed position in a sump of liquid. The liquid may be a sap, or may be soiled water, and may have suspended solid. Heating of the liquid yield steam, the steam is compressed, and the heated, compressed steam is fed back into the heat exchanger to provide further heat to the liquid. The process yields a concentrated in the liquid bath and distilled water, each of which may be a desired product. The system may include a pre-heater that exchanges residual heat from the hot distillate with the cooler input liquid. The apparatus and process may have multiple stages.

One object of the present invention is to provide a compact multistage liquid storage-type condenser-evaporator capable of producing two kinds of gases having different compositions without increasing power, and a nitrogen production device using the multistage liquid storage-type condenser-evaporator without increasing the power for producing nitrogen, and the present invention provides a multistage liquid storage-type condenser-evaporator including a bottom liquid storage section which is configured to store the liquid supplied into the bottom evaporation passage without circulating, and a fluid collection section which is configured to collect the fluid which flows out from the bottom evaporation passage and discharge to the outside without returning into the bottom liquid storage section.

Condenser-evaporator tube, in whose interior flows a vapor to be condensed and over which flows a liquid to be evaporated, where both inside and outside faces of this tube are covered with capillary structures configured for the formation of liquid menisci having a contact angle smaller than 90? where the liquid-vapor interface curves, which allows capillary condensation inside the tube and evaporation on the outside face at the upper end (25) of the liquid menisci where the liquid layer is thinnest and the evaporation most efficient.

In a heater for a liquefied stream, a first heat transfer zone has a box stretching longitudinally along an axis. A first heat transfer surface is arranged inside the box, across which a first indirect heat exchanging contact is established between a liquefied stream that is to be heated and a heat transfer fluid. A second heat transfer zone is located gravitationally lower and includes a second heat transfer surface across which the heat transfer fluid is brought in a second indirect heat exchanging contact with the ambient. A downcomer fluidly connects the first heat transfer zone with the second heat transfer zone and has a first transverse portion and a first downward portion that are fluidly connected to each other via a connecting elbow portion. The connecting elbow portion, when viewed in a vertical projection on a horizontal plane, is located external to the box compared to the axis.