Device for vaporizing and superheating substance

Abstract

The invention provides a device (1) for vaporizing and superheating a substance, comprising a plate bundle (4) serving as an evaporator and a heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater inside the same housing. A plate bundle (4) serving as an evaporator is arranged inside the housing in a lower portion of the housing. A heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater is arranged inside the housing above the plate bundle (4) serving as an evaporator, wherein vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger serving as a superheater. The device is used as part of a refrigeration or heat pump system.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for vaporizing and superheating a substance and to the use of such a device in a refrigeration or heat pump system. Background Art

[0002] Common refrigeration systems include a compressor that delivers compressed refrigerant to a condenser. The refrigerant passes from the condenser through an expansion device to an evaporator, and the refrigerant returns from the evaporator to the compressor. These types of vapor-compression refrigeration systems are closed systems in which the refrigerant circulates and undergoes a phase change. The circulating refrigerant is compressed to a higher pressure, and thus also reaches a higher temperature. Then, the hot, compressed refrigerant gas is at a temperature and pressure at which it can be condensed using a cooling medium such as cooling water or cooling air. This is the stage of the vapor-compression refrigeration system in which the circulating refrigerant rejects heat from the system, and the rejected heat is carried away. Further, a superheater can be used in a refrigeration system. Superheating ensures that liquid refrigerant is vaporized before leaving the evaporator and going to the compressor, because even a small amount of liquid can cause adverse damage to the compressor. A heat pump system includes the same main components as a refrigeration system and thus employs the same vapor-compression cycle but in the opposite direction.

[0003] Typically, all components of a refrigeration or heat pump system are located separately as self-contained units. These types of systems are usually complex. Therefore, the space required for a refrigeration or heat pump system is large, both in terms of area and height. The units of a refrigeration or heat pump system arranged separately from each other also require piping for circulating the refrigerant from one unit to another unit, which also increases the space required for the arrangement. Therefore, a simpler heat exchanger structure for reducing the size of a refrigeration or heat pump system is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to reduce or even eliminate the above problems that occur in the prior art.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for use in a refrigeration or heat pump system, especially in a vapor-compression cycle, which is functionally efficient, economical, and small in size.

[0006] In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and efficient device for use in a refrigeration or heat pump system, which reduces the number of individual devices of the refrigeration or heat pump system.

[0007] Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for use in a refrigeration or heat pump system, which can be easily manufactured using standard-sized parts of a heat exchanger.

[0008] For achieving the above and other objects, the present invention is characterized in what is presented in the characterizing part of the appended independent claims.

[0009] Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in other claims.

[0010] The embodiments and advantages mentioned in this text relate both to the device according to the present invention and to the use of the device, where applicable, although not always specifically mentioned.

[0011] A typical device according to the present invention for vaporizing and superheating a substance, the device at least comprising

[0012] - A housing comprising a substantially horizontal housing body and substantially vertical first and second end plates arranged at the ends of the housing body,

[0013] - An inlet connection for guiding the substance to be vaporized into the housing,

[0014] - An outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing,

[0015] - A tube bundle serving as an evaporator, arranged inside the housing, in the lower part of the housing,

[0016] - Inlet and outlet connections for heating the substance, for guiding the heating substance into and out of the tube bundle serving as an evaporator, the inlet and outlet connections being arranged at the end plates of the housing,

[0017] - A heat exchanger serving as a superheater, arranged inside the housing, above the tube bundle serving as an evaporator, where the vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger serving as a superheater to the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing,

[0018] - Inlet and outlet connections for heating the substance, for guiding the heating substance into and out of the heat exchanger serving as a superheater, the inlet and outlet connections being arranged at the end plates of the housing, and

[0019] - A deflector plate, arranged at least on both sides of the heat exchanger serving as a superheater in the length direction of the device and the housing, the deflector plate enclosing the space between the heat exchanger and the housing to prevent side flow to the outlet connection.

[0020] The device of the present invention is used as a component of a refrigeration or heat pump system, especially in a vapor-compression based system, where the circulating refrigerant undergoes a phase change during its circulation in the system. A typical refrigeration or heat pump system according to the present invention includes the device according to the present invention.

[0021] The present invention is based on a compact and close structure of a device for vaporizing and superheating a substance, which can be used in a refrigeration or heat pump system. The device according to the present invention includes two units inside the same common housing of the refrigeration or heat pump system. The units inside a common housing are an evaporator and a superheater. The evaporator according to the present invention is a flooded evaporator. In the device according to the present invention, the evaporator and the superheater include self-contained heat exchangers, which are arranged in a stacked manner in the height direction of a horizontal housing inside the common housing. Thus, the present invention provides a compact device for vaporizing and superheating a substance (such as a refrigerant). The device according to the present invention requires less space and fewer pipes for circulating the refrigerant from one unit to another. The device according to the present invention is also easily assembled as part of the mechanical unit of a refrigeration or heat pump system.

[0022] In a typical device according to the present invention, the heat exchanger serving as an evaporator evaporates a substance such as the refrigerant in the lower part of the housing, and then when the vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger serving as a superheater, the temperature of the vaporized substance rises. The heat exchanger serving as a superheater is arranged inside the housing, above the tube bundle serving as an evaporator, whereby the vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger serving as a superheater to an outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing. The superheating of the vaporized substance ensures that liquid refrigerant evaporates from the vaporized substance before leaving the device of the present invention and going to the compressor, thus protecting the function of the compressor.

[0023] The device according to the present invention is generally used in the vapor-compression cycle in refrigeration machinery and heat pump systems. The device according to the present invention is used to ensure that no liquid droplets are carried from the evaporator to the compressor used in the refrigeration machinery or heat pump system. Further, the device according to the present invention may include a droplet separator, which is arranged below the heat exchanger serving as a superheater in the height direction of the horizontal housing. The combination of the droplet separator and the superheater ensures that no liquid droplets are carried from the evaporator to the compressor used in the refrigeration machinery or heat pump system.

[0024] The device according to the present invention is generally used in large-scale refrigeration or heat pump systems. The device according to the present invention can be part of an industrial-grade refrigeration or heat pump system, but can also be used as part of, for example, a heating system of a building.

[0025] The structure of the present invention is also economical because the parts to be used can be standard parts or parts that are widely used otherwise. Description of the Drawings

[0026] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the enclosed schematic diagrams, in which

[0027] Figure 1 devices according to embodiments of the present invention for use in a refrigeration or heat pump system are shown from the outside,

[0028] Figure 2 devices according to embodiments of the present invention for use in a refrigeration or heat pump system are shown with parts thereof visible inside,

[0029] Figure 3 a cross-section of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in a refrigeration or heat pump system is shown, and

[0030] Figure 4 devices according to another embodiment of the present invention for use in a refrigeration or heat pump system are shown with parts thereof visible inside. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the device according to the present invention, two units of a refrigeration or heat pump system are arranged inside the same common housing: an evaporator and a superheater. The device according to the present invention includes two separate heat exchangers inside the common housing. One heat exchanger is a heat exchanger serving as an evaporator, and the other heat exchanger is a heat exchanger serving as a superheater. In the device according to the present invention, the evaporator and the superheater include self-owned heat exchangers, which are arranged in a stacked manner inside the common housing. The evaporator includes a tube bundle serving as an evaporator, which is arranged inside the housing, in the lower part of the housing. The superheater includes a heat exchanger, which is arranged inside the housing, above the tube bundle serving as an evaporator. In a typical embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater is arranged in the upper part of the housing.

[0032] The device according to the present invention includes a housing, which includes a longitudinal horizontal housing and vertical end plates arranged at both ends of the housing, namely a first vertical end plate and a second vertical end plate. In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the device includes a longitudinal cylindrical housing and end plates arranged at both ends of the housing. The cylindrical housing is generally a horizontal cylindrical housing, and the end plates of the housing are vertical end plates. The longitudinal direction of the housing or the cylindrical housing means the horizontal direction of the housing or the cylindrical housing. For example, if the cylindrical housing of the housing is a straight circular cylinder, its longitudinal direction is the same as the direction of the central axis of the cylinder under discussion. The height direction of the housing is the height direction of the horizontal housing, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing. The heat exchanger serving as a superheater is arranged above the evaporator in the height direction of the horizontal housing.

[0033] In the device according to the invention, the outer casing serves as a pressure vessel. Thus, the device according to the invention provides two functional units of a refrigeration or heat pump system inside a pressure vessel.

[0034] In the device according to the invention, the inlet connection for the vaporization of the substance is typically arranged through the cylindrical housing and / or the end plate of the outer casing. In an embodiment of the invention, the inlet connection for guiding the substance to be vaporized into the outer casing is arranged on the housing in the lower part of the housing, whereby the inlet connection is positioned below the tube bundle serving as an evaporator. The device according to the invention may include one, two or more inlet connections for guiding the substance to be vaporized into the outer casing. According to an embodiment of the invention, the device includes one or more inlet connections for the vaporization of the substance arranged on the end plate of the outer casing. In an embodiment of the invention, the inlet connection for the vaporization of the substance is arranged on the end plate and the cylindrical housing of the outer casing.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the invention, the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the outer casing is arranged on the upper part of the outer casing above the heat exchanger serving as a superheater. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the outer casing is arranged on the upper part of the housing above the heat exchanger serving as a superheater. The vaporized substance vaporized by the evaporator arranged in the lower part of the device simply flows through the superheater and then flows out of the outer casing through the outlet connection above the superheater.

[0036] In another embodiment of the invention, the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the outer casing is arranged on the end plate of the outer casing. The outlet must be arranged on the end plate in such a way that the vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger serving as a superheater to the outlet connection. According to an embodiment of the invention, the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the outer casing is arranged on the end plate of the outer casing above the heat exchanger serving as a superheater.

[0037] In an embodiment according to the present invention, an outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing is arranged on an end plate of the housing, and the outlet connection is connected in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical housing to a suction conduit arranged inside the housing, and the suction conduit includes an opening at an upper surface of the suction conduit. The suction conduit is arranged above a heat exchanger serving as a superheater. The vaporized substance can be uniformly sucked out of the housing through the suction conduit. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device may include two outlet connections for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing, which outlet connections are arranged at both ends of the suction conduit and thus at two end plates of the housing. When the length of the housing increases in the longitudinal direction and efficient suction of the vaporized substance from the housing should be ensured, the outlet connections at both ends of the suction conduit may be advantageous. The suction conduit includes an opening at an upper surface of the suction conduit through which the vaporized substance is sucked out of the interior of the housing. In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the suction conduit includes an opening at an upper surface of the suction conduit substantially over the entire length of the suction conduit. The shape and size of the opening may vary, for example, the opening may be circular or oval, or they may be longitudinal openings. In an embodiment according to the present invention, the upper surface of the suction conduit may include a longitudinal opening in the length direction of the suction conduit. In another embodiment according to the present invention, the upper surface of the suction conduit may be perforated. In an embodiment according to the present invention, the sum of the areas of the openings arranged at the upper surface of the suction conduit should be at least the same as the area of the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the evaporator for providing sufficient suction. In an embodiment according to the present invention, the suction conduit disclosed above may also be arranged in combination with an outlet connection arranged at an upper part of the housing above a heat exchanger serving as a superheater.

[0038] The evaporator in the device according to the invention is based on the structure of a plate-shell heat exchanger. The tube bundle serving as the evaporator is arranged inside the housing, in the lower part of the housing. In a typical embodiment according to the invention, the main part of the tube bundle is below the center line of the housing. The tube bundle serving as the evaporator is formed by arranging pairs of heat exchange plates on top of each other. Each pair of plates is usually formed by two heat exchange plates attached, preferably welded together at least at their outer peripheries. Each heat exchange plate has at least two openings for the flow of the heating substance. Adjacent pairs of plates are attached to each other by attaching the openings of two adjacent pairs of plates to each other. Thus, the heating substance can flow from one pair of plates to another via the openings. The substance to be vaporized is arranged to flow in the space between the pairs of plates inside the housing of the device according to the invention. The inlet connection and the outlet connection for the heating substance for guiding the heating substance into and out of the tube bundle are arranged at the end plates of the housing. The inlet connection and the outlet connection for the heating substance are arranged in combination with the inner part of the tube bundle (i.e., the inner part of the pairs of plates of the tube bundle), whereby a main circuit of the evaporator is formed between the inlet connection and the outlet connection of the heating substance. The inlet connection for the substance to be vaporized and the outlet connection for the vaporized substance are arranged through the housing of the device and in combination with the inner side of the housing. An auxiliary circuit of the evaporator is formed in the space between the pairs of plates inside the housing. The main circuit and the auxiliary circuit of the tube bundle serving as the evaporator are separated from each other, i.e., the heating substance flowing in the inner part of the tube bundle cannot mix with the substance to be vaporized flowing in the housing. Thus, the heating substance flows in every other plate space, and the substance to be vaporized flows in every other plate space of the tube bundle.

[0039] In a typical embodiment according to the present invention, the tube bundle serving as an evaporator is formed by heat exchange plates arranged on top of each other, and the tube bundle is arranged within a housing such that the longitudinal direction of the tube bundle is the same as the longitudinal direction of the housing of the shell. The longitudinal direction of the tube bundle is the length direction of the tube bundle including the heat exchange plates arranged on top of each other. The tube bundle serving as an evaporator may be formed by circular or semi-circular heat exchange plates, that is, the tube bundle serving as an evaporator is a circular or semi-circular tube bundle. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tube bundle may be formed by oval heat exchange plates. The purpose is to provide a heat exchange surface for efficiently vaporizing a substance (such as a refrigerant). In an embodiment according to the present invention, the tube bundle serving as an evaporator is formed by circular heat exchange plates, where the tube bundle is mainly circular cylindrical in shape, and the tube bundle is arranged into the housing such that the longitudinal direction of the tube bundle is the same as the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical shell. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tube bundle is substantially circular cylindrical, whereby the outer diameter of the tube bundle is about 30% - 70% or about 40% - 60% of the inner diameter of the cylindrical shell. The tube bundle is generally arranged to be eccentric with respect to the cylindrical shell in the lower part of the cylindrical shell. Alternatively, the tube bundle may also be formed by oval or semi-circular heat exchange plates, whereby the tube bundle is arranged at the lower part of the housing. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tube bundle structure is a fully welded structure.

[0040] The evaporator according to an embodiment of the present invention is a flooded evaporator. The level of the substance to be vaporized in the device is generally arranged such that the main part of the heat exchange surface of the tube bundle is below the level for providing efficient heat transfer and vaporization of the substance.

[0041] The tube bundle serving as an evaporator in the device according to the present invention includes an inlet connection and an outlet connection for the heating substance for guiding the heating substance into the tube bundle and guiding the heating substance out of the tube bundle. These inlet connections and outlet connections are arranged at the end plates of the housing.

[0042] The structure of the heat exchanger serving as a superheater is not limited, but can be selected based on the operating conditions and their requirements. In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater has the structure of a plate-type heat exchanger or a finned-tube heat exchanger. The plate-type or finned-tube heat exchanger includes a group of parallel tubes or other channels for the heating substance. The flow of the vaporized substance is generally a single pass through the heat exchanger between the parallel tubes or other channels. In an embodiment according to the present invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater has a rectangular shape, which has a length direction, a width direction, and a height direction. The length direction of the heat exchanger is the direction in the longitudinal direction of the housing. The plate-type or finned-tube heat exchanger is generally very low in the height direction, whereby it can be easily arranged above the tube bundle serving as an evaporator inside the common housing. The vaporized substance is generally arranged to flow through the heat exchanger serving as a superheater in the height direction of the heat exchanger.

[0043] In the device according to the invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater is arranged inside the housing, above the tube bundle serving as an evaporator. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the superheater is arranged inside the housing, in the upper part of the housing, below the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing, which outlet connection is arranged in the upper part of the housing. In an embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater is arranged in a horizontal plane inside the housing. When the heat exchanger is in a horizontal plane, this means that it is arranged in the direction of the horizontal axis of the cross-section of the housing. This means that the width direction of the heat exchanger is in the horizontal direction, so that the vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger (such as a plate-type or finned-tube heat exchanger) in the height direction of the heat exchanger. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater is arranged in a horizontal plane inside the housing, below the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing. In other embodiments of the invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater is arranged diagonally inside the housing relative to the horizontal axis of the cross-section of the housing.

[0044] In an embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater consists of two parts, each of which is arranged diagonally downwards from the midpoint of the cylindrical housing towards the edge of the housing. In one embodiment, a suction duct may be arranged between the parts of the superheater. The outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing is arranged above the parts of the superheater.

[0045] According to an embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger serving as a superheater has a length corresponding to the length of the tube bundle serving as an evaporator and / or the length of the housing, but the length of the heat exchanger serving as a superheater may vary according to the application of the device. In an embodiment of the invention, the length of the heat exchanger serving as a superheater is less than the length of the tube bundle serving as an evaporator and / or the length of the housing.

[0046] In one embodiment, the device according to the invention includes a deflector plate, which is arranged at least on both sides of the heat exchanger serving as a superheater in the length direction of the device and the housing, and the deflector plate closes the space between the heat exchanger and the housing to prevent the side flow of the vaporized substance to the outlet connection. In an embodiment of the invention, the deflector plate is attached to the housing and the heat exchanger serving as a superheater to prevent the side flow to the outlet connection, and thus no droplets are carried from the evaporator to the compressor used in the refrigeration machine or heat pump system. The deflector plate improves the operation of the device.

[0047] When the heat exchanger used as a superheater has a length that is less than the length of the housing of the device, the device of the present invention generally includes guide plates arranged on all sides of the heat exchanger. The guide plates enclose the space between the heat exchanger and the housing to prevent side flow to the outlet connection. In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide plates are attached to the housing and the heat exchanger used as a superheater in a manner that prevents side flow to the outlet connection.

[0048] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device further includes a droplet separator that is arranged below the heat exchanger used as a superheater in the height direction of the horizontal housing, wherein the vaporized substance flows through both the droplet separator and the heat exchanger used as a superheater to the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing. In one embodiment, the droplet separator is a perforated plate or other structure including a metal grid or steel wool for enhancing the separation of droplets. In an embodiment of the present invention, the droplet separator is substantially arranged in a horizontal plane, which means it is arranged in the direction of the horizontal axis of the cross-section of the housing. In an embodiment of the present invention, the droplet separator extends along the entire length of the cross-section of the cylindrical housing. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the droplet separator has a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the plate bundle used as an evaporator and the length of the housing. Generally, the droplet separator is arranged and sized such that side flow can be eliminated. In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the heat exchanger used as a superheater is less than the length of the plate bundle used as an evaporator and / or the length of the housing.

[0049] The device according to the present invention further includes an inlet connection and an outlet connection for the heating substance for guiding the heating substance into and out of the heat exchanger used as a superheater. In the present invention, the inlet connection and the outlet connection of the heat exchanger used as a superheater are arranged at the end plates of the housing. In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the heat exchanger used as a superheater includes its own heating substance circulation, which is separated from the circulation of the heating substance inside the plate bundle used as an evaporator. Thus, in a typical embodiment according to the present invention, the heat exchanger used as a superheater and the plate bundle used as an evaporator have their own inlet connections and outlet connections, and their own heat exchange medium circulation. The separate circulation of the heating substance makes it possible to adjust the temperature of the superheater separated from the evaporator. The separate heating substance circulation in the heat exchanger used as a superheater also makes it possible to cool the vaporized substance (if necessary) through the heat exchanger used as a superheater. This may be required, for example, in the case of emergency cooling of the vaporized substance to avoid an increase in pressure in the device. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger used as a superheater and the plate bundle used as an evaporator have a common heating substance circulation.

[0050] The device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes three separate fluid circuits in one device: the substance to be vaporized inside the housing, the heating substance of the evaporator, and the heating substance of the superheater.

[0051] In the device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the inlet and outlet connections of the tube bundle serving as the evaporator and the heat exchanger serving as the superheater are arranged in the same end plate of the housing. This provides a more compact structure of the pipes required in the system in a case where the assembly of the device is made easier and the device assembly is simplified.

[0052] The device according to the present invention is used as a component of a refrigeration or heat pump system. A typical refrigeration or heat pump system according to the present invention includes the device according to the present invention. Further, the refrigeration system includes all the necessary components of the system, such as a compressor, an expansion device, pipes for circulating the refrigerant, etc. The vapor-compression refrigeration or heat pump system according to the present invention is a closed-loop system in which the refrigerant circulates in a closed cycle and undergoes a phase change.

[0053] In the vapor-compression refrigeration or heat pump system according to the present invention, the refrigerant can be any suitable refrigerant.

[0054] Detailed description of an example of the accompanying drawings

[0055] Figure 1 The device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention for vaporizing and superheating a substance is shown from the outside, and Figure 2 the device 1 is shown with a partial interior view visible. The device 1 includes a housing that includes a substantially horizontal cylindrical shell 2 and substantially vertical first and second end plates 3a, 3b arranged at the ends of the shell 2. A tube bundle 4 serving as an evaporator is arranged inside the housing, in the lower part of the housing. The inlet connection 7 and the outlet connection 8 for the heating substance for guiding the heating substance into and out of the tube bundle 4 serving as the evaporator are arranged to the end plate 3a. A heat exchanger 9 serving as a superheater is arranged inside the housing, above the tube bundle 4 serving as the evaporator. The inlet connection 11 and the outlet connection 12 for the heating substance for guiding the heating substance into and out of the heat exchanger serving as the superheater are arranged to the end plate 3a.

[0056] The device 1 further includes an inlet connection 5 for guiding the substance to be vaporized into the housing, and an outlet connection 6 for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing. In Figure 1 and Figure 2In an exemplary embodiment, the outlet connection 6 for the vaporized substance is arranged at the housing 2 above the heat exchanger serving as the superheater 9, but the outlet connection can also be located at the end plates 3a, 3b. The outlet connection 6 is arranged such that the vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger 9 serving as the superheater to the outlet connection 6 for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing. In Figure 1 it can be seen that the device 1 further includes deflector plates 13a, 13b arranged at the ends of the heat exchanger 9 serving as the superheater. The deflector plates 13a, 13b prevent the lateral flow of the vaporized substance to the outlet connection 6.

[0057] Figure 3 Fig. shows a cross-section of the device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the device 1 according to the invention, the tube bundle 4 serving as the evaporator and the heat exchanger 9 serving as the superheater are arranged one above the other in the height direction of the horizontal housing 2 inside a common housing. The evaporator includes a tube bundle 4 serving as the evaporator, which is arranged inside the housing, in the lower part of the housing. The heat exchanger 9 serving as the superheater is arranged inside the housing, above the tube bundle 4 serving as the evaporator. The heat exchanger 9 serving as the superheater is arranged in the upper part of the horizontal housing, below the outlet connection 6 for guiding the vaporized substance out of the housing. In Figure 2 and Figure 3 in an exemplary embodiment, the heat exchanger 9 serving as the superheater is arranged in a horizontal plane above the tube bundle 4 serving as the evaporator, wherein the vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger in the height direction of the heat exchanger, such as a plate or finned tube heat exchanger.

[0058] In Figure 3 a device 1 is also shown that includes deflector plates 12a, 12b, which are arranged at least on both sides of the heat exchanger 9 serving as the superheater of the device in the length direction of the heat exchanger and the housing. The deflector plates 12a, 12b enclose the space between the heat exchanger 9 and the housing 2 of the housing to prevent the lateral flow of the vaporized substance to the outlet connection 6.

[0059] In Figure 4 a device 1 according to another embodiment of the invention is shown, which further includes a droplet separator 14, which is arranged below the heat exchanger 9 serving as the superheater in the height direction of the housing 2. Otherwise, Figure 1 the structure of the device presented in Figure 2 corresponds to the device presented in

Claims

1. A device (1) for vaporizing and superheating a substance, said device comprising at least - a housing, said housing comprising a substantially horizontal casing (2) and substantially vertical first and second end plates (3a, 3b) arranged at the ends of said casing, - an inlet connection (5) for guiding the substance to be vaporized into said housing, - an outlet connection (6) for guiding the vaporized substance out of said housing, - a tube bundle (4) serving as an evaporator, said tube bundle being arranged in the lower part of said housing inside said housing, - an inlet connection (7) and an outlet connection (8) for heating the substance, said inlet connection and said outlet connection being for guiding the heating substance into the tube bundle serving as an evaporator and for guiding the heating substance out of said tube bundle, said inlet connection and said outlet connection being arranged at the end plates of said housing, and Characterized in that, said device (1) further comprises - a heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater, said heat exchanger being arranged inside said housing above the tube bundle (4) serving as an evaporator, wherein the vaporized substance flows through the heat exchanger serving as a superheater to the outlet connection for guiding the vaporized substance out of said housing; - an inlet connection (11) and an outlet connection (12) for heating the substance, said inlet connection and said outlet connection being for guiding the heating substance into the heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater and for guiding the heating substance out of said heat exchanger, said inlet connection and said outlet connection being arranged at the end plates of said housing; and - deflector plates (12a, 12b), said deflector plates being arranged on at least both sides of the heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater in the length direction of said device and said housing, said deflector plates (12a, 12b) closing the space between the heat exchanger and said housing for preventing side flow to the outlet connection.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater has a structure of a plate type heat exchanger or a finned tube heat exchanger.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The heat exchanger serving as a superheater is arranged inside said housing in a horizontal plane or is arranged inside said housing diagonally with respect to the horizontal axis of the cross-section of said housing.

4. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater is formed by two parts, each of said two parts being arranged diagonally downward from the midpoint of the cylindrical casing towards the edge of said housing.

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater is arranged below the outlet connection (6) for guiding the vaporized substance out of said housing.

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The outlet connection (6) for guiding the vaporized substance out of said housing is arranged at the end plates (3a, 3b) of said housing, wherein said outlet connection (6) is above the heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater.

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater has a length substantially corresponding to the length of the tube bundle (4) serving as an evaporator and / or the length of the housing of said device.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater has a length that is less than the length of the housing of the device, wherein the device includes flow deflectors (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) arranged on all sides of the heat exchanger, and the flow deflectors (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) enclose the space between the heat exchanger and the housing to prevent side flow to the outlet connection.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The tube bundle (4) serving as an evaporator is a circular or semi-circular tube bundle.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The device further includes a droplet separator (14) arranged below the heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater.

11. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater includes a self-contained heating medium circulation that is separated from the circulation of the heating medium inside the tube bundle (4) serving as an evaporator.

12. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The inlet connection and the outlet connection (7, 8) of the tube bundle serving as an evaporator and the inlet connection and the outlet connection (10, 11) of the heat exchanger (9) serving as a superheater are arranged in the same end plate of the housing.

13. A refrigeration or heat pump system comprising a device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12.

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