Wound heat exchanger and method

A method for the exchange of heat between a refrigerant and a medium with the aid of a wound heat exchanger, which comprises a shell having an inner surface, a bundle of tubes which is arranged inside the shell, a first annular channel which is arranged inside the shell and runs around the inner surface of the shell, a second annular channel which is arranged inside the shell and runs around the inner surface of the shell, and a connecting channel which establishes a fluid connection between the first annular channel and the second annular channel, wherein the first annular channel and the second annular channel are spaced apart from one another along an axis of symmetry of the shell, the method comprising the following steps:

• a) flowing the medium through the bundle of tubes,
• b) separating a liquid phase of the refrigerant from a gaseous phase of the refrigerant with the aid of the first annular channel,
• c) conducting the liquid phase into the second annular channel with the aid of the connecting channel, and
• d) evenly distributing the liquid phase over the bundle of tubes with the aid of the second annular channel to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the medium.

A wound heat exchanger for the exchange of heat between a refrigerant and a medium, comprising:

• a shell,
• a bundle of tubes which is arranged inside the shell and through which the medium can flow,
• a first annular channel which is arranged inside the shell and runs around the shell and is intended for separating a liquid phase of the refrigerant from a gaseous phase of the refrigerant,
• a second annular channel which is arranged inside the shell and runs around the shell and is intended for evenly distributing the liquid phase over the bundle of tubes in order to exchange the heat between the refrigerant and the medium, and
• a connecting channel which establishes a fluid connection between the first annular channel and the second annular channel in order to conduct the liquid phase out of the first annular channel into the second annular channel,
• wherein the first annular channel and the second annular channel are spaced apart from one another along an axis of symmetry of the shell, and
• wherein the first annular channel and the second annular channel protrude radially towards the axis of symmetry of the shell to different extents into the shell, and the second annular channel protrudes radially towards the axis of symmetry of the shell further into the shell than the first annular channel.