Heat exchanger with rectification effect

In a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of first heat-transfer elements for a first fluid of high temperature and a plurality of second head-transfer elements for a second fluid of lower temperature than said first fluid, said first and second elements being positioned alternately adjacent and being separated by plates, a plurality of heat exchange fins disposed within said first and second elements, whereby indirect heat exchange occurs between the first fluid and the second fluid, at least said first fluid being changed in phase during the heat exchange, the fluid entrance and exit means, the improvement which comprises a first port provided in the lower part of the first element for introducing said first fluid to the heat exchanger, said port communicating with at least one first fin having a flat surface which is disposed horizontally adjacent to said first port, each of said first fins communicating with a second fin having a flat surface which is inclined upwardly away from said first port, said first and second fins serving to introduce said first fluid into the first element, a plurality of perforations being provided in said first and second fins for separating from said first fluid the liquid rectified by contact with the upflowing first fluid while the liquid condensed by indirect heat exchange in the first element flows down through the first element, and a second port disposed in an opposed position and below said lower port of the first element for discharging the resulting rectified liquid, a plurality of additional fins being provided above said second port but below said first and second fins, respectively, said additional fins providing a longitudinal passage below said first and second fins, said first element comprising a rectangular cube, a plurality of plates which form said cube and separate it from the second element, partitions fringing the first element and which contain said first and second ports, a third port disposed at the upper portion of said first element for discharging said first fluid, said second element comprising a rectangular cube, a plurality of plates which form said cube and separate it from the first element, partitions fringing the second element which contain a fourth port for introducing the second fluid into the heat exchanger, a fifth port for discharging the second fluid, said fourth port being disposed at the uppermost portion of the second element and said fifth port being disposed at the lower portion of the second element, said first element further including an upper portion above the first element with a horizontally disposed partition dividing it from the first element and a plate dividing said upper portion from the second element, a plurality of perforations being provided in the lower part of the plate which divides the first and second elements, said upper portion being further provided with a sixth port disposed on the same side and below said fourth port for introducing the second fluid into said upper portion, said first element including said upper portion within said rectangular cube, whereby condensation of said first fluid as well as rectification of the resulting condensate can be effected within said heat exchanger.