WO2017080586A1

WO2017080586A1 - Cooling system for fluids

Info

Publication number: WO2017080586A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/076166
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelmus Franciscus Schoonen
Original assignee: Franke Technology And Trademark Ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-10
Filing date: 2015-11-10
Publication date: 2017-05-18

Abstract

A heat exchanger for fluids is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a vessel with an inner space for containing a refrigerant. The inner space is bounded by an inner surface of a first vessel wall, and the vessel comprises an inlet and an outlet for transport of a refrigerant into and out of the inner space. At least one tube has at least one first tube portion inside the inner space. A first end of the first tube portion is fixed to a first orifice of the vessel and a second end of the first tube portion is fixed to a second orifice of the vessel to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the first tube portion through the first orifice and the second orifice. A chamber outside the inner space is arranged to enable heat exchange between fluid inside the chamber and the refrigerant inside the inner space.

Description

Cooling system for fluids

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a heat exchanger that can be used in a cooling system for fluids. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A fluid cooler can be used to cool a liquid such as water, a consumable liquid such as lemonade or beer, or another fluid. Such fluid coolers are widely employed in industry, household appliances, drinking establishments, restaurants as for example fast food restaurants, catering industry, etc.. The fluid refrigerated by the fluid cooler often should be dispensed, for example in a glass. In this kind of industry, it is known to use fluid coolers including a refrigerating vessel comprising a tube containing refrigerant that goes through the inside of the refrigerating vessel. In this way, a cooling liquid, such as water, can be stored inside of the refrigerant vessel; and the refrigerant that flows through the tube, can cool the water. The consumable liquid can be fed through another tube that is immersed in the cooled water. Also, the cooling liquid is sometimes circulated by means of a tubing, to cool several components of the installation, for example such tubing may be provided along a tube containing the consumable liquid from the refrigerating vessel to the tap and/or from a container of the consumable liquid to the refrigerating vessel. Also in other household and/or industrial applications, multiple cooling applications may be in use simultaneously.

GP 1247580 discloses a refrigerating system including a compressor, a condenser, a fluid line, and a cooling unit wherein this cooling unit comprises an annular refrigerant chamber containing refrigerant.

DE 10 2012 204057 further discloses a heat exchanger comprising a cavity which is filled with refrigerant coming out of an evaporator in order to regulate the temperature of the refrigerant before sending it to the condenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There would be a need for an improved heat exchanger. To address this concern, in a first aspect, a heat exchanger for fluids is provided, comprising:

a vessel, the vessel having an inner space for containing a refrigerant, the inner space bounded by an inner surface of a first vessel wall, the vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet for transport of a refrigerant into and out of the inner space;

at least one tube of which at least one first tube portion is inside the inner space, wherein a first end of the first tube portion is fixed to a first orifice of the vessel and a second end of the first tube portion is fixed to a second orifice of the vessel to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the first tube portion through the first orifice and the second orifice;

a chamber outside the inner space, wherein the chamber is arranged to enable heat exchange between a fluid inside the chamber and the refrigerant inside the inner space, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the chamber.

The first tube portion can be used to cool a first fluid by causing the first fluid to flow through the first tube portion. Meanwhile, the chamber outside the inner space provides a means to cool a second fluid. That second fluid can be cooled inside the chamber and then transported to a location where a cooling element is desired.

The chamber may be positioned at an outside surface of the vessel wall opposite the inner surface of the vessel wall. Alternatively, the chamber may be positioned inside the vessel wall. This configuration facilitates heat exchange between the chamber and the vessel.

In an example, at least part of the chamber is a channel. The channel allows to provide a relatively large contact surface between the vessel and the chamber allowing heat exchange. The channel can be formed by a tube, for example.

The vessel may also be referred to hereinafter as 'first vessel'. The chamber may then be comprised in a second vessel. This provides an alternative configuration besides a channel, and depending on the size of the second vessel this may allow a relatively large quantity of fluid to be cooled.

The first vessel may be at least partly contained in the chamber. Such a configuration may provide a large contact surface between the inside of the first vessel and the inside of the second vessel outside the first vessel. The heat exchanger may comprise a pump to pump the fluid through the chamber via the inlet and the outlet of the chamber. This allows to transport fluid into the chamber to be cooled, and transport the cooled fluid to a location where cooling is desired.

The chamber can be connected, via the inlet and the outlet of the chamber, to a closed loop of circulating fluid. This allows recycling the fluid.

The outlet of the chamber may be f uidly connected to a further tube, and the first tube portion may be fluidly connected to a second tube portion outside the inner space, and at least part of the further tube may be arranged along the second tube portion to allow heat exchange between the inside of the further tube and the inside of the second tube portion. This allows to cool the contents of the second tube portion.

The outlet of the chamber may be fluidly connected to a space in a tap that is not fluidly connected to an outlet of the tap itself, to cool the tap.

The outlet of the chamber may be fluidly connected to a tap to supply a fluid to the tap for dispensing. This allows to tap the cooled fluid.

The first tube portion may be arranged in a plurality of windings around a wall portion of said vessel wall and around a region external to the inner space. This is a compact and/or efficient design of the heat exchanger.

The chamber may be at least partly located within said region external to the inner space. This provides a compact design and/or an efficient heat exchange between the chamber and the vessel.

The heat exchanger may further comprise a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve, wherein the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve, and the heat exchanger are in fluid communication, wherein the inlet of the vessel is fluidly connected to the expansion valve and the outlet of the vessel is fluidly connected to the compressor. This way, a cooling system for multiple fluids is created.

According to another aspect, a method of cooling at least two fluids is provided. The method comprises:

providing a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, in fluid communication to form a refrigeration cycle, wherein the evaporator comprises a heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger comprises a vessel, the vessel having an inner space for containing a refrigerant, the inner space bounded by an inner surface of a first vessel wall, the vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet for transport of a refrigerant into and out of the inner space;

providing at least one tube of which at least one first tube portion is inside the inner space, wherein a first end of the first tube portion is fixed to a first orifice of the vessel and a second end of the first tube portion is fixed to a second orifice of the vessel to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the first tube portion through the first orifice and the second orifice;

providing a chamber outside the inner space, and arranging the chamber to enable heat exchange between a fluid inside the chamber and the refrigerant inside the inner space, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the chamber;

wherein providing a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator in f uid communication comprises fluidly connecting the inlet of the vessel to the expansion valve and fluidly connecting the outlet of the vessel to the compressor; the method further comprising:

operating the compressor to circulate a refrigerant through the refrigeration cycle, causing a fluid to flow through the first portion of the tube, and causing a fluid to flow through the chamber through the inlet and the outlet of the chamber.

According to yet another aspect, a cooling system for fluids is provided, said cooling system at least comprising a compressor; a condenser; and an evaporator;

fluidly connected to form a refrigeration cycle; wherein the evaporator is devised as or comprises a heat exchanger according to said other aspect of the invention.

The person skilled in the art will understand that the features described above may be combined in any way deemed useful. Moreover, modifications and variations described in respect of the system may likewise be applied to the method and to the computer program product, and modifications and variations described in respect of the method may likewise be applied to the system and to the computer program product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, aspects of the invention will be elucidated by means of examples, with reference to the drawings. The drawings are diagrammatic and may not be drawn to scale. Similar items may be denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the figures. Fig. 1 shows a cooling system with a heat exchanger.

Fig. 2 shows another cooling system with a heat exchanger and an arrangement to cool a tube.

Fig. 3 shows another arrangement with a heat exchanger.

Fig. 4 shows a cooling system with another heat exchanger.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a heat exchanger.

Fig. 6 shows another example of a heat exchanger.

Fig. 7 shows another example of a heat exchanger.

Fig. 8 shows another example of a heat exchanger.

Fig. 9 shows another example of a heat exchanger.

Fig. 10 shows another example of a heat exchanger.

Fig. 11 shows another example of a heat exchanger.

Fig. 12 shows another example of a heat exchanger.

Fig. 13 shows a flowchart of a method of cooling at least two fluids.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, example implementations will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. However, it will be understood that the details described herein are only provided as examples to aid an understanding of the invention and not to limit the scope the disclosure. The skilled person will be able to find alternative embodiments which are within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of a cooling system capable of circulating refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle. The cooling system comprises a compressor 1, a condenser 2, a valve 3, an expansion device 4, and an evaporator 5. These components 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are fluidly connected to form the refrigeration cycle. Many different implementations of the compressor, condenser, valve, expansion device, and evaporator are known in the art. For example, the valve 3 and the expansion device 4 may be combined by means of an expansion valve. Some aspects relate to the evaporator 5, which may be included in such a refrigeration cycle of a cooling system. In the following, the evaporator 5 will be described in greater detail. It will be noted that in Fig. 1, the compressor 1, condenser 2, valve 3, and expansion device 4 are drawn as symbols to indicate any suitable device can be used. Also, the evaporator 5 has been drawn in greater detail to illustrate aspects thereof.

The evaporator 5 shown in Fig. 1 is an example of an evaporator. The evaporator 5 can be replaced by other designs of evaporators, for example, the ones shown in the other figures. The evaporator 5 has a vessel 23 with an inner space 26 bounded by an inner surface 28 of a vessel wall 18. In the exemplary embodiment, an optional isolating layer 19 covers the vessel wall 18 to provide thermal insulation. The vessel 23 comprises an inlet 24 to transport refrigerant into the inner space 26 and an outlet 25 to transport refrigerant out of the inner space 26. To provide the function of an evaporator, the refrigerant is kept under pressure in the inner space 26 and is partially in liquid phase 13 and partially in gaseous phase 14. A tube portion 10 is disposed inside the inner space 26. The outside surface of the tube portion 10 may be in direct contact with the refrigerant 13, 14, to allow easy heat exchange. A first end 8 of the first tube portion is fixed to a first orifice of the vessel and a second end 9 of the first tube portion is fixed to a second orifice of the vessel to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the first tube portion through the first orifice and the second orifice. More such tube portions and orifices may be provided, for example to allow a plurality of fluids to be cooled. A part of the tube portion 10 is shown to be immersed in the liquid refrigerant 13. Also, a part of the tube is shown to be above the level of liquid refrigerant, surrounded by gaseous refrigerant. In use, the liquid refrigerant vaporizes due to heat exchange between the refrigerant 13 and the inside of the tube portion 10, and bubbles may be generated in the liquid refrigerant.

In Fig. 1, it is schematically indicated that the tube enters and exits the inner space 26 through the two orifices in the vessel wall. The orifices may enclose the tube ends 8, 9 such that no refrigerant can enter or leave the inner space through the orifice, and no fluids from exterior may enter through the orifice into the inner space. However, fluid exchange into and out of the tube portion 10 is made possible. Further, the inlet 24 and outlet 25 of the vessel wall 18 are connected to tubing 11, 12 to transport the refrigerant from the expansion device 4 into the inner space 26 and from the inner space 26 into the compressor 1. The inlet 24 as shown is located below the level of liquid refrigerant. However, the inlet 24 may also be located above the level of liquid refrigerant in other embodiments. The outlet 25 is located at the top side of the inner space 26, or at least above a level of liquid refrigerant inside the inner space. This way, no liquid refrigerant can reach the compressor. However, the outlet may also be located below the level of liquid refrigerant in alternative implementations.

As explained, the vessel 5 can be used in a refrigeration cycle of a cooling system. The vessel in that state contains a refrigerant 13, 14 in the inner space, which refrigerant is circulated through the cooling cycle. Some of the refrigerant is in liquid state 13, another portion is in vapor state 14. The vessel has an inner space 26 bounded by a surface 28 of the vessel wall 18, the vessel 5 comprising an inlet 24 and an outlet 25 for transport of refrigerant into and out of the inner space 26. The inlet 24 can be anywhere; the outlet 25 is preferably above the level of liquid refrigerant in certain embodiments. At least one tube is provided, through which a liquid to be cooled is to flow in operation. At least one tube portion 10 is inside the inner space, wherein a first end 8 of the tube portion 10 is fixed to a first orifice of the vessel and a second end 9 of the tube portion is fixed to a second orifice of the vessel 5 to enable fluid

communication into and/or out of the tube portion 10 through the first orifice and the second orifice. For example, the tube extends through the first orifice and/or second orifice.

Further, a chamber 16 is located outside the inner space 26. The chamber 16 is arranged to enable heat exchange between a fluid 15, e.g. a liquid, inside the chamber 16 and the refrigerant 13, 14 inside the inner space 26. The chamber may have an inlet 21 and an outlet 22 to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the chamber 16. To enable heat exchange, there may be a contact surface 17 between the chamber 16 and the vessel wall 18. Further, to enable heat exchange, if there is a thermally insulating layer 19 that covers the vessel wall 18, or if the vessel wall 18 contains thermally insulating material, this layer or material may be omitted at the contact surface 17, as is the case in Fig. 1. The chamber 16 may have a chamber wall 20. An optional isolating layer 27 is shown to enclose the chamber 16, although the isolating layer 27 is omitted at the contact surface 17 to improve the heat exchange between refrigerant 13, 14 and fluid 15.

Fig. 2 shows an application of a heat exchanger similar to the heat exchanger shown in Fig. 1. The inner space 26 with inlet 24 and outlet 25, the tube portion 10, the chamber 16 with inlet 21 and outlet 22, are similar as described hereinabove. The isolating layer 27 is omitted, although it could be applied similar to the embodiment of Fig. 1. The first end 8 of the tube portion is connected by means of a second tube portion 207 to a source of a liquid to be cooled, shown as a barrel 206. The second end 9 of the tube portion 10 is connected, by means of example, to a tap 201 of a bar 202, by means of a third tube portion 203. The outlet 22 of the chamber 16 is connected to the inlet 21 of the chamber 16 by means of a cooling tube 204. The cooling tube 204 is arranged along the third tube portion 203. Both tubes 203 and 204 can be bundled by means of a wrapper 205. The wrapper 205 is only shown along a short portion of the tubes, but it could be present along most or the entire third tube portion 203. Such a wrapped bundle of tubes may be called a python. Moreover, one or more further tubes can be included in the wrapper 205 as well. Those further tubes can be connected to further tube portions inside the inner space 26 (not illustrated). Alternatively, these further tubes can be connected to one or more other sources of liquid (be it cooled or not cooled). A pump 208 may be provided, as illustrated, to cause the cooling liquid to be circulated through the chamber 16 and cooling tube 204.

As illustrated, the cooling liquid 15 may be circulated via tube 204 through a cavity in the material of the tap 201, so that the tap itself is cooled. The tube 204 starts at the outlet 21 of the chamber 16 and is disposed along with a tube with a fluid to be kept cool (in the illustrated example, the tube portion 203) in wrapper 205. Where the tube reaches the tap 201, the cooling liquid 15 may be circulated through a cavity in the material of the tap 201, so that the tap itself is cooled. The tube 204 then extends back through wrapper 205 to inlet 22 into the chamber 16.

It will be understood that the cooling tube 204 may be applied to other tube portions in a similar way. For example, the tube portion 207, which connects the liquid source 206 to the first end 8 of the tube portion 10, may be provided with a cooling tube 204 in the same way.

The cooling liquid 15 may also be used for different purposes. These other purposes may be implemented in addition to, or to replace, the tube cooling shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows another example, in which the cooling liquid is not circulated. Instead, the inlet 21 of the chamber 16 is connected to a liquid source (for example, the water supply), and the outlet 22 of the chamber 16 is connected to a sprayer 301 (also known as "rinser") to spray the inside of glasses with the cooled liquid 15 (e.g., cooled water) from the chamber 16. Both applications of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 may be combined in a single heat exchanger (not illustrated). For example, a plurality of separate chambers can be disposed on the vessel 5, a first chamber for circulating liquid for cooling the tube 203 (and optionally the tap) and a second chamber for cooling drinking water.

Fig. 4 shows a cooling system with an alternative configuration of a heat exchanger 401. The heat exchanger 401 may be used in place of the heat exchanger 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the heat exchanger 401. Fig. 6 shows a partially worked open perspective view of the heat exchanger 401. The cross section shown in Fig. 4 is indicated at 503. The tubes 11 and 12 have not been drawn in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 for simplicity.

The inner space 602 of the heat exchanger 401 presents a hole 501. Herein, the word 'hole' refers to a region outside the inner space 601, around which the tube portion 410, 601 inside the inner space 602 is arranged. Generally, said 'hole' can be defines as a recess that penetrates a spatial volume that comprises the inner space, so that said inner space is arranged around said recess. It is noted that the hole or recess may be an open space or may be filled with any kind of material. The tube portion 410, 601 inside the inner space 602 is arranged in a plurality of windings around a wall portion 502 of said vessel wall 405, which wall portion 502 defines said hole 501. The hole 501 extends all the way through the vessel 401 and is defined by a wall portion 502 of the vessel wall 405, so that fluids do not leak into the hole/recess. In the exemplary drawing, the windings are arranged in a hexagonal tiling and may form a bundle, with a space between pairs of adjacent windings. In a cross section

perpendicular to the central axis of the tube windings, the tubes are arranged on a hexagonal grid. However, this is not a limitation. Other arrangements are also possible, e.g. a rectangular tiling.

As shown in Fig. 4, the inner surface of the vessel wall 405 of the heat exchanger 401 can have a toroid shape. The illustrated toroid is a toroid generated by revolving a planar hexagon about an axis (loosely drawn at numeral 504 in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) external to that hexagon 401, which axis is parallel to the plane of the hexagon 401 and does not intersect the hexagon. It will be understood that the hexagon may be replaced by other shapes. As shown in Fig. 4, the hexagon may have rounded corners. The rounding of a corner of the hexagon 401 may follow the outline of a tube portion 402. However, these are specifics of the heat exchanger that can be modified. For example, while a toroid shape may be preferred, other suitable shapes can be used in connection with the present invention, in particular shapes that are equivalent to oriented surfaces of genus 0, 1, 2,..., a surface with genus = 1 being a torus or toroid.

The chamber 416 is provided at an outside surface of the vessel wall 405, with inlet 421 and outlet 422.

Figs. 7 to 12 show modifications of the heat exchanger of Figs. 4, 5, and 6. The vessel 401 and the tubes 410, 601 inside the inner space 602 can be similar to the one of Figs. 4 to 6, but the chamber 416 is implemented differently. In most cases, the chamber 15 can be modified in a similar way when the heat exchanger of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 is used. Some items that are similar to the items described hereinabove, are denoted with the same number, with a letter appended thereto.

Fig. 7 shows a modification wherein the chamber 701 is implemented as a tube, which is an example of a channel. The tube that is attached to an outside surface of the vessel wall 405, wherein the tube circulates around the vessel.

Fig. 8 shows a modification wherein the chamber 801 is arranged to fill the hole 501 of the vessel 401. A pump 208a pumps the liquid out of the chamber 801 and into the tube 422b. Return liquid flows into the chamber 801 through tube 421b.

Fig. 9 shows a modification wherein the chamber 901 is a tank in which the vessel 401 is disposed entirely. The tank may be made of stainless steel, or of another material. Pump 208b pumps the liquid out of the chamber 901 and into the tube 422c. Return liquid flows into the chamber 801 through tube 421c.

Fig. 10 shows a modification wherein the chamber 1001 has an outside wall 1002 that is an enclosure of the vessel 401. The space between the vessel surface 405 and the outside wall 1002 forms the chamber 1001. Pump 208c pumps the liquid out of the chamber 1001 and into the tube 422d. Return liquid flows into the chamber 801 through tube 421 d.

Fig. 11 shows a modification in which the chamber 1101 is formed by a tube attached to the outside surface of the vessel wall 405, similar to Fig. 7. The tube is an example of a channel. However, compared to Fig. 7, the tube follows a different trajectory along the outside surface of the vessel wall 405. Alternative kinds of channel are possible, for example the chamber may be implemented as a channel that is embedded in the vessel wall 18. Fig. 12 shows another configuration in which the chamber 1201 is arranged as a tank. Pump 208d is positioned along the tube 422f and pumps the liquid from the tank through the tube 422 f. Return liquid 1203 flows through tube 42 If onto a plate 1204 that covers the hole 501, so that the liquidl203 flows over the outside surface 1202 of the vessel wall 405, while exchanging heat with the refrigerant inside the inner space 602 of the vessel 401, and into the chamber 1201.

In each above-described example, the tubing 421-422 (with any suffix a-f) can form a closed loop system, so that the liquid cycles through the system. However, this is not a limitation. In an alternative example, the tubes 421 (a-f) are connected to a fluid supply (such as a water supply), and the tubes 422(a-f) are connected to a fluid drain, such as a cool water tap.

Fig. 13 illustrates a method of cooling at least two fluids. In step 1301, the method starts with providing a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, in fluid communication to form a refrigeration cycle, wherein the evaporator comprises a heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger comprises a vessel, the vessel having an inner space for containing a refrigerant, the inner space bounded by an inner surface of a vessel wall, the vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet for transport of a refrigerant into and out of the inner space. In step 1302, the method proceeds with providing at least one tube of which at least one first tube portion is inside the inner space, wherein a first end of the first tube portion is fixed to a first orifice of the vessel and a second end of the first tube portion is fixed to a second orifice of the vessel to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the first tube portion through the first orifice and the second orifice. In step 1303, the method proceeds with providing a chamber outside the inner space, and arranging the chamber to enable heat exchange between a fluid inside the chamber and the refrigerant inside the inner space, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the chamber. It is noted that step 1301 comprises fluidly connecting the inlet of the vessel to the expansion valve and fluidly connecting the outlet of the vessel to the compressor. In step 1304, the method proceeds with operating the compressor to circulate a refrigerant through the refrigeration cycle, causing a fluid to flow through the first portion of the tube, and causing a fluid to flow through the chamber through the inlet and the outlet of the chamber. The techniques disclosed herein may provide a device to cool a fluid in a chamber attached to a space of an evaporator, which space is filled with a refrigerant. The chamber may be used, in one example, to cool a fluid by a few degrees. In certain implementations, the cooling capacity of the chamber may be limited compared to the cooling capacity of the tube portion 10 inside the inner space. In some

implementations, the chamber may provide an energy efficient and/or compact way to fulfill such a supplemental cooling need.

The examples and embodiments described herein serve to illustrate rather than limit the invention. The person skilled in the art will be able to design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. Reference signs placed in parentheses in the claims shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. Items described as separate entities in the claims or the description may be implemented as a single hardware or software item combining the features of the items described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A heat exchanger for fluids, comprising:

a vessel (23), the vessel (23) having an inner space (26) for containing a refrigerant (13, 14), the inner space (26) bounded by an inner surface (28) of a vessel wall (18), the vessel (23) comprising an inlet (24) and an outlet (25) for transport of the refrigerant into and out of the inner space (26);

at least one tube of which at least one first tube portion (10) is inside the inner space (26), wherein a first end (8) of the first tube portion (10) is fixed to a first orifice of the vessel (23) and a second end (9) of the first tube portion (10) is fixed to a second orifice of the vessel (23) to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the first tube portion (10) through the first orifice and the second orifice;

a chamber (16) outside the inner space (26), wherein the chamber (16) is arranged to enable heat exchange between a fluid (15) inside the chamber (16) and the refrigerant (13, 14) inside the inner space (26), the chamber (16) having an inlet (21) and an outlet (22) to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the chamber (16).

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the chamber (16) is positioned at an outside surface (17) of the vessel wall (18) opposite the inner surface (28) of the vessel wall (18), or inside the vessel wall (18).

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein at least part of the chamber (15) is a channel (701, 1101).

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, the vessel (23) being referred to hereinafter as first vessel (23), wherein the chamber is comprised in a second vessel (801, 901, 1001, 1201).

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the vessel (23) is at least partly contained in the chamber (901).

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a pump (208) to pump the fluid (15) through the chamber (16) via the inlet (21) and the outlet (22) of the chamber.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the chamber (16) is connected, via the inlet (21) and the outlet (22) of the chamber (16), to a closed loop of circulating fluid.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the outlet (22) of the chamber (16) is fluidly connected to a further tube (204), and the first tube portion (10) is fluidly connected to a second tube portion (203) outside the inner space (26), and at least part of the further tube (204) is arranged along the second tube portion (203) to allow heat exchange between the inside of the further tube (204) and the inside of the second tube portion (203).

9. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the outlet (22) of the chamber (16) is fluidly connected to a space (209) in a tap (201) that is not fluidly connected to an outlet (210) of the tap (201) itself, to cool the tap (201).

10. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the outlet (22) of the chamber (16) is fluidly connected to a tap (301) to supply a fluid to the tap (301) for dispensing.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first tube portion (410, 601 ) is arranged in a plurality of windings around a wall portion (501) of said vessel wall (405) and around a region (501) external to the inner space (602).

12. The heat exchanger of claim 11, wherein the chamber (801, 901, 1001, 1201) is at least partly located within said region external to the inner space.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a compressor (1), a condenser (2), and an expansion valve (3, 4), wherein the compressor (1), the condenser (2), the expansion valve (3, 4), and the heat exchanger are in fluid communication, wherein the inlet (24) of the vessel (23) is fluidly connected to the expansion valve (3, 4) and the outlet (25) of the vessel (23) is fluidly connected to the compressor (1).

14. A method of cooling at least two fluids, comprising

providing a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, in fluid communication to form a refrigeration cycle, wherein the evaporator comprises a heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger comprises a vessel, the vessel having an inner space for containing a refrigerant, the inner space bounded by an inner surface of a vessel wall, the vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet for transport of a refrigerant into and out of the inner space (1301);

providing at least one tube of which at least one first tube portion is inside the inner space, wherein a first end of the first tube portion is fixed to a first orifice of the vessel and a second end of the first tube portion is fixed to a second orifice of the vessel to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the first tube portion through the first orifice and the second orifice (1302);

providing a chamber outside the inner space, and arranging the chamber to enable heat exchange between a fluid inside the chamber and the refrigerant inside the inner space, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the chamber (1303);

operating the compressor to circulate a refrigerant through the refrigeration cycle, causing a fluid to flow through the first portion of the tube, and causing a fluid to flow through the chamber through the inlet and the outlet of the chamber (1304).

15. A cooling system for fluids, at least comprising:

a compressor (1);

a condenser (2); and

an evaporator (5);

fluidly connected to form a refrigeration cycle; wherein the evaporator (5) is devised as or comprises a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 through 12.