JP2020008129A - Vaporizer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vaporizer efficiently exchanging heat between a liquefied gas and an intermediate medium gas by preventing formation of an excessively thick liquid film.SOLUTION: The vaporizer is provided that comprises: a housing part in which intermediate medium gas is housed; a first condensation pipe having an upstream pipe part extended in the housing part from an inflow port from which a liquefied gas flows in, a curved pipe part forming a flow channel curved upward from the upstream pipe part, and a first downstream pipe part extended from the curved pipe part at a position separating upward from the upstream pipe to be overlapped to the upstream pipe part in a vertical direction; and a liquid receiving part disposed in a space formed between the upstream pipe part and the first downstream pipe part to receive a dropping intermediate medium liquid dropping when the intermediate medium liquid generated on an outer surface of the first downstream pipe part by condensation of the intermediate medium gas as a result of the heat exchange with the liquefied gas, from the outer surface of the first downstream pipe part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vaporizer for vaporizing a liquefied gas.

  An intermediate medium gas (for example, propane) having a higher temperature than the liquefied gas may be used to vaporize the liquefied gas (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). The intermediate medium gas is accommodated in a heat exchange space where heat exchange with the liquefied gas is performed. In the heat exchange space, a pipe member that forms a flow path through which the liquefied gas flows extends. In order to prevent the heat exchange space from becoming excessively long, a U-shaped tube which is curved in a U-shape in the heat exchange space is generally used as a tube member for guiding the liquefied gas. As a result of heat exchange between the liquefied gas in the U-tube and the intermediate medium gas outside the U-tube, the liquefied gas is warmed and vaporized into a vaporized gas. The U-tube is curved upwards, taking into account that the vaporized gas is lighter than the liquefied gas. The liquefied gas flows from the lower part of the U-shaped pipe, and the vaporized gas vaporized in the U-shaped pipe flows into the upper part of the U-shaped pipe. The vaporized gas finally flows out of the heat exchange space through the U-tube.

JP 2016-27272 A JP 2000-227200 A

  The intermediate medium gas that has exchanged heat with the liquefied gas in the U-tube is condensed on the outer surface of the U-tube to become an intermediate liquid. Since the upper and lower parts of the U-tube overlap vertically, the intermediate medium liquid produced as a result of condensation at the upper part of the U-tube drops under the action of gravity and falls on the lower part of the U-tube. The intermediate medium liquid dropped from the upper part of the U-tube is added to a liquid film formed by the intermediate medium liquid attached to the lower part of the U-tube as a result of condensation of the intermediate medium gas at the lower part of the U-tube. The liquid film formed at the lower part of the tube becomes excessively thick and hinders efficient heat exchange between the liquefied gas and the intermediate medium gas.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer that prevents formation of an excessively thick liquid film and efficiently exchanges heat between a liquefied gas and an intermediate medium gas.

  The vaporizer according to one aspect of the present invention has a heating unit that heats the intermediate medium liquid so that the intermediate medium liquid evaporates, and the intermediate medium gas generated by evaporating the intermediate medium liquid and the intermediate medium The liquefied gas is vaporized by exchanging heat with a liquefied gas at a lower temperature than the gas. The vaporizer has a housing section in which the intermediate medium gas is housed, an upstream pipe section extending in the housing section from an inlet into which the liquefied gas flows, and a flow path curved upward from the upstream pipe section. A first condenser having a curved pipe part to be formed and a first downstream pipe part extended from the curved pipe part at a position spaced apart from the upstream pipe part so as to vertically overlap with the upstream pipe part. The intermediate medium liquid generated by condensation of the intermediate medium gas on the outer surface of the first downstream pipe portion as a result of heat exchange between the pipe and the liquefied gas is removed from the outer surface of the first downstream pipe portion. A liquid receiving plate disposed in a space formed between the upstream pipe portion and the first downstream pipe portion so as to receive the dropped intermediate medium liquid when dropped.

  According to the above configuration, since the liquid receiving plate disposed in the space formed between the upstream pipe portion and the first downstream pipe portion receives the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the outer surface of the first downstream pipe portion, The intermediate medium liquid does not fall on the upstream pipe extending below the first downstream pipe. Since the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the outer surface of the first downstream pipe does not adhere to the upstream pipe, an excessively thick liquid film does not occur on the outer surface of the upstream pipe. Therefore, the film of the intermediate medium liquid on the outer surface of the upstream pipe does not unduly hinder heat exchange between the liquefied gas flowing through the first downstream pipe and the intermediate medium gas in the storage section. As a result, the heat exchange efficiency between the liquefied gas and the intermediate medium gas is maintained at a high level.

  With respect to the above configuration, the vaporizer may further include a liquid storage section in which the intermediate medium liquid is stored. The liquid receiving plate may include an upper surface for receiving the dropped intermediate medium liquid. The upper surface of the liquid receiving plate may be inclined such that the intermediate medium liquid received by the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate flows down in a predetermined direction and drops from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. The liquid storage may be arranged below the first condenser tube.

  According to the above configuration, since the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate is inclined, the intermediate medium liquid flows in a predetermined direction on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. Since the period during which the intermediate medium liquid is stationary on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate is shortened, the intermediate medium liquid flows from the first downstream pipe portion to the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. , And a time period until the liquid reaches the liquid storage section disposed below the first condenser tube is also shortened. That is, the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the first downstream pipe portion is recovered in the liquid storage portion in a short time.

  With respect to the above configuration, the vaporizer further includes a gutter having a receiving surface disposed below the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate so as to receive the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. Is also good.

  According to the above configuration, since the receiving surface of the gutter portion is disposed below the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate, the intermediate medium liquid that flows down according to the inclination of the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate and drops from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. Take it. Therefore, the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the first downstream pipe section is collected using the gutter section.

  In the above configuration, the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate may be inclined such that the intermediate medium liquid dropped on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate flows in the direction in which the first downstream pipe extends. The gutter portion may be connected to the liquid receiving plate so as to receive the intermediate medium liquid flowing in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion and dropping from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. The receiving surface of the tub portion extends in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion so that the intermediate medium liquid received by the receiving surface of the gutter portion falls at a position not to fall on the upstream pipe portion. May be extended in an intersecting direction intersecting with.

  According to the above configuration, since the receiving surface of the gutter portion extends in the cross direction intersecting with the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion, the receiving surface is located at a position where the intermediate medium liquid does not fall on the upstream pipe portion. You can be guided to a short distance. Since the intermediate medium liquid falls at a position where it does not fall on the upstream pipe, an excessively thick liquid film does not occur on the outer surface of the upstream pipe.

  With respect to the above configuration, the receiving surface of the gutter may be inclined in the cross direction.

  According to the above configuration, since the receiving surface of the gutter portion is inclined in the cross direction, the intermediate medium liquid can flow according to the inclination of the receiving surface. Since the period during which the intermediate medium liquid is stationary on the receiving surface becomes shorter, the period from the time when the intermediate medium liquid falls to the receiving surface to the time when the intermediate medium liquid falls from the receiving surface and reaches the liquid storage unit Is also shorter. That is, the intermediate medium liquid is efficiently collected.

  With respect to the above configuration, the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate is formed such that a dimension in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the extending direction is shorter than a dimension in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion, The intermediate medium liquid on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate may be inclined so as to flow down in the orthogonal direction and drop from the liquid receiving plate.

  According to the above configuration, the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate is formed such that the dimension in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first downstream pipe is shorter than the dimension in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe. Therefore, the flow path of the intermediate medium liquid flowing down in the orthogonal direction according to the inclination of the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate becomes shorter. Therefore, the intermediate medium liquid falls from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate in a short time and is collected in the liquid storage part.

  With respect to the above configuration, the vaporizer may further include at least one second condenser tube extending along the first condenser tube so as to form a flow path for the liquefied gas to flow with the first condenser tube. Good. The at least one second condenser tube may include a second downstream tube portion extending along the first downstream tube portion above the liquid receiving plate. The first downstream pipe section of the first condensation pipe is configured such that the first downstream pipe section of the first condensation pipe and the second downstream pipe section of the at least one second condensation pipe are located above the liquid receiving plate. The pipe may be provided at the lowest position in the formed pipe group. A concave groove extending in the direction in which the first downstream pipe portion extends in a virtual vertical plane including the central axis of the first downstream pipe portion of the first condensation pipe is formed on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. You may.

  According to the above configuration, the first downstream pipe portion, which is piped at the lowest position in the pipe group above the liquid receiving plate, is piped near the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. Since the concave groove extending in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion is formed on the virtual vertical plane including the central axis of the first downstream pipe portion on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate, the liquid on the vertical plane is formed. The distance from the upper surface of the receiving plate to the first downstream pipe part becomes longer. The intermediate medium liquid dropped from the first downstream pipe along the vertical plane may bounce upward by the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. Since the first downstream pipe portion is separated from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate on the vertical plane, the risk of the intermediate medium liquid rebounded upward to adhere to the first downstream pipe portion again is reduced. Therefore, the intermediate medium liquid does not form an excessively thick liquid film in the first downstream pipe portion. As a result, the heat exchange efficiency in the first downstream pipe section is maintained at a high level.

  The above-described vaporizer can prevent the formation of an excessively thick liquid film and efficiently exchange heat between the liquefied gas and the intermediate medium gas.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the vaporizer of 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic of the U-tube part of a vaporizer. It is a schematic perspective view of the support plate which supports a U-shaped pipe part. It is a graph showing the effect of the liquid receiving plate of a vaporizer. It is a schematic diagram of a part of vaporizer of a 2nd embodiment. It is the schematic of a part of vaporizer of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged view of a part of the vaporizer. It is a schematic plan view of a part of vaporizer of 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a part of vaporizer of 5th Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a part of vaporizer of 6th Embodiment.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a vaporizer 100 according to the first embodiment. The schematic structure of the vaporizer 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The vaporizer 100 is configured to vaporize liquefied natural gas (LNG: Liquidized Natural Gas). Liquefied natural gas is referred to as "liquefied gas" in the following description, while vaporized natural gas is referred to as "vaporized gas" in the following description. The liquefied gas is supplied into the vaporizer 100 from outside the vaporizer 100. The vaporized gas obtained in the vaporizer 100 is discharged out of the vaporizer 100.

  The intermediate medium accommodated in the vaporizer 100 is used for the phase change from the liquefied gas to the vaporized gas in the vaporizer. The vaporizer 100 is formed such that the intermediate medium undergoes a phase change between a liquid phase and a gas phase within the vaporizer 100. The liquid phase intermediate medium is referred to as “intermediate liquid” in the following description, while the gas phase intermediate medium is referred to as “intermediate gas”. The intermediate medium gas is hotter than the liquefied gas. A substance having a freezing point lower than the boiling point of the liquefied gas is selected as the intermediate medium that changes phase between the intermediate medium liquid and the intermediate medium gas. In this embodiment, propane is used as the intermediate medium. A schematic function and a schematic structure of the vaporizer 100 for vaporizing the liquefied gas using the intermediate medium will be described below.

  The vaporizer 100 vaporizes the intermediate medium liquid using a heating medium (for example, seawater or hot water) to generate an intermediate medium gas. The vaporizer 100 performs heat exchange between the generated intermediate medium gas and the liquefied gas supplied to the vaporizer 100 to vaporize the liquefied gas. Therefore, the vaporizer 100 has a function of generating an intermediate medium gas and a function of causing heat exchange between the intermediate medium gas and the liquefied gas.

  As a portion that generates the intermediate medium gas, the vaporizer 100 includes a liquid storage unit 110 in which the intermediate medium liquid is stored, and a heating unit 120 that heats the intermediate medium liquid in the liquid storage unit 110. The liquid storage part 110 forms a lower part of the vaporizer 100. A tube member penetrating the liquid storage unit 110 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a heating unit 120. A heating medium having a temperature sufficiently high to evaporate the intermediate medium liquid is supplied to the heating unit 120. As a result of heat exchange between the heating medium flowing through the heating unit 120 and the intermediate medium liquid stored in the liquid storage unit 110, the intermediate medium liquid is heated to become an intermediate medium gas. The intermediate medium gas moves upward from the liquid storage unit 110.

  In order to generate heat exchange between the intermediate medium gas moved upward from the liquid storage unit 110 and the liquefied gas supplied to the vaporizer 100, the vaporizer 100 is connected to the heat exchange space filled with the intermediate medium gas and the heat exchange space. A passage through which the liquefied gas flows in the exchange space is formed. The vaporizer 100 includes a storage unit 130 formed above the liquid storage unit 110 as a part that forms a heat exchange space. The vaporizer 100 has a U-shaped tube portion 140 as a portion that forms a flow path in which the liquefied gas flows in the heat exchange space.

  The storage section 130 forming a heat exchange space in which heat exchange between the liquefied gas and the intermediate medium gas is performed is formed integrally with the liquid storage section 110, and these form one container in which the intermediate medium is stored. ing. The intermediate medium gas generated by the heating in the liquid storage unit 110 fills the heat exchange space formed by the storage unit 130.

  The U-shaped pipe section 140 forms a U-shaped channel in the heat exchange space. The liquefied gas flows along the U-shaped flow path. During this time, the liquefied gas exchanges heat with the intermediate medium gas in the accommodating section 130 and is converted into a vaporized gas.

  Since the liquefied gas is supplied from outside the storage section 130 and the vaporized gas is discharged out of the storage section 130, the U-shaped pipe section 140 has two penetration portions penetrating the outer wall of the storage section 130. . One of the two penetrating portions is referred to as “inflow port 141” in the following description, and the liquefied gas flows into the heat exchange space from the inflow port 141. The other of the two penetrating portions is referred to as “outflow port 142” in the following description, and the outflow port 142 is formed above the inflow port 141. The vaporized gas is discharged through the outlet 142.

  A portion drawn so as to extend horizontally from the inflow port 141 below the outflow port 142 is referred to as “outward path section 143” in the following description. A portion drawn upward from the outgoing section 143 and parallel to the outgoing section 143 from the outflow port 142 is referred to as a "return section 144" in the following description. A portion that curves downward from the return portion 144 and continues to the forward portion 143 is referred to as an “intermediate portion 145” in the following description. The intermediate section 145, the return section 144, and the outward section 143 form a U-shaped tube section 140. The length of the U-shaped tube portion 140 is determined such that most of the liquefied gas flowing into the heat exchange space in the storage portion 130 is vaporized near the outlet 142. In order to obtain a sufficient period length required for the phase change from the liquefied gas to the vaporized gas, the U-shaped tube portion 140 extends in the extending direction of the forward portion 143 and the return portion 144 (referred to as “first direction” in the following description). ) Have large dimensions. On the other hand, the U-shaped tube section 140 has a small dimension in a direction (hereinafter, referred to as a “second direction”) orthogonal to a virtual vertical plane including the central axes of the outward path section 143 and the return path section 144. are doing. The heat exchange space in which the U-shaped pipe 140 is piped also has a shape that is longer in the first direction and shorter in the second direction according to the shape of the U-shaped pipe 140.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the U-tube section 140. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the U-tube portion 140 will be described below.

  The U-shaped tube section 140 is formed from a number of condenser tubes. FIG. 2 shows six condenser tubes 151 to 156 as a part of these condenser tubes. Each of the condensation pipes 151 to 156 has an upstream pipe 157 forming a forward path 143, a downstream pipe 158 forming a return path 144, and a curved pipe 159 forming an intermediate section 145. are doing. The upstream pipe section 157, the downstream pipe section 158, and the curved pipe section 159 of the condensation pipes 151 to 156 are piped on a virtual vertical plane.

  The radius of curvature of the curved tube portion 159 of the condenser tubes 151 to 156 decreases in the order of the condenser tubes 151 to 156. That is, the radius of curvature of the curved tube portion 159 of the condenser tube 151 is the largest among the curved tube portions 159 of the condenser tubes 151 to 156, and the radius of curvature of the curved tube portion 159 of the condenser tube 156 is larger than that of the condenser tubes 151 to 156. The smallest of the parts 159.

  The position of the upstream pipe portion 157 of the condenser tubes 151 to 156 is higher in the order of the condenser tubes 151 to 156. That is, the upstream pipe section 157 of the condensation pipe 151 is provided at the lowest position among the upstream pipe sections 157 of the condensation pipes 151 to 156. The upstream pipe section 157 of the condensation pipe 156 is provided at the highest position among the upstream pipe sections 157 of the condensation pipes 151 to 156.

  The position of the downstream pipe portion 158 of the condenser tubes 151 to 156 is lower in the order of the condenser tubes 151 to 156. That is, the downstream pipe section 158 of the condensation pipe 151 is provided at the highest position in the upstream pipe section 157 of the condensation pipes 151 to 156. The downstream pipe 158 of the condensation pipe 156 is provided at the lowest position among the downstream pipes 158 of the condensation pipes 151 to 156.

  In order to fix the condenser tubes 151 to 156 in the heat exchange space, the vaporizer 100 has a support structure formed in the heat exchange space to support the condenser tubes 151 to 156. FIG. 2 shows seven support plates 161 to 167 as a support structure. The support plates 161 to 167 are arranged in order in the heat exchange space at intervals in the first direction. The support plate 161 is disposed closest to the inlet 141 (see FIG. 1) and the outlet 142 (see FIG. 1) among the support plates 161 to 167. The support plate 167 is farthest from the inflow port 141 and the outflow port 142 among the support plates 161 to 167, and the liquefied gas flows to the downstream pipe section 158 and the terminal portion of the upstream pipe section 157 where the liquefied gas flows out to the curved pipe section 159. It supports the starting end portion of the inflow downstream pipe portion 158. The support plates 161 to 167 are formed such that the upstream pipe portion 157 and the downstream pipe portion 158 of the condensation tubes 151 to 156 penetrate the support plates 161 to 167.

  A schematic perspective view of two of the support plates 161 to 167 is shown in FIG. The structure of the support plates 161 to 167 will be schematically described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows two support plates 160. The following description regarding the shape of the support plate 160 is applied to each of the support plates 161 to 167.

  The support plate 160 forms a disk as a whole. The outer peripheral portion of the support plate 160 is fixed to the inner peripheral wall surface of the storage section 130 (see FIG. 1).

  A long slot 171 is formed in the second direction so as to pass through the center of the support plate 160. A large number of through holes 172 located below the slots 171 and a large number of through holes 173 located above the slots 171 are formed in the support plate 160. Upstream pipes of a number of condenser tubes forming the U-shaped pipe 140 (see FIG. 1) are inserted into the plurality of through holes 172. A large number of downstream pipes provided above these upstream pipes are inserted into a large number of through holes 173. As a result, the U-tube section 140 is fixed in the heat exchange space.

  The flow of the liquefied gas flowing through the U-tube section 140 will be described below with reference to FIG. The liquefied gas flowing through the U-shaped tube portion 140 flows into the heat exchange space in the housing portion 130 through the inflow port 141. Thereafter, the liquefied gas flows along the outward path section 143 and goes to the intermediate section 145. During this time, a part of the liquefied gas exchanges heat with the intermediate medium gas accommodated in the heat exchange space and is converted into a vaporized gas. The vaporized gas and the liquefied gas then flow upward through the intermediate section 145 and flow into the return path 144. The vaporized gas and liquefied gas flowing into the return path 144 flow toward the outlet 142. Most of the liquefied gas is vaporized and reaches a vaporized gas before reaching the outlet 142 from the inlet 141. The vaporized gas is discharged out of the housing 130 through the outlet 142.

  The intermediate medium gas in the accommodating portion 130 is cooled as a result of heat exchange with the liquefied gas in the U-shaped tube portion 140, and is cooled in the U-shaped tube portion 140 (in other words, on the outer peripheral surfaces of the condensation tubes 151 to 156 in FIG. 2). Condenses into an intermediate fluid. The intermediate medium liquid reaches the liquid storage part 110 below the accommodation part 130 in which the U-shaped pipe part 140 is extended from the outer surface of the U-shaped pipe part 140 under the action of gravity. The intermediate medium liquid that has reached the liquid storage unit 110 is temporarily stored in the liquid storage unit 110. The intermediate medium liquid stored in the liquid storage unit 110 is heated under heat exchange with the heating medium flowing through the heating unit 120. As a result, the intermediate medium liquid is vaporized and converted into an intermediate medium gas. The intermediate medium gas exchanges heat again with the liquefied gas flowing in the storage unit 130.

  As a result of heat exchange with the liquefied gas, a portion of the intermediate medium gas condenses on the outer surface of the downstream pipe portion 158 (see FIG. 2) forming the return path portion 144 to become an intermediate medium liquid. If the intermediate medium liquid drops from the downstream pipe section 158 to the upstream pipe section 157 extending below the downstream pipe section 158, the intermediate medium liquid adheres to the outer surface of the upstream pipe section 157, and Forms an excessively thick liquid film on the outer surface. An excessively thick liquid film formed on the outer surface of the upstream pipe 157 inhibits heat exchange in the upstream pipe 157. In order to prevent the formation of an excessively thick liquid film on the outer surface of the upstream pipe section 157, the vaporizer 100 includes a liquid receiving plate 180 for receiving the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the outer surface of the outward path section 143. The liquid receiving plate 180 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As the liquid receiving plate 180, a rectangular plate that is long in the first direction and short in the second direction is used (see FIG. 3). The liquid receiving plate 180 is located in a space formed between the forward path 143 (that is, the upstream pipe 157 of the condensation tubes 151 to 156) and the return path 144 (that is, the downstream pipe 158 of the condensation pipes 151 to 156). They are arranged substantially horizontally (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The liquid receiving plate 180 is inserted into a slot 171 formed in the support plate 160, and is fixed in the heat exchange space by the support plate 160 (see FIG. 3).

  The dimension of the liquid receiving plate 180 in the first direction is larger than the dimensions of the outward path 143 and the return path 144 of the U-shaped pipe section 140 in the first direction. The dimension in the second direction of the liquid receiving plate 180 is also larger than the dimension in the second direction of the outward section 143 and the return section 144 of the U-shaped pipe section 140 (see FIG. 1). The liquid receiving plate 180 is positioned such that the central axis of the outward path 143 is located below the longitudinal axis LAX (see FIG. 3) of the liquid receiving plate 180 and the central axis of the return path 144 is located above the longitudinal axis LAX. , A positional relationship in the second direction between the forward path 143 and the return path 144 is determined.

  The intermediate medium liquid dropped from the outward path 143 of the U-shaped pipe 140 (in other words, the outer peripheral surface of the downstream pipe 158 of the condenser tubes 151 to 156) drops on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180. When the amount of the intermediate medium liquid dropped on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180 increases, the intermediate medium liquid on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180 flows along the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180, and the outer peripheral portion of the liquid receiving plate 180 (that is, The outer surface of the upper surface of the plate 160 forms a rectangular shape). The intermediate medium liquid that has dropped from the outer peripheral edge of the liquid receiving plate 180 is returned to the return path 144 (in other words, condensed) under the above-described magnitude relationship and the above-described positional relation between the liquid receiving plate 180, the outward path 143, and the backward path 144. It does not cover the upstream pipe portion 157) of the pipes 151 to 156. As a result of condensation on the upstream pipe 157 of the condenser tubes 151 to 156, the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the downstream pipe 158 of the condenser pipes 151 to 156 is not added to the intermediate medium liquid attached to the outer surface of the upstream pipe 157. An excessively thick liquid film is not formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upstream pipe portion 157 of the condensation pipes 151 to 156.

  The condition in which the liquid receiving plate 180 for preventing the formation of an excessively thick liquid film is not installed (shown as “condition 1” in FIG. 4) and the condition in which the liquid receiving plate 180 is installed (“condition 2” in FIG. 4) 4) is shown in FIG. 4 (ie, the amount of heat exchanged between the liquefied gas and the intermediate medium gas). The effect of the liquid receiving plate 180 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the height positions of a number of upstream pipes forming the outward path 143 of the U-shaped pipe 140 and the heat exchange amount. The amount of exchanged heat shown in FIG. 4 is calculated on a trial basis under the condition that the upstream pipes are arranged in the vertical direction.

  According to the graph shown in FIG. 4, the liquid receiving plate 180 increases the amount of heat exchange in the upstream pipes forming the lower part of the outward path 143 (that is, the upstream pipes 157 of the condensation pipes 151 to 153 in FIG. 2). ing. This means that the liquid receiving plate 180 forms an excessively thick liquid film on the outer peripheral surface of the upstream pipe section forming the lower part of the outward path section 143 (that is, the upstream pipe section 157 of the condensation pipes 151 to 153 in FIG. 2). Means to prevent

  The intermediate medium liquid received by the liquid receiving plate 180 drops from the liquid receiving plate 180 and is stored in the liquid storage unit 110 without involving the outward path unit 143. The intermediate medium liquid is heated by the heating section 120 in the liquid storage section 110 and changes into an intermediate medium gas. In the above-described embodiment, propane is used as an intermediate medium that repeats a phase change between the intermediate medium liquid and the intermediate medium gas. However, other substances capable of vaporizing the liquefied gas may be used as the intermediate medium.

  The intermediate medium gas is generated in a container formed by the liquid storage unit 110 and the storage unit 130. However, the intermediate medium gas may be supplied from the outside of the container in which the intermediate medium gas is stored.

  The heating unit 120 that generates the intermediate medium gas is a tube member through which the heating medium flows. However, the heating unit may be a heater disposed in the liquid storage unit 110 or another device that can apply heat to the intermediate medium liquid in the liquid storage unit 110 to generate an intermediate medium gas.

  Seven support plates 161 to 167 are used as a support structure for supporting the U-shaped tube portion 140 forming the flow path of the liquefied gas that exchanges heat with the intermediate medium gas. However, how many support plates are used as the support structure may be determined based on the length of the U-shaped tube 140 in the first direction and the weight of the U-shaped tube 140. Therefore, the number of support plates used as the support structure may be lower than 7, or higher than 7.

<Second embodiment>
The liquid receiving plate 180 described in relation to the first embodiment is disposed substantially horizontally. Therefore, the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the return path portion 144 stays on the liquid receiving plate 180 until a certain amount of the intermediate medium liquid accumulates on the liquid receiving plate 180. This means that it takes a long time for the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the return path section 144 to return to the liquid storage section 110. As a result, the storage amount of the intermediate medium liquid in the liquid storage unit 110 may be insufficient. A technique for reducing the risk of a shortage of the storage amount of the intermediate medium liquid in the liquid storage unit 110 will be described in a second embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a part of the vaporizer 100A of the second embodiment. The vaporizer 100A will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 shows the condenser tubes 151 to 156 described in relation to the first embodiment. In addition to the condenser tubes 151 to 156, the vaporizer 100A includes the liquid storage unit 110, the heating unit 120, and the storage unit 130 described with reference to FIG. The description of the first embodiment is applied to these elements.

  As a part different from the vaporizer 100 of the first embodiment, the vaporizer 100A includes support plates 161A to 167A and a liquid receiving plate 180A. The support plates 161A to 167A are portions respectively corresponding to the support plates 161 to 167 of the first embodiment. The liquid receiving plate 180A is a portion corresponding to the liquid receiving plate 180A of the first embodiment. The support plate 161A and the liquid receiving plate 180A will be described below.

  The arrangement positions of the support plates 161A to 167A in the first direction correspond to the support plates 161 to 167 of the first embodiment, respectively. Although the support plates 161A to 167A are common in function to the support plates 161 to 167 of the first embodiment, they differ in the positions where the slots are formed. The height positions of the slots 171 (see FIG. 3) of the support plates 161 to 167 of the first embodiment are constant among these support plates 161 to 167. On the other hand, the height positions of the slots (not shown) of the support plates 161A to 167A of the second embodiment are different between the support plates 161A to 167A. The formation positions of the slots of the support plates 161A to 167A are higher in the order of the support plates 161A to 167A. That is, the slot of the support plate 161A is formed at the lowest position among the slots of the support plates 161A to 167A. The slot of the support plate 167A is formed at the highest position among the slots of the support plates 161A to 167A. The shapes of the slots of the support plates 161A to 167A are substantially the same as the slots 171 described in relation to the first embodiment, and are rectangular in the second direction.

  The liquid receiving plate 180A is fitted into the slots of the support plates 161A to 167A. The liquid receiving plate 180A is a substantially rectangular flat plate member similarly to the liquid receiving plate 180 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). Since the height position of the slot into which the liquid receiving plate 180A is fitted increases from the supporting plate 161A toward the supporting plate 167A, the liquid receiving plate 180A is supported by the supporting plates 161A to 167A in a posture inclined in the first direction. ing. That is, the liquid receiving plate 180A is supported at a low position near the inflow port 141 (see FIG. 1) and the outflow port 142 (see FIG. 1), while being separated from the inflow port 141 and the outflow port 142. In the position, it is supported at a high position.

  The thickness of the liquid receiving plate 180A, the height of the slot, and the fitting position of the liquid receiving plate 180A with respect to the slot are determined so that the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180A is separated from the upper edge of the slot. The intermediate medium liquid is dropped on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180A from the outer peripheral surface of the downstream pipe portion 158 of the condenser tubes 151 to 156. Thereafter, the intermediate medium liquid flows in the first direction according to the inclination of the liquid receiving plate 180A. The intermediate medium liquid finally falls from the outer edge of the liquid receiving plate 180A extending in the second direction near the inflow port 141 and the outflow port 142, and returns to the liquid storage unit 110.

  Since the intermediate medium liquid flows down according to the inclination of the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180A, the period during which the intermediate medium liquid stays on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180A is shortened. Since the intermediate medium liquid on the liquid receiving plate 180A falls from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180A in a short time and returns to the liquid storage unit 110, the risk of the shortage of the storage amount of the intermediate medium liquid in the liquid storage unit 110 is reduced. .

<Third embodiment>
The liquid receiving plates 180 and 180A described in relation to the above embodiment are formed using one rectangular plate. However, a plurality of flat members may be arranged in the space between the downstream pipe and the upstream pipe. An exemplary vaporizer that uses a plurality of flat members to prevent dripping of the intermediate medium liquid from the downstream pipe to the upstream pipe is described in the third embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a part of the vaporizer 100B of the third embodiment. The vaporizer 100B will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6.

  FIG. 6 shows “left” and “right” direction indicators (the left-right direction corresponds to the above-described first direction). These direction indicators are used only for the purpose of clarifying the description for the vaporizer 100B. Therefore, these direction indicators should not be interpreted restrictively.

  FIG. 6 shows the condensing tubes 151 to 156 and the supporting plates 161 to 167 described in relation to the first embodiment together with the above-described direction indicators. In addition to the condenser tubes 151 to 156 and the support plates 161 to 167, the vaporizer 100B includes the liquid storage unit 110, the heating unit 120, and the storage unit 130 described with reference to FIG. The description of the first embodiment is applied to these elements.

  FIG. 6 shows a plurality of flat plate members that differ in the inclination direction as portions corresponding to the liquid receiving plate 180 of the first embodiment. The dimensions in the first and second directions of the regions formed by these flat members are substantially the same as the dimensions in the first and second directions of the liquid receiving plate 180 (and the liquid receiving plate 180A of the second embodiment). It is.

  The plurality of flat plate members include a first liquid receiving plate 181 whose upper surface is inclined to the upper left and a second liquid receiving plate 182 whose upper surface is inclined to the upper right. The second liquid receiving plates 182 and the first liquid receiving plates 181 are alternately arranged in the first direction. That is, the first liquid receiving plate 181 is disposed between the supporting plates 161 and 162, between the supporting plates 163 and 164, and between the supporting plates 166 and 166, while the second liquid receiving plate 182 is disposed between the supporting plates 162 and 163. , Between the support plates 164 and 165 and between the support plates 166 and 167. The first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 are substantially equal in shape and size.

  As a result of the alternate arrangement of the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182, a wavy upper surface that repeats irregularities in the first direction is formed. The support plates 162, 164, 166 are arranged at positions corresponding to the ridge lines of the convex portions on the wavy upper surface. The support plates 163 and 165 are arranged at positions corresponding to the ridge lines of the concave portions on the wavy upper surface. The support plate 161 disposed on the left side of the support plates 162 to 166 is disposed at a position corresponding to the left edge of the leftmost first liquid receiving plate 181, and supports the leftmost first liquid receiving plate 181. The remaining support plate 167 is disposed at a position corresponding to the right edge of the rightmost second liquid receiving plate 182, and supports the rightmost second liquid receiving plate 182.

  The dotted circles surrounding the support portions of the support plates 161 and 167 and the support portions of the support plates 163 and 165 (that is, the ridge portions of the above-described recesses) are shown in FIG. The intermediate medium liquid dropped on the upper surfaces of the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 flows toward the region surrounded by the dotted line circle. FIG. 7 shows a schematic enlarged view of a region surrounded by a dotted circle. Referring to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the structure of vaporizer 100B in a region surrounded by a dotted circle will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows the support plate 168 as one of the support plates 163 and 165. The first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 are shown so as to sandwich the support plate 168 in the first direction. The first liquid receiving plate 181 is drawn on the right side of the support plate 168. On the left side of the support plate 168, a second liquid receiving plate 182 is drawn.

  Along the inclined upper surfaces of the second liquid receiving plate 182 and the first liquid receiving plate 181, the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the downstream pipe portion 158 flows in the first direction (that is, toward the support plate 168). In addition to the second liquid receiving plate 182 and the first liquid receiving plate 181, the vaporizer 100B includes a gutter 183 formed to guide the intermediate medium liquid flowing down in the first direction in the second direction.

  The gutter 183 is disposed in the slot 171 of the support plate 168 and extends so as to three-dimensionally intersect the downstream pipe 158 along the slot 171 that is long in the second direction. The gutter portion 183 has a rectangular receiving surface 184 elongated in the second direction in plan view, a right surface 185 erected from the right edge of the receiving surface 184, and a left surface erected from the left edge of the receiving surface 184. 186. The receiving surface 184, the right surface 185, and the left surface 186 form a groove structure for guiding the intermediate medium liquid flowing down from the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 in the second direction.

  The gutter 183 is fitted into the slot 171 so that the receiving surface 184 is substantially horizontal, and is fixed to the support plate 168. At this time, the receiving surface 184 is located lower than the left edge of the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the right edge of the second liquid receiving plate 182. The upper edge of the right surface 185 erected from the right edge of the receiving surface 184 is located on the right side of the slot 171 and is connected to the left edge of the first liquid receiving plate 181. The upper edge of the left surface 186 erected from the left edge of the receiving surface 184 is located on the left side of the slot 171 and is connected to the right edge of the second liquid receiving plate 182. Therefore, the second liquid receiving plate 182 and the first liquid receiving plate 181 are fixed to the support plate 168 by the gutter 183.

  The intermediate medium liquid flowing down to the left along the upper surface of the first liquid receiving plate 181 flows down along the right surface 185 of the gutter 183 and is received by the receiving surface 184. The intermediate medium liquid flowing down to the right along the upper surface of the second liquid receiving plate 182 on the left side of the first liquid receiving plate 181 flows down along the left surface 186 of the gutter 183 and is received by the receiving surface 184. When the intermediate medium liquid accumulates on the receiving surface 184 to some extent, the intermediate medium liquid on the receiving surface 184 flows in the second direction along the gutter 183. The intermediate medium liquid reaches the end of the receiving surface 184 and then drops from the receiving surface 184. The intermediate medium liquid that has fallen from the receiving surface 184 is stored in the liquid storage unit 110 (see FIG. 1).

  Since the intermediate medium liquid is guided by the gutter 183 in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in which the upstream pipe 157 extends, the intermediate medium dropped from the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182. It is possible to reach the position where the contact between the liquid and the upstream pipe portion 157 is avoided in a short distance. Therefore, the vaporizer 100B can return the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the downstream pipe section 158 to the liquid storage section 110 in a shorter time than the vaporizer 100 shown in FIG.

  The support plate 168 (see FIG. 7) that supports the gutter 183 that guides the intermediate medium liquid in the second direction represents each of the support plates 163 and 165 (see FIG. 6). The gutter section 183 is also arranged within the dotted circle drawn on the support plates 161 and 167 shown in FIG. The structure in the dotted circle drawn on the support plate 161 shown in FIG. 6 may be considered as a structure in which the second liquid receiving plate 182 is removed from the structure shown in FIG. The structure in the dotted circle drawn on the support plate 167 shown in FIG. 6 may be considered as a structure in which the first liquid receiving plate 181 is removed from the structure shown in FIG.

  The intermediate medium flowing on the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 under the condition that the intermediate medium liquid flows linearly on the first liquid receiving plate 181, the second liquid receiving plate 182, and the gutter 183. The length of the flow path of the liquid is compared with the length of the flow path of the intermediate medium liquid flowing linearly on the liquid receiving plate 180A. The upper surface for receiving the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the downstream pipe 158 is formed by three first liquid receiving plates 181 and three second liquid receiving plates 182. If the inclination of the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 and the gutter 183 are not taken into account, the length of each of the three first liquid receiving plates 181 and the three second liquid receiving plates 182 in the first direction is used. Is about 1/6 of the length in the first direction of the upper surface for receiving the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the downstream pipe portion 158. As described above, the length in the first direction of the upper surface for receiving the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the downstream pipe portion 158 is equal to the length of the liquid receiving plate 180A in the first direction, and therefore these lengths are represented by the following inequalities. It is represented by “L1”. The following inequality symbol “L2” indicates the length of the gutter 183 in the second direction. The length “L2” of the gutter 183 means the maximum length of the flow path of the intermediate medium liquid in the gutter 183. When the relationship represented by the following inequality holds, the vaporizer 100B can return the intermediate medium liquid to the liquid storage unit 110 in a shorter time than the vaporizer 100A.

  The left side of the above inequality is the maximum value of the length of the flow path of the intermediate medium liquid of the vaporizer 100B (that is, the length of the flow path on the first liquid receiving plate 181, the second liquid receiving plate 182, and the gutter 183). Is represented. The right side of the above inequality represents the maximum value of the length of the flow path of the intermediate medium liquid in the vaporizer 100A (that is, the length of the flow path on the liquid receiving plate 180A). The relationship represented by the above inequality holds when the length “L2” of the gutter portion 183 is less than “5/6” of the length “L1”.

  The first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 are provided to receive the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the downstream pipe 158 and prevent the intermediate medium liquid from flowing to the upstream pipe 157. Therefore, the length “L1” is equal to or longer than the entire length of each of the upstream pipe 157 and the downstream pipe 158. If the sum of the length of the first liquid receiving plate 181 or the second liquid receiving plate 182 in the first direction and the length of the gutter 183 in the second direction is smaller than the total length of each of the upstream pipe 157 and the downstream pipe 158. The intermediate medium liquid is collected in the liquid storage unit 110 in a relatively short period of time.

  The first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 forming the wavy upper surface for receiving the intermediate medium liquid are substantially equal in shape and size. However, the shapes and sizes of the first liquid receiving plate and the second liquid receiving plate may be determined so as to conform to the arrangement positions of the plurality of supporting plates for supporting them and other design conditions required for the vaporizer. Good. Therefore, instead of the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182, a plurality of plate members having different shapes and sizes may be used.

  The first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 form a wavy upper surface. However, the wavy upper surface need not be formed. For example, one plate member (see liquid receiving plate 180A shown in FIG. 5) having a uniformly inclined upper surface and one or a plurality of gutter portions 183 may be used. In this case, the intermediate medium liquid flowing along the uniformly inclined upper surface is shorter than the entire length of the downstream pipe 158 in the first direction from the position where the support plate 167A is arranged (that is, the starting end of the downstream pipe 158). A plurality of slots long in the second direction may be formed in the plate member so as to drop at a distant position. The gutter 183 may be fixed to the lower surface of the plate member such that the gutter 183 is located below the slot of the plate member. Since the slot of the plate member is formed at a position separated from the start end portion of the downstream pipe portion 158 by a distance shorter than the entire length of the downstream pipe portion 158 in the first direction, the intermediate medium liquid drops near the support plate 167A. However, it is possible to flow down the upper surface of the plate member along a flow path shorter than the entire length of the downstream pipe portion 158, and to fall into the gutter portion 183 through the slot of the plate member.

  The direction in which the gutter 183 extends is perpendicular to the direction in which the downstream pipe 158 extends. However, the gutter may extend so as to three-dimensionally intersect the downstream pipe 158 at other angles.

<Fourth embodiment>
The gutter 183 described in relation to the third embodiment is attached to the support plate 168 such that the receiving surface 184 of the gutter 183 is substantially horizontal. However, the receiving surface of the gutter portion may be inclined in the second direction so that the intermediate medium liquid is recovered to the liquid storage portion in a short time. An exemplary vaporizer with a gutter having an inclined receiving surface is described in a fourth embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a part of the vaporizer 100C of the fourth embodiment. The vaporizer 100C will be described with reference to the direction indicators shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8. The direction indicators shown in FIGS. 1, 6 to 8 are for clarity of description only and should not be construed as limiting.

  The vaporizer 100C includes the liquid storage unit 110, the heating unit 120, the storage unit 130, and the U-shaped tube unit 140 described in relation to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). The description of the first embodiment is applied to these elements.

  A part common to the vaporizer 100B of the third embodiment as well as a part common to the vaporizer 100 of the first embodiment is used as a part of the vaporizer 100C. The vaporizer 100C has three first liquid receiving plates 181 and three second liquid receiving plates 182 described with reference to the third embodiment (FIG. 8 shows one first liquid receiving plate 181 and one liquid receiving plate 181). And two second liquid receiving plates 182). The description of the third embodiment is applied to the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182.

  A support plate 168 is shown in FIG. 8 as part of the vaporizer 100C. The support plates 168 represent the support plates 163 and 165 (see FIG. 6) as described in the third embodiment. The support plate 168 supports the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182.

  FIG. 8 shows a gutter 183C disposed between the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182. The gutter 183C corresponds to the gutter 183 described with reference to FIG. The gutter portion 183C is a receiving member disposed below the upper surfaces of the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182 so as to receive the intermediate medium liquid flowing down from the first liquid receiving plate 181 and the second liquid receiving plate 182. It has a surface 184C.

  The ridgeline 187 formed on the receiving surface 184C is shown in FIG. The ridge line 187 is formed at the center position of the receiving surface 184C in the second direction, and extends in the first direction.

  The front edge 188 of the receiving surface 184C located in front of the ridgeline 187 and the rear edge 189 of the receiving surface 184C located behind the ridgeline 187 are further shown in FIG. The receiving surface 184C is flat in a section from the ridgeline 187 to the front edge 188 and in a section from the ridgeline 187 to the rear edge 189. The ridgeline 187 is formed at a position higher than the front edge 188 and the rear edge 189. Therefore, the receiving surface 184C forms two inclined surfaces inclined downward from the ridgeline 187 toward the front edge 188 and the rear edge 189.

  As a result of the downward slope from the ridgeline 187 to the leading edge 188 and the trailing edge 189, the flow rate of the intermediate medium liquid flowing on the receiving surface 184C increases. Therefore, the period from when the intermediate medium liquid reaches the receiving surface 184C to when it falls from the front edge 188 and the rear edge 189 of the receiving surface 184C is shortened. As a result, the vaporizer 100C can return the intermediate medium liquid to the liquid storage unit 110 in a short time.

  A ridge line 187 is formed between the front edge 188 and the rear edge 189 so that the intermediate medium liquid falls from the front edge 188 and the rear edge 189. However, the gutters may be designed such that a flat receiving surface inclined in a uniform direction is formed between the front end and the rear end. In this case, the intermediate medium liquid flows toward one of the front end and the rear end. Since the period during which the intermediate medium liquid is stationary on the receiving surface is shortened, the efficiency of collecting the intermediate medium liquid in the liquid storage unit 110 is increased.

  Intermediate liquid drops from leading edge 188 and trailing edge 189. However, the intermediate medium liquid may fall through two through holes formed in the receiving surface at a position separated in the second direction. The two through holes for dropping the intermediate medium liquid at positions separated in the second direction may be formed not on the receiving surface but on the left surface or the right surface of the gutter portion.

  A ridge 187 is formed between the front edge 188 and the rear edge 189 where the intermediate medium liquid falls. The receiving surface 184C is flat between the ridgeline 187 and the front edge 188 and between the ridgeline 187 and the rear edge 189. However, the receiving surface may be an arc-shaped surface that is gently curved so as to bulge upward. In this case, no ridgeline is formed on the receiving surface. The receiving surface may have a high portion located between the two drop positions where the intermediate liquid drops from the receiving surface and located above the drop positions. If the receiving surface forms a downward gradient in the direction from the high point to each of the two drop positions, the intermediate medium liquid can flow down on the receiving surface at high speed.

<Fifth embodiment>
The liquid receiving plate 180A, the first liquid receiving plate 181, and the second liquid receiving plate 182 of the above-described embodiment have upper surfaces that are inclined in the first direction. However, the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate may be inclined in the second direction. An exemplary vaporizer having a liquid receiving plate inclined in a second direction is described in a fifth embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of the vaporizer 100D of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a cross section on a virtual vertical plane along the second direction. The vaporizer 100D will be described with reference to FIGS. The vaporizer 100D will be described with reference to the direction indicators shown in FIGS. The direction indicators shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 are for clarity of explanation only and should not be construed as limiting.

  The vaporizer 100D shown in FIG. 9 includes a liquid receiving plate 180D corresponding to the liquid receiving plate 180 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). Except for the liquid receiving plate 180D, the structure of the vaporizer 100D is the same as the structure of the vaporizer 100 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1).

  The size of the liquid receiving plate 180D in the second direction is smaller than the size in the first direction, similarly to the liquid receiving plate 180 of the first embodiment. The upper surface of liquid receiving plate 180D includes a longitudinal edge 281 extending in the first direction and a longitudinal edge 282 extending in the first direction behind longitudinal edge 281. The liquid receiving plate 180D is formed such that the intermediate medium liquid dropped on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180D falls from the longitudinal edges 281 and 282.

  A ridge 283 extending in the first direction between the long edges 281 and 282 is formed on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180D. Therefore, the upper surface of liquid receiving plate 180D includes two inclined surfaces 284 and 285 separated by ridge line 283. The inclined surface 284 is inclined downward from the ridgeline 283 to the longitudinal edge 281. The inclined surface 285 behind the inclined surface 284 is inclined downward from the ridgeline 283 toward the longitudinal edge 282.

  A virtual vertical plane VPN including the ridge line 283 is shown in FIG. Between the liquid receiving plate 180D and the U-shaped tube portion 140 (see FIG. 1) such that the vertical plane VPN includes the center lines of the outward portion 143 (see FIG. 1) and the return portion 144 (see FIG. 1). Are determined in the second direction.

  The intermediate medium liquid dropped from the downstream pipe part 158 forming a part of the return path part 144 in front of the vertical plane VPN is received by the inclined surface 284. Thereafter, the intermediate medium liquid flows down in the second direction according to the inclination of the inclined surface 284 and drops from the longitudinal edge 281. When the intermediate medium liquid drops from the downstream pipe part 158 which forms a part of the return path part 144 behind the vertical plane VPN, the inclined surface 285 receives the dropped intermediate medium liquid. Thereafter, the intermediate medium liquid flows down in the second direction according to the inclination of the inclined surface 285 and drops from the longitudinal edge 282. When the intermediate medium liquid drops from the downstream pipe 158 on the vertical plane VPN, it collides with one of the ridgeline 283 and the inclined surfaces 284 and 285. Then, the intermediate medium liquid flows down in the second direction according to the inclination of at least one of the inclined surfaces 284 and 285, and falls from at least one of the longitudinal edges 281 and 282.

  As a result of the slope of the inclined surfaces 284, 285, the flow velocity of the intermediate medium liquid flowing on the inclined surfaces 284, 285 is increased. Therefore, the intermediate medium liquid on the inclined surfaces 284 and 285 can fall from the longitudinal edges 281 and 282 early. As a result, the liquid receiving plate 180D can return the intermediate medium liquid to the liquid storage unit 110 in a short time.

  Liquid receiving plate 180D has two inclined surfaces 284 and 285 different in the inclined direction. However, the liquid receiving plate may have an upper surface that is uniformly inclined in the second direction. Also in this case, the intermediate medium liquid dropped on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate flows down in the second direction according to the inclination of the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate, and is collected in the liquid storage unit 110 at an early stage.

  The intermediate medium liquid falls from the longitudinal edges 281 and 282 of the liquid receiving plate 180D. However, the intermediate medium liquid may drop through two through holes formed in the liquid receiving plate at a position separated in the second direction.

  The front and rear inclined surfaces 284 and 285 of the ridgeline 283 are flat between the longitudinal edges 281 and 282 where the intermediate medium liquid falls. However, the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate may be an arc-shaped surface that is gently curved so as to bulge upward. In this case, no ridgeline is formed on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. The upper surface of the liquid receiving plate may have a high portion located between the two drop positions where the intermediate medium liquid drops from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate and located above these drop positions. If the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate forms a downward slope in a direction from the high place toward each of the two drop positions, the intermediate medium liquid can flow down on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate at high speed.

<Sixth embodiment>
The liquid receiving plate 180D of the fifth embodiment has an upper surface that is pointed upward. However, a concave groove that is recessed downward may be formed on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. An exemplary vaporizer comprising a liquid receiving plate having a concaved upper surface is described in the sixth embodiment.

  FIG. 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of the vaporizer 100E of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a cross section on a virtual vertical plane along the second direction. The vaporizer 100E will be described based on the direction index shown in FIG. The direction indicators shown in FIG. 10 are for clarity of explanation only and should not be construed as limiting.

  The vaporizer 100E shown in FIG. 10 includes a liquid receiving plate 180E corresponding to the liquid receiving plate 180 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). Except for the liquid receiving plate 180E, the structure of the vaporizer 100E is the same as the structure of the vaporizer 100 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1).

  The liquid receiving plate 180E has an upper surface having a waveform that repeats irregularities in the second direction. The concave portion that appears in the cross section of the liquid receiving plate 180E in the second direction extends in the first direction and forms a concave groove 286. Three grooves 286 are shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 shows five upstream pipe parts 157 and five downstream pipe parts 158 below and above the liquid receiving plate 180E. FIG. 10 further illustrates two vertical plane VPNs that encompass the center line of the two lowest downstream tubes 158 of the five downstream tubes 158. Two of the three grooves 286 extend in the first direction along the vertical plane VPN.

  As a result of the formation of the concave groove 286, the distance from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180E to the lowermost downstream pipe portion 158 becomes longer. Therefore, even if the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the lowermost downstream pipe part 158 is repelled on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180E, the risk that the repelled intermediate medium liquid adheres to the lowermost downstream pipe part 158 is reduced. As a result, the risk that the intermediate medium liquid forms a thick liquid film on the outer peripheral surface of the lowermost downstream pipe portion 158 is reduced.

  The upper surface of liquid receiving plate 180E may be substantially horizontal, or may be inclined in the first direction. If the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate 180E is inclined in the first direction, it is difficult for the intermediate medium liquid to form a liquid pool in the concave groove 286. As a result, even if the intermediate medium liquid continues to drip into the concave portion 286, the distance from the liquid surface of the intermediate medium liquid in the concave portion 286 to the lowermost downstream pipe portion 158 is maintained at a large value. The risk of the intermediate medium liquid rebounding upward on the outer peripheral surface of the lowermost downstream pipe portion 158 is reduced, and the heat exchange efficiency in the lowermost downstream pipe portion 158 is maintained at a high level.

  The principle of the above-described embodiment is suitably used in various technical fields requiring a vaporized gas.

100, 100A to 100E ... Vaporizer 110 ... Liquid storage unit 120 ... ... Heating section 130 ... Accommodation section 141 ········· Inflow ports 151-156 ········································・ ・ Upstream pipe section 158 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Downstream pipe section 159 Bending tube sections 180, 180A, 180D, 180E ... liquid receiving plate 181 ... first liquid receiving plate 182 ... ········ Second liquid receiving plates 183 and 183C・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Gutter part 184, 184C ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Reception surface 286 .... Concave groove VPN: Vertical plane

Claims (7)

A heating unit that heats the intermediate medium liquid so that the intermediate medium liquid evaporates, and heats the intermediate medium gas generated by vaporizing the intermediate medium liquid and a liquefied gas lower in temperature than the intermediate medium gas; A vaporizer for vaporizing the liquefied gas by exchanging,
A storage unit in which the intermediate medium gas is stored,
An upstream pipe extending from the inlet into which the liquefied gas flows into the housing, a curved pipe forming a flow path curved upward from the upstream pipe, and vertically overlapping the upstream pipe; A first downstream pipe extending from the curved pipe at a position spaced upward from the upstream pipe as described above,
When the intermediate medium liquid generated by condensation of the intermediate medium gas on the outer surface of the first downstream pipe as a result of heat exchange with the liquefied gas drops from the outer surface of the first downstream pipe. A liquid receiving plate disposed in a space formed between the upstream pipe portion and the first downstream pipe portion so as to receive the dropped intermediate medium liquid. Further comprising a liquid storage section in which the intermediate medium liquid is stored,
The liquid receiving plate includes an upper surface that receives the dropped intermediate medium liquid,
The upper surface of the liquid receiving plate is inclined such that the intermediate medium liquid received by the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate flows down in a predetermined direction and falls from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate.
The vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage unit is disposed below the first condenser tube. The vaporizer according to claim 2, further comprising a gutter having a receiving surface disposed below the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate so as to receive the intermediate medium liquid dropped from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. The upper surface of the liquid receiving plate is inclined such that the intermediate medium liquid dropped on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate flows in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion,
The gutter portion is connected to the liquid receiving plate so as to receive the intermediate medium liquid flowing in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion and falling from the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate,
The receiving surface of the tub portion extends in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion so that the intermediate medium liquid received by the receiving surface of the gutter portion falls at a position not to fall on the upstream pipe portion. The carburetor according to claim 3, wherein the carburetor extends in an intersecting direction intersecting with the evaporator. The carburetor according to claim 4, wherein the receiving surface of the gutter portion is inclined in the cross direction. The upper surface of the liquid receiving plate is formed such that a dimension in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the extending direction is shorter than a dimension in the extending direction of the first downstream pipe portion, and the liquid receiving plate is The vaporizer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the intermediate medium liquid on the upper surface is inclined so as to flow down in the orthogonal direction and drop from the liquid receiving plate. Further comprising at least one second condensing tube extending along the first condensing tube so as to form a flow path for the liquefied gas to flow with the first condensing tube;
The at least one second condensing tube includes a second downstream tube portion extending along the first downstream tube portion above the liquid receiving plate,
The first downstream pipe section of the first condensation pipe is configured such that the first downstream pipe section of the first condensation pipe and the second downstream pipe section of the at least one second condensation pipe are located above the liquid receiving plate. It is piped at the bottom of the forming tube group,
A concave groove extending in the direction in which the first downstream pipe extends is formed on an imaginary vertical plane including the central axis of the first downstream pipe of the first condensation pipe, and is formed on the upper surface of the liquid receiving plate. The vaporizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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