Reform the feed plate heat exchanger issue.
Thread Content
Could some expert please explain why pulse flow occurs in the reforming feed plate heat exchanger, resulting in continuous fluctuations in the high-pressure level in the reforming process? How to understand pulsed flow? Under what circumstances is it likely to occur?
It is necessary to consider whether the high pressure fluctuations are caused by plate heat exchangers; it is also possible that the pressure fluctuations are due to pressure control
The poster didn’t encounter this issue during production; it must have been read in some books； The plate exchanger pulse flow must definitely be analyzed: whether the hydrogen circulation pump is working properly, whether there are fluctuations in the amount of hydrogen circulating, and whether there are any blockages in the inlet nozzles of the plate exchanger or inside it (blockages combined with pulsations will certainly cause fluctuations in the amount of hydrogen circulating and in pressure). It’s also necessary to check whether the air cooling is functioning correctly (fluctuations in cooling efficiency due to changes in weather or abnormal operation of the frequency converter), as well as whether the pressure from the booster pump is stable (fluctuations in the pressure of the system may be caused by fluctuations in the hydrogen being sent out). Feed pump flow fluctuations are a possibility, but they occur quite rarely
I agree with the view from the 3rd floor; it’s unlikely that pulsating flow is caused solely by the plate exchanger. It’s better to investigate based on the reasons analyzed above.
This is indeed a problem that arises during production; when the hydrogen-to-oil ratio is kept on a higher level, pressure fluctuations can be reduced to some extent, but it cannot be too high, otherwise the catalyst tends to stick to the walls making it difficult to lift it. Additionally, with regard to the inlet oil temperature of the plate exchanger, lower temperatures also lead to frequent pressure fluctuations. It’s possible that the inlet nozzle is clogged.
What is the differential pressure between the liquid feed and the recycled hydrogen at the plate exchanger inlet at this stage? What load is the device operating at? Has a full-load condition been mentioned? Is there a trend toward an increase in this pressure difference? Based on what you described, it seems to be a problem with the plate heat exchanger.
Personally, I think that when the processing volume increases to a certain level, the point where hydrogen and liquid feedstocks mix is usually the area most prone to pulsations. Especially when the straight section downstream of the mixing point is short and there are pipe fittings such as elbows, pipeline vibrations also increase significantly