Can a plate heat exchanger replace a thermal siphon graphite reboiler?
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The most stringent requirement for this location is the use of 10 kilograms of steam. Can a heat exchanger be used as a substitute? Without considering the material, is it necessary to use a pump for forced circulation?
Fully welded plate heat exchangers are feasible; they can handle temperatures up to 350 degrees. For 10 kilograms of steam, the temperature should be below 200 degrees, I guess
The pressure drop due to the plate exchanger might be a problem
The corrosion resistance of plate exchangers under high-temperature corrosion conditions deserves attention; if the material chosen is not appropriate, their corrosion resistance is far inferior to that of graphite exchangers； Plate exchangers experience high fluid resistance, and for reboilers, this high resistance is a fatal weakness. In cases of harsh operating conditions, graphite heat exchangers are the obvious choice. Moreover, graphite heat exchangers are not expensive and offer good cost-performance.
It is well known that graphite heat exchangers cannot withstand high pressures; for reboilers heated with steam at pressures above 10 kilograms, silicon carbide heat exchangers could be considered
If the choice of material is not given priority, then a plate-type heat exchanger can also be used; but for 10 kg… if it really needs to be used, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger can be employed, as it can withstand greater pressures compared to traditional plate-type heat exchangers