Severe flow deviation occurs when three heat exchangers are used simultaneously; seek a solution
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Our facility has three heat exchangers that are used for heat exchange in oil transfer stations; they facilitate heat exchange between hot water and crude oil. When two of these heat exchangers are in use, the outlet temperatures of each one are roughly equal. However, when all three are in use, one of them always has a very low outlet temperature, which means that almost no hot water passes through that heat exchanger. We’ve tried various solutions, but nothing works. Have any of you encountered this problem before? How was it solved?
Send over a process diagram for analysis! With a material balance sheet!
Is it always the same one with the low temperature? Additionally, it is not necessarily a problem on the hot water side; it could also be an imbalance in the flow rate on the crude oil side
Valves should be installed to control the return water of each heat exchanger, and corresponding control should also be applied to the material on the other side. It is difficult to ensure balance without valves to control inflow and outflow.
In fact, this phenomenon is quite common in practical operations; usually, when the third unit is put into use, the flow rate of the heat exchange medium is controlled to prevent any uneven distribution of flow. Additionally, when deflection occurs, it can easily lead to air blockages in certain high areas, and this is something we need to be aware of. If regular fluctuations occur, it is necessary to rule out such situations.
It should fall under the category of operational procedures issues.
Yes, problems do arise. The task for every operator is to figure out how to address these issues by changing the methods of operation, without altering the equipment itself.