Corrosion and scaling of heat pipe exchangers in the flue gas of petrochemical production units
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The figure below shows the GGH air preheater of a petrochemical heater, which utilizes heat pipe technology for heat exchange. After 3 years of use, some of the heat pipes on the air side have broken, and there is a lot of scaling on the flue gas side, resulting in a significant decline in heat exchange efficiency.
Corrosion and scaling problems in heat pipe exchangers are common, especially in petrochemical production. Corrosion may be caused by the reaction between the heat pipe material and chemicals in the flue gas, while scaling is primarily resulting from the accumulation of particles or other deposits in the flue gas on the surface of the heat pipe. These problems not only lead to a decrease in heat transfer efficiency, but may also cause damage or even breakage of the heat pipe. To alleviate these issues, the following measures can be considered: 1. Choose more corrosion-resistant materials for manufacturing heat pipes. 2. Regularly clean and maintain the heat exchanger to remove scale. 3. Consider using flue gas purification equipment to reduce the entry of substances that cause scaling and corrosion into the heat exchanger. 4. Monitor and control the operating parameters of the heating furnace, such as temperature and pressure, to ensure it operates under optimal conditions. The above measures can effectively extend the service life of the heat exchanger and improve its heat transfer efficiency. .