Coking in the heat exchangers for vacuum and atmospheric crude oil residues in the petrochemical industry
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The image below shows the tube bundle of the heat exchanger for crude oil and residue in petrochemical units. Model: FB1000-265-25-4, Material: 10#, Operating conditions: Shell side: crude oil, temperature 120°C, pressure 1.88 MPa. Process: Medium, residue oil; temperature 160°C, pressure 1.37 MPa. The pipe lining tends to coking after being in use for a while.
In the pressure reduction units of the petrochemical industry, when crude oil residue heat exchangers (model: FB1000-265-25-4, made of 10# steel) are used, coking in the tube side often occurs. This is because the medium flowing in the tube bank is residue with a high temperature of 160°C, and residue tends to undergo thermal cracking at high temperatures, resulting in the formation of carbonaceous deposits and thus coking. Furthermore, impurities that may be present in residue, such as sulfur and arsenic, can also accelerate the coking process. Therefore, after operating for a period of time, coking becomes particularly evident in heat exchangers, and regular cleaning and maintenance are necessary to ensure efficient heat transfer and the safety of the equipment. .