Selection of heat exchangers
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In oil refining, floating-head and U-tube heat exchangers are commonly used. How should one distinguish between them when making a choice?
One end plate of the floating-head heat exchanger is fixed between the shell and the tube box, while the other end plate can move freely within the shell. The thermal expansion of this heat exchanger shell and tube bundle is free, and the tube bundle can be removed to facilitate cleaning between and inside the tubes. Its disadvantage is its complex structure and high cost. Leaks occur at the floating head during operation, making it difficult to inspect and address. Floating-head heat exchangers are suitable for conditions where there is a large temperature difference between the shell and the tube bundle, or where the fluid in the shell side tends to form scale. A U-tube heat exchanger features heat exchange tubes that are bent into a U shape, with both ends of the tubes fixed to the same tube sheet. Since the heat exchange tubes can expand and contract freely, there is no thermal stress between the shell and the heat exchange tubes. Since the U-tube heat exchanger has only one tube sheet, its structure is relatively simple; the tube bundle can be removed from the shell, making it easy to clean the shell side. U-tube heat exchangers are generally used in high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, especially when there is a large temperature difference between the shell and the metal walls of the heat exchange tubes; cleaning the tube side becomes difficult in such cases, and the fluid flowing through the tube side must be clean and resistant to scaling. The poster can make a choice by considering the characteristics of both, along with the properties of the materials.
Floating-head types consume more metal and have lower pressure resistance. U-tube types have fewer tubes arranged, making it difficult to clean inside them.
These days, many people use corrugated tube exchangers as a replacement for floating head exchangers, but these corrugated tube exchangers are difficult to clean, and blockage problems occur frequently when they are used with crude oil Are there any other crude oil heat exchangers?
I have the information on this topic, but I can’t upload it; I’ll give it to you if you need it!
Thank you very much for your replies; I now understand a bit better. Thank you so much!