What is the performance of plate heat exchangers as hydrolysis heat exchangers in deep hydrolysis units?
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Dear experts: How effective are plate heat exchangers as hydrolysis heat exchangers in deep hydrolysis units? What are the advantages and disadvantages? What is the service life? Please give me some advice!
It’s hard to say. Plate heat exchangers offer good heat exchange performance, but corrosion of the materials by the heat exchange process is a major issue. Our factory originally used plate heat exchangers, but after just over a year they started to corrode and leak; later we switched to tube heat exchangers. Each factory has different processes, as well as different circumstances.
Use genuine 316-L material to address corrosion issues. The hydrolysis pressure is high; plate types cannot withstand such pressure, and the sealing strips will leak. It is advisable to consult the manufacturer, who suggests that shell-and-tube types are the best choice.
Spiral plate heat exchangers are quite good; however, the ammonia solution used for synthesizing urea must be free of impurities – mainly those resulting from copper washing processes – otherwise scaling can easily form inside the heat exchanger.
Reply to 5# Every drop of water: Strictly speaking, any heat exchanger will do. However, it is necessary to take into comprehensive consideration the characteristics of the heat transfer medium as well as the structural differences between plate heat exchangers and tube heat exchangers. Personally, I believe plate heat exchangers should not be used for hydrolysis heat exchangers, mainly because the ammonium carbonate solution contains impurities that can easily cause blockages. Additionally, a large pressure difference occurs when a plate heat exchanger is used.