Seeking advice on the flow direction of materials in the shell and tube side of a hydrocracking reactor.
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Question: In a hydrocracking unit, the reactants coming out of the hydrogenation reactor go to a high-pressure heat exchanger to exchange heat with the feed oil. Is it better for these reactants to flow through the tube side or the shell side? What are the reasons? I would appreciate some advice from those who are more experienced. Thank you!
The reactant flows through the tube side; there is a general principle regarding the choice between the tube side and the shell side, but it depends on the design. Since the reactant is clean, it is easier to clean when the crude oil flows through the shell side. . .
Upon checking relevant information, in most units the reactants flow through the tube side, while in a few units they flow through the shell side; I’m not sure what the reasoning behind this is
For high-pressure heat exchangers, different configurations may require different specifications. We specialize in threaded compression rings; the reaction products flow through the tube side
It is better for hot materials to flow in the shell side and cold materials to flow in the tube side, as this yields good heat exchange efficiency. It is recommended that the reactant flow through the shell side, while the crude oil flows through the tube side, entering from below and exiting from above.
There are various factors to consider when deciding whether to use the tube side or the shell side; in the case of hydrocracking, it should be taken into account that the reaction effluent is at a high temperature, and using the tube side helps to avoid heat loss and improve the thermal efficiency of the equipment.
Pressure is also a factor in selecting the tube and shell sides of a heat exchanger
Under normal circumstances, it is advantageous for the hot fluid to flow in the tube side and the crude oil (cold fluid) to flow in the shell side to facilitate heat exchange. However, if the crude oil fraction is too heavy and heat exchange occurs at higher temperatures, coking tends to occur more frequently; in such cases, it is better to have the crude oil flow in the tube side, as maintenance there is easier and the costs are lower.
In our unit, the products of the catalytic cracking reaction flow through the tube side, while the products of residue hydrogenation flow through the shell side
The tube side has good pressure resistance, so it is generally recommended to use high-pressure media on the tube side for safety reasons. You can take a look at the \"Process Calculation Manual for Heat Exchangers\" when you have time