What is the fundamental purpose of heating fuel gas pipelines?
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Hello, everyone! In hydrogen production plants, fuel gas pipelines are generally insulated to prevent the formation of liquid in the gas phase. So what is the fundamental purpose of heat tracing? If liquid is present in the fuel gas, will it affect the burner? Or will it explode suddenly? Could industry experts provide a fundamental explanation? Thank you! !
Problems arise when the control valve for liquid flow is not functioning properly; issues occur less frequently on the rear side, and mainly on the front side. Most of the liquid is removed in the liquid separation tank. Generally, fuel gas systems are equipped with heating, and a control valve before the liquid separation tank is considered necessary; after all, if that control valve freezes up, the consequences are obvious.
Candle lamps: the burner hoses can easily freeze over
The purpose of the heat tracing wire is to maintain the temperature of the process pipeline and prevent it from freezing. The purpose of installing heating wires in the fuel gas line throughout the year is to prevent liquid formation due to low fuel gas temperatures, which could lead to unstable combustion in the heater. Heating furnaces are divided into those that burn fuel oil and those that burn fuel gas, with corresponding different nozzle structures. If the fuel gas contains liquid, it may cause an explosion in the burner inside the furnace, resulting in a rain of embers. Or accidents such as the burner going out and a flash explosion in the heating furnace.
Prevent the pipelines from freezing. There are fuel gas buffer tanks in front of the fuel gas supply, as well as special water separation units for removing water.
We produce hydrogen from coking dry gas; the fuel used is coking dry gas. In winter, when there is a shortage of coking dry gas, liquefied gas is mixed into the fuel gas. A few winters ago, I encountered a situation where the weather wasn’t cold enough to allow the use of fuel gas for heating; as a result, the fuel gas entered at night, causing unstable combustion inside the converter furnace. On the monitoring screens, it appeared as if there was a downpour of flames, the negative pressure turned into positive pressure, and the oxygen level dropped to almost zero. The temperature in that furnace rose so rapidly that it was necessary to shut it down urgently!
Liquid-carrying pipelines can freeze, especially control valves; in addition, detonation can occur during combustion in the burners
You haven’t seen what happens in winter when the fuel gas doesn’t vaporize properly; it’s difficult to control the furnace when there is liquid present. Moreover, without heating at the low points, water can easily precipitate and freeze
Prevent water vapor from condensing and blocking the pipes
Primarily to prevent freezing in pipelines that carry gas along with liquid