Question: For the condenser of a C5 light hydrocarbons distillation tower, can the cooling water flow in the tube side be designed as multiple tube passes?
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As the title suggests: It relates to the condenser of a C5 light hydrocarbons distillation tower. Currently, the cooling water flow is in a single-pass configuration; we would like to replace the heat exchanger, and is it possible to design the cooling water flow as a multi-pass system?
It’s fine to design multiple pass systems; this can improve heat transfer, and higher flow rates can also help delay scaling. However, the pressure drop will increase as well, so that needs to be taken into account.
It is also possible to consider using an evaporative condenser to see if that will work
There’s no problem at all; just take into account the cooling water flow rate and pressure drop