Mitigation of Crude Oil Preheat Train Fouling by Design

Authors:
  • DWD. I. Wilson
    D. I. Wilson
  • GPG. T. Polley
    G. T. Polley
  • SPS. J. Pugh
    S. J. Pugh
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Fouling in crude oil preheat trains is a significant industrial problem which has restricted the application of process integration techniques such as "pinch technology" in this sector. A semiempirical fouling model for crude oil fouling developed by Panchal and co-workers allows the effects of fouling to be considered at the design stage for such networks. Application of this model at three levels--(1) design of new networks; (2) retrofitting of existing systems; and (3) identification of robust specifications for individual heat exchanger units--is discussed. The design issues are discussed using case studies illustrated by a graphical construction, the temperature field plot. Rigorous optimization of the final designs is not reported. The specification discussion describes how the crude fouling model can be incorporated into existing heat exchanger design software to identify exchanger configurations which are less likely to experience significant fouling over a range of operating conditions. This article concentrates on shell-and-tube designs, but the concepts will be applicable to other exchanger types once a suitable fouling model becomes available.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: