Heat Exchanger Principles

Heat Exchanger Overview

• Heat exchangers facilitate heat transfer between two materials without direct contact, typically through conduction.
• Hot fluid transfers heat to cooler fluid, resulting in increased temperature for the cooler fluid and decreased temperature for the warmer fluid.
• Separation of fluids is achieved using metal tubes, with one stream flowing inside the tubes and the other outside.
• Heat transfer occurs as fluids move and contact the metal tubes.

Shell and Tube Exchanger

• Comprised of hollow cylindrical vessels called shells containing bundles of tubes.
• One fluid circulates through the shell while another flows through the tubes, allowing effective heat exchange.
• Cooler fluid increases in temperature while warmer fluid decreases, optimizing the heating and cooling process.
• Traditionally used for cooling products before transport, now also utilized for heat integration to preheat incoming streams.

E-100 (Ethylene Preheater)

• Multi-tube, U-type heat exchanger designed specifically for heating pipeline ethylene.
• Operates with 100 psig steam on the shell side to superheat ethylene before the next stage of processing.
• Enhances energy efficiency and process effectiveness by preheating the ethylene.

D-110 (Charge Gas Compressor Suction Drum)

• Dimensions: 5’6” diameter x 9’ length, serving both Charge Gas Compressors (C-120A/B).
• Incorporated with internal demister pads below top vapor outlets to eliminate liquid entrainment in ethylene streams.
• Pipeline and recycle ethylene enter from the side; heavier components (C4+) are expelled from the bottom while vapor ethylene exits from the top.

Heat Exchanger Overview

• Heat exchangers transfer heat between two fluids without direct contact, using conduction.
• The hot fluid transfers heat to the cooler fluid through metal tubes, which separate the two streams.
• Designs vary, but all heat exchangers aim to heat one stream while cooling another, excluding cooling towers which operate differently.

Shell and Tube Exchanger

• Consists of cylindrical vessels (called shells) containing tube bundles for fluid flow.
• One product flows through the shell, while another flows through the tubes, facilitating heat exchange via metal walls.
• Utilized to cool products before shipment, increasingly repurposed for heat integration due to rising energy costs.

E-100 (Ethylene Preheater)

• A multi-tube, U-type heat exchanger specifically designed for heating pipeline ethylene.
• Operates with ethylene on the tube side and 100 psig steam on the shell side.
• Installed to superheat ethylene before the next processing stage.

D-110 (Charge Gas Compressor Suction Drum)

• Dimensions: 5’6” diameter and 9’ length.
• Serves both C-120A/B Charge Gas Compressors, enhancing efficiency and functionality.
• Equipped with internal demister pads to eliminate liquid entrainment in the ethylene streams.
• Receives pipeline and recycled ethylene streams; heavier components (C4+) exit from the bottom, while vapor ethylene exits from the top.