INLET PROCESS TEMP LIMIT TO WATER COOLER
INLET PROCESS TEMP LIMIT TO WATER COOLER
(OP)
Hello,
In a shell and tube heat exchanger with cooling water on tube side, inlet at 30 C (3 barg) can we expect operation problems due to high inlet process temperature (in our case 100 C), like local buubles, vapor lock, in the cooling water side.
regards,
roker
In a shell and tube heat exchanger with cooling water on tube side, inlet at 30 C (3 barg) can we expect operation problems due to high inlet process temperature (in our case 100 C), like local buubles, vapor lock, in the cooling water side.
regards,
roker





RE: INLET PROCESS TEMP LIMIT TO WATER COOLER
What you truly do need to be careful of is high tubewall temperature which can scale reducing the cw flow, heat transfer, and lead to underdeposit corrosion. What is on the shellside?- these properties also affect tube wall temperature and scaling tendency. I have seen blowdown exchangers with the tubes (cw) scaled completely shut by process temperatures of 100C, and others like condensers do fine. Perhaps you have an example of scaling problems with the actual cw in question in a similar service.
best wishes,
sshep
RE: INLET PROCESS TEMP LIMIT TO WATER COOLER
However, you could have a problem with scaling and fouling on the tubes depending on the cooling water quality and treatment program. Some companies just limit the cooling water exit temperature, others will not allow cooling water to be used in services over a certain inlet fluid temperature that you are cooling (the former is a more common constraint than the latter in my experience). 100C doesn't seem terribly high, I'd check my exchanger design to see what the corresponding tube wall temperature is predicted to be and ensure I have adequate cooling water velocity.
RE: INLET PROCESS TEMP LIMIT TO WATER COOLER
Since also the plate material of a PHE is at least stainless steel, you can also consider a CIP-ing procedure with a light acid with a flow opposite to the normal CW flow.