Heat Transfer Fluids

[shvet]

Good day, forum

I have an issue concerning heat transfer strategy. We have a refinery facility where some high temperature heat consumers exist - mostly reboilers. The source of heat is fired heater(s). These reboilers can be heated directly by fired heaters or remotely by one fired heater using a heat transfer fluid. Let's say only a heat transfer fluid should be consider.

Next heat transfer fluids should be considered:
- steam
- vapors organics
- liquid hydrocarbons (e.g. stright run vacuum gasoil)
- liquid organics (e.g. glycols)
- liquid inorganics

Q1: Can one share worth links to a discussion with pros and cons different types of heat transfer fluids?
Q2: Can one share list of heat transfer fluids with short desctription and properties?
Q3: Can one share own experience in heat transfer fluids design/operation.

 

[MJCronin]

You seem to want all of your work to be done by others .....

Are you aware of a wonderful search device called GOOGLE ????

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

 

[georgeverghese]

A few pointers that may help with the choice of HTF:
a) Minimum HSE handling issues, reduced toxicity, reduced volatility
b) Good heat transfer characteristics and high Cp
c) Keep MTD as low as practically possible at reboilers to reduce salt deposition /scaling on process side of tubes due to high film temperatures.
d) Keep HTF pressure higher than process side in order to prevent cross contamination of HTF / foul up HTF furnace firetubes with process side fluids at HXs' that may leak in future.

As with many other choices one makes in life, so it is with processes and equipment also: choose to maximise on advantages and minimise risks and compromises.