Keywords: energy efficiency, fouling, refinery
Automatic cleaning of heat exchangers and condenser tubes by means of sponge balls is well known since the early 1950s, with applications expanding from steam power plants to industrial cooling and air conditioning systems. The main benefits (bottom-lined in cost savings) are: elimination of maintenance down-time, elimination of the need for chemicals, more efficient operation of the processes and the plant and more efficient use of energy.This paper presents the design and performance assessment of an Automatic Tube Cleaning System (ATCS) implemented in a hydrogen-sulfide retrieval and monoethanolamine treatment plant at the Paz Ashdod Refinery, one of the two refineries in Israel. Patented by CQM for its ball injection and trapping methods, the ATCS reveals unique benefits in operation, and the resulting O&M cost savings are evaluated in detail. The paper concludes by presenting the main costs of heat exchanger fouling, offering a view on fouling mitigation as a means to meet the main goals of global energy efficiency.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: Technical Proceedings of the 2008 Clean Technology Conference and Trade Show
Published: June 1, 2008
Pages: 193 - 196
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Energy & Sustainability
Topics: Materials for Sustainable Building, Sustainable Materials
ISBN: 1-4200-8502-0