Feed/Effluent Heat Exchanger of Process Condensate Stripping System - Identification of Problem and its Solution

摘要

Feed/effluent heat exchangers of process condensate stripper were giving problem of bypassing on the shell side for quiet sometime,causing considerable loss of energy.Similar exchangers,installed in other plants are also reported to be not performing well.After lot of brain storming,simulation of process data and non-destructive testing,the problem was identified and repair job was undertaken in-house.The repair was carried out using in-house ingenuity and expertise.To avoid damage to the shell side partition rims,the tube bundle was inserted into the shell while keeping the later in vertical position.A special fixture was made to hold the shell in vertical position.After repair the exchangers are performing as designed.