Circulation evaporators (re-boilers) at distillation columns

Circulation evaporators are used in refineries at distillation columns to heat up the bottom-liquids and to generate steam, which is fed back to the distillation tower.

XPS - Plate & Shell heat exchangers can be configures as kettle re-boilers or as thermosyphon - reboiles. Kettle re-boilers require rather no static heights. Thermosiphon – re-boilers have smaller filling volumes and shorter reaction times. Openable versions allow the removal and mechanical cleaning of the plate packages.

Top condensers at distillation columns

Top condensers condense and cool residual vapors in distillation columns. They work as reverse flow condensers when they are are put directly at the column. Circulation condensers are placed near the top of the column and work as s a flow-through condensers.
XPS - Plate & Shell heat exchangers are effective condensers and well suited for both modes of operation. Of particular advantage, compared to tubular heat exchangers, is the compact and lightweight design which enables the installation close to the column head.

Economizers at distillation columns

On distillation columns but also in other stripping systems XPS - Plate & Shell heat exchangers are used to preheat the incoming fluid through the outflowing medium. Heat exchangers with such tasks are called economizers or feed / effluent interchangers.

Due to the high heat transfer coefficients plate heat exchangers generally offer themselves for economizer applications. They achieve closer temperature approaches of the hot and cold side. Moreover, in refinery processes the Plate and Shell type provides variable connections options and the possibility to use it at high pressures.

Coolers of refinery products

The products obtained in refineries by distillation and other processing stages are cooled prior to tank storage.

XPS - Plate & Shell heat exchangers are preferably used for cooling lighter products such as gas and light gasoline (NAPHTA), kerosene and diesel fuels. For minimum maintenance requirements the heat exchangers are configuresd in fully welded design.

FPSO - Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit

FPSO used on offshore production sites to produce, storage and load oil and gas. Aboard heat exchangers are needed to heat oil tanks. Partially first stages of processing of the crude oil or natural gas takes place on board.

XPT - Thermo Plate heat exchangers, built from individual plates or plate batteries, heat oil tanks. The heating medium water can be heated itself in a XPS - steam heater on the deck.

XPS - Plate & Shell heat exchangers operate as steam heater in tank heating circuits. In combination with the XPT - heating plates in the tanks, the system has low weight and a low center of gravity for the benefit of the ship stability. If natural gas is dried on board, then Plate & Shell heat exchangers cool down the gas below the dew point or they work in the glycol regeneration as glycol coolers or glycol - economizers.

Heat exchangers in utility systems and for heat recovery