A process survey and business potential analysis for the use of large plate heat exchangers in industrial applications
(2018) KETM05 20182Chemical Engineering (M.Sc.Eng.)
- Abstract
- The aim of this thesis work was to investigate and evaluate new possible industrial applications for large welded plate heat exchangers, with heat transfer areas of at least 500 m2. The research has been carried out through thermal design of heat exchangers for a total of nine cases. The nine cases are real-life applications for processes covering the petrochemical, oil & gas, power, and refinery industries. Thermal heat exchanger designs were done using Alfa Laval’s in-house heat exchanger design software called Computer Aided Sales (CAS).
The welded plate heat exchanger is more compact and lighter than conventional shell and tube heat exchanger, which constitutes the main competition in many applications. The use of welded plate heat... (More) - The aim of this thesis work was to investigate and evaluate new possible industrial applications for large welded plate heat exchangers, with heat transfer areas of at least 500 m2. The research has been carried out through thermal design of heat exchangers for a total of nine cases. The nine cases are real-life applications for processes covering the petrochemical, oil & gas, power, and refinery industries. Thermal heat exchanger designs were done using Alfa Laval’s in-house heat exchanger design software called Computer Aided Sales (CAS).
The welded plate heat exchanger is more compact and lighter than conventional shell and tube heat exchanger, which constitutes the main competition in many applications. The use of welded plate heat exchangers can result in savings in different ways; some examples include less material used, less inventory needed, possibility to use lower quality heat source and potentially better heat recovery.
The heat exchanger positions and the possibility to use welded plate heat exchangers were assessed by analyzing the simulated results of the thermal designs together with the limitations of the given case. In total nine cases were evaluated. Four out of the nine cases had heat exchanger positions with potential for using welded plate heat exchangers. Out of these four cases two were power cycles and two were related to producing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Power cycles and LNG processes are both developing markets. Although the market trends are unruly and uncertain, the overall potential for Alfa Laval products is good. From a thermal design point of view both power cycles and LNG are markets that in time could develop potential business for Alfa Laval. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Heat exchangers are used in a wide variety of industries in a variety of applications. A well-functioning heat exchanger network can greatly improve the energy efficiency of a plant and reduce costs and emissions. In this master thesis a certain type of heat exchangers were evaluated, large welded plate heat exchangers. Alfa Laval started a project to investigate the possibility for large welded heat exchangers in applications that were previously not considered interesting.
The project spans a total of 20 heat exchanger positions across nine applications from four business areas; Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Refinery, and Power. The applications include both operations with- and without changes in phase.
Thermal designs of large welded... (More) - Heat exchangers are used in a wide variety of industries in a variety of applications. A well-functioning heat exchanger network can greatly improve the energy efficiency of a plant and reduce costs and emissions. In this master thesis a certain type of heat exchangers were evaluated, large welded plate heat exchangers. Alfa Laval started a project to investigate the possibility for large welded heat exchangers in applications that were previously not considered interesting.
The project spans a total of 20 heat exchanger positions across nine applications from four business areas; Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Refinery, and Power. The applications include both operations with- and without changes in phase.
Thermal designs of large welded plate heat exchangers were evaluated for each of the positions. Looking into factors such as; pressure drop, heat load, and number of units needed. The designs that outmatched other heat exchanger types while performing within the limitations of the system were further investigated in a business analysis.
Four of the nine cases had potential for further analysis, two cases related to liquefied natural gas and two cases related to power cycles. Theses business areas showed an unruly trend with uncertainty. Although in the long run there is potential for large welded plate heat exchangers.
In summary: With current technology for large welded plate heat exchangers two business areas stood out from the rest, liquefied natural gas and power cycles. Both business areas are uncertain, but in the future could be a potential market Alfa Laval. To cover more of the business areas investigated new technology is needed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8962152
- author
- Larsson, Alexander LU
- supervisor
-
- Ola Wallberg LU
- organization
- course
- KETM05 20182
- year
- 2018
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Chemical Engineering, Heat Exchanger, Process, Kemiteknik
- language
- English
- id
- 8962152
- date added to LUP
- 2018-11-26 14:45:14
- date last changed
- 2018-11-26 14:45:14
@misc{8962152,
abstract = {{The aim of this thesis work was to investigate and evaluate new possible industrial applications for large welded plate heat exchangers, with heat transfer areas of at least 500 m2. The research has been carried out through thermal design of heat exchangers for a total of nine cases. The nine cases are real-life applications for processes covering the petrochemical, oil & gas, power, and refinery industries. Thermal heat exchanger designs were done using Alfa Laval’s in-house heat exchanger design software called Computer Aided Sales (CAS).
The welded plate heat exchanger is more compact and lighter than conventional shell and tube heat exchanger, which constitutes the main competition in many applications. The use of welded plate heat exchangers can result in savings in different ways; some examples include less material used, less inventory needed, possibility to use lower quality heat source and potentially better heat recovery.
The heat exchanger positions and the possibility to use welded plate heat exchangers were assessed by analyzing the simulated results of the thermal designs together with the limitations of the given case. In total nine cases were evaluated. Four out of the nine cases had heat exchanger positions with potential for using welded plate heat exchangers. Out of these four cases two were power cycles and two were related to producing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Power cycles and LNG processes are both developing markets. Although the market trends are unruly and uncertain, the overall potential for Alfa Laval products is good. From a thermal design point of view both power cycles and LNG are markets that in time could develop potential business for Alfa Laval.}},
author = {{Larsson, Alexander}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{A process survey and business potential analysis for the use of large plate heat exchangers in industrial applications}},
year = {{2018}},
}