Petroleum & Refining

Aromatics such as benzene, toluene and xylene swell many elastomers that handle straight paraffins without trouble. A gasket that looks fine on a crude or diesel compatibility chart can fail on a reformate or solvent stream. Give us the aromatic fraction along with the temperture range, because it often moves the choice to a fluoroelastomer grade or to semi-welded construction.

On light, clean crudes at modest pressure it can be, and the close approach recovers heat a tubular train leaves behind. Heavy crudes carrying wax, asphaltenes or sand are a different story, as the narrow channels foul and pressure drop climbs. We look at viscosity at the cold end and solids content before recommending a plate pack.

Lean and rich amine interchange and glycol cooling suit plates well, since both are clean, moderate temperature streams where close approach saves reboiler energy. Gasket compatibility with the amine and any carried-over hydrocarbon has to be checked. Degraded amine and heat stable salts raise the corrosion risk, so tell us the amine type and its condition.

Plates go to titanium, and the seawater connections need port linings or titanium nozzles as well. Marine growth and silt foul the seawater channels, so upstream strainers and a frame that can be opened on deck are part of the design. Allow a fouling margin on the seawater side and leave access space around the unit for pulling plates.