che_february-2025 - 12

Newsfront
Heat Exchange Solutions
Support Sustainability
Developments in heat exchange technologies promote efficiency, reliability and
cost effectiveness
H
eat exchange technologies
play a pivotal role in
industrial sustainability efforts
because
they
are
at
the forefront of enabling more
environmentally friendly chemical
processes, while also serving as a
core mechanism in evolving clean
technology and electrification projects.
However, to find success in
traditional or developing applications,
selection of the right heat exchange
technology is essential, as
it will provide more energy-efficient
performance, greater reliability and
lower operational costs. Fortunately,
innovative heat-exchange solutions
are available to suit every industry
need and overcome common process
challenges in both existing and
emerging applications.
" Chemical processing companies
Source: HRS
are concerned about their carbon
footprint, which is directly related
to the energy efficiency of their processes
and hence, to their heat exchangers, "
says Alasdair Maciver,
head of energy storage solutions and
vice president of the welded heat
exchangers business unit, with Alfa
Laval (Lund, Sweden; alfalaval.com).
" At the same time, the 'clean-tech'
space is looking at new, innovative
processes in hydrogen, carbon capture
and energy storage and these
efforts come with new demands for
heat exchangers. "
According to the experts, moreefficient
heat transfer, increased reliability
and more cost-effective operation
are of the highest priority for
today's heat exchange technologies,
no matter the application.
" Chemical processors are looking
for heat exchange systems that meet
high standards around performance
and reliability, tempered against a reasonable
cost of investment, " explains
Warren Chung, regional director with
Solex Thermal Science (Calgary,
Alta., Canada; solexthermal.com).
" As operators seek to maximize the
useful operating life of their facilities,
they have been increasingly considering
heat exchange options from the
total cost of ownership perspective
rather than simply the lowest upfront
capital investment. Operators have
realized that production disruptions
due to failed
or underperforming
heat exchange systems are significantly
costlier than investing in higher
quality heat exchange systems with
greater longevity. "
FIGURE 1. HRS Heat Exchangers' corrugated tube
design provides a number of benefits over smooth
tube designs
12
" However, the challenge is determining
which technology works best
for your application and process
given the chemicals that will be flowing
through it and the reaction, " adds
Nathan Thomson, manager business
engineers with SWEP (Duluth,
Ga.; swep.net). " Operators need
an understanding of the innovation
around the core heat exchange
technologies as they are constantly
evolving and each has its own advantages
and disadvantages, depending
on the application. "
Heat exchange innovations
While selecting the appropriate heat
exchange technology depends on
the specifications of the application,
developments and technologies that
focus on improving efficiency and
reliability often result in greater cost
effectiveness in any operation.
" Many of the challenges associated
with heat exchange technologies are
the same as in other sectors, although
preventing unwanted chemical
reactions, corrosion and fouling
are key considerations for chemical
processors, as they impact reliability
and efficiency, " notes Matt Hale,
global key account director with HRS
Heat Exchangers (Marietta, Ga.; hrsheatexchangers.com).
" But
these
can
be mitigated with appropriate
design and construction, depending
on each individual project. For example,
the use of corrosion-resistant
stainless steel and corrugated-tube
architecture can minimize and prevent
fouling (Figure 1).
" Such steps will also help maximize
heat transference and energy efficiency.
For example, corrugated tubes
are more efficient than smooth tubes
in operation. As in all sectors, costs
are also a key consideration, although
it's important to look at both capital
and operational costs, as a cheaper
installation may be more costly in the
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM
FEBRUARY 2025
http://www.swep.net http://www.alfalaval.com http://www.solexthermal.com http://www.heatexchangers.com http://WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM
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