EP0028503A2 - Method and apparatus for heating a fluid employing a gas containing sulfur oxides and water - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for heating a fluid employing a gas containing sulfur oxides and water Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0028503A2 EP0028503A2 EP80303848A EP80303848A EP0028503A2 EP 0028503 A2 EP0028503 A2 EP 0028503A2 EP 80303848 A EP80303848 A EP 80303848A EP 80303848 A EP80303848 A EP 80303848A EP 0028503 A2 EP0028503 A2 EP 0028503A2
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- heat exchanger
- pipe
- fluid
- heat exchange
- combustion gases
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/0005—Details for water heaters
- F24H9/0036—Dispositions against condensation of combustion products
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H1/00—Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H1/00—Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters
- F24H1/22—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating
- F24H1/40—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water tube or tubes
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
- F28D7/10—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically
- F28D7/12—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically the surrounding tube being closed at one end, e.g. return type
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for heating a fluid employing a gas containing sulfur oxides and water.
- Hot gases containing sulfur oxides and water are commonly employed for heating in industry and are derived by burning fuels containing sulfur.
- fuels containing sulfur are solid fuels such as coals and lignites and fluid fuels such as fuel oils and hydrocarbon gases.
- a well-known problem arising from the use of such hot gases is that of acid corrosion which occurs when the temperature of the hot gases falls to the dew point and an acidic liquid condenses on metal parts such as the low temperature heat recovery tubes of a furnace or boiler.
- the approach is not reliable because a change in the operating conditions of the furnace can change the strength of the acid deposited at each location so that materials which previously would not have been corroded become exposed to an acid strength which they may not be able to resist.
- the present invention in one aspect, provides a method of heating a fluid employing a heating gas containing SO and H 2 0 which passes in heat exchange relationship with the outer surface of a heat exchanger through which the fluid is passed, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a multi-pipe heat exchanger, and unheated fluid is passed into an inlet of one pipe of the multi-pipe heat exchanger at a temperature below the acid dew point of the heating gas and discharged from an outlet of another pipe of the said multi-pipe heat exchanger at a temperature exceeding the acid dew point of the heating gas, and maintaining the flow of fluid through the multi-pipe heat exchanger at a rate such that the temperature of the outer surface of the multi-pipe heat exchanger is above the acid dew point of the heating gas.
- the said other pipe is the outermost pipe of the multi-pipe heat exchanger, and the said one pipe is inwards of the said other pipe.
- the fluid discharged from the multi-pipe heat exchanger preferably is conducted to another heat exchange means and, heated therein to a higher temperature.
- the said other heat exchange means may be heated mainly by radiation from a flame in which a sulfur-containing fuel is burned to produce combustion gases.
- the said combustion gases may form at least some of the said heating gas, and the multi-pipe heat exchanger may be heated mainly by convection from said combustion gases.
- the invention provides apparatus for heating a fluid comprising at least one burner for burning a sulfur-containing fuel in a flame to produce combustion gases containing SO X and H 2 0, comprising heat exchange means through which the fluid can flow in indirect heat exchange relationship with combustion gases contacting the outer surface of the heat exchange means, wherein the heat exchange means comprises a multi-pipe heat exchanger having an inlet for unheated fluid at one end of one pipe and an outlet for heated fluid at-one end of another pipe of the multi-pipe heat exchanger, and comprising means for supplying fluid to the multi-pipe heat exchanger at a rate within a predetermined range to avoid the deposition of acid dew on the outer surface of the multi-pipe heat exchanger.
- the apparatus may comprise a second heat exchange means connected to receive heated fluid from the outlet of the said other pipe of the multi-pipe heat exchanger.
- the second heat exchange means may be so disposed relative to the burner that, during operation, a major part of the heat received by the second heat exchange means is by radiation from the flame.
- the multi-pipe heat exchanger may be so constructed and/or arranged in the apparatus that, during operation, a major part of the heat received by the multi-pipe heat exchanger is by convection from the combustion gases.
- the apparatus may comprise walls defining a conduit for the passage of combustion gases, the multi-pipe heat exchanger extending across said conduit and being fixedly attached to the walls thereof at one end only.
- the heat transfer properties of the multi-pipe heat exchanger may be improved by providing extended surfaces such as fins and/or protrusions on one or more heat transfer surfaces thereof.
- the multi-pipe heat exchanger may comprise one or more passes.
- the furnace 10 comprises vertical walls 11 lined with refractory which define a number of sections of reduced horizontal-cross-sectional area at the higher levels and which sections are connected by, e.g., sloping sections.
- the top section 12 is connected to a stack (not shown) for the discharge of combustion gases from the top of the furnace 10.
- furnace floor 13 Near the base of the furnace are provided a suitable number of burners (not shown) supported by furnace floor 13.
- the or each burner is supplied with fuel which is burned in a flame 14 above the furnace floor 13. In the vicinity of flame 14, there is intense radiation and at more remote locations above the flame, most of the heating effect of the flame is by convection through the medium of the combustion gases and hot excess air.
- the process fluid which is to be heated is passed more or less countercurrently relative to the combustion gases so that cool fluid is employed to recover heat from the combustion gases near the top of the furnace mainly by convective heat transfer, and heated fluid is finally heated mainly by radiant heat transfer in the vicinity of the flame 14.
- the process fluid enters the furnace 10 near the top via tube 15 and passes through one (or more) sets or banks of tubes 16 disposed in a convection section 17 of the furnace for recovery of heat from the hot combustion gases passing upwardly towards the top section 12 and stack from a lower section 18 comprising a firebox.
- the fluid passes through t ⁇ bes 16 in a generally countercurrent path to the combustion gases and relatively hot fluid circulates from the tubes 16 to one or more banks of tubes 19 in the lower section 18 surrounding the flame wherein a major proportion of high temperature heat is recovered from the radiation in the lower section 18.
- the fluid leaves the tube bank(s) 19 via outlet(s) 20 at a relatively high temperature.
- FIG. 2 shows, in simplified form, an arrangement of heat reccvery tubes for use in the convection secticn 17 in accordance with the invention.
- the fluid is heated employing a double pipe heat exchanger 21 extending across the convection section 17 and being supported at its end regions by the walls 22, 23 of the furnace around the section 17.
- Double pipe heat exchangers are known per se, and in the illustrated arrangement, the cool fluid is passed into one end 24 of the central tube 25 of the heat exchanger 21 and circulates from the open opposite end of the central tube 25 into the surrounding annulus defined between the central tube 25 and an outer tube 26. Matters are so arranged that heat is recovered from the combustion gases at temperatures exceeding the acid dew point on the outer surface of the outer tube 26, thereby avoiding acid corrosion problems.
- the heated fluid is recovered from outlet 27 and may be passed to further convective heat recovery units and/or to a radiant heat recovery tube bank as described in relation to Figure 1.
- the arrangement of Figure 2 enables cold fluid to be heated to a temperature exceeding the acid dew point without causing acid dew point corrosion of the heat exchanger 21.
- the heat exchanger 21 is fixed at one end only, preferably the end at which cold fluid enters and from where heated fluid is recovered. The other end is supported in such a manner that it is free to move to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the heat exchanger 21 and the furnace walls.
- the cold fluid feed is completely separated from the fluid which recovers heat from the upwardly passing hot combustion gases giving a greater range of variability of throughputs of the cold fluid feed than in the embodiment of Figure 2 since the flow rate and initial temperature of the feed have less influence on the temperature of the outer surface of the heat exchanger 29.
- the cold fluid feed is circulated into the entrance 30 of the lowest section of the central tube 31 and is recovered via an outlet 32 from the highest section of the central tube 31.
- the fluid feed is circulated through tube 31 generally countercurrently to a fluid in the annular space 34 defined between the central tube 31 and an outer tube 33.
- the flow rate and temperature of the fluid in the annular space 34 are so arranged that the lowest temperature on the outside of the outer tube 33 exceeds the acid dew point.
- the fluid in the central tube 31 circulates countercurrently to the fluid in the annular space 34, and the latter enters the heat exchanger 29 via inlet 36 on or communicating with the upper, cooler pass of the heat exchanger 29 and is recovered at a higher temperature from an outlet 37 or communicating with the lower, hotter pass.
- the temperature of the fluid in the cooler pass must be such that the temperature of the outer surface of'the wall thereof exceeds the acid dew point.
- the outer tube 33 has flanged ends 38, 39 to permit access for cleaning, maintenance and repair.
- the central tube 31 may also be furnished with flanges (not shown) or other means of attachment in the vicinity of the return bend 40 (e.g. where each end of the bend 40 is attached to the straight sections of the tube 33) for servicing and removal of the central tube 31.
- the heat transfer surfaces contacted by one or both streams of fluid may be provided with fins or other extended heat transfer surfaces and/or furnished with baffles.
- double pipe heat exchangers may be employed in series and/or parallel connection, and that they may be of the same type or different types.
- heat exchangers having at least two pipes enclosed by the outermost pipe and that the thus said enclosed pipes may be arranged side-by-side within the enclosing pipe and/or one within another inside the enclosing pipe.
- the invention has been more particularly described with reference to avoiding acid corrosion when heating a fluid in the convection section of a furnace or similar heating apparatus, the invention may be employed alternatively or additionally for heating a fluid elsewhere in a furnace or other heating apparatus.
- acid corrosion has been observed on heat exchange tubes within the radiant heating section of a furnace when the temperature-of the fluid passing through such tubes is relatively low.
- the heat exchange tubes which are subject to acid corrosion in the radiant section may be tubes in which a fluid is heated from a temperature below the local acid dew point to a higher temperature and is then conducted either (a) to heat exchange tubes in the same furnace or apparatus, or (b) to another item of equipment for further heating and/or utilization, or in part to both (a) and (b).
- the heat transfer characteristics and/or sizes of the tubes are selected to provide an outer surface temperature exceeding the acid dew point for reasonable and/or acceptable ranges of flow rates and pressure drops.
- At least the outermost tube of the multi-pipe heat exchanger may be convenient to form at least the outermost tube of the multi-pipe heat exchanger with a rectangular cross-section so that the -multi-pipe heat exchanger can be more easily interfitted with other items of equipment.
Abstract
A fluid which is to be heated by a gas (in 17) containing sulfur oxides and water vapour is passed through the inner tube(s) (25) of a multi-pipe heat exchanger (21) and recovered from the outermost tube (26) thereof at such a temperature thatthe outer surface temperture of the outermosttube (26) is always above the acid dew point, thereby avoiding acid corrosion of the outermost tube (26) of the heat exchanger (21).
In an embodiment, the heat exchanger (21) is of the double pipe type, but whichever type is employed, the heat transfer characteristics and/or sizes of the tubes of the heat exchanger (21) are selected to provide an outer surface temperature exceeding the acid dew point for reasonable and/or acceptable ranges of fluid flow rates and pressure drops therethrough.
Description
- The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for heating a fluid employing a gas containing sulfur oxides and water.
- Hot gases containing sulfur oxides and water are commonly employed for heating in industry and are derived by burning fuels containing sulfur. Among such fuels are solid fuels such as coals and lignites and fluid fuels such as fuel oils and hydrocarbon gases. A well-known problem arising from the use of such hot gases is that of acid corrosion which occurs when the temperature of the hot gases falls to the dew point and an acidic liquid condenses on metal parts such as the low temperature heat recovery tubes of a furnace or boiler.
- The usual method of avoiding acid corrosion is to ensure that the hot gases never contact surfaces which are at such temperatures as to cause condensation of acidic liquid. In the case of boilers or process stream heaters, the water or process stream feed is preheated to a temperature exceeding the dew point of the hot gases from which heat is to be extracted, and this practice has obvious drawbacks in that an additional heat exchanger and an additional source of heat therefor are required, and moreover, the heat which can be recovered from the hot gases is not as fully exploited as it might be.
- An alternative approach which has been suggested is to form the surfaces of the heat recovery tubes from materials which are capable of resisting acid corrosion. This alternative approach has practical limitations since it is not usually economic to form the surfaces of heat recovery tubes wholly from acid-resistant material, and in practice, only those sections of the tubes which are vulnerable to acid corrosion are formed of acid-resistant materials. However, even this approach is not free from difficulties because the strength of the acid formed on the exposed surface of a heat recovery tube depends on the temperature of the exposed surface, 'and the temperature unavoidably varies along the length of the tube. The vulnerable sections of the tubes must therefore be formed from different materials each capable of resisting corrosion by the acid deposited locally thereon. Besides adding to the cost of the heat recovery tubes, the approach is not reliable because a change in the operating conditions of the furnace can change the strength of the acid deposited at each location so that materials which previously would not have been corroded become exposed to an acid strength which they may not be able to resist.
- The present invention, in one aspect, provides a method of heating a fluid employing a heating gas containing SO and H20 which passes in heat exchange relationship with the outer surface of a heat exchanger through which the fluid is passed, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a multi-pipe heat exchanger, and unheated fluid is passed into an inlet of one pipe of the multi-pipe heat exchanger at a temperature below the acid dew point of the heating gas and discharged from an outlet of another pipe of the said multi-pipe heat exchanger at a temperature exceeding the acid dew point of the heating gas, and maintaining the flow of fluid through the multi-pipe heat exchanger at a rate such that the temperature of the outer surface of the multi-pipe heat exchanger is above the acid dew point of the heating gas.
- Preferably, the said other pipe is the outermost pipe of the multi-pipe heat exchanger, and the said one pipe is inwards of the said other pipe.
- The fluid discharged from the multi-pipe heat exchanger preferably is conducted to another heat exchange means and, heated therein to a higher temperature.
- The said other heat exchange means may be heated mainly by radiation from a flame in which a sulfur-containing fuel is burned to produce combustion gases.
- The said combustion gases may form at least some of the said heating gas, and the multi-pipe heat exchanger may be heated mainly by convection from said combustion gases.
- In another aspect, the invention provides apparatus for heating a fluid comprising at least one burner for burning a sulfur-containing fuel in a flame to produce combustion gases containing SOX and H20, comprising heat exchange means through which the fluid can flow in indirect heat exchange relationship with combustion gases contacting the outer surface of the heat exchange means, wherein the heat exchange means comprises a multi-pipe heat exchanger having an inlet for unheated fluid at one end of one pipe and an outlet for heated fluid at-one end of another pipe of the multi-pipe heat exchanger, and comprising means for supplying fluid to the multi-pipe heat exchanger at a rate within a predetermined range to avoid the deposition of acid dew on the outer surface of the multi-pipe heat exchanger.
- The apparatus may comprise a second heat exchange means connected to receive heated fluid from the outlet of the said other pipe of the multi-pipe heat exchanger.
- The second heat exchange means may be so disposed relative to the burner that, during operation, a major part of the heat received by the second heat exchange means is by radiation from the flame.
- The multi-pipe heat exchanger may be so constructed and/or arranged in the apparatus that, during operation, a major part of the heat received by the multi-pipe heat exchanger is by convection from the combustion gases.
- The apparatus may comprise walls defining a conduit for the passage of combustion gases, the multi-pipe heat exchanger extending across said conduit and being fixedly attached to the walls thereof at one end only.
- The heat transfer properties of the multi-pipe heat exchanger may be improved by providing extended surfaces such as fins and/or protrusions on one or more heat transfer surfaces thereof.
- The multi-pipe heat exchanger may comprise one or more passes.
- The invention is now further described with reference to some non- limitative, examplary illustrative diagrammatic drawings in the accompanying Figures, wherein:-
- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical cross-sectional elevation of the main features of a known furnace employed for heating a process fluid;
- Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a part of the furnace of Figure 1 incorporating apparatus in accordance with the invention but not showing pumps and/or valves or other flow-influencing equipment; and
- Figure 3 shows an alternative modification to that depicted in Figure 2.
- Referring first to Figure 1, the
furnace 10 comprisesvertical walls 11 lined with refractory which define a number of sections of reduced horizontal-cross-sectional area at the higher levels and which sections are connected by, e.g., sloping sections. Thetop section 12 is connected to a stack (not shown) for the discharge of combustion gases from the top of thefurnace 10. - Near the base of the furnace are provided a suitable number of burners (not shown) supported by
furnace floor 13. The or each burner is supplied with fuel which is burned in a flame 14 above thefurnace floor 13. In the vicinity of flame 14, there is intense radiation and at more remote locations above the flame, most of the heating effect of the flame is by convection through the medium of the combustion gases and hot excess air. - Most fuels contain sulfur and in consequence the combustion gases contain sulfur oxides in addition to the water vapour producedby the oxidation of the hydrogen-containing components of the fuel.
- Generally speaking, the process fluid which is to be heated is passed more or less countercurrently relative to the combustion gases so that cool fluid is employed to recover heat from the combustion gases near the top of the furnace mainly by convective heat transfer, and heated fluid is finally heated mainly by radiant heat transfer in the vicinity of the flame 14. Thus, as will be seen from Figure 1, the process fluid enters the
furnace 10 near the top viatube 15 and passes through one (or more) sets or banks oftubes 16 disposed in aconvection section 17 of the furnace for recovery of heat from the hot combustion gases passing upwardly towards thetop section 12 and stack from alower section 18 comprising a firebox. The fluid passes throughtυbes 16 in a generally countercurrent path to the combustion gases and relatively hot fluid circulates from thetubes 16 to one or more banks oftubes 19 in thelower section 18 surrounding the flame wherein a major proportion of high temperature heat is recovered from the radiation in thelower section 18. The fluid leaves the tube bank(s) 19 via outlet(s) 20 at a relatively high temperature. - Reference is now made to Figure 2 which shows, in simplified form, an arrangement of heat reccvery tubes for use in the
convection secticn 17 in accordance with the invention. In this arrangement, the fluid is heated employing a doublepipe heat exchanger 21 extending across theconvection section 17 and being supported at its end regions by thewalls section 17. Double pipe heat exchangers are known per se, and in the illustrated arrangement, the cool fluid is passed into oneend 24 of thecentral tube 25 of theheat exchanger 21 and circulates from the open opposite end of thecentral tube 25 into the surrounding annulus defined between thecentral tube 25 and anouter tube 26. Matters are so arranged that heat is recovered from the combustion gases at temperatures exceeding the acid dew point on the outer surface of theouter tube 26, thereby avoiding acid corrosion problems. Some of the heat thus recovered in the fluid passing between thetubes central tube 25 by heat transfer through the walls oftube 25, and the proportions of heat retained in the outer annulus of fluid aa" transferred to the innermost fluid can be varied or predetermined by appropriate dimensioning of the cross-sectional flow areas of the annulus and of the central tube, by employing appropriate materials of construction to provide the desired amount of heat transfer throughtube 25, by the use of baffles (not shown), fins, studs or other extended surfaces (not shown) on appropriate parts of the fluid-contacting regions of thetubes tube 26, by varying the flow rate of the fluid through theheat exchanger 21, inter alia. It is within the ordinary competence of the skilled technologist to determine which one or combination of the foregoing techniques should be employed, and to what extent. - The heated fluid is recovered from
outlet 27 and may be passed to further convective heat recovery units and/or to a radiant heat recovery tube bank as described in relation to Figure 1. - It will be seen that the arrangement of Figure 2 enables cold fluid to be heated to a temperature exceeding the acid dew point without causing acid dew point corrosion of the
heat exchanger 21. In one mode of construction, theheat exchanger 21 is fixed at one end only, preferably the end at which cold fluid enters and from where heated fluid is recovered. The other end is supported in such a manner that it is free to move to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of theheat exchanger 21 and the furnace walls. - With reference now to Figure 3, there is depicted a double
pipe heat exchanger 29 of the so-called "hairpin" type mounted in theconvection section 17 of a heating furnace. - In this arrangement, the cold fluid feed is completely separated from the fluid which recovers heat from the upwardly passing hot combustion gases giving a greater range of variability of throughputs of the cold fluid feed than in the embodiment of Figure 2 since the flow rate and initial temperature of the feed have less influence on the temperature of the outer surface of the
heat exchanger 29. - The cold fluid feed is circulated into the entrance 30 of the lowest section of the
central tube 31 and is recovered via anoutlet 32 from the highest section of thecentral tube 31. - The fluid feed is circulated through
tube 31 generally countercurrently to a fluid in theannular space 34 defined between thecentral tube 31 and anouter tube 33. The flow rate and temperature of the fluid in theannular space 34 are so arranged that the lowest temperature on the outside of theouter tube 33 exceeds the acid dew point. - Preferably the fluid in the
central tube 31 circulates countercurrently to the fluid in theannular space 34, and the latter enters theheat exchanger 29 viainlet 36 on or communicating with the upper, cooler pass of theheat exchanger 29 and is recovered at a higher temperature from anoutlet 37 or communicating with the lower, hotter pass. The temperature of the fluid in the cooler pass must be such that the temperature of the outer surface of'the wall thereof exceeds the acid dew point. - In this embodiment, it is possible to raise the temperature of the cold fluid feed by a greater amount, generally speaking, than in the embodiment of Figure 2.
- In a variant (not shown) of the Figure 3 arrangement, at least some of the heated fluid recovered from the
outlet 32 of thecentral tube 32 is employed as the fluid inannular space 34. - In Figure 3, it will be seen that the
outer tube 33 has flangedends central tube 31 may also be furnished with flanges (not shown) or other means of attachment in the vicinity of the return bend 40 (e.g. where each end of thebend 40 is attached to the straight sections of the tube 33) for servicing and removal of thecentral tube 31. - As in the previous embodiment, the heat transfer surfaces contacted by one or both streams of fluid may be provided with fins or other extended heat transfer surfaces and/or furnished with baffles.
- It is contemplated that a plurality of double pipe heat exchangers may be employed in series and/or parallel connection, and that they may be of the same type or different types. Moreover, in a further variant of the invention, it is contemplated that in place of double pipe heat exchangers, there may be employed heat exchangers having at least two pipes enclosed by the outermost pipe and that the thus said enclosed pipes may be arranged side-by-side within the enclosing pipe and/or one within another inside the enclosing pipe.
- Any feasible combination of the foregoing arrangements may also be employed without departing from the invention.
- Although the invention has been more particularly described with reference to avoiding acid corrosion when heating a fluid in the convection section of a furnace or similar heating apparatus, the invention may be employed alternatively or additionally for heating a fluid elsewhere in a furnace or other heating apparatus. For example, acid corrosion has been observed on heat exchange tubes within the radiant heating section of a furnace when the temperature-of the fluid passing through such tubes is relatively low. The heat exchange tubes which are subject to acid corrosion in the radiant section may be tubes in which a fluid is heated from a temperature below the local acid dew point to a higher temperature and is then conducted either (a) to heat exchange tubes in the same furnace or apparatus, or (b) to another item of equipment for further heating and/or utilization, or in part to both (a) and (b).
- It will be appreciated that whichever type of multi-pipe heat exchanger is employed to perform the invention, the heat transfer characteristics and/or sizes of the tubes are selected to provide an outer surface temperature exceeding the acid dew point for reasonable and/or acceptable ranges of flow rates and pressure drops.
- In some circumstances, it may be convenient to form at least the outermost tube of the multi-pipe heat exchanger with a rectangular cross-section so that the -multi-pipe heat exchanger can be more easily interfitted with other items of equipment.
Claims (10)
1. A method of heating a fluid employing a heating gas (e.g., in 17, Fig. 2) containing SOx and H20 which passes in heat exchange relationship with the outer surface of a heat exchanger (21) through which the fluid is passed, characterized in that the heat exchanger (21) comprises a multi-pipe heat exchanger, and unheated fluid is passed into an inlet (24) of one pipe (25) of the multi-pipe heat exchanger (21) at a temperature below the acid dew point of the heating gas and discharged from an outlet (27) of another pipe (26) of the said multi-pipe heat exchanger (21) at a temperature exceeding the acid dew point of the heating gas, and maintaining the flow of fluid through the multi-pipe heat exchanger at a rate such that the temperature of the outer surface of the multi-pipe heat exchanger (21) is above the acid dew point of the heating gas.
2. A method as in claim 1 in which the said other pipe is the outermost pipe (26) of the multi-pipe heat exchanger, and the said one pipe (25) is inwards of the said other pipe (26).
3. A method as in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the fluid discharged from the multi-pipe heat exchanger (21) is conducted to another heat exchange means (e.g. 19, Fig. 1) and heated therein to a higher temperature.
4. A method as in claim 3 in which the said other heat exchange means (19) is heated mainly by radiation from a flame (14, Fig. 1) in which a sulfur-containing fuel is burned to produce combustion gases.
5. A method as in claim 4 in which the combustion gases form at least some of the said heating gas, and in which the multi-pipe heat exchanger is heated mainly by convection (in 17, Fig. 1) from said combustion gases.
6. Apparatus for heating a fluid comprising at least one burner for burning a sulfur-containing fuel in a flame (e.g. 14, Fig. 1) to produce combustion gases containing SOx and H20, comprising heat exchange means (16, 19, Fig. 1) through which the fluid can flow in indirect heat exchange relationship with combustion gases contacting the outer surface of the heat exchange means, characterized in that the heat exchange means comprises a multi-pipe heat exchanger (21, Fig. 2) having an inlet (24) for unheated fluid at one end of one pipe (25) and an outlet (27) for heated fluid at one end of another pipe (26) of the multi-pipe heat exchanger (21), and comprising means for supplying fluid to the multi-pipe heat exchanger at a rate within a predetermined range to avoid the deposition of acid dew on the outer surface of the multi-pipe heat exchanger.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 comprising a second heat exchange means (e.g. 19, Fig. 1) connected to receive heated fluid from the outlet (27) of the said other pipe (26) of the multi-pipe heat exchanger (21).
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the second heat exchange means (19) is so disposed relative to the burner that, during operation, a major part of the heat received by the second heat exchange means is by radiation from the flame (14).
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6, 7 or 8 in which the multi-pipe heat exchanger (21) is so constructed and/or arranged in the apparatus (10, Fig. 1) that, during operation, a major part of the heat received by the multi-pipe heat exchanger (21) is by convection from the combustion gases (e.g., in section 17, Fig. 1).
10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6, 7, 8 or 9 comprising walls (22, 23, Fig. 2) defining a conduit for the passage of combustion gases, the multi-pipe heat exchanger (21) extending across said conduit and being fixedly attached to the walls thereof at one end only (at 22).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB7937865A GB2062834A (en) | 1979-11-01 | 1979-11-01 | Method and apparatus for heating a fluid employing a heating gas containing sulphur oxides and water |
GB7937865 | 1979-11-01 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0028503A2 true EP0028503A2 (en) | 1981-05-13 |
EP0028503A3 EP0028503A3 (en) | 1981-07-15 |
Family
ID=10508911
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP80303848A Withdrawn EP0028503A3 (en) | 1979-11-01 | 1980-10-29 | Method and apparatus for heating a fluid employing a gas containing sulfur oxides and water |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP0028503A3 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2062834A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP0056312A2 (en) * | 1981-01-09 | 1982-07-21 | Foster Wheeler Energy Limited | Air preheater |
FR2784175A1 (en) * | 1998-10-02 | 2000-04-07 | Gm Etscheid Anlagen Gmbh | Portable immersion cooler for e.g. milk, wines and unfermented juice |
EP1391663A1 (en) * | 2002-08-19 | 2004-02-25 | Vaillant GmbH | Device for heating water |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3170290D1 (en) * | 1981-09-08 | 1985-06-05 | Dow Chemical Nederland | Heat exchanger and use thereof |
GB2138555B (en) * | 1983-04-19 | 1986-07-23 | Davy Mckee Ag | Process for utilising heat removed on cooling a flue gas stream |
CN102862999B (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2015-05-20 | 苏州市中衡压力容器制造有限公司 | Crystallization and concentration device used for extracting alumina from coal ash through acid leaching method |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE254462C (en) * | ||||
DE315672C (en) * | ||||
FR632424A (en) * | 1928-01-09 | |||
DE2338548A1 (en) * | 1972-08-01 | 1974-02-21 | Waagner Biro Ag | WALL HEATING SURFACE FOR STEAM GENERATOR |
-
1979
- 1979-11-01 GB GB7937865A patent/GB2062834A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1980
- 1980-10-29 EP EP80303848A patent/EP0028503A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE254462C (en) * | ||||
DE315672C (en) * | ||||
FR632424A (en) * | 1928-01-09 | |||
DE2338548A1 (en) * | 1972-08-01 | 1974-02-21 | Waagner Biro Ag | WALL HEATING SURFACE FOR STEAM GENERATOR |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0056312A2 (en) * | 1981-01-09 | 1982-07-21 | Foster Wheeler Energy Limited | Air preheater |
EP0056312A3 (en) * | 1981-01-09 | 1982-11-10 | Foster Wheeler Energy Limited | Air preheater |
FR2784175A1 (en) * | 1998-10-02 | 2000-04-07 | Gm Etscheid Anlagen Gmbh | Portable immersion cooler for e.g. milk, wines and unfermented juice |
EP1391663A1 (en) * | 2002-08-19 | 2004-02-25 | Vaillant GmbH | Device for heating water |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0028503A3 (en) | 1981-07-15 |
GB2062834A (en) | 1981-05-28 |
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