SPIRELF®

Tube Insert Technologies

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SPIRELF® is a vibrating device secured on both tube ends by a fixing wire. This system converts the energy of the fluid flow in the tubes into vibration, creating a continuous online mechanical cleaning effect thus, reducing the fouling layer at the tube wall.

The heat transfer improvement leads to a significant increase either in outlet temperature or in feed rate. The most common fluids used are atmospheric residue, crude oil, and most of the light liquid hydrocarbon chains, including applications with reboilers. This results in a proven increase in run duration (double or more) and a stabilized pressure drop.

Benefits

The turbulence generated by the presence of the insert increases the tube side heat transfer coefficient by 50% to 100%.
Energy savings and CO2 emissions
The improved heat recovery from the hot fluid results in a reduction in fired heater duty and consequently, a reduction in fuel consumption and consequently on CO2 emission.
Debottlenecking the preheat train
The furnace is the bottleneck when the throughput of the unit is constrained by the feed preheat. Improving the heat recovery of the preheat train increases the throughput up to 3% with the same preheat temperature thanks to the heat recovery in the exchangers.
On line mechanical cleaning
SPIRELF® converts the tube side fluid energy into a mechanical cleaning of the inside tube wall through vibration.
Reduction in fouling and stabilized pressure drop
The mechanical cleaning effect leads to a reduction in the fouling rates of up to 80%.
As the fouling rate is stabilized, the steady flow hydraulics leads to a stabilized pressure drop.
Heat transfer improvement and fouling mitigation lead to doubled run duration (minimum) and better operating conditions.
Free Feasibility Study & ROI Analysis : A comprehensive technical and economic feasibility study, including a return on investment analysis, is provided free of charge to help assess the potential benefits for your operations

HEATTRANSFERCOEFFICIENTANDCRUDE
THROUGHPUT INCREASE WITH SPIRELF®

Main applications

Crude Distillation Units (CDU) and Atmospheric Residue Service preheat trains
Hydrotreater / Hydrocracker preheat trains
Treated water services
Reboilers
U-Tubes

Installation

No modification of the heat exchanger
No damage to the tubes wall
Quick to install
Supervision by PETROVAL
Added guarantee

Optimising shell and tube heat exchanger operation – PTQ Magazine

Case studies show how inserts improve heat transfer coefficients, mitigate fouling and reduce end-of-run pressure drop, as demonstrated with the preheat train of a CDU.

Nicolas AUBIN