Amine Processing Plant, Texas

Plate & Frame Heat Exchanger

Problem:

An Alfa Laval plate and frame heat exchanger having 61 plates was used as an interchanger for a 30% DEA solution in an amine processing plant located in Texas.

The lean solution was entering the heat exchanger at 244ºF and leaving at 164ºF. The rich solution was entering the heat exchanger at 140ºF and leaving at 229ºF. Flow rate was 48 GPM.

Fouling forced the plant to acid clean the heat exchanger every 60 days as the temperature differentials would drop below 70º on the lean side and below 90º on the rich side.

Solution:

One Electronic Descaling 2000 unit was installed on the inlet to the plate and frame heat exchanger.

• The plate and frame heat exchanger now operates continuously at the designed performance level for a six month period versus 60 days.
• The heat transfer coefficient has been maintained.
• Downtime has been reduced by 50%.
• Labor costs for maintenance has been drastically reduced.
• Chemicals and chemical disposal has been eliminated.