A plant or refinery may include equipment such as reactors, heaters, heat exchangers, regenerators, separators, or the like. Types of heat exchangers include shell and tube, plate, plate and shell, plate fin, air cooled, wetted-surface air cooled, or the like. Operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, prolong equipment life, extend production operating time, or provide other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment, and sensor data may be programmatically analyzed to identify developing problems. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to detect and correct maldistribution, cross-leakage, strain, pre-leakage, thermal stresses, fouling, vibration, problems in liquid lifting, conditions that can affect air-cooled exchangers, conditions that can affect a wetted-surface air-cooled heat exchanger, or the like. An operating condition or mode may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.

A heat exchanger assembly including an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber. A tube sheet is positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side. The interior portion is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber. An annular sleeve member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure. An annular elastic torsion member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger such that the sleeve member is positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member. The elastic torsion member has an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member.

A heat exchanger assembly including an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber. A tube sheet is positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side. The interior portion is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber. An annular sleeve member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure. An annular elastic torsion member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger such that the sleeve member is positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member. The elastic torsion member has an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member.

A plate for a heat exchanger between a first medium and a second medium, with a main plane of extension and a main longitudinal direction includes a first heat transfer surface, parallel to said main plane and in contact with the first medium; and a second heat transfer surface, parallel to said main plane and in contact with the second medium. The first surface includes a first medium inlet region, a first medium transfer region and a first medium outlet region including a first medium outlet port. The second surface includes a second medium inlet region, a second medium transfer region and a second medium outlet region, which second medium inlet region overlaps with the first medium outlet region and includes a second medium inlet port not overlapping, with the first medium outlet port. The first medium outlet region includes a protruding ridge extending from a respective edge of the first surface and perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and the protruding ridges form a barrier system for the first medium and define a channel along which the first medium is forced to travel, which channel runs first towards, then around and thereafter away from the second medium inlet port.

A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant. The system includes an Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system including a pump, an energy conversion heat exchanger configured to heat the working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream, a turbine and a generator configured to generate power by expansion of the heated working fluid, a cooling element configured to cool the expanded working fluid after power generation, and an accumulation tank. The heating fluid flows from the accumulation tank, through the waste heat recovery heat exchanger, through the Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system, and back to the accumulation tank.

A high-temperature flow-splitting component, applicable to a temperature range from a first temperature to a second temperature, includes an entrance channel, at least one primary channel and at least one subordinate channel. The entrance channel is used for introducing a fluid at a total flow rate. The at least one primary channel for introducing the fluid from the entrance channel at a first flow rate is connected with the entrance channel by a first angle ranging from 90°˜270°. The at least one subordinate channel for introducing the fluid from the entrance channel at a second flow rate is connected with the at least one primary channel by a second angle ranging from 30°˜150°. A sum of the first flow rate and the second flow rate is equal to the total flow rate.

A mobile cooling system comprising a heat exchanger for cooling fluids, configured for efficient and cost-effective transportation without wide-load restrictions over highways. The mobile cooler can include a cooler, a motor capable of operating a fan at variable speeds, a control module and telemetry system for remote operation and monitoring, and a solar panel to provide alternative energy, all mounted on a trailer. The cooler is configured to use a fan blowing air to reduce the temperature of a fluid flowing through cooling tubing of the cooler. An engine driver may be located on the same or a separate trailer capable of supplying the cooling system with electrical power. Multiple mobile cooling systems may be efficiently utilized for operations requiring cooling of multiple fluid streams.

A plant or refinery may include equipment such as reactors, heaters, heat exchangers, regenerators, separators, or the like. Types of heat exchangers include shell and tube, plate, plate and shell, plate fin, air cooled, wetted-surface air cooled, or the like. Operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, prolong equipment life, extend production operating time, or provide other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment, and sensor data may be programmatically analyzed to identify developing problems. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to detect and correct maldistribution, cross-leakage, strain, pre-leakage, thermal stresses, fouling, vibration, problems in liquid lifting, conditions that can affect air-cooled exchangers, conditions that can affect a wetted-surface air-cooled heat exchanger, or the like. An operating condition or mode may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.

Disclosed is a methodology for determination and prediction of heat exchanger fouling, such as polymer fouling in the circulation loop that forms part of the heat exchanger system. The buildup of a polymer or other undesired material deposit in the heat exchanger provides a distinctive temperature signature (thermal gradient) on the surface of the heat exchanger asset, which is visualized using a thermographic camera. Coupling images (thermograms) from the camera with a machine learning algorithm identifies fouling and, with knowledge of the historical data of the asset and operating and ambient conditions, enables prediction of future fouling. The thermal images provide several types, or orders, of temperature information that are indicative of locations vulnerable to fouling. In one case, the method uses machine learning applied to time-based temperature change/gradient information to detect hidden polymer fouling in areas that form part of the heat exchanger asset.

Shell and tube apparatus (1) comprising: an outer shell (2); a first tube bundle (3) and a second tube bundle (4) coaxial with each other; a first inner shell (5) and a second inner shell (6); the first inner shell surrounds the first tube bundle and is arranged between said two tube bundles; the second inner shell surrounds the second tube bundle and is arranged in the space between said second tube bundle and the outer shell (2); the first tube bundle (3) operates as a preheater; the second tube bundle (4) operates as a boiler; the coaxial inner shells (5, 6) define a counterflow path for a hot fluid which passes through the shell side.