Retool heat exchanger design for different operating scenarios

U. Vengateson, National Petrochemical Co., Yanbu, Saudi Arabia For many applications in the process industries, process fluid (either gas or liquid) is heated by steam to maintain the desired process outlet temperature. Generally, the process fluid is heated in the tube side of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger by the steam flow in the shell side.  The steam condensate from the exchanger is collected in a condensate drum and discharged to the steam recovery section by either a level control valve (LCV) or a steam trap. The flowrate and pressure of steam, along with the exposed heat-transfer area in the exchanger, play important roles in maintaining the desired process outlet temperature. De