بررسي تشكيل رسوب در مبدل هاي پيش گرمكن مسير نفت خام در واحد تقطير پالايشگاه بندرعباس

Evaluation of fouling in heat exchangers of pre-heat section in crude oil distillation unit of Bandar Abbas oil refinery

In spite of separating and desalting processes which are done in upstream oil industries, some impurities such as salts and minerals remain in the crude oil feed that with the passage through the heat exchangers gradually make sediment within them. Formation of precipitation through the crude oil pre-heating sections of distillation units is one of the major factors behind wasting energy in the refineries. About half of the total operating cost is charged for supplying energy in refineries, part of which is wasted because of sediment in crude oil distillation units [1]. Precipitation in crude oil distillation unit heat exchangers depends on numerous factors, the most important of which is quality and impurities of crude oil. Also it depends on the status of thermodynamics of fluid. Research study was carried out to reduce or remove the sediment. In this article, fouling formation, its nature and position are examined and suggestions have been given on how to prevent, eliminate or reduce it.