High-Efficiency Energy-Saving Heat Exchange Technology for Petrochemical Plants: Applications of Heat Pipe and Spiral Heat Exchangers
Current Challenges
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High-Temperature Waste Heat Emissions
Combustion equipment (boilers, heaters, cracking furnaces) releases a significant amount of heat energy.
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Low Heat Exchange Efficiency
Traditional shell-and-tube heat exchangers have low efficiency and are prone to fouling.
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Frequent Maintenance
Scaling and corrosion lead to frequent maintenance, affecting production.
Improvement Strategies
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Enhancing Waste Heat Recovery Efficiency, Reducing heat loss from chimney emissions.
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Using High-Efficiency, Energy-Saving Heat Exchange Equipment. Implementing heat pipe heat exchangers and spiral heat exchangers.
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Reducing Maintenance Requirements. Extending equipment lifespan and improving operational reliability.

Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger
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Applications
1. High-Temperature Flue Gas Recovery (Boilers, Cracking Furnaces, Combustion Chambers)
2. Low-Grade Waste Heat Recovery (e.g., Steam Condensation Recovery)
3. Improved Heat Exchange Efficiency by 30–50%, reducing fuel consumption
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Advantages
✅ High Thermal Conductivity (Heat transfer through internal evaporation & condensation)
✅ Adaptable to High-Temperature Environments (Suitable for 200–900°C)
✅ Automatic Temperature Balancing, minimizing local overheating
✅ Modular Design, allowing individual heat pipe replacement for easy maintenance

Spiral Plate Heat Exchanger
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Applications
1. High-Temperature Steam Condensation (Reducing steam loss)
2. Petrochemical Refining Process Heating/Cooling (e.g., hot oil/water cooling)
3. Wastewater & High-Viscosity Fluid Heat Exchange (Self-cleaning effect)
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Advantages
✅ High Thermal Conductivity (Heat transfer through internal evaporation & condensation)
✅ High Heat Exchange Efficiency (Turbulent flow design with high heat transfer coefficient)
✅ Reduced Fouling (Spiral flow effectively flushes away deposits)
✅ Compact Design, ideal for tight spaces
✅ Minimal Cleaning Requirements, lowering maintenance costs