Heat Transfer

Heat transfer occurs in every process system, usually both naturally and mechanically. The transfer of heat has a serious impact on both the chemicals that are being processed and the equipment processing them. EPIC is experienced at designing for heat transfer, modeling heat and mass transfer, developing material balances and integrating appropriate equipment.

Types of Heat Transfer in Process Systems

Below are the ways that heat is transferred within a system. They can be occurring singularly, simultaneously or in any combination within a system. EPIC will help you select the appropriate equipment to achieve your heat transfer goals. Contact an engineer today to start designing your custom process system.

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

Heat Transfer Equipment

The important steps when selecting heat transfer equipment are:

1. Fully extracting process conditions including chemical composition, flow rates, temperature and pressures
2. Desired states and physical properties of the product over the temperature and pressure ranges specified within the system
3. Preliminary sizing and selection of the heat exchanger based on heat-transfer coefficients and the fluids, process and other equipment in the system
4. Rating and re-evaluation of the heat exchanger to ensure it meets the process specifications for both heat transfer and pressure drop. If the first configuration does not meet the required heat load, it is usually necessary to increase the size of the exchanger while staying within parameters for pressure drop, tube length and shell diameter. If the first design more than meets the heat-load requirements, a less expensive heat exchanger may be selected.
5. Cost evaluation – Cost evaluation is performed last and should not be the driver for heat exchanger selection. Equipment cost is evaluated on a capitol budgeting basis that accounts for all costs and savings associated with the lifetime of the equipment, not just the up-front cost.

Fouling can occur in heat transfer systems and is a major concern to process viability.  Any change in the solid boundary separating two heat transfer fluids which decreases the rate of heat transfer is considered fouling. An EPIC project manager will select your heat transfer equipment to minimize fouling.  In cases where fouling is unavoidable, EPIC will design systems that reduce the impact of fouling to ensure project success.