3 replies to this topic

[mvancleave]

I am looking for advice on heat exchanger selection for seawater applications. Actually, the cooling water will be from a salt water cooling tower, so the concentrations will be even higher than seawater.

Currently, we are looking at plate and frame with titanium plates. The lead times for the titanium plates are terrible. I was also a little concerned about using plate and frame with seawater because of the potential for bio fouling. Does anyone have any experience or advice?

Thanks,

Mike

[vinay]

I am looking for advice on heat exchanger selection for seawater applications. Actually, the cooling water will be from a salt water cooling tower, so the concentrations will be even higher than seawater.

Currently, we are looking at plate and frame with titanium plates. The lead times for the titanium plates are terrible. I was also a little concerned about using plate and frame with seawater because of the potential for bio fouling. Does anyone have any experience or advice?

Thanks,

Mike

Dear Mike ,

You can think about considering 70:30 Cu:Ni Alloy for sea water application. This will be cheaper than Ti exchangers, We have specified this in many shell & tube exchangers. You may contact the plate & frame exchanger vendor regarding delivery of plates made of this material .

Regards,
Vinay

[vinay]

A useful reference on above subject can be found in attached ECI paper at

http://services.bepr...i/heatexchanger

I have atached a copy of this paper with my post as well. It specify that to counter biological attack , the velocity in the tubes ( interplate in your case) shall be large enough to counter biological fouling. The best advice can come from exchanger vendors only as most of the plate exchanger designs are properitery in nature.

Regards,

Vinay

Attached Files

•  http___services.bepress.com_cgi_viewcontent.pdf   323.31KB   78 downloads

[JoeWong]

I am looking for advice on heat exchanger selection for seawater applications. Actually, the cooling water will be from a salt water cooling tower, so the concentrations will be even higher than seawater.

Currently, we are looking at plate and frame with titanium plates. The lead times for the titanium plates are terrible. I was also a little concerned about using plate and frame with seawater because of the potential for bio fouling. Does anyone have any experience or advice?

Thanks,

Mike

Dear Mike ,

You can think about considering 70:30 Cu:Ni Alloy for sea water application. This will be cheaper than Ti exchangers, We have specified this in many shell & tube exchangers. You may contact the plate & frame exchanger vendor regarding delivery of plates made of this material .

Regards,
Vinay

Yeap...70:30 Cu:Ni Alloy may be used for sea water application.

Please keep in mind that there is low velocity limitation (3 - 3.5 m/s) for this 70/30 Cu Ni whilst there is almost no limitation on the titanium.


PHE has low tendencies of fouling compare to S&T due to turbulence effect (read more HERE, HERE). MIC may occured at low velocity. Normal recommendation is to keep it above 4 m/s. Check with PHE vendor on channel velocity in PHE.




JoeWong