Gas-gas heat exchangers are designed to heat the gas by heat transfer with another gas medium.
Shell and tube gas-gas heat exchangers
Tubular heat exchangers are usually used for heating natural gas: the heated medium (gas) passes through the pipes, and the heating gas medium moves in the shell space and transfers heat through the surface of the pipes. To increase the performance of the heat exchanger, it is necessary to increase the temperature of the heating medium and increase the heat transfer surface by adding pipes and, as a result, increasing the dimensions of the heat exchanger, which may be an unacceptable solution for certain conditions.
The large size of traditional gas heat exchangers is a significant drawback that can call into question the installation of equipment of this type. But there is an alternative option that in all respects have more advanced performances than tubular units, which is a gas-gas OPT heat exchanger.
OPT gas-gas heat exchangers
The basic principle of operation of the heat exchanger of the new generation practically does not differ from the principle of operation of the traditional apparatus, it also carries heat exchange between the two media, but due to the design features, the OPT units are smaller in size and lighter, with high efficiency and ability for onsite upgrade.
The heat exchanger modules consist of steel ribbed panels that separate the channels for the passage of gases and are the heat transfer elements of the equipment. Channels for different environments alternate so that one side of the panel contacts with the heating medium and receives heat from it, and through the other side of the panel, heat transfers to the heated gas. The channels are sealed and do not allow mixing of gases.
Optimization of the OPT heat exchangers is needed when it comes to a change in operating conditions for a long period of time, basically,due to increase or decrease in gas temperature at the entrance to the unit. Increase or decrease in power of the heat exchanger can be controlled by the number of panels in the module and the cross section of the channels for the passage of media.
Such advantages in the devices of the new generation make them the undisputed leaders in the market of industrial heat exchange equipment.
