Boilers and heat exchangers are integral parts of many industrial plants. Often, when people think of protecting these components from corrosion, their minds fast-forward to corrosion issues that occur after the equipment is installed.

The transfer of heat from one fluid to another is an essential component of all chemical processes. Whether it is to cool down a chemical after it has been formed during an exothermic reaction, or to heat components before starting a reaction to make a final product, the thermal processing operation is core to the chemical process.

The probable cause of an explosion and fire was a failure of the brazed aluminum heat exchanger (BAHX) due to thermal fatigue, says the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. The CSB has released its final report of the June 27, 2016, investigation of the explosion and fire at the Enterprise Products Pascagoula Gas Plant in Pascagoula, Miss.

One of the most common pieces of equipment in many industries is a heat exchanger. As its name implies, it is designed to move heat from a process fluid to another fluid — which might be liquid or air. The process fluid is heated or cooled as the application demands. The transfer fluid might be air or a liquid, also as the application demands.

The RHD Series has a continuous scraping action to enhance the mixing of viscous products. Its sealing system allows for the removal of individual tubes for cleaning or maintenance while offering increased strength.

Inline heat exchanger makes use of different types of mixing in the heat transfer system to help users meet their unique mixing requirements. Komax Klean employs high-pass mixing elements that are designed to create turbulence at the pipe walls and reduce boundary layers.

When heat must be dissipated from a process fluid — either liquid or gas — it is usually transferred to another fluid — either liquid or gas — using a heat exchanger. The two most common types of heat exchangers are liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-air. 

Here is a handy index of the year in Process Heating, 2018.

Few perfect things are perfect in this world — though a baby’s smile, beachfront sunsets and a pitcher who retires 27 consecutive batters come to mind. Unfortunately, for those who operate industrial facilities, hot-water heating, process loops or closed-loop cooling-water recirculation systems are not among them.

In my cub reporter days, I worked part-time at a service station and auto parts store. My job primarily consisted of accepting payment from those purchasing gas and selling the sundries one might pick up at a neighborhood quick-stop shop.