College Station, Texas, USA
May 25, 2005
In a global industry-wide effort, HTRI (Heat Transfer Research, Inc.) plans to review and analyze specific exchanger services to develop design margins for use in sizing heat exchangers—rather than relying on fouling factors. To achieve this goal, an Exchanger Design Margin Task Force has been established.
Expanding knowledge of process heat transfer now allows industries to reevaluate the way heat exchangers are designed. One area that warrants re-examination is using traditional fouling factors as the standard approach. The actual values of these fouling factors have not changed in decades and still include uncertainty in the prediction of heat transfer coefficients, even though confidence levels for such prediction have increased dramatically. Continuing to use these values can result in heat exchangers that are larger than necessary.
Members of the Exchanger Design Margin Task Force (EDMTF) will collaborate to develop a design philosophy for adding margins for process uncertainties and fouling to heat exchanger design based on the specific process instead of using blanket fouling factors. The EDMTF will review current knowledge and summarize key steps to improve the application of heat exchanger design margins. Once this is accomplished, the task force will work with HTRI staff to define research projects that will improve confidence in the analysis of thermal design margins. Members of the EDMTF will include staff from processors, vendors, and contractors so that the most relevant information can be used in these deliberations and decisions.
Other HTRI task forces have produced impressive results. Global participation by experts from the process industries is required to make significant progress in improved heat exchanger design. For more information or to express interest in participating in this Exchanger Design Margin Task Force (EDMTF), contact HTRI at EDMTF@HTRI.net.
About HTRI
Heat Transfer Research, Inc. (HTRI) is the global leader in process heat transfer and heat exchanger technology. Founded in 1962, our industrial research and development consortium serves the engineering needs of over 1000 corporate member sites. Our staff conducts application-oriented research and testing on industrially relevant equipment at our state-of-the-art facility; we use these proprietary data to develop methods and software for the thermal design and analysis of heat exchangers and fired heaters. We provide technical support to all members and offer training, consulting, and contract services to both members and non-members. Our dedication to excellence assures customers of a distinct competitive advantage and a high level of operating confidence in equipment designed with HTRI technology.
For additional information, contact
Fernando J. Aguirre, PhD, PE
Vice President, Sales & Business Development
Heat Transfer Research, Inc.
150 Venture Drive
College Station, Texas, USA
+1.979.690.5050 office
+1.979.690.3250 fax
fja@htri.net