RTC - More Information
The HTRI Research & Technology Center (RTC) is a multimillion dollar project that includes a 2090 m² (22500 ft²) research facility with five operating research units and supporting facilities and equipment. Test units include the
- High Temperature Fouling Unit (HTFU)
- Low Pressure Condensation Unit (LPCU)
- Multipurpose Boiling Unit (MBU)
- Multipurpose Condensation Unit (MCU)
- Prototype Testing Unit (PTU)
- Tubeside Single-Phase Unit (TSPU)
These research units can be customized to meet the changing needs of our customers. We also are available to conduct research and construct new rigs under contract.
The facility′s physical plant includes a 500-horsepower Johnson Boiler with a heating capacity of 4980 kW (17 million Btu/hr) and a two-cell Marley cooling tower with a stainless steel basin and a cooling capacity of 6150 kW (21 million Btu/hr), two cooling tower pumps, two 50 hp. (200 cfm) air compressors, a 500 cfm air dryer, and condensate return vessel and pumps.
The machine shop equipment includes a milling machine, lathe, drill press, band saw, pipe threader, and welding equipment. Instrumentation testing is performed on site using various calibration devices. An onsite laboratory allows our technicians to perform tests ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and to analyze fluids from the research units.
The RTC enhances our research capabilities by providing a controlled environment for testing, little affected by adverse weather conditions.
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High Temperature Fouling Unit (HTFU)Using two parallel test sections for a single fluid, the HTFU provides thermal fouling data for fluids such as gas oils or crude oils in any flow regime for any metallurgy. The HTFU was first commissioned in 1994. | ||
| Maximum surface temperature | 399 °C (750 °F) | ||
| Maximum bulk temperature | 315 °C (600 °F) | ||
| Maximum operating pressure | 596 kPa (865 psia) | ||
| Maximum flow rate | 0.95 L/s (15 gpm) | ||
| Power of each test section | 3.6 kW (12294 Btu/hr) | ||
Low Pressure Condensation Unit (LPCU)Commissioned in 2009, the LPCU allows us to collect experimental data on heat transfer, mass transfer, and pressure drop of condensing and single-phase flows over a wide range of vacuum conditions. Hydrocarbons and refrigerants are used as test fluids, and the unit features a low temperature chiller. The LPCU is currently configured for tubeside data collection and will support shellside and non-tubular testing in the future. |
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| Temperature range | -45.6 – 149 °C (-50 – 300 °F) | ||
| Operating pressure range | 0.14 – 103.4 kPa (0.02 – 15.0 psia) | ||
| Flow rate | 0.00015 – 0.38 l/s (0.002 – 5.0 gpm) | ||
| Vapor quality at inlet | 0 – 1.0 | ||
Multipurpose Boiling Unit (MBU)Commissioned in 1995, the MBU measures heat transfer for different flow boiling regimes and boiling mechanisms, as well as pressure drop for various two-phase flow patterns. It can test different geometries including compact heat exchangers and enhanced tubes using hydrocarbon mixtures and other pure fluids. |
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| Bulk temperature range | 15.5 – 204 °C (60 – 400 °F) | ||
| Operating pressure range | 3.5 – 3445 kPa (0.5 – 500 psia) | ||
| Flow rate | 2.5 l/s (40 gpm) | ||
| Maximum heat flux | 315 kW/m² (100000 Btu/hr ft²) | ||
| Vapor quality at inlet | 0 – 0.9 | ||
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Multipurpose Condensation Unit (MCU)The MCU, originally commissioned in 1986 in California, was transported in 1991 to the Research Facility and moved again in 2006 to the RTC. With each move, we have modified its design to maximize its effectiveness. The MCU tests condensing heat and mass transfer and pressure drop performance for shell-and-tube and compact heat exchangers over a wide range of operating conditions, including vacuum and high pressure. | ||
| Temperature range | 21 – 204 °C (70 – 400 °F) | ||
| Operating pressure range | 3.4 – 3103 kPa (0.5 – 450 psia) | ||
| Flow rate | 0.63 l/s (10 gpm) | ||
| Vapor generator power | 180 kW (0.615 MM Btu/hr) | ||
Prototype Testing Unit (PTU)The PTU features a 610 mm (2 ft.) ID, 4.3 m (4 ft.) high vertical separation tank with up to four prototype exchangers—two single-phase, one boiling, and one condensing. Test bundles or cores can be tested in boiling, condensing, single-phase vapor, or single-phase liquid service with a variety of hydrocarbon based test fluids from viscous laminar up to turbulent service. The PTU was designed and commissioned in 2005 to develop and validate thermal design methods for industrial sized reboilers, condensers, or general purpose exchangers. |
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| Maximum operating pressure | 2170 kPa (315 psia) | ||
| Design temperature | 21 – 204 °C (70 – 400 °F) | ||
| Pump capacity | 3.15 l/s (50 gpm) | ||
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Tubeside Single-Phase Unit (TSPU)Commissioned in 2008, the TSPU features single tube test sections: a high temperature test section (HTTS) and a low temperature test section (LTTS). The HTTS and LTTS can operate in series or individually with full fluid bypass. A 33.3 liter (8.8 US gallon) feed tank serves as an accumulator and bulk fluid access point. An auxiliary hairpin heat exchanger provides the excess heating or cooling required to maintain steady-state operating conditions during test runs. | ||
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Tube diameter |
12.7 – 63.5 mm (0.5 – 2.5 in.) | ||
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Tube length |
up to 6.2 m (20 ft) | ||
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Flow regimes |
Deep laminar (Re < 1) to fully turbulent (Re > 150000) | ||
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Maximum fluid viscosity |
~ 30000 m Pa s (cP) | ||
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Flow rate |
up to 0.63 l/s (10 gpm) | ||
| Fluid bulk temperature | ambient – 260 °C (500 °F) | ||
| Test section wall temperature | 10 - 202 °C (50 - 395 °F) | ||
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Maximum system operating pressure |
2860 kPa (415 psia) | ||