Minimum temperature

Figure 16.10 shows another threshold problem that requires only hot utility. This problem is different in characteristic from the one in Fig. 16.9. Now the minimum temperature difference is in the middle of the problem, causing a pseudopinch. The best strategy to deal with this type of threshold problem is to treat it as a pinched problem. For the problem in Fig. 16.10, the problem is divided into two parts at the pseudopinch, and the pinch design method is followed. The only complication in applying the pinch design method for such problems is that one-half of the problem (the cold end in Fig. 16.10) will not feature the flexibility offered by matching against utility.

Example 16.2 A problem table analysis of a petrochemicals process reveals that for a minimum temperature difference of 50°C the process requires 9.2 MW of hot utUity, 6.4 MW of cold utility, and the pinch is located at 550°C... 

The cold filter plugging point (CFPP) is the minimum temperature at which a given volume of diesel fuel passes through a well defined filter in a limited time interval (NF M 07-042 and EN 116 standards). For conventional diesel fuels in winter, the CFPP is usually between —15 and —25°C. 

This expression shows tiiat T is a fimction of tire iaser detuning, and tire minimum temperature is obtained when 2 At tills detuning. 

The controlled thermal decomposition of dry aromatic diazonium fluoborates to yield an aromatic fluoride, boron trifluoride and nitrogen is known as the Schiemann reaction. Most diazonium fluoborates have definite decomposition temperatures and the rates of decomposition, with few exceptions, are easily controlled. Another procedure for preparing the diazonium fluoborate is to diazotise in the presence of the fluoborate ion. Fluoboric acid may be the only acid present, thus acting as acid and source of fluoborate ion. The insoluble fluoborate separates as it is formed side reactions, such as phenol formation and coupling, are held at a minimum temperature control is not usually critical and the temperature may rise to about 20° without ill effect efficient stirring is, however, necessary since a continuously thickening precipitate is formed as the reaction proceeds. The modified procedure is illustrated by the preparation of -fluoroanisole ... 

The autoignition temperature is the minimum temperature required for self-sustained combustion in the absence of an external ignition source. The value depends on specified test conditions. Tht flammable (explosive) limits specify the range of concentration of the vapor in air (in percent by volume) for which a flame can propagate. Below the lower flammable limit, the gas mixture is too lean to burn above the flammable limit, the mixture is too rich. Additional compounds can be found in National Fire Protection Association, National Fire Protection Handbook, 14th ed., 1991. 

Most formaldehyde producers recommend a minimum storage temperature for both stabilized and unstabilized solutions. Figure 3 is a plot of data (17,18,122,126) for uiiinhibited (<2.0 wt% methanol) formaldehyde. The minimum temperature to prevent paraformaldehyde formation in unstabilized 37% formaldehyde solutions stored for one to about three months is as follows 35°C with less than 1% methanol 21°C with 7% methanol 7°C with 10% methanol and 6°C with 12% methanol (127). 

A low temperature of approach for the network reduces utihties but raises heat-transfer area requirements. Research has shown that for most of the pubhshed problems, utility costs are normally more important than annualized capital costs. For this reason, AI is chosen eady in the network design as part of the first tier of the solution. The temperature of approach, AI, for the network is not necessarily the same as the minimum temperature of approach, AT that should be used for individual exchangers. This difference is significant for industrial problems in which multiple shells may be necessary to exchange the heat requited for a given match (5). The economic choice for AT depends on whether the process environment is heater- or refrigeration-dependent and on the shape of the composite curves, ie, whether approximately parallel or severely pinched. In cmde-oil units, the range of AI is usually 10—20°C. By definition, AT A AT. The best relative value of these temperature differences depends on the particular problem under study. 

There are three essential factors in the thermal decomposition of limestone (/) the stone must be heated to the dissociation temperature of the carbonates (2) this minimum temperature (but in practice a higher temperature) must be maintained for a certain duration and (J) the carbon dioxide evolved must be removed rapidly. 

Other terms relating to physical properties include viscosity refractive index pour point, ie, the lowest temperature at which the oil flows flash point, ie, the temperature at which the oil ignites and aniline point, ie, the minimum temperature at which equal volumes of oil and aniline are completely miscible. These are determined under defined conditions estabHshed by ASTM. 

The ignition temperature or autoignition temperature is the minimum temperature of a flammable mixture that is required to initiate or cause self-sustained combustion without ignition from an external source of energy such as a spark or flame (ASTM D2155). 

Minimum exhaust-air enthalpy also means minimum temperature. If this caimot be attained by heat exchange within the dryer, preheating the inlet air is an option. The temperature differential guidelines of the feed—effluent interchange apply. 

Flash Point. As a liquid is heated, its vapor pressure and, consequendy, its evaporation rate increase. Although a hquid does not really bum, its vapor mixed with atmospheric oxygen does. The minimum temperature at which there is sufficient vapor generated to allow ignition of the air—vapor mixture near the surface of the hquid is called the dash point. Although evaporation occurs below the dash point, there is insufficient vapor generated to form an igrhtable mixture below that point. 

Temperature. The temperature for combustion processes must be balanced between the minimum temperature required to combust the original contaminants and any intermediate by-products completely and the maximum temperature at which the ash becomes molten. Typical operating temperatures for thermal processes are incineration (750—1650°C), catalytic incineration (315—550°C), pyrolysis (475—815°C), and wet air oxidation (150—260°C at 10,350 kPa) (15). Pyrolysis is thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen or with less than the stoichiometric amount of oxygen required. Because exhaust gases from pyrolytic operations are somewhat "dirty" with particulate matter and organics, pyrolysis is not often used for hazardous wastes. 

Thermal Properties. Thermal properties include heat-deflection temperature (HDT), specific heat, continuous use temperature, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, and flammability ratings. Heat-deflection temperature is a measure of the minimum temperature that results in a specified deformation of a plastic beam under loads of 1.82 or 0.46 N/mm (264 or 67 psi, respectively). Eor an unreinforced plastic, this is typically ca 20°C below the glass-transition temperature, T, at which the molecular mobility is altered. Sometimes confused with HDT is the UL Thermal Index, which Underwriters Laboratories estabflshed as a safe continuous operation temperature for apparatus made of plastics (37). Typically, UL temperature indexes are significantly lower than HDTs. Specific heat and thermal conductivity relate to insulating properties. The coefficient of thermal expansion is an important component of mold shrinkage and must be considered when designing composite stmctures. 

The ignition temperature is the minimum temperature required to initiate or cause self-sustained combustion. Table 2 also Hsts ignition temperatures of several common ethers. Attention is directed to the particularly low ignition temperature of ethyl ether, especially with reference to some common ignition sources such as a lighted cigarette (732°C) or a pressurized (0.7 MPa or 100 psi) steam line (180°C). 

Liquid Hazards. Pure liquid ethylene oxide will deflagrate given sufficient initiating energy either at or below the surface, and a propagating flame may be produced (266,267). This requites certain minimum temperatures and pressures sensitive to the mode of initiation and system geometry. Under fire exposure conditions, an ethylene oxide pipeline may undergo internal decomposition either by direct initiation of the Hquid, or by formation and subsequent decomposition of a vapor pocket (190). 

The formation of ammonium bisulfate is strongly temperature dependent. Formation is favored at the lower temperatures. The temperature at which ammonium bisulfate is not formed depends strongly on the SO concentration in the exhaust gas. The temperature needed to minimize bisulfate formation has been reported to increase by about I5°C (around about 350°C) when the SO concentration increases from 5 to 15 ppm (23). The formation of the bisulfate is reversible, ie, if the temperature is raised to 20°C above the minimum temperature, the reaction is shifted to result in the decomposition of the bisulfate formed. When chlorides are present, ammonium chlorides can be formed ... 

The autoignition temperature is the minimum temperature for a substance to initiate self-combustion in air in the absence of a spark or flame. The temperature is no lower than and is generahy considerably higher than the temperature corresponding to the upper flammabihty limit. Large differences can occur in reported values determined by different procedures. The lowest reasonable value should be accepted in order to assure safety. Values are also sometimes given in oxygen rather than in air. 

Material (generic type) Minimum temperature Maximum temperature ... 

Material Specification P no. (23) Grade Class F actor, E Minimum tensile strength, kip/in- Minimum yield strength, kip/in- Notes Minimum temperature (IS) Minimum tempera-tnre to 100 ... 

Specification P no. Grade Temper Size range, in Minimum tensile strength, kip/in" Minimum yield strength, kip/in" Notes Minimum temperature, (IS) Metal temperature, F (22) ... 

The minimum temperahire shown is tliat design minimum temperature for which the material is normally suitable without impact testing otlier tlian that required by the material specification. However, the use of a material at a design minimum temperature below -29 C (-20 F) is established by rides elsewhere in the code, including any necessary impact-test requirements. 

Values of thermal-expansion coefficients to be used in determining total displacement strains for computing the stress range are determined from Table 10-52 as the algebraic difference between the value at design maximum temperature and that at the design minimum temperature for the thermal cycle under analysis. 

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