Thermal effects design, recovery efficiency

Heat/Solvent Recovery. The primary appHcation of heat pipes in the chemical industry is for combustion air preheat on various types of process furnaces which simultaneously increases furnace efficiency and throughput and conserves fuel. Advantages include modular design, isothermal tube temperature eliminating cold corner corrosion, high thermal effectiveness, high reHabiHty and options for removable tubes, alternative materials and arrangements, and replacement or add-on sections for increased performance (see Furnaces, fuel-FIREd). 

Syncrude s Sulphur Recovery Units are two parallel trains of the conventional Claus plant consisting of thermal conversion and three catalytic reactors in series. Air is supplied to the furnace to oxidize sufficient H2S to SO2 such that an H2S S02 ratio of 2.1 1 is effected (1). The sulphur recovery efficiency is designed for approximately 95% (2) however, experience to date, at near design capacity, has indicated 98% H2S conversions and 97% sulphur recoveries (1). 

One of main weak points of the steam cycle is the strong dependence of its efficiency on steam temperature. A small reduction of flue gas temperature (always possible in the life of a glass furnace) translates to big losses of net produced power. This is not directly effective for the ORC system but nevertheless a steady thermal oil high temperature is also a good way to reach a high efficiency in the ORC. Temperature is a crucial point in designing efficient power produced by heat recovery, but these temperatures are strongly influenced by the flue gas treatment units. 

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