US 12,247,796 B2
Steam co-injection for the reduction of heat exchange and furnace fouling
Tyler J. Stephenson, Bartlesville, OK (US); Keith H. Lawson, Bartlesville, OK (US); Bryony J. Merrall, Grimsby (GB); Brody L McDougal, Ponca City, OK (US); and Howard L. Wilson, Bartlesville, OK (US)
Assigned to Phillips 66 Company, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/523,496.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/124,336, filed on Dec. 11, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/124,364, filed on Dec. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0186128 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. F28G 9/00 (2006.01); B08B 9/032 (2006.01); C10G 9/16 (2006.01); C10G 75/00 (2006.01); F28G 1/16 (2006.01); F28G 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC F28G 9/00 (2013.01) [B08B 9/0321 (2013.01); C10G 9/16 (2013.01); C10G 75/00 (2013.01); F28G 1/163 (2013.01); F28G 15/003 (2013.01); B08B 2209/032 (2013.01); B08B 2230/01 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4075 (2013.01); C10G 2300/807 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for decreasing fouling deposits on one or more surfaces while heating a process fluid stream, comprising:
a) a housing operable to circulate a heating fluid;
b) a plurality of tubes comprising an inlet end that is in fluid connection with an inlet plenum, wherein the plurality of tubes are arranged to pass through the housing, wherein each tube comprises a peripheral wall with an inside and an outside, wherein the inside of the plurality of tubes comprises a tube-side chamber, wherein a space between the outside of the plurality of tubes and the housing defines a shell-side chamber, wherein the housing is operable to receive the heating fluid into the shell side chamber, wherein the inlet plenum is arranged to receive a process fluid via a process fluid inlet, wherein the plurality of tubes is operable to receive a process fluid via the inlet plenum and to convey the process fluid and further operable to conduct heat from the heating fluid in the shell side chamber through the peripheral wall to the process fluid, wherein the shell side chamber and the tube side chamber are sealed from one another;
c) a steam source in fluid communication with the inlet plenum via a conduit that comprises a steam valve arranged to intermittently open and inject steam from the steam source into the inlet plenum to mix with the process fluid and facilitate turbulent two-phase flow of the steam and the process fluid in the inlet plenum and the tube side chamber, wherein the pressure of the steam is at least 50 psi above the pressure of the process fluid.