Paul Heinz and Christoph Heckmann, Linde Engineering, Germany, explain how digital twins are being developed for plate-fin heat exchangers.
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very industrial plant is unique, as are the plate-fin heat exchangers (PFHE) at the heart of many of these plants. PFHEs can be found in cryogenic processing plants such as air separation units, petrochemical and natural gas treatment facilities, as well as helium and hydrogen liquefiers. They transfer heat between various fluids in different phase states. Linde’s PFHEs measure up to 8bm in length. Their compact design belies their strong performance. With a heat duty of up to 20 MW, a single core is as powerful as a small natural gas power plant. Moreover, a single PFHE can handle up to 20 process streams simultaneously.
Design considerations Heat transfer performance is one of the key factors in determining PFHE size. In Linde’s PFHEs, the surface-to-volume ratio can measure up to 2000 m2 per m3. This exceptionally high specific heating area maximises heat transfer efficiency, helping
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