In addition to the applications listed here, REI
continues to develop expertise in new areas. If your application
is not among those listed, please contact
us to discuss appropriate ways we may be able to work together.
Ethylene Furnace - Flow Pass Balancing
REI's
turbulent reacting flow code BANFF
was used to simulate flow and heat transfer in a full-scale ``M''
coil ethylene cracking furnace. Full two-way coupling between
the ``fire-side'' and ``process-side'' computations provided accurate
estimation of process conditions, including process temperature
as a function of tube length. The simulation indicated the presence
of a ``cool end wall'' which contributed to a non-uniform coil
outlet temperature distribution under uniform firing conditions.
Simulations demonstrated the feasibility of using flow pass balancing,
in which the process flow rates in pairwise coils are independently
adjusted and controlled, to achieve more uniform distributions
of coil outlet temperature.
Cracking Furnace - Decoking Operation
REI's two phase, turbulent reacting flow code GLACIER
was used to simulate flow, heat transfer, and particle burnout
within a ``U coil'' ethylene cracking furnace during decoke firing
conditions. Process-side conditions were computed based on calculation
of the fire-side flow field and heat transfer properties. The
process of ``in-furnace decoking,'' in which the partially oxidized
coke with carrier steam and air from the process coils is re-routed
back into the firebox for burnout was modeled. Effects of decoke
nozzle size, nozzle position, and coke particle size were examined
to optimize coke particle trajectories and burnout within the
firebox.
Xylene Reboiler
The
REI combustion simulation code BANFF
was used to simulate combustion and heat transfer in a xylene
reboiler. Convective and radiative heat transfer to individual
process tubes was computed as a function of tube length and position
within the heater. Results were used to identify tube "hot spots"
and to identify the physics behind observed temperature profiles
in the radiant and convective sections of the heater. Parametric
simulations were used to study the effects of fuel changes and
excess air variations on heat transfer and gas exit temperature.
Continuous Catalyst Regenerator
The
REI combustion simulation code BANFF
was used to simulate combustion and heat transfer in a multi-chamber
process heater used in a continuous catalyst regenerator. Convective
and radiative heat transfer to individual process tubes was computed
as a function of tube length and position within the heater. Process
temperatures at the tube exits were also computed to assess tube-to-tube
and heater section-to-section variations. Parametric studies were
used to evaluate the effects of load balancing and fuel heating
value changes for the 50 burners along the floor of the heater.
