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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Minimizing coke buildup in transfer line heat exchangers

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5605037

In a method of quenching high temperature gases while recovering useable heat therefrom by means of a shell-and-tube transfer line heat exchanger having heat exchange tubes contained within an outer shell and a primary tubesheet this patent describes the improvement comprising: (A) passing high temperature process gas into a heat exchanger to minimize inlet end fouling, which comprises: (1) a secondary porous tubesheet positioned on the process gas inlet end of the heat exchanger, through which a reactive gas can flow in amounts sufficient to react with coke deposits on the porous tubesheet's process gas inlet side, and (2) at least one gas inlet communicating with the enclosed space created by the porous tubesheet, the outer shell and the primary tubesheet; and (B) feeding a reactive gas through the gas inlet or inlets to flow through the porous tubesheet and react with coke deposits on the porous tubesheet's process gas inlet side.

Assignee:
Sante Fe Braun Inc., Alhambra, CA
Patent Number(s):
US 4703793
OSTI ID:
5605037
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English