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U.S. Department of Energy
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Full-scale cold-flow modelling of the SRC-I slurry fired heater at Creare, Inc. : gas density and liquid rheology studies and overall data analysis

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6878045

The major conclusions are: (1) The flow regime in the heater pipe will be slug flow at the design conditions of 6- and 12-ft/sec liquid and gas superficial velocities, respectively. The pipe configuration for the design is a 1/sup 0/ upward slope. (2) Slug flow will also exist in the heater pipes at mass loadings as low as one-third the design gas and liquid velocities. (3) The expected pressure drop across the fired heater will be 25 to 50% lower than the design value. This will provide flexibility for any design modifications and still stay below the design pressure drop. (4) The expected heat transfer coefficient will be higher than the design value, thereby improving the overall heat transfer performance. (5) Based on the heat transfer data developed at Creare and the computer simulation program at ICRC, the inside wall temperature of the fired heater pipe could be controlled below 850/sup 0/F. The thick pipe walls serve as huge heat sink and are not influenced by the cyclic nature of the slug flow. (6) The presence of slug flow and a higher heat transfer coefficient maintaining the inside wall temperature below 850/sup 0/F should eliminate the possibility of coking in the fired heater pipe. (7) The results confirm the presence of slug flow at the full range of operating conditions. The expected lower pressure drop and higher heat transfer coefficient compared with the design values would improve the overall performance of the fired heater. Therefore, the results from the test program at Creare confirm the SRC-I Demonstration Plant fired heater design. Appendix 1 has been entered individually into EDB and ERA. 5 references, 1 table.

Research Organization:
International Coal Refining Co., Allentown, PA (USA); Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (USA); Creare, Inc., Hanover, NH (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-78OR03054
OSTI ID:
6878045
Report Number(s):
DOE/OR/03054-104; ON: DE84016494
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English