RESEARCH &TECHNOLOGY

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E X P E R I M E N TA L R E S E A R C H U N I T S

HIGH TEMPERATURE FOULING UNIT (HTFU-1)

Power of each test section2.3 kW (0.0078 MMBtu/hr)

Note: The maximum wall/surface temperature is dependent on the operating conditions in use.

ROTATING FOULING UNIT (RFU)

HIGH TEMPERATURE FOULING UNIT 2 (HTFU-2)

The RFU provides screening test results for crude oil fouling studies. It operates on minimal volume (3.8 L/1.0 gal) and has a heated probe with a spinning cup around the probe to induce flow. The unit has lower shear stress, resulting in shorter run times and faster fouling rates. These features make it ideal as a preliminary research tool.

SPECIFICATIONS

Maximum wall temperature400 °C (750 °F)

Maximum bulk temperature260 °C (500 °F)

Maximum pressure6309 kPa (915 psia)

Maximum stirring speed1200 RPM (shear stresses up to 2 Pa)

Power of test section600 W (2047 Btu/hr)

Note: The maximum wall/surface temperature is dependent on the operating conditions in use.

Using two parallel test sections for a single fluid, the HTFU-1 provides thermal fouling and pressure drop data for hydrocarbon fluids (e.g., gas oils or crude oils) in any flow regime for any metallurgy.

SPECIFICATIONS

Maximum wall temperature400 °C (750 °F)

Maximum bulk temperature315 °C (600 °F)

Maximum pressure6309 kPa (915 psia)

Similar to the HTFU-1, the HTFU-2 provides thermal fouling and pressure drop data for hydrocarbon fluids (e.g., gas oils or crude oils)in any flow regime for any metallurgy. The unit also has the capability to perform tests on up to four different test sections.

SPECIFICATIONS

Maximum wall temperature 400 °C (750 °F)

Maximum bulk temperature315 °C (600 °F)

Maximum pressure4930 kPa (715 psia)

Power of each test section 2.3 kW (0.0078 MMBtu/hr)

Note: The maximum wall/surface temperature is dependent on the operating conditions in use.

SPECIFICATIONSCOLD WATER LOOP

Maximum pressure517 kPa (75 psia)

Maximum temperature51.7 °C (125 °F)

Maximum flow rate75.7 l/s (1200 gpm)

HOT WATER LOOP

Maximum pressure517.1 kPa (75 psia)

Maximum temperature65.6 °C (150 °F)

Maximum flow rate75.7 l/s (1200 gpm)

E X P E R I M E N TA L R E S E A R C H U N I T S

PROTOTYPE TEST UNIT (PTU)

Maximum flow rate 0.63 l/s (10 gpm)

Fluid bulk temperature Ambient to 260 °C (500 °F)

Test section wall temperature 10 – 202 °C (50 – 395 °F)

Maximum pressure 2861 kPa (415 psia)

LIQUID-LIQUID HEAT EXCHANGER TEST UNIT (LLHE)

TUBESIDE SINGLE-PHASE UNIT (TSPU)

The PTU is used to develop and validate thermal design methods for industrial-sized reboilers, condensers, or general purpose exchangers. The unit features a vertical separation tank with up to four prototype exchangers. Bundles or cores can be tested in boiling, condensing, single-phase vapor, or single-phase liquid service, with a variety of hydrocarbon-based fluids from viscous laminar up to turbulent service. The vertical separation tank facilitates testing of thermosiphon reboilers.

SPECIFICATIONSMaximum pressure2861 kPa (415 psia)

Temperature range21 – 204 °C (70 – 400 °F)

Pump capacity11.04 l/s (175 gpm)

The TSPU features two single-tube test sections: one where the tubeside fluid is heated and one where it is cooled. A progressive cavity pump is used to circulate the fluid, which can include high viscosity liquids, non-Newtonian fluids, and slurries. It is ideal for testing tube inserts.

SPECIFICATIONSTube diameter12.7 – 63.5 mm (0.5 – 2.5 in)

Maximum tube length6.2 m (20 ft)

Flow regimes Deep laminar (Re < 1) to fully turbulent (Re > 150000)

Maximum fluid viscosity30 kg/(m.s) (72573 lb/ft hr)

The LLHE is primarily used to evaluate cooling equipment. The unit is the largest capacity rig in operation at HTRI in terms of flow rates and duty, and consists of cold and hot water sub-loops.

LOW PRESSURE CONDENSATION UNIT (LPCU)

MULTIPURPOSE CONDENSATION UNIT (MCU)

MULTIPURPOSE BOILING UNIT (MBU)

Flow rate range 0.00013 – 0.32 l/s (0.002 – 5.0 gpm)

Vapor quality at inlet0 – 1.0

Maximum heat flux315 kW/m² (0.01 MMBtu/hr ft²)

Vapor quality at inlet0 – 0.9

The LPCU collects heat transfer and pressure drop data of condensing and single-phase flows over a wide range of vacuum conditions. Hydrocarbons and refrigerants are used as test fluids. The unit features a low temperature chiller and can be configured for tubeside or shellside testing.

SPECIFICATIONS

Temperature range -45.6 – 149 °C (-50 – 300 °F)

Pressure range 0.34 – 103.4 kPa (0.05 – 15.0 psia)

The MBU measures heat transfer for different flow boiling regimes and boiling mechanisms, as well as pressure drop for various two-phase flow patterns. The unit can examine different geometries, including compact heat exchangers and enhanced tubes using pure fluids or hydrocarbon mixtures.

SPECIFICATIONS

Bulk temperature range15.6 – 204 °C (60 – 400 °F)

Pressure range3.5 – 3447 kPa (0.5 – 500 psia)

Maximum flow rate2.5 l/s (40 gpm)

SPECIFICATIONS

Temperature range21 – 204 °C (70 – 400 °F)

Pressure range3.4 – 2172 kPa (0.5 – 315 psia)

Maximum flow rate0.63 l/s (10 gpm)

Vapor generator power187 kW (0.638 MMBtu/hr)

The MCU tests pure components and hydrocarbon mixtures (with and without noncondensables) to measure condensation heat transfer and pressure drop performance of shell-and-tube and compact heat exchangers. Tests can cover a wide range of operating conditions, including vacuum and high pressure.

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AIR-COOLED UNIT (ACU)MULTIPURPOSE VISUALIZATION UNIT (MVU)

PIPE FLOW AND SERPENTINE LOOPS

The ACU is an industrial-scale air cooler designed according to practical API 661 guidelines, with reconfigurable mechanical components. Incorporating two fan cells, this test unit also features a fixed tube bundle layout with the option of forced-draft or induced-draft plenums. To record airside measurements, a traverse system holds various anemometers and thermocouples, as well as static and total pressure sensors. Psychrometric and wind measurements are also recorded.

SPECIFICATIONSTubecount and fin density162 extruded high-finned tubes and 393.7 fins/m (10 fins/in)

Tube diameter25.4 mm (1 in)

Tube length4.9 m (16 ft)

Tube bundle width1.77 m (5.8 ft)

Tuberows6

Tubepasses2

Plenum depth0.64 m (2 ft)

Fan diameter1.5 m (5 ft)

Rated air volume flow863.7 m3/min (30503 ACFM) per fan

Nominal duty1.14 MW (3.9 MMBtu/hr)

Maximum temperature95 °C (203 °F)

Maximum pressure1138 kPa (165 psia)

Process volume flow (measurable range)6.31 – 75.71 l/s (100 – 1200 gpm)

Maximum flow rate (water)6.3 l/s @ 18.3 m head (100 gpm @ 60 ft head)

Vapor quality at inlet0 – 1.0

The MVU allows qualitative and quantitative flow visualization of two-phase air/water flows in process heat exchanger equipment. The unit’s test section is a transparent shell-and-tube exchanger (TSTX) that can be easily reconfigured with different bundle layouts and baffle types, cuts, and spacings.

SPECIFICATIONSTemperature rangeAmbient

Pressure range vented system69 – 207 kPa (10 – 30 psia) in TSTX

Maximum flow rate (air)0.047 standard m3/s (100 scfm)

Pipe flow and serpentine loops on the MVU enable the study of two-phase flow regimes in large diameter pipes. Both loops were constructed using transparent piping, allowing for flow visualization. The pipe flow loop facilitates research on upflow, horizontal flow, and downflow; the serpentine loop facilitates fired heater research.

SPECIFICATIONS

Tube diameter12.7 cm (5 in)

TemperatureAmbient

Pressure range34 – 241 kPa (5 – 35 psia)

Maximum flow rate (air) 0.118 m3/s (250 cfm)

Maximum flow rate (water)31.5 l/s (500 gpm)

Heat Transfer Research, Inc.+1.979.690.5050 • htri.net

HTRI’s Research & Technology Center (RTC) is a unique

multimillion-dollar research and testing facility in Navasota, TX, USA.

The controlled testing environment houses eleven operating research

units, along with support facilities and equipment. Using these precision

research units, HTRI augments physical experiments with computational

fluid dynamics (CFD) and quantitative flow visualization, including

high-speed video and particle image velocimetry.

For more than half a century, HTRI has conducted applied research in

heat transfer and fluid flow technology, the results of which serve

as the foundation for our software and services. From the collected

data, HTRI has developed reliable heat transfer and pressure drop

methods, providing this expertise to customers through a definitive

Design Manual, online and onsite training, advanced software

technology, and hundreds of technical reports. HTRI’s Proprietary

Contracts group evaluates the performance of heat exchangers and

enhanced heat transfer surfaces, measures the fouling potential of

crude oil and petroleum products, and studies process phenomena.

Contact us today at contracts@htri.net

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