(170b) Maximizing Brazed Aluminum Heat Exchanger Lifespan and Performance Via Distributed Control System Data Analysis

Brazed aluminum heat exchangers (BAHXs) are custom designed compact heat exchangers manufactured as a composite brazed pressure vessels. They are chiefly applied in a variety of cryogenic gas to gas and gas to liquid heat transfer processes for their high heat transfer surface area per unit volume and the capability of combining multiple process streams into a single unit.

Because the total useful lifespan of a BAHX is typically determined either by fatigue life or irreversible contamination, it is critical to understand the most common causes of these issues and how to either prevent or diagnose and fix them. In this paper, we will focus on the impact and mitigation of plugging and fouling components, controller feedback loops, unstable thermosiphon flow, and thermal stress.