Shell And Tube Heat Exchanger for Steam Heating Heavy Oil

Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger for Steam Heating Heavy Oil is a dedicated preheating equipment widely used on HFO-powered vessels and heavy oil-fired power plants. It uses saturated steam as heat source to heat high-viscosity heavy fuel oil, lower oil viscosity and guarantee smooth transportation and full atomized combustion.

Working Principle

High-temperature saturated steam passes through the tube side of the shell & tube exchanger, while cold thick heavy fuel oil flows inside the shell side. Heat transfers from steam to heavy oil via tube wall, steam condenses into condensate after releasing latent heat and drains out automatically.

After being heated up to specified working temperature, HFO gains good fluidity for smooth pipeline delivery and fine spray atomization before entering engine or boiler combustor.

Necessity of Heavy Oil Steam Preheating

Heavy fuel oil features extremely high viscosity under normal ambient temperature:

Unheated HFO is sticky and easy to block pipelines and fuel nozzles

Poor atomization leads to incomplete combustion, heavy carbon deposit and black exhaust smoke

Serious nozzle clogging causes engine power drop and unexpected shutdown

Steam-type shell and tube preheater solves above troubles by accurate constant-temperature heating.

Key Structural Features

Optimized shell & tube layout specially for high-viscosity heavy oil to avoid inner blockage

Optional heat transfer tube: carbon steel, 304 stainless steel or copper alloy with good thermal conductivity

Anti-coking flow channel design to reduce oil residue adhesion inside shell side

Detachable water box structure for convenient internal cleaning and maintenance

Custom heating area, inlet & outlet flange size matching actual oil flow and steam parameters

Complete pressure & tightness test before factory delivery

Core Advantages

Stable constant-temperature heating to keep HFO at optimal injection viscosity

Improve combustion efficiency, reduce fuel waste and exhaust pollution

Prevent pipeline blockage and fuel nozzle carbon buildup to cut maintenance cost

Compact installation space, easy to connect with existing fuel supply pipeline

Adapt long-term uninterrupted working of ship engine room and power plant fuel system

Typical Applications

Ocean-going cargo ship, tanker main engine HFO preheating system

Marine auxiliary boiler heavy fuel heating unit

Heavy oil-fired generator power station fuel preheating equipment

Industrial waste oil boiler and asphalt heating supporting heat exchanger