The Integration of Plate Heat Exchangers to Heating System in an Iron & Steel Plant
Murat Demirhan Mehmet Ozalp Mutlucan Bayat
AbstractIn this study, an analysis has been performed to increase the energy efficiency of existing natural gas boilers which have been adapted to a heating system. For this analysis, it has been investigated to what extent the plate heat exchangers can be used to reduce the adverse effects of water in the system and to make the working regime more uniform than the existing conditions. The system consists of 3 natural gas boilers, circulation pumps and other boiler equipment in the old case and it is necessary to heat 500 tons of water in a single cycle. Because of the use of well water, limestone formation is observed in the boiler and other equipment, and the capacity of the reverse osmosis system that meets the reduced water is not enough to reduce the water hardness. In order to overcome these problems in the system, it has been considered to separate the suction and discharge lines and create a new cycle with 2 plate exchangers and additional pumps. Therefore, this new system which has a lower mass ratio is fed with soft and purified water coming from the treatment system to prevent the formation of limestone and consequently the decrease of the lifecycle. As a result of the cost analysis of the new system formed by the plate heat exchangers, the payback period of 6 months has been determined with some acceptances.