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How do heat exchangers work in an oil refinery?

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Shell and tube heat exchanger

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Heat exchangers in an oil refinery are used to transfer heat between different fluids or streams. They play a crucial role in the refining process by optimizing energy efficiency and maintaining the desired temperature levels. Various types of heat exchangers, such as shell and tube, plate, plate and shell, plate fin, air cooled, and wetted-surface air cooled, are employed in refineries . These heat exchangers consist of multiple units stacked together, with each unit having a small tank at each end of a core . The heat exchangers are strategically positioned in the crude oil stream pipeline system, between different stages of the pre-heat train, to facilitate the transfer of heat from the incoming crude oil to various process units, such as de-salters and pre-flash drums, ultimately leading to the furnace . By efficiently transferring heat, these heat exchangers contribute to the overall efficiency and productivity of the refinery, prolonging equipment life and avoiding equipment failure .

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Patent Refinery pre-heat train systems and methods Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin, Zeeshan Farooq - Show less +1 more 19 Apr 2017	The paper does not provide information on how heat exchangers work in an oil refinery. The paper is about the design and configuration of a crude oil refinery pre-heat train system.
Patent Detecting and correcting thermal stresses in heat exchangers in a petrochemical plant or refinery Sanford Allan Victor, Phillip F. Daly, Ian G. Horn - Show less +2 more 04 Apr 2019 18 Citations	The provided paper does not provide information on how heat exchangers work in an oil refinery.
Patent Heat exchanger and production method therefor Takase Masaaki 21 Jun 2018 1 Citations	The provided paper does not provide information about how heat exchangers work in an oil refinery. The paper is about a specific type of heat exchanger and its production method.
Patent Air-cooled heat exchangers Sanford Allan Victor, Phillip F. Daly, Ian G. Horn - Show less +2 more 04 Oct 2018 24 Citations	The paper does not provide specific information on how heat exchangers work in an oil refinery.
Patent Heat exchangers in a petrochemical plant or refinery Sanford Allan Victor, Phillip F. Daly, Ian G. Horn - Show less +2 more 27 Mar 2018 20 Citations	The paper does not provide specific information on how heat exchangers work in an oil refinery. The paper mainly discusses the types of heat exchangers used and the use of sensors for monitoring and identifying problems in equipment.

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