Content area
Full Text
If the chemical makeup of your system does not allow you to use a stainless steel or copper heat exchanger, it may be beneficial to your process to look closely at fluoropolymer units.
Fluoropolymer heat exchangers have been used in process applications for more than 30 years. They are more durable and less brittle than glass and graphite and more corrosion-resistant than most metals, making them a suitable choice for use in a number of process applications.
In addition to chemical resistance, fluoropolymer exchangers are versatile. A single heat exchanger design can be used with many different chemicals without fear of contamination. Since their debut as shell-and-tube models, fluoropolymer heat exchangers have found their way into other configurations, primarily reactor and immersion coils.
When choosing a heat exchanger, a general rule of thumb is if the chemical makeup of a given system permits the use of stainless steel or copper, those materials tend to be the most economical. However, if the system requires a more exotic metal material such as titanium, tantalum or Inconel, it is worthwhile to consider fluoropolymer units. Although the cost of a fluoropolymer exchanger is similar to those made of glass and graphite, the maintenance required for glass and graphite units usually is more than the original unit cost.
Service life for a fluoropolymer heat exchanger is long. Units usually require a smaller spare-parts inventory than metal exchangers, and damaged tubing can be repaired or removed without significantly affecting performance. Unlike exotic metal tubes, fluoropolymer components do not need to be sent to a special welding shop for repair, which can take several weeks. Depending on the type of exchanger, simple repairs can be handled by plant maintenance crews.
Some typical process applications for fluoropolymer exchangers include:
Simple heating and cooling to satisfy process requirements or storage conditions.
Condensing for material recovery or reactor refluxing.
Vaporization for process separation or purification.
Crystallizing for salt production or waste recovery.
Absorbing in a cooler unit for recovery processes.
Because the unit's tubing is extruded fluoropolymer resin, there is a strong correlation between pressure capability and operating temperature (figure 1). Generally, a fluoropolymer unit...