Titanium alloy coiled-tube heat exchanger passes inspection.

Release time：2020-11-05

On October 30, the titanium alloy coiled-tube heat exchanger, jointly developed by Wuhan Donghai Petrochemical Heavy Equipment Co., Ltd., CNOOC Gas & Power Group, and the Shanghai Branch of CNOOC (China) Limited, successfully passed its acceptance test in Wuhan. The expert review panel unanimously agreed that this equipment marks the first domestically produced titanium alloy coiled-tube heat exchanger used in offshore platform applications, showcasing overall performance that meets and even surpasses leading domestic technical standards—making it highly suitable for wider adoption and deployment.

　　The expert panel concluded that the equipment effectively reduces the weight of offshore platform components while ensuring efficient heat exchange. It also successfully addresses the corrosion challenges associated with using seawater in heat-exchange systems. Furthermore, the manufacturing and quality-control processes reliably meet the product’s safety requirements and maintain its superior performance characteristics. The panel recommends strengthening data monitoring and analysis during operation, accelerating the development of advanced design and manufacturing technologies for large-scale engineering applications, and laying a solid foundation to expedite the widespread adoption of coiled-tube heat exchangers on massive offshore platforms.

　　According to Zhao Yong, the leader of the acceptance expert panel, the titanium-alloy coiled-tube heat exchanger prototype—developed using mixed wet hydrocarbon property data provided by CNOOC Gas & Power Group—achieved a weight reduction of nearly 60% compared to the shell-and-tube heat exchangers currently used in existing platform systems, while also boosting heat transfer efficiency by 35.27%. Estimates suggest that when integrated into a large-scale, 100-ton-per-hour industrial unit, this single device could reduce overall weight by at least 30%. Additionally, to accommodate high-flow phase-change conditions expected in larger-scale applications, the prototype underwent rigorous vibration analysis and was designed with an earthquake-resistant structural framework. This represents a promising step toward expanding the application scope of coiled-tube heat exchangers, and researchers are eager to gather operational data soon to validate its performance.

　　Li Junsong, Chairman of Wuhan Donghai Petrochemical Heavy Equipment Co., Ltd., stated that compared to conventional shell-and-tube heat exchangers, coil-type heat exchangers boast a larger surface area, higher heat transfer efficiency, and superior resistance to high pressures. Under the same heat transfer load, these advanced units are at least one-third lighter in weight and feature a more compact footprint, significantly reducing both platform loading requirements and overall project investment costs. Moreover, they are well-suited for most heat exchange applications on offshore platforms, offering exceptional economic and technical advantages.

"“This titanium alloy coiled-tube heat exchanger has achieved three significant breakthroughs: First, it marks the first successful engineering application of China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s (CNOOC) independently developed coiled-tube heat exchanger technology; second, it becomes the very first coiled-tube heat exchanger deployed in the seawater condensation process on an offshore platform; and third, it establishes comprehensive technical specifications for the design, manufacturing, and inspection of coiled-tube heat exchangers tailored specifically for use on offshore platforms,” said Li Junsong. He added that the manufacturing process overcame several critical technical challenges, such as stricter material and structural design requirements to accommodate the highly corrosive seawater used as the tube-side medium in the offshore platform’s wet-gas cooling system. Additionally, meticulous manufacturing and inspection standards, along with robust performance-testing protocols, were developed to ensure the heat exchanger’s mechanical strength and reliability—crucial for withstanding the harsh, high-salt, high-humidity conditions typical of offshore environments.”

　　It is reported that, to accommodate the high-flow phase-change conditions resulting from larger-scale applications, the prototype underwent vibration analysis and was designed with an overall seismic-resistant structure. This represents a promising effort to expand the use cases for the coil-type heat exchanger, with the aim of gathering operational data for validation as soon as possible.

　　Miq Xiaoguang, an expert from CNOOC Gas & Power Group, stated that the successful development of this heat exchanger will accelerate the engineering application of CNOOC's proprietary coiled-tube heat exchangers in China, helping to reduce investment and operational costs for offshore oil and gas projects. Meanwhile, the relevant industrial operating data will effectively validate the accuracy and reliability of the key technologies underlying CNOOC's independently designed natural gas liquefaction system—specifically its heat exchange system—providing critical technical support for advancing the large-scale, coiled-tube heat exchangers used in CNOOC's future LNG/FLNG projects.

Titanium alloy coiled-tube heat exchanger passes inspection.

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The Wuhan Donghai-manufactured coiled-tube heat exchanger from AP Company successfully passed the factory acceptance test.

Wuhan Donghai proudly receives the "2020 Top 100 Suppliers in China's Petrochemical Industry" honor.