The Wuhan Donghai "core-pulling" efficient tubular heat exchanger has been successfully applied in energy-saving and carbon-reduction upgrades.

Release time：2022-04-23

Recently, our company received user acceptance reports from a chemical enterprise in Shandong regarding their one-year experience with two "core-pulling type" highly efficient coiled-tube heat exchangers used in an energy-saving renovation project. The two tower-top gas-to-water coolers supplied by us utilize circulating water to cool both the tower-top gas and compressed rich gas, effectively recovering waste heat. Since being put into operation, these units have delivered outstanding performance, with all operational metrics surpassing the design specifications.

Due to the tendency of circulating cooling water on the shell side of water coolers to form scale at low temperatures, traditional coiled-tube heat exchangers are no longer well-suited for this application. Our company’s R&D center has leveraged the core-pulling principle from floating-head heat exchangers and the axial self-tightening sealing mechanism, carefully integrating these innovations with the operational conditions of the original in-place heat exchangers. As a result, we’ve developed two highly efficient "core-pulling" type coiled-tube heat exchangers. The tube bundle features a newly patented design that effectively prevents scaling and facilitates easy cleaning—eliminating any stagnant flow areas within the bundle. This innovative design significantly reduces the risk of media fouling, thereby minimizing the frequency of necessary cleaning and maintenance. Additionally, the unique core-pulling structure and axial self-tightening seal provide exceptional convenience and technical reliability for equipment cleaning and maintenance during major overhauls.

The coiled-tube heat exchanger, with its compact design, high resistance to high temperatures and pressures, and superior heat-transfer efficiency, offers unparalleled advantages over conventional shell-and-tube heat exchangers. As a result, it has been increasingly adopted in recent years for low-temperature, high-pressure systems across industries such as petroleum, chemical processing, and nuclear energy. Moreover, the "Implementation Guide for Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Transformation and Upgrading in Key Areas of High-Consumption Industries (2022 Edition)," released by the National Development and Reform Commission, specifically highlights coiled-tube heat exchangers as a prioritized piece of equipment for energy-saving and carbon-reduction initiatives in certain sectors. However, current applications of this technology are still limited due to stringent media cleanliness requirements, as well as challenges like scaling, blockages, and difficulties in cleaning—issues that significantly restrict its broader deployment.

The successful application of these two pieces of equipment marks another milestone for our company, as one of our latest R&D achievements has been effectively implemented in energy-saving and carbon-reduction projects. At the same time, this breakthrough overcomes the longstanding challenges associated with coiled-tube heat exchangers—namely, their stringent cleanliness requirements for operating media and the difficulties in maintenance and repair—thus expanding the technology's versatility and applicability across a wider range of industries. Moving forward, Wuhan Donghai will continue to deepen its efforts in technological innovation and product development, aligning closely with market demands for "energy efficiency, resource conservation, pollution reduction, and enhanced productivity," while delivering even higher-quality products and services to our valued customers.