APPLICATIONS FOR HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEMS

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HOW DOES A HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM WORK?

▪ A Heat Transfer (HT) system is used to transfer heat from one

place to another or to pass heat on from a source to another
matter

▪ HT fluid is heated in pipe bundles, so called heat exchangers,

often using open fire. The fluid is then circulated to wherever
this thermal energy is required

Most thermal systems are indirect systems

- heating a transfer fluid and transport fluid (energy)
Systems are in most cases closed systems
- equipped with an expansion vessel, max. pressure 30 PSI
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 HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM PRINCIPLE (1)

3
1 Heater
2

Highest oil 1. Burner

temperatures 4 2. Heat transfer oil
experienced inlet
at tube walls 3. Heat transfer oil
5
in heater return
4. Piping
5. Insulating material
7
6. Opening for
6 cleaning
7. Outlet exhaust
gases

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HEAT TRANSFER APPLICATIONS

▪ Refineries

▪ Petro-Chemical industry

▪ Printing

▪ Industrial textile manufacturing and cleaning

▪ Food industry

▪ Solar-Energy storage

▪ Radiators

Heat Transfer OEMs:

▪ HTT, RELUTHERM, CLASSEN, Wanson,TIRAMAT (Koppens),
BERIEF, HEUFT; WERNER&PFEIDERER, DAUB , Heat & Control,
Stork, Heiza
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 CRITICAL PROPERTIES OF HEAT TRANSFER FLUID

▪ Thermal stability – to avoid cracking of the oil in the furnace

▪ Specific Heat – determines the amount of heat that can be

transferred
▪ Viscosity – pumpability, the ability to transfer heat

▪ Oxidation stability – determines life of the HT fluid and

reduces risk of coke formation and corrosion.
▪ Corrosion protection – rust = hot spots = system failure

▪ Oil degradation can occur at high temperature spots where

the oil is overheated.

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IMPORTANT OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR THE HT
FLUID
▪ Circulation temperature
- High temperatures cause high oil stress, reducing oil life and increasing
deposit formation. This effects the efficiency of the heat transfer system
▪ Oil film temperature
- High film temperatures cause oil cracking, forming deposits which affects
the efficiency of the heat exchanger
▪ Forced circulation (by means of a pump) or natural convection
- Natural convection increases the time the oil is exposed to high
temperatures, reducing oil life and increasing the risk of oil cracking and
cokes formation.
▪ Continuous or start-stop
- Start-stop causes heat soak, reducing oil life
▪ Nitrogen blanket
- This shields the oil from the air, extending the oil life

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OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS, 1

Too high oil bath

temperature:

▪ Oil severely degraded

▪ Considerable sludge
formation
▪ Entire system had to be
cleaned
▪ Significant downtime,
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production loss and labour 8
costs
 OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS, 2

▪ Severe cokes formation of the oil lead to filter blocking

▪ Unplanned shutdown caused production loss and increased
costs

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SHELL HEAT TRANSFER OILS

SYSTEM PROTECTION
Shell heat transfer oils are designed for high levels of solvency. This reduces
deposit formation by retaining oxidation products in solution and keeping the
internal surfaces of heat exchangers clean.
OIL LIFE
The longer the oil life, the less fluid maintenance is required to help your
equipment to operate for longer without interruption. Shell heat transfer oils
are based on carefully selected highly refined mineral oils that resist oil
cracking, oxidation and thickening. This extends oil life, provides efficient
fluid heating and ensures good pump circulation, so that film temperatures
on the heater surface do not exceed the advised maximum limits. Shell Heat
Transfer Oil S2-X contains an antioxidant for extra oil life.
SYSTEM EFFICIENCY
Low oil viscosity provides excellent fluidity for efficient heat transfer over a
wide temperature range. Shell heat transfer oils also have a low vapour
pressure to resist cracking. This minimises the formation of volatile
decomposition products, which would require recovery using an expansion
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chamber and a condensate collector.
 SHELL HEAT TRANSFER OILS

Shell Heat Transfer Oil S2

▪ Reliable performance

▪ Reliable oil life

Technology: Mineral
▪ Advised maximum operating
temperature limits:
▪ Film: 640 F; Bulk: 600 F

Heat exchanger ▪ Kinematic viscosity at 40ºC: 25 mm2/s

▪ Classified as ISO 6743-12 Family Q

Benefits
▪ rates of oil cracking and oxidation are
very small, giving long oil life, clean
systems, optimal heat exchanger
efficiency

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 SHELL HEAT TRANSFER OILS

Shell Heat Transfer Oil S 2X

▪ Reliable performance

▪ Extra oil life

Technology: Mineral
▪ Advised maximum operating
temperature limits:
▪ Film: 600 F; Bulk: 550 F

Furnace ▪ Kinematic viscosity at 40ºC: 64 mm2/s

▪ Classified as ISO 6743-12 Family Q

Benefits
▪ Very low rate of oxidation, giving
extra long oil life, clean systems,
optimal heat exchanger efficiency

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