Pelletizing Die Troubleshooting Case Study

Problem

A vendor was hired to design a selective linear exchanger in accordance with ASME Section VIII, Division 2, Appendix 4. This exchanger was to be used for quenching cracked gas as it exits out of an ethylene cracker. Steam results from quenching the cracked gas on the tube side with saturated high pressure water on the shell side. The vendor optimized its design but standard elastic analysis procedures would not satisfy the code. The vendor required an elastic-plastic analysis to comply with paragraph 4-136.

Solution

KHE developed an elastic plastic model of the system. KHE performed a nonlinear finite element analysis of the material. The designed proved to be in accordance with ASME, Section VIII, Division 2, Appendix 4, Paragraph 4-136.

Results

The vendor’s client accepted the design which resulted in reduced costs. KHE employed the most advanced structural analysis techniques to successfully complete this project.