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• In a hydrogen production unit designed by Haldor topsoe, we have a latent heat exchanger, that vaporizes natural gas by HPsteam, and a condensate pot. The effluent entering the heat exchanger is HP Steam and the exit of the heat exchanger is steam condensate enters the condensate pot from the middle. Between the top of the pot and the heat exchanger there is a line connecting them together. Steam pressure is 70.5 kg/cm2. The operating pressure of the pot is also 70.5kg/cm2. What is the the purpose of the line connecting the condensate pot to the heat exchanger? By the way, there is a PSV installed at the top of the condensate pot The PSV pressure is set 79.5 Kg/cm2.

  Apr-2024

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Answers

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• Marcio Wagner da Silva, Petrobras, marciows@petrobras.com.br

  Based on the description in the question, it seems that the referred is a balancing line between the condensation vessel and the heat exchanger aiming to establish and pressure equilibria and allow adequate condensate flow. The condensate vessel avoids that the live steam flows to the condensate system and the pressure equilibrium allows that condensate to flow to the condensation recovery system with the necessary energy as well as between the heat exchanger to the condensate vessel reducing the energy efficiency issues. Probably the set of 79,5 kgf/cm2 of the pressure safety valve (PSV) is related to the maximum allowable operating pressure of the condensate vessel.

  Apr-2024