Improving Waste Heat Recovery for Heating Wet Crude

Lauren V. Moran

Director, Engineering Services

HTRI

ABSTRACT

Energy intensive processes have long used waste heat recovery to reduce energy costs. Recent emphasis on lowering or eliminating the carbon footprint has prompted a review of traditional practices. In this case study, we explore the energy usage for two different designs of wet crude heaters for an off-shore installation. Wet crude feed stream is heated by effluent water and product oil before a fired heater further heats the feed stream prior to the separator. Oil and water separate in the separator prior to shipment to a refinery. Efficient heater design will lower the firing rate of the fired heater.