BK1-4 Kettle Reboiler Performance Criteria for Very Large Bundles

J. W. Palen

1976

Because of the increasing tendency toward very large diameter kettle-type reboiler bundles, there is a need to reassess HTRI design procedures and judge whether additional warnings or special instructions are required. Two potential problems are evident.

1. The HTRI empirical maximum heat flux equation as given in the HTRI Design Manual becomes unrealistically conservative for very large bundles so the theoretical equation described in HTRI Report BK1-1 should be used instead.
2. Due to potentially inefficient operation in an untested region, the recommended maximum ratio of design heat flux to maximum heat flux should be decreased if the bundle geometry factor, y_b, is less than the minimum value covered by HTRI data.