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Kettle Reboilers and Vaporizers Short Course

Course Fee: US$650

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Thermal design methods for kettle reboilers and vaporizers have evolved over the years and some old rules-of-thumb no longer apply. New research results, software advances, and feedback from industry all contribute to improved design practices. The course presents the most up-to-date research in kettle design, provides our current recommendation to use Xist to model kettles accurately, and discusses future research and software development to improve predictions. Several example problems illustrate recommended good practices for using Xist, interpreting warning messages, improving designs, and troubleshooting cases.

Key Topics

  • Shellside boiling methods
  • Recirculation
  • Liquid level and bundle dryout
  • Differences between bundle composition and feed composition
  • Kettle sizing
  • Entrainment
  • Vibration
  • Fouling

Suggested Participants

Thermal design engineers and heat exchanger experts

HTRI Software

This course will make use of the following HTRI software: Xchanger Suite® component Xist®.  All training materials are based on the current software version.

Course Credits: 6 hours (PDH/CEU)


Outline

  1. Characteristics of Kettles and the Circulation Boiling Model (CBM)
    • Pros and cons of kettles
    • Handling of heat release curves

  2. Kettle-Specific Input Parameters and Thermal-Hydraulic Methods 
    • Shellside boiling mechanisms and methods
    • Two-phase pressure drop methods

  3. Entrainment
    • Fundamental principles
    • Xist entrainment methods
    • Xist kettle sizing and entrainment mitigation

  4. Design Considerations and Challenges
    • Fouling and buildup of heavies
    • Dry-wall mechanisms
    • Tube vibration
    • Reboiler checklist

Currently Scheduled


Upcoming Instructors

  • Samuel Bajomo


  • Senior Heat Transfer Specialist, Engineering Services, completed his BEng, MSc in Mechanical Engineering at University College London, London, United Kingdom (UK), majoring in Materials Science and Structural Mechanics. He began his career with MW Kellogg working on mechanical design of pressure vessels and heat exchangers and later transitioned into the heat transfer group as Principal Heat Transfer Engineer. In 2012 he moved to Wood Plc, London, UK where he oversaw the thermal and mechanical design of heat exchangers and fired equipment for several major oil and gas and petrochemical projects. His experience spans front-end engineering design (FEED), requisition, detailed engineering, and oversight of equipment manufacture. Bajomo then operated as an independent heat transfer consultant, working with equipment manufacturers and end-users on a wide variety of troubleshooting and design verification projects. His exchanger design and practical industry experience brings a uniquely qualified contractor’s perspective to HTRI’s Engineering Services team. Bajomo also currently serves on the board of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Pressure Systems Group, and is a CEng MIMechE.

  • Andy Mountford


  • Senior Technical Lead, Training, provides technical support and training for HTRI. He earned a BSc and MSc in Chemistry and a PhD in Organometallic and Materials Chemistry from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. During his tenure there, he conducted research at Wolfson Laboratory for Materials and Catalysis. He previously held the position of Thermal Design Supervisor at Tecnicas Reunidas in Madrid, Spain, gaining valuable experience using HTRI methods and software. Mountford oversaw the development of several high-profile PWR and BWR nuclear plant projects, as well as gained valuable experience in the thermohydraulic design of heat transfer equipment for the petrochemical and nitric acid/nitrates industries. His experience in using HTRI Xchanger Suite makes him uniquely qualified to bring an end-user’s perspective to the HTRI training program and to share techniques for effectively working with the software.