Cooling solution for Rolls-Royce in the Caspian

Edited by the Processingtalk editorial team Jul 7, 2004

Tranter PHE Plate heat exchangers cool the oil supply to Rolls-Royce gas turbines powering generators, pumps and compressors for large oil and gas development projects in Azerbaijan

Plate heat exchangers from Tranter PHE are being used to cool the oil supply to Rolls-Royce gas turbines powering generators, pumps and compressors for a large oil and gas development project for Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea.

Tranter PHE has supplied Rolls-Royce with 20 plate heat exchangers in two different designs.

Fourteen units are being used to cool synthetic oil from 98.4C to 60C for the gas turbines driving generators, gas injection compressors and water injection pumps.

The remaining six are cooling mineral oil from 76.5C to 54C, for the driven equipment on the generator units.

Oil is cooled by the concurrent flow of a water and 20% ethylene glycol solution through the patented Ultraflex plates, and diverted to the driven equipment and gas turbines through a preset temperature control valve.

The units are used in the oil extraction process where water and gas are re-injected into the well to maintain formation pressure and enhance recovery.

Specified for their compact size and low weight in preference to air blast oil coolers, the plate heat exchangers are employed at the Azerbaijan International Oil Company (AIOC) 'AGC' (Azeri, Chirag and the deepwater area of Gunashli) oilfield, based off the coast of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea.

The field, operated by BP, is the largest currently under development in Azerbaijan, with proven reserves of 5.4 billion barrels of oil.

The Tranter units were designed in accordance with ASME VIII division 1, and each unit's design, manufacture and inspection has been verified by Lloyds Register of Shipping.

To ensure long life and corrosion protection under marine conditions, the units are painted with a two pack epoxy as specified by Rolls-Royce, and tightening bolts have a PTFE coating.

The plate packs on each unit are fitted with personnel protection shrouds.

The unique faces of the patented Ultraflex "herringbone" plates contain two angles on each plate surface.

An obtuse angle (high theta plate) provides high resistance: an acute angle (low theta plate) provides a low-pressure drop.

The design allows the plates to be turned and rotated, providing six possible combinations of channels.

Tranter heat exchangers with Ultraflex plates can be therefore tailored to each application, for optimum heat transfer and efficiency.

For example, if there are different flow rates in the primary and secondary circuits, plate heat exchangers can be designed with asymmetrical channels.

Tranter PHE has extensive experience in the manufacture of heat exchange technology for marine and offshore markets, supplying solutions for applications including oil heating and cooling, and heating of well-injection water for tertiary recovery.