CFD Modeling Of Mixing Tees – Design Of A Thermal Sleeve
Published in Hydrocarbon Processing, August 2020
hydrocarbonprocessing.com/magazine
by Dave Dewees, Zumao Chen, Magnus Gustafsson
Mixing tees – in which two fluid streams with different physical and/or chemical properties mix – are widely used in the petrocemcial industry. When there is a large temperature difference between two streams, large metal temperature fluctuations can occur in the region where the two streams meet if proper design steps are not taken. The temperature fluctuations in the metal can lead to thermal fatigue of the pressure boundary piping. If through-wall cracking occurs, the fluid may leak, possibly causing a fire and damage. Therefore it is imperative to ensure that the piping system can withstand the temperature fluctuations.
