Inflection Point Engineering Heat Exchanger Engineering Curriculum

Fired Heater

Module from the Heat Exchanger Engineering Curriculum curriculum.

Module 9 - Fired Heater Overview (API 560) · Learning Objectives · 1. Identify box, cabin, vertical cylindrical, and arbor heater types · 2. Size radiant section duty vs convection section economizer · 3. Apply tube skin thermocouple limits and calculated TMT (tube metal T) · 4. Design convection section with extended surface tubes (studded, finned) · 5. Interpret draft profile, O2 trim, combustion efficiency (ASME PTC 4) · Fired Heater Type Selection

Type Service Radiant Coil Max Duty MMBTU/hr Height Typical Use
Vertical Cylindrical (VC) Process fluid heater Helical or vertical 5-60 40-60 ft Crude, vis, reboiler
Box (cabin) Process Horizontal 30-300 30-50 ft Reformer feed heater
Arbor (vertical tube) Heavy oil Vertical 20-100 50-80 ft Vis, hot oil
Crude heater Crude unit Multi-pass 50-500 40-60 ft Atmospheric feed
Reformer SMR Vertical tubes 100-700 30-50 ft Hydrogen plants
Pyrolysis Ethylene Vertical twin-radiant 100-300 30-50 ft Olefins

Source: Heat_Exchanger_Engineering_Curriculum_v1.xlsx · Sheet: Fired Heater