Unusual Cooling Solution

The Challenge
Cool rising diesel temperatures after the usual fixes had failed
The Solution
400-tonne chiller with water discharge sent back to the cooling water tower
The Impact
Diesel was cooled, shutdown avoided and an ongoing problem solved

Client:Southern US refinery

Location:USA

Sectors:Petrochemical and refining

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The challenge

Diagnose and reduce rising fuel temperatures

A US refinery found one of their diesel products was not being adequately cooled, and their initial assumption was that the last heat exchanger was fouled. They wanted to avoid shutting down the entire plant to swap out the exchanger and they didn’t want to reduce the amount of diesel going through the exchanger, as that would affect their production schedules.

They reasoned that extra cooling power would help and asked us to bring in a 400-tonne closed-loop chiller. However, even that couldn’t solve the problem.

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400tonneCapacity of chiller

OTCOnce-through cooling

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The solution

A 400-tonne chiller and once-through cooling

When the 400-tonne chiller didn't work, we asked if we could bring in our experts to assess the situation. After reviewing the data, we recommended an unconventional arrangement: passing the water discharge back to the cooling water tower.

It was unconventional because, in 95% of cases, a closed-loop chiller is the most efficient way to go. But in this case, our calculations showed a different option was needed. Our recommendation was accepted and the system was configured for once-through cooling (OTC). It worked, and diesel temperatures dropped to safe levels.

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“We were chosen for our technical expertise, but also because we provide extra services like the on-site scoping study that solved the refinery’s cooling problem.”

The impact

An unusual solution to an ongoing problem

A rapid response and a creative approach from our engineers and design team saved our customer continued frustration with a problem that was proving difficult to solve. As a result, our customer avoided the costs of extra cooling units and having to shut down the plant to replace the entire exchanger. Instead, the refinery was quickly back to full productivity.

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The Aggreko Difference

Unusual Cooling Solution

An unusual solution to a cooling problem

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Diagnose and reduce rising fuel temperatures

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A 400-tonne chiller and once-through cooling

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An unusual solution to an ongoing problem

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Explore our services further

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Our expert advice helps customers find the right solutions.

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Diagnose and reduce rising fuel temperatures

A 400-tonne chiller and once-through cooling

An unusual solution to an ongoing problem

Explore our services further

Our expert advice helps customers find the right solutions.