This document provides design considerations and parameters for fired heaters. It discusses considerations for the radiant and convection sections such as flux levels, heat release, and tube dimensions. It also covers the design of stacks, fans, burners, air preheaters, sootblowers, dampers, instrumentation and refractories. The key parameters for selection and design of these heater components are specified.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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FIRED HEATER DESIGN

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS:
Maintain hydraulic symmetry:-Pipe lengths, fittings shall be
same for all passes.
Vaporizing Fluids Min.no. of passes.
Min. radiation loss ( based on LHV):
Without APH=1.5% With APH=2.5%
Arch pressure:
Normal Value -2.5 MMWG

3. TECHNIP
FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS (cont.)
• Min. excess air:
(A) Natural Draft:-
Gas Firing 10%
Oil Firing 15%
(B) Forced Draft:-
Gas Firing 5%
Oil Firing 10%

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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RADIANT SECTION DESIGN
• Radiant average flux ( Kcal/Hr/M2 ):
Crude 32500
Vacuum / Naphtha / DHDS 27100
Delayed coker / Visbreaker 25000
• Maximum film temp shall not be exceeded.
• Maximum metal temp shall not be exceeded.
• Max. volumetric heat release:
Oil Firing 107 Kcal/M3
Gas Firing 142 Kcal/M3

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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RADIANT SECTION DESIGN (cont.)
• Vertical cylindrical heaters:
H / D < 2.75
• Horizontal tube heaters:
H / W < 2.75
• Max. length for Vertical tubes = 18.3 M
• Max. unsupported length for Horizontal tubes = lesser of 35 OD or 6M
• Min. distance b/w refractory & tube center = 1.5Xnominal diameter
• Duty absorbed in radiant = 60-70% of total absorbed duty
• Normal Bridge wall temp = 600 - 800 deg C
• Min design temp for tube support = 871 deg C

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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CONVECTION SECTION DESIGN
• Flue gas mass velocity ( Kg/S/M2):
Natural draft : 1.5 - 3.0
Forced draft : 3.0 - 4.5
• Process mass velocity = 1220 - 1710 Kg/S/M2
• Typical flue gas side heat transfer coefficient is between 15 - 25
Kcal/Hr/M2/K.
• Types of extended surfaces:
Studs : for heavy fuels ( viz. Fuel oil )
Fins : for lighter fuels ( viz. Fuel gas, Bio gas)

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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CONVECTION SECTION DESIGN (cont.)
• Normally first 3 rows are considered as shield tubes. Hence no
extended surfaces are provided to prevent overheating of these tubes.
• Never exceed critical velocity.
• Maximum film temp shall not be exceeded.
• Maximum metal (tube & extended surfaces) temp shall not be
exceeded.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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STACK DESIGN
• Stack is designed to maintain -2.5 MMWG pressure at minimum 120%
of design heat release with design excess air & max. ambient temp.
• Draft Analysis:
Draft = 0.1203 * Pa * ( ( Mwa / Ta ) - ( MWf / Tf ) ) * ( Z2-Z1 )
Where,
Pa = Ambient air pressure @ grade level (KPa)
Ta, Tf = Ambient air & Flue gas temp respectively ( K)
Mwa , MWf = Mol. Wt. of air & flue gas respectively ( Kg/Kg mol )
Z2, Z1 = Elevation of point 1 & 2 respectively (M)

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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STACK DESIGN (cont.)
• Total draft Gain = draft gain in convection + draft gain in stack.
• Total pressure loss = pressure loss in convection ( entry loss, loss
across tubes & exit loss ) + pressure loss in stack
( entry loss,damper loss, friction loss & exit loss )
• For viable design,
Arch pressure - Total pressure loss = Total draft gain
• Normal Flue gas velocity in stack:
Natural draft 8 M / S
Induced draft 15 - 20 M / S

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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STACK DESIGN (cont.)
• Flue gas condensation:
Sulfur dioxide produced as a result of combustion converts into SO3
and reacts with water vapor present in the flue gas to form sulfuric acid.
This sulfuric acid at low temperature condenses on the inside surface
of the refractory. This is harmful for both the refractory & the casing.
Flue gas dew point depends on:
(A) Fuel sulfur content
(B) Flue gas O2 content
(C) Flue gas moisture content
(D) Combustion temp
(E) Fuel & flue gas additives
To avoid flue gas condensation, the flue gas temp is kept min 20-30
deg C above the flue gas dew point.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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FORCED DRAFT FAN
• FD fans are designed with min 15 % margin over air flow rate
corresponding to design heat release.
• FD fan discharge pressure should be capable enough to over come:
(A)Combustion air duct pressure loss ( straight & fittings )
(B)APH
(C)Burners
• Design velocities in combustion air duct:
Straight, Tee, Turns ~15 M / S
Burner air supply & Plenum duct 7.5 - 10.5 M / S
• Normally Centrifugal fan with fixed speed drive are used. Capacity
control is done by either Inlet guide vans / Inlet / Outlet damper.

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FORCED DRAFT FAN (cont.)
• For critical applications ( viz. CDU/VDU etc.) 2 FD fans are provided.
• Two options are used in case of 2 FD fans provided:
(A) 1 fan is running, other is standby - simple & cheaper but less
reliable.
(B) Both the fans are running at 50 % load - costly but more reliable.
• MOC of casing - CS
MOC of Impeller - CS

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FORCED DRAFT FAN (cont.)
• Following parameters to be specified for the selection of FD fan:
(A) Flow rate: Min / Nor / Max
(B) Temp: Min / Nor / Max / Design
(C) Inlet Pressure: Min / Nor
(D) Outlet Pressure : Nor / Max
(E) Air composition
(F) Driver : Motor / Steam turbine
(G) Spares

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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INDUCED DRAFT FAN
• ID fans are designed with min 20 % margin over flue gas flow rate
corresponding to design heat release.
• Normal discharge pressure of ID fan is ambient pressure.
• Suction pressure = arch pressure - total pressure loss in convection -
total pressure loss in off take duct- pressure drop
in inlet damper.
• Design velocities in off take duct:
Straight, Tee, Turns ~12 M / S
• MOC of casing - CS / SS
MOC of Impeller - CS / SS / Corten Steel A

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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INDUCED DRAFT FAN (cont.)
• Types of drive:
( A) Fixed speed drive (1000 or 1500 rpm ) - Capacity control by Inlet
guide vans/ Inlet damper
(B) Variable speed drive ( Fluid coupling, VFD ) - Capacity control by
varying speed.
Q  n , H  n2 , P  n3
• Care must be taken to avoid flue gas condensation on the Impeller.
Hence the minimum temperature at ID fan inlet shall be about 25-30
deg C above dew point.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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INDUCED DRAFT FAN (cont.)
• Following parameters to be specified for the selection of ID fan:
(A) Flow rate: Min / Nor / Max
(B) Temp: Min / Nor / Max / Design
(C) Inlet Pressure: Min / Nor
(D) Outlet Pressure : Nor / Max
(E) Flue gas composition
(F) Driver : Motor / Steam turbine
(G) Spares

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BURNERS
• Types of Burners:
(A) Gas Firing
(B) Oil Firing
(C) Combination Firing
• No. of burners required for a given heat release shall be optimized
based on following criteria:
(A) In normal cases, max heat release per burner shall not exceed 3.0
MMKCal/Hr.
(B) Turndown requirements
(C) Flame dimension: ( Flame impingement on tubes, refractory &
adjacent burners shall be avoided )
(D) Heat distribution requirements

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BURNERS (cont.)
• Component of Burner:
Main Gas/Oil tips , Pilot tip , Main flame scanner ( IR / UV ) , Pilot flame
scanner ( Ionization rod ) , Igniter , Sight ports.
• No. of Burners Max./Nor. Heat Release
<5 1.25
6-7 1.20
>8 1.15
• Min Pilot heat release 20000 Kcal/Hr
• Type of Oil atomization:
(A) Pressure atomization = min oil pr. ~ 10 Kg/Cm2g
(B) Steam atomization = steam/oil ~ 0.3 Kg/Kg & Delta P ~2.1 Kg/Cm2
• For Oil fired burners, max. viscosity is 43 CSt.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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BURNERS (cont.)
• Generation of pollutants from Burner:
(A) SOx : Sox (SO2 & SO3 ) generation chiefly depends on the sulfur
content of the fuel.
(B) NOx : NOx (NO & NO2 ) is generated thermally by the reaction
occurring above 700-800 deg C. Methods of NOx reduction are:
Splitting fuel within burner
Splitting combustion air within burner
Diluting air-fuel mixture by flue gas mixing.
Normal limit is 50-125 ppmv for gas firing & 200-250 ppmv for oil firing.
(C) Unburnt hydrocarbon: Result of improper mixing of fuel with air.
(D) SPM: Soot, ash etc. Refraction method is used to monitor the SPM
content in flue gas.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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BURNERS (cont.)
• Min parameters required for burner selection:
(A) Heat release : Min / Nor / Max
(B) Type of burner : Natural draft, Forced Draft, Low Nox, Combination.
(C) Fuel details : Composition, LHV, Pressure, Temperature
(D) Combustion air details: Temperature, Pressure, Relative humidity
(E) Nos. of burners, Ignition details.
(F) Emission requirements: SOx, NOx, UHC, SPM, CO etc.
(G) Noise limitation: 85 dBAA 1M from burner.

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AIR PREHEATER
• Advantages of APH :
(A) Enhance efficiency ( up 92-93 %).
(B) To enhance air-fuel mixing ( High air velocity ).
(C) Reduce oil burner fouling
(D) More complete combustion of difficult fuels.
• Disadvantages of APH:
(A) Increases potential of SO3 & NOx generation as adiabatic flame
temperature is high.
(B) Reduces the stack temp., so either ID fan or taller stack will be
required.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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AIR PREHEATER (cont.)
• Steam air preheater (SAPH) is used when ambient air temp. falls to a
very low value.
• Type of Air preheaters (recuperative type ) normally used in refinery
services:
(A) Tube Type: Tubes made of cast iron or glass. When cast iron tubes
are provided, the min. metal temp is kept 10-15 deg above dew point.
Adv: Very low leakage, Easy to design & fabricate, normally Low
unit cost, easy for maintainence.
Disadv: Higher pressure drop as compared to plate type, Heavy
so increases the structural cost if placed onboard, glass tubes
may damage during transportation..

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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AIR PREHEATER (cont.)
(B) Plate Type: Typically it contains carbon steel plates(typically 2mm
thick) assembled in a frame. These modules are standard in size and
required capacity is obtained by increasing the number of modules.
Adv: Low pressure drop, Light in weight & compact, so mostly
used as onboard unit.
Disadv: Costly maintenance, easy to foul & corrode(sometimes
porcelain enameled plates are used ), high unit cost.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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AIR PREHEATERS (cont.)
• Min data required for air preheater specification:
(A) Air / Flue gas flowrates : Min / Nor / Max
(B) Air / Flue gas temperatures (in/out): Min / Nor / Max / Des
(C) Air / Flue gas pressures (in) : Min / Nor / Max / Des
(D) Type of APH
(E) Duty : Nor/ Max
(F) Allowable pressure drop ( Air side / Flue gas side )
(G) Sulfur dew point of flue gas
(H) Flue gas composition
(I) Requirements of tube skin thermocouple.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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SOOTBLOWERS
• Soot is generated as a result of improper combustion in burners.
• Soot has to be removed to maintain heat transfer coefficient.
• Type of soot blowers:
(A) Retractable type: Mostly use for high temperature & dirtier fuel
application. It is more costly but has better cleaning characteristics.
Normally it is used in fully automatic sequential mode.
(B) Fixed Rotary type: It is cheaper than Retractable type but can not
be used in high temperature or dirty fuel services.
(C) Vibration type: Ultrasound waves are used in this type to create
vibration to disengage the soot from the coils. Very limited experience
is available for this type.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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SOOT BLOWERS (cont.)
• Min steam flowrate required : 4535 Kg/Hr
• Min steam pressure required : 10 Kg/Cm2 g
• Each soot blower should cover maximum 1.2M or 5 rows, whichever is
less.
• Some times steam lancing nozzles are provided to remove soot for
smaller installations.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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DAMPERS
• Type of Dampers:
(A) Control damper: It controls the draft in the heater. It can be either
manual or automatic in operation. It always has some leakage ( ~3%).
It can be single blade ( like butterfly damper ) or multiple blade ( like
louver damper ). Multiple blade damper can have parallel blade
opening or opposed blade opening ( better control but complex in
operation).
No. of Blades ~ inside area of the duct or stack (M2) / 1.2
Control damper is normally use in stack, FD/ID fan and combustion air
bypass around the APH.

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DAMPERS (cont.)
(B) Shut off damper:It is used to prevent the flow through a duct. It can be
operable manually by chain & pulley arrangement ( as in Guillotine
blind ) or by an electric motor ( as in swing gate ). It is designed for a
very high sealing efficiency ( 99.9%).
(C) Diverter damper: It is used to divert the flow of air or flue gas from one
duct to another duct.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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INSTRUMENTATIONS
• Applicable code is OISD 111.
• Following instruments are normally provided:
Draft gauge for radiant, convection, stack.
High / low arch pressure ( trip / alarm ).
High arch temperature ( alarm ).
Oxygen / CO analyzer in arch ( Alarm ).
Convection outlet temperature / pressure.
Stack outlet temperature / pressure.
SPM / NOx / SOx analyzers.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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INSTRUMENTATIONS (cont.)
Nozzles for pollution monitoring.
Tube skin temperatures in coil / APH.
Process fluid inlet & outlet temperature / pressure.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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REFRACTORIES
• Type of refractories:
(A) High Density Fire Bricks(HDFB): These are normally placed on
the floor to protect the mechanically weak castables / bricks. They have
excellent mechanical strength but very poor thermal insulation
properties.They are laid loose on the floor. Exp. AC30 etc.
(B) Insulating Fire Bricks(IFB): These are normally placed on radiant
floor (below HDFB), radiant wall and sometimes in vertical flue gas
ducts. They are lighter than HDFB and hence mechanically poor.
Application of IFB requires more time than castables / ceramic fibres.
They are laid with mortar and expansion gaps are provided to
accommodate the thermal expansion of the bricks. Exp. JM 23, JM 26
etc.

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REFRACTORIES (cont.)
(C) Castables: Castable are placed in all parts of fired heater. They can be
mechanically very strong ( as Insulyte 15Li ) or thermally very superior (
like Firelite 124). They are applied on the surface by pouring or
gunning. Anchors (CS or SS-304, depending on the tip temperature)
are used to hold the castable with the casing. Normally V, Y or chain
link type anchors are used.
Castable can be applied in dual layer also. In dual layer construction, a
mechanically superior castable is used on hot face & thermally superior
castable on cold surface.
Sometimes ceramic blocks are used in place of castables. Exp.
Cerablok-800 etc.

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REFRACTORIES (cont.)
(D) Ceramic Fibres: These refractory materials are very light weight,
thermally superior but mechanically poor material. They are used as
loose fibres for filling gaps, blankets or module for application on
casing plates. They can not be used where the flue gas velocity is
40fps ( for blankets) or 80fps( for modules). Further, they can not be
applied where the total metal content exceeds 100 ppm. They are fixed
to the casing by studs & nuts. Application is very fast. Due to their low
weight, they can potentially reduce the structural cost. Normally a
vapour barrier (0.1 mm SS-304 foil) and an anticorrosive paint are used
to avert the flue gas condensation on the casing plate. Exp:
Cerablanket 1260, Cerablanket 1450 etc.

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METALLURGY
• Process affects the material selection:
(A) Oxidation at high temperature.
(B) Vanadium & sodium attack in presence of sulfur.
(C) Attack by H2S.
(D) Attack by Polythionic acid.
(E) Attack by Chlorine.
(F) Attack by H2.
(G) Carburisation.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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METALLURGY (cont.)
• Following tube materials are normally used:
Carbon Steel - 525 deg C
Low alloy steel (P11,P22) - 525 deg C
High alloy steel ( P5, P9) -600 deg C
Austenitic Stainless Steel
( SS304 / 310 / 321 / 347) -820 deg C
• Following support materials are normally used:
CS : 427oC, 25Cr-20Ni : 871oC, 50Cr-50Ni-Cb : 982oC
• Heater casing is always made of carbon steel.

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FIRED HEATER DESIGN
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METALLURGY (cont.)
• Typical tube material for various services:
Crude P5
Vacuum P9
Delayed coker / Visbreaker P9
Hydrotreater SS 321 / SS 347
Hot Oil Heater CS
Reboilers CS