Application and Research Progress of Heater in Natural Gas Industry

Abstract

With high-speed development, the natural gas industry will lead and promote the development of related techniques and equipments. This article studies the application of the heater in the gas industry, and indicates that it is an indispensable piece of equipment in natural gas application systems. As a special furnace type, the natural gas heater is the main energy consumer for the process of gas production, transportation, and application. Thus, the development of highly efficient natural gas heaters has become an important research aspect. Investigations and improvements on the structure and heat-transfer process of the heater in order to improve its thermal efficiency are discussed in this article. It is concluded that as a weak point, the heat transfer effect inside the natural gas heater needs to be improved. A simple and effective improved structure of a diversion-type natural gas heater is put forward, so as to help the heat transfer medium form an organized flow and enhance the heat transfer, thus improving the thermal efficiency of the natural gas heater and saving energy considerably. This technology has been awarded a patent in China.

Acknowledgments

This article was written under the guidance of doctoral supervisor Professor Wei-wu Cao. The financial support for this work provided by Major Scientific and Technological Project of Shanghai Municipality Science and Technology Commission (72112015) and by Shanghai Key Subjects Construction Project (P1401) is gratefully acknowledged.

Yun Guo is a research engineer in thermal engineering at Shanghai University of Engineering Science (SUES). She has been teaching at SUES since 2000. She studied at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, where she obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees. She is currently studying under the supervision of Prof. Wei-wu Cao. Her doctoral research is focused on natural gas heating technology.

Wei-wu Cao is a professor of thermal engineering at Shanghai University of Engineering Science. He received his master's degree in thermal engineering in 1983 from University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (SUES). He has been the head of the Energy and Environmental Engineering Department of SUES for 10 years and he is a fellow of the Power Engineering Society of China. He has published more than 50 papers in journals and conferences. He is currently working on energy-saving technologies in the natural gas industry.

Pin Yan is a senior research engineer in thermal engineering at Shanghai University of Engineering Science. She received her bachelor's degree from College of Shanghai Urban Construction in 1985. She is currently working on drying technology and gas heating technology.

Cai-xiaYu is a master's student in thermal engineering at University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. She received her bachelor's degree in thermal engineering in 2002 from Shanxi University, China.

Shang-yuan Qian is a researcher in thermal engineering at Shanghai University of Engineering Science. He received his bachelor's degree in gas engineering in 1963 from Tongji University, Shanghai, China. His research interests include drying technology, solar energy, and natural gas transmission and application technologies.