Method of preventing heat exchanger fouling
US7332070B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S585/95
- WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A specific nonionic surfactant is added to a component mainly comprising hydrocarbons before passing through a heat exchanger in a petrochemical plant or a polyolefin production plant, whereby fouling of the heat exchanger can be efficiently prevented, that is, the performance of the heat exchanger can be prevented from being deteriorated, and long-term operation is feasible without sacrificing the speed of production. The nonionic surfactant is preferably a polyoxyalkylene compound represented by the general formula [I] below, more preferably a compound represented by the general formula [II] below.R1—O—[CH2—CH(R3)—O]k—R2[I]wherein R1, R2 and R3 are selected from a hydrogen atom, a C1 to C20 alkyl group, a C6 to C20 aryl group and a C1 to C20 acyl group, and may be the same or different from each other.HO—(CH2CH2O)m—[CH2CH(CH3)O]n—(CH2CH2O)pH[II]wherein m, n and p each represent the average number of repeating units, and m is in the range of 1 to 20, n is 2 to 50 and p is 1 to 20.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.