Investigation on the heat flow field in the cylinder type natural gas heater

Natural gas heaters are widely used in gas-fired power plants to meet the combustion needs and to improve the combustion efficiency. The present paper explores the structural characteristics and basic principle of the cylindrical natural gas heaters and the approximate modeling conditions in the natural gas heater according to the heat transfer and flow characteristics of the intermediate heating medium in the cylinder. A simulation experimental system of natural gas heater was designed and built. Experimental investigation and analysis on the flow condition and temperature distribution of the intermediate heating medium in the cylinder were carried out. Two simple and effective improved structures of rotation type and diversion type cylindrical natural gas heaters are put forward based on the heat-transfer and flow rules in the heater with the established modeling system thus obtained so as to help the intermediate heating medium form an organized flow and enhance the heat transfer, thus improving the thermal efficiency of natural gas heater and saving energy considerably. Two P.R. China patents have been granted.