Research & Technology Center

Test Unit Specifications

Our pilot-scale equipment lets us test a variety of plant conditions before you incur the cost of implementing them.

High Temperature Fouling Unit (HTFU)

Using two test sections for a single fluid, the HTFU provides thermal performance data for fluids such as gas oils or crude oils in any flow regime for any metallurgy. Originally commissioned in 1994, the HTFU has recently been redesigned.

Maximum surface temperature		398.9 °C (750 °F)
Maximum bulk  temperature		315.6 °C (600 °F)
Maximum pressure		5962 kPa (864.7 psia)
Maximum flow rate		0.95 L/s (15 gpm)
Test section power		3.6 kW (12294 Btu/hr)

Multipurpose Boiling Unit (MBU)

Commissioned in 1995, the MBU measures heat transfer for different flow boiling regimes and pressure drop for various two-phase flow phenomena. It can test different geometries including compact surfaces and enhanced tubes using hydrocarbon mixtures and pure substances.

Temperature range		38 – 204 °C (100 – 400 °F)
Pressure range		7 – 3448 kPa (1 – 500 psia)
Flow rate		0.76 l/s (12 gpm)
Maximum heat flux		315 kW/m2 (100000 Btu/hr ft2)
Vapor quality at inlet		0 – 0.9

Multipurpose Condensation Unit (MCU)

The MCU, originally commissioned in 1986 in California, was transported in 1991 to the Research Facility and moved again in 2006 to the RTC. At each move, we have modified its design to maximize its effectiveness.

The MCU tests heat and mass transfer and pressure drop performance for tubeside, shellside, and reflux condensation over a wide range of operating conditions, including vacuum and high pressure.

Temperature range		21 – 204 °C (70 – 400 °F)
Pressure range		3.4 – 3103 kPa (0.5 – 450 psia)
Flow rate		0.63 l/s (10 gpm)
Vapor generator power		180 kW (0.615 MM Btu/hr)

Prototype Testing Unit (PTU)

Running both water-based and hydrocarbon-based test fluids, the PTU allows for simultaneous testing of four prototype exchangers—two single-phase, one boiling, and one condensing.

Design pressure		2862 kPa (415 psia)
Design temperature		21 – 204 °C (70 – 400 °F)
Pump capacity		3.155 l/s (50 gpm)

Tubeside Single-Phase Unit (TSPU)

The newest test unit, the TSPU will feature single tube test sections: a high temperature test section (HTTS) and a low temperature test section (LTTS). The HTTS and LTTS will be capable of operating in series or individually with full fluid bypass. A 33.3 liter (8.8 US gallon) feed tank will serve as an accumulator and bulk fluid access point. An auxiliary hairpin heat exchanger will provide the excess heating or cooling required to maintain steady-state operating conditions during test runs.

Tube diameter		12.7 – 63.5 mm (0.5 – 2.5 in.)
Tube length		up to 6.2 m (20 ft)
Flow regimes		Deep laminar (Re < 1) to fully turbulent (Re > 150000)
Maximum fluid viscosity		~ 30000 cP
Flow rate		up to 0.63 l/s (10 gpm)
Fluid bulk temperature		ambient – 260 °C (500 °F)
Test section wall temperature		10 – 202 °C (50 – 395 °F)
Maximum system operating pressure		2862 kPa (415 psia)