Francisco Fernandez - Tubacoat / Tubacex Group
The formation of coke takes place in the heating processes of hydrocarbons due to the chemical reactions up to 500 degrees Celsius. Reactions like cracking, dehydrogenation and other secondary polymerization and molecular condensation produce coke adhered to the hot walls in the process lines.
A typical problem associated with coking is the generation of an insulating layer inside the tube that decreases heat transfer and causes a loss of thermal efficiency with two negative effects: increasing fuel consumption and tube temperature.
The adhered coke may be eliminated with different techniques depending on the type of design technology: steam/air decoking, online spalling and mechanical pigging.
The first trials suggest that the non-stick characteristics of the ceramic prevent the formed coke from getting deposited on the pipe wall and make it possible to avoid coked
layer.
For this reason, the technological solution that Tubacoat could implement would improve the process efficiency and decrease maintenance costs as well as represent a new paradigm for running delayed coking units.
Fran Fernandez graduated in Chemistry Science from University of Valladolid (Spain). He is the Technical Marketing Director of Tubacoat, subsidiary of TUBACEX GROUP, the world’s largest manufacturer of seamless stainless-steel tubes. Before joining Tubacex, he worked for more than 30 years in Petronor (REPSOL) crude oil refinery, one of the largest refineries in Spain with a high conversion ratio. His career had a natural evolution from the technical responsibilities to different management positions. After so many years of experience in managing projects in different areas of the refining sector, he is developing coating tubular solutions for the energy industry.
