PCHE Delivered for an Offshore Natural Gas Platform
Shanghai Heat Transfer Equipment Co., Ltd. (SHPHE) recently completed delivery of printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHE) designed for CO₂ reinjection heating on an offshore natural gas platform in China. The project is another benchmark reference for the company in the high-end compact heat exchanger segment.
The CO₂ reinjection heater is a critical piece of equipment for CO₂ removal on offshore gas production platforms. Because some offshore reservoirs produce gas with a high CO₂ content, the raw gas must first go through cryogenic distillation and membrane separation to remove carbon dioxide, so that the export gas meets sales specifications. For environmental compliance, the separated CO₂ is then reinjected into subsea reservoirs.
To ensure efficient and stable sequestration, the reinjected CO₂ must be kept in a supercritical state (above 10 MPa) and heated with high-temperature thermal oil to prevent ice blockage at low temperatures.
Traditional shell-and-tube exchangers often struggle in this duty because of their large footprint, heavy weight and limited thermal efficiency. PCHE, by contrast, offers excellent resistance to high pressure and temperature, extreme compactness, high thermal effectiveness, fatigue resistance and a leak-free welded construction. This makes it the preferred choice for this service and a key enabler for lightweight, modular offshore engineering.
Given the project's tight schedule, complex design requirements and high manufacturing standards, SHPHE's engineering team carried out a thorough analysis of every technical aspect. The units were designed and fabricated in strict compliance with ASME codes, and the team optimized the filtration pre-treatment and heat-tracing insulation solutions to ensure safe and reliable operation under challenging conditions.
Looking ahead, SHPHE remains committed to technology-driven innovation, supporting the global energy industry's transition toward more compact, efficient and low-carbon equipment.