Abstract: Inner-perforated and outer-fluted copper-nickel tube is the most efficient and energy-saving heat transfer element in petrochemical industry. Due to the difficulty in its manufacturing and high performance requirements, the products and markets of such tubes are monopolized by foreign companies. The construction of Maoming EO plant realized the industrial application of the domestic inner-perforated and outer-fluted copper-nickel alloy tubes. This paper analyzed the heat transfer mechanism of inner-perforated and outer-fluted copper-nickel alloy tube and the influencing parameters. It compared the performance of the tubes and comments on its test plan. It also carried out calibration of the heat transfer mechanism of Maoming ethylene oxide second-effect evaporation tower reboiler. The paper demonstrated the feasibility and reliability of the application of the domestic inner-perforated and outer-fluted copper-nickel alloy tubes to glycol multi-effect evaporation system. This provides a solid and reliable basis for the domestication of the multieffect evaporator of megaton EO/EG plants.

Key words: inner-perforated and outer-fluted copper-nickel alloy tube, boiling mechanism of porous layer, heat transfer enhancement, multi-effect glycol evaporation, domestication