APEX® Technology

For Optimised Flow & Temperature Profile

APEX-delfino® Technology

Optimisation and Control of the Process Stream’s Flow Field

With the use of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations, validated with laser-optical measurement techniques, taken on Cold Flow Models, our engineers at APEX-Research developed the APEX-delfino® Technology. It provides solutions for the optimization and control of the process stream’s flow field characteristics at the inlet and/or outlet face of the heat exchanger, or any other process equipment, with the lowest possible pressure drop influence on the complete process system.

“APEX-delfino® Technology increases the effectiveness and the lifetime of the unit, due to corrosion protection, easy-access cleaning and reduced pressure drop at high heat transfer rates. It is designed to achieve a streamlined and uniform flow, closely matching the ideal flow field characteristics with no flow separation.”

Dr. Ing. Jens Kitzhofer

R&D Manager
Key Benefits:
  • Lower consumption of the energy used for fluids’ pumping (i.e. forced or induced draft fan)
  • Uniform outlet stream temperature for increased lifetime and/or performance of the downstream equipment (i.e. SCR catalyst, burners, bag filters)
  • Uniform inlet stream velocity/temperature for increased lifetime and/or performance of the downstream equipment (i.e. air preheater)
  • Avoid fouling and corrosion of the downstream equipment (i.e. SCR catalyst, air preheater)
APEX-delfino® Technology is the foundation for the following products of APEX Group:
Using Computational Fluid Dynamics to find the Best Solution:

The ducting of large heat exchanger systems might be complex due to available plot space. The duct work consists of elbows changing the direction of the flow, diffusers to overcome cross sectional changes or by-passes for part load operation. CFD allows the identification of critical flow situations, which might have an influence on the performance of the heat exchanger system. 

The use of tested flow control devices allows the optimization of the ductwork to guarantee a trouble free operation. Besides the optimization of the flow-uniformity at the inlet into the process equipment, the goal of our engineers is to find an aerodynamical design with low pressure drop and large static pressure recovery.

The CFD designs are based on extensive experimental work. We gather a deep understanding through advanced laser optical flow measurement techniques like PIV and LDA in APEX Group’s transparent flow facilities. Those techniques allow the extraction of all three velocity components in a three dimensional space, enabling the use for the validation of our computational approach as well as to develop new innovative solutions for a better performance of the transition duct.

Services:
APEX Group offers the optimization of transition ducts used for feeding process equipment as well as the manufacturing of customized flow control devices. We offer this service as part of our heat exchanger design as well as stand alone service for other process equipment, where is a need for a uniform flow distribution.

Origin of "delfino"

APEX-delfino® Technology came into existence from the long-term obsession of the inventor and the developer of APEX Group’s plate-type heat exchanger products, Mr. Mircea Dinulescu, of continuously perfecting the products by improving the flow uniformity, and, in particular and utmost, of eliminating the flow separation and dead-water regions.

By observing the dolphins playing in water practically without disturbing it at all, he exclaimed: “We need a heat-transfer geometry similar to these dolphins!”.

And so:

  • the dolphin’s nose became APEX-delfino® Inlet Geometry
  • the dolphin’s fins became APEX-delfino® Guiding Blades
  • the dolphin’s tail became APEX-delfino® Outlet Geometry
  • the dolphin’s streamlined body became APEX-delfino® Transition Duct
  • the Flow-Conditioner and the Temperature Equalizer, exterior to the dolphin’s body, came as logical extensions