Nordstone | Reboiler

Reboiler – Critical Distillation Process Equipment

A Reboiler is a critical heat-transfer pressure vessel used in distillation, stripping, and separation processes to generate vapor from the column bottom liquid. As an essential component of process plants, reboilers ensure continuous vaporization, stable column operation, energy efficiency, and optimal product purity.

At NORDSTONE, we engineer and manufacture reboilers that deliver peak thermal performance and long-term operational reliability, designed in compliance with ASME Section VIII Div.1, TEMA, API, and project-specific standards.

What is a Reboiler?

A Reboiler is a specialized form of heat exchanger that supplies the required heat to the bottom of a distillation or fractionation column. It vaporizes a portion of the bottom liquid (bottoms) and returns the vapor to the column to maintain the mass and energy balance.

Reboilers are generally classified based on:

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Heating Medium

steam, hot oil, thermic fluid, flue gas, or process heat

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Heat Exchanger Configuration

shell & tube, kettle, thermosiphon, fired, plate-type

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Flow Method

forced circulation or natural circulation

Types of Reboilers Offered

1. Kettle-Type Reboiler

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Fixed tube bundle immersed in a large shell (kettle)

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High liquid hold-up; efficient for varying loads

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Ideal for processes with fouling or heavy boiling media

2. Vertical Thermosiphon Reboiler

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Natural circulation driven by density difference

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Compact footprint

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Suitable for clean, low-viscosity fluids

3. Horizontal Thermosiphon Reboiler

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Provides stable circulation

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Efficient for high heat flux requirements

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Often used in refinery and petrochemical services

4. Forced Circulation Reboiler

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Pump-driven flow circulation

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Used when viscosity is high or fouling is severe

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Perfect for slurry streams or heavy oils

5. Fired Reboiler (Direct Fired)

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Burner heats tube coils directly

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Suitable for high-temperature industrial applications

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Used in gas plants, refineries, and steam-cracker units

Key Features of Our Reboilers

✔ High Heat Transfer Efficiency

Optimized tube layout, baffle design, and flow pattern
Maximize LMTD and overall heat transfer coefficient
Superior vapor generation with minimal energy loss

✔ Robust Mechanical Design

Designed and manufactured in accordance with:

ASME Sec VIII Div 1 TEMA R, B, or C API 660 PED / EN standards

✔ Wide Material Capability

Construction materials based on process fluid and temperature:

Carbon Steel (CS, LTCS) SS304/SS316/SS316L/SS321 Duplex & Super Duplex Copper/Cu-Ni Alloys Nickel Alloys Titanium, Cladded Materials

✔ Designed for High Pressure & Temperature

300 bar

Pressure Rating

-50°C to +550°C

Temperature Range

Harsh Environments

Corrosive & High-Load

✔ Easy Operation & Maintenance

Removable tube bundle option (for kettle and shell & tube types)
Manways, inspection ports, and drain systems
Low downtime during turnaround

Typical Applications

Reboilers are widely used in:

Oil & Gas (Upstream / Refinery / Petrochemicals)

Stabilizer columns Deethanizer columns Depropanizer columns Debutanizer columns Fractionator reboilers Hydrotreater systems Reformer systems

Chemical & Specialty Chemical Plants

Solvent recovery Separation of chemical intermediates Thermal stripping operations

Pharmaceutical & Food Processing

Purification Concentration processes Solvent evaporation processes

Water Treatment & Environmental Systems

Desalination concentrators Wastewater stripping Treatment columns

Engineering & Design Capabilities

Our reboilers are designed using advanced thermal and mechanical tools:

Thermal Design

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HTRI or equivalent heat transfer software

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Optimization of heat duty, LMTD, U-values

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1-pass, 2-pass, or multi-pass configurations

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Vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) considerations

Mechanical Design

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ASME Sec VIII Div.1 compliant

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FEA for nozzles, saddles, skirts, and lifting lugs

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Stress analysis for expansion, vibration, and seismic loads

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Tube-to-tubesheet joint qualification

Operational Considerations

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Vaporization control

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Foam and entrainment reduction

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Minimizing pressure drop

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Fouling control strategies

Quality Assurance & Testing

To ensure long service life, every reboiler undergoes:

Testing & Inspection Methods

Hydrostatic

Pressure Test

Pneumatic

Leak Test

Radiography

(RT)

Ultrasonic

(UT)

Dye Penetrant

(PT)

Magnetic Particle

(MT)

Tube Expansion

Pull Testing

PWHT

Heat Treatment

Complete Documentation Package

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MTC (Material Test Certificates)

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Weld maps & WPS/PQR

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Calibration certificates

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As-built drawings

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QA/QC dossiers

Industry Sectors Served

Oil & Gas

Refining & Petrochemicals

Chemical Process

Industries

Power & Energy

Generation

Pharmaceuticals

& Biotech

Food & Beverage

Processing

Mining & Fertilizer

Production

Water & Environmental Systems

Treatment & Management

Why Choose NORDSTONE for Reboilers?

20+

Years of Expertise

In pressure vessel manufacturing and thermal equipment design

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Advanced Engineering Capability

Thermal design optimization using latest simulation software

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ASME-Certified Facility

Fully certified fabrication facility with traceability systems

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Custom-Built Units

Tailored designs for any heat duty or process specification

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Global Delivery Support

Worldwide delivery and on-site technical assistance

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Comprehensive QA/QC

Strong quality systems with complete documentation support

Reboiler – Heat Transfer Pressure Vessels