TUBACEX

Tubacoat
Technical Datasheet

Tubacoat for anti-coking applications

Tubacoat for anti-coking applications is an advanced ceramic coating technology specifically designed for downstream
applications to optimize fired heater operations in units processing bottom of the barrel such as Delayed Cokers, Vacuum
distillation units, Visbreakers or Resid Hydrocrackers. All these units suffer coke formation in the fired heater radiant section tubes,
which leads to wall temperature increase, increased pressure drop, reduced heat transfer efficiency and finally requires decoking
to restore reliable operation.
When Tubacoat is applied on furnace radiant section tubes, due to its outstanding chemical inertness that avoids coke formation
and excellent anti-adherent properties that minimize coke deposition, the following benefits are obtained by End Users:

• Minimizes decoking operations. Run length extension leads to huge economic profit based on higher throughput to the
unit by minimizing shutdown for mechanical pigging or reduced capacity for online spalling.

• Improves heat transfer efficiency due to minimum coke deposition. Therefore, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are
reduced.

• Reduces maintenance costs for decoking

• Increases safety and equipment reliability avoiding hotspots and reducing number of shutdowns and start-ups

Dimension range
Tubacoat for anti-coking applications is applied on internal surface of tubes and fittings. It can be supplied for a dimension range
from ¾” up to 10” OD. Fittings such as return bends, reducers, elbows and flanges can also be coated.

Coating properties
Coating Thickness Maximum coating skin temperature

mm ºC
0.1 – 0.2 650/750
d & low alloy steels
650 ºC for carbon
750 ºC for austenitic stainless steels

Avg. Thermal conductivity

W/m°K
6

Adherence to base material

Level nº Standard
Level 1 EN10209
Standard
EN10209
 Tubacoat Technical Data Sheet

Hardness

HV (ASTM C 1327-03)
Hardness [HV]
806 ± 50
Coating 806

Base Material 220

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Avg. Roughness

μm (ISO4288)
Avg. Roughness [μm]
0.2-0.3
Coating

Base Material

0 0.5 1 1.5

Anti-coking properties
Tubacoat chemical inertness minimizes coking reactions that are promoted by steel surface, thus minimizes
formation of coke. Besides, due to Tubacoat glass finishing, coke formed continue to flow downstream. Field
experience has proved that coke deposits are reduced 3 times on average compared to non-coated tubes.

Grams
Coke Formation Coke Deposition
20 100%
16.1
15 80%

10 60%

5 40%
1.2
0 20%

Coated Tube Bare Tube 0%

Coated Tube Bare Tube

Based on “Chemical inertness, reproducibility and Carbon deposition for
coated and non-coated AISI 347 tubes” study by UPV
Based on field experience. Actual reduction depends on type of unit,
feedstock and process operating conditions