The Billion Dollar Problem Finally Has a Solution

When crude oil temperatures drop below 38°C (100°F), paraffin wax crystallizes on heat exchanger surfaces, forcing costly shutdowns every 2-3 days for cleaning. But what if your plate heat exchangers could run 3x longer between maintenance cycles? New field data from North Sea oil rigs proves this isn’t wishful thinking—it’s happening right now with Curramix flexible ceramic coating technology.

Field-Proven Performance in North Sea Operations

Curran International’s latest field trials demonstrate remarkable fouling resistance in one of the industry’s most challenging environments. The study, conducted on crude oil interchangers processing 350-450 m³/h (2,200-2,800 bbl/h), compared Curramix-coated MX25-B titanium plates against standard uncoated units over multiple operational cycles.

Key performance metrics from the trial:

• 8% higher heat load maintained on coated exchangers versus reference units

• 5% increased flow rate (up to 13 m³/h improvement) through coated trains

• Consistent thermal performance with no temperature degradation over 27-day test periods

• Extended operation times between hot runs, reducing production interruptions

[Suggested inline graphic: Line graph showing heat load performance over time, comparing coated vs. uncoated exchangers]

The Science Behind Superior Fouling Resistance

Unlike traditional approaches that rely on chemical inhibitors or increased flow velocities, Curramix’s organic-inorganic hybrid coating attacks wax adhesion at the molecular level. The coating achieves a water contact angle of 105° compared to titanium’s 40-80°, creating an ultra-low surface energy barrier that prevents paraffin molecules from bonding to exchanger surfaces.

The coating’s dual advantages include:

• 50% reduction in surface roughness (0.52 µm vs. 1.03 µm for titanium), eliminating nucleation sites where wax crystals typically form

• Maintained thermal conductivity at approximately 2 W/mK, ensuring minimal impact on heat transfer efficiency

• Flexible ceramic structure that withstands thermal cycling from 27°C to 100°C without degradation

Real-World Impact on Maintenance Intervals

Traditional crude oil interchangers require “hot runs” every third day—a process where operators reduce cold-side flow and increase hot-side temperature to 80-85°C to dissolve accumulated wax. This maintenance routine costs refineries millions in lost production annually.

With Curramix coating, operators are extending continuous operation from 2 days to 2 weeks between cleaning cycles. For a typical 4-train configuration processing stabilized crude oil, this translates to:

• 75% reduction in maintenance-related production stops

• Increased throughput capacity from cleaner heat transfer surfaces

• Lower operating temperatures on the stabilized crude outlet, improving downstream processing

[Suggested inline image: Before/after photos of heat exchanger plates showing wax buildup on uncoated vs. clean Curramix-coated surfaces]

Beyond Laboratory Claims: Proven in Your Environment

What separates Curramix from other coating technologies is its proven performance under actual operating conditions. While phenolic epoxy polymers and other coatings have failed to deliver fouling reduction in crude oil service, Curramix’s flexible ceramic technology has demonstrated consistent results across multiple installations.

The coating’s resilience comes from its unique formulation that combines:

• Chemical resistance to crude oil components including asphaltenes and naphthenic acids

• Mechanical durability against flow-induced shear stress up to 450 m³/h

• Temperature stability across the full range of crude oil processing conditions

Transform Your Heat Exchanger Performance Today

Stop accepting fouling as an inevitable cost of crude oil processing. Download our complete white paper, “Performance of Flexible Ceramic Coated Surfaces Subjected to Crude Oil Fouling,” to discover how leading operators are achieving 3x longer service intervals and 8% performance improvements with Curramix coating technology.

[Download the Full White Paper]

P.S. Ready to calculate the ROI for your specific application? Schedule a 15-minute consultation with our fouling mitigation specialists to review your heat exchanger configuration and operating conditions. We’ll provide a customized performance projection based on your crude oil properties and current maintenance schedule. [Schedule Your Call]

Meta Title: Flexible Ceramic Coating Reduces Crude Oil Fouling by 8% | Curramix

Meta Description: Field-proven Curramix ceramic coating extends plate heat exchanger service intervals 3x longer. See North Sea trial data showing 8% better heat load & 5% higher flow rates.