Heat Exchanger Cleaning Tips

Shutdownscausedbyheatexchangerfailurecancosthundredsofthousandsofdollars,far more than even the most elaborate cleaning methods. Heat exchanger cleaning, on the otherhand,mayincreaseperformanceandsavemoneyifdonecorrectly.

Cleaning Heat Exchangers Using Ultra-High-Pressure Jetting:

As it is effective and ecologically safe, remote and multi-lance ultra-high-pressure water jettingshouldbeoneoftheprimarychoicesforanyheatexchangercleaningprogram.Itis feasible to remove deposits and scale from heat exchangers, tube bundles, and adjacent systemswithonlywater.

Using water instead of potentially toxic solvents and detergents eliminates the need for specializeddisposal.Thiswillalsosavecleaningandmaintenanceexpensesbyeliminating therequirementforhazardouschemicaldisposalservices.

Finally, depending on the characteristics of your heat exchanger, some substances may degrade or destroy the materials employed by the heat exchanger makers in its construction. Titanium pipework, for example, which is often used in gas liquefaction facilities,issensitivetoacidiccleaningsolutionsandmustbecleanedwitheitherwaterora mechanicalprocesssuchasdrilling.

Maintain Regular Cleaning Schedule for Heat Exchanger:

Routinemaintenance,asthenamesuggests,shouldbedoneonaregularbasis.Theproper scheduling of maintenance procedures may be prescribed by the manufacturer or set by theonsitemaintenancecrew,dependingontheindividualheatexchangerissue.

Cleaningonaregularbasiswillkeepdepositsandsiltfrombuildinguptodangerouslevels that might require the plant to shut down. Cleaning and inspection practices should be combined to guarantee that equipment is fully functional and fulfills regulatory requirements.

In-Situ Clean Process Heat Exchangers:

Heatexchangermaintenancemaynowbeconductedwithoutdisassemblythankstorobotic heat exchanger cleaning procedures. This is an excellent option for lant managers who wanttoreducedowntimeandexpenditures.

Some professionals exclusively clean evaporator heat exchanger equipment at their own facilities, but most organizations can't afford the extra downtime. If your present contractorisunabletocleanyourheatexchangerinsitu,getasecondopinionfromanother serviceproviderwhomayhaveanalternatecleaningprocessthatcanfinishthejobon-site, shorteningthetimeittakestocompletetheproject.

Go 'Bare Metal'

Whencleaningheatexchangers,alldepositsandsiltmustberemoved,andpipingmustbe strippeddowntothebaremetal.Ifallfoulingisnotremoved,theintendedadvantageswill notberealized,andthereturnoninvestmentinmaintenancewillbereduced.

Returningtobaremetalextendsthetimebetweencleaningcyclesbyessentiallyrestoring pipesandsurfacestofactory-newcondition.Plantefficiencywillimprove,aswillthereturn oninvestmentinadvancedcleaningservicesifallscaleandbuildupareremoved.

By eliminating many of the small flaws that serve as locations for new deposits to form, polishing the insides of pipes can assist enhance liquid flow. Request a video scope inspectiononcethecleaningiscompletedtoensurethequalityoftheworkandtheamount ofcleanlinessaccomplished.

Clean the Outsides of Tube Bundles, Pipework, and Shells:

Chemical deposits and buildups are more likely to impact tube bundles, inner pipework, and shell sides, thus cleaning these surfaces is a top concern. However, heat exchanger equipment'soutsidesurfacesplayavitalroleinheatdissipationandeffectivefunctioning.

Cleaning the exterior surfaces of heat exchanger equipment should also be included in a routine maintenance schedule, not least because it makes visual inspections much easier. Externalheatexchangercleaningshouldbeconsiderablyeasiertoschedule,withminimal, ifany,downtime.Becausetheprojectislessurgent,youmaybemoreflexiblewiththestart date,makingitmuchsimplertogettheservicesofyourfavoritecleaningprovider.

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