Heat exchange cleaning

An innovative chemical cleaning process that is designed to maintain the efficiency and extend the working life of heat exchangers by several years is now available to industrial customers from chemical cleaning specialists Surface Processing (SPL).

Heat exchangers are used by a wide range of industries for heating and cooling applications in appliances, compressors, pumps, furnaces, boilers, condensers, and a large number of process and manufacturing equipment.

However, heat exchangers are prone to fouling – most commonly the accumulation of organic and/or non-organic material deposits within heat transfer equipment (usually on the cooling water side), inside tubes and on external surfaces.

This causes blockages, corrosion or leaks, which affects flow and pressure levels and ultimately impairs heat transfer.

“Fouling inevitably leads to a reduction in the efficiency of the heat exchanger, increasing energy consumption and operational costs, adding to wear and tear, and reducing its working life if not cleaned at regular intervals,” said Adrian McMurray, managing director of SPL.

Unlike traditional jetting methods, SPL’s immersive process offers consistent cleaning power on both inner and outer surfaces, the company claims.

“Once a jet of water reaches a bend its pressure and effectiveness weakens,” added McMurray.

“We offer better penetration to remove unwanted material including rust, hydrocarbons, scale, oils, acids, and other organic and inorganic matter.”

SPL can treat small heat exchangers at its Dudley facility using its fully immersive process.

Equipment too large to be moved or dipped in tanks can be treated on-site by a team of technicians who can achieve effective results through immersion by pumping SPL’s cleaning products through the entire system.

Using the latter method, the company has successfully cleaned a 13-metre long heat exchanger weighing 34 tonnes.

For more information, please visit: http://www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk/