Cleaning Heat Exchanges Ensures Efficient Operations

Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Heat Exchanger (Photo credit: PEO,)

Heat exchangers are susceptible to fouling from cooling water or other liquid with a high content of dissolved solids. The dissolved solids precipitate at the heat exchange surface due to wall temperatures higher than the fluid temperatures. Low fluid velocities in the system allow the impurities to settle on the exchange surface.
The result is a significant decrease in the effectiveness of the heat transfer until the heat exchangers are cleaned.

Process Engineering & Equipment Company (PECO) partners with WCR Service to provide quick, reliable and cost-effective heat exchanger cleaning. A series of chemical washings, while non-abrasive, removes the fouling buildup and water deposits to like-new efficiency.

The cleaning process includes:

•    Pre-cleaning with a high-pressure water spray to remove loose scaling and fouling. A high-pressure steam clean may follow for severe fouling.
•    Power lasting for rigid scaling not dissolved in acidic or caustic solutions..
•    Liquid nitrogen for to remove certain types of hard scaling and gaskets glued with two component epoxy.
•    Chemical cleaning, the most common method of heat exchanger cleaning, provides the quickest possible turnaround. Different temperatures, agitation and concentrations assure maximum cleaning efficiency.

We test every plate with a dye penetration system to ensure no cracks or pinholes are present. Early detection of plate defects saves PECO customers’ costly down-time later.

Cleaning crews clean each gasket and prepare the plate grove just prior to bonding. Left-over glue in the groves can prevent the gaskets from adhering properly and significantly reduce the operation life.
Finally, oven curing of the adhesives with the gasket compressed n the plate grove ensures proper bonding.

PECO provides the cleaning service to ensure the long life of our customers’ heat exchangers through standard maintenance. If you’ are seeing a significant drop in your heat exchanger’s efficiency, contact your PECO sales representative to schedule your heat exchanger for this expert cleaning service.