Shell and tube heat
exchangers are the types
of heat exchanger designs. Also, it’s the most frequent type of heat exchanger
in refineries and other large chemical processes because it’s suited for
high-pressure applications.
Due
to constant work, shell and tube heatexchangers can accumulate fouling. Fouling in heat exchangers leads to
numerous problems like reduced thermal activity, increased temperature on the
hot side, decreased hot flux, and decreased temperature on the cold side;
induced corrosion etc. All these problems can affect the performance of heat
exchangers and overall plant or refinery.
The
best way to prevent these problems to occurring in heat exchangers in your
plant or refinery, they have to be cleaned thoroughly. Cleaning requires
implementation of different methods to remove unwanted materials.
Dunn Heat Exchangers provides five cleaning methods for shell and tube heat exchangers cleaning methods such as:
Hydroblast
and waterlance cleaning
They
are the most frequently used cleaning methods. Hydroblasting is defined as a
method which relies solely on the energy of water. The primary aim of water is
to strike the fouled process equipment in order to achieve effect of cleaning. On
the other hand, waterlancing is a technique where steam generators are used to
clean the surface. Both methods don’t include usage of abrasive or chemical
substances. Hydroblasting and waterlancing should be conducted with high-quality
equipment which includes blast nozzles that are able to flow heated water to
optimum GPM (Gallon per Minute) and PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) to provide
adequate temperatures essential for cleaning of fouled heat exchangers. It’s
worth to mention that our company owns the biggest, most-modern, and
best-equipped heat exchanger cleaning facility in the country.
Grit
blasting cleaning
This
method is conducted by using steam of abrasive materials to strike the surface
in order to eliminate the accumulated fouling. Abrasive materials vary and include
walnut shells, silicon carbide, emery particles etc. Grit blasting cleaning is
processed in enclosed grit houses and cleans shell and tube heat exchangers
thoroughly.
Chemical
cleaning
It
incorporates the implementation of chemical components for removing deposits.
Some of the processes of chemical cleaning include cleaning with alkali,
cleaning with acid, protecting metal surfaces with alkali (to prevent
corrosion), and rinsing.
Bake-Out/Pyrolytic
Cleaning Process
It’s
the process where heat is used to remove fouling. It thermally decomposes any
residue and is safe for the fouled process equipment. It includes placing the
heat exchanger in the vacuum chamber where it’s heated to remove fouling.
Decommissioning
The
method is mostly performed on fouled equipment that will be returned to service
and usually includes other methods of equipment cleaning as well, such as
bake-out process.
Due
to the best heat exchanger cleaning facility in the US
For
all questions or inquiries, feel free to contact us.
