Heat Exchanger Cleaning Methods | Chemical Engineering Interview | Skill-Lync Resources
Medium Heat Transfer Fouling & Maintenance

What are the common methods for cleaning heat exchangers?

Answer

Mechanical methods: hydro-jetting (high-pressure water, effective for hard deposits), tube drilling/scraping (for severe blockages), brush cleaning (routine maintenance). Chemical methods: acid cleaning (for scale - HCl, H2SO4), alkaline cleaning (for organic deposits), chelating agents (for complex scales), solvents (for oils/greases). Online methods: continuous chemical treatment, Taprogge ball cleaning system (for tube-side). Selection depends on deposit type, material compatibility, and whether equipment can be taken offline. Chemical cleaning requires proper neutralization and disposal.

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