Cleaning methods for heat exchangers in petroleum refining and chemical processing equipment

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When dealing with corrosion issues in heat exchangers, oil refining and chemical enterprises must also carry out proper cleaning procedures. By employing chemical, physical, and biological cleaning methods, they can thoroughly treat oil refining and chemical equipment, ensuring the integrity of the heat exchangers and minimizing the impact of corrosion on such equipment. 1. Chemical cleaning method: The chemical cleaning method makes use of the principle of dissolution reactions; it involves a chemical reaction between the cleaning solution and the deposits on the surface of oil refining and chemical processing equipment, thereby removing impurities from the equipment’s surface without the need to remove the equipment itself. The entire cleaning process is simple and easy to carry out. However, when using chemical cleaning methods to clean petroleum refining and chemical processing equipment, if the cleaning solution is not selected scientifically, it can cause damage to the performance and quality of the equipment during the cleaning process, leading to corrosion of such equipment. Generally, the cleaning solutions used in the process of cleaning heat exchangers in petroleum refining and chemical processing equipment are all types of detergents. Thanks to the surfactant properties and cleaning chemical reactions inherent in these solutions, the heat exchangers can be thoroughly cleaned. The main cleaning methods for petroleum refining and chemical processing equipment include the circulation method, immersion method, and impact method. Among them, the recirculation method involves circulating the cleaning solution with the help of a pump ； The immersion method involves filling the heat exchanger with a cleaning solution, using this solution to clean the heat exchanger for a certain period of time, after which the cleaning solution is drained from the bottom of the heat exchanger and transferred to a mixing device. When maintenance workers use the immersion method to clean heat exchangers, they first need to determine whether the refinery and petrochemical equipment contains substances prone to chemical reactions, in order to prevent damage to the heat exchangers during the cleaning process. 2. Physical cleaning method: The physical cleaning method makes use of mechanical force to break down dirt, thereby separating it from the surface of the equipment and achieving the goal of cleaning it. Physical cleaning methods feature high safety, efficiency, and environmental friendliness; no corrosion occurs during the entire cleaning process. However, they cannot be used to clean equipment with complex internal structures, and it is easy for cleaning dead zones to remain after the process. Generally, the physical cleaning methods used in petroleum refining and chemical processing equipment mainly include high-pressure jet cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, and pipe sliding descaling. 3. Biological cleaning method: The biological cleaning method makes use of microorganisms to break down oil stains, converting the oil on the surface of heat exchangers into non-toxic and harmless substances. Since this substance is readily soluble in water, the decomposed substances can ultimately be removed from the surface of the heat exchanger by means of water.