How to deal with blockages in shell-and-tube heat exchangers
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When a shell-and-tube heat exchanger becomes clogged, and the steam pipe in the tube side is blocked, what are the typical methods for removing such blockages? What precautions should be taken during this process? I’d like to ask everyone!
It can be cleaned with an organic acid solution of low acidity; make sure the acidity is not high, as otherwise it may cause corrosion to the pipes.
Our unit has previously used high-pressure water jets for cleaning, provided that the pipes are not completely blocked.
First, it is necessary to use something to clear all the tubes, so that they can be cleaned with a high-pressure water gun – this ensures safety
Talk to the construction company; if it’s not serious, applying some pressure will resolve the issue
Our plant uses chemical cleaning for the shell side and physical cleaning for the tube side
There are companies specialized in cleaning heat exchangers, equipped with high-pressure water cleaning equipment, which is time-saving and effective
First, disassemble and inspect to see what type of substance is blocking the tubes, and then you can hire a specialized cleaning company; they use high-pressure water guns with multi-stage compression for cleaning – you might want to give that a try!
This post was last edited by cq1jh3 on 2009-9-8 at 10:22. Our factory uses high-pressure cleaning guns for cleaning, with the pressure set at 0.7 MPa; the results are fairly good. If there is severe blockage, first use a steel bar to clear it out, then clean with the high-pressure gun. If that still doesn’t work, soak the area in 5% hydrochloric acid for 1–2 hours before cleaning. After all, cleaning and unclogging isn’t the best solution; it’s better to find a way to address the issue with steam quality. It seems that the soft water used for the boiler isn’t of proper quality, as its hardness is still too high
Steam pipe A is also blocked; from the boiler’s perspective, it’s probably caused by scale
Roast with fire and then strike with water,,,,,,,