How to address the reduced heat exchange efficiency of a heat exchanger? ? ?

1. Starting from the root cause, there is a problem with the heat exchanger design. . Get another one. . Or it might be due to scale formation inside; corrosive fluids and circulating water should be mixed with scale prevention agents. 2. Connect a heat exchanger in series.

1. The heat exchanger may experience an excessive temperature difference during heat exchange, which leads to scale formation and affects its efficiency. 2. Has the steam pressure decreased, and is the hydrophobicity appropriate?

Reasons for analysis: 1. A scale layer may form in the tube side and shell side, hindering heat exchange. 2. Check the operation of the trap and the opening/closing status of the bypass valve. 3. Has there been any change in the flow rate of the materials?

It is recommended to check whether there has been any change in the source of steam. Examine the steam flow rate to the heat exchanger and see if it has decreased compared to before. Open the vent on the steam side of the heat exchanger to release any inert gases that may be present. Check how well the drain valves are functioning. Determine whether the properties of the material on the feed side change when heated, and whether there are any changes in the composition of the feed.

It could be a problem with the check valve, or scaling may have increased the thermal resistance; alternatively, there might be non-condensable gases in the medium, which reduces the heat exchange area.

If the various process and technical conditions remain unchanged, it means that the thermal conductivity of the heat transfer medium has increased; measures can be taken to reduce it.

Based on what LZ described, this is not simply a case of reduced heat transfer efficiency due to scaling that occurs after a heat exchanger has been in use for some time. Since LZ said that production has only been going on for a few days, there must be issues with the design or with the materials used. In the case of design problems, it could be that the heat transfer coefficient was set too low, or the material handling capacity was calculated incorrectly, or the initial values assigned to the heating medium differed significantly from the actual values; as a result, the designed heat exchange area is insufficient； For the latter, it is necessary to consider whether solid substances precipitate on the heat exchange surface, thereby causing a sharp decline in the heat transfer coefficient. Only by identifying the root cause of this problem can it be truly solved. For many engineering problems, we need to look beyond the surface phenomena to see their essence. Of course, the actual situation may be even more complex and varied than what I’ve described.

The heat exchange efficiency dropped after just a few days; it must be due to scaling, which is affecting the heat transfer coefficient!

　　As a solution, considering a proper reduction in the amount used might be an option. If the heat transfer efficiency improves, the volume of water circulating can be increased. If possible, the water used in circulation within this heat exchanger can be replaced with water that has a slightly acidic pH (i.e., through acid washing). After the cleaning is complete, the water can be switched back to the normal circulation system. Of course, during major repairs, it is essential to conduct a thorough inspection to identify the actual cause of the problem.

It is best not to use acids for cleaning; if there is a lot of scale, the acid will react with it, and the removal of the scale can actually lead to even more blockages