How to maintain the heat exchanger tube bundle over a long period of time.
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How to maintain the heat exchanger tube bundle over a long period of time.
Under normal circumstances, heat exchangers are in use and cannot be seen or touched; so how is it possible to carry out regular maintenance of their tubes?
1. For corrosion protection of tube bundles, specialized solutions are available； 2. Fill with nitrogen gas ； 3. Fill with water. 4. Use diesel. Choose based on your own situation and available conditions.
Is it for storage and maintenance or for use and maintenance? It’s a bit unclear.
Are there many questions about the issue you mentioned? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? First, if the heat exchanger tube bundle in use does not require maintenance, any corrosion that occurs is due to the presence of fluids; moreover, anti-corrosion treatments are now applied to the tube bundles, which yields better results and extends their lifespan. Secondly, if it is in a shut-down state, then nitrogen protection should be used; in fact, using diesel for protection poses certain risks ； Third, if it is a spare tube bundle, it should be protected from rain and moisture and stored in a warehouse; in such cases, we usually apply oil for maintenance.
The poster is probably asking about the second and third scenarios. In the second scenario, filling it with nitrogen usually solves the problem. The third scenario is more difficult; in our case, the heat exchanger tubes are placed outside, and only the sealing surfaces of the end caps are protected by applying grease, with tarpaulins used for external coverage. This kind of protection is not very effective. We had a set of tubes that were kept outside for 2 years, and after being installed in the heat exchanger, they failed after less than half a year of use
In the third case, if it’s a corrosion-resistant coating, that’s not a problem; but if it’s made of ordinary material, the only option is to coat it entirely with oil. The key issue is that it’s not clear when the spare parts will be needed, so applying oil for maintenance is sufficient, and when replacing and using them, simply blowing them with steam and washing them is enough.