What are some effective solutions if there is blockage in the tube bundle of the air compressor cooler?
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Our company has recently been experiencing high exhaust temperatures in the air compressors. Upon inspection, it was found that there were blockages in the cooler tubes. Is circulating water being used in the compressor’s cooling system? How should these blockages be cleaned without damaging the internal tubes? (The cooler tube bundle is made of copper tubes, which are relatively thin; there is concern that pickling may cause perforations in the tube bundle.)
U-tube: high-pressure water flushing. Fixed tube sheet type: mechanical method (using wire straps to pull the steel wires back and forth), high-pressure water flushing.
To solve the problem, it is necessary to address the root cause. What the poster described is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger with copper tubes; blockages inside the tubes lead to high exhaust temperatures. Air compressor aftercoolers require water cooling, so if the quality of the circulating water is not up to standard, it is necessary to focus on improving the quality of that water. It’s better to be cautious when using mechanical cleaning for copper pipes
Based on the description, it seems that water flows inside the pipes; generally, cooling water needs to be treated before being fed into the circulation system. The common method is to add chemicals, and there is also a closed-loop system (though it is more expensive). If blockages occur, chemicals are used to facilitate circulation. Or have a specialized cleaning service handle it.
Copper tube? Take it apart and have a look; it’s likely to be covered in green rust. If that’s the case, cleaning it will be quite troublesome, so it’s better to replace it with a new one. If it’s just a blockage in the pipe, your pipe is probably straight, and it can be cleaned manually or mechanically. You can also consult the manufacturer to see if there are any suitable chemical agents for cleaning~~
Have you ever cleaned the air compressor cooler?
The cooler tube bundle should be cleaned regularly. This is because the exhaust temperature of the air compressor is high; at such high temperatures, calcium and magnesium ions in the water react with water and carbon dioxide present in it to form calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate precipitates, namely scale, which adheres to the surface of the copper pipes. This prevents heat exchange between the air compressor’s exhaust gas and the water, resulting in a high exhaust temperature for the air compressor. The method for removing scale is simple: since the scale does not adhere strongly to the surface of copper pipes, it can be washed away using high-pressure water. If the effect is not good, it can be cleaned with a solution of dilute salt acid and corrosion inhibitor; dilute salt acid does not corrode copper.
Your problem is clearly due to scaling. You can contact me and I’ll tell you about chemical cleaning; it’s been used successfully to clean imported air compressors from abroad. My QQ number is 838140483
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