How to delay scaling in heat exchangers?
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The stripping tower in our company uses a forced-circulation shell-and-tube reboiler that is heated by steam. The process side contains approximately 10% slurry. The operation was good at the beginning after maintenance, but after half a month, a gradual decline in heat exchange efficiency began to occur, which ultimately led to a reduction in the amount of steam used and a decrease in the volume of vapor used for stripping. It is presumed that scaling on the process side is the cause of this issue. I would appreciate advice from those with more experience on how to delay scaling on the process side
It is necessary to analyze what on the process side affects heat exchange. Common treatment methods include reducing the temperature periodically, as this can cause some of the coke to dissolve; polymerization inhibitors or dispersants can be tried as well. It is necessary to check whether the steam temperature is too high, and using low-temperature steam might be an option. It is recommended to review the equipment diagrams to see if the diameter of the heat exchange tubes is too small. I have encountered similar situations before; when the diameter of the heat exchange tubes was too small, the operating cycle increased significantly after repairs and modifications were made.
Adding scale inhibitors to the system may affect product quality, and it will also affect the process flow