Do you think that your heat exchanger performance has been compromised? Read on to find out ways that your heat exchanger equipment can be degrading without your knowledge.
Scale
Scaling is a fouling that develops in a heat exchanger’s water circuit. This fouling causes an increase in pressure drop and reduces the fluid’s ability to transfer heat effectively.
It is a result of the increased temperature, which causes the salts in the water to crystallize and form a scale deposit on the surface of the heat exchanger. In addition to increasing the risk of fouling, the salts reduce the fluid’s solubility in water. It can cause the efficiency of a heat exchanger to decrease, which can lead to costly operational expenses. Fortunately, a heat exchanger cleaning can help prevent scaling formation and fouling.
Debris
Debris inside a heat exchanger can affect its performance and cause it to stop working. It is known as fouling. Fouling comes from various sources, including sediment, scale, bacteria and fungi. The accumulation of these substances can restrict or block the cooling water flow, reducing plant efficiency and production. Also, debris build-up can shorten the life of the heat exchanger tubes by causing corrosion, erosion and pitting. One solution is automatic debris filtering. These self-flushing filters replace a section of the cooling water piping and are installed before a heat exchanger. After water and debris enter the filtration unit, a screen mesh with a specific size traps more oversized items, and a discharge rotor moves over the screen mesh to lift and remove any debris that has been collected there. This type of filter also prevents macro fouling, which occurs when built-up debris slows or stops the cooling water flow, lowering your plant’s efficiency and production. Using a debris filter before your heat exchanger will increase its heat transfer rate, lengthen its service life, and eliminate potential performance problems.
Bacteria
Microbes in water are a fact of life, and their presence can impact performance. Aside from causing fouling, bacteria can decrease the heat transfer capacity of a heat exchanger by up to 20% or, at the very least, reduce the lifetime of the equipment. Combining chemical and mechanical treatments is among the best ways to inhibit microbial development.
We hope that this article has helped you to discover new ways that your heat exchanger can degrade over time and tips to prevent that!