Save money and time with proper maintenance

Maintenance of your shell and tube heat exchangers requires regular inspection and cleaning. The following steps are part of general maintenance and should be conducted on a regular schedule.

1. Frequent cleaning of heat exchangers
   Although a cleaning regiment needs to be put in place, we don’t recommend a specific cleaning regiment as every process is different. Identical processes in different areas could require vastly different cleaning regiments due to variations in water mineral content and quality. We recommend consulting with your local chemical supplier to determine the best CIP concentration, temperature and duration.
2. Tube inspection
   At regular intervals, inspect the interior and exterior of tubes and assess condition. Failure to keep all tubes clean may, in time, result in termination of flow, which can lead to tube leaks and ruptures.
3. Fouling Assessment
   Heat exchangers subject to fouling should be monitored for a marked increase in pressure drop and/or reduction in thermal performance. Should these issues arise, a prompt cleaning is suggested; the greater the build up of scale, the more difficult cleaning becomes.
4. Scraping
   If it is necessary to use scrapers or brushes to remove build-up, care must be exercised to ensure the tool is not sharp enough to cut the metal of the tubes.

Proper handling when removing tube bundles for inspection or cleaning must be exercised to ensure the tube bundle is not damaged. Tubes are small and constructed of relatively thin material. Once removed, tube bundles should be properly supported with cradles located under the baffles.

Keep your shell and tube heat exchangers safe and performant through a regular maintenance schedule.