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We are experiencing an increasing loss of heat exchangers efficiency. Therefore, we would be interested to know if there is any "on-line cleaning technology" that does not require to shutdown the distillation unit.
 
Answers
27/11/2007 A: Mike Watson, Tube Tech International Ltd, mike.watson@tubetech.com
There are a couple of mechanical methods available online so as not to shut down the distillation unit. However it is design dependent (temperature etc). A new mechanical shell side cleaning system exists which cleans from the centre of the bundle outwards, rather than pull the bundle and jet wash thru tri / square pitch rowes of tubes (see www.tubetech.com)
01/11/2007 A: Marcello Ferrara, ITW SrL, mferrara@itw.it
We have developed an innovative technology which fit your needs.
This technology has been successfully proven in many difficult applications such as Vacuum downstream Visbreaker, Visbreaker, Vacuum, Topping Units.......
16/10/2007 A: SImone Robinson, Tube Tech International Ltd, simone@tubetech.com
Please review the case studies on our website www.tubetech.com as we have been successful in cleaning heat exchangers in situ and online.......
10/09/2007 A: Hermann Kempen, Kurita Europe GmbH, kempen@kurita.de
Most of the cleaning technologies require a shutdown, but there are a few chemical applications for fouling removal without shutdown, which may help. It is important to know where the fouling is expected or located (i.e. shell or tube), which products are distilled, what is causing the fouling, what are the process conditions, what type of fouling is present etc.
In general, formed polymers or coke are very difficult to remove during an online cleaning procedure, but fouled corrosion byproducts can be removed by using an additive from our CI, SC or CD series. Ammonium salt fouling can be removed by using our ACF technology.
If the heat exchanger tubes are completely blocked the chance for a successful online cleaning is very low and some flow through a restricted tube is always required. ......