Case Study from HydroFLOW Israel
Heat exchanger scale removal on a shell-and-tube unit
Heat exchanger scale removal was needed at a chemical plant in the Middle East, where severe scale was blocking the tubes of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. Pressure drop across the unit was high, and heat transfer efficiency was falling as the deposits thickened. Chemical treatment was in use for scale and corrosion, and there was environmental pressure on site to reduce it. In June 1994 a HydroFLOW® C120 was fitted to the heat exchanger inlet pipe, treating untreated mains water during normal operation with no shutdown. Existing limescale loosened and washed through, new growth stopped, pressure drop came down and chemical use was cut.
The Challenges
- Heat exchanger scale removal was needed with severe deposits blocking the tubes
- Pressure drop across the shell-and-tube unit was high
- Heat transfer efficiency was falling as scale built up
- Ongoing chemical treatment was managing scale and corrosion
- There was environmental pressure to reduce chemical use on site
The Solution
- Unit installed: One HydroFLOW® C120
- Installation point: heat exchanger inlet pipe
- Installed: June 1994, during normal operation with no shutdown
- Water: untreated mains water
- Previous treatment: chemicals for scale and corrosion
The C120 was fitted on the inlet so the mains water was treated before entering the tubes, and the exchanger stayed in normal operation throughout. The signal disrupts the conditions that bond scale to surfaces, so existing limescale loosens and washes through while new growth does not form. Heat exchanger scale removal cleared the blocked tubes, and chemical treatment was reduced.
