Hospital heat exchanger acid cleaning on 380 ppm water
Hospital heat exchanger acid cleaning was shutting down a Middle East hospital every three to four months, on municipal water above 380 ppm CaCO₃. Thermal efficiency dropped between cleans, the acid handling was a safety risk in a healthcare setting, and the cleaning agents were wearing seals and gaskets. On 5 February 2024 two HydroFLOW® units were installed: a Pearl Plus on the make-up water line and an i100 on the heat exchanger inlet, with a HydroKNCT remote monitoring unit. There was no downtime and no plumbing change. In the 17 months since, the heat exchangers have needed no acid clean and no shutdown for descaling.
The Challenge
- Hospital heat exchanger acid cleaning meant shutdowns every three to four months
- Thermal efficiency in the heat exchangers dropped between cleans
- Acid handling was a safety risk in a healthcare setting
- Cleaning agents were wearing seals and gaskets
- Municipal water was above 380 ppm CaCO₃
The Solution
- Units installed: HydroFLOW® Pearl Plus and HydroFLOW® i100 with HydroKNCT
- Installation point: Pearl Plus on the make-up water line, i100 on the heat exchanger inlet
- Installed: 5 February 2024 with no downtime or plumbing changes
- Monitoring period: 17 months, remotely via HydroKNCT
- Water: municipal supply above 380 ppm CaCO₃
The aim was to end hospital heat exchanger acid cleaning without touching the plumbing. The two units were fitted around the existing pipe, one where the hard make-up water enters the system and one at the heat exchanger inlet. The signal disrupts the conditions that bond scale to surfaces, so limescale crystallisation is prevented despite the hard supply. HydroKNCT reports on the installation remotely.
