MV Detroit Express: 86% Less CIP Cleaning, No Chemicals

CIP cleaning reduction on a fresh water generator

A CIP cleaning reduction was needed on MV Detroit Express, where the fresh water generator went through clean-in-place chemical cleaning every 10 to 12 days and was opened monthly for manual cleaning on top. Scale, bacteria, algae and slime were all fouling the plates, and chemicals were used both for dosing and for plate cleaning. In August 2016 an HM-100 was fitted to the seawater inlet pipe, after the feed pump and before the generator. CIP chemical cleaning fell by 86%. Only soft scale remained, it came off easily without chemicals, and the monthly manual opening was no longer routine.

The Challenges

• A CIP cleaning reduction was needed, with chemical cleaning every 10 to 12 days
• The FWG was opened monthly for manual cleaning
• Scale, bacteria, algae and slime were all fouling the plates
• Chemicals were used for both dosing and plate cleaning
• Chemical handling at sea was a cost and a safety concern

The Solution

• Unit installed: One HM-100
• Installation point: seawater inlet pipe, after the feed pump and before the FWG
• Installed: August 2016
• Previous treatment: CIP chemical cleaning every 10 to 12 days, plus chemical dosing

The HM-100 was placed on the seawater inlet after the feed pump, so all seawater feeding the generator passes the unit first. The signal disrupts the conditions that bond scale and biofilm to surfaces, leaving only soft scale that is easily removed without chemicals. With the plates staying cleaner, the CIP cleaning reduction reached 86% and the monthly manual opening became unnecessary.