Cleaning a heat exchanger is important for maintaining the unit’s performance. In fact, many factors can clog the heat exchanger and make it dirty over time, such as the conductive elements circulating inside the device, high temperatures or the fact that it operates continuously. It’s this accumulated dirt that makes the exchanger less efficient. To keep heat exchangers in good working order, regular cleaning and maintenance are essential. Find out if you can clean a heat exchanger, and how.
Is it possible to clean a heat exchanger?
Before we give you tips on how to clean your heat exchanger, it’s important to know whether it’s possible to clean this type of device. To answer this question, yes, it is possible to clean a heat exchanger. In fact, it’s highly recommended
Why is heat exchanger cleaning important?
Cleaning a heat exchanger is essential for a number of reasons. When a heat exchanger is clogged, it no longer functions properly and loses efficiency. The heat exchanger needs more energy to operate normally, which increases fuel consumption and makes it less efficient. Heat exchanger deterioration accelerates as it operates in difficult conditions. To avoid all these problems, it is essential to maintain and clean a plate or coil heat exchanger.
How often should heat exchangers be cleaned?
The frequency with which heat exchangers should be cleaned depends on the characteristics of each unit. However, heat exchangers should be cleaned as soon as a malfunction is observed, i.e. when the pressure, flow rate or temperature are incorrect, or when there is an increase in flow and a drop in pressure. Heat exchanger performance is reduced if the temperature in the unit is not at the right level. This is caused by clogged plates, tubes or coils. So, to avoid leaks and dirt, and to ensure that the element lasts over time, frequent cleaning of the heat exchanger is highly recommended. For optimum performance, heat exchangers should be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, i.e. several times a year.
How do I clean and maintain a plate heat exchanger?
As mentioned above, a clean heat exchanger guarantees the performance and efficiency of the appliance, as well as the possibility of energy savings. The method most commonly used by professionals to clean any type of heat exchanger is high-pressure water. However, to clean and maintain a plate heat exchanger, several techniques exist:
- High-pressure water cleaning: this is a cleaning solution that does not damage the plate heat exchanger. The high-pressure jet cleans both inside and out. The pressure should not exceed 30 bar, to prevent damage to the plates.
- Chemical cleaning: a chemical cleaning solution is one of the quickest and easiest ways to remove all incrustations from the exchanger plates. This type of maintenance involves circulating the solution through the device instead of the fluids.
- Cleaning by hand (manual cleaning): to clean the heat exchanger by hand, the professional must open the device after the plates have cooled. He or she must then carefully remove the plates in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The expert can use a nylon brush and lukewarm water to achieve this.
How do I clean and maintain a coil heat exchanger?
Like plate heat exchangers, serpentine heat exchangers can also suffer from fouling. The unit’s thermal conductivity can be reduced by dirt deposits that have accumulated on the inner surface of the coil tubes. When it comes to serpentine heat exchangers, cleaning requires care and precision. To maintain and clean a serpentine heat exchanger, two steps are required:
- Heat or chemical treatment;
- Ultrasonic treatment.
Once these two steps have been completed, the exchanger is back in full working order. Coil heat exchangers must be cleaned by hand, as they are delicate pieces of equipment. Entrusting the maintenance of this type of exchanger to a specialist is the best solution to ensure optimal cleaning and maintenance.
Professional heat exchanger cleaning
Calling in a professional to clean a heat exchanger has many advantages. A company specializing in heat exchanger cleaning is experienced in this field of activity, enabling it to choose the method best suited to the customer’s situation. Likewise, the specialist has all the right equipment to carry out the operation successfully. He can ensure effective cleaning, without the risk of damaging the exchanger. This can also be an opportunity for the expert to check for any anomalies on the heat exchanger, and repair them to ensure that the equipment remains reliable.