EnglishViews: 21 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-06-05 Origin: Site
Heat exchangers are used to optimize heat transfer from one gas or liquid to another during processing and cleaning-in-place (CIP) processes. Fouling or aging can cause heat exchanger performance to deteriorate and incur additional operating and energy costs to compensate for differences in target temperatures. Cleaning and maintaining heat exchangers is therefore essential to keep brewing equipment running efficiently. Regular maintenance keeps equipment functioning properly and helps avoid emergency maintenance. In addition, the cost of cleaning and maintaining heat exchangers is minimal compared to the cost of unplanned downtime required for heat exchangers.
Deposits of products or chemicals on heat transfer surfaces reduce the heat transfer capacity of heat exchangers and must be cleaned regularly to maintain high-performance operation and prevent process interruptions. Heat exchanger fouling and unwanted deposit buildup on heat transfer surfaces can result in a variety of costs:
Loss of production due to downtime
Maintenance costs to remove heavy fouling or deposits
Replacement of clogged equipment
Therefore, regular cleaning and maintenance of plate heat exchangers is essential.
Plate heat exchangers do not need to follow a fixed schedule for how often they should be cleaned. You can tell when a heat exchanger needs to be cleaned when it is unable to achieve the correct temperature for heating or cooling the product, because the incorrect temperature is caused by fouling on the plate surface, which reduces temperature transfer.
In addition, you may see a higher than specified pressure drop, because fouling blocks passages and increases fluid velocity. A good rule of thumb is to clean when the pressure drop across the board is 50% higher than the design pressure drop. If you do not know the design pressure drop, measure it immediately after cleaning and use these values to determine when the next cleaning should be.
Use isolation valves once or twice a year.
Check filters and clean as needed.
Check drains and vents for blockage.
Check pressure gauges and replace as needed.
Make sure operating conditions (temperature and flow) are within design specifications.
Bleed the heat exchanger at startup, but open and close valves slowly to avoid pressure surges and water hammer.
Protect the heat exchanger by removing particulate dirt with upstream filters and screens.
Check daily for changes in temperature, pressure, and any signs of external leaks.
Keep fastening bolts clean and well lubricated regularly.
Use condition detection techniques to avoid opening the plate heat exchanger for inspection.
Use clean-in-place (CIP) to avoid opening the heat exchanger for cleaning.
Always keep spare equipment clean and dry. If the heat exchanger is out of service, rinse it with clean water and drain it completely.
Protect the heat exchanger from water splashes and avoid exposure to UV and ozone typically generated by the power supply.
Use only original spare parts for plate heat exchangers to ensure performance, reliability, and equipment life. In addition, keep a stock of important spare parts and follow storage instructions.
Plate heat exchangers require ongoing maintenance between cleanings, be sure to check regularly to see if your plate heat exchanger needs cleaning. Degong recommends checking monthly. After a while, you will get an idea of how long cleaning is needed. If you don't want to do it yourself, there are companies that specialize in cleaning heat exchangers. You can do a quick online search for information on cleaning plate heat exchangers and get a list of companies in your area.
