5 replies to this topic

[burrows85]

hi everyone

We have fin tube type cooler that is used to cool MDEA upto required tempeartures. But we are having some problems in gaining required temperatures..it looks that inside tubes have been corroded or scaled because at 100 % fan speed and with all the louvers open we are not gaining the desired temperatures..can anyone tell me what could be the possible reason...or what else i can do to gain the desired temperatures...or any other method???

Thanks

[kkala]

If there is not visible scale outside and fan operates properly, there must be scale inside the tubes (fouling), which needs cleaning. You can try chemical cleaning before dismantling for mechanical cleaning (pigging is not assumed to be applicable). (http://www.cheresour...h__1#entry50380 gives few info on scale cleaning)

[Zauberberg]

Also check fan belts for slippage and measure actual power consumption/amperage of the fan motors. In addition to that, check behavior of the controllers acting on the motor and those controlling actual position of fan louvres. It could be a simple issue.

Once when you verify these parameters and find them OK you can start thinking of cleaning the tubes.

[shin29]

Dear ,
Recently i have been attributed , responsibility for cleaning of fins of heat exchanger of air cooler. I have recieved quatations from vendors also.
like chemical cleaning with biodegradeble surfactant, high pressure water cooling, high pressure steam cleaning ( 8 barg )
What are the things i should check so that the cleaning shall be done with out no harm to exchanger or environment

[breizh]

Shin,
What about cleaning the outside of the fin where dirt is accumulated ? How do you consider it?


Breizh

[kkala]

Personal knowledge is limited to finned tubes of fuel oil boiler economisers, cleaned (without apparent problems) through high pressure (~20 barg) steam sootblowers. Yet this cleaning occurs e.g. twice per day, not once through. And scale from flue gases may differ to that from ambient air. One could get an idea of the methods by googling e.g. "fined tube cleaning", for instance http://www.tubetech.com/case-studies/process-manufacturing/fin-fan-cleaning-improves-heat-transfer/.
Combination of a surfactant with HP steam or water (once at a time) could be a more drastic way out; however I would confirm free disposal of resulting wastewater for the specific case, even if the surfactant is biodegradable http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Surfactant .
Specific experience from air coolers cleaning could give a more concrete answer. For want of something better, web could give a picture, e.g. http://www.hudsonpro...nfan/FfFaq.html - etc*, http://books.google....leaning&f=false, http://www.sentro-tech.com/category/ff '> http://www.sentro-tech.com/category/ff .

* question on cleaning refers to "cleaning page" of websire, not found.

Edited by kkala, 13 September 2012 - 08:03 AM.