Heat Exchanger Bundle Cleaning

Heat exchangers are pieces of industrial equipment.

Shell and tube heat exchangers contain a bundle of tubes connected by internal baffles and fixed to a tubesheet. The bundle is inserted into the heat exchanger shell, and the shell heads are sealed. One fluid flows through the shell as another fluid flows through the tube bundle. Heat is exchanged between the two fluids. Often, the material flowing through the tubes creates buildup, corrosion or scaling and must be cleaned. This is an industrial process operation.

Things You'll Need

• Shell and tube heat exchanger
• Large wrench
• Small crane or lifting equipment
• High-pressure water sprayer
• Tube cleaner (long-handled metal brush)

Instructions

1. Drain the heat exchanger shell and tube bundle. Remove any insulation. Using the large wrench, remove the shell flange nuts. Depending on the size of the heat exchanger, a crane may be used to remove the heat exchanger shell head, exposing the tubesheet.

2. Use the crane to remove the tube bundle from the heat exchanger shell. Place the tube bundle on a concrete surface and secure it from rolling.

3. Use the long-handled metal brush and push through each individual tube until the brush exits the other side. As the brush is being pushed through, rotate it to clean the inside of the tube. Repeat this for each tube in the bundle.

4. Spray the inside of each tube thoroughly, using the high-pressure water sprayer. If there are difficult-to-clean spots inside a tube, use the metal brush and repeat the spraying. Depending on the type of corrosion or fouling, certain cleaning chemicals may be required.

5. Spray the outside of the tube bundle to rinse away any residual dirt. Place the tube bundle back into the heat exchanger shell. Secure the shell head back with the large wrench, replace the insulation and return the unit to service.

Tips & Warnings

• Cleaning a heat exchanger bundle is an industrial activity that should only be attempted by trained and qualified plant operators.

• The use of heavy lifting equipment such as cranes can be dangerous. Use caution any time maintenance or cleaning needs to be performed.

References

• API Heat Transfer: Cleaning Tubes