The Stubby Bitumen - Twisted Tube Heat Exchanger - Case Study

The Challenge
Twisted tube designed heat exchangers are exceptionally difficult to clean. This particular fouling process is extra challenging due to the steam in the tube side which bakes the bitumen on to the shell side faster than other designs.

This heat exchagner was brought to ABSOLUTE after a previous service provider was not successful in their attempt to clean it. When previously cleaned and left out in warm ambient temperatures, the remaining bitumen left in the core would leak from the inner core.