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.
The Solution
ABSOLUTE submerged the exchanger in our proprietary solvent for 6 hours. Not consuming any water and using no harsh chemcials that required deep-well disposal after, this bundle came out shiny and clean.
We removed the exchanger from the solvent and let it sit in the sun over a period of time to see if any bitumen was left on the inner core and would run out on to the outter shell. The results showed it was cleaned to the core
BEFORE: HEAT EXCHANGER SPECIFICATIONS
- Type of Asset: Heat Exchanger
- Material: Carbon Steel / Coated
- Size: 10 feet long , 64”
- Arrival Weight: 30,000 lbs
- Design: Twisted Tube
- Fouling / Process: Tube- Steam / Shell- Bitumen
- # of Tubes: 2193
- Outer Tube Dimension: 1”
AFTER: BENEFITS & RESULTS
- Fouling Removed: 2,000 lbs
- Time Cleaned: 6 hours
- Est. Time Saved: 24 man hours
- Return Weight: 28,000 lbs
- Inspection Standard: -
- No water consumed
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