installation &
operating instructions
abx
Brazed
Plate Heat Exchangers
3
8. fouling and cleaning
Different factors may effect fouling such as fluid velocity,
turbulence, flow distribution, surface finish and water quality.
Proper maintenance and adequate water treatment can help
reduce fouling. Properly sized strainers should be installed
when particles are known to exist (strainers with a mesh size of
16-20
will retain particles over
0.04
”). In installations where
high calcium hardness or fluid contamination is expected, the
heat exchanger should be cleaned periodically by flushing,
back-flushing and cleaning of the strainers. Two types of fouling
are described below:
Scaling
Deposits of calcium on the heat transfer surface.
Deposits increase with temperatures higher than
60°c (140°f)
,
Calcium content and pH. Maintaining a turbulent flow and
lower temperatures can help reduce this type of scaling.
Particles Solids in suspension in the heat transfer media.
Fouling
is influenced by flow rate and velocity, as well as by the
physical size of the particles
Cleaning
of fouled plate heat exchanger by back flushing
will remove most of the soft debris that is blocked inside.
The solution used for back flushing shall be weak acids with
concentration less than
5%
; one example is citric acid. If the
acidity is to high, the copper and stainless steel inside the
phe
may be etched or corroded. Before Restarting the system, flush
the plate heat exchanger With large amounts of fresh water to
purge any Remaining acid solution.
9. warnings
• Explosive, flammable, corrosive, toxic and/or hazardous
fluids shall not be used in an
abx
.
• When an unknown quality of water is applied to the
abx
,
filter and strainer should with a
20
mesh sized shall be
placed at the water inlet to the
abx
.
• Highly chlorinated water and seawater can corrode
standard stainless steel plates and copper.
• Solution in the
abx
shall have a pH range between
6
and
8
.
• Ground water with high sulfuric compound and low pH
value may cause gradual damage to the copper braze
• When handling the
abx
be aware that exposed metal edges
May be sharp and suitable gloves should be warn.
Storage in dry and heated conditions warehouse between
1°c
to
50°c.
warranty
Standard Armstrong Warranty applies
