The Economic and Environmental Aspects of Heat Exchanger Cleaning -- How FP&L Has Used the Newly Patented MCC Process to Clean Turbine Lube Oil Coolers to Maximize Efficiency and Minimize Waste

Abstract

The fouling of heat exchangers of all types can affect a company's bottom line. Today, with better operational record keeping and the development of new research and modeling, we are beginning to get a better understanding of the importance of efficient and timely cleaning of heat exchangers. There are great differences in the cleaning processes that are used to clean exchanger bundles in industry today. The cleaning of turbine lube oil coolers is a specialized case in point. A newly patented process developed in Ohio has been tried in Florida at FP&L with significant results. Cleaning efficiencies of 92% are 30% greater than those achieved with high-pressure washing. Using a constantly filtered solvent and 1000 gpm flow rates form up to 180 nozzles this new process eliminates or reduces wastewater generation by 85%. The process appears to offer significant advantages in the power, petroleum, and petrochemical industries.