Why Proper Heat Exchanger Cleaning Matters

Whether it’s regulated by your customer requirements or the government, cleaning your heat exchanger is a required part of production. Keep these areas of focus top of mind when completing your cleaning-in-place (CIP) process.

Stop Premature Fouling

The accumulation of material onto the plates of a plate heat exchanger (PHE) is known as fouling. An obvious disadvantage to fouling is that it can be unsanitary, especially if the accumulated materials remain on the plates for an extended period of time. Heavy fouling deposits can even burn on and quickly become too overwhelming for a plant to handle without professional assistance. These buildups don’t just decrease the efficiency of the machines, they also can severely clog them to the point of causing an unexpected stoppage. 

If you’re experiencing premature fouling, call our professionals to help oversee your CIP. Together, we can make sure that your process is adequate for your equipment.

Avoid Damage From Harsh Chemicals

It can be tempting to blast a problem area with a high-concentration chemical. But be mindful that these chemicals can ruin your plates and gaskets. If you are experiencing less-than-optimal performance, there is usually a larger issue at hand that isn’t as easily solved. Always call in the professionals before attempting to resolve an issue with harmful chemicals.

Save Money in the Long Run 

When foulant matter builds up on your plate heat exchanger, it can no longer perform at its best. The math is quite simple — the longer it takes the heat to transfer to your product, the slower you run your equipment or more energy it takes to get the same result. Your business will begin to see the consequences of inefficient heat transfer over time.

Properly caring for your heat exchange equipment will help you to optimize your uptime, keep production rates steady, and decrease damage to your equipment.

When in Doubt, Call the Experts

If you wait long enough to see something go wrong with your plate heat exchanger, it’s likely that you’ve already been losing money for a couple of months.

If maintaining your plate heat exchangers is too much of a burden for your plant staff, or you aren’t sure how to remedy an issue, contact AGC. We’re proud to have a team of plate heat exchanger experts at the ready to help care for your maintenance needs and improve your CIP process.