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Glossary 1 Refer to the figure(s) in the paragraph "Assembling and
disassembling of the heat exchanger" for an explanation
1 Introduction 2 of the designation of parts of the heat exchanger in the text.
1.1 Remarks 2
1.2 Guarantee and liability 2 Conditioned circuit
1.3 Environment 2 Closed circuit with a non-corrosive medium.
1.4 Safety 2
1.5 Inhibitors 2 Unconditioned circuit
Open circuit (for instance seawater) or a closed circuit with a
2 Installation and start-up 2 corrosive medium.
2.1 Receipt 2
2.2 Installation 2 Coating
2.3 Start-up 3 Layer protecting the coated material against corrosion. The
coating separates the coated part from the corrosive medium.
3 Maintenance 3
3.1 Cleaning and inspection intervals 3 Inhibitor
3.2 Anodic protection 3 Additive to a medium flowing through the heat exchanger
3.3 Cleaning of the heat exchanger 3 which –expressly tailored to that medium- reduces the
3.3.1 Mechanical cleaning of the tubeside 3 quickness of chemical reactions like corrosion.
3.3.2 Chemichal cleaning of the shell-/tubeside 3
3.4 Shut down periods 3 Anodes / anodic protection
3.5 Assembling and disassembling of the heat exchanger 3 Introducing a base metal to a more precious metal (on purpose)
3.6 Instructions for gaskets and bolting 5 in order to protect this metal. The part serving as anode is being
3.6.1 Gaskets 5 sacrificed.
3.6.2 Bolting 5
There are two models (P10 only in MV): the IV (Industrial Version)
and the MV (Marine Version). Main difference is the anodes in
the tubeside circuit of the MV. It is pointed out in the text when
there are differences between the two models.
* Make sure that the cold medium circulation is established There are several international companies (example in Appendix
first, followed by the gradual introduction of the hot medium. B) which supply equipment and fluids for chemical cleaning of
* Vent both circuits. heat exchangers. Their specialized cleaning centres, situated at
* Vent both circuits again when the operating temperatures ports all over the world, are able to give you a cleaning advise or
and pressures are reached. to clean the heat exchanger for you. To give an idea of the
* Check for leakage. possibilities, an example of a cleaning procedure is given below.
Do not deviate from the flows as stated on the specification Please note: The cleaning advice below is just an example.
sheet. Higher or lower velocities can cause erosion or corrosion Cleaning methods and procedures, as well as fluids for cleaning
respectively. will differ depending on the materials of the heat exchanger (see
specification sheet) and the application.
Avoid standstill: at non-conditioned circuits this may cause corrosion.
In case of standstill follow the instructions for shut down periods. This cleaning advise is meant for waterheaters/coolers.
If the heat exchanger is equipped with anodic protection (see Descalant NF (inhibited cleaning agent)
specification sheet) you will have to inspect the anodes (or part * Submerge the tubebundle (time is dependend on the degree
that functions as anode) when you are starting up the heat of fouling) in a tank with dissolved cleaning agent
exchanger after a shut down period. * After cleaning neutralize the tubebundle and the cleaning
agent with a special neutralizing fluid
3 Maintenance * Flush the tubebundle with fresh water
* Dry the tubebundle
If necessary refer to "Assembling and disassembling of the heat
exchanger" for (dis-)assembling instructions. 3.4 Shut down periods
During shut down periods longer than a week the heat exchanger
3.1 Cleaning and inspection intervals has to be drained completely and dried by means of preheated
Preventive maintenance of the heat exchanger is a user responsi- compressed air. In fact this also has to be done during short shut
bility. The tubeside circuit is usually the more fouling side of the down periods (longer than a day) when there is risk of freezing,
heat exchanger. Because the degree of fouling strongly depends and it also applies when a corrosive medium is used in the heat
on the operating conditions we recommend the following: exchanger. After draining a corrosive medium, the heat exchanger
* Inspect the tubeside at least quarterly. has to be rinsed with fresh water. Stopping of the flows, cooling
* Inspect the shellside at least twice a year. down and draining of the heat exchanger has to be done in a
With the results of these inspections you will be able to manner to minimize thermal stresses on the heat exchanger.
determine the required cleaning intervals. Always keep
performing regular inspections. Never stop one of the flows of the heat exchanger while the
other one stays in operation, because of the risk of boiling.
3.2 Anodic protection
Not applicable for IV models. 3.5 Assembling and disassembling of the heat exchanger
The MV models of P-type heat exchangers are fitted with anodic The circumferences of the tubesheets are fitted with three
protection: the tubeside circuit is provided with anodes. When grooves. The two outer grooves carry O-rings (sealing between
inspecting the tubeside of the heat exchanger also inspect the shell- and tubeside). At one of the tubesheets the middle groove
state of the anodes (always drain the tubeside circuit before is for the fixation of the position of the tubebundle by means of
removing the anodes). ‘fixationplates’ (this tubesheet is called the fixed tubesheet).
Depressurize the shellside again after the pressure test. For P10
only: Remember that the tubebundle is not fixated!
1 2 3 4 5
Step 2: Removing the tubebundle
* drain the shellside circuit, by opening the drain in the lowest
1 Tubesheet 4 Shell point and the vent in the highest point
2 O-ring 5 Tubes * mark the position of the tubebundle
3 Fixationplate * move the tubebundle to one side until the second O-ring
shows (do not move the tubebundle further than necessary)
Figure 1: Schematic drawing of tubesheet construction and remove this O-ring
* move the tubebundle to the other side and remove the
For P10 only: Instead of fixationplates the P10 has a metal spring second O-ring on this side as well
ring in the middle groove of the tubesheet. As soon as the bolts * carefully pull the tubebundle from the shell
are untightened the position of the tubebundle is no longer * support the tubebundle at the baffles when lifting it, but be
fixated. Tubeside inspection or cleaning remains possible, careful not to bend the baffles (this will affect the thermal
but extra attention is required because the tubebundle is not performance of the heat exchanger)
fixed anymore. Except when performinge a pressure test, we
recommend to drain both circuits. Step 3: Assembling
* assemble the heat exchanger in reversed order
For tubeside inspection, shellside pressure testing or (pay attention to the earlier made marks):
cleaning of the tubes with a tubebrush, only the tube- Mounting of the tubebundle (only in case it was removed):
side connections and the waterboxes (these are the * push the tubebundle in the shell (let it stick out of the shell
parts on both ends of the shell, on which the tubeside a little bit)
connections are made) need to be removed (follow step 1 and 3). * mount the inner O-ring on the first tubesheet
Pay attention: when the nuts are untightened the fixationplates * move the tubebundle further and let it stick out a little bit
are also untightened, so the tubebundle comes loose. In order to on the other side of the shell
fixate the tubebundle temporarily, fasten the fixationplates with * mount the inner O-ring on the second tubesheet
the nuts.
Hint: when it is difficult to move the tubebundle through the
For shellside inspection (for instance), the tubebundle shell because the already mounted O-ring is hard to
has to be removed completely (follow step 1, 2 and 3), compress, you can use a strip between tubesheet and
and both circuits have to be drained. waterbox and then tighten two of the four bolts and nuts
* move the tubebundle in its final position
When assembling as well as disassembling follow the
"Instructions for gaskets and bolting". Tubeside assembly:
* mount the outer O-rings on both sides
Step 1: Tubeside disassembling * mount the plastic partitions on the tubesheets of 2- or 3-pass
models
* mount the fixationplates (for P10 only: mount the metal
spring ring)
* mount the waterboxes and all connections
* depressurize both circuits * start-up the heat exchanger again:
* let both circuits cool down to ambient temperature * make sure that the cold medium circulation is established
* drain the tubeside circuit, by opening the drain in the lowest first, followed by the gradual introduction of the hot medium
point and the vent in the highest point * vent both circuits
* mark the position of all parts that will be disassembled, so
they can be mounted in the correct position later on
3.6 Instructions for gaskets and bolting 4.2 Leaking tubes / tube-to-tubesheet connection
It is often very hard to determine whether leakage occurs because
3.6.1 Gaskets of a leaking tube or because of a leaking tube-to-tubesheet con-
Two types of gaskets are being used in this heat exchanger: nection. The shellside of the heat exchanger can be hydrotested,
after disassembling the tubeside. Follow the instructions in
O-rings: After disassembling the heat exchanger never use the "Assembling and disassembling of the heat exchanger".
old O-rings again. Replace them with original Bloksma O-rings. Subsequently pressurize the shellside. After hydrotesting depres-
surize and drain the shellside again. Assemble the heat exchan-
Warning: The O-rings have to be lubricated with a special O-ring ger again.
lubricant (O-ring silicone paste or Parker O-lube) for easy assembly
and a good sealing capacity. Lubricants not suited for O-rings can The tubes are roller expanded into the tubesheet. It is either not
affect the sealing capacity of the O-ring (for instance do never possible (finned tubebundles) or relatively complicated (unfin-
use vaseline). Any warranty claim will be rejected when unsuited ned tubebundles) to replace a leaking tube, but it can be plug-
lubricants are used. ged with soft copper Bloksma plugs (other materials are too
hard and may cause leakage of the adjacent tube-to-tubesheet
Soft metal rings: After disassembly of the heast exchanger never connections) in both tube ends. A maximum of approximately
use the old soft metal rings again. Replace them with new ones 10% plugged tubes will not influence the thermal performance
for good sealing. of the heat exchanger too much. Contact Bloksma when more
than 10% of the tubes is plugged.
3.6.2 Bolting
Check bolts and nuts for damages. Tighten the bolts crosswise 4.3 Leaking gaskets
(see figure 2). This also applies to connecting piping to the heat * Check the gasket surfaces.
exchanger. Make sure the gasket surface is clean (remove dirt * Remove dirt or corrosion residues
and any corrosion residues) and undamaged. * Mount new gaskets
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