1

H E AT E XC H A N G E R

Seawater cooler HEX

backflushing
 Fouling in HEX
2
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

• The accumulation of unwanted deposits on the surfaces of heat

exchangers.
• Fouling services present difficult challenges for heat exchangers.
Fouling can result from reactions, sticky materials, solidification
and many other causes. In biofuels plants, fibers often lead to
fouling problems. Backflush operation can reduce the effect of
fouling in these plants.
H E AT E XC H A N G E R 3
 TYPES OF SEAWATER FOULING
4

The most important forms of fouling occurring in

H E AT E XC H A N G E R

seawater systems are as follows:

1. Crystallization fouling.

This includes the deposition of calcium carbonate,

calcium sulphate and other salts that have a
solubility that diminishes with increasing
temperature, leading to crystallization of deposits
of the salts on the heat exchanger tubes.

2. Corrosion fouling.

Some metals are oxidized to produce insulating

layers of oxides on the tubes.
 TYPES OF SEAWATER FOULING
5

3. Biological fouling.
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

A whole range of biological growths form on heat exchanger tubes

in seawater. The species attached range from micro-organisms
(bacteria, algae) to microorganisms (mussels, barnacles, etc.).

4. Particulate fouling.

Seawater may contain many types of silt, mud, sand or other finely
divided particles that may settle on the heat exchanger surfaces
and act as an insulating layer.
 Fouling in seawater systems:
6

There are six factors that have a predominant role in governing fouling in
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

seawater systems:

1. Surface temperature

the corrosion rate increases with

temperature but the corrosion
requires the presence of dissolved
oxygen and this dissolved
oxygen content is reduced at higher
temperatures due to the decreasing
solubility of oxygen in water.
 Fouling in seawater systems:
7

There are six factors that have a predominant role in governing fouling in
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

seawater systems:

2. Water velocity

• fouling rate may increase with

velocity at low velocities.

3. Oxygen concentration

corrosion fouling is strongly

affected by the amount of oxygen
dissolved in the water.
 Fouling in seawater systems:
8
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

• Scale comes in a variety of forms, but the most common is

calcium carbonate or CaCO3. Calcium scale precipitates when the
threshold solubility of calcium and carbonate is exceeded.

• Calcium and alkalinity exist in different concentrations in virtually

all make-up sources. As evaporation removes pure water from
the cooling tower, the dissolved solids remaining increase in
concentration. If the concentration becomes too great, the
combine to form calcium carbonate scale.
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

Fouling
Backflush Away
9
 Backflush Away Fouling
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H E AT E XC H A N G E R

• the cooling water flows from inlet

to the outlet of the heat exchanger
its temperature rises. Most scales
and deposits in cooling water form
at elevated temperatures, which
means, that the maximum scaling
or deposits occur at the cooling
water outlet side.
H E AT E XC H A N G E R 11
 Backflush Away Fouling
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H E AT E XC H A N G E R

A back wash system is connected at the outlet end of the

cooling water from the heat exchanger. The backwash
system flushes (cleans) the cooling water side from
cooling water outlet towards the cooling water inlet using
water which is at a higher pressure than the normal cooling water
inlet pressure.
 Backflush Away Fouling
13
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

• A backwash system allows the flushing of the heat exchanger of

scales and deposits formed on the cooling water side
 HEX in Operation
14
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

NC
NO

NC

Chemical
Tank
NO

NC
Injection
Pump
 HEX in Cleaning
15
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

NO
NC

NO

Chemical
Tank
NC

NO
Injection
Pump
 Backflush Away Fouling
16
H E AT E XC H A N G E R

 you could mix descaling chemicals with water used for backwash to
effectively clean the CW side. You can install a temporary strainer
(filter) at the inlet of heat exchanger before the backwash to capture
all the scale and dirt. You could also disconnect the inlet CW line to the
heat exchanger, and provide a temporary connection to a drain from
the CW inlet connection to the HE for open flushing of the heat
exchanger. Many, many ways of doing the backwash operation
depending on the application and established plant operating
procedures for backwash