Intercooler & Aftercooler Exchangers Cleaned

Internal & External Clean Plus DIN Search Inspection of Intercooler and Aftercooler Exchangers

Summary

The Intercooler and Aftercooler, fin-fan radiator type heat exchangers with aluminium fins, on this UK compressor site required an external ‘over tube’ clean for performance and internal ‘bore’ clean to allow for internal integrity inspection. The site also required an oil cooler to be stripped, externally cleaned and re-assembled – all within 3 days.

Problem

• Client requested a dry rotary mechanical system to prevent water entering the scrubber system.
• Approximate thickness of fouling and location of fouling was unknown other than the visible 3-4mm on underside of plenum.
• DIN Search integrity inspection would take up almost a whole day yet entire contract had to be complete in 3 days.

Solution

• Turnkey project – strip down cooler headers, clean tube bores, inspect tubes, reassemble headers, pressure test, clean fins.
• Bespoke SafejeTT™ cleaning system used on underside and overside of external tubes on Intercooler, Aftercooler and oil cooler.
• Rotaflex™ rotary mechanical dry de-scaling and cleaning system used for internal tube.
• DIN Search inspection carried out after internal clean of Intercooler and Aftercooler.
• Inspection results approved. Contract completed in 2½ days

Tube Tech comment

Scott Donson, Technical Sales Manager: “Our client initially contacted us to perform the cleaning work only, but after a short conversation he realised that the whole workscope could be undertaken by the Tube Tech team, with the right planning we were able to strip and clean the oil cooler in the timescale initially allotted for the Intercooler and aftercooler work only. Not only did we perform the shutdown within the time allowed, but exceeded our own and the clients expectations.”