Method for cleaning heat exchangers
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorRobert C. Ezzell
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Abstract
A method of operating a heat exchange system of the type adapted to receive a hot fluid and a cool fluid therethrough accomplishes cleaning of the system by terminating cool fluid flow to a portion of the system. Both fluids are passed through the entire system for a period of time. Flow of the cool fluid is then terminated to a portion of the system while continuous flow of the hot fluid is maintained through the entire system. Thus, the operating temperature of the entire system is increased so as to melt wax and other deposits on surfaces in the system.
Claims7
A method of operating a heat exchange system of the type adapted to receive two fluids therethrough such that heat is exchanged between the fluids, wherein the system comprises a plurality of heat exchangers connected in series such that a fluid passed to a first exchanger in the series is passed successively through each exchanger in the series, a portion of the exchangers making up a first group of exchangers and the remainder making up a second group of exchangers, said method comprising the steps:
- (a) passing a first fluid and a second fluid through the entire system for a period of time such that heat exchange between the first and second fluids occurs, wherein the first fluid is at a higher temperature than the second fluid upon entering the system, and wherein the first fluid is passed through the first group before being passed to the second group;
- (b) terminating flow of second fluid through the first group of exchangers after completion of step (a) while continuous flow of first fluid is maintained through the entire system for a period of time, wherein no other materials are introduced into the system during this step, whereby the system is cleaned.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.