This tactic is used for larger shells with convenient access to hatches and clean-out ports. Rapidly changing oil flow rates caused by pulsation have been found to help dislodge pesky contaminants from nooks and crannies of the shell and tubes.īy changing fluid flow direction, some contaminants and surface deposits are exposed to bending fatigue reversals and can be dislodged and freed into the oil. They use coolers and heaters to cycle the oil’s temperature repeatedly over a range greater than 100 degrees F. Some practitioners have discovered that shocking the machine with large temperature shifts helps break loose crusty deposits during the flush. Target temperatures range from 175 to 195 degrees F. In addition, it increases oil solvency to aid in the scrubbing of tenacious deposits. This strategy also reduces viscosity and increases turbulence. Typically, a Reynolds number in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 is generally targeted. The approach involves increasing fluid velocity (sometimes two to four times the normal flow rates) and/or reducing oil viscosity during the flush. High Turbulence, High Fluid Velocity, Low Oil Viscosityįlushing is improved by enhanced fluid dynamics near machine surface boundaries. Because many machines have no onboard filtration, the use of periodic filter carts and oil reclamation equipment not only can clean the oil (drawing down the contaminant level) but can also remove loosely deposited sludge and sediment from the shell. This is the mildest of the flushing strategies. Any time you introduce unusual fluid chemistry, temperature, pressure, flow and turbulence, there can be adverse consequences for the machine, its seals and the lubricant.įollowing are the practices and technologies used by nearly 95 percent of flushing activities in industry. Your selection should primarily be based on the attributes of the contaminant.Ĭhoosing the wrong tactic not only can be wasteful but also risky in terms of potential system upsets and negative side effects. The shell side of a shell-and-tube oil cooler can be treated much like any other sump in terms of flushing and cleaning. "What is the best way to clean the shell side of a shell-and-tube oil cooler? There is a suspicion of sludge buildup and carbon from the oil.
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