Self-Cleaning Fluidized Bed Heat Exchanger

In a self-cleaning heat exchanger the tubes remain clean by applying a fluidized bed of cleaning particles in the tubes. These particles, made of either glass, ceramic or metal (cut metal wire) with diameters of 1.5 to 4 mm, create a mild scouring effect on the wall of the heat exchanger tubes. This scouring action removes the fouling deposits from the tube wall at an early stage of formation and keeps the heat transfer surface clean. The energy performance will remain constant as a result.

• On average the heat transfer is comparable or better to the conventional system and stays constant

Many types of fouling deposits can be effectively handled, whether hard or soft, originating from biological, crystallization, chemical or particulate fouling mechanism, or a combination of these. A wide variety of fluids can be handled ranging from aqueous solutions, to oils and slurries.

Business Case is depending on the fouling case of the client.

Example Food Case (NL)
Heat recovery from a product stream (heat is used to heat up another product stream); The self-cleaning heat exchanger provides in a higher and constant heat transfer; Benefit is that no or less steam is required for heating up the product stream. Payback period 3-4 years.

Example wastewater treatment (India)
Evaporator capacity of an evaporator plant (4 effect) reduces in two weeks from 100% to 50%; cleaning requires 1 to 2 weeks. On average the evaporator operates on 60%. After revamping the system with the self-cleaning configuration, the evaporator operates at 100%. Benefit is 40% more capacity available and increase in production (up to 40% increase in wastewater) does not require investment in additional capacity.

• Better and constant heat recovery means less additional heat required to get to the required temperature
• Better and constant heat recovery by keeping the heat exchanger tubes clean
• Less maintenance and cleaning costs
• Reduction of production loss
• No over dimensioning of heat transfer area required

• Less maintenance
• Reduction of production loss
• No additional hazardous wastewater streams due to cleaning of heat exchangers (with chemicals

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