A plate and frame heat exchanger having 140
titanium plates with 14" feed (carbon steel) pipes was used to
extract heat from a 7 - 8% brine solution whose temperature ranged 90
- 100 degrees C
and hardness varied from 100 to 400 mg/L. The brine solution was
cooled using a fresh water which was pumped to the other side of the
heat exchanger. Scaling occurred in both sides of the heat exchanger,
reducing the heat transfer coefficient by 20% every two weeks.
Scale build-up would force the plant to acid clean the heat
exchanger every 6 - 8 weeks.
Two Electronic Descaling 2000 units were installed: one on the brine inlet to the plate and frame heat exchanger and the other on the fresh water inlet.