| This article is intended for beginners. No advanced | | | | could not be achieved, we shall consider doing CIP. |
| knowledge needed to understand this topic so why | | | | However, I came out with a simple heat exchanger |
| not give it a try? | | | | calculation, a formula to calculate the "Overall Heat |
| I have more than 10 plate heat exchangers (PHE) in | | | | Transfer Coefficient" (U-value) of the heat exchanger. |
| my plant. Usually, we'll monitor the flowrate, inlet and | | | | The U-value will give me some indication on which |
| outlet temperature, as well as pressure. Before, I joined | | | | heat exchangeris providing the worse heat transfer. |
| the company, I observed that the "cleaning in place" | | | | By simplifying the formula in excel file, I can easily know |
| (CIP) using caustic solution was carried out when the | | | | which heat exchanger needs attention just by inserting |
| PHE could no longer produced desired flow rate and | | | | the inlet/outlet temperature, mass flow rate, heat |
| temperature outlet. This is one method of eliminating | | | | capacity of oil, and surface area of the plates. The |
| the fouling and scaling on the plate surface in order to | | | | LMTD (log mean temperature difference) will be |
| improve the heat transfer. If CIP does not work, we | | | | obtained from the formula and further applied to get |
| have to dismantle the PHE, clean the plates in hot | | | | the U-value. |
| caustic and attach new gasket on it. This will be a far | | | | I use and manipulated the following formulas: |
| more expensive option and take longer time. | | | | Q=mc(theta)=UA(LMTD) |
| To avoid massive fouling and scaling from getting | | | | Can you work out the formula? |
| worse, we have to conduct CIP regularly. When is the | | | | I hope that with this article you have learnt something. |
| right time to perform CIP? As mentioned above, when | | | | Why not learn something more and browse another |
| the flow rate is low or desired outlet temperature | | | | article. |