Heat exchangers play a central role in various industrial processes, as they ensure the efficient transfer of heat between different media. They are used to recycle waste heat and save energy, particularly in sectors such as energy supply, chemicals and the food industry. However, over time, deposits such as limescale, dirt or chemical residues accumulate on the heat exchange surfaces, which can significantly impair their function and efficiency.

Even minor soiling leads to a loss of heat transfer, which increases energy consumption and causes operating costs to rise unnecessarily. If these deposits are not removed in time, expensive damage to the systems can occur. Regular and professional heat exchanger cleaning with high-pressure systems helps to ensure maximum efficiency while extending the systems’ lifespan.

Efficient cleaning solutions such as the high-pressure systems from KAMAT help to effectively remove these deposits and thus reduce operating costs. Heat exchanger cleaning therefore makes an important contribution to saving costs and maintaining production output.

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Benefits of high-pressure cleaning for heat exchangers

High-pressure cleaning offers a particularly efficient method of removing deposits such as limescale, dirt and chemical residues from heat exchangers. KAMAT uses pump units that are particularly effective and environmentally friendly. Here is an overview of the most important advantages of industrial pressure washing:

  • Effective removal of deposits: By using high-pressure water (up to 3,500 bar depending on the material to be removed), even stubborn incrustations are thoroughly removed without damaging the surfaces of the heat exchangers. Heat exchanger cleaning usually requires a pressure of around 1,000 bar.
  • No use of chemicals: In contrast to conventional cleaning methods, high-pressure cleaning does not require the use of chemical cleaning agents. This is not only more environmentally friendly, but also reduces risks for personnel.
  • Efficiency with heavily soiled systems: The superiority of high-pressure cleaning compared to conventional methods is particularly evident with bundle tube heat exchangers that are heavily soiled. Conventional mechanical methods often reach their limits, whereas high-pressure solutions can easily remove even deep-seated deposits.
  • Minimal system downtime: Cleaning is carried out quickly and thoroughly, which minimises downtime. This keeps the production process as undisturbed as possible, which is particularly important in industry.

Gentle cleaning: High-pressure cleaning is gentle on sensitive system parts, extending the service life of the heat exchangers.

Environmentally friendly cleaning with KAMAT high-pressure systems

KAMAT’s high-pressure cleaning systems not only offer an effective solution for cleaning heat exchangers, but also actively contribute to environmental protection. Unlike traditional cleaning methods, which often rely on chemical cleaning agents, high-pressure cleaning uses pure water to thoroughly remove deposits such as limescale, sludge and residues. This avoids the use of chemicals and promotes environmentally friendly and sustainable cleaning.

KAMAT is also a proud partner of the Blue Competence Initiative, a sustainability initiative of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). This seal stands for a commitment to using resources efficiently and minimising the ecological footprint. KAMAT’s systems feature low water consumption and high energy efficiency, making them an ideal choice for companies looking to reduce their environmental impact.

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Powerful high-pressure technology for effective heat exchanger cleaning

KAMAT offers specialised high-pressure cleaning systems that are characterised by their flexibility and efficiency and can be used to clean a wide range of heat exchanger types. Different processes are used, which are customised depending on the degree of soiling and type of heat exchanger.

Technical details of the KAMAT high-pressure systems:

  • Pressure ranges: KAMAT systems operate with variable pressure ranges from 300 to 3,500 bar, depending on the requirements and type of soiling.
  • Water consumption: Despite the high pressure, KAMAT high-pressure systems are very efficient in terms of water consumption. Thanks to precise dosing, the use of water is minimised, which is both environmentally friendly and cost-saving.

Areas of application for heat exchanger cleaning

Heat exchanger cleaning plays a crucial role in numerous branches of industry to ensure the efficiency and smooth operation of systems. Typical areas of application include power generation, the chemical industry and the food industry. In these sectors, heat exchangers ensure that excess heat is utilised effectively and waste heat is recycled, thereby reducing operating costs and conserving resources.

In the energy sector, heat exchangers are often used in exhaust gas systems and steam boilers to recover heat from exhaust gases and feed it back into the production cycle. Regular cleaning is therefore important in order to maximise the efficiency of the systems and avoid breakdowns.

Heat exchangers also play a key role in the chemical industry. They are used in cooling circuits and evaporation systems to make chemical processes safe and energy-efficient. However, deposits such as chemical residues and dirt can block heat transfer and thus jeopardise process reliability.

In the food industry, heat exchangers are used in various production steps, for example to control the temperature of products or in cooling systems. Here, heat exchanger cleaning ensures that hygienic standards are met and that the systems operate without any loss of performance.

How often should you clean a heat exchanger?

The frequency of heat exchanger cleaning is crucial to maintaining maximum system efficiency and avoiding costly breakdowns. There are various factors that influence the cleaning cycle. For optimum performance, regular maintenance and cleaning is usually recommended.

Here are the most important factors that determine the cleaning interval:

  • Degree of contamination: heat exchangers that are heavily contaminated with limescale, sludge or chemical residues require more frequent cleaning. Heavy deposits lead to a significant loss of heat transfer, which increases energy consumption and reduces efficiency.
  • Service life: Systems that are in continuous operation should be serviced more frequently. Especially in areas where heat exchangers are in continuous use for long periods of time, such as in the chemical or food industry, cleaning every six months or even quarterly may be advisable.
  • Industry requirements: The requirements for the cleanliness and efficiency of heat exchangers vary depending on the industry. In food production, frequent cleaning is important in order to comply with hygiene standards, while in the energy sector, efficiency takes centre stage. Here, cleaning intervals should be adapted accordingly.
  • Specific system requirements: In addition to the general industry specifics, the design and area of application of the respective heat exchanger play a role. Systems with a high heat transfer requirement or in particularly demanding environments require more frequent maintenance cycles.

As a general guideline, annual cleaning is recommended, which can be adjusted depending on the degree of soiling and area of application.

Efficient heat exchanger cleaning with KAMAT – save costs and maximise performance

KAMAT’s high-pressure systems offer one of the most efficient solutions for heat exchanger cleaning. Thanks to the powerful high-pressure technology, deposits such as limescale and sludge are thoroughly removed – without the use of chemicals. This not only protects the environment, but also reduces downtimes and saves operating costs in the long term. With KAMAT, you can rely on an industrial cleaning solution that maximises performance and extends the service life of your systems.

Save costs now and have your heat exchangers cleaned efficiently – with KAMAT high-pressure systems.

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