Why is it necessary to clean a thermal oil heater? Thermal oil tends to oxidize easily during the heating process, leading to increased acidity and a high rate of thermal change. Its kinematic viscosity gradually increases, the flash point decreases, and the residue carbon exceeds the standard. This is due to the thermal cracking of the thermal oil components under high temperatures.
Why is it necessary to clean a thermal oil furnace?
Thermal oil is prone to oxidation during the heating production process. At high temperatures, the acid value of the oil increases, and the rate of change increases. The thermal decomposition and thermal condensation of the thermal oil components at high temperatures cause the kinematic viscosity to gradually increase, the flash point to decrease, and the residual carbon to exceed the standard. Thermal decomposition leads to the formation of low-molecular-weight compounds, reducing the viscosity of the polymer, while thermal condensation results in the formation of polymer products, increasing the viscosity of the polymer. Low-molecular-weight compounds will volatilize in small amounts. The overall result is that as the temperature rises, the oil's viscosity and residual carbon content increase. At a temperature of 300°C, the inner walls of pipes and equipment are prone to thermal cracking and carbon buildup, affecting heat transfer efficiency, reducing the fluidity of oxidized sludge inside the pipes, and accelerating aging. The failure of the thermal oil leads to overheating of the furnace and pipes, weakening mechanical strength, and posing a risk to personal safety. Scale buildup in the pipes reduces the flow area of the pipes to varying degrees, increases frictional resistance, raises energy consumption, decreases the oil transportation capacity of the pipes, and can sometimes lead to initial solidification, stoppage, and other accidents. Additionally, the oxidation scale produced during the production of thermal oil can increase the thermal resistance of the pipe walls, raise energy consumption during the production process, shorten the lifespan of the equipment, reduce the internal diameter of the equipment, increase the flow pressure difference of the thermal oil, and extend the service life of the thermal oil. Reducing production can severely impact production safety and economy.
Selection of thermal oil furnace cleaning time
1. The normal service life of domestically produced mineral thermal oil is 3-4 years. Cleaning before oil replacement can ensure the lifespan of the new heat exchange oil.
2. Develop a cleaning plan when the residue carbon content exceeds 1.0.
3. Modify or increase production capacity.
4. The temperature difference between the heat transfer oil and the oil can reach as high as 30°C; it is mandatory to clean the heat transfer oil furnace.
Thermal oil furnace cleaning method
Cleaning Process: Additives are only introduced into the running thermal oil to dissolve and remove carbon deposits, which are then filtered out.
Cleaning Agent Principle: This additive removes tar deposits using a similar dissolution principle or degrades them to prevent the deterioration of thermal oil. This method involves continuous cleaning. The additive can withstand temperatures above 200°C and dissolves in thermal oil without affecting its physical properties. The dosage should not exceed 4% of the thermal oil. When using thermal oil, reduce the temperature to around 80°C, add the cleaning agent to the system, and then slowly heat and circulate for cleaning. After cleaning, the oil is directly discharged for recycling, achieving a high cleanliness rate with environmental protection and no pollution. This process has a high cleaning and recovery rate, eliminates the washing process, shortens the refining time, and solves the slow regeneration speed after washing.
