What is the purpose of backflushing heat exchangers?

What is the purpose of backflushing heat exchangers?

• A. To enhance thermal efficiency
• B. To remove soft fouling
• C. To prevent overheating
• D. To check for leaks

Answer: (B)

Backflushing heat exchangers is primarily performed to remove soft fouling. Over time, heat exchangers can accumulate deposits such as algae, sand, and mineral scales on their surfaces, which can severely hinder thermal efficiency and reduce the system's overall performance. The backflushing process involves reversing the flow of the cleaning fluid through the heat exchanger, which helps dislodge these soft fouling materials and flush them out of the system, restoring the effective heat exchange capability. While enhancing thermal efficiency, preventing overheating, and checking for leaks are important considerations for maintaining heat exchangers, they do not specifically encapsulate the primary action and outcome associated with the backflushing process. Backflushing is targeted at cleaning the surfaces within the heat exchanger system, ensuring that it operates at optimal performance without the hindrance of soft fouling.

Backflushing heat exchangers is primarily performed to remove soft fouling. Over time, heat exchangers can accumulate deposits such as algae, sand, and mineral scales on their surfaces, which can severely hinder thermal efficiency and reduce the system's overall performance. The backflushing process involves reversing the flow of the cleaning fluid through the heat exchanger, which helps dislodge these soft fouling materials and flush them out of the system, restoring the effective heat exchange capability.

While enhancing thermal efficiency, preventing overheating, and checking for leaks are important considerations for maintaining heat exchangers, they do not specifically encapsulate the primary action and outcome associated with the backflushing process. Backflushing is targeted at cleaning the surfaces within the heat exchanger system, ensuring that it operates at optimal performance without the hindrance of soft fouling.