Mining Industry
Chemical Effluent Plant – 4m3/hr DAF Plant
Problem Statement
A leading Base Metals Refinery in South Africa has a heat exchange unit at the Ammonium Sulphate process. Due to the high hardness and Sulphate levels in the feed water, they are experiencing scaling in the unit which leads to inefficient outputs of the heat exchangers.
Solution
A special blend of highly concentrated chemicals was used in the cleaning process, finished off with high pressure rinsing to remove the precipitated scale.
Performance Target
Clean heat exchange tubes
Increased performance of units
Process
Chemicals are pumped into the system and then heated to the key temperature to assist in breaking down the scale. After temperature is reached the solution is circulated and soaked for a period of time depending on the severity. System is then rinsed and drained and the loose scale is then removed using high-pressure cleaning.
- Chemical addition
- Temperature control
- High-pressure cleanout
Innovation
The client has experienced a significant increase in process output after the removal of scale in their system. Also increasing the lifespan of the units. A more efficient heat transfer system reduces costs and downtime.
