Chemical cleaning procedure of

operational plant

Subject Document no. Page

Chemical cleaning procedure of operational plant - 1/2
Group Issued (by / date) Revised (by / date) Rev.
Instruction IMA (27.4.2021) - -

The goal of chemical cleaning is to remove deposits, improve heat transfer, avoid overheating and
corrosion. Removal of contamination from the system in the operational plant requires careful selection
of chemicals and cleaning methods. Cleaning can be carried out in two ways: acid cleaning or reducing
deposit layers with amines and polycarboxylates.

To protect material against the acid attacks, corrosion inhibitors are used with various concentration
depending on type of inhibitor and acid that is used. These inhibitors should prevent the acid from
attacking the metal without preventing the removal of deposits. The maximum allowable operating
temperature for each inhibitor should not be exceeded since otherwise the inhibitor will decompose and
become ineffective. Valves not resistant to acid cleaning need to be protected or otherwise dismounted.
Before starting the cleaning process, a check acid cleaning resistance shall be made by controlling the
valves and materials list and be confirmed in writing.

1. Preparatory measures and functional testing

 The respective responsibilities should be agreed with contract between parties involves for all
measures that will be taken.
 All plant parts required for acid cleaning shall be ready-to-operate prior to the beginning of
cleaning.
 All welded joints of the dosing line carrying highly concentrated acid shall be fully radiographed.
 Emergency shut-down of the feed water pumps should have been tested before starting the
chemical cleaning.
 Non-drainable components shall be filled.

2. Pre-flushing
 To remove coarse contaminants, system shall be flushed with demineralized water.

3. Flushing with wetting agents

 Flushing shall be effected with non-ionic wetting agents to increase the wettability of the
surfaces to be cleaned.
 The emulsifying liquid should soak the plant for several hours before it is rinsed.

4. Treatment with acids

 Heat to the system should be provided.
 Circulation shall be effected with the feed water pumps and auxiliary steam be injected to warm
up the system.
 While warming up the system, the effective flow-through should be controlled.
 Acid injection can be started after all plant parts have been flown through.

5. Flushing to low conductivity

 For the removal of the acid and suspended contaminants 3 to 4 times of the plant volume of
demineralized water is required.
 The lower the temperature is, less likely the rust will be formed.
 Care should be taken to ensure that all auxiliary lines, water level indicators, blow down lines,
drains and measuring lines are flushed.

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Subject Document no. Rev. Page
Chemical cleaning procedure of operational plant - - 2/2

6. Passivation and copper dissolution

 By alkalization with ammonia and addition of hydrogen peroxide a thin oxide layer will be formed
to prevent further corrosion of the plant for approximately 4 week in dependence of the degree
of dryness of the system.
 During chemical cleaning the passivation may also effect to dissolution of copper
o In this case cleaning should be effected to reach a constant copper content and
should end with re-flushing of system with ammonia containing water.

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