Intercooler Passivation Risks

Working with chemicals is always a risk.

Carefully read the chemical's label and material safety data sheet (MSDS).

If you havent worked with chemicals in your process you need to review the process plan. Then you have to make sure that all your equipment can handle the chemicals.

Thanks a lot for the information. The other thing is, if you do pascivation the chemical goes in to the metal of the cooler and form a layer. Will it effect the heat exchange?

It is unlikely to have no effect whatsoever.

Thanks!

But it is very likly that you need to figure out exactly what that effect is! The way you say it is "going into the metal" worries me as it suggests that you changing the chemistry of your metal which could mean catastrophal failure of same.

I would then not worry too much about the temperature effects!

Is your metal resistant to the the chemicals applied?

Say for instance the tubes are copper. It is from high importance to get as mutch heat exchange as posible. High temperature will effect the performance of the compressor. By pascivate the tubes, may it change the heat carry over?

Copper and Copper Alloys - Page 326 - Google Books Result

Passivation, or electropolishing, should enhance thermal conductivity of the copper by removing surface contamination that is less conductive than pure copper.

Beware! Double Negative.

Is this a process recommended by the manufacturer....If not, I would contact them to get a determination....Passivation is used specifically to coat metals to guard against deterioration due to corrosion, and maintain structural integrity....

Thanks a lot for the information. It gives a perspective of taking a good dicition what to do and what i do is to see what can be the risk of doing passivation on the coolers. The vendors can now also giving there information and the chemical guys. But it alway stays with the vendors to take the dicition.

Willem,

.

I would recommend you do NOT proceed with 'doing passivation with chemical' of the compressor heat exchangers.

.

Based solely on the limited information provided, I think it is impossible for you to know that the risks are not unacceptably high. No information was provided about specifically what chemicals are to be used, of what alloy copper the heat exchangers are, what process will be used, etc....

.

Since the heat exchangers are under-pressure and different alloys react differently to various chemicals the possibility exists for causing brittle failure.

.

What is it you hope to accomplish with passivation of the heat exchangers?

.

.

BTW: typically passivation involves prompting a reaction of the bare metal with something like oxygen or sometimes nitrogen, to form a passive, relatively chemically inert surface layer.

The layer is not very thick, but it does not typically conduct heat as well as pure copper. Despite this, it is typically not a detriment to heat transfer since even untreated bare copper sits in the atmosphere for a while, a passive layer will form.

Dear Mr. Williem,

Chemicals usage for cleaning the tubes of Heat Exchanger, always pose an element of Risk. I have experience - when chemical was used, the tube metal developed pores and started leaking. Perhaps, the mistake of te chemical supplier.

I suggest use high-pressure jet which is quick, environment-friendly, and economical.

DHAYANANDHAN.S

My employer purchased a chiller several years ago. One of the most important rules listed in the manual was NOT to use any chemical treatments (as in antifreeze) to treat the water used in the chiller due to effects on the heat exchange in the system. I would check with the maunfacturer.

Material? Grade? service?

http://www.totnes-bsac.co.uk/useful/risk/Compressor%20risk%20assessment%20v2b.pdf

http://www.plantservices.com

Mobile Booster Compressor