Process: ACC Deep Clean – Safe Chemical Wash
Company: SITA Isle of Man
Location: Isle of Man
Plant Item: Air Cooled Condenser (ACC)
At SITA’s Isle of Man energy from waste plant (EFW), an Air Cooled Condenser (ACC) is used to condensate steam back into the generating process. Over the course of generation, dirt, grease and grime, which adheres to the surfaces of the ACC affects the thermal efficiency, which reduces output and increases site expenditure. Historically HP Jetting was employed to clean these tube banks, but concerns over safety and damage to tube fins led to a trial of RICO’s ACC deep clean service. RICO’s task was to thoroughly clean all of the tube banks of the ACC, with no tube fin damage, and to improve performance.
RICO's safe chemical clean of SITA's ACC included 2 stages:
1. Application of Safe Degreasing Chemical: The degreasing chemical was diluted with water and 1000 litres of mixed solution was sprayed over 2 ACC sections at a time. The solution was left to soak through the 4 tube banks, lifting grease as it settled.
2. Deep Water Clean: Once the degreasing chemical had been left to settle and work on the dirt and grime, a CAT booster pump was used to wash down the treated sections. Pushing out over 35 gallons of low pressure water per minute, the pumps provided a deep cleaning affect, washing through all of the tube banks, and removing both the degreasing chemical and lifting grease and fouling (Picture 1).
During the cleaning process there were visual indicators that dirt and grease was successfully being removed from the tube banks and out of the ACC system, picture 2 shows the cleaned tube banks from underneath.
In addition to visual indicators, post clean analysis provided by SITA concluded that the deep clean had increased efficiency, and improved system longevity, leading to financial gains in the long term. These factors were indicated by:
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