• The first pair of exchangers cleaned were the least fouled. Approximately 99% of the deposits were successfully removed.
• The third exchanger was 80% plugged. The flow through this particular exchanger had been reduced to less than 20 gallons per minute. When the cleaning was complete 95% of the deposits had been removed and only 15 tubes were left with reduced flow.
• The fourth and fifth exchangers were 10% plugged and heavily fouled with a hard deposit containing significant levels of silica. The initial flow rate was minimal. However, the cleaning removed 98% of the deposits and renewed the exchangers to near maximum efficiency.
• Furthermore, at no point during the cleaning was a corrosion rate reading exceeding 1.87 mpy observed.

• Increased availability of equipment as the inhibited nitric acid is effective in a short contact time. Thus drastically reducing the out of service time associated with mechanical cleaning.
• Significant cost savings(approximately 25% of the cost of normal mechanical options)
• Extended equipment service life due to the effectiveness of the inhibitor and the fact that the scale removal decreases or eliminates the "pitting" associated with under-deposit corrosion.

Upon completion of this pilot study our client discovered that by employing this type of cleaning on a regular basis to routinely remove waterside deposits rather than waiting until a severe loss of efficiency is observed it is possible to enhance refinery productivity.

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