brazed plate heat exchanger

[dman_110]

Hello all, just looking for advice on back flushing a brazed PHE. Ive got a 60 plate that i believe to be fouled due to poor water quality. Its on my buddies outdoor wood boiler and he never conditioned the watwer two years ago, and it hasnt been shut down since the day we hooked it up. Im going to cut in some tees and install boiler drains, figure i could back flush into a bucket a solution of something. any help would be greatly apreciated.

 

[jebatty]

I used to believe the wash of choice was muriatic acid, aka hydrochloric acid. Now I don't believe that is the right acid. Google "flat plate heat exchanger cleaning" and do some research. Also, check this out: Descale

 

[in hot water]

A few manufacturers sell these de-lime kits for tankless water heaters. Some owners need to de-lime those heaters once a year. A plate HX would be the same, especially in hard water conditions. www.flow-aide.com

Install two of these Webstone valves to make it easy to flush in the future.

hr

 

[dman_110]

thanks for the input, someone suggested TSP, im not really sure what that would do, i am a little nervouse about etching the inside of the plates, which is what that acid would do, right?

 

[Frozen Canuck]

You will need an acid base of some sort, boiler cleaner, etc to break down the deposits inside the excanger so they can be flushed out. You can use milder solutions you will just need more time. There was a thread on this very topic I am guessing 16 months ago. If you can find it using the search function it is full of discussion about how, to what to use, etc. As well as photos. Good luck hope you find it. It's worth the search time.

 

[dogwood]

Try https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/42386/P0/

 

[dman_110]

thank you all for the info, gotta get to flushin, the white stuffs on its way. thanks again.

 

[dman_110]

thank you all for the info, gotta get to flushin, the white stuffs on its way. thanks again.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Try https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/42386/P0/

Once again another example of why the boiler room members are a great bunch. WTG dogwood.

 

[dogwood]

You're welcome Frozen Canuck.

Mike