Clean In Place. (CIP)

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There are times CIP is faster, easier and cheaper than removing the equipment to clean it. Will that work for you?
Send us a note.

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One of our large industrial customers sent in (7) Plate & Frame heat exchangers (PHE) to be cleaned. The usual way to clean a PHE is to open the unit, remove the gaskets, and then soak the plates in a acid bath then in a caustic bath and a final rinse. Once a PHE has been opened, it usually requires new gaskets to seal properly. These PHEs had 60 plates each, even in the quantities needed for this job the gaskets cost $21.50 each, plus the cost of opening and closing the PHE, cleaning the plates, and installing the new gaskets. The cost of cleaning one of those PHEs would have easily reached $2,500.00.

Compare that to Clean In Place technology (CIP). We first pressure tested each unit to insure there were no leaks, we then flushed the cooling water side with (Trade Name), and passivated with a 7-8 ph solution. The oil side was then flushed with (Trade Name), and rinsed with clean water. The unit was again pressure tested and packaged for shipping. The cost was less than $500.00 / unit, including the cost of cleaning solution disposal and shipping.

Since this was the first time CIP technology had been used by this customer we opened a PHE for before and after photos. The plates looked as good as tank cleaning.

CIP technology will not completely remove the need for opening, inspection and tank cleaning but it can prolong the need to perform such tasks, extend the life of the PHE, and cut operating costs by insuring clean, efficient operation of the PHE.

Before

After

CIP technology may work for you. Drop us a note and let’s discuss it.