Chemical Cleaning of Magnetite Deposits on the Flow Mini-Channels of a Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger in an EDTA-Based Solution

The dissolution behavior of magnetite deposited on flow mini-channel surfaces within a printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE) and the corrosion behavior of a STS 316L PCHE material were investigated in an ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-based chemical cleaning solution at 93 °C. The fouling in the PCHE was simulated using a water-steam circulation loop system. Most of the magnetite deposits were rapidly dissolved in the early stage of the circulation chemical cleaning. An empirical equation for estimating the dissolution percentage was derived as a function of cleaning time. The PCHE material showed excellent corrosion resistance during the chemical cleaning tests. These results indicate the fouling layers in the PCHEs can be removed efficiently by the chemical cleaning process without concern about base metal corrosion.