The Economic Aspect in the Diagnosis of Scale-Forming Layers in Plate Heat Exchangers

The reliability and efficiency component of third-generation heat- and power-supply networks is characterized by the application of heat-exchange devices, particularly of the plate type, the major function of which consists in heating a heat-transfer fluid for the needs of hot-water supply and heating systems. Some specific features inherent in the chemical composition of the heat-transfer fluid, however, can lead to fouling in heat exchangers in the form of scale layers on their heating surfaces. The process of scaling on the plates of heat exchangers is one of the key factors influencing the failure of equipment and the growth of the power consumption parameters at heat-distribution stations, worsening the quality of the provided services and increasing the financial expenditures in the sphere of heat supply. In the work, generalizing the known data, the sequence of calculating the transport expenditures on the operation of plate heat exchangers under different scaling conditions is put forward. In this case, the effect produced by the scale thickness on the total cost of pumping of 1 m3 of heat-transfer fluid is taken into account, providing the possibility of comparing the transport expenditures with the cost of scale removal from the heating surfaces (by an accepted cleaning method) depending on the thickness of the salt-forming layer and the cleaning period. The results of the study confirm the need for regular monitoring of the thickness of scale-forming layers in plate heat exchangers to decrease the operational expenditures on the pumping of a heat-transfer fluid.