Micro-Emulsion Cleaning Composition for Heat Exchanger Polyolefin Deposits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial heat exchangers often face challenges in removing polyolefin deposits without disassembly, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies in processes like chemical plants, petrochemical plants, and natural-gas processing.
Innovation Solution
A micro-emulsion composition comprising water, liquid olefinic unsaturated compounds, amphiphilic liquid compounds, and tensides is used to solubilize and remove polyolefin deposits from heat exchanger components without disassembly, allowing for easy discharge and optional rinsing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical cleaning processes are used to remove polyolefin deposits from heat exchanger components, then the deposits can be removed effectively, but the heat exchanger must be disassembled which increases costs and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cleaning processes with a chemical cleaning composition that can access and remove deposits through the existing fluid pathways of the heat exchanger. The composition comprises water, liquid olefinic unsaturated compounds, amphiphilic liquid compounds, and tensides, creating a system that chemically solubilizes polyolefin deposits without requiring physical disassembly of the heat exchanger components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning composition acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the removal of polyolefin deposits by forming a micro-emulsion system. The amphiphilic compounds and tensides in the composition mediate between the water-based carrier and the hydrophobic polyolefin deposits, enabling solubilization and removal through the existing cooling medium circulation system.
2Reliability
If the heat exchanger is disassembled for cleaning, then thorough cleaning can be achieved, but additional costs and time are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning composition is designed to be introduced into the heat exchanger before any disassembly occurs, allowing the chemical cleaning action to begin immediately through the existing fluid pathways. This preliminary chemical treatment softens and solubilizes deposits in advance, making subsequent cleaning easier and faster if disassembly is ultimately required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need for time-consuming mechanical disassembly and manual cleaning operations by using a chemical composition that can circulate through the heat exchanger's existing fluid pathways and remove deposits chemically, significantly reducing the overall cleaning cycle time.
3Reliability
If commercial cleaners based on aromatic and aliphatic naphtha are used, then cleaning capability is provided, but environmental and safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning system by replacing hydrocarbon-based solvents (aromatic and aliphatic naphtha) with an aqueous-based micro-emulsion system. This parameter change maintains cleaning capability through the use of amphiphilic compounds and tensides while eliminating the environmental and safety hazards associated with volatile organic compounds and flammable hydrocarbons.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-based composition creates a safer, less hazardous cleaning environment by replacing flammable and environmentally problematic hydrocarbon solvents with an inert aqueous system. The micro-emulsion formulation maintains effective cleaning action while eliminating fire hazards and reducing environmental impact, creating a fundamentally safer operating condition.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition effectively solubilizes and removes polyolefin deposits from heat exchanger components, reducing the need for disassembly and subsequent mechanical cleaning, thereby lowering costs and improving process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the deposits can be removed from the internal components of the heat exchanger by solubilization
Implementation Method 2
a composition, preferably in the form of an emulsion, in particular in the form of a micro-emulsion
Implementation Method 3
one or more amphiphilic liquid compounds
Implementation Method 4
one or more tensides selected from an anionic tenside (E1), a cationic tenside (E2), a non-ionic tenside (E3) and an amphoteric tenside (E4)
Implementation Method 5
one or more amphiphilic liquid compounds
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a composition, comprising:(A) water;(B) one or more liquid olefinic unsaturated compounds having at least 8 carbon atoms in the backbone having a water solubility of less than 2 g in 1,000 g of water at 25° C., respectively;(C) optionally one or more liquid esters having a water solubility of less than 2 g in 1,000 g of water at 25° C.;(D) one or more amphiphilic liquid compounds;(E) one or more of an anionic (E1), a cationic (E2), a non-ionic (E3) and optionally an amphoteric tenside (E4);(F) optionally one or more additives.