Application Methods
LIQUID PHASE: The Liquid Phase decontamination method involves multiple approaches to ensure comprehensive cleaning of process equipment:
Partial Fill, Circulation & Cascading: In this method, the equipment is partially filled, and circulation is used to distribute the cleaning solution throughout the unit. The cascading mechanism simulates operational flow conditions across trays and internals. Steam sparging is critical here, with steam injected into the bottom of the equipment, targeting low-flow areas. The opposing flow of steam and cascading liquid creates a scrubbing mechanism, enhancing cleaning in the vapor space and improving chemical distribution and agitation. For heavy hydrocarbon deposits, chemistries can be injected with light oil or diesel as a carrier medium, while lighter systems utilize water-based circulation for optimal results.
Complete Fill and Circulation: This method involves filling the equipment completely, using existing operational flow schematics and equipment to ensure 100% surface contact across all critical areas and auxiliary equipment. Mechanical pump applications are used to circulate the chemistry, ensuring thorough cleaning. This approach is ideal for reactive chemistry applications and is effective for all chemistry types, providing comprehensive contact and efficient decontamination.
Both methods are tailored to the specific operational needs of the system, ensuring the best possible cleaning results while minimizing downtime.
VAPOR PHASE: Vapor phase steaming. This method incorporates a high velocity steam flow to provide the carrier system to deliver the chemical to desired location. When the chemistry is injected through the purge steam, it vaporizes and spreads its cleaning power throughout the equipment interior surfaces: trays, down comers, pads, packing etc. The degassing decontamination product subsequently condenses with the steam. The condensed degassing/decontamination product drained and pumped throughout the process and have reduced clean up time by typically approximately 80-90%, while at the same time reducing benzene, hydrogen sulfides, butadiene and hydrocarbon concentrations to acceptable levels for maintenance team to enter without fresh air equipment requirements. An important attribute of Clean Concept’s degassing decontamination chemistries are: they are of very high hydrocarbon carrying capability while retaining the ability to rapidly separate from the water phase without forming stable emulsions. In most cases, vapor phase cleaning will clean most systems faster than conventional fill and soak or cascade-and-circulate type applications.
CHEMICAL FOAMING: This method incorporates a steam and/or inert gas stream to agitate the chemical formulation to produce dense, highly stable foam with a consistency similar to shaving cream. The foam continues to build in volume and transverses through the process equipment. The foam will encapsulate the hydrocarbon products and effectively clean/clear the system. The foam method is usually only effective on light hydrocarbons, not with sludge/heavies type. The foam method is very effective on large vapor space equipment, once through processes, and compressor systems.
