At power engineering facilities — combined heat and power (CHP) plants, boiler houses and district heating networks — the cleanliness of heating and heat transfer surfaces determines the efficiency of heat generation and the reliability of heat supply. Deposits form in boilers, network heaters, turbine condensers, cooling towers and pipelines.
Deposits and why they are dangerous
Iron oxides, scale (calcium and magnesium carbonates), silicon and copper compounds are deposited along the water circuit; their composition depends on the water chemistry regime and the quality of make-up water. In turbine condensers and recirculating cooling systems — carbonate deposits, silt and biofouling. On the gas side of boilers — soot, ash and carbon deposits. In heating networks — sludge and corrosion products.
In practice this leads to:
- excessive fuel consumption and lower boiler efficiency;
- worse vacuum in condensers and lower turbine output;
- lower cooling capacity of cooling towers;
- higher return water temperature and underheating of consumers;
- higher hydraulic resistance and higher load on pumps;
- overheating of heating surface metal, up to tube damage and emergency shutdowns.
Cleaning methods
- Chemical flushing — dissolving deposits with chemicals circulated through the internal cavities of the equipment, followed by neutralisation and passivation of the metal; used where tools cannot reach.
- Hydrodynamic cleaning — breaking up deposits with a high-pressure water jet using high-pressure units, channel-cleaning hoses and special nozzles; for tubes, channels and vessels accessible to the nozzle.
- Mechanical cleaning — removal of dense and fully blocking deposits with manual and power tools; as a rule, requires disassembly or opening of the equipment.
- Dry ice blasting (cryoblasting) — gentle cleaning of accessible surfaces with solid carbon dioxide pellets, without chemicals, water or abrasives.
- Laser cleaning — non-contact removal of rust, mill scale, carbon deposits and coatings from accessible metal surfaces.
The applicability of a method to specific equipment is determined after inspection and agreed with the customer; methods are often combined. The methods used for each type of equipment are listed in its description on this page.
Timing of work
Cleaning is scheduled for a planned shutdown or the off-season; chemical cleaning of hot-water boilers is usually carried out after the end of the heating season. Urgent work is performed if safe operation of the equipment is compromised. For facilities with regular fouling — scheduled maintenance.
How the work is carried out
- Inspection. Examination of the equipment and, if necessary, video inspection (endoscopy) of internal surfaces. We determine the composition and thickness of deposits.
- Method selection. The method and mode are agreed with the customer for the specific equipment, material and deposits.
- Preparation. Any assembly and disassembly work required by the selected cleaning method.
- Cleaning. Cleaning by the selected method with control of the result.
- Protection. After chemical flushing — neutralisation of chemical residues, water rinsing and passivation of the metal surface against corrosion.
What we need for a quote
- type and model of the equipment, year of manufacture;
- dimensions, material, heat transfer or working medium;
- what is known about the deposits: scale, rust, organics, petroleum products;
- photos and videos, equipment passport or diagram — if available;
- preferred timing: scheduled shutdown, off-season, urgent work.
Documents for procurement procedures are available in the Procurement and tenders section.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with CHP plants and large boiler houses?
Yes. We clean boilers, heat exchangers, condensers, cooling towers and pipelines at power engineering facilities.
When is the best time for cleaning?
During a scheduled shutdown or the off-season. We also consider urgent work — please state your timing in the request.
Can equipment be cleaned without disassembly?
In many cases, yes: chemical flushing runs through the internal channels. Mechanical cleaning requires disassembly. We select the method after inspection.