The automatic back flushing system for plate heat exchangers optimizes cooling efficiency by preventing fouling and significantly extending the time between cleaning interruptions. This reduces maintenance effort, lowers operating costs, and protects critical components like gaskets from premature wear. The result: longer uptime, higher efficiency, and more reliable processes.
Discover the Real Cost Advantage of Eqoflush
Our ROI & TCO study reveals how automated backflushing reduces operating costs, downtime, and gasket replacement expenses compared to conventional maintenance. The data shows clear payback within months — especially for high-duty heat exchanger applications. See how your facility can achieve continuous performance with lower lifecycle costs.
Download the full study to explore the financial and operational impact of EqoFlush.
Fouling in plate heat exchangers is an inevitable issue caused by impurities and minerals in cooling tower water.
In plate heat exchangers, fouling leads to flow loss, reduced heat transfer efficiency, and higher operational costs. Automatic back flushing systems help reduce fouling accumulation, leading to up to three times longer service intervals, less gasket wear, and reduced downtime.
The automatic back flushing system for plate heat exchangers operates efficiently through a flow reversal valve that periodically changes the direction of water flow within the system. A control box, which can be set to intervals such as every 30 minutes, 1 hour, or even 4 hours, triggers the flow reversal valve to reverse the water flow. When the flow is reversed, the low-speed areas within the plate heat exchanger, typically where fouling and debris accumulate, are transformed into high-speed, high-flow areas. This high-speed flow dislodges and flushes away accumulated contaminants, dirt, and other debris from the plate heat exchanger surfaces.
The backflushing cycle lasts less than one minute, after which the flow direction is restored. While there is a brief spike in the exit temperature of the cooled medium, its duration is so short that the overall process remains unaffected.
Fouling accumulates at the water inlet and in low-velocity areas between plates but is easily removed during backflushing—preventing deposits that would otherwise remain until the next manual cleaning.
The key to this process is that the flow reversal valve does not reverse the water flow to the cooling tower. Instead, all the fouling and debris flushed away from the heat exchanger are directed through the flow reversal valve to the cooling tower, where the debris flows directly into the cooling tower’s basin. This makes it easy to remove the contaminants through the blowdown process, ensuring that the heat exchanger remains clean and maintains high efficiency without requiring manual disassembly. This automatic back flushing system ensures continuous operation with minimal downtime and reduces maintenance costs, making it an ideal solution for plate heat exchangers in various industries.
Extended service time: The cleaning intervals are extended by 2 to 3 times, reducing the need for frequent shutdowns.
Fewer gaskets needed: With fewer gasket replacements required, the maintenance costs can drop by as much as 40%, as gaskets typically tear when plates are dismantled.
Improved cooling efficiency: Better cooling translates into enhanced process capacity and operational performance.
Significant ROI benefits: With these major operational cost reductions and performance improvements, implementing EqoFlush becomes a clear decision from an ROI perspective.
Installation Flexibility: The choice of valve type depends on available footprint and how it fits into existing pipework, ensuring minimal disruption during installation.
Cross-Over Requirements: Different valve types allow varying levels of cross-over between cold and hot water, with some capable of maintaining a cross-over rate as low as <0.5%, optimizing system efficiency.
Budget Considerations: Valve selection also takes into account the budget expectations, providing a balance between performance and cost.
For more information, contact our engineering team to discuss the installation possibilities of Eqoflush Backflushing systems for Plate Heat Exchangers on your new projects or as a retrofit solution for existing installations. Use the contact form below.
