Troubleshooting Guide - Heat Exchangers

FLUOROPOLYMER COILS
1) Fluoropolymer tubing split or swelled above solution interface.
CAUSE	SOLUTION
Coil operated on steam service without vacuum breaker.	Install vacuum breaker on coil supply. Repair/replace coil as required.
Coil operated at higher than rated pressure.	Check/verify steam/water source and compare to catalog rating of coil. Reduce pressure and temperature of supply. Repair or replace coil with higher pressure rated material as required or available.
Coil operated at higher than rated temperature. While pressure reducers regulate pressure in a system they do not regulate temperature that can exceed the rated values of the coil.	Verify temperature/pressures provided to coil and replace with a higher temperature rated material were required.
2) Tubing turns white after prolonged service (above solution interface).
CAUSE	SOLUTION
Permeation of fluid through tubing wall and delamination of crystalline structure due to high temperature/pressure operation.	Check application/pressure rating of coil, adjust supply to not exceed coil rating or replace with higher temperature rated material.
3) Tubing turns white after prolonged service (below solution interface).
CAUSE	SOLUTION
Chemical incompatibility.	Contact chemical supplier or coil manufacturer for alternate materials of construction.
Tubing appears oval or flattened in appearance.	Coil is being operated on steam service without a vacuum breaker. Install a vacuum breaker on steam inlet before exchanger and repair or replace tubing as required.
4) Holes in tubing.
CAUSE	SOLUTION
Physical damage from small components from process or plating whiskers/deposits which migrate through guard and perforate the tubing.	Repair or replace coil, isolate new coil from process, add additional guards and clean process more frequently to reduce levels of particulate mater in tank.
Blisters on or inside of tubing caused by delamination of tubing from repeated steam cycling.	Replace defective tubing or exchanger.
Pinholes in tubing caused by materials trapped in tubing during extrusion.	Replace defective tubing or exchanger.
Stainless ferrules corroding due to damage to exchanger or corrosive fluids entering the system.	Check exchanger and supply lines for leaks and repair or replace as required.
Tubing and/or guard kinked or deformed due to buoyancy.	Repair or replace tubing as required. Either secure the exchanger to the tank wall to prevent floating or add anti floatation bracket.

Wet Process Heating and Cooling Equipment

Troubleshooting Guide - Heat Exchangers