In compressor aftercoolers or hydraulic station oil cooling circuits, maintenance personnel often find that the heat exchanger outlet temperature gradually rises and the pressure drop increases. If not addressed promptly, this will affect the stable operation of the system. The HX-45 plate-fin heat exchanger is designed for such operating conditions. The following are engineering parameters and maintenance points.
The core is made of aluminum fins and partition plates by vacuum brazing, and the equivalent diameter of the channels can be adjusted according to the cleanliness of the medium. The standard core size is 450 mm × 300 mm × 250 mm. The port orientation supports customization for convenient on-site piping connection. The design pressure range is 0.6–3.0 MPa, and the applicable temperature is -40°C to 150°C. Common voltage and power configurations can be selected according to the user's site conditions, such as the drive power supply for fans or pumps.
Dust or oil contamination on the fin surface will significantly reduce heat exchange efficiency. It is recommended to blow with compressed air (pressure ≤ 0.4 MPa) along the fin direction every quarter, and if necessary, soak with a neutral cleaning agent and then rinse. Aging flange gaskets can cause media to mix. They should be inspected once a year, and replaced immediately if hardening or cracking is found. The actuation accuracy of the temperature controller is recommended to be calibrated once every six months to ensure the outlet temperature remains within the set range.
On-site maintenance personnel need to record the inlet and outlet temperatures, pressures, and flow rates of the hot side and cold side every day. If the pressure drop is found to have increased by more than 15% compared with the initial value, check for fin blockage or scaling. When the flow rate is insufficient, check the filter pressure difference and clean the filter element in time. For low-temperature operating conditions, pay attention to whether there is ice blockage.
Reduced heat exchange capacity is mostly caused by fin fouling or internal leakage. Internal leakage can be judged by medium composition analysis. If leakage is confirmed, the unit needs to be returned to the factory or disassembled and repaired by professionals. Do not tighten flange bolts under pressure. The pressure should be released first, and then the bolts should be tightened evenly in a diagonal sequence.
