Condition monitoring of heat exchanger tubes may be carried out using eddy current inspection. This is often simulated through computation fluid dynamics (CFD). Infrared photography (see Section 2.10.1) may also be used on the exterior of heat exchanges, to reveal significant temperature variations or hot spots.
Fouling can be a serious problem. Often, cooling waters from rivers, estuaries or a sea is used, and biological debris can enter and build layers. Another problem is scale, which is chemical deposit layers, such as calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate (see Section 3.2.6). The process being cooled can also deposit scale, such as silica scale in alumina refineries. See Examples, below).
換熱器內管的狀況檢查可使用渦電流檢查法來執行，並透過電腦流體動力學模擬。紅外線造影術可以用來做換熱器的外部檢查，顯露出外部明顯的溫度或熱點分佈情形。
換熱器累積的污垢是頗為嚴重的困擾，由於冷卻水取自河川港灣或海裡，有些生物質可能進入換熱器內形成層積垢。另一困擾是如碳酸鈣、碳酸鎂等化學性積垢，在管壁結成一層硬垢。有些製程冷卻後也會有積垢產生，例如煉鋁廠的二氧化矽結垢。
Use of chemicals for removing scale.
要去除積垢就會用到化學藥劑。
●applicable to all heat exchanges
●specific techniques are selected on a case-by-case basis.
●可應用在所有的換熱器
●特定的技術可依情況不同分別採用
Maintaining the heat exchangers to their design specifications optimises payback.
維持換熱器原有設計規範可優化其回收年限。
Energy Efficiency (2009) 3.3.1.1
