PROVISION OF CHEMICAL CIRCULATION & ULTRASONIC CLEANING AND INTEGRITY INSPECTION ON PRINTED CIRCUIT HEAT EXCHANGER (PCHE)
Year
2025
Location
FPSO KIKEH
Background
ECMS Resources Sdn. Bhd. is
contracted as the Service Vendor for
the Provision of Pressure Vessel and
Heat Exchanger Inspection, Repair and
Maintenance Services for FPSO Kikeh.
During routine inspection, fouling and contamination were detected inside the Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE) microchannels. The deposits were possibly caused by
Due to the extremely fine geometry of PCHE microchannels, mechanical or chemical cleaning methods were not suitable, as they risked damaging the internal structures or failing to reach deep-channel contaminants.
During routine inspection, fouling and contamination were detected inside the Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE) microchannels. The deposits were possibly caused by
Due to the extremely fine geometry of PCHE microchannels, mechanical or chemical cleaning methods were not suitable, as they risked damaging the internal structures or failing to reach deep-channel contaminants.
Our Role
ECMS proposed the use of ultrasonic
cleaning as a safe and effective method
to remove fouling within the
microchannels.
Our team undertook the following scope:
• Before and after inspection
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) as per Scheme of Examination (SOE)
• Flow test before and after cleaning
• Ultrasonic cleaning of the PCHE
• Post-cleaning pressure testing to validate system integrity
Our team undertook the following scope:
• Before and after inspection
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) as per Scheme of Examination (SOE)
• Flow test before and after cleaning
• Ultrasonic cleaning of the PCHE
• Post-cleaning pressure testing to validate system integrity
Outcome
✓ Effective removal of fouling
from microchannels
✓ Restored heat transfer performance
✓ Reduced pressure drop
✓ No damage to PCHE channel geometry
✓ Completed safely and in compliance with SOE requirements
✓ Restored heat transfer performance
✓ Reduced pressure drop
✓ No damage to PCHE channel geometry
✓ Completed safely and in compliance with SOE requirements