Heat exchangers are susceptible to fouling and scaling. Deposits such as lime and biofilm form an insulating layer on the heat transfer surface.
As a result, heat is transferred less efficiently, and the system consumes more energy to achieve the same result.
To restore performance, periodic cleaning—such as CIP processes—is often necessary. These processes result in downtime and require the use of chemicals and rinse water, which incur additional costs and place a burden on the process.