Chemical tube cleaning

Fouling in tube heat exchangers reduces heat transfer efficiency, increases energy consumption, and can cause higher pressure drops. It may also lead to corrosion, blockages, and increased maintenance or downtime if deposits like scale, rust, or biological growth are not removed.

Chemical cleaning-in-place uses a pump to circulate a cleaning solution like Goodway®’s ScaleBreak through the tubes, dissolving and removing deposits such as scale, rust, and biofilm without disassembling the heat exchanger. The loosened deposits are then flushed out, restoring heat transfer efficiency and flow.

Yes. Chemical cleaning-in-place can remove heavy deposits such as scale, rust, and biofilm, restoring flow and heat transfer without disassembling the exchanger. In cases of extreme fouling, a higher concentration and longer circulation time may be needed for full recovery.

Furthermore, Goodway® descaling pump systems are equipped with a reversing valve which allows operators to instantly reverse the flow by simply switching a valve. During the descaling process, limescale dissolves and generates foam and gas, which can create a barrier that slows further scale removal – this is especially true for heavy fouling or blocked plates. Using the flow reversal valve allows the foam and gas to discharge into the tank, eliminating this barrier and accelerating the descaling process.

No. Goodway® descalers are formulated to safely dissolve deposits like scale, rust, and biofilm without harming the tubes, gaskets, or other components when used according to the instructions. Goodway Benelux offers a wide range of descalers, each suited for different applications.

In terms of equipment you will need a descaling pump system, chemical descaler, hoses to connect to the heat exchanger ports, and a safe way to collect and dispose of the used cleaning solution afterwards. Furthermore, it is very important to have the right CIP-couplings on the plate heat exchanger, so that the descaler can flow through the entire heat exchanger correctly.

Always check which deposits need to be removed and what the materials of the heat exchangers are, after that we can recommend you the correct descaler solution. In terms of the descaling pump, always check the heat exchanger size, liquid volume, tube amount and where the connection points are. Based on this information, a descaling pump system should be selected that is powerful enough to circulate the descaler through the entire system, effectively.

By continuously the pH-levels, you can keep track of the cleaning progress. Extra descaling solution should be added if the initial solution becomes diluted or the cleaning takes longer due to heavy fouling. This ensures deposits continue to dissolve and the heat exchanger is fully cleaned. Goodway Benelux also offers step-by-step manuals for chemical cleaning projects to its customers.

The mixture rate depends on the type and severity of fouling and the equipment being cleaned. But in general, it can vary between 25 to 100%. Contact the Goodway Benelux team for accurate advice, based on your specific cleaning application.

Yes. Goodway® descalers like Scalebreak‑MP are biodegradable, exempt from hazardous transport classifications, and safe on a wide range of materials including stainless steel and rubber when used as directed, while effectively dissolving scale, rust, and biofouling.

Both products are liquid descalers, used to remove scale, rust and biological fouling from all kinds of heat exchangers. The difference is in the main ingredient of the descalers. With ScaleBreak regular, that is hydrochloric acid, while ScaleBreak-MP uses citric acid. Regular ScaleBreak reacts about 30% faster, but dissolves less scale per liter. ScaleBreak-MP works a little slower, but dissolves more scale per liter. Regular ScaleBreak can be used on several applications and product materials, but not on stainless steel. ScaleBreak-MP is a multi-purpose product, which can be used on nearly all base metals, including stainless steel. ScaleBreak regular has a more competitive price point than ScaleBreak-MP.

Both descalers are biodegradable, however regular ScaleBreak falls under ADR-regulations for storage and shipment within the EU. Because of the use of hydrochloric acid, the EU-guidelines classify the product within the ADR-range, however the use of the product is no different from other descalers, such as ScaleBreak-MP.

After cleaning, collect the used descaler and neutralize it according to local environmental and safety regulations, use neutralizing powder for safer handling. The  Goodway Benelux team can provide step-by-step procedures for the neutralization and disposal of chemicals. Never pour it directly into drains or the environment – follow local rules for proper disposal.

Goodway® descalers remove scale (like calcium carbonate), rust (non-magnetic Fe₂O₃), and biological deposits such as biofilm from all types of tube heat exchangers, such as: water-cooled chillers, industrial heat pumps and other shell-and-tube heat exchanger types.

Cold temperatures can slow down the descaling process. ScaleBreak descalers rely on a chemical reaction that typically becomes about 50% slower for every 10 °C drop in temperature. In colder conditions, the solution can also become more viscous, which may reduce flow and increase the required circulation or dwell time.

Normal water temperatures of around 12 – 15 °C are generally not a problem and ScaleBreak will still perform effectively. Heating the solution is not always necessary, but increasing the temperature (ideally to 24 – 38 °C) can significantly speed up the cleaning process. Always ensure the temperature stays below the maximum pump system limit (50 °C).

In summary: ScaleBreak descalers work in cold conditions, but warming the solution can improve cleaning speed and efficiency, especially during winter operations.

In most industrial and commercial descaling applications, magnetic filtration is not necessary. Magnetic filters are primarily designed for residential heating systems, where steel components corrode more rapidly and release magnetically active particles into circulation. In well-maintained industrial systems, most corrosion products are non-magnetic iron oxides, so a magnetic filter provides little benefit.

Some magnetite may appear as nodular material that breaks free and enters circulation. However, these particles are usually large enough to settle at low points in the system – such as the bottom of the descaling pump systems – rather than remaining suspended where a magnetic filter could capture them.

For solid particulates like corrosion debris, silicates, phosphates, or other deposits, a mechanical filter such as a polypropylene Y-strainer can remove solids effectively – but note that the Goodway® GDS-C40 and GDS-C92 systems have reverse-flow capabilities. In reverse-flow conditions, any particulate captured in a strainer would be pulled back into the fluid stream, negating its effect. Traditional filtration systems are therefore not viable with these systems. Only the Goodway® GDS-100 system features a pre-installed Y-strainer filter.

In summary: Filtration is generally unnecessary in industrial descaling. Particulates often settle at the bottom of the tank, and most deposits such as rust or scale are fully solubilized, leaving no particles to capture. Mechanical or magnetic filters provide limited additional value in these applications.

Goodway® chemical cleaning solutions work by means of cleaning-in-place, also known as CIP. When hard water-formed deposits, such as calcium carbonate scaling, form inside heat exchanger tubes, a chemical cleaning becomes much more interesting to perform. Traditional methods such as mechanical or high-pressure cleaning simply become too difficult or risky to perform, because you will need to be more agressive (i.e. stronger brushes or higher pressures) to remove the hard deposits. By circulating a special descaling solution, the scale deposits will naturally solubilize and be removed out of the heat exchanger. When performed correctly, a chemical cleaning is safe, effective and easy-to-perform.

Furthermore, Goodway® equipment and descalers have been designed for ease of use, safe cleaning and effective removal of hard deposits. Useful features such as flow reversal and multi-purpose descalers bring further added value to chemical cleanings.

No, Goodway®’s chemical cleaning equipment is not ATEX‑certified. For use in classified or explosive atmospheres, you must choose tools and systems that are explicitly certified for the specific hazard classification.